Xbox Kinect: You Are the Controller

Since the Nintendo Wii came out in 2006, video game companies have been striving to create the next best motion-sensor game controller. Playstation made some headlines with the Move, but it was Microsoft's Xbox that really stole the show. The Kinect requires no handheld devices; only a thin rectangular box that sits above your television. But how does it work without any handheld controller? That's the best part: you are the controller. When you jump, your character on-screen jumps. When you move to the left, your character on-screen moves to the left. It's pretty accurate too. Just another example of the fading line between the physical and virtual worlds...

Powerpoint Icons

Here are the five icons I created. Each one represents a specific section of my powerpoint which I will be presenting at the end of the semester.

Egypt and Social Media

If you haven't heard/read about what's going on Egypt, then you must live under a rock. Several days ago, the government shut down social media outlets like Twitter to prevent its citizens from forming protests against former "President" Hosni Mubarak's regime.

What is significant about this situation is the role social media has played. I'm guessing that most people who use Facebook and Twitter have not really thought about it in depth. Why is it so special and can we live without it? The Egyptian revolts have brought a new thought-process into our minds: the idea that we, as humans, cannot live without social media. We crave interaction and the ability to socialize without being face-to-face with someone makes organizing events a lot easier. If it weren't for social media, then Egypt would still be under the rule of Mubarak.

HP TouchPad

Since the release of the Apple iPad in April 2010, the tablet world has exploded as more technology companies are keeping up with this ever-changing field.

HP, one of the world's leaders in technology, recently announced it's new tablet, the TouchPad. This particular tablet is supposed to compete very closely with the iPad. Unlike the iPad, the TouchPad can view Flash which was a huge factor that made the iPad slightly unpractical for those people like me who are constantly surfing the Internet.

I think that the tablet will gradually take over the use of laptops. Tablets are lighter, smaller, easy to use, and can do all of the basic functions a laptop can do. I wouldn't be surprised if laptops became the cell phones of the 80s.

FA 102B/01 Powerpoint

FA 102B/01 Powerpoint

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"The Valorised Designer" by Nigel Whiteley

I began a short discussion today about Nigel Whiteley's "The Valorised Designer."  The essay is about how design education must change so those who have degrees in design can be "valorised."  Whiteley suggests that a valorised designer is one cares about both the social and environmental implications of their work.

I loved the essay and I agree with Whiteley on most of his points.  I think the class liked it too because they joined in on the discussion and had very good responses.

First Day Peer Teaching 2/1/2011

I was very pleased with my first day as a peer teacher.  I wasn't nervous and I knew my subject very well.  The only I was worried about was speaking too fast (which I feel like I did at some points) and not being too "teacher-like."  I spoke to another peer teacher who gave me great advice.  He said, "you have to learn how to draw the line between 'peer' and 'teacher'."

I went over the layout of my powerpoint which the rest of the class is supposed to copy.  I also showed some students how to form the layout, choose colors, a background, etc.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to next class.