Windows and Mirrors Response by Leah Johnson

Windows and Mirrors by Jay Bolter and Diane Gromala The chapters suggested two different perspectives. One in which you get from a window and another perspective you get from a mirror. These two perspectives have a focus on seeing, which is the perspective of a window, and reflection which is the perspective of the mirror. The focal perspective of the window, is that we are able to see through it. The image or moment we are capturing through the window is not one that we are able to change. We are solely involved in the viewing of what is through the window. In terms of different mediums, the perspective of the window is one that we would have with a newspaper. An interaction with the newspaper is one sided, where we view the information and receive it. The information in the newspaper is one we cannot change. The perspective of the mirror is ambiguous. We are free to change, or shape what we see however we want. This perspective is comparative to ones experience with the computer. The computer is adaptive to whatever the consumer wants to see. The consumer and the computer work together to creative a more effective experience. I found this to be very interesting, once again as the most simplistic things in life can be turned into a perspective of theory. Both the window (transparency) and the mirror (reflection) can work together to create successful benefits for users and consumers. I think both perspectives can be a benefit to everyone in any aspect of life.