Internet: I was only just coming up for air

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by jam343

I went to Melbourne and Newcastle, Australia to visit my family these holidays and i packed with me my very compact little Asus. While i wasn't able to come to some of the Dil workshops because of this, it was a great opportunity to use and feel the computer (and operating system) in its element. I not only bought the Asus to travel lightly with, but also to influence me in using the Ubuntu platform. Combining this new experience with limited internet access and design work due in a few days was pushing my limits... but overall i wasn't disappointed.

I was at my grandmothers house in Melbourne for the first week. She doesn't have internet access and the only way i could get online was to walk to the library and book and hour slot in the day. While an hour sounds plentiful, three emails into it and time is half up. It may have possibly been the quickest hour(s) of my life. Frantically reading emails, thinking of ones i needed to make, and reading edits... To make matters worse, getting on the wireless on the asus is quite difficult with wireless settings having a password. So everything i needed had to be transferred from one computer onto my Asus and i had to remember to save these documents as an open source file.

It was a really interesting experience to not only use Open software to create the designs, but to have really restricted access to the internet. No quick checks to see if deadlines have been altered, or any new edits been made. No quick references or inspirational images to pull from. No sidetracking on trademe and weather forecasts. Just me, the initial brief and the computer. The whole experience felt more open source than expected. However, in the end i was happy with what i designed, and while the wireless connection was a bummer, everything else on the laptop worked out smoothly. I am still tweaking the laptop, and i am still only a beginner with this operating system, but at the moment i feel like i can conquer anything on it - especially after this experience.

Poodle in Flight

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by greg westfall

Yesterdays review on our initial goals and goal cycles has me thinking about where i am, what i have done, and where i want to go. While the goal of learning Linux was always long term (i would be kidding myself to think i could learn all of the command lines in a few months), i am really grateful for being a part of this program and specifically taking the time to get in touch with people who know Linux, and other online tools, and be in an environment where we can assist each other with them. This goal, otherwise, would have been pushed way off in the distance. So i think while i may not have finished or completed this cycle in this time frame, i definitely think i have made good contacts and process.

My other minor goal of learning to touch type was demolished when Michael told me it can be really bad for you and can cause problems with the hands. I have heard a few stories about this, where finger joints in the hands start to ache after an hour and can end up being really serious. At the moment, i sort of half touch type half not, and i think for now thats a good way to be. I may learn how to touch type naturally in a few decades ;o) My other small goal of blogging every day, well, i think i was a bit keen. I don't really believe in blogging because i have to (and putting this goal on myself was a recipe for disaster), but only when i have something to say, something to share or something i have found. I probably don't spend nearly as much time reading as i should.

Ubuntu is on my Asus

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by Arwen Abendstern

After the previous workshop, i found that i needed to have a different version of Linux on my Asus eee so that i may alter, edit and look easily at the command lines, in order to be one step closer in learning the basics of Linux. The Asus eee doesn't have a cd or dvd drive, only usb ports. In the previous workshop with Michael, he told me that he has a flash disk with Ubuntu for the eee on it. I emailed Michael and he was thankfully able to come to the workshop yesterday afternoon to show me how to install it onto my eee pc.

If i didn't take off the existing version of Linux, i would have been really restricted to how i use the Asus eee as the version that was on it was basically not editable: unless you were like me, and tried, and then realized you just wiped the whole computer. Which in the end is okay because you can reset these things so that it is back to the original settings. Putting Ubuntu on my eee was really simple, just plug in the usb and set install as normal software. While installing it deletes the old operating system and all contents in it. This version of Ubuntu was specially made for the Asus eee and there are a few glitches in it, but generally is great to run. The glitches are things such as window sizes and scrolling on a few windows, which is because of the small screen size of the eee.

My initial reaction with having Ubuntu on my eee was yay! I can now start getting close to this distant thing called Linux and try and figure it out. Things seem easy to find, changing the wallpaper (for one) is not a daunting task like it was on the original version (no command lines to do this, like there was). I now have a desktop and folders, programs run under a start button... while there is so much i like about it, it feels as though it's only because it is the familiar. This version is similar to the mac and windows, but probably easier to use. I will keep an update of my process and thoughts with this operating system as it is still a new toy at the moment. Big thanks to Michael for all of his help on this.

Third Workshop - Linux

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by Computer Science Geek

I bought the Asus Eee computer about a month ago. Being so small, it is great for traveling, getting on the internet and using basic office software. This pc has a basic Linux operating system on it, which is an operating system i do not know much about. I am interested in open software (made available to all under a free and open copyright license) and i thought it would be the perfect opportunity to learn. Firstly, I joined the asus user forum and posted a few initial questions on my linux. I really wanted to know how to change the boring standard background on the desktop - but it just seemed impossible. So that was my first forum question. Surprisingly within a couple of hours i had several responses, which was great, however i didn't understand a word or it. Lots of coding, using command lines and terminals... i just couldn't get my head around it. Participating in Dil is the perfect opportunity to learn Linux - surely there will be someone who knows about this operating system. What i really needed was someone to guide me through it. Bronwyn arranged Michael Rowlands from Information Systems and Support at the Polytechnic, to come in talk to talk to me at the third Dil workshop on Wednesday.

Michael knows a lot about Linux, and it was great to have him talk to me about it. Michael wanted to see what i knew about LInux and why i wanted to use it. He showed me some open source software he has on his computer, which looks like great alternatives to some of the software i am using (and paying lots of money for). Michael explained that I have the easy mode version of Linux on my asus eee pc, which is what comes with this pc. He also explained that there are many versions of Linux, and this easy mode version is the fool proof version (primarily for children) and very hard to alter and change. The coding i saw in result to my questions on the user forum is called the command line, which is what is used to edit and change the system (i think)... I am still very unsure with what it is and how to use it. Hopefully over the following weeks i will get my head around it. Michael suggested that i put another version of Linux on my asus, so i can use graphic software and edit the interface easily. Hopefully we will be doing this next week.

In the short time i had with Michael, i found that there were lots of versions of Linux, and the one i have on my asus is really basic and restricted. We both agreed that i should put a more user adjustable version on my pc (probably Ubuntu) so that i can hack into it and learn about Linux practically. What i found interesting was the different versions of Linux, and how some (such as Ubuntu) allow some non-open source software (and their icons) to run on this operating system.

My Goals... Revised

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by dogfrog

Initially, when starting this project my main goal was to learn Linux and some open source software. While i am still really keen on this, i have identified a couple of other small goals for myself. After hearing Sarah talk about blogging yesterday, i have decided to start blogging more regularly and to not be so precious about what i write. When i am precious i end up writing nothing because i feel as though what i am saying isn't valuable enough for the critical eyes of the world wide web (silly i know). Another small goal of mine is to learn how to touch type. While at the second session at DIL yesterday afternoon, Sarah commented that i was a two finger typer too. I had always wanted to learn how to touch type and i think now would be the perfect opportunity. It seems as though Sarah had a profound influence on me yesterday :) So all in all, currently i now have three goals, one main and two small goals:

1. Learn Linux
2. Learn touch typing
3. Blog everyday

DIL - Workshop Two

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by michale

Today Sarah showed us her blog, and explained the values and uses of having it. She explained that using a blog in midwifery has created many connections from other practitioners and lecturers in this field, not only in New Zealand but also Australia and America. Sarah also showed us her animoto video she made of her son's 18th birthday. Animoto is an easy online video maker which allows users to create and download videos created from still images, music and video. It synchronises the music in coordination with the images to create the clip.

As a student, i think it's great that Sarah has her own blog. It allows students to see her personality, identity, thoughts and findings. Having a blog gives open access for people from all different perspectives to view posts and information and comments. My thoughts after listening to Sarah is that i really should build up my blog(s) and use them more effectively. I feel as though i am too precious about what i write even though I do know quite a lot about blogs, technicalities and how to use them. I actually have about 6 of them however they are probably used more like placeholders until i "use" them (strange). Alongside my goal of learning linux in this project, i need (and want) to use blogging more effectively to create a bigger network and thoroughly record my process. Maybe this could be start... one post a day? maybe.

DIL - Workshop One

Image from flickr: creative commons attribution by c

Review on today(14/05/08): Firstly, we had an introduction to the research project and what the outcomes may be. We then introduced each other and what our objectives are for this project and also talk about our skills, knowledge and experiences with Digital Information Literacy, computers and software in general. The movie EPIC 2014 is quite an eye opener on what can be done and a nice foresight into the possibilities.

My objectives: I would like to learn how to use the open source operating system, Linux and hopefully some of the open source software programs that work on Linux such as Scribus and Gimp. I am confident with the PC and Macintosh operating systems and would like to extend my knowledge into the open source platforms. I am not sure if there was anyone here today that has knowledge in Linux, however i am sure they could be sourced. I feel as though i have a lot to offer and have a sound knowledge in most communication tools for a varying range of people.

My strengths: I am in my last year of a communication design degree at the Otago Polytechnic, and i am also a part time designer. I am familiar and have broad knowledge in design software for both pc and macintosh. I have strong skills graphic design, the adobe suite (illustrator, indesign, photoshop), video producing shooting and editing (high definition camera operation, premiere, imovie...), animation in flash and creating websites. I also know how to use and source free content images, as well as many web2 platforms such as blogger, wiki's, bloglines, flickr... I am happy to help anyone in the group with any of these fields.

DIL - Digital Information Literacy Project

I am participating in a research project called DIL - Digital Information Literacy at the Otago Polytechnic. This research project is supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education Tertiary eLearning Research fund (TeLRF). This is a collaborative research project led by Otago Polytechnic researchers in partnership with researchers at the University of Otago, Massey University and Manakau Institute of Technology.

Goals of the project are to investigate and develop the digital information literacy capability of tertiary students and staff, and evaluate the impact of this on lifelong learning, productivity and innovation in the NZ context. Within this are specific project objectives, which for the application needed to align with specific outcomes provided by the Ministry of Education.

Lev Manovich - The Interface

Who is this guy?
From Wikipedia> Lev Manovich is Professor of Visual Arts, University of California, San Diego, USA where he teaches new media art and theory. His book The Language of New Media has received over 50 reviews in the USA and was translated into Italian, Korean, Polish, Spanish and Chinese. According to the reviewers, this book offers "the first rigorous and far-reaching theorization of the subject" (CAA reviews); "it places new media within the most suggestive and broad ranging media history since Marshall McLuhan" (Telepolis).

Caro's notes on the chapter
Interface - by Lev Manovich,
from The Language of New Media
2001 MIT Press, Cambridge Mass

"The interface shapes how the computer user conceives of the computer itself"

Eg “cut and paste” command
1. Makes traditional distinctions between spatial and temporal media irrelevant
2. Scale irrelevant
3. Traditional distinctions between media (text, image, moving image, sound, 3D models) all effected by cut and paste in the same way

• We use the same interface for work and play
• Manovich rewrites form-content dichotomy with content-interface.

Q What do you think?

Q What do you think are the key points?

Q How does this definition of interface differ from the Bolter/Gromala definition we talked about in class last week? Are there common ideas?

Q Re-visit one of your interactive websites (or a new one you find) and re-consider using Manovich’s model...

to click or not to click?

Dont click-it














Experience a button-free world. This nicely designed website does not use mouse click in its interface, instead it uses a mouse over and mouse movement feature to go to another page, link or path in the website.

The project dontclick-it.com started to evolve when the developer began to question habits of interface developments. The Click is the perfect mechanism to navigate contents: with total control and quickness. However, the developer realised that moving the mouse between the clicks mostly results in dead time/space which could be filled. So...

" I could not resist: i took away the click"

The interface is now currently being evaluated.
Check it out and try it for yourself... if you don't like the click-free nature i am sure that you will like its design elements.

existing interface design

Great Rally















50,000 people around the world die everyday as a direct result of living in poverty. As the leaders of the world's richest countries gather in Scotland for the G8 Summit on the 6th - 8th of July, tens of thousands of people will gather in Edinburgh to make their concerns heard in support of the Make Poverty History campaign. G8rally.com features a virtual Edinburgh where those who can't make it to the capital can join in and make themselves heard online.

Q What are the parts that make it up?
There is a main page (a home page) that has links to other paths in the webpage. The main page is simple and nicely designed with interesting characters. This front page acts as the main "theme" for the whole interface of the site. The most interesting part on the site is that it goes into each and every supporter and voice what they have to say... If you cannot make it to Edinburgh, your voice can be heard online!

This is done by choosing a character and putting it in the virtual Edinburgh on the site, then creating a message so that when a guest takes the virtual Edinburgh tour the character that is made will be in amongst other supporter characters. If you click on one of the characters it then zooms in and the viewer can read their message.

Q Is it a window or a mirror?
I think it is both a window and a mirror, as it does give information and it is also interactive. A supporter feels as though s/he is amongst it, and can actually zoom in on their virtual self in the crowd amongst the others.

Q Is it one way?
Is it partially one way with information, however what is more is that there is an interactive section to the site where the user can "explore Edinburgh" which is more an interactive experience and therefore two way communication. This two-way connection creates a feeling of really being part of the rally and somewhat attributing in the rally.

Q How does the interface shape our experience?
Being interactive, it creates a virtual experience and it feels as though the viewer is taking part of the petition. If it was a static form that a supporter was to just fill out and email, the viewer couldn't see where it end up or how it is contributing. This virtual world of supporting "characters" makes the experience feel more real or more fulfilling - to some extent anyway...