The Oregon Trail and Pong! are two different types of video games, while both succeeded when they were released. After playing the two versions of the Oregon Trail, I can see why it is so popular. First, there are so many choices and freedom in it. There are thousands of combinations and possibilities in the game. From what I learned from game design classes, uncertainties are always appealing...
The computer interface has changed a lot since the first release of the Star system. There is also a massive leap from Star to the first macintosh. What I noticed the most was the evolution of the keyboard. As people can see, there is a separate part for the Star keyboard to accomplish tasks like move, copy& paste, etc. However, users use digital buttons in the macintosh system to complete...
The graphical user interface in a 1984 Macintosh was pretty impressive, considering Microsoft Windows wasn’t even out yet, and computers were basically command-line interfaces at this time. So having a graphical desktop environment was pretty remarkable. The graphical interface in a 1984 Macintosh is black and white, and runs at 512 x 384 resolution — it was designed for a Mac with an...
Christopher Alexander encourages workspaces to be broken down into smaller groups, indicating that most people would feel oppressed to work with undifferentiated groups of people. This doesn’t just remain true, but is actually more embraced with better technologies and the progressive utilization of internet-based services like Slack nowadays. The philosophy that Alexander proposes would...
Through the story of the article, I have a general image understanding and usage of PDA and brainpal. Here is a sketch of my PDA and brainpal.I think a PDA is like a mobile phone or a tablet. It is an electronic product that can be carried around with a pen. I think its functions are very similar to that of a mobile phone, navigation, alarm clock, touch screen, etc. But the functions seem to be...
Christopher Alexander pointed out that all communities gather from the edges, and if the initial gathering at the edges does not succeed, the group will not succeed. And people need some places to stay (like stores and garden ), and slowly there will be a group. This makes me think of the structure of Slack. Each large community is constructed by smaller groups, while the member in each group can...
After playing games like Oregon Trail and Pong, there are a lot of popular games that have a lot in common with them, The original Oregon Trail game was designed to teach eighth-graders what it was like to be pioneers on the Oregon Trail in the 19th century. In 1848, players took on the role of a brigade commander, leading a group of immigrants from Missouri to Oregon’s Willamette Valley in...
Nowadays, smart spaces represent a powerful tool that helps people connect, whether for professional purposes or non-professional purposes. In A Pattern Language, Christopher Alexander discussed the design patterns of spaces. Although this book seems to focus on describing a practical and functional architectural system, the concepts that Alexander has described in this book could be applied...
I played Oregon Trail game for 3-4 minutes, and pong game for 10 minutes. The Oregon Trail was one of the most played computer games at that time, but I had more fun with Pong. The reason why people enjoyed Oregon Trail might be, it has so many options and there is no answer. So you can customize this game context. And (I’m not sure but I think) when you choose other options, you will see...
I am very interested in Christopher Alexander’s concept of architectural patterns. And I think his point is just as valid for the app. In “A Pattern Language”, Christopher talks about the fact that in many modern building complexes the problem of disorientation is acute. People have no idea where they are, and they experience considerable mental stress as a result. This problem also occurs...
My IXD peers and I joke around a lot, saying things like, “Once you become an design major, nothing ever looks the same again.” Design problems everywhere! Design patterns everywhere, too. More often than not, to recognize the former you must first recognize the latter. How do things work? What defines them not working? How can we consistently get them working again? Many a design...
Christopher Alexander writes about design patterns in living spaces in his book A Pattern Language, I’m going to talk about how some of these patterns are implemented into the Work Community online. activity pockets “The life of a public square forms naturally around its edge. If the edge fails, then the space never becomes lively.”A Pattern Language, 1977, Christopher Alexander...
Below are some sketches of how I envisioned the technology described in the science fiction novel Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. PDa The PDA is a Personal Device Assistant that helps recruiters get by their day-to-day, like a smartphone. Recruiters are able to check times, get directions, set alarms, make appointments, check menus, etc. BrainPal The BrainPal is like a PDA but it’s...
–
Christopher Alexander’s pattern language is known for providing simple, formatted, user-friendly solutions to complex design problems ranging from urban planning to interior design. A Pattern Language is significant for demystifying complex socio-spatial considerations through a simple building-block format which makes this content accessible to non-professionals and is one reason why this...
Below sketches are the hypothetical BrainPal and Personal Data Assistant (PDA) interfaces from the fictional novel Old Man’s War.
I am imagining the interaction between the brain and the body to be like controlling a muppet with strings, only that the “muppet” here is in a neural sense and the “strings” idea is representative of the sensors in the body. In this interface, human senses are represented visually, such as the sense of direction, memorized events, pain detection, sounds and smell. There...
PDA, short for Personal Data Assistant, is a data collection device described in the science fiction Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. In the same book, the author also described the concept of a device with no screen and is embedded within the user’s brain, with the appropriate name of BrainPal, which reminds me a lot of the “no-interface interface” concept of today, except...