During the meeting on November 20, 2008, Kim shared with us some of the materials she had presented to the students in Taiwan. Afterward, we listen to Walter’s presentation on Comic, which he said that it can be an excellent educational material to get the kids to read. He quoted, comics is about “showing the obvious to the ignorant.” He showed us a program, called Pixton, that allows an individual to create his own animations.
At the end of the class, we revisited the Web 2.0 Diagram that we drew as a group. We added a sketch on the characteristics of a Web 2.0 learning environment versus a traditional classroom environment. The thing that interests me the most is how the future generation will use Web 2.0. By then, the technologies will be more powerful in its delivery of the educational contents. Thus, anyone who wants to learn about a subject will be able to receive the materials in a format of their choice.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Extra: Interface Design Critique
Q what does the author identify as some of the drawbacks of modern versions of objects, such as phones?
They have a lot of buttons but they are not organized into correct compartments or that they lack visual signals that allow the user to operate the machine effectively. Some of the modern versions of objects do not provide users with the feedback. The author gave an example of how he attempted to change the temperature of his refrigerator, but he wasn’t able to do so because there were no immediate feedback that would tell him whether he is doing it correctly. Another problem is that the mapping between what the user knows about the physical world and how the machine should operate is not done in the right manner, due to the fact that manufacturers worry that the user would not understand if they draw a correct map of the machine, hence they provide the users with a simplified but incorrect map.
Q how is the notion of causality relevant to interactive web design?
Web sites should be organized in a manner that demonstrates how one function is a direct result of another function. For instance, in Illuminate, some of the signals does not show clear cause and effect since I wasn’t sure whether clicking on the hand icon (in order to show a hand raise) would turn it on or would turn it off and so I accidentally left the icon on several times without realizing it.
Q how does design relate to the notion of schema which learners create in their heads?
Assignment: Interface Design Critique
http://www.docstoc.com/MyDocs/
Who are the users?
Everyone, including teenagers, professional adults. Anyone who needs to display either creative stuff, legal documents, educational materials, etc.
Information chunk (gestalt principle, amount information)
For the tutorial (http://www.docstoc.com/MyDocs/), the organization is quite clear. They organize the contents into chunks using visual cues such as a group of bullets, using colors to highlight similar contents. They put all of the text-based possible functions on the left side and provided all of the graphical illustrations on the right side. They divided the main content into seven short, precise paragraphs rather than combining them into one long, hard-to-follow paragraph.
Relevance (graphics, content, reading level, text)
The graphics on the right side of the features definitely help the reader grasp the wordings. The content has materials that belong in the tutorial and they are very easy to read and understand. The texts support the graphics, though some of the headlines can be more detailed.
Labeling (visual with text)
I think that every graph deserves a title (or headline or caption) that allow the user know quickly what the graph is about. There were a few graphs that did not have titles. The texts that they have are accurately described by the visuals.
Consistency (visual, text)
The texts go along with the visual cues quite well. For instance, they use hand signals and arrows to pinpoint the places on the graphs where the texts made the references.
Detail (too much on one page or one screen)
There were a lot of contents on the screen, but I think that it is fine in this case. If they separate the contents into two screens, then the reader might lose track of the chunking. Putting all of the contents into one screen allows the user to know that they all belong in the same body rather than that different points are being made.
Other comments
Their tutorial site is better design than the homepage. The homepage has way too many contents and I did not know where to start since they seem to be placed in random manner.
On Interactivity
Orientation (Can you find the path, and know your way around?)
Yes. I know that the path is linear since they branch the materials with the texts on the left and the graphics on the right. The navigation is prominently displaced at the top.
Navigation (Branching)
The navigation consists of the main tab, the sub tab, the sub sub tab, and so on. This is quite easy to understand for me.
Functionality (Does it work?)
Yes. The navigation carries us to the right destinations.
Information access (Multiple entry and exit? Logical path?)
Due to the design of the tabs, the user can know exactly where he is in respect to the other contents. Whereas other sites have an opening windows that brings the user to areas in which they might feel unfamiliar due to the variants in the designs, this site have the same navigation at the exact same place in all of the pages.
Other comments
The interactivity is logical due to the flow of the information from one tab to another. But there is too much information on one page (except the tutorial page) and so it can confuse the reader as to which material should he read first.
On Screen Design
Attractive (first impression)
My first impression is that it is glossy (due to the bright colors), a little bit showoff as to what it can do. It is acceptable in terms of its organizations.
Resolution
Some of the graphics are too small and so the resolution is a little bit not good. The text has good resolution (they are not embedded onto the graphics but for most of the time they are placed outside of them)
Color
Soft bright colors that can be distractive at times.
Lay out
Layout on the tutorial page is good, but everything else is not. I did not know where to start reading the contents.
Readability
Texts are clear, with readable fonts. Even though the resolution is good, the texts need to be larger for those with eye problems.
Other comments
They are obviously attempt to make the site attractive with their display of colors. This can be distractive at times.
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 14, 2008 Class Meeting
During our November 14, 2008 meeting, Kim provided us with information in regard to many aspects of the reading, including affordance, visibility, constraints. Kim explained to us the cultural aspects of these criteria. For instance, in terms of visibility, people from each culture are inquisitive in seeing something new, yet the response is different from one culture to another. Kim gave us an example in which a lipstick was explored by people from South African by eating them like candies since they were not familiar with it.
One of my comment is that there is a mental constraint besides a physical constraint. For instance, I have realized that the slit on the side of a MAC Computer can be constrained in various ways. A person might think of putting the disk into the slit, and that they do have a mental constraint besides a physical constraint. The mental constraint is that they would worry if the disk breaks after it is ejected from the slit. It is rather illogical for MAC computer to design a slit in which the disk can either break or damage just because it is the first time a person uses it, and that they might not know that they should put something soft under the computer.
One of my comment is that there is a mental constraint besides a physical constraint. For instance, I have realized that the slit on the side of a MAC Computer can be constrained in various ways. A person might think of putting the disk into the slit, and that they do have a mental constraint besides a physical constraint. The mental constraint is that they would worry if the disk breaks after it is ejected from the slit. It is rather illogical for MAC computer to design a slit in which the disk can either break or damage just because it is the first time a person uses it, and that they might not know that they should put something soft under the computer.
Friday, November 7, 2008
November 07, 2008 Online Class Meeting
Meaning: One of the Six Senses
Today’s class meeting is about presentations—lots of them. We started with a presentation from Amy’s group on one of Pink’s description of six senses. Their presentation is based on Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and psychiatrist. He wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, which is about “about how he was able to find meaning and purpose in a horrific environment of the concentration camp, demonstrating that finding meaning and purpose is possible, even in extreme conditions.”
Play: One of the Six Senses
Gordon’s group explained the portion of Pink’s book that dealt with Play. He said that Pink used the military to describe how play can be a part of our everyday lives. The military has spent $10,000 dollars in gaming technology, in order to train medic, snipers, equipment technicians, etc. Devi then explained to us Joyfulness. She gave us information about the Laughter Group, and their idea that laughing is a characteristic that exists within a person, rather than being dependent on outside stimuli. We watched a video on YouTube in which everyone is laughing hysterically, uproariously… in ways that can improve health and productivity at work. Judy then explained to us the nature of Humour. Humor at work can increase productivity and heal problems that may arise. Devi warned us that there is a “dark side of humor…that can exacerbate existing problems.”
Symphony: One of the Six Senses
Brian, Erica, and Ethan presented Pink’s idea of symphony, which is the ability to gather tiny pieces of information and contextualize them as a whole. Brian used film making as a way to understanding symphony. A film director, according to Brian, is quite similar to a musical conductor. Erica explained how Pink’s attempt to learn how to draw teaches the idea of symphony. Erica said that the ability to see relationship can be quite important, and that when it comes to drawing, you can actually see more accurate pictures if you turn the picture up side down. Erica said that drawing is related to instructional design because seeing things from different perspective is very important. Ethan taught us how to see relationships between unrelated concepts. One of the ways to do it is seeing how people from the past vies idea compare to those who live today.
Story: One of the Six Senses
Melissa’s group presented to us the nature of story-making, which combines more than one element just like the other senses. Melissa read to us a story that her group collaborated on; she read it to us using that same special tone that she used to read to her kids. Personally, I have never tried writing a story with many people before. It would be fun to see the different writing styles among members of a group—like how one individual might prefer a technical writing style and yet another person might prefer to use figurative/metaphorical language.
Empathy: One of the Six Senses
This group provided to us the characteristics of empathy. They defined it as the ability to imagine yourself in someone else’s position and see how they feel. He gave us a quick test that ranges from situational problems to facial expressions to ethical matters (some are ambiguous). We then gave a quick vote on the quiz. They gave us a very good presentation on empathy and I especially like the ending note with a picture of a little kid trying to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Today’s class meeting is about presentations—lots of them. We started with a presentation from Amy’s group on one of Pink’s description of six senses. Their presentation is based on Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor and psychiatrist. He wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, which is about “about how he was able to find meaning and purpose in a horrific environment of the concentration camp, demonstrating that finding meaning and purpose is possible, even in extreme conditions.”
Play: One of the Six Senses
Gordon’s group explained the portion of Pink’s book that dealt with Play. He said that Pink used the military to describe how play can be a part of our everyday lives. The military has spent $10,000 dollars in gaming technology, in order to train medic, snipers, equipment technicians, etc. Devi then explained to us Joyfulness. She gave us information about the Laughter Group, and their idea that laughing is a characteristic that exists within a person, rather than being dependent on outside stimuli. We watched a video on YouTube in which everyone is laughing hysterically, uproariously… in ways that can improve health and productivity at work. Judy then explained to us the nature of Humour. Humor at work can increase productivity and heal problems that may arise. Devi warned us that there is a “dark side of humor…that can exacerbate existing problems.”
Symphony: One of the Six Senses
Brian, Erica, and Ethan presented Pink’s idea of symphony, which is the ability to gather tiny pieces of information and contextualize them as a whole. Brian used film making as a way to understanding symphony. A film director, according to Brian, is quite similar to a musical conductor. Erica explained how Pink’s attempt to learn how to draw teaches the idea of symphony. Erica said that the ability to see relationship can be quite important, and that when it comes to drawing, you can actually see more accurate pictures if you turn the picture up side down. Erica said that drawing is related to instructional design because seeing things from different perspective is very important. Ethan taught us how to see relationships between unrelated concepts. One of the ways to do it is seeing how people from the past vies idea compare to those who live today.
Story: One of the Six Senses
Melissa’s group presented to us the nature of story-making, which combines more than one element just like the other senses. Melissa read to us a story that her group collaborated on; she read it to us using that same special tone that she used to read to her kids. Personally, I have never tried writing a story with many people before. It would be fun to see the different writing styles among members of a group—like how one individual might prefer a technical writing style and yet another person might prefer to use figurative/metaphorical language.
Empathy: One of the Six Senses
This group provided to us the characteristics of empathy. They defined it as the ability to imagine yourself in someone else’s position and see how they feel. He gave us a quick test that ranges from situational problems to facial expressions to ethical matters (some are ambiguous). We then gave a quick vote on the quiz. They gave us a very good presentation on empathy and I especially like the ending note with a picture of a little kid trying to walk in someone else’s shoes.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Affordance of Automatic Flushers
Manufacturers wanted designers to come up with something new to entice buyers. It’s usage seems easy and it’s appearance seems simple. Even though toilets with automatic flush systems seem as if they afford us with the convenience of not having to reach for the flusher, they are designed with flaws that can frustrate the user at times.
The mapping of the system is quite simple. When you appear in front of it, it picks up your presence. If your not sitting/standing in front of it, then it would not.
Yet anyone who hasn’t ever seen an automatic toilet would first have to contemplate on the nature of their designs. A person’s conceptual model of the automatic toilet flush might be similar to the automatic hand dryer. Hence, the user might look for something to press on prior for it to activate, but this is contrary to the purpose of an automatic flushing system. So the person might create a new conceptual model, one that takes into account the relatively newly invented laser-based operating system. Most people are not used to this new technology, except that they might have seen it being used by clerks at shopping stores.
The automatic flushing toilet does not have visible parts that would allow the user to “activate” the system. How would the user know that the laser beam works correctly while they are doing their stuff? At the least, it should have some signals such as a flashing light or a beeping sound that would allow the user to know that they are using it.
The automatic toilet, of course, has constraints. The constraint is that the user has to sit at the precise spot in order for it to register; those who have some sort of back problems cannot sit straight, and so they might have to lean to the side in order to avoid the pain. Another constraint is that the user might feel the need to either stand or sit for a certain amount of time in order for the system to pick up their presence. There must be some sort of feedback that would allow the user to know that he or she has been there long enough for the system to run a flush.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
October 30, 2008 Meeting
During our October 30, 2008 meeting, we listened to Paul Kim from Stanford University. Paul doesn’t think that helping undeveloped countries in education can be done by affording them with expensive computers, but a little handheld device would be the effective solution. This gadget would allow kids from undeveloped countries to learn materials that are relevant to their education, and in turn, they would be able to give back to their own country someday as they gain the knowledge necessary to compete in this technological age.
Near the end of his presentation, my classmate asked Paul Kim whether the device is self-sufficient and whether it is appropriate for U.S. students. Paul said that although the device is self-sufficient, the content developed for the handheld device is geared toward students from undeveloped countries rather than students in the U.S. We would need to develope separate contents for U.S. students since developed countries have different educational problems.
Our group (me, Yana, Miles) did a presentation on the chapter called “Design” of Daniel Pink’s book.
Near the end of his presentation, my classmate asked Paul Kim whether the device is self-sufficient and whether it is appropriate for U.S. students. Paul said that although the device is self-sufficient, the content developed for the handheld device is geared toward students from undeveloped countries rather than students in the U.S. We would need to develope separate contents for U.S. students since developed countries have different educational problems.
Our group (me, Yana, Miles) did a presentation on the chapter called “Design” of Daniel Pink’s book.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Extraneous matters: outsourcing and creativity
OUTSOURCING VIDEOS
1.) ABC News Report On Outsourcing To India (Negative aspects)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwwgXCOEYks
2.) ABC News : 20/20 : Myth : Outsourcing Bad for America (Positive aspects with John Stossel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2IRrfcvVCg
HOW GENETICALLY PRE-DETERINED TRAITS CONTRIBUTE TO HUMAN CREATIVITY
He mumbles, so I couldn't understanding what Noam Chomsky (linguist and political activist) meant when he said that pre-determined traits contribute is what allow us to be creative. It would be great for me to understand what he meant.
3.) The Ideas of Chomsky-BBC interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EksuA4IAQIk
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