Project 1: Systems Survey

The world is made up of systems or varying types and complexity. In order to develop successful systems in your own practice, you must first be familiar with the analysis of existing systems. This project will assign a system from a specific domain each day of class for the first 3 weeks of the course:

• biological
• sociological
• ecological/environmental
• control/feedback
• industrial
• self-directed

Identify the following as key parts to each system you will survey:

1. elements
2. interconnections
3. control/feedback
4. function/purpose

You will draw, discuss, and post a discussion of these parts, connections, and functions to your media blogs. You should create at least 1 diagram which includes these per system. The expectation of this survey is that it will be experimental, media-enriched, and build upon a layered approach to system documentation and definition. Any self-made drawings should be done using digital drawing tools. At the end of 3 weeks you will have a survey of 6 systems.

Further, you will present 2 of these systems to the class. Emphasis in this critique/presentation is on creative use of media for system representation and dialog. Your output may include a stop motion video, interactive work, video work, sound work, etc. Make sure to include a system diagram which breaks down each system into its component parts & notes the relationship of each. The presentation should be 10-15 mins in length (at least 5 mins per system) and go into appropriate depth and intellectual rigor (more than just the "what" and "how" but also "why", etc). You may use traditional presentation software such as Powerpoint & Keynote as well as online tools such as Google Docs Presentation and Prezi.

The URL of your media blog will be distributed to the EDPX 2300 class cohort by the second week of class so they may keep up with your ongoing survey.

Helpful from Edward Tufte:

• Tufte's 10 rules for an effective presentation
• Tufte's 10 rules for data visualization

Requirements

• 6 system analysis media blog posts with at least 1 system diagram each (identify the elements, interconnections, etc)
• 2 short presentations (min 5 minutes each) on two of your 6 analyses, include system diagrams as well

What To Turn In

• Post the 6 system analyses to your media blog before class on your presentation date.
• For the in-class presentations, create a folder yourlastname containing:
  • Powerpoint or Keynote: include presentation files in the folder
  • Online tools: create a PDF with links to your presentation (your presentation must be public

Copy to the class folder on the instructor computer's Desktop.

Prepare for electronic transfer onto the instructor computer at the beginning of class.

Submit work by the start of class on the due date. Work submitted after the start of class will be considered late, incomplete projects will not be accepted. Save your work as you will need all deliverables for your final portfolio.