Reading Response 1
Submitted by jtirrell on Mon, 08/20/2007 - 19:09.
After reading Beyond Words excerpt 1, respond in a comment to the following two prompts:
- The excerpt from the setup guide on page 337 for "Basic Printing" was a finalist in a technical communication contest. What do you think the judges might have liked about the documentation? How easily can you understand the instructions?
- Write an approximately 300 word analysis of "A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark." What strategies does the article use to convey information? Can you recognize instances of explaining processes in the article? Does the article ever veer toward offering an argument or perhaps toward other modes of writing? Are there any design strategies used in the article? How do the images in the article relate to its explanations? Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the piece in terms of how it conveys information.
Question 1
I think that the judges would have found many things to be favorable with the quick reference guide of the Xerox printer(s). Each step was clearly labeled in the numerical sequence that it should be performed and arrows are used to show the proper method of loading the paper in to the printer. In areas where arrows would be difficult to use to convey the message, human hands are used to show the reader how they would go about performing a certain task. By separating the actions into step by step examples the quick reference guide gives the reader a series of visual cues that they both easily remember and can swiftly review while they are in the process of loading paper into their printer. The magnification of smaller actions is also a huge help into conveying what the proper procedure is, for example, when you want to load a larger paper size into the paper tray.
I find the instruction’s fairly easy to follow. Although, the graphics at the top of the page that show all of the steps in one image are somewhat misleading and unnecessary. They are somewhat confusing because you don’t know which sequence is supposed to come first and can tempt the reader to attempt to load the paper without checking the step by step instructions first, which could potentially lead to complications. The images of things not to load into the printer are clearly identified also, which is convenient. I would think that someone with a little common sense would be able to follow these instructions to a satisfactory result.
Question 2
The article “A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark” seems to use a chronological approach to convey the information in the article and draws parallels between the goals of the historic expedition into the west and the current technologies being used to further explore our world today. Starting out with a brief history of the Lewis and Clark expedition including its goals, the article continues on to show how the physical, cartographical, and digital re-exploration of the events of 200 years past are driving us into a new era of information gathering and the impact that our species has on our planet. There are many instances where they explain the process of gathering the information, but the article has a tendency to go too far in depth in the description of how the data is collected and it seems to lose the focus of the article with the extraneous information. I don’t think the article really offers up an argument per se, but it certainly entertains the ideas about the different conclusions that could be drawn from the information that is being collected depending on what kind of message you are trying to convey. For example, you could use the information collected to show the effects that society has had on the wildlife or how the shape of a river has shifted over time and its effect on the surrounding environment. Visually, I have trouble detecting a fixed design strategy in the article; and some of the imagery seems awkwardly placed in comparison with the text, namely the E.S. Paxton painting at the top of page 358. Otherwise, the graphics are used to give a quick visual reference similar to what the researchers would be scrutinizing. The graphic where they juxtapose the map that Clark drew in the winter of 1805-1806 and the digital satellite image of the same area effectively emphasizes how the technology of today is bringing about a renewed gusto in the exploration of our planet. Although a tad desiccated and wordy in portions, overall the article does a solid job of conveying how technology is driving us to further our understanding of our surroundings and the effect that we have on the world around us. Submitted by merlin769 on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 20:55.
1. The judges probably liked the fact that the instructions required only minimal reading. As mentioned in the article, most people tend to get frustrated when instructions become too long and elaborate. The documentation for this printer provides simple and concise step-by-step instructions for using this device. From my perspective the instructions look basic enough that most people would be able to operate the printer, barring any major problems.
2. The article is more or less like an informational brochure about the convergence between Lewis and Clarks' findings during their expedition across the recently expanded United States and modern georeferencing technology. The article occasionally uses graphics in order to compare and contrast Lewis and Clarks' findings with that of present georeferencing resources. For example, a section of the article explains how modern scientists, scholars, etc. are mapping the Lewis and Clark campsites by relaying information/images sent back by astronauts. After comparing the data found in the images relayed back to earth with data from the original Lewis and Clark expedition, scientists are able to detect ecological changes in the surrounding area for analysis. For the most part, it seems like the article is trying to raise awareness for the geospatial field throught the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. Towards the end, the article tends to deal more with the advances in geospatial technology rather than the accomplishments made through the Lewis and Clark expedition, but that is probably what the article was intending to do. Most of the images are topographical maps that help the reader visualize the processes scinetist go through of when analyzing georeferencing data. As for the strengths and weaknesses, I would say the article did a fairly good job of trying to explain each of the different processes involved in the geospatial field. I also liked the captions that helped explain what we were looking at in the image. The one problem I had with the article was I had trouble knowing what some of the terms used in the explanations meant. Assuming this was meant for another scientist, it would be an adequate article, but someone who doesn't know much about geospatial technologies would have a hard time defining some of these terms.
Submitted by aaurella on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 12:37.Q1: I believe the judges liked the simplicity of the document. There is a simplistic numerical order to the steps, which are represented mainly by pictures instead of words. Very little confusion can be brought about by the way things are shown, as opposed to an explanation in text. If any difficulty were to arise in understanding the directions, the use of color helps identify the areas where an action is required. Although I cannot read steps four and five, the process is very descriptive and simplistic in the manual. The entirety of the document fills only one page, and thus is not bulky or overwhelming. I can easily understand the manual and would not have difficulty following it.
Q2: The article “A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark” compares a modern program with strategies used nearly two hundred years ago. A brief overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition goals and implementation precedes a modern project. This strategy attempts to justify current methods with commonly used methods of the past. The article gathers many different viewpoints of the same subject. Such a contrast of viewpoints strengthens the argument with multiple solutions to an existing problem. However, many of the different sections in the article branch off on their own tangents. The goal of the article does not seem specifically stated. Random images or excerpts were added that did not add to the article’s argument. The article definitely argued the importance of technology as a large stepping stone for the future of sharing information. While reading the article, an almost numerical pattern could be seen in the development of different strategies that could be implemented because of a special view of the world. The article attempted to supplement its arguments with pictures of the subject. However, half of the photographs seemed out of place and not altogether very useful. At first the article seems to have a random collection of different viewpoints and goals. The end of the article seems to wrap up the many different points so that they relate to each other. The images in the article could provide a more definite support than they do. The article should have referred to the images more, or given a clearer explanation of what the purpose of their presence was. The article conveys the similarities of the past and present very well. The development of technology and the methods of the past are linked together in a very simple, yet informative way. However, the article also jumps around very quickly. The overall goal is lost or difficult to find as the reader progresses. If the different sections were linked more clearly and the images were more useful, the article would convey a much stronger message.
Submitted by mhorstme on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 17:50.1- Putting myself in a judges shoes, I would've liked the fact that:
a) The setup guide is very easy to understand; the first three steps in the setup are repeated again in more detail for those who did not understand or were concerned about a small component of the printer.
b) The setup uses colored images rather than written instructions meaning that no reading skills or specific language is required to understand the guide.
c) The color in these images and the well known symbols (arrows, check marks, etc.) make the guide seem familiar and more comfortably pleasing to the purchaser.
Since little to no education is required (besides knowing that 2 comes after 1 and 3 comes after 2) i would think that this setup guide can be followed by anyone living in the modern world, that's just how easy it is.
2- After reading the article, it becomes clear that much of the information is conveyed through facts and evidence that is given. These facts include various research projects and programs that all work in the interest of unfolding the details of the Lewis and Clark experience. There was little explanation of the many processes that were mentioned, but one of the few explained processes concerns the research done by Dr. Ken Karsmizki. In order to find the campfires that Lewis and Clark used, Dr. Karsmizki used a robotic vehicle to search 3.5 acres of land. This vehicle used a magnetometer and radars to find potential campfire sites that were centuries old. Although the explanation of this process is interesting, it is a rare find in the sea of information given. Within this sea, there are several points in which the article leans towards other modes of writing. An example of this is when the article described Coulter's work on Lewis and Clark's plants and animal observations. The reason this section is distinguished as another mode of writing is because it uses actual quotes given by Coulter to help portray it as another contribution to the Lewis and Clark information library; "Education is about engaging the mind and capturing the imagination... an abstract text book concept like biotic-abiotic interaction comes alive as students see which plants and animal species Lewis and Clark found at certain points along the trail...". Although this section concerning Coulter in the article took a while to relate to Lewis and Clark, it did wrap up in the final paragraph after explaining what Coulters web-based biogeographical resource would be used for. One of the more powerful design strategies that this article used was it's layout. The flow of information was organized and sub articles were easily relatable to the main idea of the article. The images also seemed to be quite useful, as it was hard to imagine what a high-resolution digital trail looked like. I particularly enjoyed the very first image by E.S. Paxson, it put a picture to the article. The image showed what the Lewis and Clark journey was like which is the whole point as to why there are all these advances in geographical information. The articles strongest point would have to be its vast amount of resources providing much information. The downside of this is that there is too much information in short paragraphs leaving the reader little time to digest what is being read. If the information was expanded (if the author further explained processes) this weakness could easily become a strong point of this article.
Submitted by rsaba on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 20:12.1.) The printer instructions are very easy to read and understand. The judges probably liked the fact that there is very little reading involved in the documentation and how easy the pictures are to understand. Each picture has the important parts zoomed in with a bubble as well as having arrows show which way the paper goes in and other information that the user must know. The guide shows users the pieces of information that they need to know quickly without having to read a whole manual. Most regular users would most likely be able to use just this one piece of documentation to use their printer.
2.) The article is attempting to explain how modern technology has changed our ability to discover new geographical information. It explains how new technology has helped scientists monitor changes to our country since the Lewis and Clark expedition. The article goes into in-depth explanation on how this new information is collect and then distributed to the masses using Web-based applications. The article explains how a history of waterways and land is made using GPS and other technologies to help governmental departments. It also explains how the data collected by Lewis and Clark is compiled into large databases and then cross-referenced with new information that we have collected in the last 200 years. It appears that no argument is formally presented, but the article could be interpreted as presenting an argument about how technology is necessary for advancement of society. The images in this article seem well placed and are good visual representations for the information presented. The only exception to this is the Lewis and Clark painting which just depicts Lewis and Clark with natives. This does not really provide an crucial information and could most likely have been omitted from the article. The first image, the mosaic map, is an excellent visual aid. It shows a chronological map, starting with 200 year old maps from Lewis and Clark and ending with more a more recent map of the area. The next set of images represents a drawing done by Clark and a modern satellite image of the area. Its purpose is to help visual explain how the new technologies can be used to compare the geographical changes to the area since the original Lewis and Clark expedition.
Submitted by Mrmann on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 21:00.1. The judges likely appreciated the amount of detail that can be obtained by just a few small pictures. The images are numbered and put into left-to-right stacked layout, highlighting the parallel setup procedures before reaching the shared final instructions. The pictures are also in color, which is a fairly simple technique to add a lot of clarity to an otherwise standard-looking manual. I'm going to assume that the tray, for example, is really blue and that putting the color into the instructions, possible user confusion is avoided. I find the instructions to be rather simple, the pictures are detailed and organized well enough to provide an attractive manual for the Xerox printer setup.
2. The initial strategy of the article is to start with a brief history of the expedition itself and then build into the reasons "why" the project was undertaken. This shows the thought process behind the project as well as leading into the newer techniques of web-based applications and modern technology that merged with the original data of the expedition. Explaining processes in the article would include the initial image on 356 that provides a visual representation of the project and the transition of the original data to the new techniques used. Another explaining process would be the discussion of parallel convergence in regards to the project's eventual connection to the Internet. The article breaks this idea down into the fact that literally anyone can have access to this data and information. Because readers may not fully appreciate the effort and involvement of this project, (although the five years work may offer some indication) but a visual and tangible opportunity to experience this data will draw someone into the project in a much easier fashion.
When speaking of David Rumsey the article tends to sway more towards praise and excitement than the rest of the article. I don't think it necessarily detracts from the article, but the impartial nature of the author seems more suspicious following.
Design strategies would be starting with a little backstory on the expedition so readers can refresh what they know. The author offers context for the project, referencing the bicentennial of the expedition, as well as the ever-increasing scope of the project, and the connection of the data to educational, research, and conservation purposes. The author ends with these connections to the audience, showing the broader context of the project and how it will affect the reader. Good design to leave the audience with a vested interest in the content of the article.
I already mentioned a bit on how the pictures helped visualize the data and draw in the reader. It relates to the explanations by giving a quick view of the data and a more approachable way for the reader to understand the data. As such, it connects the project to a wider audience much in the same way their Internet application does. It connects the broader implications of the project (research, education, conservation) to the people of the country, just as the original expedition connected a vast wilderness to people half a country away.
Submitted by Adam on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 22:31.“Basic Printing”
I wonder if the judges were actually using the products while determining the practicality and usability of the instructions… I don’t mean to imply that I disagree with their decision –– just the opposite. After studying these instructions, I feel as though if ever confronted with the Xerox 3450 laser printer, I would know exactly how to operate it… It’s just that without seeing the actual printer, it’s difficult (or impossible perhaps) for me to pass judgment on these instructions.
Did the judges actually try to operate the printer using the instructions as their guide? And if so, what were their criteria for determining which instructions were the most effective? Did they take the usability of the printer itself into consideration?
I bring this up because while I suppose it’s possible for poorly written instructions to confound users of even the most user-centered of apparatuses, if machine is inherently user-friendly, written instruction of even the highest quality is often superfluous, if not downright confusing.
“A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark”
Submitted by jajansen on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 23:08.The author tells us immediately of the vastness of information integrated into this effort, something nowhere more apparent than in the organization of this article.
Given all that he had to include, I’m sure it was difficult to decide how to present the information to the audience so that they might fully understand the breadth and depth of the individual parts and pieces of the larger picture. That being said however, my initial reading of the article produced naught but frustration. Initially I blamed myself for a lack of concentration, but after closer consideration, I discovered (or perhaps invented?) another cause –– He seemed to be jumping all over the map, geospatial or otherwise.
He opens the article, appropriately, with contextual information –– not only about the famed expedition of Lewis and Clark, but also about the technologies being put to use by the many organizations that make up the “Lewis and Clark community.”
The article is peppered with several different subheads and sub-subheads, obviously intended to help guide the reader through the piece. The broad variety of topics included in each section forced him to remain rather general in these “descriptive” subheads, however. Under “The geography of change,” he begins discussing new mapping technologies –– appropriate –– but then goes on to discuss K-12 outreach programs, whose applicability is not readily apparent.
I did not entirely hate this article, as my response so far suggests… his presentation of the overall effort as being in the same spirit as the original Lewis and Clark expedition is great. When discussing all accomplished by the expedition, I almost felt as though I should be waving an American flag or something… kudos for that rhetoric. It is then that he introduces the multifaceted nature of the records of those involved in the original expedition –– they drew maps, but equally important were their ecological and cultural records. In emphasizing the comprehensive nature of Lewis and Clark’s knowledge of the country, the author provides himself an excellent foundation for convincing his audience of the significance/appropriateness of the modern effort at similar integration.
One last thing: This article seems to have been adapted for use in this book, which left me wondering as to its original layout –– are the maps and illustrations positioned as they were in the article as it first appeared? While the placement of Paxson’s painting seemed a bit random, the rest of the figure placement did not bother me. I also wonder what the original subheads looked like (as far as text treatments, etc., are concerned).
1) There are a few things I find particularly helpful in this set of instructions. First, it has very good illustrations on exactly how to use it. They are very detailed, and would be quite difficult to misunderstand and have problems with. Also, it has a combination of both visual and verbal instructions to help the consumer in whatever he/she prefers. Another small, but helpful, feature is that it has some images on what NOT to do with the printer, which could be helpful with the consuer's "what if" thoughts dealing with the printer.
2) This article is focuses on how modern technology is aiding the research and education of a very old event. It starts off by thoroughly explaining the significance of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It lists off the many objectives that the expedition had, and goes into thorough details about them. The article then goes on to explain how a great amount of people still research and study Lewis and Clark's experiences. The writer is trying to show another example of how important this event was. The article does not compare it to any other events of historical significance either, which may be because the reader might find the second event personally more significant, for whatever reason. The writer does not want to give the reader a reason to disagree with the article right from the beginning! The writer then goes on to talk about various projects that are currently in effect which are contributing to the research of the Lewis and Clark experience during their expedition. The article mentions creating a visual simulation of the journey, as was depicted through Lewis and Clark's journals. As the article states, researchers have also used satellite imagery and environmental calculations in order to attempt to capture the state that North America was in at that time. The writer uses some interesting images to help convey his ideas. He has an image right at the beginning of the article showing how far Lewis and Clark traveled. Later, there is another image of Lewis and Clark at the Three Forks. Both of these images attempt to give Lewis and Clark a more majestic feeling to the reader. Towards the end of the article, there are pictures comparing a drawing from Lewis and Clark to a satelite image of the exact same location. This is another device used to try getting the reader more interested in what is being researched. I did not enjoy the article very much. In my opinion, all the ideas conveyed were extremely drawn out and unnecessary. I believe that if the writer made the article a little more simplified, but certainly not too much, the article would have been much better.
Submitted by rsethi on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 23:22.1. I think that the judges found many of the assets in the “Basic Printing” map appealing. For example, the arrows on the printer made it very simple to see where the paper goes. Another good thing about it was the “circle, slash, no” helping to identify which papers were not appropriate to be used in this printer. It is kind of hard to read, but I think the creator of the map also used different languages under the English to ensure that no matter what language you understand, that won’t lessen your ability to understand how to use the printer. It is very simple to understand the instructions especially with the numbering system to see the flow of how to read it.
2. I think that the article was well written to a certain extent, but it definitely had some unfortunate flaws. I really like how it started off explaining what happened in the expedition over 200 years ago to refresh the reader on a subject that probably has not been on the mind of the reader for quite some time. I mean, I had not learned about the Lewis and Clark expedition since like the fourth grade or something like that. I had practically forgotten about it. However, because of this section of the text, I was able to recall what I had learned in the fourth grade pretty easily. Leading into the text like this is probably also an instance of the explaining process, because it starts with the simple concrete topics and continues with the more abstract topics later in the article. I was a bit confused in the middle of the article and had to go back and read parts again, because I got a little confused as to how they were talking about the Lewis and Clark expedition one second, and then next thing I knew, I was reading about NASA. It made me wonder what that had to do with the Lewis and Clark expedition. I still think that the connection between the two is a little vague. Perhaps, with a more in depth study of the reading or maybe even venturing more into other materials concerning the topic, I might be able to understand better. With that said, perhaps, it has some issues with segues between different parts of the text. The bolded subheads are a nice touch, but I think it needs more to lead into the new section, so it’s not completely unexpected. I think the maps and pictures in the text definitely gave extra assistance to further the understanding of the material that was trying to be conveyed in this article.
Submitted by polkastripe on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 23:29.Question 1
Submitted by InvisiblebiRON on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 00:56.The need for clarity in such a document is apparent. When judging this submission, the judges probably observed how clearly it was demonstrated how the printer operated. The submission provided arrows that demonstrated where the paper is fed through. By doing so, the user understands what is needed to be done in certain scenarios. From just looking at the pictures, I can understand how the printer would be used. I see that the paper can be fed in a couple of ways, where it comes out, how to refill the paper. Anyone should be able to understand how this printer works even if English is not used where they are.
Question 2
The strategies involved in writing “A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark” consist many comparisons. Initially, the writer discusses the history involving the travels of Lewis and Clark. It skims the events which occurred, and provides some images to enable the reader to imagine. All the images had some relevance to the reading, some more than others. After briefly reviewing the history of Lewis and Clark, it proceeds to talk about the advances in the whole process that Lewis and Clark started. A lot of what was done in the past is still done currently, however it is done with a much more advanced process. One illustration provided in the exerpt was that of a drawn map, and below it shows an aerial view of the same land. It causes readers to realize how far we have come, and puts things into perspective for us. Although the article did not provide much room for arguments, one could argue the effectiveness of the processes done I suppose. I did not notice many effective design strategies, nothing really jumped out at me as unique. The only design strategy I can think of is placing the images related to the text. I feel that more could be done with the text to make it more effective, even where the text could be located might assist the effectiveness of the article. The main strengths of the article lie in the points where they discuss the parallels between how things were done then and now. Also, the imagery can be very effective as long as it is not distracting to the reader. When reading the article, I felt like I was reading something that did not intrigue me. Honestly, the history of how things were done, and the technology used today does intrigue me. The way they worded their piece made me want to just fly through it quickly. It just felt too drawn out for me to read.
1) Glancing over the "Basic Printing" guide is enough to see that it is a simple step-by-step manual for a complicated printer. A judge would probably consider the audience in this case as being a new customer that is confused by the trays, buttons, and thingymajiggers. Following that assumption, the guide would need to be as eye-catching as it is understandable. What is the use of a simple guide if it blends in with the other wordy paperwork in the box or is too complex to follow? The instructions’ picture steps are very easy to follow. I cannot read the smaller text, but given the location and styles it is in, I can guess their meanings and importance in the overall manual.
2) “A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark” conveys its information by going through time to first explain the history of the Lewis and Clark journey, then about the new interest in the route a few years back. Next, Phillip discussed the current efforts of understanding the geography of that time, and, finally, the future of NASA and the GCS’s work in discovering the amount of change in geography over such a period of time. This entire article is a process of discovery, research, and understanding. Therefore, within the details of the article there are only a few instances of smaller processes. One instance describes Dr. Karsmizki’s satellite images combined with historical map project. The article quickly goes through the general steps of his research. The article seems to stay neutral as far as arguments go. I do not see many design strategies in the article. The images help break up the text and give the eyes a rest, but I still found myself wanting a distraction. The images are poorly chosen, excluding the side-by-side comparison of the 200 year old map drawing and the current satellite image. The other images seem to be loosely related and from middle school text books. As I mentioned, they help break up the text; they are not essential to understanding the article and therefore a waste of space and ink. The strength of the piece lies in its underlying story. Nearly anyone can find a small group of people journeying across the Wild West 200 years ago to be interesting. However, once the information about the mapping, the multiple groups, the software names, and new vocabulary are added, however, that is where the audience starts to get lost.
Submitted by udothehokeypokey on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 08:56.Basic Printing:
This set of printing instructions has many aspects that the judges of the technical communication contest most assuredly liked. To begin with, the instructions are clearly labeled “Basic Printing.” It is important that the readers of the instructions understand what the instructions are demonstrating.
Secondly, the first set of images clearly indicates to the reader how the printer works. The images do not go into too much detail, but they show the reader how the printer takes the paper to print and what not to use with the printer. This basic overview of the printer helps the reader to understand the use of the printer from the start. This type of overview is important in understanding how the printer functions and can reduce misunderstanding of the instructions.
The judges of the contest surely noted the numbering scheme as well. Each step is clearly labeled with a number, which implies an order of operations. It is clear to the reader that the first step in “Basic Printing” is associated with the number one, the second with the number two and so on. Along with the numbers themselves, the steps are very well organized. Each step is a small and easily understood step. The simplicity is important to any readers who may have trouble understanding too many operations in a single step. For example, if step one contained three tasks to be completed how would the reader understand which task to complete first, second and third?
Aside from the easily followed instructions concerning the preparation of the hardware aspect of the printer, the instructions also clearly walk the reader through the software aspect. The instructions show the reader what the printer screen should be displaying as well as how to use the printer driver on the computer. The judges of the contest would most likely agree that the instructions show just the right amount of information concerning “Basic Printing.” They are neither too technical to understand nor to simple to complete the task at hand. All of these aspects surely contributed to this set of instructions being a finalist in the technical communication contest.
Lewis and Clark
Perhaps the most noticeable strategy employed by the article is the use of background information. The author sort of blasts the reader back in the past, into the time of Lewis and Clark. After a few paragraphs of background, the article brings the reader back to the present, about two hundred years after the Lewis and Clark expedition. This timeline is a very effective way for the author to engage the reader. The background allows the reader to more easily relate with what the rest of the article wishes to convey.
The author of the article does indeed utilize a concept of the process in the writing. The goals of the bicentennial “project” are first outlined. Then the author begins explaining how the process is going to be carried out and by whom. The article explains how maps new geospatial technologies are going to contribute as well. It outlines contributions from individuals such as David Rumsey and Nicholas King.
This particular article never really focuses on argument. It is not an article intended to debate and issue, but to inform the reader of facts. It is geared toward showing the reader how geologist and sociologist and other scientists have been able to use information to compare current times with those of Lewis and Clark. The technological work done with the bicentennial “project” of these scientists can be used to isolate changes between the times and emphasize those changes. This is the point of the article, not to debate a topic or present and opinion.
The design strategy used in the article is a simple building block type of design. The article builds the focus one step at a time. First it introduces the reader to the relevance of the Lewis and Clark expeditions. Then, it helps the reader understand why it is important to relate to the expeditions and to study the changes since the time. The design strategy allows the reader to become engaged in the reading, and hopefully interested as well.
The images in the article are very well utilized. The actual images themselves do not really mean much to the reader, but together with the explanations, they represent a vital portion of the article. The give the reader and understandable visual of the discussion in the article. It shows the reader how the combination of old maps and new geospatial technology are helping scientists to research the Lewis and Clark expedition. The images are coinciding with the text, and are placed in well reasoned positions such that the reader can finish reader a section then examine the image that goes with that particular section.
The overall article was very well written and had numerous, simple images to complement the text. These ideas are the strengths of the article along with its design and structure. The major weakness, however, is that it is still difficult for the average reader to understand some of the technicalities. Many do not know anything about geospatial intelligence or research and start to lose interest when too much detail is included. The use of technical terms and acronyms concerning the information is confusing and disengaging to the reader. Other than that, the article was well organized and very understandable. The overall method of conveying information seems to be effective and, for the most part, interesting.
Submitted by jdortiz on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 12:01.2. When the judges looked at this they probably liked was they kept the design simple as possible without leaving out information. When more information was required to show a more detailed part they used little pop-up windows to explain the process further without adding more steps. The parts that needed to grab your attention are also in bold colors which pulls them out from the rest of the illustration. Also the illustration uses words actually when needed instead of saying things that insult the user’s intelligence. The whole illustration seems like a success it is easy to understand and gives you enough information to complete the task.
2. The strategies used in this article are examples of how it is useful and why they were creating it. They went into details about the anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition and its uses in education. Other examples include who is working on developing the project and there role in the process. They also used some pictures and captions to show how the works of Lewis and Clark were being used in the new technologies. The article was definitely informative and nothing else. The article seemed like a bunch of information used to tell you about this geospatial technologies and maybe a little to much information for such a short article. The article does a good job explaining in the beginning about why the project was started and the purpose of it. As for the meaning of the article I was completely confused when I finished reading it. The only thing I felt like I knew about the whole project was that it had to do with the Lewis and Clark exploration and putting some of the findings into a computerized map. This article probably works better in the context of the magazine that it was in originally. It seemed geared towards an audience with more information about geospatial technologies or technology in general.
Submitted by julie4646 on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 13:44.1 – The documentation was clear, complete, and concise. It did not include any "fluff," or extra information that wasn't needed. It told how to load the paper and print a document, as well as what not to do, all while maintaining perfect clarity. The pictures are very well-drawn and are not sloppy, which makes them easy to understand. The arrows definitely help as well, showing how to get a part of a printer to a certain position, or which way the paper moves through the machine.
2 – The article about Lewis and Clark discusses the retracing of the footsteps of their journey through the Northwest. It divides it up into sections, from the basic geography, to the techniques used to find the exact location of campsites that were used in the expedition. The transitions from section to section do not seem very smooth however, but there is still a basic idea still intact. The methods used long ago, such as the mappings of Nicholas King in 1803 before the expedition, are paralleled throughout history up until the mappings of today, where we have extensive satellite data to map out the geography of the planet. It steps through in a chronological order to give an overall picture of how cartography has changed in the last 200 years. The article goes into brief detail with a basic process of how images are obtained from the satellites, and then combined to show how the geography has also changed, with factors such as species migration and the introduction of human population to certain areas. However, it is also weak here in the fact that it does not go into any sort of detail. But with the other information in mind, I would say the most prevalent design strategy used would be the use of chronological change in methods used from 1803 until 2003, and no subjectivity is apparent. A few of the pictures are good supplements to the article, however the “Lewis and Clark at Three Forks” and the final picture both seem somewhat out of place. The mosaic is great for the introduction, and the image comparison of Fort Clatsop is good to show detail of change, which could suggest either inaccuracies of cartography from William Clark, or the change of geography of a river in the past 200 years. Overall, if the article flowed better and things were explained in a little more detail, it would be a very high quality article.
Submitted by dpaulat on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 14:28.1) The documentation is clear and concise. I particularly like the part at the top of the image that shows how the paper moves through the printer. The signs on the upper left for no envelopes and stickers are extremely obvious for any setting. The red circle with the line through it is for the most part internationally known. I know that when I've been abroad I've seen that same symbol used in the same way. Also due to the fact that a majority of this information is in images - it should be obvious what to do for people of any language.
2) To begin the article the writer gives a setting. The writer gives a brief history as to what happened and exactly why it was important in Americas Development. He went quite a bit further than the general knowledge about the subject even delving into the political reasonings for wanting such an exploration. The processes that are involved in the article are helpful. However they are also very well inlaid with the rest of the text. They don't seem obtrusive as alot of articles of this type do. I think that this article is written in the perspective that all of this information is good. The creation of these databases and overlaying of information will bring information to peoples fingertips. The images in the article are all associated with the article. The first is a map of their exploration. The second is a painting of the explorers and a Native American. The third demonstrates how the software is used to find in this example campsites. I think that it is written well however it could be organized better. I am not sure what the context of this article was however if it were meant to be seen by mass-media most writers put the most relevant information at the beginning and then explain.
Submitted by dan_bortnick on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 15:40.Each step that is mention is clear and to the point. All the user has to do is shown to him/her. If for some reason the printer doesn't work, they did something that isn't shown. It even shows what kind of paper size to put in and not to. I can understand the instructions pretty easily.
The article "A Spatial Exploration of Lewis and Clark" goes in a linear and chronological path to give information. In the beginning of the article it talked about what Lewis and Clark encountered, the people, the terrain, and the geography. As I was reading this the first thing that popped into my head was a GPS deviced and in the next paragraph they mention it. As you continue to read on it goes step by step as things happened, how one thing affected another, like a chain reaction. An example would be the k-12 program. They introduced the K-12 program and talked about it and in the next paragraphs it mentioned Dr. Bob Coulter who was interested in the k-12 program and what he did about it. I think that this is a good article, very well written. Everything that the article metions just flows together.
Submitted by ngc6853s on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 16:05.1. I think that there might have been several things that the judges liked about this particular document. First of all each step was labeled with a bubble that had a number in it. This probably seems obvious but allows the user to clearly know in which sequence to follow the steps.
Secondly I think that the red arrows help to guide the user into knowing which way the paper goes in, and helps convey motion when needed. The fact that they are red makes them stand out and easier to notice. The third reason they may have liked this document could be because some of the steps show a blown up view pointing at a certain part of the printer, in addition to the main graphic of that step. Some of the steps also have text to accompany the graphic. The graphics are fairly easy to understand, however, it can be a little confusing to have steps 1, 2, and 3 at the top of steps 1, 2, and 3 that are sub-divided. I would think that it might be more effective to just get rid of the top steps and leave the more detailed steps. The people that need more clarification will still be getting it, and the people that don't need as much will be fine too. Having two sets of the same numbers seems a little strange to me.
2. The article talks about how modern technology can actually recreate the journey that Lewis and Clark took. The technology of today can create a data map that allows us to gain a better understanding of what it was like for them, and how things were back then. The primary strategy given by the article to convey information was just giving statistics and facts, however, there were a few pictures that were used as visual aids. They used some instances of explaining processes such as "to what does it relate" and "how is it composed". The article itself was composed of mainly facts with a few illustrations, but the end product they wanted to achieve was composed of much more. They had satellite imagery, databases, and web sites to name a few. Part of the entire process was aimed at teaching students about the journey that Lewis and Clark took by use of untraditional means. Instead of reading a history book to learn about it, they can take an interactive journey using a web site perhaps. The article in my opinion was really dry and very boring. They just kept telling you about what all was happening with this new technology and which agencies and people were doing what, but I never got much of a clear picture of what was going on, or why I should even care. They had a few small pictures that were few and far between, and for me they did nothing to help the clarity of what was being said. It may have been that for me this was just a really bad topic and it wouldn't have mattered how well they put the information together, but it is my opinion that this wasn't written very well. I certainly think they should have tried to do more graphically to enhance what they were communicating. At one point they mention the work of David Rumsey and how impressive his work is, yet they don't show a single thing. They give you the address of his website, but if they are wanting to convey this information to me, I don't think they should assume that I will be curious enough to go there myself. I think they should have included the most impressive parts of his sites using screenshots.
Submitted by Bdawg8569 on Sun, 08/26/2007 - 13:48.