Yesterday I experimented with several different games and other interactives on the following webpages:

http://nanozone.org
www.lawrencehallofscience.org/kids/
www.exploratorium.edu/explor/online.html

and www.virtualmuseum.ca/PM.cgi

The nanotechnology website contained text, animation, flash, audio, and push-button items. I attempted to Save the Farm via the Green Milk activity. The activity involved reading charts and graphs, taking blood samples from cartoon cows, and sending healthy cows to the dairy and sick cows to the vet. A cow serves as the narrator and guides you through the activity. Macromedia flashplayer was necessary for some activities.

On the lawrencehallofscience page I played with the aphid eater game. Adobe Flash was required. The game involved moving a ladybug around a rose to eat aphids and in so doing prevent the rose from dying. Cartoon images were involved. No audio elements were added. I also took the bat quiz which contained scanned illustrations of bats and 10 true/false questions. This activity contained mostly text.

I tested my French skills on the Virtual Museum of Canada website. I designed two trains and emailed them to my friends...why, I don't know, it asked me too. The activity involved text, audio, and animation. The activity required macromedia flash.

"Plug-ins," I've discovered, allow you to extend the functionality of your website with customized functions and features.

I think I needed Adobe Flashplayer to play with most of the interactives. But, not all.

I really do not understand these games and interactives. I am not the type of person who enjoys living in the virtual world. Video games have never tempted me and I don't like spending more time on the computer than I have to. I think such interactives can be very damaging to a child's imagination and get them way to accustomed to instant gratification. Push button convenience breeds strip mall mentality.

I was thinking again about yesterday's lecture. Do people really want to see the Mona Lisa because they have seen pictures of the artwork and they think it is so beautiful and the greatest piece of art they have ever seen? Or, do people want to see the Mona Lisa because it is this rare object off in some foreign land? The mystery of it, and the potential that I may never get the chance, is what would drive me to see it...not that I really think it is beautiful, because, I DON'T!! So this idea of a virtual image of her just doesn't make sense to me.

Wind River Mountains

The lake in the previous photograph is Pyramid. It is located in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. It was taken on a crazy eight day backpacking trip. In fact, I just came back from their again. Silas and I took a trail ride in the foothills for Labor Day. For some reason I though it would be a good idea to have the ol' girl lope...she did not feel the same...sagebrush is not soft...