website

www.people.ku.edu/~sdow2/sdowgraydogtricks/

links to click through

clickthrough with slices: still has a couple issues on some pages where i don't know what happened but ok for the most part

http://www.people.ku.edu/~sdow2 /enature/home.html

clickthrough with jpg: 

http://www.people.ku.edu/~sdow2/enature/clickthrough/home.html

Third project subject: dog tricks

Teaching a dog simple tricks helps the bond between you. Dogs enjoy pleasing their owners and a well-trained dog is a happy dog! The only difficulty is in making the dog understand what you want. Commands should be given in a firm, low voice. Don't expect them to understand perfectly  the first time. Be prepared to come back to the same commands again and again, leaving a few days between. Most dogs are perfectly willing to jump through hoops(literally) for their owners.

Speak

This comes under the group of tricks from observed behavior. If a dog does something and a command word is uttered and a treat given every time, they will quickly associate the treat and the pat with the command word. Say "Speak!" when they bark and in a short time they will bark on command. Saying "Are you sleepy?" when they yawn works in exactly the same way.

Sit

Everyone is familiar with this one. It is important that a dog should know to pause at every curb rather than rush across. Sitting helps to make the importance of roads. Repetition is the key here-even bright dogs like collies can take two years to become well trained. Do not expect overnight results with any of these. Press the dog's hindquarters down firmly, while saying "Sit." Then give a treat-a piece of biscuit, for example. It doesn't have to be much. A pat on the head will probably do, but you'll find training easier with some sort of small reward to hand out.

Down

Always follows "Sit." Point firmly at the floor in front of the dog's head. As with teaching them to "speak," you might try this when they are on their stomachs naturally. Otherwise you can try placing them in the "down" position maually, then express delight and give them a treat. They should remain upright, like a sphinx.

Play dead

Usually follows "Down." Dying involves lying completely flat on their side. You may have to press you hand gently against the dog's head to indicate what you want it to do. Dogs love this and though they lie still, their tails wag madly. Keep your voice very low and tough the tail, saying slowly, "Dead dogs don't wag..." Hold it for two or three seconds, then get them up and give them a pat and a treat.

Paw

This is one you have to demonstrate. Simply lift the dog's paw in you hand and shake hands gently before giving them a treat. Follow the the command "Other paw" for them to swap over. It won't be long before they offer paws on a command. I had a terrier who took forever to get this, but he managed it in the end.

Over

This is used when you want the dog to run-to cross a street swiftly is the most common use. Train the dog by holding their collar and raising your tome in excitement, holding them back. When all is clear, say "Over!" loudly and let them run. They will probably not cross neatly the first few dozen times, so don't train them near cars.

Heel

Crucial when walking a dog on the lead. It is tiring and annoying to have a dog pull as it walks along. Curb the habit early with a sharp jerk of the lead and a very firm tone as you say the command work. Puppies are excitable and curious. They often take a long time to learn this. Be careful not to hurt them and do not worry about looking like a fool. Anyone who has ever had a puppy has walked along a street saying "Heel" over and over and over again without any clear effect. To state the obvious, the dog does not understand why you are calling out parts of your feet. You are setting up a link in their minds between the word and the action of being jerked back. It will probably  take a good year for this to work, depending on how young the puppies are when you get them. Be patient. It's good practice for controlling your temper when you have children later on. Seriously. Like a lot of things in life, early work bears fruit when it really matters.

Stay

This is another important one to teach early. Most dog owners have been surprised by a situation where the dog is far away and suddenly there's a car coming toward you. If you can tell the dog to "Stay" and have it remain still, a serious accident can be avoided. This is taught with the aid of a pocketful of treats and many afternoons. You have the dog sit and say "Stay!" in your deep command voice. You hold up your hand at the same time, showing the dog a flat palm. You take a step back. If the dog follows you, return it to the same spot and begin again. Begin with three steps and then give it a treat and pat, making a big fuss of the dog. When they can remain still for three steps, try six, then a dozen and so on. You should be able to build up to quite long distances in only a short time. Dogs do like to be able to see you, however. If you turn a corner, almost all dogs will immediately move forward to find you again.

Gently

This is usually said with the second syllable elongated. A dog must be taught not to snap at food, though their instincts tell them to grab things before another dog gets it. You must never tease a dog with food-they will learn to snap at it and someone will get hurt. Always present food firmly on a flat palm. If the lunge at it, say the word "Gently!" in a firm, low voice. They will hear the tone and hesitate.

Begging

I'm not sure if this is a trick or not. Small dogs do this almost automatically. If you hold a biscuit slightly out of reach of a terrier, he'll probably site back on his haunches rather than leap for it. Collies are almost all hopeless at begging and fall over when they try. If you do want to try teaching it, the same requirement of treats, patience, and common sense applies. Have the dog sit and hold the treat just out of reach. If you have taught them the command word "Gently...!" it could be used to stop them at snapping at your fingers. Let them have the first treat just by stretching, then move the next a little higher so their front paws have to leave the ground. Repeat over months.

Drop

This is a very important command. Puppies in particular are very playful, and as soon as you touch something they are holding, they will pull back and enjoy the game as you desperately try to save your shoes from destruction. It's best to take them by the collar to prevent them from tugging too hard and say "Drop!" in a loud, fierce voice. Repetition, as with all of these, is crucial.

Over! Over!

Different families will have different command words, of course, This one is probably not that common. Our dogs are always taught to jump at hearing this. You may be out walking and need them to jump a low fence, for example, or jump up onto a table to be brushed. Begin with a higher surface and simply pat it firmly, saying "Over! Over!" to them in an excited voice. If this doesn't work, do not pull them up by the collar. They could be frightened of being off the ground and that won't help. If you can, lift them to the higher level and then make a huge fuss over them, giving them a treat. Repeat pats and lifts until they are comfortable with the higher position. 

This is quite fun to see. Like cats, dogs can really jump, but they aren't taught to do it on command very often. 

Police dogs are taught to evacuate their bowels and bladder on command. It's done by using the command word-make your own one up-at the time when the dog is going to the toilet, and then the usual routine of making a fuss and giving a treat. In all honesty, this is only useful when, say, a dog will spend most of the day inside an airport and must not pee on luggage. For pets, it isn't worth it.

Jumping through your arms

Not all dogs can do this-the terrier absolutely refused point-blank. The command "Over! Over!" is useful as the dog knows it is for jumping. Begin by making a circle on the floor with your arms and having the dog called through for a treat. You need two people for this. After a few successful repetition, raise your hands from the floor, so the dog has to step up a little to pass through. They're probably far too excited by then, so try it again the next day. Raise your hands higher and higher, then stand upright, holding your arms out in the largest circle you can make. Dogs the size of collies can do this, though some will thump you in the body or hit your hands as they go through. They improve with practice and it is a great trick to impress other dog owners.

Finally, attack commands

There is no secret to having an attack work for a dog. Be aware, however, that unless it was absolutely justified, the dog is likely to be destroyed. Children accompanied by dogs are much less likely to be troubled by strangers, regardless of the breed of dog. Dogs are known to be aggressive and territorial, especially with strangers-men in particular. They do not need to be taught higher levels of aggression. 

The opposite of this is what to do if you come into contact with an aggressive dog. First of all, it is a risk to put your hand out to pat any strange dog. If you must take the chance, let the dog smell your hands first, coming in slowly and low down so as not to startle them. If they show their teeth, move away. Mankind is the only animal on the planet who shows his teeth to smile. The rest of them are saying "Go away or I will attack." The same applies for growling. It is never playful. Never growl back. That is what another dog would do and the aggression will increase dramatically. Most dogs have the courtesy to warn you. Take the warning and back away.

If the dog does attack, remain on your feet and protect you face. Don't scream. Break eye contact if you can, as dogs see a direct gaze as aggressive. Dogs are almost never interested in serious damage. They simply want to remove you from the area. Do not run, however. Walk slowly away. Big dogs like German Shepherds will hit you hard in the chest or back to try to knock you down. On the ground is not a good place to be in a full attack. 

If you do end up on the ground, curl up to protect your face and neck. Again, they will do a lot more barking than actual biting in almost every case. Remain as still as you can and don't call for help or scream. The noise may excite them.

A well-trained dog will not be aggressive with other dogs or people, or at least they'll bring the poodle back when you call them. They will guard your home, force you to remain active to walk them, play with you whenever you have the slightest interest, and adore you with complete trust in all weathers, on all days.

recipe for a good website

this website basically tells you that when creating a website you must use the best content. you want to continually update it so it doesn't get old. don't use inappropriate content and understand that your website won't appeal to everyone, so don't try and make it appeal to everyone. the food thing is cute, but a little much. this website must only be interested in the content, because the design is not great.

Interesting websites

www.bernstein-rein.com: the site is really visually interesting. the way it navigates you through the pages is really cool. it tells you a story through each topic. it gets your attention and makes you want to keep looking and it is easy to navigate.

www.austintexas.org: i think this site is visually interesting. it gives you the look and feel of texas and it is nicely structured. i think it has a few too many main buckets to choose from, but it is organized well so things are easy to find.

www.colorado.edu/theatredance/: this site is very clean. it is extremely easy to navigate with only 4 original buckets to choose from. the fragile and organic elements give it a personality that fits well with the organization of theatre and dance.

www.chicagofashionresource.com: this site is very sleek, well designed for the content it contains. i like the imagery and typeface they chose. i really like the charcoal background color they chose becuase i think it really makes the images pop and stand out on the page.

www.kathleenedwards.com: this site is very elegant. i really like the way everything comes onto the page when you first open it. i also like how when you click on a main link it doesn't take you to a new window, it simply moves the elements on the page to bring in the new information, which keeps it easy to know where you are.

www.barkleyus.com: the site is clean, well organized, easy to understand, interesting, always tells you where you are.

www.nature.com: this site is also about nature, but i think they publish articles and books on subjets related to nature. it looks like you can still find a good amount of worthy information.

www.nature.org: this is the nature conservancy. their main goal is to protect nature. it provides nature news and information about the organization but i think the information is quite different from enature.com.

www.naturedetectives.org.uk/: this site is geared toward children and is really cute. i really like the design and the way it is organized.

Order of the Order

This article is interesting in the way that it talks about how people make order of things. Everyone does things differently and choose to organize differently. It gave the example of someone arranging their cd collection by the color of the cases. How they summed it up was that there are endless ways to make sense of the world.

reading 4 summary

This reading is basically about the process a designer should go through when working on a piece of information design. It describes the type of relationship you should have with the client, what type of contacts information to get, what you should show the client, and the process you should go through while designing the piece, which is very important. It also describes sitemaps, wireframes, and blueprints and what they should look like.

Crit notes from Thursday

The message was clear to everyone, here are the comments:

Change the colors on the ties of the men so they don't seem democrat and republican

have the first set of text stay on the screen longer

it may not be necessary to show the men going to work

have the men stay the same size and the buildings change size to make it look like they're walking

add something to the buildings such as windows or the work "work" to make it seem more like work

when the items are popping in at the end add some more to the left hand size such as a jet, yacht, etc.

To suggest:

- excitement at first

- then jealousy

- anger

- motivation

- all in a subdued sense

Who are...

Richard Saul Wurman: an architect and graphic designer from Philadelphia. He is a pioneer of making information understandable. We has written and designed over 80 books and created the TED conferences. He also created the ACCESS travel guide books that were simple and very effective. 

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/richard_saul_wurman

www.wurman.com

Nigel Holmes: was born in 1942 in England. He moved to New York in 1977 when he was hired at Time magazine to design "explanation graphics." He worked there for 16 years and then became a freelance designer, lecturer, and author of books on the subject. He started his own company and has written 6 books on the aspects of informatio

n design.

www.nigelholmes.com

www.

wikipedian.org/wiki/nigel_holmes

Edward Tufte: was born in 1942 in Kansas City, MO. After receiving a PhD from Yale he was hired by Princeton where he taught courses in political economy and data analysis. He also published 3 political sc

ience books. He now teaches statistics, information design, interface design, and political economy

 at Yale University. He is an expert at the presentation of information graphics such as charts and diagrams.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/edward_tufte

www.edwardtufte.com

I think it is interesting that Edward Tufte is so influencial in information design and he didn't take the creative route in school or choice of beginning career path. Both Nigel Holmes and Richard Saul Wurman had creative backgrounds and chose the direction of information design. It feels like Edward Tufte was first interested in the actual information that the design would convey than the actual design itself.

Mood Board

Images, typefaces, colors, that inspired my storyboards

Reading 2 comment

Mine is more of a comment rather than a question. I never realized how many things could go into the category of information design, its a HUGE list! A lot of the examples that were pictured or mentioned in the reading I hadn't ever even included in the category of graphic design. I feel like it would be hard to design some of the examples because some of them seemed boring to me, but that was necessary to get the message across. I would try to add in other elements that maybe looked pretty, but were not necessary.

GET OUT THE VOTE story updated

Show a 1998 grad on the left hand side and a 2008 grad on the right hand side. Start off with them in grad robes and class of '08/'98 banner behind them. Then display the statistic. Go back to the 2 grads with briefcases and they're being handed a paycheck. Then show 2nd part of statistic. Go back to grads with the '98 grad in front of a nice house and the '08 grad in front of a drabby apartment. The '98 grad will have nice things pop in such as a car, big tv, dog, pool table, nice clothes, etc. The '08 grad will have bills popping in that he will be handing all his money to.

Get the vote out story ideas

statistic: today an average student will graduate with twice as much debt as a student ten years ago; today's average job pays less than it did ten years ago.

story #1: 

Congratulations, you're a recent college graduate, ready to head out into the real world to make your own money. But in the midst of all the celebratory bar hopping did you ever stop and take a second to realize that the past four years have really added up? Today, an average college student will graduate with twice as much debt as a student ten years ago. These days the average debt is $20,000 or more! But that's ok, right? Because you're going to go out and get a real job now. Maybe you didn't realize that the average salary for a new graduate is $30,000, which is less than the average starting salary ten years ago. Kind of a buzz kill, huh. What about the credit card bills you racked up? The average college students credit debt is about $3,200. Make the minimum payments on that and you'll end up paying more than twice the original amount by the time you finally get it paid off, 18 years later. This debt can cause you to get a small mortgage on a home, give you a horrible credit rating, or be the reason you may not be able to save enough for retirement.

(all of this information would just be heard while visuals of a college graduate that is celebrating slowly gets more depressed after every piece of information)

story #2

This idea is a comparison of a 2008 graduate and a 1998 graduate. I would show both of them, one on each side of the screen. The 98 grad would happily be enjoying life with a lot of material things that he could buy because he didn't have much debt to pay off. He doesn't have to worry about money issues much. The 2008 grad will be shown living in a bad apt., working late hours, and he can only afford to buy the necessities after paying bills. I'm not sure about the audio quite yet. I don't know if the same information on the above story should be read as well or not. I am leaning more toward this approach.

GET OUT THE VOTE

Project Objective

For this project, we must find a nonpartisan statistic or a piece of data that is relevant to the upcoming 2008 presidential election. Then, we must figure out a way to present this piece of information to the viewer through motion using scale, color sound, transitions, etc. The finished product must be interesting and could be seen as a form of entertainment to the viewer. It must also convey the correct data while keeping the viewer's attention. After watching the product, the viewer should have learned something new.