This week we didn’t seem to have a lot of work to do however we had a lot of readings!
Starting on Tuesday, we were assigned to read “Embodying Values in Technology: Theory and Practice” from the book Information Technology and Moral Philosophy. The reading was long and interesting at the same time. I learned several things from the reading. I learned meanings and differences of Expressed values and embodied values. Expressed values are the latter values that are expressed through the content of the design and Embodied values are the former values that expressed through the reactions between the users and the project/design. It was interesting reading about RAPUNSEL project that shows how a designer wants teenage girls to be involved in technology. They created a game that will make them involved including the values of the users (teenage girls). They used ‘peep chat’ as an embodied values as users (teenage girls) will post and share in the game. The expressed value in this example is the value of designers which are making teenage girls involved in computer science. In addition, the reading provides four of the epistemological modes that designers must participate in to incorporate values within their design. The modes are Technical Mode, Philosophical Mode, Empirical Mode and Balls in Play. These modes look at the different aspect of a design whether it’s Technical or Philosophical.
After the reading we had a quiz to do. When I started the quiz there were some questions that are not clear. I felt that the quiz questions were from outside the readings. It was too hard for me as I thought maybe I didn’t understand the reading well as English is my second language. I had to reread it and scan the article again. I completed the quiz with my understanding of the reading. On Tuesday, I found out that most of the class had the same problem with the quiz. They said it was not clear and hard to answer. Then I realized the problem was with the quiz. As the class started we were divided into groups to discuss the readings, we were working together to come up with an answer for the question. We were all sharing our understanding of the readings. After we all came as a class and had a discussion in class, I felt that I understand the reading more clearly and some of the my questions were discussed.
On Thursday the class was cancelled! Our group agreed to meet up and start working on the Questionnaire Analysis even though if the class was cancelled. We started discussing the results we found the Questionnaire and what we still need to know. From the Questionnaire results, I felt It was hard to come up with problems our users have since all the response was positive. We wrote down some of the question to ask our professor on Friday and some of the concerns we have.
On Friday, we were assigned to read “Building to Think, the power of prototyping” and three other chapters from the “Prototyping”, “Experience Prototyping”, “RITE”. These readings were interesting and enjoyable at the same time. I have created two prototypes in my last two quarter but after reading this I got to know more about prototyping and the types of prototyping. In the fall quarter, I have created a prototype app for UWB parking and Last quarter I have created a video prototype of an installation. Every time I read about prototyping I finds out other methods of prototyping. This reading showed the importance of prototyping such as it fast, cheap,iterative, get to experiment and get feed back. On the other hand, the readings provide the types of prototypes such as paper, scenarios, storyboard, cardboard and etc… In class we discussed the readings with our group and we had a class discussion about prototyping. The difference between High-fidelity prototype and Low-fidelity prototypes. Once we were done with the readings discussions, we started working with the Questionnaire. We asked our professor of the questions we prepare on Thursday and we got some of the feedbacks. We were still confused about what our user group problems. At that time we got 5 responses from the general member and 5 from the executive member, then we decided to ask more general member for response maybe we can analyze some of the problems.
After the class on Friday, I attended the guest lecture “Mark Magdamit” a game designer. He presented his experience in the gaming industry. Even though I am not into the game industry, It was helpful to learn about how companies work. He explained his life experience and how his education connected to his work. What the companies are looking for and how to get the right fit for a position. I felt his life experience was not only for game design but for all types of design. Attending these types of lecture helps me broaden my thinking about how companies work and how to plan my future as am seeing a successful designer which gives me inspirations.
On the weekend we started working on the analysis. We got 10 responses from the general member and 6 from the executive member. I felt we got enough responses from the user group. Our problem was all the responses (16 responses) were positive. This will make it hard for us to come up with a conclusion so that we could create the prototype!