Presumed

Based on the subjective view the user encounters with a particular website. It may not look very professional but if there is evidence of Authors name, contact details and URL indicators i.e. “.org” I have used the example of a medical website which is a “.org” and states the Author and states he is a professor.

Reputed

This type is credited because of third party endorsements, reports or referrals. Has been acknowledged for being a credited company or website from a particular awarding business. This type is not a highly probable or highly incidental way of evidence of credibility.I have chosen the example of Photobucket, as it is a renowned around the world and has a reputation for photo uploading.

Surface

This is the “first impression”. If the website looks professional and has high quality design, people will generally approach and give credit to a website that has a appealing appearance. This is a extremely good way of persuading the user that they are a professional and reliable source in providing information. If the user digs deeper past the “surface” that’s when this type may loose the first sight of credit. My example is of the Breast Cancer Foundation website which depicts the surface type of credibility.

Earned

This accounts for the reputation of the business and/or experience that extends over time. It may be a site that without a doubt offers correct and credited information. Also may be a site the provides a service that is consistent without fraudulent activity. My example of this is the ’3′ website. It has be a reliable source of information and allows users to pay phone bills. It is a credited by its consistency and lack of errors.

Below are a list of factors that will contribute to increase in credibility issues:

• increase in fraudulent and hoax websites – people offering the impossible and stealing information
• Bias content – People trying to brainwash
• less control over websites such as “wikipedia”
• viruses – more people will be out to destroy personal property
• less face to face communication loss of socialising as people have become more dependant on onl line usage.
• increase in free web technology – Confusing researchers assessing “credibility” which will make it harder for people to figure out which resources to trust.

One ways that I have found has increases “credability” e pay for content technique. This ensures the expertise is at a secure level. This will provide a way of providing the researcher with reassurance that the source is “creditability”.

Wikipedia is a fast effective way of locatting any specfic topic or issue, this therefore can influence laziness in people when they could use the time in finding a more credible website for research. I believe wikipedia is not a credible  source in academic research, because anyone is allowed to adjust and add bias information on any information. It is ok for general topics if it is not a academic reason the researcher is looking for  information. Wikipedias co-founder Larry Sanger expressed his frustration about the mis use that occurs because of the free  will to edit any bit of information. “If there’s going to be a free encyclopedia, I’d like there to be a better free encyclopedia. It has bothered me that I helped to get a project started, Wikipedia, that people are misusing in this way, and yet the project itself has little chance of radically improving.

I personally do not use Wikipedia but I can see the obvious issue that reseachers may come across erroneous data.

Wang states there are three levels of indicators. The credibility of the websites: Structure, service and marketing techniques. (2007,p.309) There are particular techniques and indicators that may help me as a student find “creditable” information for my studies, as I believe being in a heavily technological rich society I need to insure I can “trust” the information. Below are some indicators of how to check the credibility:

• If the URL ends in (gov.), (us. State abbreviations) they are highly credible
• (~) This symbol means the website has been published by an individual, which lowers the credibility as they may have their own agenda.
• Publishing date, The more recent the better
• Figuring out the purpose of the website, sites asking for you to sign up, trying to sell something, may not have unbiased information.
• Credible websites will provide contact details and resources.
• Figure out if it is a website is based on the author’s opinion or facts. “Fact-based information is likely to be more credible the opinion-based”. (Willard, 2007)
• If the design lacks professionalism and/or has spam, ads or random material will be less credible.

As a student researching a range of different topics I always keep in mind to be aware that the intentions of some may be bias, as Fogg suggests “if someone didn’t want to influence others in some way, h or she would not take the time and energy to set up a website”(2003,p.147)  I have found that the most credible websites are ones produced by government organisations, journalists and business enterprises.

References:

 Causey, A. [n.d] How to determine website credibility. Retrieved May, 2009, From http://www.ehow.com/how_2112227_determine-website-credibility.html How you can check

 Fogg, J.B, Soohoo, C., & Danielson, D. (2002)How do people evaluate website credibility. Retrieved May, 2009, from http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/pdfs/stanfordPTL.pdf Doc.

 Stephenson, N. (2009). How do your Students assess website credibility. Retrieved May, 2009, from http://www.isteconnects.org/2009/04/01/how-do-your-students-assess-website-credibility/

Wang, W. (2007) The credibility of enterprise’s website and Its evaluation in the customer perspective. Wuhan: Springer.

Willard, E. N.(2007) Cyber-safe kids, cyber-savvy teens. US: John Wiley and Sons.

T.V Remote control:

This was invented in order to initially reduce physical effort therefore reducing the Kinematic Load. It also means the cognitive load is decreased because, there is less mentally effort it using a finger to press the remote, then getting off the chair and changing the channel, turning off T.V or adjusting the Volume. It is a smart invention and is successful in decreasing the performance load, in order to become a widely used product.

The Electric Kettle:

Before the Electric Kettle was invented, It was either a pot over a fire or whistle blown Kettles on the stove. The invention of the Electric kettle has reduced cognitive load, with the Electric Kettle automatically turning off when it hits boiling point. This automatic process therefore allows user to not have to think about turning it off when the water is boiled, and also kinematic load by not having to take off the stove when its ready. This easy way of boiling water has help reduce the performance load and has taken over stove top kettles.

Electric Kettle

 Smartrider card (Transperth)

This is  fairly new Transperth ticketing system. All Transperth operated transporting vehicles have now got the “tag on, tag off”‘ system in place. It is a quick and easy way of paying for your transportation. Before the Smart-rider cards were available, multiriders and paper tickets were the only way of paying for transportation. This caused a higher performance load, Having to wait at machines in ques, malfunctions with multiriders being jammed in machines etc. The Smartrider is a low performance load and is quick and easy which makes it a new and successful design.

    

• In previous Learning portfolio’s the discussion of Aesthetic designs contributes to the physlogical nature of the human mind.  The human senses are more likely to approach something with “beauty” first.
• Cultural factors: If the information presented does not present a cultural aspect the auidence will not physologically be intrested.
• Colour is a association of Culture as well, As certain colours represent different meanings in differnet cultures.

George Miller suggests that the braind can remember 7 items, give or take one or two, at a time.(Scott, 2007) This supports the idea that “chunking” information will suceed in benefitting the auidence/learner. It would definatley benefit in enviroments with decreased short-term memory capcity. Such as presentations, were other audience members may distract  or scenery may also. Principles of Chunking:

• Information should be disected into small digestable units.
• Should be no more then 9 units per line (Magic 7 rule)
• getting rid of  un-nessacary information

The Technique of Chunking is used in visual communication, in order to maximise the amount of information the audience will retain and recall in long-term memory. It reduces the cognitive load, and if dont properley it will  inhance the success and reputation a brand or product. Design is a way of communication, Frascara states “The words “Visual Communication” modify the word “design”, and relate it to the production of visual objects aimed and at communication specific messages”, (2004) this emphasises how “chunking” can inhance the success of portraying these specific messages. If “chunking” is a way of communicating by a low cognitive load then it is nessacary designers succeed in this design technique.

References:

Frascara, J. (2004) Communication Design. US: Allworth Communications.

Gobert, F.(2001) Chunking Mechanisms in human learning. Retreived May, 2009, From www.sciencedirect.com/science

Malinowksi, S. [n.d]. Retrieved May 2009, From www.musanim.com/miller1956/ 

Scott, G. G. (2007) 30 Days to a more Powerful Memory. US: Amacon.

Sousa, A. D. (2005) How the Brain learns. UK: Sage.

In order to design a product that upholds all desgin principles the performance load is a key factor. Performace load is both cognitive and kinematic load’s.

Cognitive load:

Cognitive load is the mental effort one has to take in order to opperate a product. The cognitive load will increase if there is a need for memory, indurance and if there is an overload of information thrown at you. Over time products such as the computer, appliences and day-day objects have been designed to have a low cognitive load. It enables the user to use without the mental drainage. This is demonstrated in George Millers research which shows that short term memory is limited in the number of elements it can contain simultaneously (Sweller 1988). I believe in some ways cognitive load is taken into so much consideration by producers with designs that people have become so dependant on products that society is becoming more lazy.

Kinematic Load:

This describes the physical approach the user encounters when using a product.  Kinematics is a branch of dynamics that deals with aspects of motion apart from considerations of mass and force (Webster, 1983). Similarly to the cognitive load, when products are made in simplistic kinematic ways, it increases the chances of the product being successful.

When minimising the Performance load, It will increase the chances of the product being efficent and appealing to the public eye.

References:

Beggs, S. J.(1983)Kinmatics. UK:Taylor and Fracis.

Lidwell, W., Holden, K., & Butler, J. (2003). Universal Principles of Design. Massachusetts: Rockport.

Sweller, J.(1998) Cognitive Load Theory. Retreived on 29th of May, 2009, From http://tip.psychology.org/sweller.html

Websters, M.(1983).Websters Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.US. Random House.

The changes I have made are:

• Adding a slide with the intention to add “Story” to my presentation.
• Added a picture to emphasise the “Story”
• I have added a number of “meaningful” quotes at the bottom of various slides. To also create “Empathy”

More or less I have created the presentation to met the standards of the “Conceptual Age” theory.

Below is my presentation:

Design

Throughout my presentation I applied the idea that less is better. “The less clutter you have on your slide, the more powerful your visual message will become”( Top ten slide tips, n.d) I found my slide met this Aptitude, as I used this technique throughout the whole presentation.

Story

I approach the presentation design with factual information that I thought was simple but ultimately enough. I did not have any stories. If I had of included a real life story such as the one I found on ‘Mail online news’ which was about a helpless Polar bear stranded on ice, this would have engaged the audience to acknowledge the immense implications ‘Global Warming’ has, and to persuade the audience that action needs to be taken. 

Symphony

With the research I encountered, I found that I followed this aptitude in the way I stuck to providing my presentation with facts and statistics to insure I was not over indulging the audience with useless information.

Empathy

I did not apply this aptitude very well. I kept my presentation focussed on the facts and figures. I should have made it more expressive what it can do to the wild life and be more empathetic of the dangers for future generations.

Play

I found this hard to do on such a serious matter. I believe it is increasingly better way in this day and age to engage the audience with a presentation. Katarina states “Laughing people are more creative people” (2006). I think this is a Aptitude that has to be left out in such a serious topic.

Meaning

I definitely produced a meaning behind my presentation. I applied a meaningful explanation of what Global warming is doing to the environment and future issues it may cause. Then I applied examples of tips that the ‘audience’ could personally relate to in every-day life.

References:

Knemeyer, D. (2006) Applied Empathy: A Design Framework for Meeting Human Needs and Desires. Retrieved on the 29^th of May, 2009, from http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2006/09/applied-empathy-a-design-framework-for-meeting-human-needs-and-desires.php

 Mouland, B.(2007) Global warming sees polar bears stranded on melted ice. Retrieved 29^th of May, 2009, from    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-433170/Global-warming-sees-polar-bears-stranded-melting-ice.html

Pink, D. (2006). A Whole New Mind: moving from the information age to the conceptual age. New York: Riverhead books.

Reynolds, G. (2008). Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery. Berkeley, CA: New Riders.

Quotations from various author’s. Retreived 29th of May, 2009, from http://www.stthomas.edu/recycle/warm.htm