Semiotics, Metaphors and Melissa Ferrick?

The topic of our discussion this week has been focused on semiotics and how the study of signs and relationships will exponentially impact Web design. So far we have covered the theoretical approach, the historical approach and now it's time to put our new-found knowledge into everyday use.

In an effort to further my learning of the practical application of semiotics in digital media, I have chosen to analyze liveplasma (formerly musicplasma) in terms of its architecture, navigation/usability and overall functionality (i.e. its "signs" and what they in turn communicate to the user).

I'm sorry, what?

I thought this assignment would be a lot of fun because, as a music nut, liveplasma would be the perfect Web site to hold my interest. I must admit that my initial reaction to the site was one of disappointment and confusion. I basically didn't know what hell the site was, much less how to adequately navigate myself around its pages.

Architecture

I was astonished to see how bland the color scheme was with its use of gray background and black text. I must note that the sporadic (and minimal) use of bright colors was quite intriguing, but it certainly wasn't enough to make me want to enter the site.

After typing an artist into the site's search engine, I was relieved to see how quickly the page loaded and developed into a map. My first selection was Melissa Ferrick and I was surprised to find that the site contained information about this particular artist.

A definite flaw I noticed about the site's architecture was that the page's title and the navigational bar to the left of the screen blocked out parts of the map.

As well, there wasn't a clear indication of who designed the maps or who made decisions about the relationships between the artists. This ultimately brought the site's credibility into question.

Navigation/Usability

The addition of the discography section was nice, but I wish the site would have provided more information about the artist in general. Clicking on an album simply prompted me to purchase the album on amazon.com and it was annoying to be directed away from the site.

The fact that I had to scroll both up and down and side to side in order to view the map made me lose interest. As well, there was no easy way to return to the previous page.

The whole time I was viewing the site, I felt as though I had very limited control over what direction I wanted to go. I also felt as though there wasn't much there for me to see.

Functions

Viewing the connection maps was interesting at first, but interesting doesn't always correlate to understanding what is being presented.

I soon became frustrated because, although I could understand why certain artists or movies were grouped together, I had no idea what the colors or the different sized circles signified.

It took a while ... but I'm with you now!

After taking a closer look at the site and finally learning how to properly use its functions and understand its key, I think liveplasma is extremely interesting.

As a search engine, it creates a wonderful mix of information and visual cues that allows the user to better understand different genres of movies and music, understand connections between artists and discover new favorites by following lines on the "map."

The user really needs to be invested in the information in order to take the time to learn how to use the site to its fullest potential. Here's the main point I took away from this exercise:

Even if a site contains a wealth of knowledge, it will remain virtually useless if it fails to communicate an understanding of how to properly utilize and interpret its functionality.

A Few Recommendations for liveplasma:

This Web site analysis was supposed to be based strictly on design and functionality, and was not supposed to focus on content. I do have to add that if the site's home page neglects to provide adequate information about what is offered or what to expect, then it's the site's own fault for losing potential users.

My first recommendation would be to modify the structure of the site:

• Provide more information, either through text or images, to signify what will be offered on the site
• The use of additional colors would only serve to benefit the site because it would provide more depth and a lot more detail to catch the user's interest
• Place the "help" option in a more dominant position on the screen so users will know to use this link to find out more information
• Outline what the benefits would be for users interested in registering and accessing the member's section of the site

My second recommendation would be to make the navigation more user-friendly:

• It was fairly easy to get lost on this site, the addition of a "back" button or "clear search engine results" button would ease a lot of confusion
• Emphasize the zoom in/zoom out function of the site so users will not be frustrated when having to scroll up and down and side to side

The most important recommendation I could make:

• Give the user a break and try to better communicate what some of the functions of the site signify

Module 7 - Learning Style Test

As part of this week's required readings, we were asked to take a learning style test. I must admit that I was not at all surprised by my results. My primary style of learning is aural and my secondary style is social.

As someone who is a musician and someone who possesses really strong interpersonal skills, the results make perfect sense. The only aspect that was a little shocking was that visual learning was not higher up on my list of results and that logical learning was scored really low.

So, here are the results: Aural (20), Social (16), Physical (14), Verbal (13), Visual (12), Solitary (8) and Logical (7).

There were three main issues that created a lot of chatter on our blackboard discussion thread:

• The test seemed to reveal its own limitations in the way it posed direct questions
• The test would have been better if it has used a more detailed method of measuring responses
• The results could easily have been tainted by the individual's own self-perceptions

With that being said, I would recommend taking this learning test, along with other available tests like Myers-Briggs, in order to get a well-rounded understanding of personal traits, strengths and weaknesses, and potential.

A side note on perceptions, expectations and personal filters:

Trying to live up to expectations, either placed on us by ourselves or placed on us by other people, can be very damaging. As well, perceptions are often based on inaccurate notions and can severely limit one's own potential in life.

In a way, both perceptions and expectations remind me of personal filters. Truly understanding communicative, social or environmental filters is the first step in determining one's own direction (or lack there of) in life.

Style Guide for Online Writing

This is definitely a work in progress.....

Introduction

Formulating an online writing style guide is an important aspect of developing and maintaining a Web site or blog. The style guide not only serves as a guide for the online writer, but also serves as a map to the reader offering both familiarity and continuity. For the purposes of this class, we have been asked to construct our own online style guide to help support the upcoming research project.

Audience

One of the most important aspects of writing for digital media is understanding the audience and tailoring the message to best serve that audience's purpose. It should be noted that the target audience is not the only audience that is listening or reading. Therefore, it may be necessary to incorporate ideas into a more user-friendly format that reaches subsequent audiences while not undermining the intelligence of the target audience.

In terms of this research project, I am going to use the AP Style Guide as a foundation for my writing. I reserve the right to incorporate my own writing style if it seems it would be more beneficial to help deliver the message. My style will continue to reflect the guidelines set forth by the AP Style Guide, but will help to fill in the some of the gaps that are left behind by this "print" heavy style book.

Text Style

I have found that the default font and text size provided by blogger are suitable for conveying the message. I typically use large and bold text for headers and italicized and bold text for emphasis within the body of the post.

Where ever appropriate, it is preferred that lists are used instead of large chunks of text. This helps to keep the information scannable and concise; two important components of online writing.

The text is generally white and hyperlinks are green. Currently, the hyperlink will become white and underlined when the mouse is rolled over the text. Other colors, such as the colors of the rainbow, will be used to add emphasis to the text when/where appropriate.

Visual Style

Where appropriate, photos will be included in the body of the text in a manner that both supports the information that is being presented and helps break up the information into specific sections for greater understanding.

There will be no specific guidelines as to what size the photos will be as long as they are appropriate to the context of the post. All photos will be resized in Adobe Photoshop to help maintain the photos original quality.

Alt tags will be provided for all images. When needed, rollover images may be used. As well, captions will be provided to help describe the images in context to the post.

Citations

Due to the fact that the final project consists of a research paper, I feel it is necessary to include information about citations. All information will be properly cited, in the correct format as dictated by MLA guidelines.

Footnotes will be used to identify the appropriate sources as they arise in the text of the paper. Where appropriate, hyperlinks will be featured as part of the information provided in the footnotes

Research Specific Entries

My hopes are that this research project will have a fairly wide audience. Taking a deeper look at how the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are being effected by digital media and how the community is using this new technology for personal activism is meant to serve as a discovery of the human spirit. It will be necessary to go into greater detail about the the history of the LGBT community and other human rights movements in order to fully explore the realm of today's online activism.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender - should be written out on first reference. LGBT is appropriate to use on second reference. Lesbian refers to women, gay refers to men, and bisexual refers to both men and women. Transgender can sometimes be a confusing term for some individuals. Use the pronoun that is preferred by the individual. Ex. Male to female -transgender female. Female to male - transgender male. Avoid transsexual and transvestite. A transgender person is not a drag king or drag queen.

Gay - should be avoided as an umbrella term for people in the LGBT community because it lends itself to further the invisibility of the community as a whole.

Queer - Once a pejorative term that has now been reclaimed by the LGBT community. Will not be used for this research project because it lends itself to further ageism within the community.

Sexual orientation v. gender identity - lesbian, gay and bisexual refer to a sexual orientation, transgender refers to a gender identity.

Heteronormativity - referring to the misconception that heterosexuality is the norm and the most acceptable and prevalent form of sexual orientation.

Heterosexism - referring to the various privileges enjoyed by heterosexuals and the continued oppressions subjected to people who do not identify as heterosexual.

Sex or Gender Reassignment Surgery - preferred term. Avoid sex-change operation.

More entries to come...but for now a great online source can be found on the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association Web site.

Module 5

Part I - Poor Headlines

Headline 1:

Original: Colleges' Land Lines Nearing Silent End

This is a pretty good headline, but it doesn't mention the main reason land lines are in trouble: cell phones are quickly becoming the primary way students call home.

New: Cell Phones Threaten College Land Lines

Headline 2:

Original: Bloomberg Goes Both Ways

This headline is extremely vague and would only serve to confuse some readers.

New: Bloomberg's Support Waivers on Same-Sex Marriage

Headline 3:

Original: Pluto Keeps Its Secrets 75 Years After Being Discovered

This headline does a great job leading into the story, but it seems a bit wordy.

New: Pluto Still Mystifies Scientists

Part II - Lists

Headline: Experts Urge HIV Testing for Almost Everyone

This article was very informative and presented some alarming statistics about the HIV/AIDS epidemic that the United States has been experiencing since the 1980s. With the CDC recently issuing a warning about a new strain of drug-resistant HIV that rapidly develops into full-blown AIDS, the article could offer readers an attention grabbing list that is easily read and relays the importance of this article.

• 40,000 new HIV infections occur every year in the United States.
• Out of 950,000 people infected with the virus, 280,000 do not yet know.
• Routine testing would cut new infection rates by 20 percent each year.
• Early detection can add an average of 1.5 years of life for infected patients.
• Medications work best in conjunction with early detection.
• The epidemic is growing with the increased use of methamphetamines.

Part III - Model Web site

For years, I have been using cnn.com as my primary source for online news. I admit that I sometimes become bored by using the same sites over and over again and that I have recently started using msnbc.com as an alternate source. For the purpose of this section, I have decided to use what I know best and to feature cnn.com as my model Web site.

Content

As far as content, cnn.com does a great job of providing detailed headlines that give the readers an adequate understanding of what the news story will entail. As well, the headlines serve as hyperlinks to the full news stories and are categorized into content appropriate sections.

After the reader follows a link to access the full story, the content is chunked into appropriately sized sections of one idea per paragraph. The combination of the inverted pyramid style of writing with the use of headlines, lead-ins, headers and subheads allows the reader to scan the story for sections that are of great interest to him/her.

Navigation

The site's navigation is easy to understand and helps to keep the user from feeling lost. The tabs linking to the main sections of the site are found along the left-hand side of the screen and can be found on each individual page. As well, there are links to more news stories within that specific category and links to the top news stories along the bottom of the page.

vertical scrolling is sometimes required, but kept to a minimum and no horizontal scrolling is necessary. Advertisements are displayed, but tend not to get in the way of using the site for pertinent information. As well, additional resources are easily found if the reader chooses to follow the links for more detailed information.

Thrills and Frills

I enjoy the use of bold, rich colors on each page and think that it gives an element of strength to the site. In instances where there is breaking news, cnn.com will provide a red banner along the top of the home page to notify readers of the developing information. The site also allows users to register for e-mail alerts pertaining to the specific category of information that is designated by that individual.

The addition of streaming video (for registered users), photo galleries, information about what is happening on cnn's television broadcast and quick vote polls makes the user feel more connected and even adds an element of interactivity. Links to Time Online Edition, SI.com and Fortune are also provided to offer a more detailed perspective of certain stories.

You go, grrrl!

I read a clever article on the Advocate Web site today and wanted to share it with everyone. Dyke Eye for the L Word Girl, by Stephanie Fairyington, demonstrates how the media are "gayifying" lesbians in order to make their portrayal on shows like The L Word and Queer Eye for the Straight Girl more acceptable to general audiences. No, you won't see a bull dyke any time soon, but you'll have the pleasure of seeing designer clothing, slim bodies, aggressive sexual behavior and make-up that would make even Tammy Faye jealous.

Research Proposal

At the Intersection of Equality and Technology

Introduction

In a previous class, Global Impact of New Communication Technologies, I researched the overall impact new technologies would have on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. My main focus was the process behind building a personal identity within an online community. I explored the areas of creating a sense of identity, creating a sense of community, using new technologies to facilitate personal activism and the complexities of niche marketing in an online forum.

For my final project, I took an in depth look at what effect, if any, bloggers had on the outcome of the 2004 elections. In my piece titled, “Gay Blogs and the Power of Outing – An Essay in the Politics of Sexuality,” I used the online outing of Congressman Ed Schrock, R-Va., the notoriously conservative politician who opposed equal rights for his LGBT constituents, as a case study. Although it was hard to determine what impact bloggers made in the election, the conclusion was that gay bloggers prevailed in upsetting the political balance.

As an activist, a journalist and defender of equal rights, I would like to take this opportunity to continue with this line of research. I think it is important to fully understand what impact bloggers have had, and will have, on the LGBT community and what steps can be taken, as far as personal activism, to help further the fight for equality.

Research Questions

For the purpose of this research project, the following is a list of questions that I hope to answer:

1. In what ways does blogging, as a form of self-expression, mirror “consciousness raising” of the Women’s Rights Movements during the 1960s. What effect, if any, does this type of understanding and personal connection have on the LGBT community?

2. What is the definition of personal activism and what does it entail in terms of digital media? In contrast to other types of activism, in which the success depends upon the participation of millions of people, will personal activism have as important and as lasting an impact?

3. What are the different types of online activism? Radical activism? Peaceful activism? Is the personal really political?

As you can see, my inspiration comes directly from the great human rights movements that took place in the United States during the 1960s. My research questions incorporate the various techniques that historically have been employed to further the fight for equality in the Women’s Rights Movement, the Civil Rights Movement and the Gay Rights Movement.

It is my initial opinion that human rights movements are somewhat cyclical in nature. By this, I mean that they seem to evolve in a similar manner and that people who participate are able to learn from other’s mistakes and to use techniques that have been successful in the past at combating oppression. Will the same techniques hold true while utilizing new communication technologies such as blogging?

Methods

For this research project, I plan on using the latest publications and literary works in combination with my own personal knowledge and experience to assist me in gaining a better understanding of the issues involved. Per the class requirements, I will use printed sources (such as books on the history of the various human rights movements here in the United States), electronic database sources (such as accessing the most recently published research on the power of blogging) and incorporate additional sources (such as interviewing a local activist on the potential reach and impact of blogging and, of course, monitoring a few select political/personal LGBT blogs).

Purpose

This project comes at a very interesting time in our class as we collectively discuss the various theories behind analyzing the Web. If it is somewhat problematic to analyze today's multi-media by comparing its capacity to that of a single medium which came before, what will this mean for analyzing activism on the Web? As we shift our thinking of convergence and rhetoric, as Anders Fagerjord suggests, perhaps this is a perfect time to re-examine the activist's use of the Web.