Kayla

In 7 Things Every Designer Needs to Know about Accessibility author Jesse Hausler discusses how accessibility enables people with disabilities to be more involved in society and or everyday life. The better the design the less trouble it is for those with disabilities to effectively utilize it. Within the article the author discusses major things one needs to know about product design in the following sub-categories Accessibility is not a barrier to innovation, Don’t use color as the only visual means of conveying information, Ensure sufficient contrast between text and its background, Provide visual focus indication for keyboard focus, Be careful with forms, Avoid component identity crises and Don’t make people hover to find things. The one sub-category or aspect that I found most meaningful was Accessibility is not a barrier to innovation. This topic discussed how accessibility introduces constraints that one must incorporate when one considers their design. Rather than these constraints being seen as a negative aspect it on the other hand provides one with new ideas that will inevitably lead to better products. I agree with this notion constraints or accessibility guidelines are set so that a design is better produced and inclusive if a product lacked such aspects the overall outcome would be less desirable. Being a Speech Language Pathology major allows me to see how the embracement of accessibility guidelines and or constraints could be very beneficial to those with disabilities. The lack of such guidelines and inclusiveness of products could have a variety of negative affects on those with disabilities and in short these constraints allow for the limitation of these negative aspects.

In Accessibility guidelines for UX Designers author Avinash Kaur highlights the importance of understanding accessibility to build a better more accessible product. The article like the other lists guideline suggestions such as content and structure, device independent design, for keyboard-only users, for touch targets, opening links in new windows with advanced notice, animation, layout, media, visual design and user research & testing. In my opinion I believe the two most important aspects to achieve a better product based upon accessibility guidelines would be visual design and user research & testing. Visual design is simply the overall look whether it be the saving, color contrast, font usage, font size, etc…. The overall look of the product of text is what draws users and or consumers in without this properly being utilized the product would be overlooked or less desirable.  User Research & Testing is also an important aspect because research would cover in this case accessibility and all information needed to make the product or design more inclusive. User research is key in figuring out what seems to be working and what is not working for users. Testing so one can adopt and observe different users utilizing assistive activity so the creator can ensure that it properly includes or helps the wide range of disabilities. Overall Ive learned that accessibility in design is important for those with disabilities, the overall outcome of the product, and ensuring that everyone feels included. 

In Sustaining Critical Literacies In The Digital Information Age: The Rhetoric of Sharing, Prosumerism, and Digital Algorithmic Surveillance by Estee Beck poses questions about the meaning of sharing through social media platforms. “Is the sharing of thoughts, videos, music, another such digital compositions the sole purpose of sites like Facebook, Twitter, and SnapChat?” Beck questions the true purpose of sharing through social media platforms and what their main purpose is. It is discussed within the work that on surface level it seems as though that theses platforms aim to bring people together but in reality as people interact on these platforms they become the products of social media though surveillance and data tracking, “As people produce and consume content in Web2.0 spaces, they also become the users and products of social media because of the range of data tracking and surveillance technologies monitoring and recording user actions.” I wholeheartedly believe this statement to be true after browsing different websites for new jewelry. I shortly after log into my facebook account and it can’t be coincidental that the same exact product I was shopping for appears in the add section. I was more worried than confused because I felt as though my privacy was invaded but, it seems as though this happens regularly than I thought. 

This section of the book also discusses Prosumerism From the Industrial to Information Era, Open Source and Commodity Prosumerism in Web 2.0 Spaces, Digital Algorithmic Surveillance and Sustaining Critical Literacies in Social Media Spaces. Out of all four sub categories the one that has resonated with me was Digital Algorithmic Surveillance. Digital Algorithmic Surveillance describes how surveillance technologies use information to achieve certain results, “…describes how surveillance technologies store, categorize, and sift through complex datasets through step-by-step procedures for specific results.” The example previously mentioned about Facebook showing the jewelry products I was just browsing the web for perfectly aligns with this sub category. Within the section it discusses how tracking technologies like cookies and peoples web browsers and computing machines are essentially used as algorithmic surveillance which now makes sense of how facebook knew the product I was looking for. Overall I’ve learned that despite technology and or social media being  apart of our daily lives one needs to look more into how “sharing” really affects us. 

What is Rhetorical about Digital Rhetoric? discusses the intersection of rhetoric, media, and technology and to investigate the ways digital rhetoric connects to and is different to digital humanities. The term and peoples definitions of digital rhetoric is also heavily discussed. During the symposium participants were asked “How do you define digital rhetoric?” and most had trouble answering the question despite them utilizing it quite often. This surprised me very much so if one is using digital rhetoric within scholarships, projects, and teachings and cannot define the term. This was quite comical to me despite it being commended within the article, “While the field may still lack a clear definition of “digital rhetoric,” the essays... our inability to put a finger on this term-to nail it into place once and for all-is not to be lamented but embraced....”  How can you utilize the term or even try an teach it to someone else when you yourself can't even grasp what it's about. I understand that it can be seen as better to let it go undefined due to it really bing up for interpretation and it changing every so often.

Defining and Expanding Digital Rhetorics, New Directions in Digital Rhetoric, Digital Rhetoric: Positions and Perspectives and Doing Digital Rhetorics are also discussed in sub categories within the article. Digital Rhetoric: Positions and Perspectives was one section that interested me most due to it discussing way to expand digital rhetoric to include a wider range of discourses and mainly its discussion of Digital Outragicity.  I would have never thought that being outraged based on something on a social media platform had a term associated with it, “...that expression of outrage in digital spaces constitute ‘the feeling or sentiment of outrage over not a reality but a representation based on various levels of aware and unaware aggregations.” What will resonate with me most would be the example of digital outragicity based on the killing of Cecil the lion. I myself was saddened and angered over the killing of Cecil the lion when it first happened and took to social media to see how other people were reacting to it as well. I agree with the notion that emerging logic on reality is increasingly getting mixed with anger, backlash, and or aggregations. Overall this article has taught me that simply Digital Rhetoric is very vast and has various topics and information that goes along with it. 

Writing in Knowledge discuses the debated relationship between rhetoric and the creation of scientific knowledge. The debate discussed whether or not rhetoric contributes to the generation of knowledge in the sciences. Those in the sciences reject the claim due to the belief that facts need to be discovered and constructed, “They reject his claim that all science is rhetoric, and they propose a more moderate position: they suggest that the “facts” that make up reality may be both discovered (in other words, the facts exist prior to human experience) and constructed (that is, human effort brings them into existence).” What I found to be most interesting is how rhetoricians have found that figurative language is being used in science. Figurative language can be used within many different contexts and subjects but science is not one that would have came to my mind. If I had to give my opinion on this debate I would most definitely say that rhetoric is utilized in the sciences just as we have found in class it can be found anywhere after further consideration. 

In Women, Rhetoric, and Politics on Pinterest discusses how women engage in rhetoric or politics on Pinterest and online spaces. I was under the assumption that the Pinterest app or website is just where people mainly women share cute nifty ideas but I never realized that there is an overlay of rhetorical participation that also takes place within the app or website. Author Katherine DeLuca states how the app or website is utilized for way more than just crafts, “…illustrate how rhetoric and arguments can be constructed across online spaces, including those that have been cast as a space for sharing recipes, crafting patterns, researching diet fads, and looking at outfit ideas.” I will admit that I  often use Pinterest for crafts, outfit ideas, and decor ideas so the thought that in all actuality I was doing much more than that is very interesting to me. I have even utilized Pinterest to give me ideas on how to properly plan out lessons for a child that has a problem producing the sound that goes along with the letter “K”. I found it to be suprisingly a great resource when trying to plan fun activities to make a child more engaged in their speech therapy/session. 

In On Multimodal Composing discusses how there are various ways in composing that are shaped by our spaces. Despite their being different ways of composing there are some commonalities including the use of  technology and or hand writing. The spaces where writing happens can be on a phone, laptop, tablet, notebook, sticky notes, amongst others. Composing requiring others, being tied to human experience of time, happening beyond alphabetic text, happening with and or through our bodies,  and revolves around influences, collaborations, and intertextual reciprocities were also discussed in sub categories within the article. The most compelling out of all for me personally was how composing  is tied to the human experience of time when writing I often take quick breaks just to compose my thoughts. Like mentioned in the article I too lean towards texting, gameplay, and social media.  I agree that while composing time determines the various spaces we move from while working. I usually start my writing process in a quite space but wind of moving from room to room when I feel as though a change of environment will influence my writing for the better. 

Overall I learned that there are online spaces that seem to be created for a specific intent when In all actuality a lot more happens within them. I have also learned that when composing there are different methods, spaces, and requirements that go along with writing.

Stuart Selber’s Multiliteracies for a Digital Age focuses upon how technology and or computers are changing society especially the educational system. Computers were envisioned as a device that would level the playing field socially and economically. This is not the case instead computers are seen to be an advancing alternative. They are not easily accessible for all and people are lacking computer literacy as well. If one cannot understand technology then there is no way for them to properly use it especially within a classroom. This falls true when it comes to teachers or professors some lack an understanding for computers and result in being apposed to it all together. Technology is being heavily implemented in todays classrooms and those staff members who lack computer literacy have more issues and inevitably left in the dark when it comes to technological advances. I have always assumed that in todays society people were more technologically literate since they can be found everywhere whether it be in the form of a phone, laptop, iPad, etc.... Selber’s literary work in fact has challenged my views because after reading I have realized that not everyone in different parts of the world has such easy access to technology or even understands it enough to use it. 

Selber also balances the coin when he expresses how despite their being various negative aspects to computers there are equally enough positive as well. Some of these positive aspects of computers would be social interaction, persuasion, and reflection. Social interaction being a positive to technology in my opinion was most memorable because today there are mixed reviews on social media and how it can cause bullying, low self-esteem, and overall a poor outlook on life. This is due to how social media platforms are set up to show only the best in people and their lives. Overall, there needs to be accessibility and an understanding of technology and how it can either be a positive and or a negative aspect of society.

The Primary Care Clinic as Writing Space by Dawn S. Opel and William Hart- Davidson discusses how writing process problems complicate the delivery of care. Writing processes in the medical field are one of the most important aspects due to it being the main way to properly provide patient care. If there was a lack of writing in these fields patient information and documents would be lost in the mix. They go into detail how health care providers were having complications in the work place that all link back to the way information is being documented. 

The authors also discuss how writing in a primary care clinic differs to other activities and or jobs. This notion has become a major problem for health care providers due to how workers switch between writing notes, making phone calls, sending text messages, writing sticky notes or using the iPad. Utilizing these various methods of providing patient care allows there to be room for inconsistencies which only complicates everyones job along the way. The authors go on to discuss how some health care professionals also don’t place enough emphasis on how writing plays a role on everyday operations. If information is miscommunicated or documented careers are at stake and so is the well being of the patient. As a previous nursing major we were taught that patient care and bed side care should be a high priority. In order for this to happen proper charting and documentation needs to take place if not there would be various plans of treatment. It would also make the department or one as a professional look poorly.

In conclusion proper communication is essential when working in team setting like the health care professions. A set system of communication and documentation needs to set in place so that there is no room for inconsistencies and proper patient care is given. 

In The Department of Writing and Rhetoric and Understanding Rhetoric both readings discuss how all writing has one or more modes that writers can utilize. The Department of Writing and Rhetoric talks about multimodality and how writers must make rhetorical considerations beyond the written word. This allows writers to better convey their message to readers and have some leeway when writing. 

In Understanding Rhetoric the authors discuss how writing is influenced by what the writer knows about their audience. These writings will eventually be shared to the public through online spaces like social media, text messages, emails amongst other forms of expressing ones thoughts. The previously mentioned forms of sharing a written piece are all examples of multimodality and how there are different ways of conveying a message.

To conclude both readings discuss how there are different methods or outlets an author can utilize. Whether it be written or online spaces. There is never one set way for a writer to share their literary work. 

Heyy!! My name is Kayla. I'm currently a sophomore at ESU. I am majoring in Communication and Language Disorders /Speech Language Pathology (SLP). I am also from Bergen County NJ. Fun fact I love all 80s music. I look forward to having a great semester with all of you. :)