The chapter on learning and e-learning got me thinking about a reading that I did a project on when I did Intercultural Communication under Prof. Armstrong back in Summer. The article was about this concept called the Global Classroom, and in a nutshell, it was an initiative to use technology to break down the physical barriers that prevent true intercultural communication.
It started in 2003 with Dr. Rosina Chia and Dr. Elmer Poe from East Carolina University, who started the Global Classroom project. They utilized a webcam chat over a H.323 connection, which required very little bandwidth, to set up video conferences with classes from different countries. The images on both sides were projected on walls and adjusted accordingly such that the image of each class would appear life-sized to the other, to further simulate the reality. Their first partnership was with Voronezh State Agricultural University, located 400 kilometers south of Moscow. Despite certain technological limitations, such as lag time, and cultural barriers, within time, both sides grew accustomed to each other, and grew closer as friends despite the incredible physical distance between them.
This got me really interested in the concept, especially since the premise of the article alone allowed my group mate Tracey and I to come up with a presentation that was far more interesting than the usual stand-there-and-read-off-your-slides drab. We managed to set up a webchat meeting Tobias Reynolds-Tylus, who was a former UB student and spent a year here in Singapore. We chatted in between lags in the connection (I had to tether my iPhone to my MacBook and use my 3G connection, because that would still be faster than using the infernally laggy WiFi connection provided by our dear school). It was rather interesting, and considering the time we had to prepare, I felt that it was a good effort. Certainly better than people who just plain read off their slides.
That demonstration was to show just how technology has not only permeated the classroom, but has now enabled us to do things that we were never able to do before. Sure, there's always a chance to "interculturally communicate" in multicultural Singapore, but is that really intercultural communication? Not to me, because to me, we all come from the same culture (Singaporean). Even if we spoke to foreigners here, we would be speaking to foreigners who were socialized to our ways to some degree. Real intercultural communication would involve regular face-to-face correspondence from someone who was from an entirely different culture, and who was just as immersed in their culture as we were in ours. Of course, Toby spent a year here, so he's quite familiar with Singapore, but this demonstration was meant to illustrate the concept that technology can now be used to bridge such wide gaps, which is truly amazing.
This, to me, is certainly one of the best innovations to the classroom yet, but some of you may disagree. So what do you think is the best innovation to help improve the way students learn? Let me know in the comments section down below!
Showing posts with label communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label communication. Show all posts
Sunday, October 16, 2011
How to succeed in business without really getting out of your study chair (Entry 4)
I'll be honest from the get go: I know nuts about e-commerce. The only things I purchase online on a regular basis are my Norton updates and the occasional extra mission packs for a few games I play. Beyond that, I only observe when my female friends borrow my MacBook to "online window shop". However, after surveying a few blog sites about e-commerce strategies and considering what my friends look for when online window shopping, basic marketing strategies and common sense, I believe that I've isolated a few key tips to note when creating a successful e-commerce business.
1. Friendly user interface
This is a given, I think. You need an interface that is easy to access and navigate to what you want. Search bars help here, as to command bars at the top or the side that help navigate. These bars should have as few categories as possible and use dropdown subcategories when you mouseover the button, like:
this.
Personally, I like clean looking sites that grab your attention at the beginning, and then show you where you want to go, like the Prada website (which I know isn't technically a dedicated e-commerce website, but still the look of the site is clean.
I didn't really like Blogshopcity's look. It clutters too much in the front page. People get annoyed and confused especially first time users who don't really know their way around.
2. Don't make website memberships compulsory for purchases
Most sites will have you register or log in first before you can purchase anything. It may seem like it's for security of identity or whatnot, but frankly a PayPal account or a functional credit card can do that. Besides, the risk in the transaction is mainly on the consumer because s/he's the one ponying up the dough. Memberships are meant to get people to return to the site because they already have a membership. Kind of like inducing brand loyalty. However, most one-time shoppers are put off by this and turn away from sites that demand a membership. "I just want to buy a damn dress, and now I have to key in my address and the name of my first pet?!"
One-off shoppers do make up a significant portion of the online consumer demographic, so it wouldn't be good business ignoring them. What should be done is to make sign-ups optional and have the site recognize when purchases have been made from a particular IP address multiple times. That indicates that someone is actively returning to your site. Then ask those people to sign up.
3. Socially moderated user reviews
Saying a product is good because the seller says it is good is just silly. Of course, they're gonna say their product is good, even if it isn't entirely! That's just business. People now recognize that, and now buyers are more likely to listen to people who aren't obligated to say nice things about a product, like previous buyers. Thus, people (or at least members) should be allowed to comment about products, and site administrators only need filter out obscenities and spam messages.
Of course, having a product reviewed by only one very disgruntled consumer might not be the best business. That's why these comments should be socially reviewable, in a "xx users found this comment helpful" and like and dislike buttons.
4. Know the Web
Running an e-commerce business is different from running any other business in that you are in a different environment. In the same way that a shop owner should know the environment that his shop is in (what demographic shops in the area and such), e-commerce business owners should know the environment that their business is in (the Internet). E-commerce business owners should be able to gather info like hits, stickiness, internal site traffic and such. This will give them knowledge about who goes to their site (which could be anyone), especially since you can't judge them by looking at them. Y'know, because you can't see them.
There are, of course, more factors to consider, but this post is quite lengthy as it is, to be honest. If you're still reading, I am touched. So what other factors can contribute to the success of an e-commerce business?
Let me know in the comments section down below!
1. Friendly user interface
This is a given, I think. You need an interface that is easy to access and navigate to what you want. Search bars help here, as to command bars at the top or the side that help navigate. These bars should have as few categories as possible and use dropdown subcategories when you mouseover the button, like:
Personally, I like clean looking sites that grab your attention at the beginning, and then show you where you want to go, like the Prada website (which I know isn't technically a dedicated e-commerce website, but still the look of the site is clean.
I didn't really like Blogshopcity's look. It clutters too much in the front page. People get annoyed and confused especially first time users who don't really know their way around.
2. Don't make website memberships compulsory for purchases
Most sites will have you register or log in first before you can purchase anything. It may seem like it's for security of identity or whatnot, but frankly a PayPal account or a functional credit card can do that. Besides, the risk in the transaction is mainly on the consumer because s/he's the one ponying up the dough. Memberships are meant to get people to return to the site because they already have a membership. Kind of like inducing brand loyalty. However, most one-time shoppers are put off by this and turn away from sites that demand a membership. "I just want to buy a damn dress, and now I have to key in my address and the name of my first pet?!"
One-off shoppers do make up a significant portion of the online consumer demographic, so it wouldn't be good business ignoring them. What should be done is to make sign-ups optional and have the site recognize when purchases have been made from a particular IP address multiple times. That indicates that someone is actively returning to your site. Then ask those people to sign up.
3. Socially moderated user reviews
Saying a product is good because the seller says it is good is just silly. Of course, they're gonna say their product is good, even if it isn't entirely! That's just business. People now recognize that, and now buyers are more likely to listen to people who aren't obligated to say nice things about a product, like previous buyers. Thus, people (or at least members) should be allowed to comment about products, and site administrators only need filter out obscenities and spam messages.
Of course, having a product reviewed by only one very disgruntled consumer might not be the best business. That's why these comments should be socially reviewable, in a "xx users found this comment helpful" and like and dislike buttons.
4. Know the Web
Running an e-commerce business is different from running any other business in that you are in a different environment. In the same way that a shop owner should know the environment that his shop is in (what demographic shops in the area and such), e-commerce business owners should know the environment that their business is in (the Internet). E-commerce business owners should be able to gather info like hits, stickiness, internal site traffic and such. This will give them knowledge about who goes to their site (which could be anyone), especially since you can't judge them by looking at them. Y'know, because you can't see them.
There are, of course, more factors to consider, but this post is quite lengthy as it is, to be honest. If you're still reading, I am touched. So what other factors can contribute to the success of an e-commerce business?
Let me know in the comments section down below!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Poker Face (Week 3)
Was thinking about nonverbal cues and communication, and where they would best apply in a practical sense, and I thought of the poker game in Casino Royale (2007).
Ignore the blatant ads from Tell Poker. This was the best clip I could find on YouTube.
A good place to observe nonverbal communication is a place where verbal communication is limited, but an even better place to observe it is when nonverbal communication is more important. Professional players don't play their cards, they play their opponents, and not every hand won in poker is won with a high hand. Players regularly inspect their opponents for signs and tells as an indication of what kind of hands their opponents have, and adjust their playing styles accordingly. Also, professional players use tactics like fake tells and confidence playing to throw their opponents off, either by being unpredictable and hard to read, or by deceiving them by signalling that they have better or worse cards than they actually do.
By observing this match up, one can see the aspects of nonverbal communication in play, and how players either use these methods to send messages (sender approach) or read the signs exhibited from their opponents (receiver approach):
Kinesics: The study of body movements. Everyone's movements and mannerisms are extremely calm and collected, even when they have a high chance of winning. Commonly called the poker face, this strategy prevents one's opponents from reading them too easily, like if one were to act excited or nervous with good pocket cards. Earlier in the game, Le Chiffre also gives Bond a fake tell. A tell is a nonverbal cue that people inadvertedly give out when they are bluffing. He feeds Bond a fake tell and then uses it to convince Bond that he is bluffing, thereby drawing Bond in while he himself was holding a strong hand, causing Bond to bust.
Paralinguistics: The study of vocal nonverbal cues. Everyone keeps a very collected tone when they speak, and the black guy doesn't even speak at all. Facial cues may be easy to suppress, but vocal cues that indicate your mood might be harder to catch, which is why they make a conscious effort to sound cool and collected. Saying nothing and being the silent player for the whole game can be just as effective; you don't give away anything, but you also can't incite people verbally.
Chronemics: The study of the meaning behind time. Even when they are confident of their odds, the players still take their time before acting. Professional poker players know not to be too hasty or too eager when making bets and decisions. This is not only to ensure that a player has deliberated enough before making a move, but also because how long one takes to make a decision can reflect on what he feels his chances are. Inexperienced players get excited when they get a pocket pair and are quick to raise, which might alert other people. Taking your time (and being cool about it) throws people off.
Objectics: The study of meaning portrayed by artifacts. Le Chiffre, throughout the entire game, can be seen doing chip tricks very naturally. This is a conscious and legitimate strategy undertaken by professionals, especially in the World Series. The chip trick is an intimidation tactic; knowing a lot of them and being good at them sends a message to other players that you are experienced and you know what you are doing. Also, people who are overly concerned with their odds and are easily flustered might be more so when distracted by someone else at the table expertly flipping chips, and this might cause him to lose focus and commit errors.
Oculesics: The study of nonverbal meanings communicated through the eyes. Staring your opponent down, especially when betting or raising, like how Le Chiffre does, shows that you are confident in your bet, and that you might (or do) have a good hand. This can be used as a bluff, where a confident gaze and a bold bet can scare people off and cause them to abandon their bets and fold. Also, with inexperienced players, watching their gaze might indicate their area of focus. Concentrating on the cards might show that you either have a good hand or are waiting for one, while concentrating on your opponents means you are attempting to play them by bluffing. Of course, this strategy is moot for pros, who know how to avoid such tell tale signs.
Physical appearance: Self explanatory. Although the dress code is formal here, how you dress still makes you different from the rest. Dressing lavishly or expensively shows that you are rich, which adds to the intimidation factor. On the flipside, some people in the World Series, like Scotty Nguyen, dress casually and flamboyantly to add to a casual, cool aura, which exudes a different type of confidence. Scotty Nguyen also likes to wear a cap and shades, as do a lot of World Series players, in order to better hide their expressions.
Haptics (the study of touch) and proxemics (the study of space) do not really apply here.
The strategies undertaken here draw heavily from nonverbal cues, since hardly anything is communicated verbally. Although effective, it is not the only way to apply nonverbal strategies. Take a look at this video of Scotty Nguyen using nonverbal (and some verbal) intimidation to win a bluff, in a way that is drastically different from Bond or Le Chiffre, but nonetheless effective.
So: what are the nonverbal strategies he uses, and how do they differ from Bond, and yet achieve the same results?
Ignore the blatant ads from Tell Poker. This was the best clip I could find on YouTube.
A good place to observe nonverbal communication is a place where verbal communication is limited, but an even better place to observe it is when nonverbal communication is more important. Professional players don't play their cards, they play their opponents, and not every hand won in poker is won with a high hand. Players regularly inspect their opponents for signs and tells as an indication of what kind of hands their opponents have, and adjust their playing styles accordingly. Also, professional players use tactics like fake tells and confidence playing to throw their opponents off, either by being unpredictable and hard to read, or by deceiving them by signalling that they have better or worse cards than they actually do.
By observing this match up, one can see the aspects of nonverbal communication in play, and how players either use these methods to send messages (sender approach) or read the signs exhibited from their opponents (receiver approach):
Kinesics: The study of body movements. Everyone's movements and mannerisms are extremely calm and collected, even when they have a high chance of winning. Commonly called the poker face, this strategy prevents one's opponents from reading them too easily, like if one were to act excited or nervous with good pocket cards. Earlier in the game, Le Chiffre also gives Bond a fake tell. A tell is a nonverbal cue that people inadvertedly give out when they are bluffing. He feeds Bond a fake tell and then uses it to convince Bond that he is bluffing, thereby drawing Bond in while he himself was holding a strong hand, causing Bond to bust.
Paralinguistics: The study of vocal nonverbal cues. Everyone keeps a very collected tone when they speak, and the black guy doesn't even speak at all. Facial cues may be easy to suppress, but vocal cues that indicate your mood might be harder to catch, which is why they make a conscious effort to sound cool and collected. Saying nothing and being the silent player for the whole game can be just as effective; you don't give away anything, but you also can't incite people verbally.
Chronemics: The study of the meaning behind time. Even when they are confident of their odds, the players still take their time before acting. Professional poker players know not to be too hasty or too eager when making bets and decisions. This is not only to ensure that a player has deliberated enough before making a move, but also because how long one takes to make a decision can reflect on what he feels his chances are. Inexperienced players get excited when they get a pocket pair and are quick to raise, which might alert other people. Taking your time (and being cool about it) throws people off.
Objectics: The study of meaning portrayed by artifacts. Le Chiffre, throughout the entire game, can be seen doing chip tricks very naturally. This is a conscious and legitimate strategy undertaken by professionals, especially in the World Series. The chip trick is an intimidation tactic; knowing a lot of them and being good at them sends a message to other players that you are experienced and you know what you are doing. Also, people who are overly concerned with their odds and are easily flustered might be more so when distracted by someone else at the table expertly flipping chips, and this might cause him to lose focus and commit errors.
Oculesics: The study of nonverbal meanings communicated through the eyes. Staring your opponent down, especially when betting or raising, like how Le Chiffre does, shows that you are confident in your bet, and that you might (or do) have a good hand. This can be used as a bluff, where a confident gaze and a bold bet can scare people off and cause them to abandon their bets and fold. Also, with inexperienced players, watching their gaze might indicate their area of focus. Concentrating on the cards might show that you either have a good hand or are waiting for one, while concentrating on your opponents means you are attempting to play them by bluffing. Of course, this strategy is moot for pros, who know how to avoid such tell tale signs.
Physical appearance: Self explanatory. Although the dress code is formal here, how you dress still makes you different from the rest. Dressing lavishly or expensively shows that you are rich, which adds to the intimidation factor. On the flipside, some people in the World Series, like Scotty Nguyen, dress casually and flamboyantly to add to a casual, cool aura, which exudes a different type of confidence. Scotty Nguyen also likes to wear a cap and shades, as do a lot of World Series players, in order to better hide their expressions.
Haptics (the study of touch) and proxemics (the study of space) do not really apply here.
The strategies undertaken here draw heavily from nonverbal cues, since hardly anything is communicated verbally. Although effective, it is not the only way to apply nonverbal strategies. Take a look at this video of Scotty Nguyen using nonverbal (and some verbal) intimidation to win a bluff, in a way that is drastically different from Bond or Le Chiffre, but nonetheless effective.
So: what are the nonverbal strategies he uses, and how do they differ from Bond, and yet achieve the same results?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
RSS Feed (xml)
