Time Frames

The cartoon was really fun to read. The author uses comic to talk about the subject, "Time Frames" It emphasize more of how to show time and space in 2D form, cartoon.
I liked the different perspective that the cartoon character showed. I never realized how different kinds of frames could really have different look and meaning. I read alot of, tons of Japanese and Korean cartoon books in middle and high school year. The techniques and styles that Japanses cartoonists have are really amazing. They seem so real that I almost feel like I'm watching a moving animation to me. IT shows that Japanese cartoonists know how to make 2D seem really effective in a way of making the readers understand what is going on with the event. I thought of the time frames in Falsh when I read the author's comment on metaphor he used for Time as a rope. Instead each inch represents a second, and the unity of them are the signle simplified line, there are 12frames for one second(Deafualt) in Flash and unity of them are the "layers." As I was working with Flash, I think I became more flexible and understanding of time and motion. For the last project we did, I could also learn the relationship and meaning of space to time. Still, it's always hard to show the real space and time together. Now I know that in cartoon, framing is one tool to show, I'll use them next time when I have to show motion, time, and space on 2dimensional way.

Project 4 Virtual greenhouse tour

feed://www.art.uiuc.edu/courses/spring06/arts444m6u/students/lawAdam/podcast.xml

www.art.uiuc.edu/courses/spring06/arts444m6u/students/lawAdam/greenhouse.html

Multiples in Space and Time

This article helped me think concept "multiples" in different ways. I could identify the group, motion, sequence and whole lot of information through mutliples. It is different from one still image or one moving image(movie). I can find differences between one and another. I can also find changes made between them. I think the author shows various good examples in the text. I expecially like Unusual Luminous glasses images. They all look same when you just skim it, but as you look at it closer, there are differences between each. Big differences. It reminds me of playing mathcing game with cards when I was young. By seeing multiples of them, I finally know everything that match. That takes time to do it.

Layering and Separation.
First, I am still confused what he meant by "1+1=3 or more" in the article. He introduces the technique of layering and separation for information design. I thought it was interesting that he saw bold boarder lines as "cluttered", and not very visually interesting. When he said layering and separating the data, I couldn't fully understand how he actually used it to make look better. For me, when I think of layering something, I imagine the set of "Layers" in Photoshop program. In this article, he says he used layering and separating by making bold boarderlines of the boxes lighter (Symbol Sourcebook). I understand that the thinner outlines work in more designerly way, or I will say, aestheic and elegant way. However, I still see the use of thick boardline is also necessary in some occasions, and they'are not really bad design for me. They just have different feel to it.

Micro/Macro Readings by Edward Tufte

Before reading this article, I have never known that there are such things called macro/micro readings. The systemic layouts which was mapped out perfectly with showing many details could be defined as information design, but not as art or has aesthetic value in the article. I have been designing site map diagram for graphic design class these days and most concentrated on designing the digram simplest as I can be with the information. Tufte tells us that micro reading is not something only about making the information simple.It should show great details and clear as the same time.Looking at the images, a lot of themshowed use of consistancy, multiplicity, repition with theses elements, the design couldstill look very aesthetic tome. Tufte also brings out the idea of using space, "...but it is not how much empty space there is, but rather how it is used. It is not how much information there is, but rather how effectively it is arranged." This was always been important issue to consider when I design any thing; poster, letterhead, business card, signage, ect. This is also implied when making micro/macro readings. Tufte reminds the readers to draw out readings that guide to clarity with rich texture of data, a comparative context. I think it was interesting to see the whole massive information with details and the chaos outcome of its information with micro/macro readings.

Modern Hieroglyphs + Language of Dreams
Reading the article, "Modern Hieroglyphs", for second time, I agree with the arthor that observation is the key to knowledge. The isotypes that are discussed in the article is different than icon that we use for computer. However, I thought the isotype can be another best interface for the first project, too. Isotype usually is very simple, black and bold. With isotype, people also have to have basic knowledge before they interpret it. I find it very interesting that the isotypes that I saw in America are used mostly same in all other coutries. I'm guessing that these isotypes are designed for universal purpose. In the article, "Language of Dreams", it was interesting to compare the meaning of isotype as pictograph and as ideograph. As being a foreigner, as a bilangual person, I have been grwon to adopt both culture of America and Korea, learn both language, and also learn other numerous norms of the two different country. And it is always interesting to see the difference and similarities in expression and styles of two different cultures (in language, art, or any form of expression of ideas).

The Impossibility of Interface
The author does a good job in explaining and defining the different interfaces in the article. He tells how magnifying glass as interface works in two different program; Mac OS's Sherlock and Adobe Photoshop or Quark XPress. The statement he made about the metaphor as "a variant of action upon an object or process" stopped me from keep thinking about the metaphor as just image or eye candy icons when making and applying it to interface. I learned that there are so many interfaces I could make by thinking alot of various relationships between every single objects or masses from information system that are provided. I also found out that the hierarchy of the system is also important and can be helpful when designing its interfaces. The author emphasizes on two powers of interfaces and these two modes of power combine; how they stack up and combine, and how one mode can assume dominance over the other. I also learned there is always control in interface, yet the interface in someway, has to be designed that let users question and think more about it once more to interact as much as they can and be flexible with the interface feel free enough to navigate. On page 108, the last sentence reminded me of movie clips that I was learning from Ryan's class the other day. (While moving stars are moving forword and backword, there is a rotating star on fixed point.) I thought it was really dynamic design, though it was just a practice.

I think this article was really helpful to read as I am working on interface design using Flash. Overall, in the article, the fact, uses, implications, and meaning of the interface was written very well in details within each little titles, but I felt that the each contents with the title was not organized very well.