Intro to Mac Lab & Multimedia Platforms In this exercise students will "tour" the Macintosh computer desktop and how it is configured on the machines in the Social Science Mac Lab. For those of you who are already familiar with the Macintosh platform please bear with us as we get the rest of the class up to speed. Also, students will compare and contrast the print edition of a local newspaper with its Web counterpart. Specifically, in this exercise students will: Log-on to the Social Science Mac Lab Computers Gain an understanding of the Mac Desktop Layout Learn how to access Computer Software Launch Fetch and access the www.soc.hawaii.edu server Learn how to Download a file using Fetch Learn how to modify and Print a file Learn how to Upload a file to a remote server Then, Compare & contrast the print edition of the Honolulu Weekly with its Web edition. You may want to examine some of the Human Interface Design Principles prior to your critique At your leasure, review an F.Y.I on Multimedia & Macs Finally, remember to Log-out of the Social Science Mac Lab Computers To complete this assignment, students are to read through this document and preform the tasks as specified. You will be required to Download a document from a remote server, Print it out, Modify the document, and Upload the modified document to a different location on the remote server. Be sure to turn in ANY/ALL requested paper work before you leave! Logging On to the Social Science Macs   The first thing you must do [after turning on the computer if it is not on already] is to login. If you do not already have a Social Science Computer User's password, you may use the temporary login/password access provided by your instructor in class. You will need to apply for your own account prior to next week's lab session(s). Forms are available from your instructor, or you can request an account online. Occassionally, you might be faced with a login box similar to the one above. If so, don't panic! All you must do to get to the original login dialog box is click on the "Guest" button, the click "OK." The Macintosh Interface   The desktop is your electronic media space. On the desktop rest icons, pictorial representations of objects such as disks, folders, and documents, and of functions such as the Trash, into which you toss unwanted items. The menu bar contains menu titles. When you point to a menu title and then press and hold the mouse button, a list of commands called a menu appears. To choose a command, move the pointer while holding the mouse button until the command is highlighted, and then release the button. The Apple Menu gives you easy access to programs on your computer. Items such as the Chooser let you manage certain aspects of the Mac's operation. Accessing Programs   There are several ways to access computer software on the Mac. One way is to click the mouse on the Apple Menu, drag down to the Programs option, and select the program you wish to launch. Other computer programs are available under the Communications option also on the Apple Menu. Finally, you could open the compter's hard-drive directory by double-clicking on the Macintosh HD icon, and then open the folder which contains the software you wish to access. Some software and computer functions are password protected. If you find yourself facing a dialog box requesting a password, cancel and return to where you started -- you can't go any farther! Using FETCH Fetch is used to upload &/or download various files [text, html, gif, jpeg, mov, as well as compressed programs & other computer files] to/from other computers connected to the Internet. Prior to launching Fetch, double-click on the "GUEST" icon on the desktop. Create a new folder [under the "File" menu item] and rename it with your first initial and last name -- this is where you will put your files temporarily while working on the Mac. Launch Fetch. When the "New Connection..." dialog box appears, type into the appropriate boxes "www.soc.hawaii.edu"; "com337"; and the class password [keep this secret!], then click OK. If you entered the information correctly, you should see a directory similar to the one below: DOWNLOAD a File From this point, you will navagate your way through the subdirectories by double-clicking on summer_2000 and lab_01 until you see the file memorize.txt -- this is the file you want to download! Now, you simply highlight the file [click on it once], and then click on the "Get..." button. Fetch will then copy the file to your local machine! Make sure that the file goes into the folder you created earlier on the "Guest" drive -- otherwise you might spend some frustrating time searching for it... Modifying & Printing Documents To read &/or modify the file you just downloaded, find and launch the application SimpleText [hint: sometimes, you can double-click on the file to launch it's associated program]. What you should see when you open the file memorize.txt are the Mac Lab Golden Rules! Print this file for your reference, and then modify the text by typing in your full name, email address, and a comment about this lab assignment. Save the file under a different name using the "Save As..." option under the "File" menu item -- name the document with your first initial and last name followed by "dot" txt [F_Lastname.txt], click on the "Save" button and you're done! For your conveinence the Computer Lab has two laser printers. You do not have to bring your own paper, but try not to waste paper -- print out only what you need. UPLOAD a File Once you have modified and printed the file according to instructions, you are now ready to UPLOAD the modified file. Launch Fetch [or select it from the Application Menu] and fill-in the "New Connection..." dialog box as you did earlier. Double-click on the "summer_2000" subdirectory to open it and then select [by double-clicking again] the "all_pau" sub-subdirectory. to upload the modified file, click on the "Put File..." button and select the file you wish to copy to the remote server; click "Open" to preform the function. That's it! Can Technology Improve Content? When we look at the World Wide Web, as well as other multimedia applications, we can see the convergence of different media "types." Currently, one of the oldest types of media-- print -- is reinventing itself with the "new media" and gaining a "toehold" in cyberspace. With the World Wide Web, print media has a new found freedom, as well as some new constraints in presenting information. Below, you are asked to compare and contrast the print edition of the Honolulu Weekly with its Web edition. Individually, examine a copy of the Honolulu Weekly making sure to at least glance at the contents of every section [each student will be provided a copy of the Honolulu Weekly]. Please Note: even though you discuss your observations with others in class, each individual is responsible for writing-up their own report. Go to the Honolulu Weekly Webpage and examine the site with the same thuroughness you gave the Hard Copy. Using the guidelines below, compare the similarities and differences between the the Hard Copy of the Honolulu Weekly [off-line] and the Web version [on-line]. For the similarites, discuss which version [on-line or off-line] is better and why. For the differences, discuss why you think it was done differently. When you are finished with your evaluation, TYPE & PRINT your report making sure your name is on the paper before you turn it in at the end of lab. Human Interface Guidelines Human Interface Design Principles are based on some assumptions about people. A good multimedia interface should allow people to accomplish tasks. Whereas, these tasks will vary, people will still share some common characteristics in how they respond to a computer-mediated interface. People are instinctively curious; they want to learn, and they learn best by active self-directed exploration of their environment. People strive to master their environment; they like to have a sense of control over what they are doing, to see and understand the results of their own actions. People are skilled at manipulating symbolic representations; they love to communicate in verbal, visual, and gestural languages. Finally, people are most productive and effective when the environment in which they work and play is enjoyable and challenging. Listed below are some of the basic Human Interface Design Principles, abstracted from the book Apple Human Interface Guidelines: The Apple Desktop Interface [Apple Computer, Inc., Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1987], which will aid you in your critique of the "traditional" vs. "new media" delivery of information. Direct Manipulation and User Control People learn best by active, self-directed exploration--which is what you are doing now. People expect their physical actions to have physical results, they want to feel that they are in charge of the computers activities. Consistency Effective applications are both consistent within themselves and consistent with one another. The look and usage of navagational tools should be consistent throughout. Feedback and dialog To be in charge, the user must be informed. For example, when the user initiates an operation, they should receive some immediate feedback to confirm that the operation is being carried out. Aesthetic integrity Visually confusing or unattractive displays detract from the effectiveness of human-computer interactions. Users deserve and appreciate attractive surroundings. Consistent visual and audible communication is very powerful in delivering complex messages simply, subtly, and directly. F.Y.I. Multimedia & Macs As the CNET.com Special Report [below] stated, "In the '80s, the Macintosh kicked off GUI-based computing, letting users interact with their computers via a mouse, icons, and graphics instead of using cryptic text commands." In part because of this, the Macintosh quickly became the platform of choice for multimedia developers. However, the following, highly subjective little "list-of-links" provided here is NOT intended to convert students into Macintosh fanatics or to stir up a Windows vs. Mac debate. Rather, the intent is to urge the student to examine some interesting websites &/or articles about the Macintosh platform. Apple Computer's Official Website. Hot News straight from Apple Computer. Larry Rosenthal, (1998, August) "Apple Doesn't Get It," Mac Now CNET.com, "Is the Mac Back?" The past, present & future of an insanely great computer. TIME Digital (1999, January) "Apple's Revolution in a Box" Apple's iMac is TIME Digital's 1998 Machine of the Year! My Mac Online, home of My Mac Magazine. MacAddict, online home of the magazine for Mac enthusiasts. Logging Out Once you have completed all the above listed requirements of this assignment, you are free to "surf" the Internet &/or check your personal email [be sure to ask first!]. If, however, lab time has been exhausted, then prior to leaving your Mac computer you should LOGOUT instructions visible on your computer's desktop [close all open folders to see the instructions]. Click on the Logout icon near the Application Menu icon then choose the "Logout User" option -- that's it! Once the Login dialog box re-appears, you may leave the lab.   [ Syllabus ][ Lab Assignments ][ Downloadable Resources ][ Back to Home ]   Copyright © 1999-2000   By: M. R. Ogden -- ogden@hawaii.edu (Rev. 25 May 2000)