Lecture #4 Jan 25th

PERCEPTION

• happens in your senses (ex. eyes, ears, nose, mouth-which are all "channels")
• aka "sampling"
• consistency

COGNITION

• happens in your brain
• aka "process"
• recognizable
• ex. editing (to carry and transmit a message aka narrative)

For example: eating food = smell = brain = mouth = taste = brain(memories)

This example is also known as a feed back loop (interaction) - perception and cognition are always working together.

An example in media is the interpolation of a cube. This is the process happening in your head making sense of an object moving in space.

GESALT THEORY- understands things by shapes (perception), and in order to understand things by shape you must have seen the object before (cognition)

Propreception (Kinesthesia) - see related web page

Media relies on

• sense of space (reality/perception)
• on 2D screen
• want people to have an experience
• to project yourself in a 3D space
• see

formal definitions of terms:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perception

other possibly related web sites:

http://www.electrochem.org/publications/interface/interface.htm - an interesting page for a magazine

http://www.core77.com/ - an industrial design web page

http://www.guerrilla-innovation.com/ - web page dedicated to innovation

Mapping & metaphor

Mapping is taking these aspects and shaping them.
Metaphor is comparing of an abstract output to a physical output.(ie. a digital clock, to a physical clock (w/moving hands))
Function is the mapping element in the equation, where all the details are spread out into a virtual plain and so that they can be ready for the fusion of the other components.
while Form is the metaphoric aspect of the process, a layout is created so that the "functions" may be applied.
after the juxtaposition is completed a final product can be presented.
during this process the aspect of design is needed to be taken into consideration. comprising of numerous variables.

Project and style
target and users
There are differnet Layout dimensions:ie. 3D (space), 4D (time)
In the relationship shared between (space + time) regards to the use of the object is evident.

Layout ----> interface:
ex) car dashboard
there are the gauges (projecting the information), steering wheel, gear shift (the interface elements)
Mapping --> design --> interface --> information
Exist in the same flow: interface elements (physical) + information

ex) while driving:

vibration - feel the speed (acceleration)
guages - tells the speed (km/h)
Feedback = Response
The answer of the system that is being used.
Loop - ready, on, awaiting input to produce feedback.

to every action there is always a reaction and with this taken into account the "feedback" can be recorded.
Numerous processes are occuring while driving:
looking outside,seeing gauges (speed), feeling vibration, while the entire time thoughts racing through your head,
you might be turning...
Numerous processes running at the same time but they don't have the same nature (abstract, physical)
Driving is a flow: an even distribution of all of these different processes.
Analyze --> Breaking it down --> Processes
Mapping --> spreading processes evenly on a scale.
from abstract <-----to-----> physical
Interface - a system to send instructions.
System - an IN and OUT.
Affordances - inverse casts (where and how to interact)
Behaviour of a system, to give feedback.
Form Follows Function
Cybernetics - WWII, everything in nature/the world is a system
Physical: more physicality, time and space, 24 hours (overall picture)
tells where you lie in the overall layout of the day, somewhere in those 24 hours. (time + space)(approximation)
Digital:data,pure precision,a.m. & p.m. needed to compensate
There are affordances in physical and graphical space.
Bit - 1 unit of information.

Class 02 / Jan.12th

Mapping & Metaphor

• Form & function - a fusion of these concepts.

Mapping & metaphor design need:

• Project - style
• functions
• target --> users

• Mapping is taking these aspects and shaping them.

• Spreading functions on a layout. Ex) map, phone keyboard, final design (object itself).

• Layout has dimensions: 3D (space), 4D (time)

• The relationship shared between (space + time) regarding the use of the object

• Layout ----> interface:

• ex) car dashboard -->

• guages (information)
• steering wheel, gear shift (interface elements)

• Mapping --> design --> interface --> information

• Exist in the same flow: interface elements (physical) + information
• ex) while driving:
• vibration - feel the speed (acceleration)
• guages - tells the speed (km/h)

• Feedback = Response
• The answer of the system that is being used.
• Loop - ready, on, awaiting input to produce feedback.
• Cybernetics - WWII, everything in nature/the world is a system
  
• From a system, you get a response (in real-time)
• Continuous, where there is input (moveing the mouse), there is feedback (movement/response)

• Numerous processes are occuring while driving:
• looking outside
• seeing guages (speed)
• feeling vibration
• appointment to get too
• you might be turning...

• Numerous processes running at the same time but they don't have the same nature (abstract, physical)
• Driving is a flow: an even distribution of all of these different processes.

• Analyze --> Breaking it down --> Processes

• Mapping --> spreading processes evenly on a scale.
• from abstract <-----to-----> physical

• Interface - a system to send instructions.
• System - an IN and OUT.
• Affordances - inverse casts (where and how to interact)
• Behaviour of a system, to give feedback.
• Form Follows Function

Metaphor: comparing a digital clock, to a physical clock (w/moving hands)

• Physical:
• more physicality
• time and space
• 24 hours (overall picture)
• tells where you lie in the overall layout of the day, somewhere in those 24 hours. (time + space)
• approximation
  

• Digital:
• data
• pure precision
• a.m. & p.m. needed to compensate

• There are affordances in physical and graphical space.
• Bit - 1 unit of information.
  

Notice to all students,
to view the course outline, please refer to the december posting.
thank you.

Week 1

Week 1:
(Wed Jan 4/05 3:15-6:05pm, Thurs Jan 5/05 12-2:50pm & 3:15-6:05pm)

Hello and welcome to the first post from classes during week 1. Here are the major points that were covered during the lecture. It was based on an overview of the course outline so you can always refer to that for further insight. I hope this refreshes your memory!

The course outline will be available on Priam Givord’s ‘my courses’. Follow the relevant links from the OCAD home website. Sorry about the delay! Our class lists are still being updated!

Lecture 1:

- flow, real-time and feedback are important factors within the broad field of interaction design
- flow can be described in parallel or sequential modes
- parallel processes occur at the same time, sequential processes are step-by-step i.e. computer systems
- feedback means receiving confirmation about an action carried out
- new media moves away from linear time (i.e. just pressing ‘play’) to non-linear
- example: ‘choose your own adventure’ books from the 80s allowed the reader to think outside of a linear, sequential mode



- (Ted Nelson invented ‘hyper-text’, connecting websites through hyper-linking – a buildup of a network)
- with new media, we have the digital era
- roots of technological advances at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
- Shannon Theory of Information involves the notion of a ‘bit’ – a unit of information
- analog signals vs digital signals
- analog signals convey the full print or pattern of information such as in the printed reproduction of vinyl records



- digital signals are deconstructed patterns sent between two points
- the content you send is the same as the content that is received – very precise!
- ‘morse code’ is equivalent to digital signals



- digital technologies are chosen today because information can be replicated without inaccuracies (as in a scratched vinyl record)
- perception and cognition within interactive environments
- perception includes the real-world senses i.e. sight, hearing, touch, (smell, taste...)
- cognition is the brain’s interpretation of perception
- interfaces (as in a computer system) are designed to represent functions, acting like a bridge for interaction
- now striving to change metaphors of time to metaphors of space...

links of interest:
John Maeda
MIT Media Lab

Required Textbook:

Universal Principles of Design
by Lidwell, W. Holden, K. Butter, J.
Rockport 2003

Available in the OCAD bookstore and ‘Another Man’s Poison’ (from OCAD, down the street towards Queen)

Begin to think about Project 1: Collaborative Image and Time-Based Narrative
- refer to course outline for details


Role of the Scribe:

As I have done, the ‘scribe’ will take notes during the class and publish a post of his/her notes, along with relevant links, pictures etc on this blog. You will receive an email invitation from P Givord or myself and then, upon accepting the invite, you will receive privileges to post. As you scroll down to the end of each post, you will see a ‘comments’ link, where questions and further discussion is encouraged.

2 students will be informed that they will act as the ‘scribe’ before each class begins.

FYI, if you are posting with a Mac, I suggest using the web browser 'Firefox' as 'Safari' was having issues uploading pictures as well as having less options in regards to posting (i.e. no bold or italic tags, no links tags etc - you will see these options at the top of your posting box).

1st post to 1st Blogger of PID GDES 1B26 PGIVORD

Hello John,

Welcome to the PID GDES 1B26 PGIVORD blog!
You are the 1st to start this Blog and you will transmit the role of SCRIBE to 2 students of the class :-)

see you there!
PG