form

11. LP W12 Q2 Wikipedia

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Wikipedia calls itself “a special kind of website” (2015). When researching many subjects today it is common to find this special website occupying top positions in many Google results. Yet, as as Ducet Rand (2010) says:

the encyclopedia is openly edited by registered users. Wikipedia editors can edit their own and others entries, and some abuse of      this editorial power has been unveiled. Content editors have also   been criticized for publishing less than accurate content.

This is possibly why, for some years now, ECU has banned the use of Wikipedia, which is also an application.  Haque and Ahamed (November, 2006) say:

The usability and expansion of pervasive computing applications depends greatly on the security and reliability provided by the applications… as pervasive devices become incorporated in our day-to-day lives, security will increasingly become a common concern for all users – though for most it will be an afterthought – like many other computing functions.

Haque and Ahamed (November, 2006) continue with an analysis of security:

CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is the term commonly used to describe the required characteristics of security. Confidentiality ensures information is not exposed to any unauthorized user. Integrity indicates information has not been altered or falsified by an unauthorized user.

Wikipedia security has been of concern to many for some time.  Kittur, Chi, Pendleton, Suh & Mytkowicz (2006), say the situation is extremely complex. They explain, initially, (until 2004), individuals they describe as “elite users” carried out the majority of the work constructing Wikipedia. At that point a noticeable change occurred as “common users” took over and the “influence of the elite” fell away. Then also, a process of removing more words than contributing commenced, for the first time.

It seems Wikipedia problems may have developed as the “always readily available” Internet developed (Haque & Ahamed, 2006).  Wikipedia supplied Haque and Ahamed a vital reference in 2006, when “Wikipedia defines security as a “… platform, designed so that agents (users or programs) can only perform actions that have been allowed. This involves specifying and implementing a security policy””. However, as Haque and Ahamed go on to explain:

security in pervasive computing has been termed pervasive security.     Though pervasive security includes all the characteristics and requirements of computer security, it introduces some novel vulnerabilities and security rifts due to a few unique characteristics of pervasive computing.

Haque and Ahamed team the Wikipedia definition with Microsoft’s: “The protection of information assets through the use of technology, processes, and training” – on a vast system with unique, ubiquitous “vulnerabilities”. where Wikipedia itself may be a ubiquitous “mobile or embedded in the environment… security rift”  (Haque & Ahamed, 2006).

Haque and Ahamed (2006) discusses the  “transparent interaction of these computational devices with the users”, but, given the Wikipedia editorial abuse,  Now Wikipedia seems the opposite of the Haque and Ahamed (2006) view in that it now is capable of delivering a unique, ubiquitous type of “virtual reality” information service.

Reference

Doucet Rand. (2010). Mediating at the student-Wikipedia intersection. .Journal of Library Administration. 50 (7-8) 2010. 923-932  doi 10.1080/01930826.2010.488994

Haque, M., and Ahamed, S. I. November, (2006). Availability of Security in Pervasive Computing: Current Status and Open Issues. Marquette University. International Journal of Network Security 3  203–214 . Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Md_Haque23/publication/45728848_Security_in_Pervasive_Computing_Current_Status_and_Open_Issues/links/00b4952cc56091881b000000.pdf

Kittur, A.; Chi, E. H,; Pendleton, B. A. ; Suh, B. ; Mytkowicz, T. (2007).  Power of the few vs. wisdom of the crowd: Wikipedia and the rise of the bourgeoisie. Retrieved from https://www.parc.com/publication/1749/power-of-the-few-vs-wisdom-of-the-crowd.html

Wikipedia. (2015). What is Wikipedia? Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Introduction

Aside

8. LP W11 Q3 Design and Psychology

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 When considering whether psychology is necessary in the human world of design it is useful to read the APA, or American Psychological Association (2015) definition of psychology: the study of the mind and behavior… [which] embraces

all aspects of the human experience — from the functions of the

brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for

the aged. In every conceivable setting from scientific research

centers to mental healthcare services,

“the understanding of behavior”

is the enterprise of psychologists.

Budd says all people already have automatic “psychological shortcuts… to basically avoid thinking” (cited by Richardson Taylor, n.d.). Thus it seems clear psychology has a role in anything – at all – designed for human use. Psychology in design is entrenched, as shown by the APA website (2015), which now has an entire section on Design Psychologists.

Lidwell, Holden and Butler (2003) also say “every major design concept” is based on universal principles of design which “influence [people’s] perception” and “increase [design] appeal”. Davis (cited by Richardson Taylor, n.d.) says:

psychology has a huge impact. Unlike artists, designers

have to make something for effect; an artist can start a

project without a brief, but a designer has to have a

purpose.

The successful designer considers, writer-psychologist Don Norman (2013) says: “the needs of users and the principles of cognitive psychology”. Norman supplies some simple rules:

make things visible, exploit natural relationships that couple

function and control, and make intelligent use of constraints.

The goal: guide the user effortlessly to the right action…

at the right time.

This advice is reinforced by James Digby-Jones, who says: “awareness of psychology can inform good design in very tangible ways” (cited by Richardson Taylor, n.d.).

Whether  psychology in design is necessary is irrelevant at this advance stage of psychological control of design. It may not be – in this age of “no commitments… no one idea is inherently better than any other” (Fuller, cited by Crouch, 1991, p. 169).. Furthermore, Lewington says (1 April, 2014), when discussing web design that psychologists  have identified trust as a key area in design success. Trust is hard to build and easily eroded. Today, human trust – in psychology’s part in human design – has probably  disappeared.

Reference

Crouch, C. (1991). Modernism in art, design & architecture. London: Palgrave Macmillan. 

American Psychological Association. (2015) Definition. Website. Retrieved from        http://www.apa.org/support/about/apa/psychology.aspx#answer.

Lewington, H. (1 April, 2014). The importance of psychology in web design. Issue 24, Net magazine. [On-line Magazine]. Retrieved from http://www.creativebloq.com/web-design/importance-psychology-7135530

Lidwell, W., Holden, K., & Butler, J. (2003). Aesthetic-Usability Effect. Universal principles of design. Massachusetts: Rockport. Retrieved from Learning Portfolio, S1, 2015.

Norman, D. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things. Revised and expanded edition. New York, NY, USA: Basic Books.

Richardson Taylor, A. (n.d.) The psychology of design explained. Digital Arts Online. [On-line Magazine]. http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/graphic-design/psychology-of-design-explained/
8. LP W11 Q3 Design and Psychology