Week 7: Research and theory | Methodologies, management, catalysts, theories and fiction
Task one - How do you approach research methodologies for your academic journey?
The aim of this week’s workshop challenge is to select and deploy appropriate research methodologies to inform a need within a project.
Choose an object you feel has a story to reveal.
Write a 300 word non-fiction text about the object, acknowledging the research you have conducted (for example Harvard Referencing) and the methodologies used to tells its story.
Upload an image of object with the title of your written precis onto the ideas wall.
Upload a link to your blog onto the ideas wall, with your image and your 300 word referenced precis, and demonstrating your reflection.
Workshop challenge wk 7
My object is my favourite wired ‘apple mouse’ positioned right under my nose on my desktop.
Easy, I thought. There must be loads of information about Apple products. But after googling ‘apple mouse’, I realised I had opened a big can of worms with too much information available. I realised I needed to revert to Martin's Lecture and work out a process to break down its importance.
After consulting my notes for recommended sources of knowledge, my first port of call was google scholar, which was a bit overwhelming. There were a lot of articles about mice chewing apples and tests of diabetic mice with apple juice. (1) I realised to define my subject, I would have to refine my research and be more specific and accurate.
With the final word count needed to be just 300 words, I decided to outline my key pointers on this subject using the CRAAP method mentioned in this week’s lecture. This helped me ‘weed out the waffle’, and my wording needed to be more concise in this challenge. See the drop downs to how I decided to ensure which words count.
-
Is the information up to date? - I found a great Press release about the Magic Mouse then realised it was from 2009. I needed to refine my research to make sure it was date specific.
-
Does it relate well to your research area? While I originally was going to feature the ‘wired mouse’ based on my own preference, I realised this was pretty irrelevant to my chosen subject whether it was wired or not? The subject is ‘Apple Mouse’.
-
Who is the source, and are they credible? Maybe Wikipedia is not the best source of information. There are a lot more credible resources.
-
Is it reliable, truthful and correct? All research needs to be relevant and accurate. I discovered there is a lot of misinformation and as I am limited to only 300 words, concise.
-
What is the reason it exists or who is it aimed at? As I have limited space, make sure all facts are relevant to the subject.
My research - what do I talk about in my 300 words?
I decided to base my methodology on ‘Quantitative research’ and just outline the date history and facts.
I looked into the history that interested me about the apple mouse in the first place and placed them in chronological order.
Apple Mouse (1983): Also known as the Lisa Mouse, this was the first mouse designed by Apple for the Apple Lisa computer.
Apple Mouse II (1985): This mouse was introduced with the Apple Macintosh and featured a new design and a single button.
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse (1986): This mouse was similar to the Apple Mouse II but featured an ADB connector instead of a DE-9 connector.
Apple Extended Keyboard II Mouse (1987): This mouse was designed to be used with the Apple Extended Keyboard II.
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II (1990): This mouse was an updated version of the Apple Desktop Bus Mouse and featured a slightly different design.
Apple Adjustable Keyboard Mouse (1993): This mouse was designed to be used with the Apple Adjustable Keyboard.
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse IIc (1993): This mouse was designed for the Apple IIc computer.
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse IIe (1993): This mouse was designed to be used with the Apple IIe computer.
Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II (1995): This mouse was an updated version of the Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II and featured a new design.
Apple USB Mouse (1998): This was the first mouse designed by Apple to use a USB connector.
Apple Pro Mouse (2000): This mouse was introduced with the Power Mac G4, featuring a new design and touch-sensitive buttons.
Apple Mighty Mouse (2005): This mouse featured a new design and a scroll ball that could be used as a button.
Apple Magic Mouse (2009): This mouse featured a new design and a multi-touch surface allowing gestures.
Apple Magic Mouse 2 (2015): This mouse was an updated version of the Apple Magic Mouse and featured a rechargeable battery and a new bottom design.
Apple Magic Mouse 2 with Silver colour option (2021): The latest addition to the Magic Mouse line, with a new silver colour option available for purchase.
Critical thinking - Great for facts, but not very interesting. I decided to look into areas that would make it more interesting.
Qualitative research… Interviewing my osteopath on the effects of using a mouse for long periods.
A different type of investigation. But is it relevant?
I looked into the effects of using a mouse for extended periods which can potentially cause a few side effects or discomfort, and Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) through prolonged and repetitive use of a mouse can cause strains, sprains, and other injuries to the hand, wrist, and forearm. Also, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A type of RSI that can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed or irritated.
Research - I visited my osteopath and interviewed him about the RSIs he treats in office workers from continuous mouse use. He also gave a fascinating insight on why the design of the mouse is wrong for the way our arm muscles work and should be redesigned like a joystick using a more familiar muscle group.
Critical thinking - Interesting knowledge, but is this slightly going off on a tangent? I only have a 300-word count.
Referring back to (Relevance in CRAAP)
Qualitative research - Is the mouse still a vital design tool or are designers now using other devices - pens and touchpads?
Question: Using a mouse is integral to our everyday lives, can you give me an insight into what type of mouse you use? I put this question out to the other creatives on the course.
Becky Burgin responded that the magic mouse had 'an epic design flaw’ with it’s charging cable meaning you couldn’t work while the mouse was charging.
Johana responded that she doesn’t use a mouse at all and prefers to use the trackpad.
Again, I decided that this was maybe deterring away from the original question.
Making a decision on my final piece - I decided to make my final 300 words purely on the history of the mouse in chronological order from all the information I had found and base it purely on the design evolution through the years.
Final piece - 300 words
The evolution of the Apple Mouse in chronological order
The first Apple Mouse, released in 1983, was a rectangular device with a single button. It was designed for the Apple Lisa computer and featured a rollerball that allowed users to move the cursor on the screen. Apple introduced the first iteration of the Apple Desktop Bus Mouse II in 1993, introducing a rounded shape with two buttons.
In 1998, Apple introduced the first ergonomic design and a translucent shell USB Mouse. This featured a single button and a scroll wheel. Updated in 1999 with the Apple Pro Mouse, which had a round, symmetrical shape, single touch-sensitive button.
By 2000 with the introduction of the Apple Pro Mouse, the design featured had a single button that was touch-sensitive, in a translucent white shell.
Apple introduced the Mighty Mouse in 2005, a more traditional shape with a scroll ball that allowed users to scroll horizontally and vertically with an update in 2006 with a laser tracking system and more durable scroll ball.
In 2009, Apple introduced the Magic Mouse with a sleek, minimalist design and touch-sensitive surface that allowed users to perform gestures like swiping and scrolling. The mouse was completely buttonless, with the entire surface of the mouse acting as a button.
In 2015, Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2, which had the same design as the original Magic Mouse but with a rechargeable battery and a lightning port for charging.
In 2019, Apple introduced the Magic Mouse 2 with a new design that featured a slimmer profile and a matte finish. The mouse retained the touch-sensitive surface and rechargeable battery of the previous design.
In 2022 Apple launched a new Magic Mouse, which still charges from the bottom, but remains one of the most popular and recognisable computer mice on the market.
Overall, the evolution of the Apple Mouse has moved towards minimalist designs with fewer buttons and more touch-sensitive surfaces.
(312 words)
References:
HACKETT, Stephen. 2012. Apple’s Mouse: A History. Available at 512pixels.net [accessed 11/03/23 2023]. https://512pixels.net/2012/11/mouse/
YARROW, Jay. 2011. The Evolution Of The Apple Mouse Through The Years. Business Insider. Available at https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-mouse-through-the-years-2011-8?r=US&IR=T [accessed 12/03/23 2023].
SON, Won Young. 2019. Evolution of Apple Mouse. Abstract. Available at https://medium.com/@wonyoungson_12908/evolution-of-apple-mouse-ad4028ccccc6 [accessed 12/03/23 2023].
NYHETER, Tormod. 2018. Apple Mouse Collection. Dynamis. Available at https://dynamis.no/apple-mouse-collection/ [accessed 11/03/23 2023].
STANFORD. 2000. THE INVISIBLE MOUSE. Available at https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/sites/mac/mouse.html [accessed 12/03/23 2023].