Tat7's Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for October, 2009
Internet and Wireless Media Scavenger Hunt
Open Source Software
Open Source Software is defined as software that can be copied and changed by the user. In the beginning free (libre) software was the only kind available after that came proprietary (not free) software and now the software industry is thinking of bringing back free software again. Open source software (OSS) was used for 30 years from 1970 to 2000, however before this time it was something that was taken for granted because almost all the software back then was open source. Throughout the years it became a widely used movement which produced some of the most commonly used software packages in history.
Sources:
http://www.timr.ca/RecentArticles/Online/terminology.html
http://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=libr_pubs
GPS Evaluation for 10 Heuristics
A GPS is a relatively easy system to use and comes in very handy when you are on a trip or just going somewhere new.
Visibility of system status.
When you look at a turned off GPS you cannot really tell what it is made to do if you have never used it before. However once it is turned in, it is easy to realize it is a vehicle navigation system.
Match between system and the real world.
This is a simple system to use; easy access is always provided to whatever you need (enter address to go somewhere, create a new address, etc.) if something is misunderstood there is a manual.
User control and freedom .
To control a GPS you can vary how loud, bright or what language it is. Also you can choose the map color and menu color for you screen. For freedom you can always turn it off and you get to decide where to go with this system. You do not just have to use this in a car, this can help you find your way on hikes or on mountain trails.
Consistency and standards.
There is more than one way to use a GPS. It can also play music and some even give access to the Internet. Other than that, this system is consistent and easy to use for any person, with visuals and voiced buttons on the touch screen.
Error prevention.
Sometimes errors can happen with a GPS. For example, if you type in the wrong address or click on the wrong button when saving, you might not end up where you planned on going, but if you read the manual first, this should not be a problem.
Recognition rather than recall.
If you had typed in an address of a place you wanted to go and in a couple of days you wanted to visit that place again, all you would have to do is look up the saved addresses and press the address of the particular place. This way you do not have o remember addresses or keep looking them up in order to go somewhere. Also you get to type in a name for every address so it is easy to recognize.
Flexibility and efficiency of use.
Almost anyone can use this as long as they know how to read and write/type. All an inexperienced user would have to do is follow directions given and select what best matches their choices.
Aesthetic and minimalist design .
There is no extra information when you are on the vehicle navigation part of your GPS. However on the screen before that, it gives you a choice of what you need such as music, photos, etc.
Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors.
If an error is made while you are driving, it is very easy to get back on track, because the GPS says “Calculating route” and gives you a new road that gets you to the same place.
Help and documentation .
There is a user’s manual that comes with a GPS that has all the needed information about it and how to work it. If something is misunderstood you can look it up in the manual or just restart you route.
New Media and Your Background
My A-Ha moments from the Podcast and The Medium and Message are the fact that media plays an important role in any field and can be helpful to anyone. This relates to my field of study because if Mechanical Engineer has to draft something in SolidWorks for homework and they don’t know how to do that they can always look it up online and find tutorials on this program.
Historical examples of Mass communication impacted my design field, because when I am looking for something that I need to draft in programs such as SolidWorks, AutoCad, Catia I can look it up on the computer and find pictures of it and how it was made that make it easier to draft this object. One example of this is in the Mechanical Engineering field we needed to find how the leg of a rotating chair fits into the bottom and draft all the dimensions and tolerances of the chair. Before I did this I looked online and found pictures of how the rotating chair was made and after that it was a lot easier for me to draft the chair.
New media technologies have touched my field of study because before this new media was invented mechanical engineers like me had to get drafts and hand print copies for themselves or ask someone else to do it which consumed a lot of time. Nowadays people can use the copying machine or quickly e-mail the files they need to anyone. New media technologies such as the Internet have made it easier for people around the world to look at different engineering designs at any time they want, and do it quickly. Before new media, people had to go and actually personally see the design they liked and that took too much time and money, because the engineering project could be far away. I think new media influenced my field in a positive way because it gave engineers and costumers a faster and easier way to see what they want or find out what they need to know.
Ancient and Modern Mass Media: The movie 2012 and the Mayan Calendar
The movie ”2012” is directed by Roland Emmerich who is also the director of several other disaster films such as “The day After Tomorrow” , “Independence Day” , and “Godzilla”.
Some forms of mass media in this film are, the movie itself, the music, cinematography and special effects. The movie is a form of mass media, because it was designed to get the attention of many people and it did. Most people are interested in watch catastrophic events or disastrous things take place on earth. Music is a form of mass media because it aims to deliver information to huge audience through songs or melodies. Cinematography and special effects both relate to mass media because in movies, pictures and images are used to help people understand film. Also dramatic effects get attention of many people. It is much more interesting to watch something with good effects and acting than it is without.
In the beginning of the trailer there is a news report which is one form of mass communication. A news report is mass communication, because it uses television to send diverse messages which inform the audience about what is happening. In the movie lots of people are pray which is also a form of mass communication. Another example of this is when authorities in control tell others what to do. The Mayan calendar is also a form of mass communication, because it tells us about the Mayans and their thoughts. The Mayan calendar also influenced this movie.
I am an Orthodox Christian. I don’t agree with this movie or think that it is a true story. In my religion people follow the Bible and God’s rules. I’m not interested about the end of the world and I am not worried about it. I am more worried about what is happening to our planet today and how to save it. The director of this film takes different cultures and uses them to create movies using his imagination about the end of the world. This is kind of annoying because all the movies he makes are disastrous. The Mayan calendar ends on December 21st, 2009, but nobody knows if the Mayans thought world would really end on this day.
In the movie father with two kids is driving in the car when they see meteors falling from the sky, then there were huge waves crashing onto the land, but the dad said, “No matter what happens, we will always stay together”. I think the implications of this movie are that you should stay with and support your family no matter how bad the circumstances are. The media in this film and all special effects and disastrous happenings helps us better understand this implication.
Bibliography
Book – “Mayan Calendar Systems” by Cyrus Thomas; Washington Government Printing Office, 1904
http://books.google.com/books?id=z5AEAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA290&dq=the+mayan+calendar#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Website – Official movie site for 2012: http://www.whowillsurvive2012.com/
Website – Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Emmerich
Share a design!
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- Building design in 3D
I was working as a freelance designer for one company where I’ve got one assignment to create 3-D model design of the building which could be rotated to 360’ degree. I was provided with a photo of the actual building.
A Whole New World of 3-D Design (Article from magazine: “Business Week” online)
This article is about importance of 3D software technology in our days. The author starts the article with example of one of innovative project which is leaded by Graham Hawkes. Hawkes builds submarines in his company, Hawkes Ocean Technology which is contracted by U.S Navy for military purposes. Hawkes is working on a production model of the Deep Flight Aviator, which is the first “hydrobatic” submersible craft. The craft will have two passengers on board and capable of prowl through depths down to 1,500 feet. The reason the author is telling about Hawkes’ project is because of one very important key in the success is a use a three dimensional design and engineering program called Inventor published by software company Autodesk. This software allowed creating and manipulating of parts of the craft in an easy way saving lots time and money. Alex Salkever (2002) ‘Inventor, he adds, was a key enabler in designing the bent aircraft-fighter-shaped aluminum hull, which allowed him to break away from traditional bulbous designs for heavier spherical hulls. Hawkes was able to play with virtual shapes, test their stress points, and refine them without ever touching a lathe or a mold.’
The software allowed streamlining company’s engineering staff from 10 to 3 and cutting the cost of design by one-third. This is an extraordinary achievement of use a new software technology.
However, it is not only one example in our days. There is a tendency from many companies to use new three dimensional software in designing own products. Alex Salkever (2002) ‘Even the local drugstore has become a bastion of computer design. Have you noticed the curvy Colgate toothbrushes in bright colors? Or the sleek coffee pots at Target? CAD systems have given industrial designers unprecedented control over shapes and forms. How about those slick new cars that look both vaguely futuristic and distinctly retro? Couldn’t happen without advanced 3-D modeling programs running on desktop computers to model the silhouettes.’
The use of 3D software expands possibilities in designing new products and enables more efficient workflow for engineers and designers. As a result, it allows saving time and money for companies. These days, there is a huge shift in demands from 2d software to 3D software. I am personally would prefer to design products in 3D environment. It makes the job more intuitive and easy. It is clearer than 2D approach.
Salkever, A. (2002). A Whole New World of 3-D Design. Tech. [Electronic version]. BusinessWeek
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2002/tc20020716_7915.htm
Mass Communication/Media Creative Writing Assignment
As far as I understand correctly, mass communication is diverse messages which inform the audience in mass media resource such as radio, television, movies or any other media channels. Mass media is the media that aims to deliver information to huge audience. It is the actual message. As a result we can simplify it by telling that mass communication is a story or any kind of message for the big audience. Mass media is a tool which enables to deliver that message to a big audience. It is my explanation and understanding of both of these related concepts.
For example, it can be such famous event as celebration of Independence Day which happens on 4th of July each year. First, it is a national holiday which unites our diverse nation. The event will be announced through a huge range of mass media. I believe that our president will have a speech aimed to everybody. The speech will be about history of this event and achievement of the country in recent past. Possible, he might talk about his plans to make something good for the country and also can explain how nation can help the country to keep our achievement and even make the country better. In addition to the speech, some other event s will happen such as parades, concerts and famous firework show. These all events are one big message which aimed to the whole nation. It is a message about our country and about us as citizens of this country. This message is about our nation which is united. It is more a patriotic message.
The audience for this event is huge. The mass media will be involved to deliver this information to everybody.
