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Virtual World Design and Healthcare – Beyond walking a web page

Posted on September 6, 2011 by John

Closeup of entry to Path of Support There are hundreds of healthcare support groups in the virtual world of Second Life, but how does one educate a visitor about them?

HealthInfo Island started out with a simple list of support groups, then created a path with posters. It was at this point that the Path was handed to me.

I took my inspiration not from medical literature, but from Disney. Organization was less about taxonomies, than Japanese gardens. The material was not didactic but traced the arch of a story of empowerment.

The Path grew out of my sketches and thoughts. I hope it helps others:

SketchHealthSupportPortal

The Path was eventually created and lasted for over a year before an island wide redesign. Screen shots and an older article.

Posted in Art, Collaboration / Community, Medical Informatics | Leave a comment

2 Tweets: “We’re #3!” or “We like peas, fresh now!”

Posted on August 29, 2011 by John

Is a health org’s social media a Marketing or Public Health initiative? I know I’ve seem a lot more of the former than the later.

Perhaps this is a false dichotomy, you say, and indeed it may be. However, from what budget does your social media fall under? Where on the org chart does the staff sit? What metrics are reported for ROI? Might these fundamentals skew one’s efforts one way or another?

To go a step further, the more direct promotion, such as “we have the shortest waits in ER” are not even oriented at establishing a connection with the community. To the contrary, most everyone has an opinion about peas, or at least has another vegetable they could chime in with. What could have been the more direct promotion “Eat Ur vegetables”, is turned into an invitation to play and engage.

My guess is that one’s local community may appreciate more the chance for added value in their daily lives and the opportunity to engage and see others engage. That is in a round-and-about way, promotion.

Posted in Collaboration / Community, Medical Informatics | Leave a comment

Desert Island Pond Sculpture

Posted on July 20, 2011 by John

Floating in a half-barrel is a desert terrarium. The terrarium has several cacti as well as a small bone, snake skin, and a lava rock for additional effect.

I have several goldfish in the barrel and water lilies. This is the second summer for the floating island, third for the gold fish, and all seems to be doing well. I take most of it inside for the winter.

The terrarium was an old globe from a 1970’s light fixture. The cap I did myself with low-fire clay.

The sun strikes the island quite directly at times, but I think the water helps keep things cool.

Posted in Art | 2 Comments

Folders Vs Metadata – Document organization

Posted on June 23, 2011 by John

Moving from the familiar desktop metaphor, with it’s storing files in folders, to metadata can be difficult, if not traumatizing for those used to the more spacial way of putting things in context. To help introduce and explain, I came up with this cartoon (feel free to use).

Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration / Community, Medical Informatics | 2 Comments

Technology Adoption and Crossing the Chasm

Posted on June 20, 2011 by John

Projects fail, promising technologies are put in place but never adopted, IT rolls out another application that only a few business people use. Where’s the disconnect? How might things be improved upon? Here’s 10 well considered ideas from an expert.