From reading this weeks chapters and the instructor’s blog, I have learned some of the basics of how to effectively present information. With adding what we have learned form the previous course work we are becoming better writers. My thought process is changing with learning and refreshing material.
From reading the instructor’s blog, I found that the design examples with the bear to be helpful of how to present information importantly and effectively. Relating to the first set of instructions I would have already been running before I read not to. Also with these instructions I disagree with climbing a tree. From most survival books I have read, they say DO NOT attempt climbing a tree. Bears are excellent climbers and they will follow you. So with this example I have to ask myself if is the author is credible?
Reading chapter 24 from The Thomson Handbook, one of the important discussions was making your information sync with an image. Having context that clash with a picture causing mixed signals and that confuses the reader; this is particularly bad in a life or death situation. For an example if you need a fire extinguisher and it says pull the pin, while the image has the pin being pushed further in, not allowing the lever to actuate, this is bad.
Another section of this chapter discussing how screen capturing is difficult, I feel that they are making things way to hard. For PC users, pressing together the buttons Ctrl + Print Scrn then using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Paint and then pressing paste, isn’t that hard. I am sure by now that most students in the class has used print screen numerous times.
I feel that chapter 25 discusses how to be more creative with presenting information on other sizes of paper rather than 8.5 x 11. The chapter explains how to effectively use contrast, fonts, layouts, and alignments.
Overall, from the assignments I have learned be aware of the synchronization of context and pictures. Use different ways of how to design published information other than using 8.5 x 11 paper.
Print versus screen resolution
The thing about screen captures is that they are not taken at print resolution. Screen grabs are almost always at 72 dots per inch (dpi), and decent prints are at 300 dpi. This is why when you print images out from the internet they are almost always noticeably pixelated. As you point out, actually getting screen grabs probably isn't that difficult for most of the class. The trick is getting ones that will print out well. Frequently you have to reduce the dimensions and increase the resolution of the screen capture, but even these actions are just quick fixes. They cannot provide an image that is as good as one that comes from a high resolution source (such as good photo or high resolution scan).
Da Bears
Personally, I thought the example regarding the bear was pretty comical. Primarily, as the steps show (and the text below the image states) there is an obvious contradiction in those directions. After reading these, I am almost less prepared in the event I were to encounter a bear. As you question in your response, how credible is this author exactly? That excerpt was just rather interesting to me. However, as you also covered, this example does offer some beneficial design tips. The comparison between the initial set of instructions to that of the latter clearly demonstrates how to quickly and effectively improve your instructions. As far as when to run, I am in the same boat. Albeit, I would likely not have these instructions handy when I encounter a bear, and even if so, I surely would not attempt to reference them in such a situation!