This is Pasquale’s Blog

MINI-THESIS- further Investigations

April 11, 2008 • No Comments

I have honed in on the topic I would like to address in my animation. Toxic toys in our country is a very important issue that has been addressed, but not as much as it should be. There is no telling how many toys in our own pasts before this recent recalling actually got circulated into our toy stores and into the mouths of little kids. For all we know, us adults could have taken in a lot of toxins including lead and mercury and could be paying the price for it now. Another interesting link I wish to address in my animation is the similarities that exist between autistic symptoms and those of lead poisoning. I scoured You-Tube once again for some early attempts at addressing toxic toys, many are comical, and a few are sparse newscasts that barely touch the issue. There definitely seems to be a need for improvement and sincerity with this issue.

This next interview recording is very interesting and might need further investigation. It could help me incorporate an older demographic into the picture of toys and the animation I create. Apparently, kids toys is not the extent of toxins in soft products imported from china. There are also the sex toys.

Mini-Thesis Research

April 6, 2008 • No Comments

Here are several animations that demonstrate animation as an effective tool in relaying important information regarding current affairs of today regarding politics, economics, the web etc… I chose these particular animations because the message of each piece prevails over the aesthetics and design, and there is a balance in the visual and in the message. I feel this provides a more effective resource in the ongoing struggle to collect valuable, accurate information from broadcasted sources.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztj2qfui114

http://www.markfiore.com/

My Final Package for Broadcast

December 20, 2007 • No Comments

Here are the elements which comprise my show package re-design for “Ghosthunters”…

My Final Paper: Tales of Endurance

December 20, 2007 • No Comments

Our experiences with the homeless are all too often limited to such first impressions as appearance. This project involves conducting video interviews with various homeless individuals along with generating their audience through a blog in an effort to eliminate misconceptions and to reach a deeper understanding of who they are and why they are. These interviews are an early step towards aiding the homeless because understanding the people involved are the first steps to help solve the problem. This project conveys the commonalities they share with the rest of the world as well as the responses of various individuals to it.

pasquale’sfinalpaper.pdf

TALES OF ENDURANCE SITE

Free Write- What from Chapter 1 audiio of “Ten faces of innovation” was useful in your observations?

December 18, 2007 • No Comments

What proved to me to be particularly beneficial in my observations was the idea of “vu-ja-de.” The whole premise of seeing something for the first time is a concept that gets overlooked today. With so many discoveries and innovations it is often hard to find what has been done before and what hasn’t. But what the audio program taught me was to be more alert and attentive to the actions that go unnoticed because they are so basic or “uninteresting.” It is the information that ultimately prove to be the most important part because it unlocks clues to the greater picture. I found it very interesting when Kelly talks to the European guys who worked for the soft drink company. In seeing a basic action like looking at their watches then at the soda machines they were able to discover the reason why sales were poor was because passengers didn’t want to miss their train to buy a can of soda. Uncovering this simple fact lead to a boom in sales for the company when the issue was addressed, prototyped and resolved. In looking at my public space, I had to take into consideration all of the subtleties of the people to get a better grasp of the situation. Finally, the most important point that i felt the audio conveyed was that you have to be open-minded and stay away from judgmental situations. This will distort your results and won’t represent an accurate study. When seeing what people were doling in my space, like using the fountain as a table top and putting food and drinks on it, I had to remember to stay open-minded to what I was witnessing.

Free-Write-How did the three talks influence your ideas of how technology is designed?

December 18, 2007 • No Comments

I felt all three podcasts are conveying the idea that technology is created specifically to cater to the user rather than creation of something new and innovative. As David Kelley states, a fairly recent idea has stormed onto the design scene which is “human-centered design,” where personality traits and behaviors of the user are put into technology. One example was with the use of technology in the spyfish. People who didn’t want to go into the water to dive and see ocean life can watch from a digital screen on the boat without even getting wet. In my own studies, I have tried to think of as many ways as possible to not only appeal to my own tastes but also to cater to personality of people in general. Relating my own ideas to people who will critique and view my work is essential towards a more meaningful message.

I also felt that Malcom Gladwell’s points on preference change are very valid as well. People’s preferences can shift dramatically in a very short span of time so what may look hideous at first such as the Ergon chair design, may turn out to be the most popular design ever. Also, sometimes I worry that my own art and designs are too abstractfor an audience to grasp. Luckily, Gladwell states something I hadn’t considered before. This is the idea that people love and are intrigued by what they do not know how to explain. I don’t need assurance of the quality of an ideaverbally, it is enough to receive a response that an audience enjoys what I have created.