Looking back and forward..

Some reaction from a post on 'Transforming Grounds ' on a post looking-back and-forward

Why blog this?
I have found this useful in the sense of why I need the lab book requires such a rethink. The thoughts are on a slightly more abstract level with the thinking from the articles, but I think in a way and as mentioned in the Transforming Grounds blog post of the concern for society and the use of the analogy of who is actually looking at the front of the train in terms of technology development. This is in terms of

"It means that very few are thinking about what is coming and what we want to see in the future, since most people are struggling with understanding the ongoing reality. If that is the case, we are living in a society where people are looking backwards to get signs that can help them to understand their situation, like people looking backwards on a train, trying to get a picture of the landscape...then, who is at the front of the train, looking forward?" looking-back and-forward

My own initial thoughts with this are a design researcher needs to be able to look for the front of the train but at the same time produce real designs - through suitable awareness of the context of environment. This is seen as a key aspect where the design practice must be applied.

Thoughts on current interfaces illustrate how many computer scientists are biased toward efficiency with technological resources rather than human att

"Current interfaces illustrate how many computer scientists are biased toward efficiency with technological resources rather than human attention; or to put it bluntly, toward convenience for computers before convenience for people." -- Malcolm McCullough, in Digital Ground, 2004

Why blog this?
The thoughts are with how the quote links with idea about design as a composition that is discussed in the book 'thoughtful interaction design'. In the book it discusses how as a designer measurement can be made by creativity and innovation - I think innovation is particularly relevant in the above quote, in the way there can be a focus to develop technological resources without sufficient human attention.

Question to think about is this what may be present in the ideas about developing new technology with the elab book? - so focus on creating the technology and not upon the environment and ecology that the device works within?

So the thinking for the research is leading to thoughts of how the use of the information ecology may allow for a clearer composition of ideas for the design and development of the elab book. With the aim to allow for a clear concept through the use of the information ecology, for the design and development of scientific software/elab book work.


The background point to thinking about composition as an idea.
"Composition is a delicate task involving balance and contrast. The purpose is to compose whole entity out of existing and not yet existing reality. There is a need for balance between old and new, technical and non-technical, and function and form."
Thoughtful Interaction Design: A Design Perspective on Information Technology by J Lowgren Pg 32

Is it time to embrace the e-book....?

A really interesting article from the bbc web site on the use of the ebook, some really interesting comments too from users of ebooks in terms of preferences and scenarios of use for ebooks.

- Extract from article
Could printed pages one day be a thing of the past?
When electronic books first came onto the market, some thought it spelt the end for the printed page.

But following a flurry of headlines, and prophesies of doom from the publishing industry, the revolution in downloadable literature failed to materialise.

However, despite scepticism from some technology experts that the tactile satisfaction of the paper book has not been successfully replicated, it now seems that the e-book is starting to take off.

Full link to article - Is it time to embrace the e-book?

Useful interview also with Prof Kathryn Hughes and author Naomi Alderman on whether ebooks will threaten the printed word - Link


Why blog this?
Interesting to draw comparisons upon the design and general problems being experienced with the development of the ebook, what can be learned from the work with ebooks and be used to help identify and understand the continuing work with elab books?
Are there also significant similartities and differences between ebooks and elab books with the problems that they face which may help inform the continuing work? - this is especially thinking about the context of the information ecology.