JAMcArthur
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Usability + Design = User Experience
I have stumbled along this sometimes somewhat stony path: from an analysis of users’ perceptions, to the notion of user satisfaction, to user experience… [alongside] some of the attractive theories that may have led me and others astray. -Dr. Jurek Kirakowski Clemson University’s MATRF, Usability Testing Center, and student chapter of the Society for Technical…
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Milton Friedman and corporate responsibility
The corporation’s only responsibility is to make money and sell products so that people can be hired and paid. It is the job of the individual, not the company, to serve society through philanthropy.” – Milton Friedman, Univ. of Chicago Professor Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences In an age where information lies…
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Google Designs a Birthday Experience
In honor of Les Paul‘s birthday, Google has once again re-presented its iconic logo in a new form. This time, the guitar image plays on the user’s command to create an interactive experience. To commemorate the reason for the design, I tried out my guitar skills. They don’t rival Paul’s, but here’s a sample: The design…
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Designing Nutrition
The food pyramid is ancient history. In a move toward better communication, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) ousted the pyramid in favor of “My Plate.” Is this better information design? The new design certainly gives viewers the image of their dinner and a reference point for the way their plates should look. A quick…
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Harness the Power of Learning Spaces
Classroom space should work for us, not against us. As the evolution of classroom space continues, many professors find themselves working in innovative environments like studios, computer labs, and modifiable classrooms. To effectively facilitate learning in such spaces, teachers must harness the power of the space instead of being paralyzed by it. At Queens University…
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Writing the Media Release
Even through the fast shifts toward online media, the press release remains a staple of the strategic communication industry. However, it has taken on two similar but divergent forms: the media release and the story release. A media release (or news release, or press release) is the traditional format for announcements to the media. Conversely,…
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Top 10 Tips for Success in #COMM306
Integrated Strategic Communication, COMM 306, moves quickly. To compile the breadth of information, learn the art of writing for the web, and chronicle their experience, Knight School of Communication students maintain blogs throughout the semester. Here is their top ten list of tips for success in the course: 1. This course isn’t about the grade,…
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Citing Sources Online
When we write papers or speak publicly, we usually understand how to give credit to others. However, sensibilities about plagiarism and intellectual property often disappear when writing online. But, citing sources can be easier and more productive in online media than it would be in any other form. Here are five strategies for citing sources…
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“Put your money where your mouth is”
Sonja Stetzler, an adjunct professor in the Knight School of Communication at Queens University of Charlotte, has always wanted to connect her classroom assignments to the service of others. This spring, she challenged each student in her public speaking class to persuade the class to give to a good cause – and then to raise…
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Diffusion vs. Translation
…or, “Why we want to hear from the President rather than Twitter.” Due to what news anchors called “technical difficulties with the press conference,” Twitter users and the news media had a forty-minute jump on the White House in the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden. Yet, Americans across the nation tuned into…
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