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Date:
To:
From:
Subject:
March 18, 2009
Thalia Anagnos, SJSU 100W Professor
Silicon Gal, student
Analytic Review of “Interactive Holography: Pursuit of a Dream”
Purpose
This memo provides an evaluation of an article from a professional journal. The analysis
evaluates the visuals, mechanics, organization, and readability of the article as well as the use of
pseudoscience. In a 2009 issue of Computing in Science and Engineering, Mark Sich published
an article called “Interactive Holography: Pursuit of a Dream,” in which he discusses the uses
and details of the technological breakthrough that is holography. The article was found by
searching the online database Engineering Village using the keyword “holography.” I selected
this article because I am pursuing a degree in computer engineering and am interested in
understanding new applications of computer technology. Although this article has a few
weaknesses, it is, overall, an informative piece that is presented in a clear, effective manner.
Analysis
Many aspects of Sich’s article contribute to its overall effectiveness. Based on the overall
scheme of the article, his intended audience appears to be people who are interested in and
somewhat familiar with the basics of technology, but not necessarily knowledgeable about the
specifics of holography. Through the use of visuals, a clear layout, and relevant syntax and
diction, Sich addresses his readers in a professional and effective fashion, ensuring that they
understand and benefit from his piece.
Analysis – Visuals
The article, which is four pages long, includes four visuals, all of which are images of the system
being discussed. They are small and therefore do not take up very much room on each page.
While some improvements could be made to his use of visuals, Sich generally does a good job of
effectively presenting them and relating them to the text.
First, each image is relevant and useful to the article, as it clarifies aspects of the system that are
difficult to describe in words. By referring to each image at least once, Sich leaves no doubt as
to what the purpose of the image might be. In the text, Sich refers to each image by its
corresponding figure number, making it easy for the reader to locate the figure for reference.
However, the location of the in-text reference to each figure is, in every case, on a different page
from the image itself. This could potentially lead to some confusion and will definitely be a
hassle to the reader, as he or she will need to keep flipping the page back and forth.
Furthermore, each visual is labeled with both a figure number and a caption. While the captions
are very informative, they are all very long. Because the reader will be taking a break from
reading to look at the image (perhaps even in the middle of a sentence), it is important that he or
she be able to resume reading without much break in the flow. The long captions make this
difficult; by the time readers have made it through the caption, it is likely that they will have
forgotten what they had previously been reading. The downfalls of Sich’s visuals are easy to fix
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and relatively insignificant when compared to the overall usefulness and effectiveness of the
images.
Analysis – Organization
The introduction of the article clearly states the subject, purpose, and scope of the article, an
important characteristic of an effective piece. Each paragraph also has a topic sentence that
provides a clear layout of the section. Furthermore, each section stays on topic. In each section
and paragraph, Sich introduces a specific aspect of the holography and continues that discussion
until the end of the section. While he is successful in each of these aspects, the layout of Sich’s
article needs improvement in other areas.
First, the introduction does not provide a complete outline of the article. In the introduction, Sich
discusses several possible uses of interactive holography – uses on which he does not further
elaborate later. Furthermore, he weaves his first mention of the technological aspect of the
system into all of his examples, making it barely noticeable. The faults in the introduction
provide the reader with a false impression of the flow of the article, possibly leading to confusion
and misunderstanding.
Additionally, the article does not have a conclusion. The last paragraph is introduced (correctly)
as one that will discuss obstacles of the project. Because it ends the article, this paragraph should
summarize important points found throughout the article, but it does not. Instead, it simply
continues to list obstacles that must be overcome before the project can begin. This does not
create a solid, conclusive ending, and fails to convey a sense of finality of the article.
Analysis – Readability
Although the introduction is organized in a confusing manner, the rest of the article is presented
in a logical sequence. Sich begins by talking about the possible uses of interactive holography,
using greatly detailed examples. He then goes on to discus the overall theory of the topic. He
goes through the process of holographic imaging and specific details that are especially
significant.
The article is divided into labeled sections, and unlabeled paragraphs within those sections.
While the section labels are helpful, it is difficult to determine the subjects of the unlabeled
paragraphs. Because some paragraphs are directly underneath the section label, the reader may
assume that the label refers to that paragraph only, and then wonder where the label for the next
paragraph is. Adding paragraph labels will help the reader to easily determine the beginning and
end of each sub-topic, and obtain an overall higher level of clarity of the article as a whole.
Many authors, especially in the fields of science and technology, use special formatting styles
(bullets, tables, graphs, etc.) to better convey their ideas. Sich’s article, however, contains no
instances of special formatting. While it is usually useful to implement certain formatting styles,
as it creates clarity within the article, I do not see any need to it in this case.
Analysis – Format
The visual format of an article is a significant factor in the article’s effectiveness. The format of
Sich’s article is very professional and consistent. He used a standard, readable font, and printed it
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in a size and color that will cause the average person no major difficulties. The font of the article
is consistent throughout, except for figure captions and the reference list, which each have their
own formatting style. This helps the reader distinguish between different parts of the article,
decreasing the potential for confusion. The headings and margins are consistent throughout the
article, and the paragraph separation, which is also consistent, is very clear. Sources are cited intext using superscripts, and the reference list is compiled in an APA formatted endnote list.
Analysis – Mechanics
The article is written in such a way that it is easy for the intended audience to understand. Sich
was successful at using a combination of technical and common terms. Words that may be
unknown to a typical reader are defined and explained, and long terms are shortened into
acronyms. This creates a balance between two communities, and allows the reader to easily
identify with either. Moreover, the sentences, although not overly complex, are structured in a
both technical and professional style, giving the article an overall feeling of legitimacy.
Furthermore, the spelling and grammar within the article are free of errors. Although, toward the
end of the article, Sich starts writing in a relatively informal style, the majority of the article is
written in a respectable manner.
Pseudoscience (NOTE TO STUDENTS – THIS IS NOT A GREAT SECTION)
Because this article discusses a concept that is not yet in existence, rather than a scientific
experiment or claim, it is difficult to apply to it the theory of pseudoscience vs. real science.
However, as holographs already exist, and scientists have begun to implement some of the
theories presented in this article, although on a smaller scale, the material presented and
discussed in this article should not be deemed pseudoscience, but instead be recognized as a
section of real science.
Conclusion
This journal, Computing in Science & Engineering, has the goal of presenting technical
information to a broad audience in a readable and accessible format (IEEE Computer Society,
2009). As such, it is a journal where I would consider publishing my future research. Many
aspects of Sich’s article on interactive holography must be considered when attempting to
determine its effectiveness. The use of visuals, implementation of a professional organizational
scheme and scientific format, choice of syntax and diction, and legitimacy of the scientific
method presented are all important factors in a scientific article. Although there are areas in
which improvement can be made, Sich has succeeded in presenting a valid and effective
scientific discussion. The key lesson I took from this assignment is that the analysis of an article
is contextual. It depends on the type of the article, including the subject, audience, etc.
References
IEEE Computer Society. (2009). Peer review – magazines. Retrieved from
http://www.computer.org/portal/web/peerreviewmagazines/cise
Sich, M. (2009). Interactive Holography: Pursuit of a Dream. Computing in Science &
Engineering. 11 (1). 62-65.