Gets pretty dark on the Junction Campus at night. Please bring a flashlight! Will get cold, too, at night. FYI,
Rich
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Not as Cool as Soulja Boy: Format
Okay, not as cool (read Pete's post below), but how about the time and format for Friday?
Crank Dat (Soulja Boy): Online Usability
I know--most of you are scratching your heads. I would be, too, if I weren't already bald and concerned with eliminating the last of my locks. Soulja Boy is one of the currently-hot rappers/dancers in the world of. . .well, rapping and dancing. His latest hot video, "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)" features the Soulja Boy dance. So now you're caught up on your pop culture.
I know you people remember the Twist and the Mashed Potato (and I'm pretty sure Fred remembers the Lindy Hop). The Soulja Boy isn't much different. Watch this video, or at least some of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLGLum5SyKQ
A dance is something which can be taught quite well using Web 2.0 methods, don't you think?
It seems to me that the discussion of online usability testing, and usability instruction online, should begin with Web 2.0. Web 2.0 might be loosely defined as the media-rich, user-friendly environment in which distributed power relationships lead to frequent, and often very effective, feedback from a variety of users in a short amount of time. YouTube is an example of Web 2.0, as are blogs and wikis. I've included "media-rich," though clearly wikis and blogs can be entirely text-based; however, it's important to note that wikis and blogs are becoming increasingly multi-media venues (hence the term "vlog" to denote a "video blog").
The Web 2.0 environment might even be described as the ultimate in usability testing. You're publishing to an audience who, increasingly, cannot be defined other than to be called "users." I've seen YouTube versions of the Soulja Boy dance done by Arabs, Americans of all ages and shapes, and people from (quite literally) all over the planet. These folks see the original post, to the extent that we have "original posts" anymore, and then rather than commenting or critiquing as they would in a focus group (Usability 1.0) they make their own version (Usability 2.0). The user feedback is thus more complete in that the user generates a personal version of what should have been.
So that's my take on World Usability Day, making usability work online. We don't have to anymore. The users have become the designers, the testers, and the center. Just like in Robert Johnson's User-Centered Design, the users have taken over.
I don't know what anyone else is thinking, but that's what I've been thinking about. The transformative nature (to use Fred's and Rich's language) of these technologies have not merely transformed how we access texts: they've transformed WHO is creating the text.
I know you people remember the Twist and the Mashed Potato (and I'm pretty sure Fred remembers the Lindy Hop). The Soulja Boy isn't much different. Watch this video, or at least some of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLGLum5SyKQ
A dance is something which can be taught quite well using Web 2.0 methods, don't you think?
It seems to me that the discussion of online usability testing, and usability instruction online, should begin with Web 2.0. Web 2.0 might be loosely defined as the media-rich, user-friendly environment in which distributed power relationships lead to frequent, and often very effective, feedback from a variety of users in a short amount of time. YouTube is an example of Web 2.0, as are blogs and wikis. I've included "media-rich," though clearly wikis and blogs can be entirely text-based; however, it's important to note that wikis and blogs are becoming increasingly multi-media venues (hence the term "vlog" to denote a "video blog").
The Web 2.0 environment might even be described as the ultimate in usability testing. You're publishing to an audience who, increasingly, cannot be defined other than to be called "users." I've seen YouTube versions of the Soulja Boy dance done by Arabs, Americans of all ages and shapes, and people from (quite literally) all over the planet. These folks see the original post, to the extent that we have "original posts" anymore, and then rather than commenting or critiquing as they would in a focus group (Usability 1.0) they make their own version (Usability 2.0). The user feedback is thus more complete in that the user generates a personal version of what should have been.
So that's my take on World Usability Day, making usability work online. We don't have to anymore. The users have become the designers, the testers, and the center. Just like in Robert Johnson's User-Centered Design, the users have taken over.
I don't know what anyone else is thinking, but that's what I've been thinking about. The transformative nature (to use Fred's and Rich's language) of these technologies have not merely transformed how we access texts: they've transformed WHO is creating the text.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Getting to Junction
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hillcountry/junction/junctionmaps.htm
Just some maps TTU provides for finding Junction, Texas.
More than one map = usability.
Just some maps TTU provides for finding Junction, Texas.
More than one map = usability.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Checking In
You'll be in Study Unit I (I as in Indiana). You can check in any time after lunch on Thursday. If you arrive during business hours, stop in at the Admin building, the first building on campus. They can direct you to the study unit, and Derrick can set up your wireless access (see the previous post). If you arrive after business hours, there will be a map to the study unit posted on the Admin building front door. In any case, the door to the study unit will be unlocked.
You will have linen service, so don't worry about bringing sheets. If you like more than one blanket or pillow, bring an extra.
The first one to campus gets his or her pick of rooms! There are two dorm rooms attached to the study unit, one for men and one for women. Junction is much less fussy about where you are. They don't assign rooms, so the first person can pick which room to stay in. Everyone trusts that you can sort yourselves out. I can't imagine the two rooms would be different from one another, though.
You will have linen service, so don't worry about bringing sheets. If you like more than one blanket or pillow, bring an extra.
The first one to campus gets his or her pick of rooms! There are two dorm rooms attached to the study unit, one for men and one for women. Junction is much less fussy about where you are. They don't assign rooms, so the first person can pick which room to stay in. Everyone trusts that you can sort yourselves out. I can't imagine the two rooms would be different from one another, though.
Internet Access, Computers
Ethernet:
Plug this wire thingy into that computer thingy.... Seriously, bring an Ethernet cable. There's one Ethernet connection in the study unit, so be prepared to use it in a pinch. There's wireless, but you'll want to have a backup plan just in case.
Wireless:
If you're bringing a department computer, have your IT person (your Chad, as it were) give you admin access to your computer. Derrick Ard, the Junction campus's computer support guru, will set you up with access on Thursday if you arrive during business hours. Ask for him in the Admin building (the first building on campus). It sounds like they have to go through a setup process similar to the process the Lubbock campus had to go through to give you access in May. Even if you're still set up for Lubbock Internet access, you'll need to go through a separate setup in Junction. Derrick's office number is 806-742-6434 x227. This number is publicly available on the Tech Web site, so I don't feel bad about publishing it here.
I'll call Derrick on Monday to check in with him.
Your Computer on Campus
Bring a case for your computer because you'll want to bring it with you when you leave campus so it'll be secure.
Plug this wire thingy into that computer thingy.... Seriously, bring an Ethernet cable. There's one Ethernet connection in the study unit, so be prepared to use it in a pinch. There's wireless, but you'll want to have a backup plan just in case.
Wireless:
If you're bringing a department computer, have your IT person (your Chad, as it were) give you admin access to your computer. Derrick Ard, the Junction campus's computer support guru, will set you up with access on Thursday if you arrive during business hours. Ask for him in the Admin building (the first building on campus). It sounds like they have to go through a setup process similar to the process the Lubbock campus had to go through to give you access in May. Even if you're still set up for Lubbock Internet access, you'll need to go through a separate setup in Junction. Derrick's office number is 806-742-6434 x227. This number is publicly available on the Tech Web site, so I don't feel bad about publishing it here.
I'll call Derrick on Monday to check in with him.
Your Computer on Campus
Bring a case for your computer because you'll want to bring it with you when you leave campus so it'll be secure.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Dinner the night of the event
Hey everyone.
How do you feel about KC's ideas? Do you want catering or do you want to go out to dinner? I've never been to Junction, but I can check into the restaurants today.
What are your opinions?
How do you feel about KC's ideas? Do you want catering or do you want to go out to dinner? I've never been to Junction, but I can check into the restaurants today.
What are your opinions?
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