Bored

Grar, I'm bored. I have some ideas for projects/stories/stuff, now all I need is time to do all the stuff I want to do.

Dead Space rules!

Oh, I also need some help with my final project for one of my school classes so I'll be sending out an email to a highly select group of individuals to refine some aspects of my project.

Another edit: I had no idea that you could set it this up to be somewhat private. I might do that and post up more creative things than just Gundam pictures.

The Danno rock divination system

Hello, it's been awhile since I've had an entry and I figured the first assignment in my Art 103 class would make a good entry. The task: make a divination system using rocks. So I found some rocks and made some instructions. Hopefully nothing goes crazy, mainly some horrible beast from the depths of the empyrean is not summoned. I have yet to find a map, though a park from my hometown is more than likely going to be the victim.

Gundam/Gunpla, my first entries

So I've recently gotten into building Gundam models. I have an MG RX-178 Mk. II ver. 2.0 and a PG Red Frame Astray. I have to say that these models are nicely articulated and have some neat equipment to outfit them with. I snapped a few pics of the red frame and one with both of them together for size comparison. Horrible pics I know, maybe later this week I'll take some time and put real effort into taking some pics of these guys.

Origami 10!

Whew! The finale!Me mangling a peice of paper blindfolded! It's horribly boring to watch, even with music and me not talking. Good Luck!

Origam1 9: overview

Well here is a short clip of me talking about the stuff I've done so far for my skills blog: Origami. not too intense just me showing off some of the stuff I have made.

Origami video 8

So we went to have some noodles. I got bored in the noodle house, cut a small piece of square paper and went crane-style on it! Result: tiny paper crane.

Origami video 7

So here is week seven: Origami Face-off! I couldn't turn down a challenge since I would then loose all my origami street-cred. The challenger is Jonathan's girlfriend Camila, watch the video to find who wins.

week5/6

OK, here is another video. This time I'm just talking about something I've learned over the course of my paper-folding adventure: when I am going to fold reverse valley folds (or moutain for that matter) I slighly offset the edges of the paper. This lets the paper expand when i fold it so that it does not bunch up or warp.

Skill blog, week 4

Okay, here's week 4 in all its glory. I have recorded myself making three different paper forms: the crane, the butterfly and the heart bracelet/ring. This one is twice as long as my previous ones, so if you sit through all of it then yay!

Origami 3, speed runs!

So I've reached week three and am confident that I can make a crane and a butterfly without looking at the book and in a speedy manner. They were not timed when I made them, i found it a lot simpler to just get the time when I edited the video. Not much else for except for more practice. Although I think I may concentrate more on the forms I know (at the suggestion of others) instead of trying to learn something new each week.

Origami: Second video, now with Coach

Here is the second video. It introduces my coach Anhkhoa. Next video I am going to time myself, I've been practicing making cranes for the past few weeks and don't need to look a the instructions any more, I also learned how to make a heart bracelet/ring, and only sometimes forget. I also made one of the flowers in the video which was quite complex, for me.

Origami: The Beginning

Okay, so here is my first video for my personal skills project. It is not the best quality. I'm pretty much just folding a crane and talking about the goals I have in learning origami. Eventually I hope to make more complex paper forms, guess I'll see if that happens in the following weeks.

Natural Born Cyborg, responses to first 2 chapters

Here are my responses to the first 2 chapters in the book Natural Born Cyborg (reading the book for my 106 class)

Chp1.
Chapter one of Natural Born Cyborg definitely pulled me into the subject matter quickly. It is easy to read and understand what id being discussed. Clark does an excellent job speaking in layman’s terms. He does not get into extensive explanation that might bog down the anecdotes. The information he gives is enough to understand the subjects he writes of. The brief history of implanted devices is a good introduction to what this book covers. I enjoyed that parts about the ability of the brain to adapt to new sensory input and that the brain should not be kept on a pedestal separate from technological advances that could help us perform task better.
People should be more open to having their lives improved by technology and not frown upon devices that could genuinely improve our lives. The end of the chapter was very interesting. Clark talks about technology seamlessly becoming parts of our lives, to the point where we will have devices that integrate and enhance our natural capabilities without detriment.
Q&A
1. Summarize the distinction from the traditional Klines & Clines
definition of the cyborg vs. the one that Clark is proposing?
Clark proposes a less intrusive cyborg with devices that seamlessly merge with the body, where Klines and Clines maintain a more traditional version where the augmentation of the body comes from additional devices are added to the body.

2. What kind of model might you have that is dfferent than this?
We lean towards Clark's version of the cyborg where augmentation of the body allows for physical characteristics and abilities to be improved for general application. It does not necessarily have to embody a device attached to the body.

3. What other kind of definations of cyborg might there be?
Internet agent cyborg - allows ordering and delivery of food, ex. pizza delivery
diagnostic device cyborg -
endoscopic surgery - surgeons use remote controlled tools
cell phone/ pda device/ipod -
primitive cyborg - pencil/paper, microwave,


Chp2.
Chapter two starts off with a description of Clark’s visit to the Los Alamos National Laboratories in New Mexico. One theme of the chapter is the changes humans have made to adapt to new technologies over the years; he uses the watch as an example. People had to learn time discipline since they could now check the time whenever the wanted and no longer had to rely on third parties. He also talks about the evolution that technologies go through in order to remain in use and that society must make similar changes, and vice versa. It is a feedback cycle that prompts both sides to continually change. Many forms of technology are also discussed. “Transparent” technology is a blanket term used to describe devices that are easy to use, do not intrude into our lives, and enhance our abilities to interact with the world around us. I’ve seen, and used, some of the devices he talks about. The table where you can place objects and control what content is seen was very fun to play with, as was the system where you could control all the lights in house from one control panel.
I think Clark is correct in his explanation of what kinds of tools people what in their lives. They want ones that can be put down and be separated from. People also want tools that can function without constant input and are always there ready to be used.
Q&A
1. Summarize a definition as described in the book of what the
significant attributes are for 'opaque' technology vs. an a
'transparent' technology
opaque technology - req's extra training, and are not naturally occurring
transparent - non-intrusive, meld into our lives easily and are used easily

2. Give some examples of technology that should be more transparent
and others that should be more opaque.
more transparent - registering for classes, the qwerty keyboard, Linux/ Windows, automated phone service, 911, arduino
More opaque - car horns, spray paint, bluetooth headset, making telemarketing calls, email/instant messaging/text messaging, purchasing/money use,

3.Does the watch and dictionary example seem valid to you? Why?
yes for the watch since it made for independent time management/sense of time, and it is also a good example of transparent technology since its use is seamless into our lives.
no for the dictionary, its an opaque technology at best, that is even more of a process to use properly

Electrical kit project

For my 106 class I had to purchase an electrical kit, build it, and place it somewhere in a public place it may not otherwise belong. I purchased a "Tropical Bird Noise" kit, or it maybe it was jungle bird... I'm rather new to soldering and reading electrical diagrams. If I had not had some timely help this kit probably would have taken me a lot longer than 2 1/2 hours to make. Enough with the background.

I assembled the kit and placed it in a watch case I found at work.








Then I decided on a place to go and test out whether my device would have an effect on people. At this time I should mention that the best I could get was a high pitched intermittent squeal. Which was annoying but not very loud. So I decided to go to a local super market.










I put the device in one of those little red shopping baskets and proceeded to walk around the store. Most people did not react at all to the noise. The only evidence I saw of a reaction was a guy in the frozen food section who looked around like he was seeking the source of something (my digital jungle bird hopefully). After a brief look around he walked off quickly. So I kept moving around the store. I made a second pass at the frozen food section at the exact same time as the guy who walked away previously! What luck, I could now see if what happened before was not just a fluke. It wasn't. As soon as I walked up he walked away again. So the digital jungle bird was slightly effective. If I could have controlled the volume it would have been better although adding anything to the kit probably would have ended up in its destruction.

So that's my first foray into making a kit and placing it somewhere it may not belong.