Amy Kan_Mlim 6323

Final version of Interactive Visual Representation (Assignment 2)

2006-08-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

After receiving feedback from our classmates about our final product, "Interactive Visual Representation", we have done some amendment as below,

1) increase the font size of the attraction's information
2) add the attraction websites to provide more information

Amy & Terence

Flash source file (fla) - tourist-attraction-revised.fla
(best viewed by 17" LCD monitor 1280 x 1024 resolution)

Flash Object Format (swf) - tourist-attraction-revised.swf

Flash Publishing Format (html) - tourist-attraction-revised.html
(best viewed by 17" LCD monitor 1280 x 1024 resolution)

A brief description on how our representation works

2006-08-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

The purpose of designing this representation

Scanning the websites available, we find that there is not one from which we can search information about all the tourist attractions in Hong Kong. For the convenience of both the local and foreign tourists, it is essential to have a more comprehensive website in a visual and interactive format to introduce the sightseeing spots in Hong Kong. In recent years Hong Kong government has done a lot to attract tourists to visit Hong Kong, it is believe that a well designed visual interactive representation could help. This project is just in an initial stage to bring out this crucial and workable idea. This time we have decided to introduce four most popular Hong Kong attractions, the Ocean Park, the Disneyland Hong Kong, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and the Giant Buddha. Undoubtedly, there are many other attractions which are worth visiting. Perhaps we can add some more into the representation in a later stage.

The Use of the representation

This interactive visual representation is mainly designed for communication of information. Target users are able to get information they need from this representation. We try to make it more user-friendly. Users just need to have a few clicks to get information needed.

This representation can also be used as a reference material for teaching and learning. For instance, when students are asked to write an essay or do a project to introduce tourist attractions in Hong Kong or to plan a trip in Hong Kong, they may collect useful information from this representation. Though it is not the main aim of this design, we believe that it may help in learnig in a certain extent.

The functionality of the representation

Through this interactive visual representation tourists can get information about each attraction on five main areas. They should first choose an attraction they would like to visit by clicking the picture. Then the picture chosen will be highlighted with a RED frame. At the same time, five icons appear at the bottom representing " Historical Briefing", "Entry Fee", "Opening Hours", "Ticket Booking" and "How to get there". They may put the mouse on one of the five icons to get information they need. Then certain relevant information will pop up. The design is simple enough for all kinds of visitors who want to know more about tourist attractions in Hong Kong.

Reflection

As we have mentioned above, this representation is just in an initial stage. With our limited IT skills and due to time constraint, we are sure that there is still room for improvement. For example, more tourist attractions and information icons can be included in the representation. Based on our idea, we hope that the organizations and departments concerned can develop it further in future.

Final interactive visual representation

2006-08-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

Here is our final interactive visual representation project. Please comment.

Web Publishing Format (html)

Flash Object Format (swf)

A revised version of our project

2006-08-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

After reading comments from our classmates, Terence and I decided to improve our project by making it a bit simpler, but we will keep the ideas of introducing Hong Kong tourist attractions. This time we just focus on four major tourist attractions which we think tourists should not miss when visiting Hong Kong, though there are many sightseeing spots throughout 19 districts in Hong Kong. We have picked up Ocean Park, Disneyland Hong Kong, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and Giant Buddha.

Anyway, due to time constraint, we could only develop our project further to include more attractions in future.Here is the revised prototype of our final project. Please comment.

This is the entry screen. You may select
any one of the four attractions.

After clicking on the photo, its frame
will be highlighted in RED.
Five icons will appear.

An example for Giant Buddha.

The screen for choosing Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.

The sreen for opting Ocean Park.

Putting your mouse on the icon of Historial Briefing,
relevant information will pop up.

You may put your mouse on the icon of Entry Fee,
it will tell you how much you need to pay for.

One of the icons will show you its Opening Hours.

If you consider Booking Ticket, just put
your mouse on this icon.

You may even get information about
How to get there.

Detailed Storyboard of the project

2006-07-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

Here is the storyboard of our project -- showing HK's attraction. Please comment. Thanks!

Amy & Terence

Storyboard 1
Sroryboard 2
Storyboard 3
Storyboard 4
Storyboard 5Storyboard 6Storyboard 7
Storyboard 8Storyboard 9Storyboard 10

Lesson 7 & 8

2006-07-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

Reflection

Undoubtedly, "Flash" is a useful tool in designing an interactive learning material. But it is really time-consuming in developing a learning object. Being an IT idiot, I need to spend much time on improving my IT skills.
Frankly speaking, in this module, I would like to learn something more other than learning "Flash" for nearly half of the time.

Lesson 6

2006-07-07T02:38:00.000-07:00

Reflection

This lesson gives me a chance to further develop my skills in Flash. I really need to spend more time on it as there are many functions which I can use to help accomplish my project. Thanks, Daniel!

Storyboard of Project

2006-07-07T02:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the storyboard of our project. Please take a look and give some comments. Thanks!

Tourist attractions in Hong Kong

Amy & Terence

Proposed topic for Project

2006-06-30T01:52:00.000-07:00

Objective

We propose to develop an application to help Hong Kong visitors learn more about our tourist attractions. Currently, the Hong Kong tourism commission is using a hyperlink under the web to introduce different "attractions and 18 districts" to our visitors. However, it is find that they are in the form of information only which do not have any visual interaction with the web surfers.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkiidistricts/index.jhtml

Scope of work

Proposed add-on visual/interactive ideas for these attractions are:

1) identify the bus, tram, boat and other routes to these different attractions

2) highlight some attractions' important parameters (e.g. visitors count, opening hours, entry fee, discount for overseas visitors, etc) for web surfers

3) hyperlink to these attraction websites

4) faciliate its entry ticket booking, etc

5) propose route to visitors for their planning of trip (e.g. what attractions are suitable for your one day or two days local trip)

Since this proposed scope of work is very preliminary, we will add more nice features to this project in the later stage.

Technical Issues

"Macromedia Flash" will be used for this project. There may be some limitations of this software, we will revise the scope of work accordingly if necessary.

Please kindly comment and suggest some functionalities you find interest.

Cheers,
Amy & Terence

Lesson 5

2006-06-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

Reflection

I was really delighted after lesson as I have learnt some basic skills in using Flash. I have longed to learn this software, and here comes the chance. Thanks Daniel! I have tried to use it at home but I find it a bit difficult to create a nice representation. There are many things I need to consider in creating a good piece of work like the objective, the design of the object, its colour, animation, level of interaction, etc.. I think I need to spend more time on learning each function in Flash. I would try to use this software to do my assignment. Hope I can manage it well.

Learning Objects

2006-06-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Reflection

I was amazed after looking at the learning objects shown by Daniel. It is really a good aid to help teachers explain their teaching items especially those complicated or abstract ones. It is surely more effective and interesting to learn through interaction and visualization. But after doing Task 4 -- Designing the shape of a raindrop, I find it difficult to create a well-designed one by myself. Anyway, Terence and I have tried our best. Hope you all enjoy it.

Task 4 - Raindrop

Digital Story

2006-06-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

Reflection

It is my first time to use this software -- Photostory. I find it interesting. I enjoy doing it. I have great experience with my partner, Terence Chow when doing our work. We try to make this digital stories for my F.2 students.

When I teach Passive Voice, I used to tell students 2 similar stories orally. One is told in Active Voice, the other is told in Passive. Then I will ask them to spot the differences bwtween these 2 stories. Now after learning this skill, I can create visual story to help me teach students.

This skill is useful in teaching. It is much more time saving than using "Flash". I think students like watching this kind of movies. I would try to show my students this digital story when I teach this topic and see their response.

Hope tonight, I can learn some more skills to help in my teaching.

Here are my digital stories.

Story 1
Story 2

Task2

2006-06-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece of great work created by Terence and I. Please take a look and give us some comments. Thanks!

Reflection
"Well designed graphics are far more effective than
words." "Visuals can communicate complex ideas..." (Tufte, 1983) It is right, but to me it is difficult to create a well designed picture. I found that it is easier for me to use words to express information than drawing pictures. Maybe it is because I am not a creative and innovative person and my visual literacy is really poor.
In doing this task, firstly I have considered using Flash but I am not familiar with this software and it is time-consuming to create even a simple object. At last we decided to use powerpoint to help us accomplish our task. I find that this task is interesting and helps me understand more about the advantages of visual representation. It is always easier said than done. Looking at a picture and getting ideas from it is surely easier than creating a picture and embedding information into it.
Anyway, looking at our final product, I am pleased and treasure this experience.

Who am I?

2006-06-01T04:37:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know more about me?

Click Here

Reflection

After class, I discover that we can use many different ways to present the same piece of information. The most important point is that the designer should be innovative and creative enough. I am a bit worried in completing my tasks as I am not such a creative person and whether I am able to make good use of the softwares and make the best visual and interactive representations. Anyway, I would try my best to apply what I have learnt in the lesson on my tasks.

Lesson 1

2006-05-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody,
Hope we all have a good start here.

Reflection
I have got some ideas about this module. It is interesting to present information through visual and interactive representations. Hope I can learn more about this in class.