Q1JaneMeyers

Document Q1JaneMeyers

1. Your Name

Jane Meyers

2. Your field of study?

Computer Science

3. In which semester of study are you?

3rd Semester Graduate Student

4. Why are you interested in taking this course?

I took the Intro to DSS course last semester and really enjoyed it. I wanted to take this course to build upon what I have already learned and have an opportunity to work further on a previously conceived project idea.

5. What courses / work activities / background knowledge do you have which might be relevant to this course?

Well, the Intro to Digital and Social Systems course from last semester is relevant, as well as projects I have been working on at CU including: CO Care Tablet: developing a tablet application to help older adults manage medications Silence of the Lands: designing graphics and discussing potential functionality, and performing usability tests on a multi-user, touchscreen museum application and a related website.

6. Indicate your own digital literacy / fluency:
6.1. Describe your programming experience (languages, projects)

I would not consider myself a good programmer by any means but I have worked on projects to develop data visualizations and small programming projects in university courses.

My most fluent languages: C++, Python, Visual Basic, HTML/XML, SQL

6.2. What applications are you familiar with (e.g. Photoshop, Canvas, Dreamweaver,...)?

Photoshop, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Maya, Illustrator, the Gimp, iMovie

7. Give a brief description of the most important book / article which you have read with respect to the topic of the course.

Although its a stretch, a book I am in process of reading offers potentially interesting potential for integration with the topics covered in this course. The book, Hearing Gestures, discusses how our hand gestures not only help us visually communicate with others but might actually help us think. Current computer technologies are largely limited to the desktop, but integration of new media with tangible objects offers tremendous potential for new design and creativity.

8. What do you hope and expect to learn from this course?

I hope to work further with the EDC, read new material, and have the opportunity to learn and discuss from/with others in the class.