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Corey Miller (the one and only XAMLMammal from CoreysPortfolio.com) spoke at CD2 last night about all things Mix. His presentation will go up on the CD2 website shortly. Lots of great stuff Microsoft… including Potbelly sandwiches and cookies. They sure do know how to make friends. Here is a pic from last night.
When starting a project, it is easy for us to gather up a shopping list of goals, wants, needs, and ideas. We may say “I want a chat room, a calendar, a blog, a forum, a product configurator and…” - you get the idea. In fact this list is great and all part of the discovery and defining process. The more information and ideas we can pull out of our heads, the better. But this is shopping list. It is a list of ingredients that don’t necessarily relate to each other. We buy ingredients to create a meal. There are a lot of ingredients we like but we must understand the that not all good ingredients can be put together to create a great meal. We choose ingredients that have their own unique flavors, textures, and colors, that intermingle to form the perfect tasting meal. This same idea can be applied within training, educational, and marketing applications. It is important that we not only define and develop the individual components, but how these components work together to form a comprehensive, cohesive experience. Continue Reading >>
The mouse and keyboard are either old friends or old adversaries - fact is, you know what they are and I bet so do your users. The learning curve is low or non-existent. New input devices are creating a more engaging experience without expanding that curve. Input devices such as touch screens, multi-touch screens, joysticks, game pads, and controllers, to name a few, give our users plenty of ways to connect and interact with our apps. And with creativity running mad through the streets, developing fantastic ways to manipulate the user’s experience, are popping up daily. Check out this example using a simple webcam at squidder.com.
In this post I want to talk a little bit about a project we are working on at Illumen that deals with a haptic device. Haptic technology refers to technology that interfaces to the user via the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, and/or motions to the user [Wiki]. So basically we are talking about an input device that has force feedback.
So what do we do with said device? We have been working with Arnie Steinberg and the University of Illinois at Chicago Dental School to develop a new training method for their students. The picture on your right will give you an idea of the haptic device. It is basically a “pen” attached to an arm attached to a motor attached (USB) to the computer.
As the student moves the pen around, the cursor on screen will move with the same X, Y, and Z. The cursor can be mapped with a 3d model that represents one of the dental tools. The curtain opens and we find our star - the 3d teeth and gums. The student moves the dental tool (the pen) towards the teeth and as the end of the tool makes contact with the teeth, the haptic device’s motor and arm stop the pen, giving the student the feeling that they have made contact between the tool and the teeth. The gums even have a softness value. When the tool touches the gum the student feels the softness through the pen. Nice. So what do we do with this? We model cavities and disease states into the teeth so the student can get their hands dirty without any screams and tears. A lesson plan leads the student through everything they need to know. The device tracks how well the student performs and can even play back pre-recorded actions. This tracked information can be used to score the student, get feedback on the overall class, show improvement, etc. It is an enjoyable experience. And it is just the start.
Haptic devices are getting very cheap and are now being developed in all shapes and sizes. You know that controller you use that vibrates when you “drive” your car over that elephant? That is a haptic device. We are finally starting to see the enjoyment of gaming showing its face within education. I for one, welcome our haptic overlords and can’t wait to see what you all do with your creativity and the many upcoming input devices. You have me impressed so far.
RIApalooza was big hit in Chicago last year and this Summer it is back. There were great presentations and great networking. Visit the website at www.RIApalooza.com and get signed up today. Early birds only pay $10 dollars.
Here is the info:
Following the overwhelming success of 2008’s RIApalooza, we are proud to announce RIApalooza 2!
Join your fellow RIA professionals for an invaluable unconference aimed at exploring and promoting the development of Rich Internet Applications.
RIApalooza promises a platform agnostic and “PowerPoint-Free” zone, which means we are going to forgo the boring marketing pitches in favor of talking technology. RIApalooza is about creating Rich Internet Applications; how to go about building them and what is being built.
Presentations and sessions will be begin at 9am on Friday, May 8th. A social meet-and-greet will immediately follow at 5PM.
The event will be held at the Illinois Technology Association, located at 200 S Wacker Drive 15th Floor Chicago, IL 60606.
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. - Albert Einstein
Knowledge is a big ingredient when it comes to our ideas and actions. It is the foundation to what we do, how we think, and how we interact. Knowledge is often applied through the presentation of materials or, in some cases, by doing something less than smart and having a realization. This is my preferred method. When developing educational or training based applications we tend to look at three key ideas involved with understanding and applying knowledge: developing state-of-mind, problem solving skills, and experience.
Develop State-of-Mind
Knowledge is like compound interest. Learning and understanding how to apply knowledge is easier and faster once a foundation is in place. By developing the state of mind, we memorize more because we understand clearer and connect the dots more efficiently. A professional is a professional because they have a foundational view and experience of the subject at hand. By focusing the presentation of the materials on developing this foundation, a base can be set to focus on their their ability to apply their knowledge.
How? Ask the professionals. Find out what is foundational and build upon that. Listen to the questions that are asked by the students in current classes. There is a good chance that these questions are asked often and the answers and are asked because of a gap in their state-of-mind. By answering these questions in the materials, a new point-of-view, or state-of-mind will develop.
Develop Problem Solving Skills
Developing your audience’s state-of-mind runs hand-in-hand with their ability to problem solve. Too often information is simply given and not challenged. Taking a multiple choice test does not necessarily prove any information is actually understood. Applying knowledge tends to involve making decisions and solving problems to situations, so focus your presentation of the materials on building these skills.
How? Present problems and let the user figure out the answer. Sometimes a questions or situation will provide multiple views and approaches. Let the student explore. Help them if they need it. They will start to understand how changing a variable over here, directly relates to the outcome over there. Challenge their minds.
Develop Experience
Experience usually develops through the interaction someone has to a given subject. Experience is what develops alongside their state-of-mind and problem solving skills. It comes through understanding and feeling comfortable with their ability to apply knowledge to situations and scenarios.
How? With today’s technology and story telling methods, we can develop experience without expensive and time consuming on-the-job training. Even without training on an actual auto engine, the material can be presented through text, images, animation, and interactivity. By laying a foundation to what what an engine is, and scenarios to why it may be broken. It can allow the student to explore the various parts, names, and functionality. A few focused interactive challenges can be presented that test the students understanding of the engine and their ability to solve the problem at hand.
By focusing on these three learning ideas, students will retain more information, have a clearer understanding, and often find the subject matter far more interesting. All the ingredients you want in a good education.
Travelers - In Synch Challenge
