Comp 080 Enabling Technology

Let’s have a polite and intelligent discussion of the controversial video we watched today. I can tell from the groans while we watched it that many of have difficulty relating to the positions of some of the people in the video. Let’s discuss that. Can you think of a way to relate to their feelings?

Those of you who missed class today, must watch it to participate in the discussion. The UG library has 2 copies, linked here .

Postings are due before class on Tuesday.

Let’s discuss the video we watched today. Did you recognize any of the kids from your classes? Did you empathize with any of the participants? How would some of those exercises have made you feel? Share your thoughts.

I’m certainly open to other ideas for projects but here are a few to get you started:

• Choose your own adventure type books. Expand our conventional books on Tar Heel Reader into switch-accessible books with decision points. You, of course, would not be expected to write any software. Rather, make an example using PowerPoint or other tools. Propose a way to make authoring such books easy using web technology like we do in the wizard on Tar Heel Reader. Could we produce a record of choices the reader made to create a record of their adventure? The literature on Interactive Fiction is very applicable to this project.
• Switch-accessible games. Propose a game that is fun, engaging and accessible to players with a wide range of abilities. It will be great if your game is educational too but that is NOT required. The ideal game would be interesting to typical kids as well. Basing your game on existing non-accessible games is fine. Make a storyboard or other description of your game with sufficient detail to illustrate how game play begins, progresses, and ends. You should be able to demonstrate playing the game using Wizard of Oz simulation .
• Investigate the application of ideas such as supervisory control to enable switch users to participate in real-time online gaming. This project could lend itself well to a Wizard of Oz simulation with one person playing the part of the switch user making high-level decisions while the other person handles real-time tasks such as running, hiding, and shooting.
• Investigate ways, including the above, to engage otherwise idle children in learning. It seems to me from my admittedly brief observation in classrooms that kids spend to much time passively waiting on their turn for individual instruction. What could we do with interactive media to reclaim some of that time? What has already been done? This project should include a survey of previous work and brainstorming about what could be done.

By 21 October I want to know:

1. The members of your team.
2. The project idea you propose to pursue.

The first draft of your paper and presentation on your project is due 6 November. I’ll get feedback to you by 11 November. You will present your projects in class starting 18 November. Your final report including your paper and presentation is due on 2 December.

Books written by our class:
Holidays
Foods A-Z
Science
Rain Forests
Vacation
Inventions
Worms
The Beach
Colleges A-Z
What color shirt?
Shoes
Field Hockey
What needs water?
What can you find in a biology lab?
Dorm Life
My Alarm Clock
Date Night
Can you find it?
Occupational Majors
Water Fun
What do you eat?
Art Museum
The Seven Wonders of the World
Tattoos
The Cookie Bandit
Technology A-Z
How to Make Pizza
Let’s Go Camping
Our First President
Bands A-Z
Lets Play
Shoes
A Room
Fashion Designers
Christmas
Swimsuits
Friday Night
A day in the life of a college student
Fashion A-Z
Beards
Michael Jordan
A is for American Football
2008’s Most Expensive Cars
Highest Earning Movies of all Time
The Bank Robbery
The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962
Justice League America
Disney Princesses
College
What do you need?
Count Guitars
Jack and Jill
Alphabet Sports
Alphabet Animals
Sports
All Around the World
Carolina Basketball
Shark Attack
Making a Band
Ten to Zero
Fruits A-Z
Who do you want to be?
Boys vs. Girls
Wonders of the World

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