Week 14: Prompt 1

My final webtext will fit in the Webzine under the “Health” category. I believe that my Webtext because it is applicable to everybody because we all come into people with varying abilities, capabilities, and disabilities on a daily basis. After exploring the various aspects of my webtext, the audience should be more accepting of the various limitations that each one of us possesses.

By learning more about various disabilities and the impacts that they have on daily functioning, I hope that each reader becomes a well-rounded individual. After learning about Sensory Processing Disorder, they may examine their own lives and realize that a close friend or relative may suffer from a subtype of SPD or any other debilitating disorder that impacts their daily functioning. Either way, I hope that the audience leaves my webtext with an open mind to the individuals that make up our society. 

Week 11: Prompt 1

Abols, I. 2010. “Vestibular (Balance) System”. Photo. Audiphone: Company of Akron. http://audiphoneakron.com/vestibular-balance-and-vertigo.html Accessed on November 8, 2010.

Content Analysis

The image is a diagram of the inner ear and all the different microscopic parts that work together to create our sense of hearing.

The image is about the various structures of the inner ear and how it collects information from the outside environment and sends it to the brain to be interpreted.

There are no people in the image. The ear is presented as a colorful diagram to accentuate each individual component of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The picture really cannot be looked at in different ways. It is presented as a clear diagram of the ear and it is meant to be interpreted and looked at as an illustration of the ear.

Unfortunately, without much explanation, the image is not very effective at sending a visual message. It needs an explanation so viewers know what they are looking at and why it applies to the topic. Both the description/narrative and picture work together very well to reveal more insight into the topic.

Visual analysis

The image is composed as a colorful illustration. The background is plane (so as not to distract the viewer from the main subject) and the foreground includes labels of each individual component.
The most important visual element in the image is color. Color is used to separate the various elements of the ear. Instead of viewing the image and seeing one ear, the different parts of the ear are clearly marked and labeled, bringing one’s attention to each individual component.

Color is used to separate the different parts of the ear so they don’t all blend together as one. Because each part is a different color, it causes viewers to look at each component as an individual.

I don’t think that the image could be looked at different ways. The color makes it clear that each individual component has specific functions that eventually come together to result in our sense of hearing.

By using a colorful design choice, the picture is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It stimulates excitement for the viewer because it gives them a whole new perspective on what really goes on inside the ear. Instead of using an actual image of a human ear, the illustration was created to help viewers better differentiate the various elements.

Contextual Information

There are labels that accompany the image that aid in an explanation of what individuals are viewing.

The text makes me see the image is a bit more credible because the labels aren’t placed carelessly across the image. Rather, each label has a clear location and is specifically pointing to one element in the image. Also, the font helps to create a more credible source because it’s a professional-looking font without appearing dull.

The textual information is intended to be factual and inform. Most individuals are not aware of the various components of the inner ear, much less their names and locations. Therefore, the source has provided viewers with labels to provide facts and relay information.

The context provides viewers with facts, like the specific names of each individual element that makes up the ear as a whole. The context does not specifically provide very much information. The viewer right away knows that it is an image of an ear (if not because of the image, the labels contain “ear” in them). As far as answering how, the picture does not provide viewers with specific information on how the ear works but they can imply from the picture that sounds come in through the ear canal, work their way through both the middle and inner ear, and eventually the information is sent to the brain. The question “why” is not specifically answered by the image itself. The narration will provide viewers with why this picture was used and how it helps them better understand the topic. The picture doesn’t directly answer for whom it was made but judging from the labels and colorful components, it was made for the general population. One doesn’t need to be a doctor to understand what the image is a picture of. Yet, it also works to educate individuals who may not know anything about the ear.

Image Source

I received the image from Audiphone Company of Akron. It is the longest running business dedicated solely for the purpose of hearing healthcare in the Akron, Ohio area and surrounding communities.

In regards to the origins of the image, the source provides no information. There is no link to a source where the image came from, no description, and there are no links in the text surrounding the image.

Based on the above mentioned information, the source may not be the most reliable and trustworthy option out there, but based on the information that I found regarding the source itself, the company seems to be a reliable business focused on furthering the knowledge of ailments that affect the ear specifically.

The image was not found in a database. Rather it was being used to help readers visualize how the vestibular system works to maintain balance and control dizziness as well as reveal to them where this system is located in the body.

Technical quality

I find that the image is large enough to show my viewers where the vestibular system is located in the body. It’s not too large so that it appears to be overwhelming, and it’s not so small that viewers have to squint to note the details and labels.

The color, light, and balance are not true to an actual image of a human ear but for educational purposes, the various colors work to distinguish one element from the next. Each element may not be to scale as it would be in an actual human ear, but once again, this is for educational purposes to help viewers better visualize the location of the system.

The image is an illustration so I really do not notice any pixilation or distortion. The image is actually very clear and crisp; each color is very precise.

The image is in a file format that I can use for my slideshow. It has been saved as an image to my “105 extras” folder that reveals just the image and I also have the URL saved to view the source itself.

As far as I can tell, there are no copyright or other restrictions that may affect my use of this image. I have searched the sources website and have not found anything but that could also be attributed to the fact there is no information about the origins of the image.

In conclusion, I think that this picture could provide a lot of information that is easy to understand and aid in their visualization of the vestibular system. However, the source is not the most reliable because they don’t provide any outside links or information regarding the image and the source doesn’t mention any copyright laws involved with using their information. Therefore, I will proceed with caution as I continue to search for reliable and credible images.

Week 11

Fields, H. L. 2007. “Pain Perception- The Dana Guide”. Photo. The Dana Foundation. http://www.dana.org/news/brainhealth/detail.aspx?id=10072 Accessed November 8, 2010.

I am providing my listeners with this picture so they can see how our bodies translate pain perception and perception of various stimuli from the environment. The picture shows how receptors in the skin detect the stimuli and in turn, send a message to the spinal cord, which sends a message to the brain, who interprets the stimuli. By better understanding this, they can imagine what it would be like to have a distorted interpretation of outside stimuli.

Abols, I. 2010. “Vestibular (Balance) System”. Photo. Audiphone: Company of Akron. http://audiphoneakron.com/vestibular-balance-and-vertigo.html Accessed on November 8, 2010

This picture provides the listener with an in-depth view of the vestibular system. By showing listeners this picture, I hope that they will be able to better understand how the vestibular system works and how our inner ears relay messages to the brain regarding our balance.

Abdel-Hamid, H. Z. (2008). “Neurological Disorders”. Photo. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. http://www.chp.edu/CHP/P02607 Accessed on November 8, 2010.

Even though this may appear to be a very simple collection of photos, by providing my listeners with this graphic, they will be able to understand that our bodies are constantly receiving information from the outside environment and constantly interpreting that information; whether it be from vision, hearing, smelling, touch, etc.

Clopton, H. (2010). “Sensory Integration”. Photo. Center of Development Pediatric Therapies. http://www.developmentaldelay.net/page.cfm/250 Accessed November 8, 2010.

By showing my listeners the picture of a girl on a platform swing, I can show them how therapy works to strengthen the weak proprioceptive and vestibular systems. I can further explain how treatment with specific equipment works to further develop the weak systems now that they have a better understanding of the systems because of the previous pictures.

Picture Description

 Location interpretation .2009. "Picture of the Brain". Photo. Multiple Sclerosis Glossary http://thjuland.tripod.com/gloss1-s.html Accessed on November 8, 2010.

This picture provides my listeners with a chance to view where the brain interprets different information from the outside environment without trying to explain locations with words.

Image Collection: Human Anatomy. 2009. "Picture of the Skin". Photo. WebMD http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/picture-of-the-skin Accessed on November 8, 2010.

This picture gives my viewers a picture of where the various skin receptors are. By providing them with a picture, they can apply the picture to their own bodies and make the topic more personal.

Week 10; Prompt 2

I plan on providing my reader with appropriate ethos by explaining my background with the subject and my knowledge thus far on the topic. I will show them that I am a credible person to speak on the issue because I have taken anatomy and physiology classes at college and I continue to learn more about the subject because of the classes I’m taking towards my master’s degree in occupational therapy. Because of my major, it is essential that I have a strong background of the human body and how it functions.

To appeal to my reader on the basis of pathos, I plan on sharing some of the experiences that I have had with children who struggle with sensory processing disorder. I know how the body functions and responds when the proprioceptive and vestibular systems are out of sync. By providing personal experience, I hope to bring the topic to life so they can apply it to themselves. Personal experience will also uncover the reality of abnormalities in the system- that people do indeed struggle with daily tasks because of deviations in the systems.

By providing my listener with sources and references from experienced professionals in the field, I hope to establish a strong foundation regarding logos. I plan on gathering information from physicians and specialists in the field, including pediatricians and occupational therapists. By revealing the source and a small background of the source, the reader will have further proof of the points that I am making.

At first glance, I was planning on relying on logos the most. However, upon further discussion with the professor, I am planning on relying on pathos the most. By using pathos, I hope to bring my topic to life and take the dryness out of the facts. I will still provide facts but I hope to scatter them within the real life experience that I am providing to my readers.

I think that I will be able to use emotive language as I begin to arrange and assemble my slideshow. By using emotive language while providing my listener with my pathos, I hope to bring my topic to life and help them comprehend the reality of the situation. I also hope to use description and imagery while providing the listeners with facts and real life scenarios. 

Week 10; Prompt 1

To help my listeners and readers better understand my topic, I plan on designing a slideshow to illustrate what both the proprioceptive and vestibular systems are and how they function. I hope that by providing my reader with a more in-depth background on what these systems are, they will be able to understand how deviations in the system affect daily functioning.

The main point that I will develop in the slideshow is the location of the proprioceptive and vestibular systems in our bodies along with their main functions. This may sound a lot like the first Roman numeral in my Webtext titled “What Systems Are We Talking About?” but I plan on providing the listener/reader with a more descriptive overview of the systems that they wouldn’t otherwise get by just reading the Webtext. I will do this by providing pictures of the different components of both systems and where they are located in the body. Along with their location, I will explain what their functions are in the body by providing pictures of various activities that require us to use these systems.

This topic is well-suited for my Webtext because it will provide my readers with an illustration of these systems to help them better visualize how their bodies perform specific activities. The terms “proprioceptive” and “vestibular” are new to most people and the majority of my readers may not have any background information on these systems. By showing pictures while describing them, I hope that the readers/listeners are able to further comprehend sensory processing disorder and the affects of the disorder when the body fails to function normally.