The Basics of Putting Together a Computer

* What is this map's sense of purpose? What features of the map make you think that?

It would appear that this map's sense of purpose is to show visually how a computer is put together. The individual parts of the computer and the motherboard itself are shown.

* What is this map's audience? What features of the map make you think that?

The audience would probably be people who need to take apart or put together computers. Most people are generally content with not knowing the technical aspects of how a computer works.

* What is this map's context? What features of the map make you think that?

This looks like a picture that could be put on a technical website or possible blown up and put onto a poster. It could also be printed out and given to people who are working on computers.

* What strategies does this map use? How do these strategies suit its sense of purpose, audience, or context?

It has a good color-coding strategy that seems to help correspond the object to its place on the motherboard.

* What will be this map's final medium? How does this medium suit its sense of purpose, audience, or context?

This may be going to be put on the internet. If it were on a technical site that might be the best way to get the information out to the audience who could use it.

* How is this map arranged? How does this arrangement suit its sense of purpose, audience, or context?

The map is arranged in such a way that the motherboard is on the upper left and the corresponding elements are arranged around it on the bottom and right sides. It is helpful for the purpose since you can easily see both the motherboard and the components at the same time. The color-coding helps that further.

* What is the strongest element of this data map and why?

I think that the strongest element right now is the individual pictures. They are what stick out the most at first glance and draw the audience in.

* What element of this data map needs the most improvement and why?

I think that it would be helpful if each picture was labeled so you knew what each part is. Also the font isn't as clear as it should be. The fact that the color-coding boxes around the components are at odd angles(as in not 90 degrees) are troubling to me visually. Also the fact that some of the color coding boxes are multicolored is not necessarily explained why.

Sense of Purpose:
It seems to me the purpose of this data map is to instruct someone how to assemble a computer from a handful of basic elements.
Audience:
The audience of this data map is most likely people who already know a significant amount about computer hardware but just need a little help assembling it all together. This map seems to advanced for the average person or consumer.
Context:
I imagine this map would most likely be found on a “how to” website. It does not seem to be detailed enough to serve as an instruction manual, but it is also not vague enough to be a conceptual procedure map.
Strategies:
Some of the strategies used in this map are very good. I like the picture of the motherboard with the plug in locations of all the part highlighted with their respective colors. I also like the pictures of each part off to the right hand side. I agree the yellow needs to be changed and a little more explanation is also needed. However, I would also indicate in which direction the parts are supposed to be connected. Also, I would tell the reader the most important thing when assembling computer components…If it doesn’t go in relatively easily then you are doing it wrong. Advise them not to force in any of the components or else they may break! Other than that, I really like the strategies employed to help the reader visualize the task at hand. The strategies support the sense of purpose well, they just need a little modification in some areas.
Medium:
The internet is the medium I imagine this map utilizing. It supports the sense of purpose and audience because most people who would search for this kind of information would be trying to assemble a computer and if they were trying that, they would be relatively computer savvy. It also obviously fits in with the context of a “how to” website.
Arranged:
I like the arrangement of the information. The motherboard on the left with each component on the right is a good arrangement. It is logical and easy to understand. Still, if you were to add more components, perhaps placing the motherboard in the center with the parts around it would make for a better arrangement.
Strongest Element:
I feel like the strongest element of this map is certainly the pictures. The visualization is key to helping the reader easily follow the written instructions.
Most improvement needed:
I would improve the descriptions somewhat. I would explain how each piece actually fits and also allow for the fact that some other computer parts/motherboards may be arranged slightly differently than the one shown.

I think this map's purpose is to try and show how to replace or upgrade various parts of a computer. The features would be the giant pictures of the major components that can be removed and upgraded.
I think the map's audience would be people who have very little to no experience with a computer or upgrading one and want to learn the basics. I would also say that the audience is probably male, but that's a pretty stereotypical response. Features I would point out are the simplicity what is being upgraded. Nothing more than a screwdriver and some common sense is really needed.
I have no idea what the context really is, but my guess is that it would be some kind of cheat sheet or quick guide to go along with more in depth instructions on the proper procedure for upgrading a computer. The simplicity of the descriptions brings me to this conclusion.
It's stagety seems to be to try and point out the various areas of the system using colored boxes as references to the parts on the actual motherboard.
I would think that it's final medium would be a print out as a poster or something for the repairer to use as a visual quick reference when he's actually working on the mother board.
I'm not really sure if there is a scheme to the arrangement. For the most part it just seems like the parts are all over the place. Can't really make a conclusion.
The strongest element(s) of this data map is the imagery and how the parts that are shown are pretty much what you would expect them to look like.
Most improvement would be arrangement and coloring. It's really hard to read and pretty hard to find the boxes on the mother board because they sort of blend in w/ the bg image. If possible I would suggest making only the areas that your focusing on have a 100% opaqueness and make the rest of the motherboard semi transparent to make the parts your showing have more contrast from the rest of the image.

Sense of purpose- To aid a not particularly tech-savvy user in assembling a computer motherboard.

Audience- The audience is considered to have limited knowledge of computers, due to their need for a display to put together a computer. At the same time, some familiarity is expected from a user who wishes to fiddle around inside a case anyway. The user is not expected to question the commands, merely to install what is directed.

Context- We are to assume a computer that needs additional memory, a graphics card, or processor installed. The majority of computers come with such parts pre-installed, so perhaps this is the next step for someone attempting to learn more about their computer. The inner-workings are needed as reference for the new user, who may be interested in upgrading/replacing some of the more commonly upgraded parts (as detailed on the data map.) Why the user may need to install this or that is uncertain.

Strategies- Color-coded for your enjoyment. This does skew the audience towards a less professional level, however, which may fit nicely into the desired audience of this map. Pictures are the driving force behind the design, perhaps a finished product photo would also be useful?

Medium- Looks to be a pamphlet/instruction manual/printout. Computer work help is often printed to avoid the hassle of someone needing a computer to construct a computer. Printed readouts will also connect nicely to an audience that is less technologically inclined.

Arrangement- Left to right, the main photo has subsections of detail arranged on the right. It works as a sort of step-by-step for the audience, where the individual parts fit into the overarching design of the motherboard.

Strongest- The photos are the driving force behind this design and they are detailed and explained in a way to ease the reader into their use.

Weakest- A finished design/alternate view may help focus on an inexperienced user base. The colors could be toned down a bit.

The purpose of this map is to explain the different hardware components of a computer and show where those components can be located. The reason that this appears to be the purpose of this data map is because of all the computer hardware pictures and explanations. The color coordination between the components and the motherboard shows clearly that an intention of this map is to say ‘this piece goes in this slot’.

The audience for a map like this would most likely be someone interested in putting together their own computer. If they want to know the general construction of their computer before they put it together, it would be nice to have a simple guide such as this one to show where each item goes. The general aura given off the guide shows that it is meant to inform. Whether it be an explanation or an instruction on where each item goes it is meant to give some form of information. In this case that information is specified towards people interested in buying the PC.

One strategy that is clear would be the color coordination between the motherboard slots and the hardware components. This is very easy to follow! Numbers would seem to crowd the map space so the fact that colors are used shows that it is meant to be an easy-to-follow guide. The color choices also make the map more appealing. If all the colors were hues of black and white it would be much more intimidating. Putting together a computer is already intimidating for most people so the fact that familiar bright colors are used makes this guide more comforting. The color is also presented in the text explanation showing that this-text belongs to this-picture which is very convenient to the viewer. All these strategies work together to help the maps purpose which is generally an easy-to-follow guide.

The medium seems to be a piece of paper. This depends on the creator’s context of the piece. If he were to put it in a magazine (i.e. ‘Computer Monthly’) then it would most likely be found on a piece of paper. This medium would be most suitable because when using this data map as a guide to put together a computer, one would be overwhelmed by trying to hold a poster open. An internet site would also be an unworthy medium due to the fact that the consumer may not have internet access because his computer has not been assembled yet. So a paper form of medium would best-suite this data map.

The arrangement of this map is quite simple, motherboard on one side and hardware components on the other. This arrangement helps in that it is easy to follow between the motherboard and the components. The fact the component pictures switch between the explanations (left to right) as you go down is also an effective form of arrangement. This makes the map seem less crowded. Less crowded maps are more appeasing to the viewer. The ‘guy putting together his computer’ would be happy to follow a guide that’s arrangement makes it super easy to follow.

The strongest element of this data map would have to be its color coordination system. Rather than using the usual number system I find this color-stuff very useful and appealing.

Probably the multitude of information is a bit weak. Perhaps more hardware components would make this map more useful. The boxes around the components are also not straight. Making this map seem more professional would make it appear even better to its audience.