Recently in readings Category

Spiro, Is Wikipedia Becoming a Respectable Academic Source?
Orlowsky, There's No Wikipedia Entry for 'Moral Responsibility'

Whoops... it looks like I forgot to assign the end of Don't Make Me Think.  I do actually want you to finish the book, so, with apologies to those who had already celebrated the last of this book, here's one last Krug assignment.

We chose Slouching Towards Bedlam, by Star C. Foster and Daniel Ravipinto.

I've got a version on my website, but if you want to be able to save and restore games, you should check the IFDB for the appropriate downloads.

Usability Testing: 8 Quick Tips
If you already have a prototype and you want to conduct a usability test, and you're eager to learn how to make the most of your opportunity to learn from your users, then this document is for you.

This short video does a pretty good job reinforcing some concepts that we've talked about in class, though the ending makes me a bit uncomfortable recommending it, in that "Please don't let any SHU administrators or my parents know that I've assigned this thing because they really wouldn't understand" way.

With an intro like that, you're curious right?  It's just a couple minutes long.

See also (http://jerz.setonhill.edu/design/usability/intro.htm).

First, print out these instructions for playing interactive fiction games (also known as "text adventures").

In pairs, choose 3 of the 5 interactive fiction texts. 

Find a partner on your own -- you're welcome to use this space to help you stay in touch. Just agree, with your partner, what games you plan to play. You don't need to be in the same room to play them, though it might be helpful.

Start by sampling (or at least reading about) the games mentioned on this page. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3168303 Play each for 15 minutes, and then spend at least another hour playing whichever game(s) you wish.

1. Lost Pig
2. Ecydisis
3. Tales of the Traveling Swordsman
4. Galatea
5. Photopia
   

If you'd like some more choices than that, I suggest

• Shade
• Slouching Toward Bedlam

Not in the same class, but possibly of interest because you may know the author.

• Fine Tuned: An Auto-Mated Romance

Come to class ready to talk about your experience. Friday's assignment will ask you to present your reactions in the form of a website. You're welcome to blog your responses so you can use them for the next portfolio assignment, but you can also just save them and put them on the web site for Friday.