The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The internet definitely has improved our communication and connection with others. We can now be connected to people who are over a distance and even strangers.

Source: http://www.phpbb.com/

Internet forums, such as phpBB, are the basic platform for people to share knowledge and experiences. We can post our question or whatever we want to share online, common known as a “thread”, and wait for other guests to help us or to give their feedback.

Source: http://www.hku.hk/

However, these new collaborative tools also have their constraints and restrictions. For example, it is not a common practice, rather a taboo, to use them in working environment. Let’s take my company as an example. All of our documents are classified as confidential. Thus, we cannot post or even use personal emails for communication or sending attachments since there is no 100% guaranteed security system on the internet. Everyone could have a chance to get hold of everything that was sent via the internet. For example, the software “Foxy” was meant to let people share their files. If I wanted to download the latest Lady GaGa Single, all I have to do is to search via Foxy. The software will search those’ computers who have installed it then I could download the Single from their hard disc. However, there were numerous incidents that even the government’s confidential documents were exposed.

Everything has its affordances and constraints. However, whether it is an affordance or a constraint, it completely depends on how we use them and if we use it wisely.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/

A complex idea may need  thousands of words to describe. However, it can also be conveyed with just a single simple picture.


Source: National Geographic


Above is a well-known photo of an Afghan girl taken by Steve McCurry, posted on the cover of National Geographic magazine. You can see from her big green eyes her fear, emptyness and loss. You do not need to read the article in order to understand her perplexed feelings about her future. People remember her story not only because the article but also her photo.

Another reason for this photo to be long-lived in people’s mind is because of its simplicity in appearance but complex in meaning. When it comes to visual design, it is better to make it simple. Some people will tend to put everything together by trying to make it colourful and idea-explicit. Yet readers will only be distracted and lose their attention.

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Source: http://havenworks.com

No doubt that a picture can give us more room to think and imagine. For example, when we read a fiction, we will picturise the story in our minds. We may need a thousand words, or more, to describe just one picture. We may not remember every word we heard in our lives, no matter they are encouraging or disappointing. However, those moments will become memories and stay inside our minds and live with us. An example is I went karaoke box with friends lots of time. There is one frequently asked request by my friends. They always forget the name of the songs they want to sing. Thus they will just say, for example, "i want to sing the song that the MTV has a boy, a girl and a yacht. Please search for me." Ha Ha. Images are really easier to remember.

Source: http://weheartit.com/tag/msn

A very simple test. Close your eyes and think of the one you love. What come up to you mind? Is it her lovely face, saying I love you? Or the msn screen when she typed I love you?