Review Questions

2. What is interactivity?
The concept of interactivity carries two different meanings. It is understood as the ability of the user to influence communication; however, it is all the ability for the communication to change on the basis of direct input from the user.

4. What is the difference between an artist and a designer?
An artist creates a work for presentation, while a designer uses the skills of the artist to develop something of use beyond the aesthetic.

6. What are pixels?

A pixel is the smallest form of of ‘imagery’ on a computer screen. A computer screen is filled with thousands of pixel, all of which are [individually] one solid color.

My Experience

I have always been more of a developer than a designer. I began coding HTML at the age of 12, and moved from there to PHP/MySQL. I was soon progressing on to things such as JavaScript and Perl. Inwardly, however, I have always had a passion for good clean art and photography.

I think that any web developer understands that it is very hard to develop without some form of visual design. Early in my hobby, I realized that I should start focusing a little less of my time on language development and more on visual development. I used online forums and tutorial sites as my main form of learning; however, I have also used a few books from the library. I have never had a ‘fundamentals’ class on design, other than elementary and 6th grade art classes. You know, blue and yellow make green, blue and red make purple.

I have an uncle that has always been interested in photography. He now uses photography as a supplemental income to my aunt’s income. You can view some of his work at Jeff Philliippi Photography. I do not, however, believe that this is a case for any ‘genetic predisposition’, as he just recently made this his career, and nobody else in my family has expressed any other photography skills.

Natalie, my fiancée, recently received a 10MP digital camera, so my photography obsession has recently come out of its ‘closet’. I have been experimenting with lighting, shutter speeds, focus, etc, and have found myself thoroughly enjoying. I view it almost as a challenge; a challenge to find the ‘perfect’ shot [for the session]. I hope that to be able to expand my experimentation with photography throughout my senior year.

Nick

Anger: Two smaller squares getting punished by an angry parental unit.

Fear: The smallest square is fearing the medium square, which is already being consumed by the largest square.

Frustration: The awkward square is frustrating the more perfect squares.

Excitement: The squares are dancing to show their excitement.

Despair: The higher squares [the successful ones] are in despair over the other square because he cannot make it.

Joy: The squares are in joyous positions; dancing their little square hearts away.

Nick

This is the last “Fall semester” of my 4-year college career. I am looking forward to the Spring already! Marriage, a job, a house … call me crazy, but I am ready for it.

This semester I find myself in an array of classes, from 100 level classes to 400 level classes. My biggest challenge will be the same as always; staying focused and interested in my classes. While the majority of my classes will be computer-related, I will be taking two non-computer coursees: Business Ethics and Intro to Statistics. I have missed my math-based classes a lot [since the switch from an engineering field to a tech field] and am very much looking foward to Statistics.

I will be creating a new category for my posts, titled ‘Visual Literacy’. This will be to fulfill a requirement for one of my K-State classes.

I am looking forward to this semester, and will keep you posted on my last year of school.

Nick