PRODUCT
product_3 = final diagrams
8.07.2009 _ 16:00
my BA diploma consists of three main parts: computer application, three interactive animations
and three diagrams on mitosis, meiosis and their role in development of multicellular organisms
(so called 'life cycle'). below you will find final diagrams of mitosis and meiosis in english translation
and a polish version of the so calles 'life cycle' diagram.
(click here to enlarge the illustration of mitosis)
(click here to enlarge the illustration of meiosis)
(click here to enlarge the illustration of the 'life cycle')
_____________________
PRODUCT
product_2 = final animations
8.07.2009 _ 15:55
my BA diploma consists of three main parts: computer application, three interactive animations
and three diagrams on mitosis, meiosis and their role in development of multicellular organisms.
below you will find final animations.
here you can view each animation in a new tab as well:
click here for the animation of mitosisclick here for the animation of meiosis
click here for the animation of mitosis and meiosis role in development of multicellular organisms
_____________________
PRODUCT
pproduct_1 = final application
8.07.2009 _ 13:45
my BA diploma consists of three main parts: computer application, three interactive animations
and three diagrams on mitosis, meiosis and their role in development of multicellular organisms.
this linkbiologia.htmldirects you to the final application homepage.
_____________________
PUBLICATION
publicity_5 = polish wikipedia
18.03.2009 _ 16:40
my mitosis and meiosis diagrams are now part of polish wikipedia.
I couldn't believe that the polish wikipedia article about meiosis had no illustration or any visual input.
now you can see the meiosis article here:http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mejoza
and the mitosis article here:http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitoza
(provided that you know polish ;-)
hope polish wikipedia users will find it useful.
_____________________
PUBLICATION
publicity_4 = wikimedia commons_02
22.02.2009 _ 16:00
all diagrams in polish language version have now became part of the wikimedia commons repository
under the the same creative commons CC-BY-SA-3.0 licence.(more about the licence here)
you can find the mitosis diagram here:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitoza_schemat.jpg
the meiosis diagram here:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mejoza_schemat.jpg
the growth & development diagram here:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wzrost i rozwoj.jpg
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PUBLICATION
publicity_3 = english wikimedia
21.02.2009 _ 15:50
the meiosis diagram is already used in the english wikipedia to illustrate meiosis.
I am really glad that it can be used to help people understand this complex process.
I am looking forward to see it in other language versions of wikipedia (especially the polish one).
the diagram in english wikipedia can be viewed >>>here<<<
_____________________
PUBLICATION
publicity_2 = wikimedia commons
18.12.2008 _ 05:10
two of my BA diploma diagrams (mitosis and meiosis) have now became part of the wikimedia
commons - media file repository of the wikimedia foundation. it has been published under
the creative commons CC-BY-SA-3.0 licence.(more about the licence here)
you can find mitosis diagram here:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitosis_diagram.jpg
and the meiosis diagram here:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meiosis_diagram.jpg
I hope it might be helpful for wikipedia readers.
_____________________
PUBLICATION
publicity_1 = animations on youtube
23.11.2008 _ 03:15
two new animations (mitosis and meiosis) are now available on youtube.com.
whether you are a student browsing for well prepared material for revision or a teacher looking
for professional visual aids for lectures - feel free to use both animations.
you will find them here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH6Vqgc-Pls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcJ2T8uez7Q
both animations in .avi and .swf format are also available here:
mitosis.avi/mitosis.swf
meiosis.avi/meiosis.swf
_____________________
APPLICATION
application_4 = biologia.html
01.07.2008 _ 00:10
after 4 months of intense work I have finally finished my BA project: 'graphic handbook - biology'.
I have not finished my work however. encouraged by both my promotor, prof. roman duszek, and my
scholar consultant, dr włodzimierz wójcik, I want to continue developing this design and push it
to another level - maybe a publishing house, maybe the ministry of education, maybe a research
centre. I do not have a direction yet, but I do have a vector!
here is the link tobiologia.htmlwhich is the homepage of my application.
_____________________
APPLICATION
application_3 = visualising rings
30.06.2008 _ 23:55
I would need a 3d model to show the complete net of links between each lesson and chapter.
It would have been a beautiful piece of infographics, but - in this case - not really helpfull nor usable.
therefore I made a 2d map from single points of view which is the 7.02 chapter and term: Meiosis.
following these examples you can know the pattern that links all html documents in my application.
(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
FEEDBACK
feedback_2 = ihar
30.06.2008 _ 23:30
unexpected review made by the renowedn biologist, prof. andrzej anioł, who was asked to do it by my
promotor, prof. roman duszek. a big thank you to both of them! you can see it below, but it is again
only in polish. to all interested - mail me at:marek.kultys@gmail.comand I shall translate it to you!
_____________________
APPLICATION
application_2 = iconic icons
30.06.2008 _ 23:20
to show the user that he has various animations, illustrations or test sheets to use in the application,
I decided to create meaningful icons that would be... selbstverständlich - as germans use to say,
which means - obvious - in english. I also wanted to add some fun into the educational application
that is, to be frank, quite dull considering the function it has.
therefore I looked for inspiration in computer games and comic characters. I also decided to make
it a bit anthropomorphic as this always makes anything it is applied to a bit more familiar and
charming. I found some good associations in the iconic sculptures from the past:
- static and dignified figures from the antient greece are the metaphore for still illustrations;
- animations are being represented by the dynamic statue of 'a factory worker and a peasant girl'
by soviet sculpturer vera mukhina;
- tests should make you think as the rodin's 'thinker' does;
eventually, I created the collection of three icons in 8 colour versions.
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_6 = ready at last!
30.06.2008 _ 22:40
all three animations are finished. they have sound now (comments read by my father).
click here for the animation of mitosisclick here for the animation of meiosis
click here for the animation of mitosis and meiosis role in development of multicellular organisms
_____________________
APPLICATION
application_1 = sudden changes
30.06.2008 _ 22:15
practice corrects theory. it has been the same in this case as well.
I found some functional errors while programming the application.
below you can see the draft structure of the upgraded design.
_____________________
FEEDBACK
feedback_1 = approved!
24.06.2008 _ 2:30
mitosis and meiosis animations have been successfully tested by the high school biology teacher,
dr Włodzimierz Wójcik, and he wrote a formal review stating that my animations fulfill all indispensable
requirements imposed by the polish ministry of education. quite impressing... isn't it?
you can read it below, but you also need to know polish :-)
feedback_page_2
feedback_page_3
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_5 = life cycle animation
24.06.2008 _ 2:00
to complete the set of three animations I made the last one which is rather a presentation
of the life cycle than a regular animation. nevertheless it should be useful for learning and teaching.
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_13 = last corrections
20.06.2008 _ 18:20
now really the last improvements and corrections...
(click here to enlarge the illustration of mitosis)(click here to enlarge the illustration of meiosis)
(click here to enlarge the illustration of the life cycle)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_12 = orange + blue
18.06.2008 _ 23:30
it turned out that last illustrations post shouldn't the last.
yesterday I raised the issue of people with colour vision deficiencies.
it results in new versions of illustrations.
(click here to enlarge the illustration of meiosis)
(click here to enlarge the illustration of the life cycle)
_____________________
STANDARDS
standards_3 = colour blindness
18.06.2008 _ 23:10
about 8% of male population (and ca. 0,5% of female) is suffering from colour vision deficiencies.
the most common vision defect is deuteranomalywhich afflicts 5% of men and of 0,4% women -
- it mildly affects red-green hue discrimination. less popular but severe defects are protanopia
(in which red appears dark-brown) and deuteranopia (red and green appear very similar which
is dark yellow).
due to colour-blindness it seems reasonable not to base graphic colour-coding on red and green
as it may be difficult or even impossible for a handicapped person to read the illustration. therefore
colours that contrast not only in hue but also in lightness should be used (green and red have
similar lightness), e.g. orange and dark blue/violet.
below you can see the difference in lightness between red + green and orange + dark blue.
below you can see how four main colour vision deficiencies affect colour perception for:
_____ RED ________________ GREEN ______________ ORANGE ____________ DARK BLUE____
upper left corner
- normal vision (cca 85,5 % of population);
upper right corner - protanopy (1 % of men);
lower left corner - deuteranopy (1 % of men);
lower right corner - deuteranomaly (5 % of men, 0,4 % of women).
after analysing these pictures I decided to change chromosome colours in my mitosis and meiosis
application from red and green to orange and dark blue, as these two colours vision is less affected
by colour vision deficiencies and moreover they contrast not only in hue but also in lightness.
credits: i used printscreens of www.wellstyled.com
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_4 = teacher's version
18.06.2008 _ 02:00
during the last consultation with dr Włodzimierz Wójcik it turned out that there is a need for a teacher's
version of all materials to be made. while multimedia equipment in polish schools is on the whole
not adequate to what we should wish, it is still possible to display computer presentations on a tv
screen (which is more common) or using a digital projector. this way the whole class can benefit
from the multimedia presentation with schools provision of only one computer.
therefore I decided to design the teacher's version of my application which can be programmed
according to one's needs. you can set up the duration of each animation sequence by recording
your timing when the animation is played in the recordingmode. then the teacher can save the timing
and display the whole animation without using any remote control.
this patters should be applied to all animations.
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_3 = ...so does meiosis!
15.06.2008 _ 20:30
up to now meiosis animation without sound as well.
it does takes a while to clean all soundtracks...
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_2 = mitosis is moving!
14.06.2008 _ 14:10
mitosis animation unveiling. it is now moving and has couple of 'click' sounds.
my objective is to provide it also with readers comments for people who learn by hearing.
_____________________
ANIMATIONS
animations_1 = width / height
11.06.2008 _ 23:15
900 x 650px size for an animation window is ideal for a panoramic 15,4'' display (1280 x 800px).
while standard school displays are usually 4:3 in proportion with an approximate minimum of 1280px
of their maximal resolution width, there should be no problem to display the 900 x 650px animation
window without any clipping.
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_11 = life cycle_04
4.06.2008 _ 20:45
life cycle final illustration
(click here to enlarge the image)_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_10 = meiosis_03
4.06.2008 _ 20:45
meiosis final illustration
(click here to enlarge the image)_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_9 = mitosis_04
4.06.2008 _ 20:45
mitosis final illustration
(click here to enlarge the image)_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_8 = life cycle_03
3.06.2008 _ 06:45
unlike in most mitosis, meiosis and life cycle graphic visualisations I decided to put some emphasis
on the genetic variability which is represented by the nucleus colour. i used a metaphore of colour
mixing to picture how maternal and paternal genetic materials mix into the unique ancestor's
genotype: yellow + cyan = green, green + orange = brown
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_7 = mitosis_02
3.06.2008 _ 06:40
(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_6 = mitosis_03
3.06.2008 _ 06:30
2- or 4-wire path represents the c-number in a clearer way.
the chromosome number comment tells now the c-number and the n-number of the dividing cell.
I abandoned the idea of the interphase S-phase with an asterisk.
now it is shown in the form of a magnifying glass.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_5 = life cycle_02
10.05.2008 _ 14:10
the life cycle of one generation.
clear concept, but is the design clear as well?...(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_4 = mitosis_02
10.05.2008 _ 14:10
mitosis as a non-cyclic process. in all visualisations the cyan/orange/grey stroke weight will symbolise the 'n' chromosme number.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_3 = life cycle_01
09.05.2008 _ 00:50
the life cycle of one generation - still a lot to improve...(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_2 = meiosis_01
09.05.2008 _ 00:40
meiosis as a non-cyclic process. in progress.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
ILLUSTRATIONS
illustrations_1 = mitosis_01
09.05.2008 _ 00:30
mitosis as a cyclic process. almost done.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
STANDARDS
standards_2 = hardware
05.05.2008 _ 02:30
hardware requirements for the application are:
- cd/dvd drive / usb socket,
- adequate hardware for adobe flash player to be installed.(click here for reference)
_____________________
STANDARDS
standards_1 = software
05.05.2008 _ 01:15
yet most of polish high schools have computer rooms.
it is not a mystery that most of them use microsoft windows operational system.
thus it is rather clear that
the most commonly used web browser is microsoft internet explorer.
to support the majority of css2 properties ie 4.0 is required. ie 4.0 was included with windows 98.
thus if I choose to use css2 to define html elements in my application, there should be no problem
to run it even on 10-year-old computers. newer software installed on windows 98 will do it as well.
the application needs also adobe flash player to play animations. there is a wide range of web
browsers to choose from depending on platform type. yet windows 98 enables to run a flash animation.
therefore windows 98 or later might be a reference for application system requirements.
.jpg and .gif image formats shall be used in the application as various .png display problems occur
with ie and there will be no file-size rigour while the application is ment to be cd-rom/hard drive-based.
software requirements for the application are:
- web browser (ie, firefox, safari, opera etc.),
- adobe flash player.
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_12 = icons
03.05.2008 _ 19:00
visualisation icons: 1. mitosis, 2. meiosis, 3. one generation's of organisms lifecycle.
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_11 = architecture final
30.04.2008 _ 00:10
final sketch for application macro-scale architecture.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_10 = style final
28.04.2008 _ 09:30
final sketch for mitosis visualisation.(click here to enlarge the image)
final sketch for meiosis visualisation.(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_9 = style_02
22.04.2008 _ 02:15
- 3 stages of dna condensation distinguished;
- 3 stages of nuclear envelope brake down/reproduction;
- maternal/paternal chromosome color distinction;(click here to enlarge the image)
(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_8 = style_01
17.04.2008 _ 02:10
I am thinking of choosing quite a distant metaphore from what is normaly used.
how much can I simplify chromosome's look? can you point a single chromatyde up there?
the form has to correspond with flash technology if I want to animate it smoothly.
it needs also to be flexible enough to show crossing-over without any misunderstandings.
I like the idea of equilateral chromosomes - this is somehow new...
...and it fits my requirements quite well.
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_7 = architecture_03
16.04.2008 _ 17:00
recently I have been working on designing program's and visualisation's architecture.
until I have a precise sketch of the structure, there is rather little sense drawing the visualisation.
model no 1 - it lacks a complete look on the outside-visualisation parts.
model no 2 - this is much better as it integrates both program and visualisation.
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_6 = architecture_02
15.04.2008 _ 03:30
the program will contain table of content and index in alphabetical order.
each visualisation will be attached to:
1) table of content (mitosis and meiosis together with the Red section - genetics),
2) index (mitosis and meiosis respectively with letter M),
3) introductory keywords, which lead to adequate visualisations (replication and recombination),
4) consequent keywords, which lead to matching visualisations (Mendel's law, evolution).
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_5 = mito + meio cycle
14.04.2008 _ 22:50
it is clear that the closer any two different things are one the other, the better we can observe
differences between them. as in the case of mitosis and meiosis comparison - the differences are
easier to spot when we put both processes one against the other. this method can however deceive
us when it comes to grasping both mitosis and meiosis in their natural context of constant co-occuring
in an organism.
mitosis and meiosis do not exclude eachother - they are correlated and co-dependent.
this relationship can be sketched this way:
it is only a draft on an idea. more detailed version should be build this way:
(click here to enlarge the image)
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_4 = architecture_01
10.04.2008 _ 02:20
during the next two weeks I will be searching for an optimal architecture model for the whole
educational set. it will be based on the high school program published in the 'educational context' post. my first idea is based on a 8-colour model WMBCGYRK (white-magenta-blue-cyan-green-yellow-
-red-black), which represents each of 8 main blocks in the school program. each of the blocks consists of some subjects (not lessons!). each subject is supported by a special visualisation.
the 8-colour model (White - Magenta - Blue - Cyan - Green - Yellow - Red - blacK)
octagon model with links which represent keywords associated with single visualisations: links leading
to the visualisations are what you need to understand the visualisation, links leading from the
visualisation stand for what you can understand elsewhere thanks to the visualisation you have
just seen. hence you can follow a programmed educational path.
other architecture model - everything stays roughly the same appart from the linear approach to index
all subjects. there is also no visual representation of the linkage, which makes the model and a book index alike.
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_3 = graphic storyboard
9.04.2008 _ 23:05
it is nothing new, but nevertheless still necessary to visualise oneself what is the proper order
of events. mitosis is much simpler than meiosis and is not dependent to any other process.
meiosis cycle has to start with a zygote (23c + 23c) in order to replicate a diploid set (46c)
of both maternal and paternal dna. only a diploid cell can perform a meiotic division.
mitosis cycle
meiosis cycle
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_2 = reinventing condensation
9.04.2008 _ 22:40
'in the prophase chromosomes are being created' - sometimes one can read. it is false as the
chromosomes are nothing else than condensed chromatin. chromosome is not a thing - it is rather
a state. it is not only writen in numerous descriptions, but also not clearly shown in mitosis / meiosis
visualisations. therefore I decided to litelarly show the condensation of chromatin into chromosomes.
this is possible thanks to the animating technologies and wouldn't have greater sense using traditional
frame-by-frame visualisations. however I am obliged to produce both kinds of visual explenation -
- thus I exercised some possibilities of graphic interpretation of condensation...
_____________________
SKETCHING
sketch_1 = typographic storyboard
8.04.2008 _ 11:45
picking human as an example, I built a typographic storyboard of my application (c - chromatid
number): above the upper horizontal line is what a student needs to know from previous lesson
in order to understand the mitosis + meiosis lesson. in between two horizontal lines is the
mitosis + meiosis visualisation. under the lower line there is what a student should know
from the mitosis + meiosis lesson in order to understand upcomming material.
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_7 = research summary
1.04.2008 _ 23:00
this is the last part of the research phase. during the last month I:
1. refreshed my knowledge of the mitosis and meiosis process
2. explored what are the advantades and disadvantages of existing mitosis / meiosis visualisations,
3. found out what should be improved in most of them,
4. mounted my presentation in context of the high school educational program.
educational path:
- what is needed to understand mitosis + meiosis?
- what do we learn from this lesson?
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_6 = educational context
25.03.2008 _ 15:00
should the application have any potential to be used as an educational support in high schools,
it needs to meet all educational standards. therefore it has to be placed in a broader context
of the educational program.
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_5 = visual style
19.03.2008 _ 19:20
choosing a style is a fundamental part of the visualisation. it should be clear and readable.
nevetheless I would hate to simplify any part of the sophisticated mitosis or meiosis process
by picking the style that is inefficient or visual not enough communicative.
therefore I have conducted a research to find styles that are most popular and comprehensive:
abstract visualisation without cell environment - this is just a very brief comparison of mitosis and
meiosis. it could be helpful as an illustration of text.
(from the internet)
there is still no cell environment, but things happen in reference to the nucleus now.
visualisation has became more detailed and chromosomes more organic in form.
chromosome number and chromosome homologs notification!
new visual style - the one most common for schoolbooks - it is clear, easy and universal.
putting the mitosis process in the whole cell life cycle makes the visualisation really valuable.
(from the internet)
this vivid visalisation is both attractive and genuine, but neither simplified nor metaphoric.
it is a good illustration of the problem, nevertheless it does not explain anything...
(from the internet)
...attractive and true, but illegible...
(from the internet)
this is a short comparison of mitosis and meiosis - it explains a lot, but needs text to name things.
in fact, this is not a visualisation, but demonstrates the process very clearly.
(from the internet)
more visualisations found in my research>>> here <<<
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_4 = the late interphase
15.03.2008 _ 15:15
one of some complicated things about mitosis and meiosis is counting 'n's. it means that the majority
of visualisationslacks any mention about the late interphase when something very important happenes:
the dna meterial doubbles and thus the cell becomes ready to copy. this is also the key moment
to understand the meiosis product: 4 haploid cells.
therefore I decided to start the mitosis/meiosis visualisation from the dna material replication stage.
thus the visualisation will be set in a broader context of the whole cell life cycle.
A - most visualisations start just from the prophase when the dna material is allready doubble;
B - my visualisation will include the G2-subphase of the interphase in which the dna replicates;
(ville's biology)
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_3 = scholaris.pl
8.03.2008 _ 21:00
I have found an interactive lesson about mitosis at www.scholaris.pl/csm - a multimedia database
owned by the polish ministry of national education. it is quite good: it has nice drawings, it is interactive
(students can use a dictionary, solve a quiz, check their answers...) and explains the complicated
process of mitosis. what I found poor is the technical and informational quality of visualisations
(the advantage of using animations is almost unused - it is rather a slideshow), narration which is
difficult to follow and nothing that links the presentation to other (also external) educational materials.
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_2 = ville's 'biology'
6.03.2008 _ 13:00
mitosis...
meiosis...
...mitosis vs meiosis
_____________________
RESEARCH
research_1 = youtube.com
6.03.2008 _ 12:20
mitosis 3d visualisation and explanation
meiosis 3d visualisation and explanation - good boring design
discovery education produced such a meiosis process visualisation - brutal, but simple and catchy
'what's the difference between mitosis and meiosis' - rap explanatio
imagination-teasing mitosis visualization (featuring: the beastie boys)
mitosis visualized by a sychronized swimming group in a cell-like swimmingpool
_____________________
TIMELINE
this is how I organise my work
4.03.2008 _ 22:15
bachelor project schedule:
4.03.2008
publication of project subject, the weblog starts at: www.marekkultys.com/kultys_i9_bachelor.html
1.04.2008
end of the research phase - the design idea is ready, research summary will be published
24.04.2008
end of the sketching phase - visual form of the design is defined, sketches are published
22.05.2008
start of the presentation phase - planning and rehearsing of the project presentation
12.06.2008
end of the programming phase - 1st testing round will be performed, publication of the results
26.06.2008
end of the patching phase - 2nd testing round and results publication; printing of the presentation
30.06.2008
end of the design process - complete project publication
1-2.07.2008
project presentation
_____________________
MOTIVATION
why doing exactly this?
12.03.2008 _ 15:30
my motivation is:
1. to try something completely new in the field of visualisation,
2. to develop a project that will prove my value and competence for the education industry,
3. to gain new experience and extend my portfolio scope,
4. to introduce a bachelor project of a very new kind at my home faculty of design
(warsaw academy of arts),
5. to improve my html/css and flash skills,
_____________________
THESIS
what to do? problem of mitosis & meiosis
4.03.2008 _ 11:45
the main goal is to visualise a complex process in an explanatory and clear way.
because of the character of biology as one of the nature sciences and my personal interests
in biology and medicine I deciced to choose biology as the subject of my bachelor thesis.
having discussed this matter with my former high school biology teacher, dr włodzimierz wójcik,
(who has also been a consultant at the polish ministry of science and education for 15 years)
I decided to focus on 'the most difficult thing for a biology teacher to explain' - as dr wójcik stated -
- that is comparison of mitosis and meiosis.
here you can find explanation of both mitosis and meiosis in english wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiosis