Google Maps – Process & Reflection

The Google Maps task was an activity I felt I was in complete control of. Having the freedom of choice to create a map that covered any area of particular interest proved to be a challenge I wouldn’t have expected. In the introductory workshops briefly explaining how we would use the interface I felt comfortable using the line tools and marker mechanisms. I initially felt that I would not enjoy the brief due to the fact that I have not experienced Coventry as a City and wouldn’t know how to include content in an interesting way. After playing around with the site for a few hours and discussing with my peers and lecturers, I came to concluding that it would be useful if I made a “Student Tour” around town.

Once I had established the theme for my map I decided that I would get started with lining out my path of choice and placing markers on the my newly created Google Map. I was very confident using the technology within the site and found it relatively simple producing and labelling the body of the map. The next step in the completion of this task was to take pictures and video that I would later upload, insert and embed into the place markers. The day of photography and filming was enjoyable, I got a camera and set out with my friend shooting images on location around the town and city centre. For my video sequence I was able to negotiate a member of the Subway staff to film a mini-promo clip. After the day was done I began choosing which Photos and Videos would be best suited and usable for my map.

I began uploading my pictures to Flickr, uploading my videos to YouTube was initially difficult as I had filmed them in an AVI format. I downloaded a video converter and converted them to MP4 so that they would work on the site; once this was completed I moved on to linking them to my Google Map. Adding my content to the map was satisfying as I was finally seeing it how I had envisaged it; completion was simple, I started on my ‘final touches’ by changing the icons to ones that suited the marker being described. The map was near completion, I thought it would be handy if I had links to websites of the company’s I had in the map thus making the interaction to the map more convergent and accessible.

The finished map has been linked to my WordPress blog and the task finally complete. I felt entirely comfortable during the completion of this task and progressively became more engaged with the requirements of the activity as I drew closer to the completion of the project. Through being persistent and committed to the task I have been able to produce a piece of work I am proud of. My work ethic throughout this brief has been constant in an activity I would regard a success. I have learnt how to use various forms of technology this term that I know will help me in the future, the experience has been one I have valued in my personal development.

Here’s a link to the pictures I used for my Google Maps:

Maps Images

Data Visualisation – Process & Reflection

 The task of visualising data about my life was one I believed would be long to conduct and not enjoyable. I knew what I was interested in but could not think of a method to apply it into a questionnaire that I would produce for others to complete. I took time in the workshop and started thinking about things that I’d like to know about my peers and how I would ask them. Shopping is an activity I take part in regularly, I thought it would be useful to ask questions about how everyone else conducted their own ‘Christmas spending’ during the frantic sales and major ‘retail-rush’. Once my idea was pitched and accepted by our course leader I began writing up questions that would enable me to get a detailed picture of the depth in which people were carrying out their shopping. Making the questionnaire was fairly simple, I used a website called www.freeonlinesurveys.com and quickly input the data I needed to make this. I had the option of printing my data out and handing it out to the people I wished to complete it; I considered this idea and then also realised that I would be able to collect my data even faster if I used a social networking site. I have around 900 friends on Facebook, I decided that I’d post my survey in an online format and invite my friends to help me complete it; this method proved a successful one as within an hour I had 45 responses.

After I had completed collecting my data I continued to use online applications to continue my work in this task. Due to me having a vast array of questions, it seemed difficult for me to convert the data into a definitive quantitive or qualitative graph of visualisation on the ‘Many eyes’ interface. I chose to use the data I had on another online website so that I could make graphs to display my results; i came across an online ‘create a graph’ website which had a very simple structure to it’s database. I simply entered my data into the website and it produced a graph for me. The process was simple, I saved the images to my usb stick and began uploading them to my blog. 
I found this task to be one I carried out with minimal disturbance as the software I was using helped me where there was any confusion. I was able to work efficiently and complete my work,  the task overall was a success.  

The Flickr Slideshow – Process & Reflection

Creating the Flickr Slide show was an activity I took an enjoyment in completing. Once given the brief I felt ready and became completely engaged with the task and activity. The first step that I took towards the beginning of my work was when we had the Adobe Photoshop introduction; as I was already familiar with similar software I felt that the task would be one I could complete without restrictions regarding my own technical competencies. During workshops I would think of ideas about my own lifestyle that I’d like to see visualised in my work, eventually it came to me that i should show the regular events I do and take part in on a weekly basis. Once my idea was accepted for further continuation I began devising a structure of how I would collect the images. I have an interest in photography so it was essential for me to get a hold of a good camera and begin ‘shooting away’; the camera followed me everywhere, I would take photos of myself carrying out the activities I intended to visualise. After I finished collecting my photos I began uploading them on to Adobe Photoshop so that I could edit them in my visualisation. I had an array of ideas I wanted to include with my images and began on the first one; the image of me holding a camera. I decided that i would use that extraction tool to make half of the image transparent. After playing around with the software and applying my own effects and inserting a background, I was able to edit the image into a representation of my transport methods with Coventry. I was quite pleased with the way the picture came out and decided to repeat this method with the next few pictures I was editing.

While I was completing my images I was also uploading them on to the Flickr website and creating a photo stream of my ‘Before & After’; this was where I uploaded the images of how the appeared when taken from the camera and the final image of how I had edited them. The Flickr interface was very easy to use and felt user-friendly. Upon completion of my 10 images I uploaded them and completed my Flickr slide show. Initially I was still coming to grips with the WordPress technology of ‘widgets’, so I had not yet linked my slide show to my actual blog, after speaking to a fellow student who explained to me how to use widgets, I felt confident in doing so and linking my Flickr photos to my blog. The task overall felt like a success as I was able to complete my images which I feel proud of. My work ethic throughout the activity was constant, I set out to complete the brief and feel pleased with the results of this.

Adobe Photoshop – Picture editing

The process of collecting pictures to represent statistical information about life was a task I took interest in; I saw it as engaging that i would be using the convergent media to portray various aspects of my life. Collecting the images was fun, I had a camera with me on all the small journeys I make . Capturing ‘the moments’ as they were was an activity I also enjoyed. when it came to deciding which photographs would be put forward for editing, I was able to make that decision swiftly and began editing them. Adobe Photoshop is software I am relatively familiar with due to IT lessons in secondary school, so editing my photographs became more of an activity than a task. I have now edited a few of my finished photographs and began uploaded them to Flickr.com .

Reflection – Survey

The task of conducting a qualitative or quantitive survey was one I took particular interest in. During the workshop, I decided that I would like to find out how people spent their money during the christmas period. I was able to quickly produce an online survey using Freeonlinesurveys.com; as i was a frequent user of the social networking site Facebook.com and had a large array of friend’s on my list, I saw it as only just that i posted the survey on my Facebook page. It was a good decision made as i rapidly received 45 responses within an hour of asking people to take the survey. My results showed a relative change in the pattern in which users were conducting their shopping. I hope to use these results below in further work I will be carrying out over time.

Click on images to enlarge.

Adobe Photoshop – Workshop

This image was made using the software, showing a few of the effects and tools available.

Painting*.