An “Out-of-this-World” Example of User Experience
I’ve always loved
learning about outer space. When I was three, I wanted to become an astronomer.
Needless to say, my ability to comprehend math and physics is (unfortunately)
not at the level that this field requires. If I suddenly became a super genius today
and could pursue any career in the world, I think I’d still choose astronomy. However,
since my dreams of working for NASA will never come true, in my spare time I enjoy
watching videos or reading articles about NASA’s work, black holes, the Sun, the
solar system, and other various topics pertaining to astronomy and the universe.
My favorite planet
is, has always been, and always will be Jupiter. Something about the amazing
Gas Giant just fascinates me. I feel so eager to learn about the planet’s atmosphere,
internal environment, Great Red Spot, moons, and relationship to other objects
in outer space. I’m also a Sagittarius and since Jupiter is the planet for the Sagittarius
sign, I have another excuse for my favoritism! However, due to logistical
factors like the distance from Earth, gaseous interior, and gravitational pull,
obtaining important information about Jupiter often proves to be complicated. I’m
always amazed at the predictions, images, research, and theories astronomers produce
with the information they already have. I also feel excited, and even proud, each
time new information about Jupiter is obtained and researched.
That being said,
not too long ago, I found this really awesome video published by NASA about the
JunoCam. Essentially, the JunoCam is a highly-complex camera stationed aboard
the satellite Juno. What’s especially significant about JunoCam is that, “As
the spacecraft orbits Jupiter, JunoCam snaps pictures of the planet from
different angles and radial distances, targeting features identified in part
through the collaborative efforts of the amateur astronomer community” (NASA
Video). This video (which I share below) features some of these images and I find
it pretty impressive to see exactly what images these individuals capture and
piece together.
One component that
lies at the heart of this video and the JunoCam’s purpose is the community
built between astronomers and “citizen scientists.” While I was watching this,
I immediately thought about the writer/editor relationship that our class
always emphasizes and considers. You can tell that the individuals who speak in
this video genuinely value the roles that “users” play in developing and
sharing JunoCam images, whether those users be “amateur scientists,” students,
engineers, or the general public. These individuals recognize that people
outside the NASA/astronomy field have a desire to learn about Jupiter and
appreciate the planet for its beauty. Although some of these JunoCam users are
not researching Jupiter for at the NASA-level, NASA astronomers still value and
encourage participation. Personally, I believe this shows an amazing example of
a user/reader or writer/editor relationship. Of course, this JunoCam example is
a bit of a stretch from the other user experience examples we’ve discussed.
However, I love how much these NASA astronomers appreciate the citizens who work
with the JunoCam. In this setting, everyone is able to learn from each other
and share their passions for studying Jupiter.
If you share an
interest in outer space or feel curious about JunoCam, I definitely recommend
watching this video. So many topics were covered that I could not fit them into
a concise blog post! Personally, I have not yet explored the JunoCam site, but
I absolutely plan on doing so. Now that summer is approaching, I hope to spend
more of my spare time doing expansive readings and personal research about
Jupiter as well as other astronomical topics.
Another example of my love for Jupiter. My favorite movement from Holst's "The Planets," which also serves as fantastic studying/working music! :)
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