The Bifurcation Point
About This Site
Currently The Bifurcation Point is just one curious instructional designer/developer with some equally curious friends researching ways to present online data so people who need the information can get it. The Bifurcation Point is for fun and experimentation - not-for-profit.
The Goal of The Bifurcation Point
The Bifurcation Point is intended to be an online think tank and incubator and is dedicated to making Web-based information available to the people who need it through:
- The collaboration of interested designers and developers
- Research
- Experimentation and feedback
Accessibility of Information
Accessibility is a hot topic right now. Anyone designing federally-mandated training is familiar with Section 508. Section 508 has to do with the Americans With Disabilities Act and making online and computer-based training available to all who need it.
Accessibility should always be a priority. But designing and developing ways to present data to everyone regardless of physical challenges, learning styles/needs, language barriers, or cultural influences, requires the designer/developer to step into the shoes of so many different types of people. The first step is to realize that there is more than one way to "perceive" information and ultimately, more than one way to present information.
Comprehension - Presentation
We do not all comprehend or "see" information in the same way, partly because of a combination of any of the following:
- Physical Challenges
- Learning Styles/Needs
- Languages
- Cultural Influences
People who are blind need information to be organized differently than people who can scan all the text on a page when it loads in. People with some types of color-blindness need to have cues that do not rely strictly on differences in color. Visual learners need to see someone demonstrate step-by-step procedures in order to be able to perform them. In this global community, people need to receive the information in a language they can easily understand.
I have watched people struggle with screen readers because the presentation of the information interfered with the technology being used to access it. Imagine not being able to find the back and next buttons on a page because the contrast between the text and background colors make the text invisible for those of us with different types of colorblindness. If we cannot get the information we need quickly and efficiently when we need it, we are stealing valuable time from more important matters in our lives.
Device Independence
As more people are using various types of display hardware, another presentation issue is becoming important. People cannot not receive an 800 by 600 web site on their digital phone or hand-held device. Finding a way to store information in one place so it can be output to many different places in many different formats is critical. This requires us to adopt "device-independent" design methods.
Experimentation/Exploration
Instructional designers/developers use a design model of some kind. The Bifurcation Point is currently using the R2D2T2 model.
- Research
- Reflect
- Design
- Develop
- Test
- Tweak
Education/Mentoring/Collaboration
Synergy results when people with different strengths, skills, and knowledge collaborate. Amazing things can be accomplished with synergy. The Bifurcation Point welcomes collaboration and synergy.
Do you enjoy doing research, writing code, solving puzzles, analyzing projects and providing constructive feedback, creating cool graphics or Flash pieces? Are you interested in collaborating with other people who are experimenting with web technologies to share information? If so, we would like to hear from you.
Copyright © 2003 - 2009 The Bifurcation Point | email us | - Updated March 23, 2005