Beyound Function and Design

I noticed the over the past few year's I've talking to much about media design, about it having a purpose and meaning and all. However I am also a software designer, so what is it about software design are there and key things to note in the field of the design of software.

Well, there is as amazing as it is, there are actually design principles when it comes to coding, the design of applications. Sadly these princples have been ignored to the point where functions is focused and when there is trouble using a software, it is the fault of the user. However that should not stand most of the time, it is true that new software will generate a new breed of idiots who are clueless in using them, but lets take a look at how even the software aspect has to complie to the principles of design.

1. Beauty V.S. Usability
One of the first and most interesting things discovered was that beauty and usability works together in an application. On one hand from a cognitive point of view, colour added no discernible value for everyday work, which means how good the applications looks doesn’t really matter (Norman 1988). However, on the other hand the surprise is that we also discovered evidence that pleasing things work better, are easier to learn and produce better results (Asdhy 1999). Furthermore good human-centred design practices are most essential for tasks or situations that are stressful (Isen 1993). Hence we can conclude that true beauty in a product has to be more than skin deep. To be truly beautiful, the product has to fulfil its functional purpose, be easy to use and comprehensible (Norman 2002).

2. Knowing what V.S. Knowing where
Next we moved on towards the in-depth look at the functionality of the interface. The screen objects should provide information that can potentially be used to evaluate the object’s function (Ehret 2002), in other words it is not enough to be able to know what we are looking for; we must also know where to look for it (Jones 1986). In order to achieve this we have to take into account the elements on the screen like space, colour, grouping, so to enable the users to locate the correct button/function without having to move their eyes from a cantered location (Moyes 1995). In addition, users of direct manipulation interfaces will rely on location as a performance cue only to the extent that the interface provides them (Moyes 1994). In conclusion we know that an interface has to provide spatial hints on what and where to look for function.

3. Importance of information
The one key thing which is important is the information displayed. Noting that users will not be using the application for some "experiential feeling" but for the content that is on it (Nielsen 1995). Furthermore content should be displayed in a simple yet understandable manner (Nielsen 1999; Nielsen 2000). Apart from that we have to also take note that in the case of the SMM, information displayed on the screen should be big and kept short as people tend to read 25% slower on screens as compared to paper (Nielsen 2000). Another factor to note is information retention, as there is no use displaying important information when the user does not remember anything (Hall 2004). Here we can see the importance of the information so much so that "content is king" (Nielsen 1999)and also the importance of making sure it gets retained beyond the time of access.

There so next time we design a software, its not just concentrate in functionality, but think about the human aspects of it.


References

Asdhy, F. G., Isen, A.M., and Turken, A.U. (1999). "A neuropsychological theory of positive affect and its influence on cognition." Psychological review 106: 529 - 550.

Ehret, B. D. (2002). "Learning Where to Look: Location Learning in Graphic User Interfaces." 4(1): 211 - 218.

Hall, R. a. H., P. (2004). "The Impact of Web Page Text-Background Color Combinations on Readability, Retention, Aesthetics, and Behavioral Intention." Behaviour & Information Technology.

Isen, A. M. (1993). Handbook of Emotions, New York: Guilford: 261 - 277.

Jones, W. P., and Dumais, S.T. (1986). "The spatial metaphor for user interface: Experimental tests of references by location versus name." ACM transactions on Office Information Systems 4(1): 42 - 63.

Moyes, J. (1994). "When users do and don't rely on icon shape." Proc. of ACM CHI'94 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2: 283-284.

Moyes, J. (1995). Putting icons in context: the interface of contextual information on the usability. Glasgow, University of Glasgow.

Nielsen, J. (1995). "Guidelines for multimedia on the Web." Retrieved 02 May, 2007, from www.useit.com/alertbox/9512.html.

Nielsen, J. (1999). User Interface Directions for the Web. Communications of the ACM. 42: 65 - 72.

Nielsen, J. (2000). Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity. Indianapolis, IN, New Riders Publishing.

Norman, D. A. (1988). The Design of Everyday Things. New York, Basic Books.

Norman, D. A. (2002). Emotions & design: Attractive things work better. Interactions Magazine. july + august: 36 - 42.

An old man

Finally I'm free enough to add stuff here, actually I've been free for a long time, just a bit lazy to blog again. Or rather have nothing to blog about until this afternoon.

If most of you know I have a tendency to run off to somewhere, don't have to be a quite place, grab myself a cup of good (and expensive) coffee and do my bible study.

This time the venu of choice was the newly opened shopping mall "Riverlink" in Ipswich (the place I'm living in Australia). Since the it was winter I ordered an extra warm cup of Irish creme mocha. Sounds nice? Taste even better...hahahaha...

The book of choice, Revelations, finally I have the courage to study the book I've never dared to look at for fear of what I might find or learn from it, but now I guess its time at the concluding point of this milestone, I thought I'll give it a shot. So there I was having my coffee, and doing my bible studies, than a group of people, a family I guess, came and seat down at the table beside me. Well, I'll cut the long story short and say they had a very loud conversation and I was will, not pissed, but slightly irritated.

So sometime went by and they were about to leave, the old man sitting on that table walked over and he was look in my direction and noticed I was doing bible studies. He asked me what was I studiying about, and we proceeded to talk about things. He talked about how the bible has changed his life, about how, we need to so much more spread the gospal look at the situation in the world today, I talked how it has changed mine, issues, my fear of the word...etc

Which brings up a though, can anyone picture life without God? I know I can't, I can't get by a day without talking to God, without putting God into propective of things, without acknowledging God in the things I do, seeking God....I cannot get by one day with out spending time with God. So what is life without God? Life is nothing....

A good reminder

Perhaps the question here would be “What or who are we working hard for?”

Earlier this year I felt or rather discovered that my perfect GPA which I got last semester was meaningless, as in there is no purpose what so ever for it, I didn’t felt fulfilled despite reaching the pinnacle for of university undergraduate achievement.

Problems like this usually appear when you think inside the box, which most people being brought up by the Singapore education system usually tend to because of “route learning” (Pang 1982; Gopinathan 1998; Chua 2006).

But I think the question should not just end there, however if we actually take the time to ask a further question on it, “Why is there no fulfillment?” followed by “What or who are we working for?”. It is strange that such a question would strike me at a time like this; strange indeed. Since receiving last semester’s results I have been trying very hard to maintain it from the looks of my assignment results for this semester I might just be able to pull it off again. And now this question “Who am I working so hard for?”.

Remember your creator… it all started with this phrase. If we were created in the same image as our creator and material things/works do not fulfill our creator, neither will it fulfill us. So how then do we find purpose in working so hard when the rewards are from this world? There are basically two things to consider; firstly are the rewards ONLY from this world? And secondly upon what do we focus on when we work hard?

It is rather clear that it can be all about focus. Upon what do we focus on when we do things? I’ll just quote from a conversation I just had recently “perhaps it doesn’t matter if u can maintain at it, or whether ur parents expect excellent grades... work hard at pleasing ur King...” So, don’t just work hard because your parents expect you to do so, or just because you want to challenge yourself. Work hard because your Father is happy to see you achieve, work hard because your Master/King will be pleased by your efforts and work hard because a Friend will encourage you to do so.

References

(I’m adding these references because I am aware that people disagree with me saying the Singapore education system is based on route learning and spoon feeding. This is just saying, it is not just my personal opinion.)

Chua, S. K. (2006). A critical discourse analysis on the translation practice of the Singapore’s 2004 educational reforms. Queensland, University of Queensland.

Gopinathan, S., Pakin. A., Ho. W. K., Saravana V. (1998). Language, Society and Education in Singapore, Times Academic Press.

Pang, E. F. (1982). Education, manpower and development in Singapore, Singapore University Press.

What is university life about?

Some would be tempted to just say "Education?"

To me by saying that, you have under estimated life. If you want an education go read a book or something. You don't need to go to school to learn something. So what than is university life about?

Not just education, put it this way, assignments and reading you'll have everyday and you'll be stuck doing them everyday. So what do you get to do in uni that is apart from this? Have fun?

Note this assignments and partying you can do every other day, but to be able to shape and make an impact in the life of another, is not something you get to do everyday.

So university life is more than an education, it about changing a life, making a difference, otherwise, just go read a book or something.

Why 2 and half years?

Why did I have to wait? Why was I made to wait 2 years before I was able to teach and another 2 and the half years before I was filled with knowledge and another 1 more year before I was given my own ministry?

The answer is very simple....because God couldn't use me back then...

5 long years, wow this is amazing, I don't why, I just thought now since I'm on the verge to handing over my duties in OCF, I retraced the time where it all started. Foochow Methodist Church (Rex cinema) how long ago was that, I voiced out that I wanted to be a teacher because I felt there were too many things that God had done and I wanted to spread it. Back then it was only the head that was willing, I had no knowledge, no will power and I didn't have a true understanding of I wanted to teach. So, I went into Cell groups, of course feeling disappointed, the question was still "Why wasn't I allowed to teach?" I couldn't even sort out my own life back then, much less to help out in somebody else's. Come to think of it, it was a good thing God didn't allow me to teach. Plus the pride factor as well. What is it with all men? Why does God always have to humble every man before they can be used? (Original Sin lor)

This is just so amazing, to discover that each and every step of the way was planned by God. I think He knew I wanted to teach in ministry all along, and it took 5 years to prepare my heart, smash my pride, and add knowledge, not just knowledge that stays in the head, but heart knowledge.And it all happens in just the right time, I was asked to become a Co-leader, after I entered army, I was given knowledge just before I left for further studies and now after serving for 1 year I am given my own ministry; the timing is just prefect.

From here on, I think its no longer how much we wait, but the fact that everything is according to God plan and timing. So it doesn't matter how long we wait or even if it doesn't happen we just have to know, it happens for a reason and it is all in God's perfect plan.