Reading Quiz # 5

1) One part that I agree with, found in the opening chapter with the 95 theses, is about markets. The authors state that markets are growing faster than companies served them. I agree with this because, especially in technology and computers, the market is always advancing and the companies and businesses must play catch up just to be considered leading edge.

2) One part that I disagree with is found in chapter 5. The writer of this section argues that hyperlinks subvert heirarchy. I disagree because while hyperlinks can form a regular top-down/bottom-up heirarchy, they don't have to. They can go straight from the bottom to the top. I don't think that in a real-life business, someone near the bottom would be likely to advance through a traditional heirarchy as quickly.

The Usability of Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games

Title: The Usability of Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games: Designing for New Users
Author: Steve Cornett

1. Introduction
   
   1. background
      
   2. background of usability issues
      
   
   
2. Method
   
   1. background
      
   2. participants
      
   3. products studied
      
   4. tasks
      
   5. metrics
      
   
   
3. Results
   
   1. games chosen by participants
      
   2. user questionnaire results
      
   3. usability test results and analysis
      
   
   
4. Discussion
   

-Joe and Kendra

Social Side of Gaming: A Study of Interaction Patterns in a MMOG

The Social Side of Gaming: A study of Interaction Patterns in a Massively Multiplayer Online Game
-Nicolas Duncheneaut and Robert J. Moore

This article follows the traditional formatting of a research paper. The introduction tells the history of massively multiplayer games as well as exactly what they are. The second section is a review of literature. The lit however is not a book. It is a game (Star Wars Galaxies). It talks about the background of the game as well the purpose of creating the game. The third section, research methods, describes what they did to get the results they describe later. The fourth section, shows the results they got about the player interaction at two major places within the game. The fifth section continues the research by describing in depth social spaces, especially within the game. They also reiterate their findings from the research in the game and what could be done better in-game in terms of social interactions. The brief conclusion ties up the paper by talking about SWG some more and how its one of the first games to encourage social interactions. It also says the major finding of the research (the social interactions between players are usually short discussions, just enough for the player beginning the interaction to get what they want).

-Joe and Kendra

Portfolio Websites

1)
Megan's: I like that the links on the left and bottom have visual cues to let you know what page you're on.
Rob's: Text links with rollovers are a nice touch.
Shawn's: Use of "splash" image is nice and in my opinion the image is professional.

2)
I'd like to improve on the Flash intro. I need to figure out how to make the links come out at a more steady pace (if you watch closely, the last 3 don't appear to come out spaced correctly). Also, I would like to have my text links provide a visual cue on each page. That way the banner on top and text links on the bottom would both show what page the visitor is on.

Campus Crime

How does Elon compare with other schools, crime wise?
-The majority of Elon crimes are burglary or breaking and entering. Compared with other schools in the area, such as Duke and NC State, the type of crime most commonly commited is the same. Of course, at larger schools there are more reported crimes but Elon's numbers are not very far off.

What crimes could be solved with a fairly small amount of money using technology (like camera's?)
-Since the major crimes are burglary or breaking and entering, without putting the cameras in the dorms or areas where these occur more frequently, camera's wouldn't help very much. The University wouldnt do this because of the invasion of privacy though.

PDC products (wristbands, cards, etc) at Elon:
Uses in library: Smart Labels in books/dvds to locate specific items within library

Uses around campus: Smart Cards technology can be implemented into Phoenix cards. Would allow you to easily find lost cards on campus (if entire campus is covered). Eventually Smart Kiosks could be used to add Phoenix dollars to your account (could verify that you are the owner of the card with a PIN number, as used with debit cards). Drivers license info could also be stored for age verification purposes.

Joe, Sean, Matt

Forming a research question

1)I am trying to learn about yoga


2) because I want to find out how it can be used to integrate mind, body and spirit

3) in order to help people understand how to achieve enlightenment.

OR

2) because I want to find out the health benefits of practicing yoga on a daily basis

3) in order to help people understand how yoga can help them live healthier, longer lives.

Biometric Technologies and what can they be used for?

Eye scanner: access to building, unique identifier (Minority Report)
Face recognition: access to building, elevator camera to identify where you're going
DNA: blood/hair testing to identify person (Gattaca)
Voice recognition: access to building/office (Sneakers)
Finger print scanner: credit card signing, locking/unlocking computer, access to building

In-Class work: Private Investigator

Anything that can be done to learn something about the person:
1) drug test
2) check local police records
3) set up van in front of house, observe for a week
4) become friends with them “by chance”
5) speak with their neighbors
6) google/web searches
7) get bank records/credit records/driving records

Internet only:
1) whitepages.com for phone number and address
2) satellite photo of their house
3) google for web pages created by them/colleges they attended/photos

home phone, cell phone, screen names/aliases, email address, first and last name - how much can be found on google?:
1) current work place (photo and location)
2) school activity (ACM)
3) college
4) SURF research

Online Portfolio/Resume

Skills:

• Windows os (95-XP)[5+ years]-Advanced::user


• Mac osX[2 years]-Intermediate::teacher


• Microsoft Office[4 years]-Advanced::user/teacher


• Microsoft Visual Studio .NET[1.5 years]-Intermediate::programmer


• Macromedia Studio MX[2 years]-Intermediate/Advanced::user/teacher/developer


• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator)[1.5 years]-Intermediate::artist/designer, Adobe Acrobat[.5 years]-Beginner::user


• Mac iMovie, iDVD[2 years]-Intermediate::user/teacher


• Java[3 years]-Intermediate::programmer


• C++[1 year]-Intermediate::programmer


• HTML[3 years]-Intermediate/Advanced::programmer/designer/teacher


• CSS[2 years]-Beginner::programmer/designer


• JavaScript[2 years]-Beginner/Intermediate::programmer


• Cold Fusion[1 year]-Beginner/Intermediate::programmer


• PHP[2 years]-Beginner/Intermediate::programmer


• MySQL[2 years]-Beginner/Intermediate::sql developer


• Oracle[1 year]-Beginner/Intermediate::sql developer


• XML[.5 years]-Beginner::documenter

Work Experience:

• elite: Emerging Leaders In Technology @ Elon[2 years]


• consulting/teaching local home inspector about website technology [1 year]

Activities:

• ACM at Elon[2 years]

Accomplishments:

• Overall GPA: 3.3


• GPA in classes required for B.A. in CIS: 3.868


• Presidents List (3.67 GPA): Fall '03


• Deans List (3.33 GPA): Fall '02, Spring '03, Fall '04

Education:

• B.A. in Computer Information Systems, Elon University, Expected May 2005

First Post

Welcome to Joe Magyar's CIS 450, Senior Seminar in Computer Information Systems, blog. I will be posting work relevent to my class on this blog throughout the semester.