UW iSchool Master of Information Management Capstone Poster MSIM

UW iSchool Master of Information Management Capstone Poster MSIM, a photo by Wonderlane on Flickr.

use ALL SIZES magnifying glass control above image to view at larger size

www.bluelotusplanet.com
This site is just a shell right now...

Abstract
The ancient beauty of Buddhism in the Tibetan culture spilling out into the world shares something important in common with the new science of user centered design – a recursive process leading to the benefit of others. This ongoing photographic exhibit documents a more than 1000 year-old tradition, a Tibetan Buddhist 'Wong' or formal empowerment into highest yoga tantra religious practice.

Communicating about a vibrant and esoteric religious culture reveals increasingly deep levels of understanding, yet this culture and information becomes easier to approach and understand with design iterations that interact with the viewer.

Written and visual information create effective facets by interacting with end users in the planning and ongoing stages – using surveys, tagging-term matching, comments, discussions, structure, interactivity, use trends, pattern-detection, and incorporating changes.

Thank you to my sponsor His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya and to:

• Mike Crandall, Chair of the iSchool, University of Washington
• Dr. Karine Barzilai-Nahon, project advisor, iSchool, University of Washington
• Erin Schulz, statistics instructor, Technical Communication, University of Washington
• Steve Matlock, technical editor
• The archivist of the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, who prefers, as per religious tradition, not to have his name included
• Dr. Thomas F. Yarnall, Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, sponsor
• Dr. Cyrus Stearns, Buddhist Studies scholar, translator, author
• And my University of Washington MSIM2008 cohort who assisted in the tagging survey