Homework 4 - Graphics

I'm not sure why Blogspot has put this huge gap at the front of the entry, and I haven't figured out how to get rid of it... but the post is below the white space.

The objective of our fourth lab is to use pictures as a communication tool. I chose to employ graphics to try to describe a framework that I've been developing to analyze information work. I'm leaning in the direction of calling it something business-ish like "the intelligence value chain" or the "information value chain," but these carry some connotations that I haven't fully considered. So, for now, I'm calling it the "Information Value Spectrum." I believe that the key to developing a useful process is to have computers and people interacting at the "Effective Collaboration Interface." In other words, computers should be used to convert data into information, and then communicate that to people. People should then incorporate this into their knowledge and apply wisdom in handling complex problems. Here's my attempt to explain this with graphics:
	The font was chosen to convey a techno affect. Even though it is a bit less readable, I think it provides a better feel.
	The overview provides a strategic framework. In particular, it specified that there are four components to watch for in the first part.
	I've struggled with using pictures to represent the concept of data. But by using the clouds, I attempt to imply that data is a bit ethereal. In particular, the space between the clouds shows these pieces of data to be isolated from one another.
	The richness that is created by connected data to create information is shown by expanding the picture, and converting the name and phone number into a caption.
	This picture is intended to convey the affect of making a decision and taking action. I think it's pretty obvious that she's calling someone. The caption enhances this by stating who she is calling.
	This picture was chosen to convey people who understand the importance or the impact of something they have learned. So the story is that their ability to see the value of Pat and Jill's new idea is an example of wisdom. Computers do not react to things the way the people in this picture do.
	Now I go back and use graphics to restate that progression, adding that it's really moving from a sort of simple intelligence to a complex intelligence.
	The picture stays here as a reference point as I begin to explain how to use it.
	Rather than just labeling the axis "computers" I include an icon as a graphical queue.
	The curve shows how computers are excellent for for processing simple data, but become progressively less good as you move toward wisdom.
	I leave the graphic in place while continuing with the explanation.
	Again, an icon for people rather than just a label on the axis. Also, the computer icon is dimmed to draw focus to the relevant topic: people.
	Now the curve for people is added, overlaying the curve for computers. The graphic makes the point that people and computers are perfect opposites in this model.
	For a totally new concept, I didn't know how to start of with a picture. Perhaps I could have started with the picture from the last slide, put an arrow at the intersection, and then asked a question like, "so what happens here?"
	Back to the graphic, with both icons at full brightness to convey that they are both in focus now.
	And now the icons are dimmed, so that focus is drawn to the arrow in the middle.
	Summary is just in text because the graphics wouldn't fit well here. In order to summarize the whole lesson with pictures, I'd probably just need to review the whole sequence of slides quickly.