meeting 1: Process and language
Tuesday 20th September 1 - 2.30
Outline of meeting
We discussed the process of programming, a kind of philosophy of where to start with the process - with the idea, the application, the concrete realisation. Had already discussed how starting with an idea and a specific application in mind can lead to problems as it might not be the right program for realising what required. This made me think about research in the way that many people start of with a question or interest and then just apply the theory they like or know the best which may actually not be the best for exploring their question and ends up distorting the research in all kinds of ways. So the idea we discussed is for me to clarify the 'product' then make this abstract idea concrete in the form of a proto-type, and then choose the technology - that is to research the technologies possible and decide on the most suitable one for what i want to do. then learn to use it and move on with the idea. this resonnates with what i am interested in more theoretically which is how the medium/resources and facilities - the semioitc affordances - of technologies in this case different applications shape the realisation of ideas. Maybe it would be interesting to try and make the product using two quite different programming applications and see how this iterative move between idea and technology shapes meaning? Anyway, this all said discussed AJAX (Asynchronise Javascript and XML - extendable Markup Language) and how this might be an interesting programing application to find out more about.
As yishay spoke about this i realised there are basic terms like 'mark up' and stuff that i did not understand, so in part the process for me is learning both the 'language' of programing as in how to do it and the 'language' of how to talk about it.
Assignment: write up my 'vision of what it is i am trying to do - the product i imagine, perhaps with some links or references to give Yishay a better idea of what it is about for me. (i think this will be for me product in the sense of output a designed text/thing maybe a visual essay of some kind, and also the process of learning about programing as a product).
Next meeting 26th September 1.00
Outline of meeting
We discussed the process of programming, a kind of philosophy of where to start with the process - with the idea, the application, the concrete realisation. Had already discussed how starting with an idea and a specific application in mind can lead to problems as it might not be the right program for realising what required. This made me think about research in the way that many people start of with a question or interest and then just apply the theory they like or know the best which may actually not be the best for exploring their question and ends up distorting the research in all kinds of ways. So the idea we discussed is for me to clarify the 'product' then make this abstract idea concrete in the form of a proto-type, and then choose the technology - that is to research the technologies possible and decide on the most suitable one for what i want to do. then learn to use it and move on with the idea. this resonnates with what i am interested in more theoretically which is how the medium/resources and facilities - the semioitc affordances - of technologies in this case different applications shape the realisation of ideas. Maybe it would be interesting to try and make the product using two quite different programming applications and see how this iterative move between idea and technology shapes meaning? Anyway, this all said discussed AJAX (Asynchronise Javascript and XML - extendable Markup Language) and how this might be an interesting programing application to find out more about.
As yishay spoke about this i realised there are basic terms like 'mark up' and stuff that i did not understand, so in part the process for me is learning both the 'language' of programing as in how to do it and the 'language' of how to talk about it.
Assignment: write up my 'vision of what it is i am trying to do - the product i imagine, perhaps with some links or references to give Yishay a better idea of what it is about for me. (i think this will be for me product in the sense of output a designed text/thing maybe a visual essay of some kind, and also the process of learning about programing as a product).
Next meeting 26th September 1.00
posted by carey at 6:15 AM
2 Comments:
I like the parallel with research. I think you're right there. Maybe one could clasify "cognitive styles" with respect to this dimension. i.e how much you start from the abstract idea and try to carnate it, and how much you start from your techne and fit abstractions over it. (I like the word techne - I just learned the word yesterday, when I flipped through "back to the rough ground" in Judith's office. I think Jan has a copy on her table).
Just for proper disclosoure, what I presented is my idealized view of how programming should be. Many people start from the technology they know. Others start from a particular aspect of the product, and work out from there. Also there's the inside-out vs. outside-in distinction we talked about, which resonantes of the idea of boundary objects. Do you build the system so that the external interface reflects the structure, or so that it reflects the users' set of metaphors?
I'm thinking, it would be nice if you could configure your blog - e.g. add a link to the course blog. It would also be a chance to get your hands on a bit of html. But then, will your experience with the technology contaminate your vision?
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