Got My Grades!

So my instructors actually submitted the grades mid last week, but I had the hardest time trying to figure out what my grade was! The online version of the unofficial transcript wasn't very clear, and I finally contacted the course administrator asking if the grade was actually posted. She said it was, but then I realized the online version doesn't show my name so I couldn't submit that for reimbursement.

The only version I could get that would have my name on it (that didn't require paying for an official transcript) was a printed unofficial transcript that I would need to get from Student Services, in person. Sigh... And even after I got the print out, I wasn't quite sure what my grade was. Here's a snippet.

I actually stopped a student and asked them if they could locate my grade for me. And right now it might look obvious (because I cropped in to the 15% of the page that actually matters), but it really was confusing to me because the course name is "Applied Software User Interface Design", and I didn't know if that "A" after "DESIG" was an abbreviation for "Applied".

When you actually realize there are column headings at the top, then it seems pretty obvious the "GR" column is the grade. So yes, I got an "A"! :)

Icon Design for Banana Republic

We come back from break to do an exercise in icon design. The premise is that main navigation categories on the Banana Republic website is being swapped out with icons. And off we go.

I created hand drawn sketches of the options and created a formal survey requesting rankings of first impression / visual appeal, clarity of meaning of each icon, and overall success of communicating the intended meaning (after those being surveyed took a stab at identifying each icon of each option first).

As with all design, not every option is good, so much hilarity ensued on some of the more ambiguous icon designs.

It was unanimously voted by those surveyed that Option C was the way to go.

So Option C is the concept that got graphically designed out. I did some general surveying on Facebook on how well these icons work, and they communicated what they needed to quite well, so I was happy that it worked out. :)

KitchenAid KitchenMentor Fridge and iPhone App

Our individual project assignment was to create a touch screen interface with accompanying iPhone app called KitchenMentor for KitchenAid's smart fridge. The goal is to help busy everyday folks manage their food and groceries by providing timely information such as when certain food items are low or out, or will be expiring soon.

Many other features are included, but one of the more interesting things we did was hack PowerPoint to create an interactive prototype/demo. I recorded the portion of the presentation that was the demo in the video below. For some reason blogger's video screen freeze is really pixelated below, but the actual video isn't so bad. Give it a bit of time to load fully before playing for best view experience. :)

The demo is just illustrating the touch screen interface that is mounted on the fridge. There is also an accompanying iPhone app that has a subset of the full functionality the fridge mounted display would have. Here are the samples screens that illustrate taking the user from Home -> KitchenDoc -> Recipes -> Recipe Details.

It's my first iPhone app design. Given Apple's rigorous guidelines on buttons and navigation at the top it looks pretty standard iPhone app. But I was glad I could get the custom colors in there to match the fridge display.

Riding Camel & Feeding Giraffes

Finally got around to scanning the souvenir photos from the Miami Zoo in.

The giraffes were so beautiful! Look at those big eyes! Look closely under my hand and you'll one of them sticking his tongue out, reaching for the green leaf I'm holding. They have tongues that can wrap and grab, and that's what happens when you feed them, they reach out with their tongues and when they find the food they'll wrap around it and pull it in. Your hand can get slobbered a bit but it was super fun!

I got to ride Charlie the Camel here. They built a ramp up so you just hop on (without the camel kneeling). While the handler was leading him around this figure 8 track she asked if I had any questions. The conversation went like this.

"So, where are they from?"
"Oh, they're from Wisconsin."

Wisconsin? *blink* *blink*

"They're from Wisconsin?"
"Yup, there's a camel farm there."

... why is there a camel farm in Wisconsin?...

"Uh... so... isn't Wisconsin colder than Florida?"
"Yes, but the desert gets really cold at night so it's well within their natural habitat temperatures."
"Oh, I see..."

so yeah, I was riding a camel named Charlie from Wisconsin in the Miami Zoo.

I almost got to pet a hippo named Johnny! But he wouldn't come when they called out to him. He was half submerged in his pond, and they rang this bell and called his name for like.. a minute. He barely acknowledged us puny humans and stayed submerged. Oh well.

Speed Signs

All speed signs should be like this. :-)

Bird on the Attack

This is a male Argus Pheasant. I was walking in the aviary and he started to circle me. At first there were some Tufted Wood Partridge that was pecking at him so i thought they were playing. Then it started coming at me and started pecking at my feet! I redirected his attention by blocking his shots with my zoo map but was forced to retreat into a building. I asked one of the keepers if it was something i did or if i'm wearing colors too bright, she said no, that little guy is just aggressive and they had to put him in time out for attacking a little girl the other day. Way to start the day!

Watch Out for the Alligator!

I'm holding baby alligator Snappy! The handler to my side said he's "3", but he also said he's been "3 for awhile", so I'm left wondering if this is a pygmy type alligator that actually won't get any larger than this and they just keep calling it a baby and that he's "3". :)