The Eyes Have It

Just added to blogroll: Research on Visualization. Fantastically rich site by e-learning guru Jay Cross of Internet Time Group covering “nonverbal communication, right-brain processing, mindmaps, art-talk, symbol processing, semiotics”. Has to be seen to be believed.

From Noise Between Stations.

A couple of interesting facts from Robert Lindstrom’s talk, Presentation Trends, at the T3 Conference. 30% of the cerebral cortex is devoted to visual processing, 8% to touch and only 3% to hearing. And given the massive bandwith of the optic nerve, some researchers are beginning to think of the eyes as an integral parts of the brain, rather than as a separate, discreet organs. More good arguments for graphics rather than words.

I’ve always had a thing for the notebooks and sketchbooks writers and visual artists keep. I’m especially interested when the book is a rich combination of text and visuals. This site contains an online version of a display that was on view at the Archives’ of American Art’s New York Regional Center in late 1997.

“This selection of sketchbooks demonstrates the broad range of material available for research at the Archives of American Art from academic notebooks with anatomical studies to illustrated journals, ranging in date from the 1840s to the 1970s.”

One of the reasons I haven’t had much to say about InfoComm 2002 yet is that I’ve been busy setting up a blog for the T3 Conference. Although I’m planning to do a lot more with the layout, the blog is now up and running. The conference organizers are hoping to create an on-going dialogue and exchange of ideas. Please stop by and check it out.

As reported by PC Magazine: “Several antivirus software makers warned last week of a new virus called W32/Perrun that is notable because it is the first reported virus to infect JPEG (.jpg) graphics files. All the attention created a buzz, but the virus exists only in labs at the moment. It does not represent an immediate threat to users.”

Sound like it’s just a matter of time until the threat becomes a reality: “Network Associates, a firm that supplies security solutions, rates W32/Perrun as a low risk and is treating the virus as more of a model of how future viruses could affect graphics files than as a present threat.”

Saw this very small wireless remote control on the trade show floor last week. Honeywell makes it. Apparently they weren’t happy with the other remotes on the market and decided to manufacture their own. Very small, very simple, helps keep things easy for the speaker, has laser pointer and the range seemed pretty good. It’s basically build for clicking through PowerPoint presentations and has no other input functions (i.e., mouse/cursor control). Looks like it goes a long way towards minimizing speaker confusion and I’m all for that.

OK. Sorry. Don’t know what I could have been thinking. I planned on posting while InfoComm was happening, but there was just too much going on.

I did pick up a lot of great information at the trade show and learned a lot in the seminars, most of which I hope to post here over the next couple of weeks once I had a chance to assimilate it.

Please stay tuned.

Might be a good place to start research for a new project. The cover thumbnails are also worth taking a look at.

“The National Academy Press (NAP) was created by the National Academies to publish the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, all operating under a charter granted by the Congress of the United States. NAP publishes over 200 books a year on a wide range of topics in science, engineering, and health, capturing the most authoritative views on important issues in science and health policy. The institutions represented by NAP are unique in that they attract the nation’s leading experts in every field to serve on their blue ribbon panels and committees. For definitive information on everything from space science to animal nutrition, you have come to the right place.”

The blog’s been kind of quiet lately because I’ve been busy clearing my desk and getting ready to fly out to Las Vegas for InfoComm 2002.

InfoComm is a trade show run by the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA). The ICIA has always been focused on the audiovisual hardware industry and InfoComm has always reflected that. But the last year has seen a revitalization of the Association’s Presentations Council (a sub-group of the asociation for presentation professionals presenters as well as those who plan, design and create presentations). This infographic is one of the outreach efforts that resulted from that revitalization. Another is the T3 conference (more info) which debuts at InfoComm tomorrow.

In addition to T3, I’ll be attending Tom Peter’s keynote address this evening as well as several workshops and classes over the next couple of days. I’ll be blogging as much as time allows.

Satire from The Onion.

“I guess there’s cool stuff about science,” Watanabe continued, “like space travel and bombs. But that stuff is so hard, it’s honestly not even worth the effort.”

Very interesting site.

“All logotypes and trademarks available here are property of their owners. We do not bear any responsibility for the using or damaging of any materials from this server. Otherwise, you’d better ask the logos owners. All logos are available in Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw formats. You can send your own logos.”

Tables: Tables copy and paste from Word and PowerPoint as tables (with formatting intact). No more death by tabbing. Tables can cross pages. Tables can have “smart” alternating fills to enhance readability that automatically reformat if you add or delete columns or rows.

Finally the doors slowly start to open, screeching in protest: A Challenge to Science and Nature

“By far and away the most efficient and effective way to distribute scientific manuscripts is by electrons over the Internet.”

I had no idea.