thesis capsule

Inundating the user with all sorts of information regarding a product is just not enough.

Example.
In 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act went into effect. On Jan. 6, 1993, the FDA and the USDA issued parallel regulations that designate the format and content of nutrition labels on most foods, including processed meat and poultry products. The new food label on all products allows consumers to make informed decisions about the foods they eat. According to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, all food labels must contain the following information:

- Common name of the product
- Name and address of the product’s manufacturer
- Net contents in terms of weight, measure or count, and:
- Ingredient List – Lists the ingredients in descending order of predominance and weight. In Krispy Krunchies, the ingredients are listed at the bottom of the label. As you can see, the predominant ingredient is corn, next is oil, then cheese, etc.
- Serving Sizes – Each package must identify the size of a serving. In Krispy Krunchies, one package contains one serving. The nutritional information given on the label is based on one serving of the food.
- Nutrition Facts – each package must identify the quantities of specified nutrients and food constituents for one serving.

What does this information mean?
R.S. Wurman suggests that “data is fairly worthless to most of us. To have value, it must be organized, transformed, and presented in a way that gives it meaning—and makes it valuable.”

The USDA and FDA are not taking into consideration that making information physically accessible does not equal to making it cognitively accessible. Only a small percentage of consumers will be able to draw connections between the percentages presented on the food labels and their daily intake need and overall health. This might not be important for someone like me who with little care quickly reviews labels, but what about those with a chronic condition such as Diabetes who have to manage their nutrition? Who did the USDA and FDA design for?

I argue that the current food label design only meets the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act requirements and does not support consumers in making informed decisions about the foods they eat.

1. The current label design suggests that an “informed decision” is merely based on a list of ingredients and percentages. I suggest that all decisions are contextual and personal.

2. It is clear that a group of nutritionists—and not consumers—dictated the abstract language of the label. Sodium, cholesterol, fat, proteins, calcium. What? The language assume that we all talk about food in those terms.

3. The current design also limits consumer’s understanding of nutrition. We all have heard somewhere that vitamins are good and fats are bad. Do we actually know why? Do we actually know how our body responds to different elements? I believe providing the consumer with opportunities to make connections between data and their personal needs/values actually sets up conditions for an informed decision.

I don’t know what the solution is, nor where a company would start a collaboration with the USDA and FDA.
But here are two pressing suggestions:
1. study of consumer purchasing behavior
2. include consumer experience, cognitive science, information architecture expert in the decision-making process for nutrition label format and content regulations

September 6th, 2008 | Category: information architecture | Leave a comment

September 6th, 2008 | Category: nyc | Leave a comment

From the Portfolio article, “Citi under siege”:

“Has the company grown too big to make any sense? What’s the logic holding it together? What is the future of banking? Should Citi even survive intact?”

“The glass-half-empty view — the prevailing one on Wall Street — is that Citi is unmanageable in its current form.”

“Citigroup is a multinational colossus, with 200 million customers in more than 100 countries. Its fingers are in every financial-service pie – banks, credit cards, brokerages, investment banking, and hedge funds.”

+++
Sadly the article didn’t outline Citigroup’s governance or decision-making processes (well, sure.. a lot of it it’s private), so it’s hard to know whether it has grown too big to make any sense. But it is surely an interesting question. Can any company survive if too big?

This reminds me of the history of the Roman Empire and the challenges that came with its growing size. I need to brush up on my history, but from what I remember, the Empire grew too big, ruled by the weak and corrupt, fought for by mercenary armies and afflicted by serious economic problems. It would be interesting to compare the two entities and notice any similarities.

ps yes, I know the times are different… which makes all the difference. But maybe historical events can serve as an initial diagnostic tool.

September 1st, 2008 | Category: business | Leave a comment

I am excited about a project that will hopefully start soon. Demystifying computers for elderly.
How do you go about teaching a senior citizen who lives in a nursing home how to use the computer?

The task is incredibly complex and breathtakingly interesting.
Complex because of the varying level of comfort with the medium, the idea that it is a complex and intimidating tool, cognitive impairment such as low attention span and retention ability. Interesting for the same reasons.

initial fact finding…
questions about the student:
What is their current understanding of the internet?
How comfortable are they with the medium?/ What do they already know it?
What pieces of technology are they already familiar with? (And how can I use that as a starting point?)

I believe who they are and their interest in the medium is at the core, and should frame the “curriculum”.
Do they want to keep in touch with family members?

Do they want to conduct research?

Are they bored?

+++
I have found the following article on The New York Times, “High tech for Elderly“.
Interesting excerpt:
“Older people are a logical choice for intensive computer training since most completed their education before computers were widely used. In their personal lives, too, they have managed for more than 55 years without a computer, but, as Richard P. Biondi, regional director for public affairs at Bell Atlantic, observed: ”More and more in our everyday life we’re asked to convey information via the computer. Some people can no longer use a pen or pencil because of rheumatism. They have to learn to adopt and adapt to new technology.”

Michael Negrelli of Yorktown Heights, a volunteer who shares coordinating and teaching computer technology at the Town of Ossining Senior Center with Marian Picarelli of Ossining, said, ”As a senior, too, I know the most frustrating thing can be a brilliant young person who does things so quickly mature adults can’t learn from him.” “

August 31st, 2008 | Category: aging, volunteering | Leave a comment

I received another email from the Obama campaign.

There is consistency with the other email from “Barak”, same colloquial tone, use of first names, simplicity of language.
Interestingly, “Joe” also says “I’ll be doing a lot of the things you’ve done to grow this movement “. He also thanks me for “the warm welcome I’ve received as the newest member of this campaign.” Oh my goodness, they are milking it.

It is clear to all that the Obama campaign is building the Barak/Joe brand paying close attention to these small touch points, reinforcing the 1:1 relationship. But we all know this is the same message millions of people received.

I was disappointed to hear the exact same words from the Saturday speech in Illinois. (about rolling up the sleeves, it’s not an ordinary election, etc.) yes, there is such thing as useful redundancy. But the use of exact same word feels as though he (or really, the campaign peeps) does not know any other words — or really, that not enough time was spent on this message, and they just recycled text from Saturday’s speech. Not good for the brand and a waste of time for the reader. This might cause the reader to feel as though these messages are not worth reading. (What is their value if I have heard the same message before?)

The concept of using emails to build relationship is good, and the refreshing simple language is appreciated. Yet, I believe they have not fully explored what the digital space brings, and not taking advantage of its opportunities.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Valentina –

I’d like to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve received as the newest member of this campaign.

What you and Barack have accomplished over the past 19 months is incredible, and it’s an honor to be part of it. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting involved.

I recorded a short video message about how I hope to help in the weeks ahead.

Please take a minute to watch the video and share it with your friends: (video attached)

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be doing a lot of the things you’ve done to grow this movement — reaching out day after day in neighborhoods all across the country, connecting with people who are hungry for the change we need.

This is no ordinary time, and this is no ordinary election. I plan to do everything I can to help Barack take back the White House.

I don’t need to tell you that John McCain will just bring us another four years of the same. You can’t change America when you supported George Bush’s policies 95% of the time.

Barack has the vision and the courage to bring real change to Washington. But even he can’t do this alone.

Join me by getting involved in your community — and reach out to your friends and family to get them involved as well.

Please watch this video and pass it on:

http://my.barackobama.com/bidenvideo

Thank you,

Joe

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

August 25th, 2008 | Category: politics | Leave a comment

I have always struggled with writing mainly because I never understood its purpose.
No one ever sat down and taught writing, the various types, purposes, language, structure, etc. (My) teachers have always told me that in order to be a better writer you just have to write. Yes, I agree. But no one never gave me guidance on the process of writing, no one ever talked about its purpose.
So my fear of writing perpetuated, as I became the “creative” kid with great ideas but with poor written communications skills.

I understood the process of writing by reading of Socrates and his feelings against the written word.
His main complaint is that it disrupts traditional social relationships, destroying memory and the existence of an oral society.

By King Thamus in Socrates’s story of writing’s introduction in Egypt:
“The fact is that this invention will produce forgetfulness in the souls of those who have learned it. They will not need to exercise their memories, being able to rely on what is written, calling things to mind no longer from within themselves by their own unaided powers, but under the stimulus of external marks that are alien to themselves. So it’s not a recipe for memory, but for reminding, that you have discovered. (68)”

Furthermore he proclaimed that the written word is dead. You cannot dispute the written word; there is no engagement, no back and forth between individuals. It is about one person and the text.

And that is what I needed to hear. Yes. The purpose of writing — or really, a purpose I can agree with — is not dialogic. The written word is to archive information and to extend oneself . (thanks mass communication technology)
For example, this blog is not for me to have a conversation with the reader. (assuming someone is actually reading this)
This digital space (which is also dead) is to archive thoughts and resources in an organized fashion so that I can go back and sort through, to then build more thoughts. I am not interested in a back and forth in this space — we do not have enough tools here.

August 25th, 2008 | Category: writing | Leave a comment

I am revisiting a paper I wrote in graduate school as a starting point.

The first topic I am researching is ageism.
The paper has no focus yet — I think that will come with time. And time is the most luxurious thing I have gained after grad school.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What is ageism?
Simply put, ageism consists of a negative bias or stereotypic attitude toward aging and the aged.
Stereotyping is our way of dealing with large amounts of information. I believe it becomes problematic when these beliefs affect our decision making and interactions with others.

Why ageism?
Traxler (1980) outlines four factors that have contributed to this negative image of aging.

ONE: fear of death in Western society
Butler (1969) states: “Ageism reflects a deep seated uneasiness on the part of the young and middle-aged – a personal revulsion to and distaste for growing old, disease, disability; and a fear of powerlessness, ‘uselessness’, and death” (p. 243)

TWO: emphasis on the youth culture American society
Persons who are dependent on physical appearance and youth for their identity are likely to experience loss of self-esteem with age (Block, Davidson, & Grumbs, 1981).

THREE: emphasis in American culture productivity
The middle-aged are perceived as carrying the burdens imposed by children and the aged. (Butler, 1969). While children are seen as having future economic potential, elderly are perceived as a financial liability.

FOUR: poorly controlled gerontological studies that reinforce negative image
When aging was originally studied, researchers went to long-term care institutions where the aged were easy to find. However, only 5 percent of the older population is institutionalized. Thus, the early research on the aged and aging was based upon non-well, institutionalized older individuals. There is still a need for more research to be undertaken using a healthy, community-dwelling older population.

Who cares?
This is the question I am struggling with the most. I am not interested in publishing this article or presenting it at a conference, nor am I looking for some type of concrete outcome (i.e. change the world). So I believe the paper is just self-indulgent and free standing. It will be an analysis, not a preposition. Its main purpose will be for me to get this topic out of my system and see where that leads me. (another post graduate luxury. No stress of where is this going… it just is.)

August 24th, 2008 | Category: ageism, paper1 | Leave a comment

Introduction to sexuality in late life
Sharpe, T. H. (2004). The Family Journal, 12(2), 199-205.

Sexuality is an aspect of human development often ignored at various stages of life, especially late life. With the aging of society, increased longevity, improved health, and rising affluence, the understanding of normal sexual development in aging humans becomes progressively more important. Normal sexuality among those in late life may relate more to societal views based in part on ageist myths and misconceptions and an overemphasis on disease processes. It is important for both health and mental health professionals to educate themselves about the specific challenges and rewards of sexuality in late life.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am interested in writing a paper on the role of elderly women in the Western society, and representations that perpetuate old as non desirable and lacking any sexual desire. I am looking for a way into this subject. Here is my dump list of subject matters:

- ageism (Why is it that we ridicule a group we will soon be a part of?)

- sexuality (Why is it that we laugh or are disgusted by the thought of grandmas having sex?)

- how perceptions affects group’s perception of self (Does my grandma feel sexy?)

- role of visual culture (lack of representation of older women in fashion magazines)

- advertisement (elderly often depicted in ads about medications or diseases or hospitals )

August 23rd, 2008 | Category: aging | Leave a comment

I love US elections time, if anything for the communication strategies used by each campaign.
Watch the colloquial tone of the email, use of first names “let Joe know”, email signed “Barak”, simple and quick message.

+++++++++++++++++++++++
Valentina –

I have some important news that I want to make official.

I’ve chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.

Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois — the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.

I’m excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can’t do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.

Please let Joe know that you’re glad he’s part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we’ll make sure he gets it:

http://my.barackobama.com/welcomejoe

Thanks for your support,

Barack

P.S. — Make sure to turn on your TV at 2:00 p.m. Central Time to join us or watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

I also signed up for the text message, curious about how they would word it.
“Barak (again with the first name) has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our (sense of belonging “our”) VP nominee. Watch the first rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarakObama.com. Spread the word! (call for action)”

+++++++++++++++++++++++

August 23rd, 2008 | Category: politics | Comments (2)