Tuesday, March 17, 2009

How to Make Toast [Storyboard]

I apologise in advance for the poor quality of this image, but my scanner decided to die this morning.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

How to Make Toast [Flowchart]

How to Make Toast [Step-by-Step Text Description]

1. Plug in the toaster.
2. Switch it on at the powerpoint.
3. Insert one or two slices of bread into the holes in the top of the toaster.
4. Move dial to the desired time/heat setting.
5. Push down the lever to cook the bread. Is it cooking?
6. Check on the toast as it cooks; make sure it does not burn.
7. Check on the toast after it has popped out of the toaster. Is it cooked enough?
8. If it is, remove the toast from the toaster.
9. Place the toast on a plate and cover it in your favorite spread.
10. Enjoy!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Information Design [Examples]

Examples of information design include images or graphics which an audience is able to draw information from, for example, tables, diagrams, graphs, timelines or maps. There are three types of information graphics. These are; informational, instructional and statistical.

The objectives of information design are to;
  • Reveal data,
  • Induce the audience or viewer to think about the substance of the data,
  • Avoid distorting data,
  • Condence information,
  • Make large sets of data coherent,
  • Encourage the eye to compare and contrast sets of data,
  • Serve a clear purpose as well as,
  • To come with appropriate annotation.
In conclusion, almost any image that conveys data or information appropriately to a target audience can be described as an example of information design; an information graphic. 

Information/ Instructional Design [Definition]

"Information design is the visual method of explaining and interpreting complex information and data to help the user achieve a particular objective"
-Saul Carliner (2002)

The primary objectives of information design are:
  • To develop documents that are comprehensible, rapidly and accurately retrievable as well as easy to use.
  • To design interactions with equipment which are easy and natural and
  • To enable people to find their way around a three dimensional space with comfort and ease in both real and virtual contexts.
Information design is approached from three different levels of analysis:
  1. Physical; the ability of users to access the information
  2. Cognitive; the ability of users to understand the given information
  3. Affective; the ability of users to feel comfortable with the presentation of information.

 Similarly to information design, instructional design is the practice of creating tools and content to help facilitate learning as effectively as possible.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Web 2.0 [Definition]

"Web 2.0" can be described as the read-write web; a second generation in web development and design which aims to facilitate communication, secure the sharing of information and collaborate on the World Wide Web. Such concepts have led to the creation, development and evolution of online communities such as social networking sites, video-sharing sites and blogs.