Interface Design

Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman.

My picks based on the books-

Good Design:
The flash drive - that little chapstick sized, all powerful god of 'you just saved my butt" superman, saving the day kind of power. I have had many instances where I have come alive and died a little inside because of this mini mighty mouse of a drive. It is a very goo design because when you go to insert it into a computer (and whether t he computer reads it or not is another discussion,) there is only one way that it will fit into the USB port.

There is a place holder on one half of the port on the computer that will accept the flash drive and vice versa for the flash drive.

So really there is only one way that the flash drive can be inserted, no mistakes and no problems, unless it doesn't read or you don't eject it properly.

Bad design:
The speed dialing function on my Motorola Razor cell phone. Every time that add a contact to your phonebook, the phone will assign them a speed dial number. That's fine and generally it works...for the first 8 contacts. The #1 slot is reserved for voicemail, but all you have to do is press and hold down one of the numbers (in this case 2 through 9)until the phone begins to call automatically. The problems begin when you have contacts that are assigned double digit numbers. I've pressed 1-0, 1-6 holding down the second number...nothing. I've typed in contact number 2-3 then hit the call button and I get an error recording, not enough digits for that phone numbers. I know that, but then how am I supposed to speed dial that person without having to go the phonebook? I've call myself reading the manual, because I'm one of the few who don't mind doing that, but it a lost cause. I don't get that, bad design, booo!

Interface Design Critique - EDU 2.0 website

So this website definitely had a lot going on, that was the first thing that struck me, it was very busy and very blue.

Information Design:
I understood that the potential users were for teachers, but I couldn't tell if students could use the site as well. The page says an 'easy way to teach and learn online,'so i assumed the learning part was directed towards students, not that teachers aren't students as well. I felt that the information on the page seemed to be grouped "chunked" together well with large headings and graphics that made it clear what the section was about. Everything on the page was consistent with teachers teaching and learning.

Interactivity:
What I did find off putting and distracting was that fact there wasn't anything clickable on the page. It took me a few seconds to realize that you can't access anything until you sign in, even then you have to create an account. So I'm think there has got to be some top secret info behind the scenes, but really it's a community for teachers with information that is specific for them.

On screen Design:
The initial page was too blue and green and needed some more contrasting colors, but once you log in the other pages are not as overwhelming. The colors are more pleasing to the eyeballs and the user can navigate around just as easily.

Web 2.0 Technology - Freemind

I had put this slideshow up on the Social text site, but I don't know if anyone knew that it was there. I would call myself a Web 2.0 technology fledgling because you have to really take the time to learn and embrace it, and that depends on the individual user. So this was my fledgling attempt to understand Freemind mind mapping software.

Freemind

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Would I use Freemind for my mind mapping needs?
Probably not for the daily things that I might need to brainstorm about. It does take a minute to understand all of the functions and getting them to work in the way that you need them too. For instance I had an issue with moving the location of the mindmap.
I would use it for large scale brainstorming, like if I was going to storyboard a video project, plan certain activities, or to breakdown info.
Overall, it s a helpful tool. I liked that you can color code certain nodes and all of the other decorative changes that you can make to personalize your mindmap.

Final project Slides

Here's the slides to my show.

ITEC 830 Final Spectrum Bios

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So I sped through my presentation and I know that I left out some important points. I was nervous, I needed water and I was trying to be in two places at once. Anyway, a major point that I don't think I brought up about the need for the bios is the fact that the number of women with careers in the fields of science, math and engineering are far fewer in numbers than men. However, those numbers are increasing, which is great, but it doesn't represent everyone. There are even fewer women of color with careers and teaching positions in the field of science. So the the SEPAL department created the Spectrum program as a means to brings science into the many schools (and lives) of many young girls, who may not have felt like they can achieve or aspire towards this type of career. The video bios help to provide a visual supplement, in the form of the stories of these women who have 'made it possible' to overcome and achieve the impossible. Using Youtube the clubs can have access to these bios with the hopes of encouraging, inspiring, and activating the interests of young girls, all with the click of a mouse.


I enjoyed this class and I learned a lot about Web 2.0 technology, more than if I was on my own. There are a lot of really great and inspiring projects and I expect that we will be hearing about or using some these projects in the future. Congratulations to the fortunate people who are graduating and the best of luck to everyone in the class.
DEiDRE

Project Management 4/9/09

Well, this was kind of ironic, for me, that we had a guest speaker giving a talk on project management. Considering, that I am currently working on some video projects with a client and could use a bit more 3P management structure. I can understand how trying to a (medium-large scale) project on your own a) needs structure and b) without it can get out of control, especially those that have a time frame.

Collaboration is critical!!! Hear Hear!!

Everything is a project - which requires management. This statement rings loud and clear for lots of reasons. I mean how often do we (as in people) sit around wishing, hoping and waiting for life to happen for them, to them. Frustrated that things don't go their way or the way that they want it to go. Always looking inward instead of at the bigger picture. Seeing the forests through the trees.
Life is an ongoing project that requires the 3P's and the 5 steps to make it work.

I love it when work and life lessons collaborate harmoniously together. It's huckleberry lemonade.

***I especially liked the point that you should Do Celebrated Work.

I have found that (in the Itec program especially) if I try to approach projects and assignments from an aspect that I am not totally familiar with (teacher, Inst. designer) that I struggle with them more. Like i'm trying to be something that I am not. L-Directed Thinking. However, I can find the lessons a bit easier if I work with subjects that I do know and use that to dissect the ITEC way of thinking, teaching and learning. R-Directed Thinking. I guess, every now and then you have to switch to the other hemisphere in order to get the project done.

Web 2.0 Conference 4/02/09

The conference was interesting and a bit overwhelming, I went by my lonesome. There were so many stations that I didn't know where to start, so I did a lap.

I did find a few things that were pretty interesting, for instance a software called SpatialKey. It's a "SpatialKey is a next generation Information Visualization, Mapping, Analysis and Reporting System. It is designed to help organizations quickly assess location based information critical to their organizational goals, decision making processes and reporting requirements." That is from the web site.
"http://www.spatialkey.com/features/"
At the conference the demo showed how crime statistics data could be researched across the country. It looked similar to the wikimapia website that Zack had talked about during his presentation.

ooVoo 2.0: I really liked the idea of a video chat client that you can talk with up to 6 people at a time. I've worked with video conferencing at work and it's just a one-to-one call, but this software would allow for multiple conference calls at a a time. I got to talk with a few people at the demo (they were on the east coast) and ask them a few questions. The video and sound quality were really good and the pricing seemed really affordable. What was also really nice about the video chat software is you can record the video calls, add effects and it's compatible with Mac and PC.
"http://www.oovoo.com/"

Another interesting group that I came across at the conference was another software that organizes all of the different social sites that people subscribe to, it's called Nomee. However, this particular site allows you to "follow people, not sites."
"http://www.nomee.com/about_nomee.html"

Lastly, I was kind of surprised at how the beer began and martini's began to flow towards the end of the conference. Heineken still doesn't taste good to me, so I settled for a free Sobe. I'm sure the end of conference was very interesting and quite sauced, so I cut out early.

Google --- Podcasting

Okay, so podcasting is kind of difficult.
Creating it was okay, but I had a hard time trying to figure out how to get my exported mp3 into a format that I could post onto blogger. Thank god for google search on "podcasting," also it helped to see what my classmates were using. SO I am now new member of PodOmatic. Aye Caramba!

3/5/09==> Dr. Ellen Wagner

I enjoyed this guest speaker, she was more engaging and open than the others, to me at least. I can't recall everything that she talked about, but a few points that I do remember...
Free puppy vs. free beer: Open source (the free puppy) does require a lot of work in order to maintain it, you know "keep it alive." I understand this concept more because of iLearn website and its staff here at state. I can imagine (from the outside looking in) how much work does go into creating a sustainable, learning environment. I appreciate the work that has been put into it, because it is accessible when I need it and it benefits my learning. Hoewever, I don't get the full impact of iLearn because it is my "free beer" instead of being my "free puppy." I can pop in when and wherever I need to, "drink my fill" and then leave, knowing (or at least hoping) that it will always be there when I get back.
I'm guessing that is why the future Web .0's are considered to be pretty big, high maintenance puppy dogs. No is prepared to handle that.
Web 3.0 & 4.0: I was very intrigued when Dr. Wagner spoke about what will be considered Web 3.0, mainly because the few examples that she gave are things that are available now. SO I asked "Why isn't the web that we are using now considered 3.0?" I believe that her response was about sustainability, not being able to fully support the web going 3-D. The examples that she gave for Web 4.0 reminded me of the fully interactive, A.I., type house in the Iron Man movie, he was a gazillionaire whiz kid who could create that kind of technology. Even though it seems cool from the outside, I wonder what would that mean to have everything around us, that affects our lives, be that intelligent. Would that mean that we could get lazier (physically) as humans? What about e-learning in Web 4.0?
Gartner Hype Cycle: Now I have a name for this phenomenon, I've seen it over and over again with all the new "hyped toys" that come out. I wonder if this cycle can only be applied to technology and not the hyped advertising for other types of products?

Dr. Bonk - Web 2.0 - and me

2/19/09

Random thoughts and good points during class:

The way that we use technology. Is it kind of a waste?
Ex. Reading books online, on ipods, electronic books. Frankly I don't understand that.
Blogs:
Lurkers - people who look, read and take, but not contribute. Maybe that is not what the author wanted? Does it really matter? What is the reason for the blog. Its just for you, right?
Laziness -
Technology is (one of many) tools for creation - you just have to use them. Create, communicate and collaborate.
I like that it is instant. I am beginning to like how connected you can become. I don't like all of the passwords.
TBcontinued...

2/12/09==> Social Texting

Social texting is something that I am not totally hip to. I heard of twitter from a class that I was facilitating, wrote the name down (so I wouldn't forget) and looked it up later. I didn't sign up for it, but I got the gist of what is was from the videos. I couldn't see myself or anyone that I know using it, but based on the examples that the guest speaker gave, I could see how it could be beneficial.
I started with a friendster account (barely used it), then everyone moved over to myspace. So I set-up shop there and got pretty familiar with it, then everyone migrated (again) over to Facebook. As of now, I'm not there yet, but I have several people beckoning me 'towards the light', well I saw that movie. I'm sure signing up for a facebook account probably won't be as bad as i'm making it out to be.

Honestly, I could be more in touch with the people that I know, but I don't always seem to do that. Considering my degrees, you would think that that would be second nature to me.

The guest speaker brought up many interesting and inspiring points regarding the world of social texting. I guess that I shy away from with the fear that 1) I will be stuck in front a computer 2) too many passwords to remember and 3) who would really want to listen? I guess that it's not really about that, if anything it's more for me and whoever wants to come are welcome to. It does be

2009 is definitely a year for clearing out the old and bringing in new things to try. Maybe one day I might be out there Twittering. Ay Caramba.

2/5/09==> Connectivism

I connected with and gained my understanding of the Connectivism article from my background in Theatre Arts and acting, rather the business/social aspect of acting. I didn't (at the time) think about the digital, I was focused on the learning aspect of it. Connectivism, to me, means connecting physically, mentally and at times emotionally with people, places and things, then being able to incorporate/enhance those experiences with technology, but not to a point of hindrance. It's a learning process where "nodes" connect (network) in order to build a community of continuous learning.

In class other people brought up many other important points regarding connectivism that I didn't think about. For instance, the validity of the information that is out there and how we interpret it.
My early experiences with the Internet I know that I didn't (always) think critically about the information that I was reading. For a long time I did not know how to "surf" the web. I had to make lists of subjects/websites that I wanted to look up or I would forget. Otherwise, I would just check my email and log off. Now, I can get around alright, but the competency level (another important point) of the user varies depending on their desire to learn and do more. For example, I have worked with faculty here at state and some of them are quite self-sufficient in the enhanced classroom, whereas others are very timid and non-trusting of technology and require a bit of "hand holding" in order to get through their classes. Some faculty just connect enough to get their problems solved, then go back their "old school" ways. Like the article stated, Connectivism depends on the user, their competency level and a willingness to learn. How do you teach something like this to such a varying group of individuals with many levels of competency?
*My understanding of new technology and web 2.0 stuff has increases so much since I first started, but I also actively choose not to get too involved/too reliant on technology. I have a fear of not having (enough) F2F encounters and social learning experiences, forgetting what it is like to be human. I say that because I am susceptible to contracting hermit-itus, but that's just me.
Wow, this one was long. I'm stopping now.

Reflections 1/29/09

ITEC 830:
Last semester I was doing independent study…so now I have to get back into the swing of being in class. It's funny what 4 months will do your body's schedule.

As far as the class goes, I'm excited about learning something new, but I don't know where the class is going just yet. I'm used to doing only a few things on the internet, and I haven't begun to fully use it yet. So I know that I will be introduced to many new things with this class. For instance—I'm blogging, something that I knew about, but never really thought to do it. So far…eh, it's been fun.

It's only the first day. It's comforting to see a few familiar faces, and I've already gotten to know some really fun new people. It's going to be a fun semester.