Renata UW

Monday 02/28/2005

2005-02-28T15:31:00.000-08:00

The website www.jc.com.br is a good example of the use of a grid system, while the site www.uol.com.br is good example of the rule of thirds.

The website www.onthebards.org has a lot of blank spaces, It's a bad example of the use of the grid system. And the website http://www1.senado.gov.br/eduardosuplicy/ is a bad example of the ABA form of organizing information.

How does RSS (text or audio) change digital communication?

2005-02-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

RSS is slowly changing digital communication in two different ways: the way content is distributed and how people consume it. It changes the way content is distributed because, unlike broadcasting, the user (reader, listener or viewer) has also the power of distributing his/her own content without having to learn advanced technologies.

RSS is also changing the way people consume content. Because this technology allows you to easily select the programs you like and record them, people don’t need to stay tuned at a specific time to listen to their favorite shows. They also don’t need to check from time to time to see if their favorite opinion website was updated. With RSS, you would never miss your favorite show or a post that was available online for a short period of time. You can watch or listen to as many shows you want and collect as many texts by your favorite columnist or blogger.

The on demand technologies are becoming stronger and redefining communication. Mass media are no longer mass, but customized.

2005-02-12T21:30:00.000-08:00

In the UK flag, we can see the Continuity Gestalt Principle. It's easier for us to see 4 crossed bicolored lines (1 vertical, 1 horizontal and 2 diagonals), or even one cross and one "ex", than eight lines converging in the center of the flag. This occurs because we tend to prefere continous figures.

2005-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

In this image, there are 15 figures with a human shape. Even if we can perceive the figures separately, it's much easier to see the image of a tree. We do this because of the Proximity Gestalt Principle. As the figures are disposed together, we see them as belonging together.

2005-02-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

In this picture, we can see more easely eight circles and a figure of a diamond over them instead of many arcs bundled together. We see this because of the Gestalt principle of closure. In other words, even if the objects are incomplete (circles and diamond), if enough of the shape is indicated, we can perceive the missing information.

2005-02-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

Assignment Week 4 - Monday, Feb. 07

2005-02-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Learning point 1 (about Daniel Chandler’s article) – Even though we are developing only ONE game-film, each time a person plays it, he/she creates new scenarios, new situations and new actions, depending on how he/she performs in the game. In other words, players create new signifiers every time they play. If only one signifier can refer to infinite options of signifieds, I can’t imagine the e explosion of signifieds in every player’s minds after a single match.

Learning point 2 (about Symbolic Interactionism) – In a role playing game, the Me of the Self is the Me of the Other. This is the fascination of this kind of games: the confusion between the player and the character; the trouble to differentiate the actions the character has to take and the player’s personal behavior. The more interactive we create this game, the more compelling, interesting, and fascinating this game will be.

Learning point 3 (about Groupthink) – Our group is doing a good job in trying to avoid a groupthink. The problem is that so many dissonant voices are heard, so many ideas are accepted, so that we don’t know what our ideas are. I think our group is suffering from “democracy excess”, in other words, we are the opposite of groupthink. The bad news is that the text doesn’t explain how to fix this kind of problem :).

Assignment Week 3 - Monday, Jan. 31

2005-01-30T21:33:00.000-08:00

How do standards impact your ability as communicator to reach your target audience?

For instance, if I want to reach a diverse public, I won’t need to use different technologies to reach different audiences because standards create communication patterns. Standards can also help communicators save money and time because trying to make different technologies compatible to one another can be expensive and time-consuming.

When and why might we choose to deliver information that does not conform with standards?

If my audience does not use the standard technology, I can’t use it to communicate with them.

Which team role most appeals to me?

2005-01-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

In an online organization, the roles that most appeal to me are Marketing Executive (in a short term) and Managing Editor (after having acquired enough experience). Working with marketing is very rewarding, given that I’m fascinated about using my writing, planning and managing skills to promote something I believe in.

But my professional goals are broader. I also aim to grow in the company I work. Even though being a Managing Editor requires experience, and I am in the beginning of my career, I know that I have the potential and the willing to fulfill this position someday in the future.

The positions that don’t attract me are the graphic design and technical roles. I'm a very text-oriented person so that images, codes and numbers would make sleep at work.

Assignment Week 1 - Monday, Jan. 17

2005-01-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

According to the test on Carol Becker text, the team I work with is somehow effective, but still need some improvements. As I am new to the team and my teammates don’t know me very well, they still don’t trust 100% in the effectiveness of my work. I’m kind of being tested… (I think this distrust commonly happens when the team is new, or when a new person joins a team that is already established, which is my case).

On the other hand, one thing that helps the team fix this problem is our weekly meetings. The meetings enable us to:
· know what members are doing and how well they are doing;
· know the weaknesses and strengths of our plans so that we can redesign them, if necessary;
· establish timelines and duties for every team member;
· know each other better.

Another aspect that worth mentioning is the fact that the project we are going to run is brand new and it’s the first time that all members are managing a project of this kind. Because of this fact, the team has been made some miscalculations regarding timelines and workforce. Even though it is a little late, we are trying to fix these mistakes together.

All the team members are very committed to the organization’s and the project’s missions. They respect and deal with each other very well. Even though we are all from different backgrounds and ethnicities, there is no discrimination or dispute for one to be “the boss”. It is very clear for us the relations of power inside and outside the team.

Regarding the second question, I prefer to communicate with my teammates personally (face-to-face), even though I think e-mails are an effective communication medium for scheduling meetings or other appointments and for communicating announcements. I rarely talk to my colleagues by phone (I’m never at home and I don’t have a cell phone).