Product Proposal

Jessica Wolfe

Product Proposal

Product proposal (Short paragraph describing, in detail, what your product will be for Capstone Night.)

Goal: How the product demonstrates or supports my research:

My product idea is to create a small video with different scenarios of what a doctor should be looking for when talking with patients. I could create videos of what to do then create some of what not to do. This can show my audience what short kind of readings on the face they should be looking for to understand someone’s emotion during certain situation. I could also add some pictures/freeze frames of important movements in the face that represent what the patient is feeling during that situation.

Considerations:

1. Level of challenge for me (significant, moderate, minimal). Explain why:

I think that this could be a moderate challenge because I would have to find people who are willing to be “actors” in my scenarios for the videos. I would have to try and create realistic situations and the actors would have to try their best to make the facial expressions that is needed in that situation. But they also have to focus on the facial expression not being too forced. Then I would have to create the video. This would take some time but would be easier to do than making it. Also, if I wanted to add freeze frames I would have to some how incorporate that into my video so it flows with what is being shown.

2. Types of challenges (emotional, intellectual, or physical). Describe how:

I think I would go through some intellectual challenges because I would have to figure out what type of situations I would want to do for my video so it flows with the presentation. I would also need to figure out how long each one needs to be and how many I want to create. Should I create one for each of the main 6 facial expressions or somehow incorporate them all into one long scene; instead of short skits. Then I need to know how to incorporate all this into my presentation, should it go in the beginning, middle, or end. Then I need to think about whether the video should be mute or not so the audience can just focus on the facial expressions and not the audio.

3. Application of research (accessing and integrating new information). How does your product enhance you research and grab outsiders’ attention?

I think my product would demonstrate how important understanding people’s emotions, not only through words, but through facial expressions as well. It would demonstrate to my audience that verbal and nonverbal communication is very important in our society today and if you aren’t able to understand the nonverbal communication of a conversation then you should start to learn what certain signs mean.

4. Resourcefullness (independent problem solving and thinking). How will this be demonstrated in your product?

I think I would show resourcefulness by creating a video because it shows my audience that I have been doing a lot of research on my topic and understand the certain movements of the face and why each facial expressions is made in a certain way. It presents that I am aware of what I am talking about and have taken the time to do my research and create a something that shows my understanding of my topic.

5. Materials/equiptment/technology to be used in product. List in bullets:

·         Screen to show video

·         Video camera & video software

6. Materials/equiptment/technology to be used in presentation. List in bullets:

·         Screen to present my project

Spring Break

Over all my spring break was not that exciting. I did not go anywhere except for the last three days. My mom, sister, my friend, and I went to Chicago to go to the Loyola University weekend. I am thinking about attending this university and I wanted to go look and check it out to see if I would like it there. Even though it was cold, I think I will be attending Loyola in the fall. But besides that I stayed at home and hung out with friends that didn’t go anywhere for spring break as well.

As for my capstone project, I didn’t work too much on it. I did some research in the beginning of spring break, but towards the end I did not work on it as much. I didn’t want to do any school work during break. I am just ready for summer to be here! But I think that I was able to take some time off from working on the paper because all I have to do is develop a section 3 that matches section 4 and freshen up the beginning. Then I will be complete.

Writing this paper has taught me that you need to be able to do good research in order to have a strong paper. You can’t just take someone else’s work and rewrite it in your own words, making your paper into an informational dump. I also can not wait till the last minute to write my paper. I saw some people struggling with that and it was impossible for them to complete certain sections on time. Or they would stay up all night trying to write it and still wouldn’t get done. I just need to learn to do the work right away so at the end I am able to fix little things and be done with it all. But if I was able to change anything I did it would be my work effort towards my paper in the beginning. I did find a lot of research on my topic but when I got home I never took a lot of time to review that research. I would use mostly class time to get stuff done. This would cause my paper to sound repetitive because I would use similar research without even knowing it. I think if I spent more time out of class on my paper I would have been able to get it done faster and create better first drafts. But overall I think I did good with keeping up with the due dates and creating a good enough paper that I am able to work with and just fix little things here and there.

Drafting Ideas

My first and second draft are total different papers with the same concept. In my first paper, it was just a bunch of ideas thrown together. All the information I collected was just piled up together. I was letting all my ideas out without really organizing the paper. But most of my work is really repetitive in my first draft. Leaving me with a lot more work during my second draft to find other information and find out why it is useful. 

During my second draft I recollected all the information I had and the new sources I found. I went through my first draft and organized information together that was closely related. I moved things around and added new information that was more relevant to my topic. I also had to get rid of useless information and repetitive information as well. There was a lot of rewording of the same topic and I had to figure a way to change that so it wasn’t that way. But there is still some work in progress, but I am trying to make my second draft has more ideas than my first, so I can complete it and make it final.

As for my product for my capstone, there are some ideas that are being considered. I would like to create an album – somewhat - of what all the facial expressions looks like and what key signs make them recognizable all over the world. I would gather headshots (pictures) of someone making the faces then use Ekman’s research to help me identify what makes it that face.

Another idea I was considering was making a video; first playing it without sound. I would ask the viewer what their idea of the video was and what they think the person is feeling during that scene. After getting an idea from what they know about facial expressions from my presentation, I would hope they could get an idea of what they are feeling. Then after asking a few questions, I would play the video with sound and see how closely their answer was correct. I could even just do the opposite. I could play a video with just sound (of two different people) and see what the viewer thinks is happening. This could show them how important facial expressions are because they won’t be able to tell the true emotion of someone when they aren’t looking at their face.

Those are only a few ideas that I have come up with so far. Hopefully, I will be able to narrow down my product idea for my presentation soon.

New Findings...

Some of my new findings have been that not only doctors learn how to understand nonverbal communication, but other health care professionals should also learn these techniques as well. Many facial expression research has been done to recognize common expressions. There are many universal facial expressions, especially the 6 basic ones-- happy, surprised, disgust, content, sad and fear. Even though 93% of communication is presented through nonverbal, do we really understand?? It is hard for some to truly get a since of what someone is feeling when we can not recognize basic emotions and their meanings. 

This is what many health care professionals do not understand when they are talking to their clients. Sometimes doctors do not see the results that they truly want for their patients because they are not understanding how the patient is really feeling. For doctors to have the best results for their patients, they should take the time out to see how they react to certain questions and get a feel about what they are truly feeling about certain tasks the doctor is willing to take to help them.

This leads me to believe that doctors don't understand their patients as well as the nurses. Only because the doctor is there to assign what the patient should and should not do to get better. But the true care taker are the nurses. I believe that all health care professionals should be able to read facial expressions so they can receive true results and more confidents from their patients as well. 

Baby Steps

       English class… ever wonder how your going to start that 12 page paper for that paper that is due in a week? Well, I know I do… I am never sure how I am going to begin a paper or even what is going to go in the middle or even the end. Well, maybe the end a bit more than the beginning, but you get my point. Feeling lost from the start is a usual occurrence for me when writing me papers, until a read a quick excerpt from the book Birds by Birds by Anne Lamott's.

       Anne shares with us that “’writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feel ahead of you.”

      Those two sentences have changed how I view writing from start to finish. Just like authors that write 300 page novels, they too have to write a first, second, and most likely a third draft to make it to a best seller. Now I know my paper won’t be on the top of the list of “need to reads” but just understanding that each step you take needs to be a baby step. There’s no need to think about what you are going to write in the middle when I don’t even have a beginning. To be a successful writer, you need to take in things by bits and pieces. Starting with my introduction.

      As said in Birds by Birds, you should view your writing as a one-inch picture frame. You can only write as much as you can see or feel. If you try to shove all your ideas into one area…well most likely you have already given up or don’t know where to begin. Like me. But reading this short piece from her book has for sure changed the way I am going to approach my writing. I realize now that if I just take baby steps to get there, I will be running like a champ in no time!

Success... What is that?

How can I be successful? Hmmm.... well first things first. I read a quote from "Inner Qualities of Successful People: Timeless Wisdom" and one really stood out to me:

"Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am force: I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in maze. My choice; responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny." --Elaine Maxwell

Why did this one stand out to me compared to all the rest? Only because it is true in every with way; well I believe so anyways. It is up to me, no one else, whether I make it through the hardships or decided to give up and pout. No one can make that choice for me but myself. If you don't believe me then watch Pursuit of Happiness. Now there is someone who has faced obstacles and conquered through them only because he pushed himself and knew that he was the only one that would be able to change his own life. No one else. As for responsibility, that is up to me how I can take it. I can abuse or use it the way I see fit. But I have to take the consequences that come with it. Whether they are good or bad.

This quote represents me in my everyday life. Just making the decision to go to school and be successful is a way I am creating me destiny. Some people may believe that destiny cannot be controlled that it is up to Him to control it for you. But mostly, in my own opinion at least, it is mostly how you choose to take your path that leads you to the place you are going to be in your future. Because I know that if I am successful in school and keep the habits I do now, I can use them towards college and apply myself better in that stressful school environment.

As for my senior capstone project.... Well even though I don't want to do it, especially with graduation around the corner, I have to push through it and take responsibility of whether I pass or not. I know that if it is a successful project, the time I put into it would be worth spending on it. But if I don't take the time out to do something with it....well....guess I won't be seeing that diploma anytime soon, now will I. Knowing that things are sometimes going to be rough and I don't like doing them... I have to. Because that is the only way obstacles can get in my way. I accept the challenge and wait for many more to come as well.

Emotional Psychology/Understanding Facial Expressions

Some of the thought leaders in understanding facial expressions in all humans are said to be Paul Ekman, of course, and Wallace V. Friesen. They are both psychologist that understand the human facial expressions. In their studies they went around the world to different types of groups. Such as tribes or villages. I think they also went to some more modern day places as well. They found out that, even through babies, the same facial expressions are made between anyone in the world. This could lead to such a more understanding of how people can work with one another!! Especially in the business world or even in schools. 


Mostly Ekman is the man who is famous for his research and understanding of this universal language. He is written several books on his discoveries and even has classes that are able to teach people, like you and me, how to be able to read emotion. With this knowledge and understanding, I think that it would be useful in my future job career. Especially, if I am working with others.


Some other individuals that have used this research is: Robert Zajonc and Carrol Izard. They are both psychologist who have published articles about the evolution of emotion--also known as facial feedback.This theory that Robert proposed suggested that the facial musculature of mammals can control the temperature of the base of the brain (in particular the hypothalamus) by varying the degree of forward and backward flow through a vascular network." But there is not too much information about his theory. As for Carroll, he talked about the gains and loses associated with the evolution of emotion. Some of the loses that are presented is are we losing some of our emotional expression through our everyday language or is it still be seen today? Some of these questions have rises throughout this field of research and how the understanding of the evolution of emotion can change how we see one another.