Sunday, October 21, 2007
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 is the second generation of web-based communications and hosted services. Web 2.0 uses Ajax which stands for JavaScript & XML as a way to improve web pages for the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 allows large or small parts within a web page to update and use new information obtained over the network in response to user actions. The use of Web 2.0 allows the World Wide Web to use clean and meaningful URLs, look at open source software, use syndication and aggregation of data programs in RSS, and the ability to change Cascading Style Sheets.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I love producing Podcast!
Wow, it took me a week to find my password, but i'm back. Let's blog.
I love Podcasts. I think that Podcasts are one of the most interesting productions an individual can produce. The reason why I find Podcast so interesting is because how easy it is to produce one. Anyone can make a Podcast. You just need to go through the three production staged: the pre-production stage, the production stage (often known as mixing and editing stage), and distribution or converting output stage. In pre-production stage, you can either read from a script or just talk freely into any input recordable device, like a microphone or a digital recorder. In the production stage, you will need some type of editing software to record, make edits, add music, and insert sound effects. In the third stage, you will need a way to export or distribute you Podcast to the Internet from your computer or editing software. You must convert your Podcast project into a compress audio file. The most common is a MP3, known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, file. You can also use a WAV file (Waveform audio format file) or a WMA file (Windows Media Audio file). After do this, you can share interesting and creative Podcasts to the world by uploading them to different Podcast or audio websites. You can make magic! If you have some free time, you should make a Podcast. Podcasts are really fun. Try it!
I love Podcasts. I think that Podcasts are one of the most interesting productions an individual can produce. The reason why I find Podcast so interesting is because how easy it is to produce one. Anyone can make a Podcast. You just need to go through the three production staged: the pre-production stage, the production stage (often known as mixing and editing stage), and distribution or converting output stage. In pre-production stage, you can either read from a script or just talk freely into any input recordable device, like a microphone or a digital recorder. In the production stage, you will need some type of editing software to record, make edits, add music, and insert sound effects. In the third stage, you will need a way to export or distribute you Podcast to the Internet from your computer or editing software. You must convert your Podcast project into a compress audio file. The most common is a MP3, known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, file. You can also use a WAV file (Waveform audio format file) or a WMA file (Windows Media Audio file). After do this, you can share interesting and creative Podcasts to the world by uploading them to different Podcast or audio websites. You can make magic! If you have some free time, you should make a Podcast. Podcasts are really fun. Try it!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
GPS and Location-aware applications Discussion (Commotion)
Global Positioning System (GPS) utilizing a constellation of at least 24 medium Earth orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, which enables a receiver to determine its location, speed/direction, and time. Global Positioning Systems are being used more often in mobile devices. Users are become more and more interested in this technology. I have become one of those interested users. I learned that in many mobile devices, they are using an application with location awareness software or as I refer to it as LAAs. To further explore this application, I started to do some research for the application. In my findings, I came across an interesting location awareness computer application called comMotion. ComMotion is a location awareness program that uses satellites to coordinate a single position of a user, which links locations and places that are relevant to user’s life. ComMotion is a daily or weekly reminder that tells the user information about a location or a building. This application has many interesting features, but with those features, there were many potential problems. Thanks to a study by Natalia Marmasse and Chris Schmandt in Location-aware information delivery with comMotion, I was able to full understand the application through their findings.
The first interesting feature is the mechanics of the application. It uses a program called Location-learning agent. According Marmasse and Schmandt, “It observes the user’s frequented locations over a time and allows them to be labeled”. If information is applied, it saves and calculates their position. The second interesting feature is the Information Services program. ComMotion called this program the “to-do list”. The program is design to let the user be notified when he or she will be in the area of interested by putting in information that is relative to their daily and weekly activities. The third feature is the notification sound. When the user is near a building or area, their device would make a sound to remind them. This could either be a song, their voice, or a repeated beep sound. The last feature is it uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI). By using the GUI, it allows the user to visual view their location and the distance of other location in latitude and longitude numbers. It also allows the user to get and see directions to their location of interest.
However, there are potential problems with this application. In the first feature, it uses the Location-learning agent via satellites. This could be a problem because it only works outside and not in building. The authors found that the calculation takes too much time. It could be several minutes to actually determine where you are when you’re leaving a location. It also has a problem with two location points that are close to each other. Due to the slow calculation time, you may drive pass another point before you are notified. In the third feature, it uses a sound notification system. It was found that the mobile users couldn’t really hear the notifications. If the application is in a mobile device, then a user might carry the phone on their hip or in your pocket. There could also be a problem when a user is driving. Also, in their research, one participle didn’t use this feature in fear of social and privacy issues. The last problem they found was with the Graphical User Interface. Even though it serves as a visual aid, some users feel that the screen was too small to accurately find their position. In addition, the uses of latitude and longitude numbers are unfamiliar with average users.
In conclusion to the comMotion, there are many interesting features. It uses satellites to determine your position and has a program to help the user input information so he or she could be notified. It also uses sounds to help remind the user that a point of interest or location is in their area and uses a GUI to help as a visual aid. I think that this program is very interesting. The features are useful, only when you are not in a building. There are problems, but not enough to stop using the application. Some feature can be corrected by simply using a vibration program. If the screen is too small, then it should only be offered on bigger screen phones. There could be a future with comMotion for mobile devices. However, since this study was published in 2000, I haven’t heard anything about it in 2007 dealing with mobile technology. I assume that it didn’t catch on to many mobile users or it was changed and renamed by someone else.
The first interesting feature is the mechanics of the application. It uses a program called Location-learning agent. According Marmasse and Schmandt, “It observes the user’s frequented locations over a time and allows them to be labeled”. If information is applied, it saves and calculates their position. The second interesting feature is the Information Services program. ComMotion called this program the “to-do list”. The program is design to let the user be notified when he or she will be in the area of interested by putting in information that is relative to their daily and weekly activities. The third feature is the notification sound. When the user is near a building or area, their device would make a sound to remind them. This could either be a song, their voice, or a repeated beep sound. The last feature is it uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI). By using the GUI, it allows the user to visual view their location and the distance of other location in latitude and longitude numbers. It also allows the user to get and see directions to their location of interest.
However, there are potential problems with this application. In the first feature, it uses the Location-learning agent via satellites. This could be a problem because it only works outside and not in building. The authors found that the calculation takes too much time. It could be several minutes to actually determine where you are when you’re leaving a location. It also has a problem with two location points that are close to each other. Due to the slow calculation time, you may drive pass another point before you are notified. In the third feature, it uses a sound notification system. It was found that the mobile users couldn’t really hear the notifications. If the application is in a mobile device, then a user might carry the phone on their hip or in your pocket. There could also be a problem when a user is driving. Also, in their research, one participle didn’t use this feature in fear of social and privacy issues. The last problem they found was with the Graphical User Interface. Even though it serves as a visual aid, some users feel that the screen was too small to accurately find their position. In addition, the uses of latitude and longitude numbers are unfamiliar with average users.
In conclusion to the comMotion, there are many interesting features. It uses satellites to determine your position and has a program to help the user input information so he or she could be notified. It also uses sounds to help remind the user that a point of interest or location is in their area and uses a GUI to help as a visual aid. I think that this program is very interesting. The features are useful, only when you are not in a building. There are problems, but not enough to stop using the application. Some feature can be corrected by simply using a vibration program. If the screen is too small, then it should only be offered on bigger screen phones. There could be a future with comMotion for mobile devices. However, since this study was published in 2000, I haven’t heard anything about it in 2007 dealing with mobile technology. I assume that it didn’t catch on to many mobile users or it was changed and renamed by someone else.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Creating a Mobile Home page
Click to enlarge!
The home page that I picked to redesign was facebook.com. I think this was a little challenging. As web designers, it’s important that the mobile home page is aesthetically pleasing and has the accurate content displayed. As for the process of creating a correct home page for a mobile screen, I found two obstacles, which were color and content. Since it’s a small screen (240 x 320 pixels), I wanted to be sure that the colors were web-based. Choosing the correct color is very important and should reflect the actual computer web screen. I used some of the same color scheme as it was on the web page. The other obstacle was the content. Since the screen is small, it limits the amount of content being viewed. So, as the designer, I have to pick what words, pictures, and links are most important. Tell me how I did?
The home page that I picked to redesign was facebook.com. I think this was a little challenging. As web designers, it’s important that the mobile home page is aesthetically pleasing and has the accurate content displayed. As for the process of creating a correct home page for a mobile screen, I found two obstacles, which were color and content. Since it’s a small screen (240 x 320 pixels), I wanted to be sure that the colors were web-based. Choosing the correct color is very important and should reflect the actual computer web screen. I used some of the same color scheme as it was on the web page. The other obstacle was the content. Since the screen is small, it limits the amount of content being viewed. So, as the designer, I have to pick what words, pictures, and links are most important. Tell me how I did?
Note:
The was picture was done with non-commercial, educational use only!
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