The Story

OWL Training Software, was initially designed to eliminate the headaches of administering language oriented testing to large numbers of students. By using a web application, students could log onto any computer to complete assessments. Likewise, teachers could log in from any machine with access to your server to create or assess student tests. OWLTS came to Mick Rose for assistance in their web application design, quiz demonstrations, and also to integrate various flash unit tests into their system.

First, Mick worked with the OWLTS team to develop the backend design for the instructors. Mick helped them visualize the layout they desired utilizing ASP/HTML/CSS and ensured that all of the windows would appear correctly within the interface.

Mick then worked with the team to create vapor-ware mock ups for various quiz related items. Some were presentation oriented while others worked just like their application and even included scoring.

Finally Mick helped integrate flash modules into the application, by sending javascript between flash and their application. Each module was so customized that all backgrounds, fonts, and even audio/video webcam recording (using a Red5 Server) to integrate the modules into their system thus allowing them to develop future quizzes in Flash & ASP.

The Result

Unfortunately due to the dynamic nature of the project and needing inputs from the OWLTS server a full functional demo is not available at this time. But the original mockup demo, aka vaporware, is available in Spanish. You don’t really have to understand Spanish to play with the demo. Also note that many features/functionality have changed since this mockup. We now have a javascript keyboard which talks to flash for the “fill in the blank” portion of the quizzes. Also all sounds/imagery are now dynamically generated.

View the demo. And since the instructions are not included, here is a brief summary.

Listen & Find

Press Play to listen to the sound, then select the image which you believe the sound is referencing.

Read & Record

Press Record and read the phrase displayed on the screen aloud, then select stop. Next select the picture associated with the phrase. (This demo is not placed on a Red5 server so all recording/playback is disabled - Live demos on request).

Write

Fill in the blank with the name of the object. Helpful hint every phrase starts with “hay” for example “hay sandia” for watermelon.

The Story

Before blackthir13en studios existed, Mick Rose was looking at various opportunities to freelance in the Pittsburgh Area and began the process of building a portfolio site to house his professional works. However some ideas, never make it quiet back the basic design/concept visualizations. Kairos was one of those, all most but not quiet finished works, of which various elements have crept into the current blackthir13en studios feel. Kairos, in summery is about a moment in time. A perfect moment, if you will. And Kairos was there to create, your perfect “digital” moment or kairotic moment.

The entire site and design was greatly inspired by the Rose family crest. The Rose family crest features the phrase, “Constant and True.” This began to become a theme for the portfolio site, and also worked well when discussing website design. Unfortunately due to his exploration into social media he began to utilize a phrase blackthir13en more and more for sign-ups. And alas Kairos, evolved into blackthir13en studios.

The Result

An example of site design mock up demonstrates how blackthir13en studios could have been originally visualized. At first glance, overall font-size/readability still needs addressed. However we’ll still stand behind the product due to it’s overall functionality/design/layout. In addition to the static 1 page mock up (remember none of the links work), here are a couple alternate backgrounds that were designed for the center.

The Story

CombineNet, a B2B sourcing company, needed a presentation for a client showing suggested ways to implement a user interface for an application they were designing for this client. Both the interface design for the screens and the Flash interactive to display each section were designed by Mick Rose.

The Result

The presentation was such a success, that CombineNet landed a multi-million dollar project with the client. Final UI design was cleaned up for the application, but the general look/feel remained intact.  But due to the confidential nature of such a project and the client it is for, a full version of the presentation and design cannot be available. Instead 2 separate “client-scrubbed” screenshots are provided below.

The Story

The “El Yunque” Rainforst in Puerto Rico was dramatically affected by Hurricane Hugo back in 1989. All froms of life from Biomass of dead plant life, caterpillars, snails, and even anoles. The Center for Educational Technologies at Wheeling Jesuit University wanted to educate middle School Students about how to predict and model and compare results utilizing the data obtained from the research of this disaster in the area. There were 3 main modules that the Center neeeded:

1. Prediction - Students could draw graphs predicting the effects over time on individual species.

2. Modeled - Students are able to adjust various controls and graphs to model behavior of individual species.

3. Modeled vs Actual - Combines actual recorded data with the Modeled modules so that the students can determine actual control values.

The Result

By clicking on each Module name you can view a live example still being utilized by the Center for Educational Technologies. In total there were 19 different modules completed, each with it’s individual scripting requirements. Note that only the flash modules were developed by Mick Rose all other design and web content was not created by him.

The Story

CombineNet needed a way to track website user traffic which accessed .pdf documentation. In addition, a dynamic document management system was needed to house future white papers/research reports and other marketing related materials. Mick Rose took up the challenge of implementing a form based .php system which could gate content. Each document was added into the backend of the system and also tracked user sign-ups. Each document as it was accessed by each user, was reported into the system. This allowed the marketing department to track customers and create various reports based on user activities.

The Result

Currently you can view the customer-end of the DMS, but does require the user to register with the site. The backend of the DMS system is also still utilized by CombineNet website for tracking document gating. However due to the confidential nature of client data, the document management system is closed to only the marketing team at CombineNet, and most of the information is confidential and should not be distributed to the general public. Below are a few thumbnails of various screens which are cleansed of all client info. There are current plans however to eventually replace the system with a full-feature CMS software package.

The Story

Since Mick Rose came from a developer and computer engineering background he worked hard on increasing his design skills to become a more rounded individual in the multimedia field. Through his education, only 2 multimedia applications were actually taught to him: Premiere and Photoshop. Therefore he had to take it upon himself to learn all other applications and among those, Illustrator jumped out as a program he first had to brush up his skills upon.

The Result

The first illustration, Mick worked on involved the human form. He wanted to utilize solely black and white to indicate a human profile, even if it was slightly cartoonized.

The Story

During Mick Rose’s employment at the Pittsburgh Technical Institute (2001-2004) he collaborated with his coworkers in developing professional organizations for the students to enjoy. There where 2 main organizations Mick Rose was involved with while at PTI. The first was for digital video production, DVPRO. (Digital Video Professionals) The second organization was for Helix. Helix was meant to be a multimedia club for advanced students wishing to break the boundaries of only learning the curriculum. His and Josh Sager’s (http://www.sdscomics.com) initiatives need marketing collateral.

The Result

Below you can see a few examples of their works together for both DVPRO and Helix.