The document provides an overview and design documentation for a virtual town hall application. It analyzes the target audience which includes adults interested in discussing politics and current events online. Three user personas are described representing a local activist, political junkie, and political activist. The town hall application would provide a centralized space for these users to have organized, ongoing online discussions about political and news topics through features like live conversation, data visualization, and an interactive town hall theme.
This document profiles the media habits of 4 individuals - Deborah, Tony, Lauren, and Debbie. It finds that all 4 rely heavily on devices for both work and entertainment. They spend 20+ hours per week on computers and 10-20 hours on smartphones. While TV was once important, computers and phones are now their primary sources of news, music, videos and communication. The trends show smartphones and computers are being used more for entertainment as their capabilities increase with faster browsing and more apps. Overall, technology deeply impacts their lives and they say they cannot live without their various devices.
The document describes the results of a survey on media habits conducted by Annabel Scholfield. The survey included questions about TV watching, gaming, cinema attendance, music listening, internet and social media usage. Three participants are profiled: Freddie, a 17-year-old male who watches few TV shows but spends 10+ hours daily online and on social media; Rosa, a 14-year-old female who watches shows on tablets and laptops and prefers shopping in stores; and Alex, a 50+ female who watches 8+ TV shows daily and enjoys cinema outings with her family.
This was my Master's Thesis with a proposed research topic on why there is a need for social networking sites based on two psychological theories, how they identify who we are, and changing the way we communicate plus behave in this technological driven society.
The document discusses getting "beyond social" in marketing and communications. It notes that while large social platforms like Facebook and Twitter now have widespread adoption, opportunities still exist on smaller platforms and through mobile. It advocates focusing on people over plans, responding to trends from smaller innovative sites, and creating responsive mobile experiences rather than forcing apps. The key is monitoring various platforms to engage people directly through new technologies.
El documento presenta una entrevista al historiador peruano Pablo Macera. Macera habla sobre sus primeros años y recuerdos de infancia en Perú, sus lecturas e influencias intelectuales cuando era estudiante universitario en San Marcos, y su perspectiva sobre temas como el arte popular peruano, las rebeliones indígenas del siglo XVIII, y las limitaciones de la primera república peruana posterior a la independencia.
Este documento presenta varias historias cortas sobre personajes como Hansel y Gretel, el profesor loco, Choricillo, Fleo el goleador, Rapunzel, Dumbo, la deportista Fiona, Batman, Pepón el cabezón y Dumbo buscando a su madre. También incluye una sección de colaboraciones de infantil y una historia sobre Periquín Chiquitín.
In a shocking interview with PBS, billionaire mutual fund icon Jack Bogle, revealed that Wall Street is “unapologetically stealing from millions of hard-working Americans.”
And Bogle should know. With over 40 years on the inside:
“the entirely “corrupt fee structure” on Wall Street.
He knows how American retirees are being “fleeced by hidden fees that most investors never see.”
This document profiles the media habits of 4 individuals - Deborah, Tony, Lauren, and Debbie. It finds that all 4 rely heavily on devices for both work and entertainment. They spend 20+ hours per week on computers and 10-20 hours on smartphones. While TV was once important, computers and phones are now their primary sources of news, music, videos and communication. The trends show smartphones and computers are being used more for entertainment as their capabilities increase with faster browsing and more apps. Overall, technology deeply impacts their lives and they say they cannot live without their various devices.
The document describes the results of a survey on media habits conducted by Annabel Scholfield. The survey included questions about TV watching, gaming, cinema attendance, music listening, internet and social media usage. Three participants are profiled: Freddie, a 17-year-old male who watches few TV shows but spends 10+ hours daily online and on social media; Rosa, a 14-year-old female who watches shows on tablets and laptops and prefers shopping in stores; and Alex, a 50+ female who watches 8+ TV shows daily and enjoys cinema outings with her family.
This was my Master's Thesis with a proposed research topic on why there is a need for social networking sites based on two psychological theories, how they identify who we are, and changing the way we communicate plus behave in this technological driven society.
The document discusses getting "beyond social" in marketing and communications. It notes that while large social platforms like Facebook and Twitter now have widespread adoption, opportunities still exist on smaller platforms and through mobile. It advocates focusing on people over plans, responding to trends from smaller innovative sites, and creating responsive mobile experiences rather than forcing apps. The key is monitoring various platforms to engage people directly through new technologies.
El documento presenta una entrevista al historiador peruano Pablo Macera. Macera habla sobre sus primeros años y recuerdos de infancia en Perú, sus lecturas e influencias intelectuales cuando era estudiante universitario en San Marcos, y su perspectiva sobre temas como el arte popular peruano, las rebeliones indígenas del siglo XVIII, y las limitaciones de la primera república peruana posterior a la independencia.
Este documento presenta varias historias cortas sobre personajes como Hansel y Gretel, el profesor loco, Choricillo, Fleo el goleador, Rapunzel, Dumbo, la deportista Fiona, Batman, Pepón el cabezón y Dumbo buscando a su madre. También incluye una sección de colaboraciones de infantil y una historia sobre Periquín Chiquitín.
In a shocking interview with PBS, billionaire mutual fund icon Jack Bogle, revealed that Wall Street is “unapologetically stealing from millions of hard-working Americans.”
And Bogle should know. With over 40 years on the inside:
“the entirely “corrupt fee structure” on Wall Street.
He knows how American retirees are being “fleeced by hidden fees that most investors never see.”
Roadmap - Vehicle tracking and fleet intelligence news - February 2015Frotcom
Frotcom Spain showcased its new fleet management module integrated with the Garmin fleetTM 670 navigator at a technical seminar. The integration introduces customized applications and value-added services. A new partner, United Services Gulf General Contracting Co., signed an agreement to become Frotcom's exclusive representative in Saudi Arabia. Frotcom helped the transportation company BION increase asset management productivity by over 10% by providing real-time fleet monitoring and control.
Presentación de la RED AEDL+i del Programa Tfinnova sobre cómo incorporar la innovación en el modelo de negocio ( elementos claves, ciclo de la innovación, escenarios locales....)
Este documento presenta el proyecto de vida de Marco Antonio Miguel, un estudiante mexicano de 20 años que cursa el tercer semestre de bachillerato en informática. Su proyecto incluye terminar la preparatoria y estudiar ingeniería, trabajar duro hasta los 40-50 años, casarse a los 30 años y tener una casa propia para brindar estabilidad a sus hijos. Sus pasatiempos favoritos son jugar en la computadora, leer, hacer ejercicio y jugar fútbol.
El documento describe las actividades y esfuerzos de La Casa Encendida, un centro cultural en Madrid, para hacer las artes escénicas más accesibles para personas con discapacidad en 2012. Se resumen varias obras de teatro y actuaciones musicales presentadas ese año que abordan temas relacionados con la discapacidad o que son accesibles para audiencias con discapacidad. El centro también ha realizado esfuerzos continuos para mejorar la accesibilidad física de su espacio.
Le specialità della ginnastica, il free style con il kite surf o con la bmx sono accomunati da analoghi parametri tecnici
http://www.calzetti-mariucci.it
Words and Pix S.L. is a Spanish marketing company established in 2003 that provides branding, design, digital marketing and public relations services. Jonathon Drury is presenting on how Words and Pix can help raise the profile of Dominion Beach, a residential community in Estepona, Spain. They propose developing a new website, managing social media, producing a community newsletter and providing local PR to increase awareness and property values. Their services are affordable and flexible with an initial retainer for 6 months and optional extra hours.
The document outlines the program for the 5th Conference on Good Practices in University Teaching with ICT Support, to be held on September 12, 2014 at the University of Zaragoza. The conference will include an opening presentation, a keynote speech, presentations of communications on various topics relating to the use of technology in education, and a closing lunch. Various departments from the University of Zaragoza will present projects and experiences integrating technologies like mobile apps, wikis, and online collaboration tools to enhance teaching practices.
This school inspection report finds that Blakehill Primary School is a good school. It summarizes that the school is led well and pupils behave well and feel safe. The quality of teaching is also good, resulting in pupils achieving good outcomes. The report provides some areas for further improvement, such as ensuring work is always sufficiently challenging, especially for the most able pupils.
El documento proporciona información sobre la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 o insulino dependiente. Se define como aquella en la que se presenta un déficit absoluto de insulina dado por la destrucción de las células beta del páncreas. Sus principales síntomas son poliuria, polidipsia y polifagia. Su tratamiento consiste principalmente en la administración de insulina a través de diferentes métodos, como bombas de insulina, inyecciones o plumas.
El plan general de contabilidad de las pymesmariacarrerot
El documento presenta una introducción al Plan General de Contabilidad para Pymes en España. Explica que el PGC normaliza los métodos contables para hacerlas comparables. Describe que el PGC para Pymes se aplica a empresas con menos de 50 empleados y activos o ingresos menores a ciertos umbrales. Finalmente, resume que el PGC contiene normas de registro, valoración y definiciones de cuentas para preparar estados financieros de manera uniforme.
Este documento é um resumo de três capítulos do livro "Entre a Terra e o Céu" que descrevem:
1) Uma discussão sobre a natureza da prece e como as orações são atendidas;
2) O pedido de socorro de uma alma que se reencarnou há 15 anos e permanece sob orientação espiritual;
3) Uma explicação de que a reencarnação traz um "programa de serviço" a ser cumprido, embora a conduta e circunstâncias sejam escolha do espírito.
1. El documento habla sobre un pueblo que prefiere ser ciegamente ignorante y rechazar la verdad. 2. El autor y su ministerio investigan exhaustivamente las fuentes para proveer información verificada, pero reciben críticas y amenazas. 3. El autor sugiere que desastres recientes pueden ser juicios de Dios por desafiarlo a través del pecado y la idolatría.
La Unión Europea ha propuesto un nuevo paquete de sanciones contra Rusia que incluye un embargo al petróleo. El embargo prohibiría la importación de petróleo ruso a la UE y también impediría el acceso de buques rusos a puertos europeos. Sin embargo, Hungría se opone firmemente al embargo al petróleo, argumentando que su economía depende en gran medida de las importaciones de energía rusa.
Este documento describe las características generales del rocoto fresco. Detalla que el rocoto pertenece a la familia de las solanáceas y se produce principalmente en los valles andinos del Perú. Explica también que el principal productor de rocoto fresco en Perú es el departamento de Pasco, seguido de Puno y Cusco. Además, analiza aspectos como las condiciones climáticas y de suelo apropiadas para el cultivo, así como los procesos de siembra, fertilización y cosecha.
CA Mobile Application Management - for granular app controlCA Technologies
CA Mobile Application Management (CA MAM) allows organizations to securely manage and control both native apps and web resources on mobile devices. It provides dynamic policy updates without requiring redeployment of apps, and single sign-on access across apps. CA MAM helps enterprises address the growing need for mobile application management through features like app wrapping, access controls, usage reporting, and data security.
This document presents a revised draft model course on Master and Chief Mate. It aims to meet the mandatory requirements for knowledge at the management level in navigation, cargo handling and stowage, and controlling ship operations and personnel. The course covers topics such as navigation, cargo operations, stability, contingency planning, and personnel management. The subcommittee is invited to review the draft and provide feedback to further improve the training.
The document discusses how new media has been embraced more by women than initially expected. While early predictions were that new technologies would be dominated by men, women became the majority on the internet by 2002. The document argues that social software and new media platforms suit women well because relationship building and social interaction are key parts of women's communication styles. Women have adopted blogs, instant messaging, and podcasting to facilitate ongoing social connections and learning opportunities. Marketers are encouraged to utilize these new communication channels to build meaningful relationships and engage in rich dialog with female customers.
This document discusses the permanence and visibility of children's digital footprints online. It notes that many children have computers in their bedrooms and spend 2-3 hours per day online. However, 41% of children ages 8 to 17 include personal information like email addresses and phone numbers in visible social media profiles. The document warns that anything posted online can create a "digital tattoo" that is highly visible and hard to remove.
Roadmap - Vehicle tracking and fleet intelligence news - February 2015Frotcom
Frotcom Spain showcased its new fleet management module integrated with the Garmin fleetTM 670 navigator at a technical seminar. The integration introduces customized applications and value-added services. A new partner, United Services Gulf General Contracting Co., signed an agreement to become Frotcom's exclusive representative in Saudi Arabia. Frotcom helped the transportation company BION increase asset management productivity by over 10% by providing real-time fleet monitoring and control.
Presentación de la RED AEDL+i del Programa Tfinnova sobre cómo incorporar la innovación en el modelo de negocio ( elementos claves, ciclo de la innovación, escenarios locales....)
Este documento presenta el proyecto de vida de Marco Antonio Miguel, un estudiante mexicano de 20 años que cursa el tercer semestre de bachillerato en informática. Su proyecto incluye terminar la preparatoria y estudiar ingeniería, trabajar duro hasta los 40-50 años, casarse a los 30 años y tener una casa propia para brindar estabilidad a sus hijos. Sus pasatiempos favoritos son jugar en la computadora, leer, hacer ejercicio y jugar fútbol.
El documento describe las actividades y esfuerzos de La Casa Encendida, un centro cultural en Madrid, para hacer las artes escénicas más accesibles para personas con discapacidad en 2012. Se resumen varias obras de teatro y actuaciones musicales presentadas ese año que abordan temas relacionados con la discapacidad o que son accesibles para audiencias con discapacidad. El centro también ha realizado esfuerzos continuos para mejorar la accesibilidad física de su espacio.
Le specialità della ginnastica, il free style con il kite surf o con la bmx sono accomunati da analoghi parametri tecnici
http://www.calzetti-mariucci.it
Words and Pix S.L. is a Spanish marketing company established in 2003 that provides branding, design, digital marketing and public relations services. Jonathon Drury is presenting on how Words and Pix can help raise the profile of Dominion Beach, a residential community in Estepona, Spain. They propose developing a new website, managing social media, producing a community newsletter and providing local PR to increase awareness and property values. Their services are affordable and flexible with an initial retainer for 6 months and optional extra hours.
The document outlines the program for the 5th Conference on Good Practices in University Teaching with ICT Support, to be held on September 12, 2014 at the University of Zaragoza. The conference will include an opening presentation, a keynote speech, presentations of communications on various topics relating to the use of technology in education, and a closing lunch. Various departments from the University of Zaragoza will present projects and experiences integrating technologies like mobile apps, wikis, and online collaboration tools to enhance teaching practices.
This school inspection report finds that Blakehill Primary School is a good school. It summarizes that the school is led well and pupils behave well and feel safe. The quality of teaching is also good, resulting in pupils achieving good outcomes. The report provides some areas for further improvement, such as ensuring work is always sufficiently challenging, especially for the most able pupils.
El documento proporciona información sobre la diabetes mellitus tipo 1 o insulino dependiente. Se define como aquella en la que se presenta un déficit absoluto de insulina dado por la destrucción de las células beta del páncreas. Sus principales síntomas son poliuria, polidipsia y polifagia. Su tratamiento consiste principalmente en la administración de insulina a través de diferentes métodos, como bombas de insulina, inyecciones o plumas.
El plan general de contabilidad de las pymesmariacarrerot
El documento presenta una introducción al Plan General de Contabilidad para Pymes en España. Explica que el PGC normaliza los métodos contables para hacerlas comparables. Describe que el PGC para Pymes se aplica a empresas con menos de 50 empleados y activos o ingresos menores a ciertos umbrales. Finalmente, resume que el PGC contiene normas de registro, valoración y definiciones de cuentas para preparar estados financieros de manera uniforme.
Este documento é um resumo de três capítulos do livro "Entre a Terra e o Céu" que descrevem:
1) Uma discussão sobre a natureza da prece e como as orações são atendidas;
2) O pedido de socorro de uma alma que se reencarnou há 15 anos e permanece sob orientação espiritual;
3) Uma explicação de que a reencarnação traz um "programa de serviço" a ser cumprido, embora a conduta e circunstâncias sejam escolha do espírito.
1. El documento habla sobre un pueblo que prefiere ser ciegamente ignorante y rechazar la verdad. 2. El autor y su ministerio investigan exhaustivamente las fuentes para proveer información verificada, pero reciben críticas y amenazas. 3. El autor sugiere que desastres recientes pueden ser juicios de Dios por desafiarlo a través del pecado y la idolatría.
La Unión Europea ha propuesto un nuevo paquete de sanciones contra Rusia que incluye un embargo al petróleo. El embargo prohibiría la importación de petróleo ruso a la UE y también impediría el acceso de buques rusos a puertos europeos. Sin embargo, Hungría se opone firmemente al embargo al petróleo, argumentando que su economía depende en gran medida de las importaciones de energía rusa.
Este documento describe las características generales del rocoto fresco. Detalla que el rocoto pertenece a la familia de las solanáceas y se produce principalmente en los valles andinos del Perú. Explica también que el principal productor de rocoto fresco en Perú es el departamento de Pasco, seguido de Puno y Cusco. Además, analiza aspectos como las condiciones climáticas y de suelo apropiadas para el cultivo, así como los procesos de siembra, fertilización y cosecha.
CA Mobile Application Management - for granular app controlCA Technologies
CA Mobile Application Management (CA MAM) allows organizations to securely manage and control both native apps and web resources on mobile devices. It provides dynamic policy updates without requiring redeployment of apps, and single sign-on access across apps. CA MAM helps enterprises address the growing need for mobile application management through features like app wrapping, access controls, usage reporting, and data security.
This document presents a revised draft model course on Master and Chief Mate. It aims to meet the mandatory requirements for knowledge at the management level in navigation, cargo handling and stowage, and controlling ship operations and personnel. The course covers topics such as navigation, cargo operations, stability, contingency planning, and personnel management. The subcommittee is invited to review the draft and provide feedback to further improve the training.
The document discusses how new media has been embraced more by women than initially expected. While early predictions were that new technologies would be dominated by men, women became the majority on the internet by 2002. The document argues that social software and new media platforms suit women well because relationship building and social interaction are key parts of women's communication styles. Women have adopted blogs, instant messaging, and podcasting to facilitate ongoing social connections and learning opportunities. Marketers are encouraged to utilize these new communication channels to build meaningful relationships and engage in rich dialog with female customers.
This document discusses the permanence and visibility of children's digital footprints online. It notes that many children have computers in their bedrooms and spend 2-3 hours per day online. However, 41% of children ages 8 to 17 include personal information like email addresses and phone numbers in visible social media profiles. The document warns that anything posted online can create a "digital tattoo" that is highly visible and hard to remove.
Letter Writing Template For Kids Best Creative TemplMichelle Davis
Haim G. Ginott developed a congruent communication model of discipline that emphasizes the teacher's role in influencing students. The model focuses on the teacher using self-discipline and addressing situations through congruent communication that is harmonious with students' feelings, rather than attacking their character. By inviting cooperation from students and expressing anger appropriately, teachers can model the behaviors they want to see and discipline through a series of small successes.
Trends in internet use - how public radio fits inLee Rainie
This combines a speech given to the Public Radio Program Directors in Cleveland and a webinar to public broadcasters arranged by the National Center for Media Engagement.
Using Social Media to Launch Your Campaign or OrganizationWomen Online
The document provides guidance on using social media to launch a campaign or organization. It begins by assessing an organization's needs and existing digital assets. It then outlines a roadmap for digital public relations, starting with understanding your key messages and positioning. The document provides tips on using various social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and blogs strategically. It also includes case studies of successful social media campaigns for advocacy and political organizations. The document concludes by recommending daily activities to engage on social media if limited to 30 minutes per day.
Running head UNIT 4 PROJECT1UNIT 4 PROJECT 8Reflect.docxagnesdcarey33086
Running head: UNIT 4 PROJECT
1
UNIT 4 PROJECT
8
Reflecting on Sources
Sam Smith
Kaplan University
CM 220 05
Carrie Hannigan
October 1, 2011Unit 4 Project: Reflecting on Sources
Complete all three parts of the worksheet below. Be sure to cite all sources in APA format, including using in-text citations and reference page citations in the spaces provided. The writing should be in Standard English and complete sentences. The sources noted in this worksheet should be related to your "big idea," which is the basis of your final project in this course. Save this document to your computer, and submit it through the Unit 4 dropbox, per the instructions in the classroom under Unit 4's Project Description.Part I: Pre-Interview Worksheet
Directions: Complete each section of the Pre-Interview Worksheet below. Although students are not required to conduct an interview as research for the final project, the process of thinking about potential questions and responses related to the final project topic will help stimulate further ideas and questions related to conducting relevant and reliable research. Of course, you may also decide to interview the person discussed here or another appropriate subject and use the material in your upcoming projects as a primary source.
Interviewer Name
Sam Smith
Interviewee Name
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Interview Method
email
Interview Location
If interviewing in person, where will it be conducted?
Have you seen the location yet?
FORMCHECKBOX
Yes
FORMCHECKBOX
No
X FORMCHECKBOX
Not applicable
Interviewee Research
Adichie was featured in a TED video, discussing her beliefs that writers should tell stories that create more than one point of view, thus avoiding a "single-story" perspective; her example was that she grew up in Nigeria, but read stories from England and the United States, which colored her perception of storytelling and the world (Adichie, 2009). Likewise, she has found that others hold misperceptions of her own culture based on the limited views of stories (and media coverage). Adichie is advocating that storytellers adopt a point of view that is true to their culture, and helps show the world the complexities of their culture. Adichie is the author of Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun. Other publications include short stories, speeches, and non-fiction articles. She has received 13 awards for her writing, and numerous nominations for other awards. Through interviewing Adichie, I hope to gain her insights on how facilitating storytelling within an elderly community can benefit the community overall.
Interview Topic Research
Storytelling is a fundamental aspect of every society; it can educate, inspire, motivate, and entertain. The act of creating stories can be therapeutic for the writer, as it compels the individual to tap into his/her own emotions and memories in order to create these engaging scenes and worlds. Digital storytelling is one method of conveying a person's narrative to an.
Kiwibank operates in the competitive New Zealand banking industry. An analysis of Kiwibank's external environment uses PESTEL and Porter's Five Forces frameworks. Technology is transforming the banking sector, with trends like mobile banking, cloud computing, and data analytics impacting Kiwibank's business model and competitiveness. Regulatory changes and the threat of new entrants and substitutes also influence Kiwibank's strategic decisions.
Director Lee Rainie describes how libraries can be actors in building and participating in social networks through their use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogging and through delivering their time-tested — and trusted — services to their patrons. More: http://pewinternet.org/Presentations/2011/May/San-Francisco-Public-Library.aspx
HuffPo Qualitative Research Summary FinalMark Kunkel
The document summarizes the findings of a qualitative research study that used a Facebook focus group to understand how undergraduate students get their news. The study found that students get news from a variety of sources and devices, preferring push notifications from social media and emails over searching directly. They value easily navigable sites with clear layouts, sharing features, and minimal ads. The document provides recommendations for The Huffington Post based on these findings, such as personalizing alerts and feeds, increasing social interactions, and focusing on the college demographic.
Social Media: Why It Matters for Children's Mental HealthBrittany Smith
This webinar from Brittany Smith, Director of Community Management for the Children's Mental Health Network, will focus on why social media is important for the children's mental health world and will provide data as to who is using social media and how, why it matters, and what impact it can have on the field of children's mental health. Attendees will walk away with data and language they can use to then persuade others in their organizations, community and system of care efforts to use social media, and give it the time and energy that's required to use it successfully.
Social Media in the Indian non profit contextSanjukta Basu
Recently I gave a lecture at the workshop on ‘Creating High Impact and Digital Initiative in India’ organized by ITHAKA. This is the presentation I used during my talk
Indian Social Media trend: Why Nonprofits, Academics, Informal sectors don't ...Sanjukta Basu
This is my presentation delivered at the workshop ‘Creating High Impact and Digital Initiative in India’ organised by ITHAKA with support from the Ford Foundation and assistance from the American Institute of Indian Studies, held from 8th to 10th Dec in Pride Hotel, Bangalore.
I was invited to talk about social media and web strategy for non profits.
You can find more details about the workshop here - http://wp.me/p1xyZ-FA
Red Convertible Essay. Online assignment writing service.Dianne Aldrian
The document discusses the implementation of Section 135 of the Companies Act of 2013 in India regarding mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. It notes that Section 135 requires companies meeting certain criteria to spend 2% of their net profits on CSR initiatives. However, the provision has some loopholes that hinder its practical application, such as a lack of clarity on eligible CSR activities and treatment of unspent funds. The document aims to analyze the CSR provision and discuss ways to improve its implementation.
What Do You Need To Know For Marketing To Digital, Mobile And Social Teens?Dr. William J. Ward
What Do You Need To Know For Marketing To Digital, Mobile And Social Teens?
- The digital landscape from a teen's perspective
- Social media facts and figures related to teen media usage
- Five tips to sparking valuable conversations through engaging content
Kindergarten Letter Writing Paper Awesome Writing TablArlene Smith
The document provides instructions for requesting writing assistance from the HelpWriting.net website in 5 steps:
1. Create an account with a password and email.
2. Complete a 10-minute order form with instructions, sources, deadline, and attach a sample work.
3. Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications.
4. Review the completed paper and authorize payment if satisfied.
5. Request revisions until fully satisfied, with a refund option for plagiarized work. The process aims to fully meet customer needs with original, high-quality content.
CLA African American Interest Group presentation - November 2012patoney
The document summarizes research on the cultural impact of social networking and computer usage on African American information consumers. It discusses findings from a survey conducted by the California Librarian's Black Caucus showing that African American computer and mobile device ownership has increased in the last decade. While some are concerned with privacy issues, most use social networks and find the information they need online. The document recommends libraries provide digital literacy programs, mobile apps, and partner with tech companies to better serve African American patrons.
The document describes the 5 step process for requesting and receiving writing assistance from the website HelpWriting.net. The steps include: 1) Creating an account with a password and email, 2) Completing an order form with instructions and deadline, 3) Reviewing bids from writers and selecting one, 4) Reviewing the completed paper and authorizing payment, 5) Requesting revisions to ensure satisfaction and receiving a refund for plagiarized work.
The document discusses the explosion of knowledge sharing through history and across generations. It describes how each generation, from the Greatest Generation to Millennials, approaches knowledge and sharing information differently based on the technologies available. While access to information is greater than ever, it remains unclear whether this makes society more knowledgeable overall or just gives more access to knowledge.
Jajajaj you have a meeting at the end dli ko mag gunting2x I will be the potential of a neuron that I don't think 💬💬 the time I will get you a job 😁😁 the same time different than what I will be there at least naay something else was wondering why I was wondering I think it's just the one 🕐🕐🕐🕐 I will be the potential contribution to our room nothing else is good for you guys are just going through the possible for the presentation for the disturbance in reading Ability of it is prospering the morning 🌅🌅🌅
The document outlines a project to redesign Michels Corporation's rock and mineral kit to be more kid-friendly, educational, affordable, and eco-friendly. The proposed redesign includes a rock-shaped package with drawers made of biodegradable materials to store rocks and tools like a hammer, magnifying glass, and safety goggles, along with instruction cards and information about Mohs hardness scale. The goal is to make the kit more appealing and accessible for children in museum gift shops and retail stores.
Virtual Town Hall is a social platform designed to foster meaningful online discussions about news and politics. It aims to provide a familiar, cross-platform, and customizable experience for adults who enjoy discussing U.S. politics and current events and want more thoughtful and frequent conversations. Key features include an interactive map, search function, topic tags, customizable avatars, user rankings, friends lists, and discussion rooms for hosting town halls and conversations on various issues.
Political Fury is a proposed Facebook game that allows users to choose between Republican or Democrat parties. As users interact by posting links, comments, and original content on political topics, they earn points to advance through ranks with more privileges. An overall points system tracks each party's total, displaying which has the most engaged members in real time. The game is meant to encourage thoughtful political discussion among American Facebook users.
Modern Marketing and Advertising: How the Internet has changed the landscapeEizzil
A presentation on modern marketing and advertising in regards to how the Internet has changed the landscape. Focuses on the umbrella topics of new innovations, privacy issues, and commerce. Specifically discusses the principles of advertising, the user experience, contextual advertising, behavioral targeting, semantic targeting, interactive advertising, advergaming, integrated marketing communication, multimodal advertising, social media marketing, customer relationship marketing, search engine marketing, freemiums, and paywalls. Brings up the tools Facebook Beacon Ads, the Honda Fit game, Call Genie, FourSquare, Google AdSense, and Google AdWords
Video games can revolutionize education by addressing issues with traditional classrooms and engaging digital native students. Games encourage active problem-solving through simulation and hypothesis testing rather than passive learning. They can provide individually tailored and immersive learning experiences through virtual labs and field trips. Well-designed educational games intrinsically motivate students by satisfying psychological needs and incorporating rewarding feedback, keeping them engaged in learning concepts rather than just preparing for tests. Schools should focus on developing complex games that integrate curriculum and provide teacher guidance, rather than low-level educational games, in order to effectively implement video game technology in education.
TrustArc Webinar - 2024 Global Privacy SurveyTrustArc
How does your privacy program stack up against your peers? What challenges are privacy teams tackling and prioritizing in 2024?
In the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey, we asked over 1,800 global privacy professionals and business executives to share their perspectives on the current state of privacy inside and outside of their organizations. This year’s report focused on emerging areas of importance for privacy and compliance professionals, including considerations and implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, building brand trust, and different approaches for achieving higher privacy competence scores.
See how organizational priorities and strategic approaches to data security and privacy are evolving around the globe.
This webinar will review:
- The top 10 privacy insights from the fifth annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Survey
- The top challenges for privacy leaders, practitioners, and organizations in 2024
- Key themes to consider in developing and maintaining your privacy program
Pushing the limits of ePRTC: 100ns holdover for 100 daysAdtran
At WSTS 2024, Alon Stern explored the topic of parametric holdover and explained how recent research findings can be implemented in real-world PNT networks to achieve 100 nanoseconds of accuracy for up to 100 days.
Building RAG with self-deployed Milvus vector database and Snowpark Container...Zilliz
This talk will give hands-on advice on building RAG applications with an open-source Milvus database deployed as a docker container. We will also introduce the integration of Milvus with Snowpark Container Services.
Let's Integrate MuleSoft RPA, COMPOSER, APM with AWS IDP along with Slackshyamraj55
Discover the seamless integration of RPA (Robotic Process Automation), COMPOSER, and APM with AWS IDP enhanced with Slack notifications. Explore how these technologies converge to streamline workflows, optimize performance, and ensure secure access, all while leveraging the power of AWS IDP and real-time communication via Slack notifications.
Why You Should Replace Windows 11 with Nitrux Linux 3.5.0 for enhanced perfor...SOFTTECHHUB
The choice of an operating system plays a pivotal role in shaping our computing experience. For decades, Microsoft's Windows has dominated the market, offering a familiar and widely adopted platform for personal and professional use. However, as technological advancements continue to push the boundaries of innovation, alternative operating systems have emerged, challenging the status quo and offering users a fresh perspective on computing.
One such alternative that has garnered significant attention and acclaim is Nitrux Linux 3.5.0, a sleek, powerful, and user-friendly Linux distribution that promises to redefine the way we interact with our devices. With its focus on performance, security, and customization, Nitrux Linux presents a compelling case for those seeking to break free from the constraints of proprietary software and embrace the freedom and flexibility of open-source computing.
Sudheer Mechineni, Head of Application Frameworks, Standard Chartered Bank
Discover how Standard Chartered Bank harnessed the power of Neo4j to transform complex data access challenges into a dynamic, scalable graph database solution. This keynote will cover their journey from initial adoption to deploying a fully automated, enterprise-grade causal cluster, highlighting key strategies for modelling organisational changes and ensuring robust disaster recovery. Learn how these innovations have not only enhanced Standard Chartered Bank’s data infrastructure but also positioned them as pioneers in the banking sector’s adoption of graph technology.
20 Comprehensive Checklist of Designing and Developing a WebsitePixlogix Infotech
Dive into the world of Website Designing and Developing with Pixlogix! Looking to create a stunning online presence? Look no further! Our comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to know to craft a website that stands out. From user-friendly design to seamless functionality, we've got you covered. Don't miss out on this invaluable resource! Check out our checklist now at Pixlogix and start your journey towards a captivating online presence today.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
Unlocking Productivity: Leveraging the Potential of Copilot in Microsoft 365, a presentation by Christoforos Vlachos, Senior Solutions Manager – Modern Workplace, Uni Systems
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 5DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 5. In this session, we will cover CI/CD with devops.
Topics covered:
CI/CD with in UiPath
End-to-end overview of CI/CD pipeline with Azure devops
Speaker:
Lyndsey Byblow, Test Suite Sales Engineer @ UiPath, Inc.
Alt. GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using ...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
Alt. GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using ...
Virtual Town Hall - design doc
1. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation
Virtual Town Hall
The new way to talk news and politics.
Design by Alex H, Liz J & Jason S
December 10, 2011
Table of Contents
Part I Overview................................................................................................. 2
Competitive Analysis: Target Audience.................................................. 3-4
Competitive Analysis: Industry................................................................ 5-7
Part II
Competitive Analysis: Similar Products & Competitors........................... 7-10
Inspiration Boards................................................................................... 10-12
Overview of Usage.................................................................................. 13-20
Part III Wireframes.............................................................................................. 21-25
Mock-Ups................................................................................................ 26-27
Part IV Design Rationale..................................................................................... 28-32
Audience Report: Plan & Prototype........................................................ 33-42
Part V
Audience Report: Summary & Key Findings........................................... 43-46
Part VI Technical Plan......................................................................................... 47-48
Challenges, Questions & Outstanding Issues......................................... 49
Part VII Evolution of Design................................................................................. 50
Further Implications................................................................................ 50-51
Part VIII References.............................................................................................. 52-53
2. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 2
Part I
Overview
People interested in politics are more and more frequently using online media to become bet-
ter informed, hear other viewpoints and exercise their voices. This application, called Virtual
Town Hall, would provide this political discussion-thirsting audience a virtual social space to
pursue online political discussion about both federal and local issues in an involved, organized,
ongoing way. It is an online interactive application that combines aspects of existing online dis-
cussion tools (i.e. chat rooms, blogs, comment threads, message boards, etc.) and takes it to
the next level by centralizing the discussion format around data visualization, live conversation
and an appropriate town hall theme. With the key audience of adults who enjoy discussing US
politics and news in their free time, this medium is designed to improve the discussion experi-
ence in a way that appeals to their needs. It also is optimized for online integration capability
with sites that this audience already congregates at, allowing opportunity for outside-account
support and for both user-generated content and commentary on already-existing content. Fur-
thermore, this application incorporates other social and game-like features such as avatars,
ranks and friends lists. It sets itself apart from other online discussion tools because of its spe-
cial features, unique discussion format, and visual theme that creates a an appropriate context
for the conversation. It could be the must-have interactive online installation of all news and
politics-based media. With Virtual Town Hall, people who love talking politics can finally facili-
tate live, thoughtful discussions at any time, about any topic, with anyone.
This design document provides a general overview of the application and the design process
behind it. However, it primarily focuses on the unique chat feature--discussion circles.
3. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 3
Part II
Competitive Analysis: Target Audience
Virtual Town Hall is designed for adults who are hungry for thoughtful U.S. political and news-
oriented discussions--whether local or national--, and enjoy using online technology to pursue
it. They are the people who have a favorite political blog in their Bookmarks Menu that they
visit every free minute of the say. They are the people who want to have a thorough discussion
about the latest current events, but lack the convenience of people in the room with mutual in-
terest levels in those topics. They are the people commenting on online news articles, casting
their opinions on political blog polls, and e-mailing their Congressmen about their thoughts.
Virtual Town Hall is a place where these people can congregate to have the satisfying discus-
sions they desire.
Common traits linking the target audience represented in the following user scenarios are:
Enjoy reading about and discussing politics or news
Feel unsatisfied with the quality of such discussions
Want better accessibility of such discussions at any time
Use the internet for communicating and/or researching
Want their voices to be heard
User Persona #1: The Local Activist
Stephanie Miller Stephanie’s Daily Life & Problem...
1. Wakes up at 7:00am to drive her kids &
neighbors‟ kids to school
2. Watches the cooking channel and surfs
the web once kids are at school
3. Uses the internet on her PC to look up
new recipes, e-mail her friends and play
Farmville on Facebook
4. Meets with the school PTA to hang yel-
41 year-old mother low ribbons around town to advocate
Lives in Paramus, New Jersey voting for the school budget
In local school district's PTA 5. Feels unsatisfied by her close friend's
Did not attend college and husband‟s disinterest in discussing
Enjoys teaching Girl Scouts, cooking, and the importance of local policy changes
decorating 6. Encourages her 16 year-old son to do
Subscriber to Women's Digest his Social Studies homework on those
issues to spread the word
Involved in the community
Vocal at school board meetings and town
council meetings
4. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 4
User Persona #2: The Political Junkie
Arnold’s Daily Life & Problem... Arnold Wilcox
1. Wakes up at 5:00am to go to work
2. Knows more lay-offs are coming; is wor-
ried about the future of his company
3. Browses news during his lunch break
using the Huffington Post app on his
Android Tablet
4. Discusses the economy, last weeks‟
games, and the latest presidential cam-
paign news with his buddies--throwing in 58 year-old professional
statistics and crucial facts at every oppor- Lives in Detroit, Michigan
tunity Works at a car dealership
5. Vocalizes his strong opinions about Attended grad school for business
politics and current events to his brother Married with 4 kids
and wife at dinner, but feels like they Works long, hard hours
don’t care
Enjoys football, beer and reading
6. Drinks a beer and watches the news
before bed Worried about the economy
Loves an intelligent talk about politics
User Persona #3: The Political Activist
Cristina Delores Cristina’s Daily Life & Problem...
1. Wakes up at 10:30am and checks her e-
mail, Facebook and texts
2. Listens to MSNBC on TV while she gets
ready for class
3. Hears controversial news about a presi-
dential candidate, and searches the
internet on her Mac to read more about
it
23 year-old college student 4. Comments on an article, and checks up
Lives in Brooklyn, NY on her comment for replies throughout
Sociology major at Cuny Brooklyn the day on her iPhone
Enjoys creative writing, volunteering, shop- 5. A professor brings up the issue in class,
ping and painting and she is excited to express her opin-
Owns Barrack Obama merchandise ion, but disappointed that her peers
aren’t interested
Is protesting at Occupy Wallstreet
6. Writes a note about it on Facebook, but
Vocal in her classes and Debate Club only one person replies...and that per-
Wishes she had a better outlet and reach to son‟s comment is a joke
discuss political issues
5. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 5
Competitive Analysis: Industry
It is growing more and more common for adults who enjoy engaging in politics and news but
lack the proper outlet for it, to seek solutions to their problems through online media. They use
search engines, news sites and political blogs to obtain more information--both from authorita-
tive sources and other viewers. The Web 2.0 has transitioned those viewers into an authorita-
tive role as well through the contribution of user-generated content based on their individual
knowledge, experience and thoughts. Not only does this audience use the internet to access
more information, but they additionally use it for communicative purposes--to discuss. Forums,
blogs, chat rooms and social networks have revolutionized the way people can communicate.
It‟s why this target audience will utilize online media to quench their thirst for quality political
and news-related discussions.
More importantly, political and news-based media has gained a heavy online presence. Tradi-
tional media of TV broadcast shows, print newspapers and radio shows have integrated with
internet accessibility: digital articles, blogs, videos, forums, social media and more. A recent
PEW Internet survey found that 79% of American adults use the internet and nearly half of
adults (47%), or 59% of internet users, say they use at least one social network--a nearly dou-
ble growth in adult social media users since 2008 (Hampton). Because more and more adults
are using the internet, including social media, political media has made a point to integrate it.
Furthermore, there is a correlation between social media networks and users‟ political activity--
both online and offline. The following chart shows the relationships between users‟ political ac-
tivity and the social media sources they use (Figure 1). Based on LinkedIn being the most
strongly correlated social network to political activity, it could be suggested that there is a
6. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 6
strong relationship between political activity and educated, career-driven adults who use so-
cial networks for practical purposes (i.e. networking).
Figure 1
This trend is further demonstrated by the frequency of major political figures who use social
media to communicate with US citizens. For example, 80% of House and Senate members
have social media accounts, according to the Associated Press, which is 5% more than among
Millennials--the key demographic of 18-29 year olds. Similarly, President Obama has 23+ mil-
lion Facebook “Likes,” and 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney has 93,000+ Twitter fol-
lowers (Gurbaksh).
.
Over the past few years, this political online presence has become more and more of a func-
tionality purpose to not only deliver information to the people, but also to facilitate discussions
and voice the people‟s opinions. It‟s become common for TV news programs to include “Tweet
7. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 7
in your response” or “Take the poll on our website” or “Post your comments on Facebook,” etc.
There are even virtual town hall meetings taking place at both local and federal levels to wel-
come people‟s voices and discussions (“Obama online...town hall).
What is important to note about this online integration is that it‟s not so much the number of
followers that matter most, but the types of engagements taking place (Howard). Adults have
traditionally used the internet to seek information. The problem is that there is so much infor-
mation to access, without a well-organized way to narrow in on the issues they‟re most pas-
sionate about. With the Web 2.0, they are also using it to voice their opinions. And in politics &
current events, everyday people want the power to share viewpoints and exercise their voices.
The need is even more apparent today, as evident by movements like Occupy Wallstreet,
which was even started among social media outlets. People have grown skeptical of the main-
stream media‟s reporting of information, and people have grown aggravated with having their
voices unheard. This media would allow people to directly, in live-time, share information and
have their voices heard online at both local and federal levels, and do it in an organized way
that makes the information easily-accessible and the discussion high-quality.
Competitive Analysis: Similar Products & Competitors
Competitive research took place regarding two aspects: 1) online political and news-based me-
dia and 2) online discussion tools.
Online political and news-based media: The following table compares some similar products
and competitors to “Virtual Town Hall,” which all contain elements that the design is derived
from (Figure 2). Some of the key points to take away from this comparative analysis are:
The most popular, mainstream competition have a heavy online presence in re-
gards to web content, social media connections and blogs
With the exception of forums and chat rooms, most content is posted by a repre-
sentative from the website, leaving comments and replies as the primary source of
user-generated content
Blogs have much higher engagement rates than forums
Sharing features are highly utilized on news and blog sites
None of these similar products & competitors manage to incorporate social, discus-
sion-based feature in an all-inclusive way; actions like reading, commenting, reply-
ing, “Liking” and searching are all segregated among other media or purposes
8. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 8
Figure 2: Online political and news-based media
Online discussion tools: Observational and participatory research was conducted among
various sources of different kinds of online discussion tools. The primary strengths and weak-
nesses we found among our research are highlighted in the following chart.
Strengths Weaknesses
Friends list
Wall statuses don‟t lead to discussion
Facebook
“Is typing...” feature in chat
No visual imagery to match the con-
@Tagging in posts
text of the discussion
Can go back to read old posts
9. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 9
Strengths Weaknesses
Chaotic, simultaneous responding
Contains various different conversa-
Live tions within one group chat
Chat rooms
Ongoing Infiltrated with sexual messages--
Progresses through group conversation especially when Private Messaging,
No history of posts Voice Chat or Video Chat are used
Can skin the webpage to fit a theme Cannot distinguish who is actually
present--whether responding or
watching
Indentations in threads organize the hierar- Forces users to wait for responses
chy of responses Hi-jacked threads; topic-changers
Messagebards
Progresses through group conversation within a designated topic discussion
Main page to organize different discussion Unable to know who will see your
topics response
Can go back to read archived posts Archived posts may, undesirably, ap-
Can skin the forum to fit a theme pear in web search results
Forces users to wait for responses
Hi-jacked threads; topic-changers
Indentations in threads organize the hierar-
Comment threads
within a designated topic discussion
chy of responses
Unable to know who will see your
Can go back to read archived posts
response
Ready-made audience; existing content
Archived posts may, undesirably, ap-
sparks comments
pear in web search results
Lack of follow-up conversation
Lag delay
Chaotic, simultaneous talking in
Voice chat
Live
group discussions
Conveys tone
Many users may feel uncomfortable
More personal
Often infiltrated with sexual content
Difficult to moderate
10. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 10
Strengths Weaknesses
Lag delay
Live Chaotic, simultaneous talking in
Video chat
Conveys tone group discussions
Conveys facial expressions Many users may feel uncomfortable
Very personal Often infiltrated with sexual content
Difficult to moderate
Inspiration Boards
The following inspiration boards (Figure 4) gather visuals and references that have influenced
the central idea and design decisions. Key elements are summarized in the chart below, but
some of the specific references focused in on are:
Interactive maps with “hot zones”
Xbox Live avatars
Tag clouds
Zynga poker
Discussion circles
Aspect Key Elements
1 Concept/Metaphor Town Hall
Discussion circles
Taking turns speaking at podium
2 Visuals/Aesthetics U.S. map
Data visualization
Discussion circles
Icons
Graphical
Chat bubbles
3 Interface, Navigation & Data or- Tag cloud
ganization Levels of government/issues
Chat windows - scroll, color-code, timestamps
Circle
Turn-taking
4 Discussion Format
Progress through conversation variations as a group
Multitasking while conversing
12. Inspiration Board #4 - Discussion Format Inspiration Board #3 - Interface, Navigation & Data organization
Figure 4.4 Figure 4.3
Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 12
13. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 13
Part III
Overview of Usage
The following charts provide a general overview of how Virtual Town Hall will look, the features
it will contain, and how it will function. Discussion circles became the primary focus of this pro-
ject, so a more thorough explanation of the chat feature is highlighted.
Creative Direction
Town hall theme
Concept
A new way to discuss news and politics online
Simple and clean-cut look
Patriotic colors
Visual Style
3D avatars
Data visualization and icons
Power to the people; have your voice heard
Tone & Feel
Community feeling of people congregating
Main Site Navigation
Main Navigation Menus
User Main Footer
Avatar (w/ Rank) Home About
Friends State FAQs
My History Local Support
Leaderboards Topics Contact
Market Events
Settings Search
Login/Register
14. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 14
Content: General Features
Feature Action/Functionality
Contains site logo/banner
Header
When clicked, returns users to Home page
Takes user to a basic account form to sign up for an account for
the website.
Register button
Users can register using several different internet IDs (e.g. Face-
book, Disqus)
Login button appears when a user is not signed in. Clicking it brings
a dropdown menu that has the basic username and password forms
Login/Logout button as well as the ability to login through other accounts.
Logout button appears when a user is signed in. Clicking it logs a
user out of one‟s account, and hides the User Navigation bar.
Allows users to search by keyword (based on topic tags) as well as
by location. (For example, typing “Poughkeepsie budget” would gen-
Search bar
erate a list of results on a separate page that most closely relates to
what was searched).
Visible for logged-in users; hidden for users not logged in. Appears
above the main navigation bar and below the header, register button,
login/logout button, and search bar. Starting from the left, contains:
1. Avatar, Username & Rank: Clicking the avatar, username, or
User Navigation bar
rank brings the user to his/her user profile settings.
1. Avatar
2. Friends: Clicking it brings users to his/her Friends page, contain-
2. Friends
ing a Friends List and a Recent list of users from one‟s recent
3. My History
discussions with. Also allows user to start a Friend/Group chat.
4. Leaderboards
3. My History: Brings users to a page displaying his/her recent dis-
5. Market
cussions and the information pertaining to them.
6. Settings
4. Leaderboards: Shows the rankings of users filtered by town,
county, state, nationally, and with friends.
5. Market: A place to purchase virtual items for avatars
6. Settings: Allows users to edit account settings
15. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 15
Content: General Features
Feature Action/Functionality
Always visible. Starting from the left, contains:
1. Home: Returns users to Home page
2. State: Town Hall navigation by state -- Clicking this brings users
to a list of all 50 states. Choosing a state then brings the user to
an Interactive Map of the state-view, showing all the town halls in
the state. When logged in, the user‟s designated state of resi-
Main Navigation bar dency acts as the default state.
1. Home 3. Local: Town Hall navigation by localized information -- Clicking
2. State this brings up a form asking users for their zip code or town/city.
3. Local Entering this then brings users to an Interactive Map of their local
4. Topics district and the Town Halls that are discussing topics within.
5. Events When logged in, the user‟s designated location acts as default.
4. Topics: Clicking this brings users to the Topics page, which con-
tains all the topics being discussed all throughout the site in a tag
cloud. These topics are curated based on when a discussion
creator adds tags to his/her discussion.
5. Events: Clicking this brings the user to a list of special topic dis-
cussions (e.g. debates, guest politicians, campaign-related, etc.)
Forefront of the Home page
Shows US map on Home page, state maps on State pages, and
Local counties/towns on Local pages
Used to visualize and discover Town Halls having discussions
Interactive Map
happening at any given time
Heat map--showing the most active discussions
Zoom-in and zoom-out feature that allows users to zoom in on a
particular part of the United States to find discussions.
When hovered over, provides a brief explanation of the main
content on given page (Interactive Map, Discussion Circle, Town
Help button
Hall, etc.)
When clicked, brings users to Help page
16. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 16
Content: General Features
Feature Action/Functionality
Supplements the Interactive Map by showing scrollable gradient
Color Key/Activity Scale color scale illustrating the highest to lowest activity of discussions,
with text for clarification.
Always visible at bottom of site. Starting from the left, contains:
Footer Navigation bar 1. About: Provides basic background information about the site
1. About 2. FAQs: Provides functionality-based information about the site,
2. FAQs and answers to frequently-asked questions by users
3. Support 3. Support: Allows users to submit a support ticket
4. Contact 4. Contact: Provides contact information regarding career-oriented,
business, and miscellaneous inquiries
Visible throughout the site for ongoing communications from the site
and other users. Windows are scrollable, with the most recent in-
stances at the forefront. Notifications and messages always have the
host/username and timestamp, and sometimes are color-coded
based on importance or category. Starting from left, contains:
Tabs Window
1. Notifications tab: Streams basic site-based announcements ad
1. Notifications
notifications, such as upcoming events, when friends sign on,
2. Friend/Group Chat
and server announcements.
3. Spectator Chat
2. Friend/Group Chat tab: Where private chats with friends and
groups of friends takes place
3. Spectator Chat tab: Only visible when in a Discussion Room,
where all users present--whether in the Discussion Circle or
Spectator section--can chat freely.
An ongoing Ranks system is a less-emphasized feature included.
Users‟s ranks level up when their comments are voted on to be fur-
Ranks ther discussed in Discussion Circles. The reward is status-oriented,
for higher ranks are displayed to indicate high participation and qual-
ity posts.
17. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 17
Content: Town Halls
Feature Action/Functionality
Shows 6 discussion circles on the screen at once with arrows in
each direction that allows the user to scroll through every discus-
sion in the town hall.
Discussion Circles navi- Each discussion circle shows the topic as well as how many Dis-
gation cussion Circle spots are taken based on whether the circle is col-
ored in or not. (Uncolored spots are open)
Clicking a Discussion Circle brings the user to that Discussion
Room
Always visible on a Town Hall page. Contains the following, from top
to bottom:
Town Hall information Location: The name of the Town Hall, by location
window Filters: Ability to narrow down viewable Discussion Circles
Location through filters and sorting (e.g. maximum and minimum users in
Filters room, tags, recentness, most popular, etc.)
Create Discussion Create Discussion button: Click to create a new Discussion Cir-
button cle. The user will be prompted with an Options window (e.g. dis-
cussion topic, ability to link to outside-site content, maximum and
minimum users in room, etc.) and the ability to cancel creation
Content: Discussion Rooms
Feature Action/Functionality
Always visible in a Discussion Room. Lists the Town Hall loca-
tion that the discussion is taking place in, as well as the Discus-
Discussion Room infor-
sion Topic.
mation window
Leave Discussion Room button: Returns users to the page they
were directed from upon entering the Discussion Room
Upon entering a Discussion Room, users are automatically placed in a spot in the Discussion
Circle. If all spots are taken, users are placed into the Spectators Window and automatically
placed in queue to join the Discussion Circle. Discussion Rooms vanish once empty of users.
18. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 18
Content: Discussion Rooms
Feature Action/Functionality
Contains avatars and usernames of the users watching a Discussion
Spectators window Circle. They are ordered by their placement in the queue that they
were automatically placed into, with an arrow pointing to the next
The main discussion space, which follows a set format (Figure 5),
containing:
1. Main Discussion window: A scrolling text box placed in the center
of the Discussion Circle. The Primary Comment being re-
sponded to at any given time is displayed at the top and remains
at the top until a new Primary Comment takes its place. Re-
sponses are displayed below the Primary Comment, simultane-
ously. They remain until a Response is voted to become the next
Discussion Circles Primary Comment. Each comment and reply is displayed in the
1. Main Discussion font color correlating to the User Spot color of the user who sub-
window mitted that discourse.
2. Voting 2. Voting: Users in both the Discussion Circle and Spectators win-
3. User Spots dow will Vote for the Response they desire to see as the next
4. Typing Area & Primary Comment. They can Vote by clicking on either the Re-
Check Box sponse, or the User Spot of the user who submitted that Re-
5. User Drop-Down sponse.
menu 3. User Spots: 2-10 spots are placed around the circle, based on
6. Timer the options set by the discussion creator. They each have a dif-
ferent color base, and a place for the user Avatar, Username &
Rank. If a user is in his/her local Town Hall, his/her spot is distin-
guished with a special marking.
4. Typing Area & Check Box: Visible only to the user who can type
in the given Typing Area & Check Box. Appears close to that
user‟s User Spot. The Typing Area can be typed into during Re-
sponse Periods, and the Check Box can be checked and un-
checked during Response Periods to indicate that one‟s Re-
19. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 19
Timer reaches 0 Primary Comment (regarding Discussion Room Topic) shown
minutes alone at top of Main Discussion Window
Response with Timer set to 2 minutes; Begins Response Period countdown
most Votes be-
comes Primary
Comment Users type a Response
to the Primary Comment
in their Typing Area
Both Spectators and Discussion Circle format
Discussion Circle users
can read Responses Timer reaches All users in
and Vote for that which 0 minutes Discussion
they want as the next Circle have
Primary Comment Check Box
selected
Responses displayed under Primary Comment in Main
Discussion Window
Timer set to 2 minutes; Begins Voting Period countdown
Figure 5
Content: Discussion Rooms
Feature Action/Functionality
5. Timer: A Timer is always visible outside the Main Discussion win-
dow. It displays text indicating what is being counted down, and
the actual countdown. Countdowns include: a) Response Period
and b) Voting Period. Countdowns are set to 2 minutes, but can
Discussion Circles
will be ended sooner than 2 minutes if and when all users in the
1. Main Discussion
Discussion Circle have indicated that they‟re finished replying by
window
clicking their Check Box.
2. Voting
6. User Drop-Down Menu: Visible to all, each User Spot has a
3. User Spots
small arrow that releases a User Drop-Down Menu when clicked.
4. Typing Area &
The menu options include: a) Add as Friend, b) Private Message,
Check Box
and c) Report Abuse
5. Timer
7. Reporting: Users can Report other users through the User Drop-
6. User Drop-Down
Down menu in a Discussion Circle, or through a drop-down
menu
menu option when clicking a Username in Spectator Chat win-
7. Reporting
dow. If several reports are receiving in a short period of time, the
reported user is automatically kicked from the room. With re-
peated reports over time, the user may be temporarily blocked
from logging in to Virtual Town Hall.
20. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 20
Access & Accounts
Web-based; direct access to site through web browser
Can be directed from “Discuss Live” button among sharing op-
Accessibility tions on existing outside media
Can function stand-alone (blog widget, Facebook app, etc.)
HTML5; Cross-platform support for mobile and social networks
One-time creation of a customizable avatar
Can connect account with outside account used for Login
Account Management
Login not required to browse, but required to manage an Avatar,
Username & Rank, and to join Discussion Rooms
21. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 21
Wireframes
The following wireframes show the basic layout and functions for the Home page, Town Halls,
Discussion Rooms, and across-site menu bars and features.
Home page
Main Navigation menu (appearance when not logged in)
Main Navigation menu (with User Navigation bar; appearance when logged in)
Footer
22. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 22
Tabs Window (with Notifications Tab selected)
Spectator Tab is dimmed when inaccessible; only accessible when in a Discussion Room.
Tabs Window
(with Spectator Tab selected)
Tabs Window
(with Friend/Group Tab selected)
23. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 23
Town Hall
Town Hall information/filters window Create Discussion form
The Create Discussion form takes the place of the information/filters window when enabled.
24. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 24
Discussion Room / Discussion Circle (all visible)
This wireframe displays all the functionality. However, the Type Bar & Check Box would
only be visible to the user it corresponds to.
Two to ten User Spots can be included.
User Spots are distinguished by different colors.
User Spot &
User Drop-Down menu
25. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 25
Discussion Room / Discussion Circle
The Type Bar & Check Box would only be visible to the user it corresponds to.
User Spot, Type Bar & Check Box
The Type Bar & Check Box is displayed next to the Avatar on the User Spot, and would be
visible only to that user. The Type Box extends as more space is needed.
26. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 26
Mockups
The following mockups illustrate what the site might look like, and may help clarify the wire-
frames and processes involved.
Logged-in display appearance
Home page
Interactive Map shows “heated” areas with Color coding of different tabs
high activity, supplemented by the Color and types of announcements
Key/Activity Scale
Sample Icons
27. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 27
Discussion Room
Each User Spot is a different color, and their Spectators are ordered
comments/Responses in the Main Discussion as they‟re queued to be
Window correspond to the color of their spot. next in the Discussion
Circle.
The Timer should stand out, and its The Notifications Tab can be used
supplemental text changes to match to provide an informative greeting
whether it‟s a Response Period or message upon entering Discussion
Voting Period. Rooms, helping new users to under-
stand the discussion format.
28. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 28
Part IV
Design Rationale
Virtual Town Hall incorporates several key design principles and themes to optimize the target
audience‟s usability with this online medium. Many of these focuses were honed in on after
user testing with interviews and paper prototypes to gain a better understanding of what the
users truly face as a problem, desire in a solution, would have the easiest time using, and
would have the most enjoyable time using (Nielsen). Once the design principles and themes
could be understood based upon this audience, they began to “guide design decisions
throughout the remainder of the design process” (“User-Centered Design” 33).
Design principles that lead design decisions regarding functionality, interface and aesthetics
are described below. The six core principles driving Virtual Town Hall are:
1. Familiarity
2. Cross-platform compatibility
3. Customization
4. Visual imagery
5. User compatibility
6. Simplicity & visual hierarchy
1. Familiarity is all about building on users‟ prior knowledge (Huang). The intended users are
adults who already use the Web 2.0 for communicating with people, reading news and
sharing opinions. Virtual Town Hall is centralized around familiarity because it draws ele-
ments from all these different media--social networks, online news articles, blogs, message
boards, chat windows and more. For example, the Upvote and Downvote feature is com-
monly found across websites with user-generated content like Reddit and YouTube. Simi-
larly, the scrolling chat windows simple icons as buttons are common in social media like
Facebook and instant messengers. Tag cloud, often used in blogs and article hubs, is an-
other familiar element. Building off the users‟ prior knowledge with all these online media
elements is what will help them easily understand and enjoy using the functionality, and
what will make them appreciate having all these elements incorporated for a highly interac-
tive experience.
2. Cross-platform compatibility is crucial for this design due to its core purpose: to bring peo-
ple together. The intended users use the internet to read, share and discuss news and poli-
29. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 29
tics. However, they all have different preferences when it comes to platforms, devices, spe-
cific online media and accounts. So, cross-platform compatibility allows all users to congre-
gate for the same purpose in the same space, but through the preferences of their choice.
Whether they choose to access Virtual Town Hall directly through a web browser, use it as
a Facebook app, get directed by clicking “Discuss Now” among share features on news
sites, as a widget on their favorite political blog, or as an app on their iPhone, the cloud will
support it. The compatibility with other account logins, like that of Facebook Connect or
Disqus, will also bring convenience to the user experience. Futhermore, integrating with
other online media will help direct more traffic to the app--and traffic that is meaningful and
contributive to the social space.
3. Customization appeals to this audience of independent thinkers. The ability to customize
one‟s avatar is statistically an enjoyed trait among light PC gamers--a group who would
likely fall into a portion of this target audience (NPD Group). In general, it also enhances
the overall tone and feeling of individuality meant to be experienced when using Virtual
Town Hall.
4. Visual imagery is a key design principle that benefits the usability and sets this medium as
unique from its similar products and competitors. Data visualization such as the interactive
map makes accessing data a more sensible experience with meaningful context. Not only
does the visual imagery make browsing information more memorable and enjoyable, but it
also brings the nature of online discussion to a different level by visualizing the social
space itself. In most discussion-based online media like forums, message boards and com-
ment threads, random users have their responses stacked atop each other. In Virtual Town
Hall, though, users are represented by game-like avatars in a circle, and their comment
stays centralized with them. This creates a more meaningful social space to facilitate high-
quality discussions.
5. User compatibility is “perhaps the most fundamental principle.” It pertains to knowing the
user--their psychology, strengths and weaknesses of the mind (Huang). In essence, Virtual
Town Hall is a new way to facilitate discussions with others online, and it‟s based off incor-
porating the most user-compatible aspects of already-existing online discussion media.
This ties into most of the design principles already mentioned, and to the next design prin-
ciple to be discussed: simplicity &visual hierarchy.
6. Simplicity & Visual Hierarchy revolves around the creation of clear and simple interfaces
30. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 30
that are easy for the audience to use (IBM). Such simplicity is applied to Virtual Town Hall
through clear-cut graphic, the inclusion of some blank space, simple icons and visuals, and
a logical visual hierarchy. For example, the discussion-starting user in a discussion circle
will be in a space that is larger than the other spaces, and that person‟s initial topic will be
placed in a scrolling chat box in the center of the circle that‟s also bigger than the other
chat boxes. Similar to data visualization, this will visually communicate data to a user by
indicating what‟s most important to look at first or to revolve conversation around.
Other Themes revolving around the concept and nature of
Virtual Town Hall also affected design decisions. They were
constantly referred back to whenever controversy over new
solution-based ideas were brought up. These themes are:
1. Freedom of speech
2. Live & constant conversation
3. Data visualization
4. Online integration
5. Sense of community
6. Mimic real-life conversation
1. Freedom of speech revolves around a key purpose of this application: to have one‟s voice
heard. The features should always support this theme, making it easier and more conven-
ient for users to express themselves in an effective way.
2. Live & constant conversation is a unique aspect of Virtual Town Hall that sets it aside from
similar products and competitors. Visiting old comments on articles can create a discon-
nected feeling from the content, and waiting for responses can feel lonely and even frus-
trating. In today‟s society, when people are constantly connected, having constant updated
content is a welcomed interruption. As Donald A. Norman explains in Emotional Design:
“How much time does the interruption seem to take? To the person being interrupted, for-
ever. To the person taking the call, just a few seconds. Perception is everything. When one
is busy, time flies quickly. When there is nothing to do, it seems to drag. As a result, the
person engaged in the cell phone conversation feels emotionally satisfied, while the other
feels ignored and distanced, emotionally upset” (153). This is why people are constantly
checking their Facebooks for notifications, and why many target audience members tested
31. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 31
for Virtual Town Hall explained that they are constantly checking political blogs. The live,
constant nature of Virtual Town Hall would satisfy that emotional need to be engaged in
these kinds of interruptions.
3. Data visualization--similar to the design principle of visual imagery--revolves around an-
other key distinguishing factor from similar products and competitors. In most online dis-
cussion tools, random users have their responses stacked atop each other, with their iden-
tities only represented by a name and perhaps avatar places next to their response in the
window. In Virtual town hall, elements like the discussion circles, unified conversation in the
center, and general town hall theme are visually conveyed in order to reflect the kind of
conversations taking place. It visually creates a social space that reflects the context of the
conversation.
4. Online integration--similar to the design principle of cross-platform compatibility--refers to
building this application with existing online media in mind. A wealth of political and news-
based online media already exists, and is more and more frequently integrating with social
media and discussion tools, as highlighted in the competitive analysis (pages 5-8). This
application‟s target audience is already frequently these other websites and tools, so it is
designed to work symbiotically with them through elements like a “Discuss Live!” button
among sharing features and a way to link existing content in discussion topics. Additionally,
the ability for multiple-account compatibility, such as Disqus and Facebook connect, further
allows this ready-made audience to expand upon their current online media habits with the
inclusion of Virtual Town Hall.
5. Sense of community is another theme kept in mind while carrying out design decisions.
Most current online discussion tools make conversations feel random, and it‟s usually un-
known who is reading one‟s contributions. Virtual Town Hall supports a more personal,
community feeling through elements such as visual discussion circles, friends lists, cross-
site friends/group chat and spectator chat, visibility of spectators, localized discussion
places, and special events.
6. Mimic real-life conversation is a theme that developed much later in the design process,
but became an essential basis of the discussion room design. Several formats for the dis-
cussion room were explored throughout the first several weeks of this project: it wasn‟t until
the focus was shifted onto how real-life conversations work that a solution to the discussion
room formats could be generated. Through observational and participatory research, both
32. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 32
real-life group discussions and conversations facilitated through online discussed tools
were studied. Additionally, secondary research from communications experts and philoso-
phers were delved into as well. Between this primary and secondary research, the key ele-
ments of unspoken-but-understood conversational rules we found were:
Turn-taking is necessary to avoid chaos
Gaps of silence will be filled
Thoughtful responses make better conversations
Everyone must stay under the same umbrella topic, unless noted otherwise
Slight deviations under the umbrella topic drive a conversation forward
Everyone in a group conversation must progress together
Philosopher Paul Grice discusses these key points in his book, “Logic and Conversation.”
He refers to these rules as “conversational implicature.” It involves a flowing exchange of
discourse in which both participants cooperatively understand the purpose of their dis-
course, whether it is initially established or changes throughout the conversation. Further-
more, it is understood among both participants that certain elements of conversation would
be inappropriate: it is understood that certain rules govern conversation, and assumed that
each participant will follow such rules (Grice 26-27). These rules of conversation guided the
discussion room format design until a solution was finally reached.
33. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 33
Part V
Audience Report: Plan & Prototype
First Series of User Testing: The first audience research report led users through a series of
questions regarding demographics, then how they discuss topics and use technology, followed
by questions incorporating their involvement in politics and news. The following questions were
directly asked in Round 1 of testing, but were only used as a guideline for a more open inter-
view format in Round 2 testing:
A. Demographics (Gender, Race, Age, Marital Status, Location, Occupation, Income)
B. General Interests/Behavior/Psychographics:
1. How do you enjoy spending your free time?
2. Do you consider yourself more of a talker or listener?
3. What subjects do you enjoy discussing?
a. Who do you like to talk about those subjects with?
i. Are you satisfied with your discussions with them?
ii. Are there others you wish you could discuss them with?
b. How do you like to facilitate these discussions? (e-mail, phone, instant
messaging, texting, in person, etc.)
i. Is there another way you wish you could discuss them?
c. How often do you discuss these subjects?
d. Do you consider yourself an active participant in these discussions?
e. Are there subjects you wish you could more thoroughly discuss?
f. Do you ever feel frustrated or disappointed with the discussion
process of these subjects? Why?
i. Is there a better way you can think of to discuss these subjects?
4. Do you have internet access?
a. What are your devices used for accessing the internet?
b. Where do you use the internet most often?
c. What do you mostly use the internet for?
i. How often do you use the internet for these purposes?
d. Which, if any, social media sites do you use?
i. How often do you use them?
ii. How do you use them? (Do you use applications? Do you use it
to discuss subjects?)
5. Have you participated in an online chatroom, forum, or message board?
a. How often do you visit them?
b. When do you typically visit them?
c. Do you generally post or read?
d. What do you like about how this medium works?
e. What do you dislike about how this medium works?
6. Do you discuss Politics or News with anyone?
a. Who do you discuss it with?
b. How often do you discuss it?
i. What topics do you discuss?
ii. Are they recent topics, or older topics?
iii. Are they more national or local news?
c. Do you feel it is difficult to find people to intellectually discuss said news
or politics?
34. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 34
d. Do you feel satisfied with these political/news-oriented discussions?
e. How comfortable do you feel discussing news/ politics with strangers?
f. What would be the ideal way for people to discuss politics and news?
8. Do you ever attend town hall meetings?
a. Why or why not?
b. What do you find beneficial about the town hall meeting format?
c. What do you find unfavorable about them?
d. How do you think they could be improved?
e. What do you think about the idea of a virtual town hall?
After these questions were asked, users were lead through the paper prototype. The questions
asked primarily tested its usability regarding familiarity and navigation, and likeability regarding
the concept and user needs. In Round 1 testing, users were asked follow-up questions about
their experience. In Round 2 testing, users were simply asked free-form questions during the
process and made comments.
1. Show map interface
2. Ask them which state has the most active discussions
3. Tell them to go to your hometown (say it‟s Poughkeepsie)
35. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 35
4. Ask them what are the topics being discussed right now at the town hall
5. Tell them to click circle discussion on “Should the school budget be passed?”
6. Ask them whose comment do you think has most credibility?(Jen‟s comment will be distin-
guished by color).
7. Ask them how they would show support or dislike for Jen‟s comment on passing school
budget.
8. Tell them to participate/make a comment in one of the discussions.
36. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 36
9. Ask them who responded to their comment.
10. Tell them to search for a topic discussion for illegal immigration in California.
37. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 37
11. Tell them to find where the most discussion of illegal immigration is within California.
12. Tell them to search for other topics.
13. Tell them to look for discussions on health care.
38. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 38
14. Tell them to go to town hall where federal issues are discussed.
Prototype Follow-Up Questions
(KEY: 1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Neutral, 4=Agree, 5=Strongly Agree)
1. It was easy to navigate from map interface to town hall discussion.
1-2-3-4-5
2. It was easy to like or dislike a town hall discussion comment.
1-2-3-4-5
3. The functionality of the Poughkeepsie town hall could be easily understood upon en-
tering it.
1-2-3-4-5
4. Users can easily participate in town hall discussions.
1-2-3-4-5
5. Opinions can be voiced in town halls.
1-2-3-4-5
6. Opinions can be heard in town halls.
1-2-3-4-5
7. The user ranking system is easy to understand.
1-2-3-4-5
8. The user ranking system seems fair.
1-2-3-4-5
9. It was easy to recognize which state had the most current activity.
1-2-3-4-5
39. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 39
10. It was easy to search for a topic.
1-2-3-4-5
11. It was easy to recognize which town hall within California had the most active dis-
cussion of illegal immigration at that time.
1-2-3-4-5
12. It was easy to navigate to the federal town hall.
1-2-3-4-5
13. How do you prefer to navigate to different town halls?
a) By clicking on the interactive map
b) By using the side panel options
14. What platforms would you use to access this app? (Check all that apply)
a) Computer (browser)
b) iOS device
c) Android device
d) Facebook
e) None of the above
15. Do you have any general feedback about your experience with this product?
16. Do you have any suggestions to make this product design better?
Second Series of User Testing: A second, revamped prototype was created for user testing
purposes later in the design process. This prototype was a real-life reenactment of how the
discussion format of a discussion circle would work. A group of seven Marist College students
participated. Five sat around a round table, and two stood behind the table as spectators. Eve-
ryone was given a quarter to use for voting, and the five students sitting at the table were given
paper and a different color marker. A timer was placed in the center of the table, along with the
discussion room topic. This topic--a fake news article about a made-up alcohol policy affecting
college campuses
in Poughkeepsie,
was generated as
the main topic. The
purpose was to
choose something
relevant, that these
users would want to
express their opin-
ions about. The fol-
lowing Poughkeep-
sie Journal article
was used as a vis-
ual asset.
40. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 40
Next, the timer was set to two minutes, and the four participants at the table were asked write
their response. The fifth participant is a planted participant who started the first comment,
shown to the right. These participants were also told to put their marker down when they were
finished (to symbolize “checking” that they are done “typing”).
After the two minutes was up, the partici-
pants together placed their comments in
the center, under the main comment.
Then, both the discussion participants
and spectators were given two minutes to
place their quarter on (“vote” for) the com-
ment they want responded to next.
42. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 42
Next, the comment response with the most “votes” was placed at the top, the other comments
were cleared away, the timer was reset to two minutes, and the participants were told to repeat
the process. One slacker response (“meh”) was planted for the sake of testing moderation.
While they “typed” their comments, the user whose comment was being replied to “chatted”
with the spectators.
Again, the process was then repeated. Afterwards, the users voluntarily gave feedback, and
then were asked specific questions about their feelings toward the process.
43. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 43
Audience Report: Summary & Key Findings
Summary of Series 1: Round 1 Audience Report
The first round of interviews and user testing mostly focused on younger users. The age range
was 20 to 51 years old, with 30 as the mean age.
Users were asked a series of questions first about their demographics, then about general in-
terests and discussion behavior, followed by more specific questions pertaining to their tech-
nology usage and involvement in politics/news and local government. After these questions,
they were lead through the paper prototype, which primarily focused on the usability and like-
ability of how it functions both technically and conceptually. Finally, they were asked follow-up
questions about how they felt about the process of using the prototype, including specific ques-
tions about specific features which they mostly rated on a Likert scale.
Some of the key findings of the Round 1 Audience Report included:
Lacking equally-passionate people to discuss topics of interests with can be problematic to
the satisfaction of those discussions
They desire a larger network of people to discuss academic/intellectual topics with
Most intellectual discussions take place in school and work environments
Many people have multiple social media accounts, but barely use them
Regarding political/news discussion, students often feel they are in a bubble at school and,
in general, tend to share outlandish stories
Simplicity in layout of forums/message boards is important
People‟s will to talk with strangers online depends on the level of anonymity; some kind of
identification representation is helpful
Alterations & Methodology in Series 1: Round 2 Testing
The second round of interviews focused in on an older audience than Round 1. The age range
was 21 to 80 years old, with 52 as the mean age.
The methodology was slightly altered from Round 1 testing (described above). The same pa-
per prototype was used, but some questions were added to gain better insight into the user
sentiment about the product. Also, more preliminary and follow-up questions were added that
focused more on the rationale behind behavior. The entire audience research plan was refor-
44. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 44
matted so that it could be distributed as either a print-out or interactive PDF, in a way that
would be self-explanatory to users. However, after having the first user complete the survey--
which was quite long and left unfulfilled opportunities to ask even more follow-up questions--
the testing process was again revised. Instead of filling out the the audience research plan, it
was simply used as a guideline when openly interviewing users. This allowed for more users to
be tested, more pertinent responses to be narrowed in on and followed up on, and some group
testing to take place.
Key Findings of Series 1: Round 2 Responses
General Findings:
Adults age 20-65 is primarily the core audience inclined to discuss on online media
Responding to content that already exists (blog posts, articles, etc.) is important, but limits
the ability to generate own content
Facebook, especially to middle-age adults, is often viewed as an unfavorable outlet to actu-
ally discuss topics, but a good way to connect with others
Politically/news-active Middle-age Adult Findings:
Use news sites and political/news-based blogs as a place to seek information and express
their opinions (again, through blog posts, article comments, etc.), and browse these fre-
quently throughout the day
Cross-site usability of an identity (account & avatar) is important
Interest in both national and local issues
Open to the idea of phone-in and virtual town halls, where government leaders conduct
their town hall meetings in an open format that invites citizens to call-in/submit questions to
be answered live
Live conversation is important
Stand-out Quotes:
“I hate Facebook. I have one, but never use it.” (Why?) “Because it‟s not a conversation--
it‟s just people talking to themselves.”
(Why don‟t you attend town hall meetings?) “I‟m lazy, but I bet I‟d have some things to say.”
[after explaining prototype] “I would LOVE that!...except I‟d never get anything done be-
45. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 45
cause I‟d always have people to talk to [laughs].”
Prototype Feedback
User-generated discussions about politics/news would be unique and beneficial
Likability towards the map interface
Having all federal/national news discussion in D.C. would be overwhelming with the
amount of people talking live in there. It was also difficult to locate.
Solves the problem of hi-jacked threads
Likes that it‟s live
Need a way to post linked content to share
Would want a way to read older comments/discussions
Make sure stringed comments don‟t get too small in font size like they often do on com-
ment threads
Need a larger selection of topics, and a way to address the dynamics of how their popular-
ity changes at different times
Idea of some kind of friends/buddy list, or way to favorite users, so that you can see where
they are and go talk with them
Design Changes Implemented Due to Series 1 Results
Ability to ask government officials their questions (Events)
More fluent incorporation of both federal and local politics
More integration with online content (articles, videos, websites, etc.) and accounts
A way to read older comments/discussions (Scrolling chat boxes rather than just comment
bubbles that disappear)
More structured discussion format with turn-taking and limited spots per circle, so that the
screen isn‟t too crowded, the text isn‟t too small, and one can keep up
Use of a tagging/key word cloud when browsing topics, which is constantly updated be-
cause it‟s derived from key words in live discussions
Implementation of a friends/buddy list with social features
Shifting the focus from creating competitive ranks and game-like features, to instead opti-
mizing their experience of spending quality discussion time
46. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 46
Key Findings of Series 2 Testing
The Series 2 user testing had college students do a real-life paper prototype of how the re-
vamped discussion circle format would work. They expressed overwhelmingly positive feed-
back before follow-up questions were asked. With the help of follow-up questions, these are
the specific aspects they approved of:
Time limit
Discussion format -- How a discussion actually works, with everyone progressing
through the conversation together
“Voting” on replies -- Fun to lead the direction of the conversation, while still reading
what everyone has to say
Ability to talk to spectators and multitask in downtime
While these aspects of the redesign were praised, one user did point out that moderation could
be an issue, because unsubstantial comments like “meh” can bring down the quality of a dis-
cussion. However, another user expressed that overly-moderating would be worse than letting
some of those comments shine through. (“After all,” as she said, “real-life discussions aren‟t
censored that way. I know someone who would say „meh‟ in real conversations sometimes. So
a little bit is ok.” After hearing this feedback, we asked what they thought about being able to
report a person in the group for a problem--whether it‟s an immature comment or going idle.
They said that if several people in the group reported someone and then that person was
kicked out, it‟d be a good and fair balance.
Overall, the feedback was very positive. All the users expressed that it was a fun and interest-
ing way to facilitate discussions, with a nice sense of community. They all said they‟d use this
application in their free time.
47. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 47
Part V
Technical Plan
There are several aspects of this application which require special technical attention:
1. Cross-platform compatibility
2. Storage/hosting
3. Tagging & live data displays
4. Server notifications window
5. Voting functionality & rank system
6. Moderation functionality
1. Cross-platform compatibility: This project needs to work on multiple devices (e.g. desk-
tops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc.), browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer,
Safari, etc.), and screen resolutions. Furthermore, outside account compatibility and site
button embed features must be made possible. HTML5 would be the most efficient way to
make this possible, to use for the coding architecture for the site. HTML5 is a web-based
language, so it can create browser-based products without user-end problems: it can work
across any device. All in all, HTML5 is extremely flexible and can be used to create every-
thing from video, to the design, to the discussion interface.
2. Storage/Hosting: It is integral to the functioning of the project that it is stored securely,
with multiple backups, and allow for potentially millions of users to access this website at a
time. Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) is a strong choice to consider be-
cause it is storage based in the cloud. It is therefore much cheaper than building infrastruc-
ture for web servers or hiring a company for web storage. Also, payment is only required
for the for the usage and traffic actually consumed. It also includes backup of physical stor-
age, so the cloud isn‟t completely depended upon.
3. Tagging & live data displays: Tagging and live data congestion interpretation will be
needed for the topics tag cloud and the map interface data visualization--both which dem-
onstrated which topics are being heavily discussed at a given time, and where they are be-
ing discussed heaviest. It will tie in with the textual scale as well.
4. Server notifications window: A notifications window, including a tab for server notifica-
tions, will be displayed across the site. It must support live notifications, such as discussion
room action narration, friends list-related notifications, and server announcements like spe-
48. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 48
cial events.
5. Voting functionality & rank system: In discussion formats, both discussion participants
and spectators in the room will be able to vote for which comment they‟d like to see as the
next main comment to respond to. They should be able to do this by clicking either the us-
ers or the user‟s response comment in the centralized discussion window. All votes will
contribute towards the user‟s ranking.
6. Moderation functionality: Users will be able to report abusive behavior in discussion cir-
cles, friends/groups and spectator chat, and with private messaging. The results of reports
should be immediate (after a given concentration of reports from different users in a spe-
cific time period), and should be as automatic as possible--such as booting users out of
discussions or causing temporary application access blocks.
49. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 49
Part VII
Challenges, Questions & Outstanding Issues
1. Moderation - Given the nature of this application, moderation may be one of the most chal-
lenging issues to face. To eliminate dependence upon moderators, an algorithm will be im-
plemented to work in conjunction with the report abuse function. That way, users can be
automatically kicked out of discussion rooms or temporarily banned from logging in by IP
address. However, moderators will likely still be needed to review special cases. Addition-
ally, the algorithms will need to be tested in order to determine appropriate specifications.
2. Time limit testing - User testing results have supported the notion of using the timer feature
for response periods and voting periods in discussion rooms. However, the time limit of two
minutes was arbitrarily chosen based on an educated guess. So, more specific user testing
will need to be done, using typing rather than writing, to determine an appropriate time
limit.
3. Discussion circle spot cap testing - User testing results have supported the notion of limit-
ing discussion circles to a given number of people, in order to facilitate quality discussions
and avoid chaos. However, the maximum number of user spots in these circles was arbi-
trarily chosen as 10 based on an educated guess. So, more specific user testing will need
to be done to determine the most appropriate number to cap it at.
4. Details on other aspects of application - While a general overview of the application fea-
tures was provided in this documentation, the discussion rooms chat function was primarily
focused on. The other features need to be more thoroughly thought-out and outlined in
greater detail.
5. Loading times - Loading times could potentially be an issue. This could be attributed to the
application‟s focus on being live, connected with outside content, and using visual displays
of constantly-updated data (i.e. interactive maps, topics by tag clouds, etc). An over con-
gestion of users would cause lag problems as well.
6. Impatience in discussion rooms - Even with the positive user testing results, it is difficult to
perceive whether or not users will experience any moments of frustration or bore in discus-
sion circles--especially in full circles. Most of the feedback about time limits has been posi-
tive, and users have overall said they like the ability to multitask in downtime. However,
only a small amount of user testing was done, so this could still come up as an issue detri-
mental to the chat function design.
7. Unrewarded ranks - The weight of ranks was decreased based on user testing results.
However, ranks may seem random and unnecessary without a greater reward.
50. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 50
Evolution of Design
This design evolved very far from its origin--a Facebook game called “Political Fury.” This table
summarizes some of the key game-changer milestones reached during the design process,
and the design decisions they directly impacted.
GAME-CHANGER DESIGN DECISIONS
Focus on political/news theme
Specified target audience
Concentrate on online discussion tools
Implement events with guest politicians
Increase integration with online content
Series 1 User Testing - Questionnaire Implement friends list
Shift focus from games to discussions
Blend federal &local politics together more
Implement history
Series 1 User Testing - Prototype Discontinue disappearing chat bubbles
Make the chat format less chaotic
Prevent chat text from getting too small
Lift Login/out, Register and Search bar above
Avoid blue & red as signified color codes
Class feedback on wireframes Create a better chat format & flow
Consider discussion culture & norms
Focus solely on chat; disregard features
Observational research on discussions Found solution to chat format
Confirm idea through positive feedback
Series 2 User Testing - Prototype Confirm importance of other features
Be mindful of possible moderation issues
Further Implications to Consider
1. Voice & video chat capabilities - A suggestion was made that this application could use
voice and video chat instead of typing. This idea had been briefly explored prior to this sug-
gestion. However, two major problems were found: a) Observational and participatory re-
search in voice and video-based online chat rooms found a plethora of abuse--specifically
the overtaking of sexual content, b) Voice and video chat would be very difficult to moder-
ate--especially for a live and constant service like this, and c) A large portion of the target
51. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 51
audience would most likely be less-inclined to use voice and video chat; a key design prin-
ciple is familiarity, which includes using discussion methods users are already comfortable
with using (i.e. typing). While voice and video chat was disregarded due to these reasons,
it may still be a future implication worth incorporating.
2. Third-party support - This application lends itself to massive third-party support. As de-
scribed in the competitive analysis, a wealth of political and news-based online discussion-
based media exists, and the market is growing. Political and news-based media, including
broadcast TV, are constantly cut-throat about staying on top of the latest and greatest inter-
net integration plans. Politicians themselves are migrating towards social media as well, as
demonstrated through the use of virtual conferences and Twitter town hall meetings. So, a
link to this application could be the next must-have site feature for these media companies,
and the application‟s events could be the next community or campaign feature for politi-
cians to use. The online integration possibilities are immense.
52. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 52
References
“Design Principles.” IBM. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://www-01.ibm.com/software/ucd/
designconcepts/designbasics.html>.
Grice, Paul. “Logic and Conversation.” Studies in the Way of Words. Cambridge, MA: Har-
vard University Press, 1989. 23-57. Print.
Gurbaksh, Chahal. “Elections Will Turn on Which Candidates Use Social Sharing Most Effec-
tively.” AdAge Digital. N.p., 4 Nov. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://adage.com/article/
digitalnext/elections-turn-social-sharing-effectively/230816/>.
Hampton, Keith, et al. Pew Internet Social networking sites and our lives . Pew Internet, 16
June 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Technology-and-
social-networks/Summary.aspx>.
Howard, Alexander. “In Social Media and Politics, Engagement and Influence Trumps Follower
Count .” The Huffington Post. N.p., 3 Nov. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://
www.huffingtonpost.com/alexander-howard/social-media-and-
politics_b_1072798.html>.
Huang, Mark D, comp. “Design Principles.” Georgia Institute of Technology. N.p., Feb. 1997.
Web. 26 Sept. 2011. <http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_winter/Topics/
design-princ/#deb/>.
“Levels of political participation, by use of social networking site platforms.” Chart. Media Bis-
tro. N.p., 20 July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/pew-
social-network-politics_b11672>.
“Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez holds first virtual town hall meeting Read more: http://
www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/14/2315006/miami-dade-mayor-holds-first-
virtual.html#ixzz1fMEetJdW.” The Miami Herald. N.p., 17 July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011.
<http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/14/2315006/miami-dade-mayor-holds-first-
virtual.html>.
Nielsen, Jakob. “Usability 101: Introduction to Userbility.” Use It. N.p., 25 Aug. 2003. Web. 26
Sept. 2011. <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html>.
Norman, Donald A. Emotional Design. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2004. Print.
---. “User-Centered Design.” The Design of Everyday Things. New York, NY: Basic Books,
2002. 187-217. PDF file.
NPD Group. Gamer Segmentation 2011. 2011. N. pag. PDF file.
“Obama online: President holds virtual town hall .” MSNBC. N.p., 26 Mar. 2009. Web. 2 Dec.
2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29892857/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-
online-president-holds-virtual-town-hall/#.Tth0bVaIktV>.
Personal interview. Nov. 2011.
53. Virtual Town Hall - Design Documentation 53
Personal interview. Dec. 2011.
Saffer, Dan. Designing for Interaction: Creating Innovative Applications and Devices. 2nd ed.
Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2010. PDF file.
Sullivan, Cath, Jo Bryce, and Jason Rutter. Understanding Digital Games. Ed. Jason Rutter
and Jo Bryce. London, England: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2006. N. pag. Print.
Warren, Christina. “Obama‟s Twitter Town Hall By the Numbers [STATS].” Mashable. N.p., 6
July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. <http://mashable.com/2011/07/06/askobama-twitter-stats/
>.
Zichermann, Gabe, and Joselin Linder. Game-based Marketing. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc., 2010. Print.