From DSC:
I continue to watch this space as the foundations are being put into place for what I’m calling, “Learning from the Living [Class] Room.”
.
On 08/10/2012,
in A/V -- audio/visual, design, interaction design, mirroring and/or multiple devices, tablets, usability, user experience (UX), user interface design,
by Daniel Christian
Designing for context: The multiscreen ecosystem — from uxmag.com by Avi Itzkovitch
Excerpt:
To create applications and systems that are easy to use, it is crucial to understand the user and the context in which the app will be used. Understanding the context helps design systems that anticipate use cases at a relevant time of use. The more unobtrusive and transparent the experience is at the time of use, the better the design. This means the user does not have to think about the device he is using, changes in the environment, or changes in context, and can rely on great functionality and ease of use independent of his situation.
In traditional systems, the context of use did not change much. Whether the use was in the office or at a personal computer at home, the surroundings were similar and there was no need to adapt to different environments. In today’s world, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs provide different services in different contexts. These services are consumed by a variety of users and require different interaction models, use cases, and planning. For this reason, UX professionals should first design for the context of use in order to provide better experiences and ultimately enhance the intended purpose of the product.
On 04/16/2012,
in art, career development, interaction design, interactivity, interface design, programming, user experience (UX), user interface design, visualizing information,
by Daniel Christian
In Silicon Valley, designers emerge as rock stars — from Reuters.com by Gerry Shih
Excerpt:
The new breed of “user experience” designers – part sketch artist, part programmer, with a dash of behavioral scientist thrown in – are some of the most sought-after employees in technology. Entry-level interactive designers at startups are commanding salaries easily topping $80,000, almost twice the median pay for primarily print designers of about $45,000, according to a recent survey by the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
From DSC:
From my experience with Internet-related work and careers, most people are either gifted in the front end of things (interface design, graphic design, web design, etc.) or in the back end of things (programming, databases, scripting, e-commerce, security, etc.). I have seen individuals who can do both…but it’s rare that someone is deeply versed in both sides of the coin.
What are we doing in higher ed to foster more cross-disciplinary skills/assignments/projects/teams like this?
On 03/02/2012,
in creativity, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, machine-to-machine communications, Near Field Communication (NFC), usability, user experience (UX), user interface design,
by Daniel Christian
On 02/03/2012,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, art, Augmented Reality (AR), corporate / business world, creativity, education technology, emerging technologies, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, mirroring and/or multiple devices, presentations, smart classrooms, tablets, technologies for your home, technology (general), telecommunications, television, transmedia, trends, TVs, vendors, videoconferencing, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
Is this the future of touchscreen tech? New video [from Corning] will blow your mind — from Mashable! by Samantha Murphy
Excerpt:
Gorilla Glass manufacturer Corning has unveiled a follow-up YouTube video to its wildly successful “A Day Made of Glass,” providing another look into what the future could be like with the growth of glass touchscreen interfaces, from innovative chalkboards and activity tables in classrooms to uses for it in hospitals.
Corning released two versions of “A Day Made of Glass 2? — one with a narrator and another, abbreviated version without commentary — the video follows the life of young Amy and her family as they go through their day using various products made of glass. Amy does classwork on a glass tablet, controls the temperature of the car from the backseat and even attends a field trip at the Redwood Forrest with an interactive signage that brings learning to life. Her teacher also works with students on interactive touchscreen activity tables. Corning expects these activity tables to be rolled out in the near future.
Sample images (by DSC):
On 09/15/2011,
in 21st century, design, digital storytelling, educational games / serious games, engagement / engaging students, interaction design, interactivity, story, storytelling,
by Daniel Christian
Example slides:
On 07/27/2011,
in computer science, digital learning, digital textbooks, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), education technology, emerging technologies, higher education, human-computer interaction (HCI), interaction design, interactivity, interface design, K-12 related, mathematics, multi-touch, programming, publishing, Uncategorized, usability, user experience (UX), user interface design,
by Daniel Christian
From Brett Victor’s “Kill Math” page
The power to understand and predict the quantities of the world should not be restricted to those with a freakish knack for manipulating abstract symbols.
When most people speak of Math, what they have in mind is more its mechanism than its essence. This “Math” consists of assigning meaning to a set of symbols, blindly shuffling around these symbols according to arcane rules, and then interpreting a meaning from the shuffled result. The process is not unlike casting lots.
This mechanism of math evolved for a reason: it was the most efficient means of modeling quantitative systems given the constraints of pencil and paper. Unfortunately, most people are not comfortable with bundling up meaning into abstract symbols and making them dance. Thus, the power of math beyond arithmetic is generally reserved for a clergy of scientists and engineers (many of whom struggle with symbolic abstractions more than they’ll actually admit).
We are no longer constrained by pencil and paper. The symbolic shuffle should no longer be taken for granted as the fundamental mechanism for understanding quantity and change. Math needs a new interface.
Also see:
On 07/14/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, animation, Apple, art, changing business models, convergence, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, generational differences, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, love of learning, media/film, multimedia, new business models, new media literacies, publishing, quality, reading, storytelling, technologies for your home, tools, trends, user experience (UX), user interface design, using teams,
by Daniel Christian
Check out:
- Fantastic new children’s iPad book by author William Joyce — from curiositycounts.com as curated by Maria Popova
Also see:
- iTunes Preview of “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” by Moonbot Studios LA, LLC
- The Making Of Morris: Part 4 (Invitations To Adventure)
- The Making Of Morris: Part 3 (Thousands Of Books)
- morrislessmore.com
- MOONBOT Studios: An interplanetary creative expedition of story and art
From DSC:
This also nicely illustrates why I believe we need to use teams of specialists to create and deliver our learning materials (June 2009).
On 06/14/2011,
in A/V -- audio/visual, architecture, art, Asia, Europe, interaction design, interactivity,
by Daniel Christian
…was a one day seminar (held back in January 2011) with associated art exhibition that explores the intersections of light, space and interaction.
image (c) Eddie Clemens 2011
The next LUX event is confirmed as taking place on 8-10 July 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. The format will be similar to Oslo Lux – a mix of local and international artists, researchers, designers and architects will map out the overlaps of light, space and interaction. The event will take place over 2 1/2 days, and is timed to coincide with Te Aomarama, a Maori festival of light. See http://www.lux.org.nz/ for more information.
Also see:
Two swans below fireworks projected onto fountain at Odaiba Water Show (Tokyo).
On 06/08/2011,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, collaboration, convergence, Daniel S. Christian, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, learning ecosystem, learning spaces, multi-touch, multimedia, participation, smart classrooms, technologies for your home, technology (general), television, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC: It would be sharp (and somewhat James Bond-ish) if you could take the concepts within the iTable from Kyle Buckner Designs.com…(esp. motorized parts and a customizable design)
…and combine those concepts with concepts found within a Microsoft Surface type of table: (esp. multi-touch capabilities for a group of people to work collaboratively on)
…and combine those concepts with concepts found within Steelcase’s Media:Scape product… (esp. the ability to bring your own device and instantly “connect” it and press a puck-like device to begin displaying it on the screen/table)
…kinda gives us a flavor for what may very well be part of the integration and continued convergence of devices…and it may be a device in your living room or study.
On 06/01/2011,
in A/V -- audio/visual, convergence, design, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, e-books, e-readers, education technology, emerging technologies, Europe, future, interaction design, interactivity, interface design, learning ecosystem, mobile learning, mobile technologies, technologies for your home, technology (general), television, transmedia, trends, usability, user experience (UX), user interface design,
by Daniel Christian
Multiscreen Patterns — from Precious-Forever.com by Christophe Stolle
Patterns to help understand and define strategies for the multiscreen world.
On 05/31/2011,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, architecture, art, Augmented Reality (AR), communications, creativity, emerging technologies, immersion, interaction design, interactivity,
by Daniel Christian
Also see:
On 05/25/2011,
in corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, engagement / engaging students, interaction design, presentations, training / L&D, videoconferencing, webinars,
by Daniel Christian
Key tips every webinar host should know –– from guest blogger Gena Taylor (Maestro eLearning), as she interviewed Lynne Bauerschmidt (HCR ManorCare)
Lynne Bauerschmidt is the Business Training Services lead at HCR ManorCare for the homecare, healthcare and hospice divisions. She supervises five team members who are responsible for the development of all business office training programs and training on all back office functions as they relate to payroll, accounts payable, and how to utilize our computer system for patient management.
Over 20 webinar classes are offered each month and open to anyone in the office. The team is also responsible for training all office managers with an extensive 6 week training program, developed by the team, and all done via webinar. The business units are located across the United States in 154 locations. Lynne has been in the healthcare field for 29 years and has a bachelor’s in Management of Health Services.
What follows is an interview between Lynne and Maestro eLearning, as a part of a new series called Trainer Talks. This series explores the difficulties of being a trainer and how to overcome them, along with tips and advice to make your training more effective and even more engaging.
Q. What have you found to be the greatest challenges in the training profession today?
Our greatest challenge is finding ways to ensure our audience is retaining and learning the information we are presenting. In January 2009 my team went to 100% webinar training. Without the aid of face-to-face training, you are continuing to look for ways to ensure your audience is still engaged.
Q. Webinars have escalated in popularity. What are the most effective ways you have found to ensure you audience is still engaged?
Listed below are some of the different methods we use to try to ensure the student is engaged and learning:
- Ask questions regarding how the process (training topic) currently works at their office. What works/does not work for them?
- Demonstrations/pass the mouse
- Tests
- Switch between PowerPoint presentations, desktop, manual information, etc.
- ask questions to them directly and have them respond, create a dialogue
The most important thing is finding out what they hope to achieve with the class and making sure the material suits their need.
Q. Are there certain things every webinar host should keep in mind?
- Keep the audience engaged utilizing the tools available in the webinar software (check marks and X’s – yes/no; poling questions; pass the mouse, etc.).
- Keep the training interactive. Mix up the tools/methods of training. Don’t rely on power points only. Share your desktop; use the white board; ask questions; demonstrate; pass the mouse; have them practice on their own and check their work. Don’t just read or talk to them.
- Give breaks every 50 minutes or so, even though they are not in a typical classroom, participants still need to take a break from the material.
- Know your audience. Not everyone is comfortable using a computer; some may not be familiar with the material.
- Be flexible, be ready to change based on what your audience needs.
Q. What do you like most about teaching the webinars?
What I like most about teaching via webinar is the great number of people we can reach. We began teaching exclusively using the webinar method in January 2009. At first we were apprehensive and not at all sure it would be successful, believing that face-to-face training was the best. Due to financial cutbacks, we had to find a way to make it work. My team worked together to put together more than 20 webinar presentations that we conduct and offer each month, in addition we offer customized and software upgrade trainings. These trainings are reviewed and updated routinely.
Prior to 2009 our audience was focused on just office managers. The office managers were then responsible for training their staff. Since we went to the all webinar format, we have expanded the positions we train to all office positions, both clerical and clinical as it relates to back office processes and systems. This allowed us to train 2,947 individuals in 2009 and 4,091 in 2010, compared to 420 in 2008. Another added benefit, the students can re-take any of the courses at any time to brush up on their skills or refresh themselves on a process not used often. Cost is reduced as there are no travel expenses when training via webinar.
Q. What other advice do you have to present and future trainers?
Be positive, make it fun! Always be looking for new, more inventive ways to convey the information you want to present. People attending your classes can’t see you, they need to hear your enthusiasm. Facilitate participation and encourage feedback.
Maestro eLearning is a customer service company in the business of creating custom online training courses. They’re collaborating with industry professionals to deliver more value in their series “Trainer Talks.” If you would like to participate in an interview, contact genatyalor@maestroelearning.com.
On 05/24/2011,
in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, interaction design, interactivity, UK,
by Daniel Christian
oki-ni presents THE GAME — from oko-ni.com
Excerpt:
At oki-ni we make the everyday extraordinary. That’s why, when it came to creating our latest video, we wanted to do something truly remarkable. What we came up with is this, an interactive and fully-shoppable video.
On 05/04/2011,
in 21st century, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, e-books, e-readers, future, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, journalism, multi-touch, multimedia, user experience (UX), user interface design, visualizing information,
by Daniel Christian
Mike Matas: A next-generation digital book (filmed March 2011)
About this talk
Software developer Mike Matas demos the first full-length interactive book for the iPad — with clever, swipeable video and graphics and some very cool data visualizations to play with. The book is “Our Choice,” Al Gore’s sequel to “An Inconvenient Truth.”
About Mike Matas
While at Apple, Mike Matas helped write the user interface for the iPhone and iPad. Now with Push Pop Press, he’s helping to rewrite the electronic book.