1. Sorting Game Haruna Tada Tufts University CD-143 Technologies of the Self November 22, 2002

2. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation2 Overview Background & Motivation Sorting Game –what is is –user interface –implemenetation Goals & Evaluation

3. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation3 People and Things From “The Meaning of Things” Csikszentmihalyi (1981) “To understand what people are and what they might become, one must understand what goes on between people and things. What things are cherished, and why, should become part of our knowledge of human beings.”

4. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation4 Motivation Objects (things, places, events, etc) mean different things to different individuals We rarely take the time to reflect about the “things” that surround us -- their meaning, how they relate to us, and they relate to each other Propose a software to get people to think about the meaning of things to themselves and to others.

5. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation5 The Sorting Game Overview –presents the user with a collection of “objects” –user sorts the objects into “groups” Why? –makes the user think about how these objects relate each other and to him/herself –encourage discussion between users to understand how other people see the world

6. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation6 User Interface First-time user: –choose username and enter age –age is used by software to choose age-appropriate topics When you begin: –computer gives you a few selection of topics –when you select a topic, you will get a collection of “objects” related to the topic

7. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation7 User Interface Your task: –to select groups for sorting the objects – pick from a list of “existing groups” or make your own groups –sort each object into the appropriate group When you are done: –computer saves your project into your folder –adds your group descriptors into the “existing groups” list for others to see & use

8. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation8 Examples of Topics and Objects Topics given to the user is chosen by user’s age –younger children get “easier” topics - concrete objects –older users get more abstract concepts Examples: –Animals: dog, cat, goldfish, chicken, horse, mouse,... –Foods: apple, cookie, turkey, sandwich, orange, milk,... –Personal Items: photo album, keys, ID card, teddy bear,... –Places in Community: school, home, mall, cinema,... –Places in Nature: lake, forest, desert, river, mountain,... –Personal Qualities: confidence, intelligence, beauty, athleticism, success,...

9. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation9 Implementation For all age groups Multiple user –use in the classroom? –online access? –encourage discussion between users Administrator level access –access to user’s projects –can add new list of objects

10. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation10 Goals of the Sorting Game Learning about Self –bring to attention the relation between objects in their lives –meaning of objects to themselves –meaning of objects to others Academic –teaches young children about organization and relations – color, shape, etc. –teaches older chlidren the concept of classification

11. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation11 Evaluation Users’ files –assess the level of self-reflection that goes on during sorting Interviews –evaluate the thought process of the users Observation –study the discussion that occurs between users

12. Tufts University  Fall 2002  CD-143 Technologies of the Self  Project Presentation12 See Prototype See Prototype