Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Scavenger Hunt Cop Out
Uhm...scavenger hunt. I know there's a crapload of New Media going on around, but...I'm pressed for time. SO...here's my favorite example in Indy.
http://o2ed.com/
Why is it my fav? Because I work there! Okay, it might not be my FAVORITE...but...just...roll with it?
We deliver online training to mainly machine workers in the container of Flash. Basically it's an interactive way to give information. We design, animate, program, etc. the courses to reflect the actual functions of giant multi-million dollar machines! It also gives the worker an opportunity to see a machine up close (or at least a representation of it) and experiment with it without having to actually be near a machine.
So, umm...yeah. Peace out!
http://o2ed.com/
Why is it my fav? Because I work there! Okay, it might not be my FAVORITE...but...just...roll with it?
We deliver online training to mainly machine workers in the container of Flash. Basically it's an interactive way to give information. We design, animate, program, etc. the courses to reflect the actual functions of giant multi-million dollar machines! It also gives the worker an opportunity to see a machine up close (or at least a representation of it) and experiment with it without having to actually be near a machine.
So, umm...yeah. Peace out!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Quantum Hoohah
http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~cscallah/experiments/quantum.swf
I was experimenting with some Flash stuff, and decided to try and whip this up. It's not a true representation of quantum mechanics, but I think the connection can be made.
Basically, we're given all sorts of choices (infinite, or so I've heard) but each choice we makes influences our next one. And so on and so on...
I was experimenting with some Flash stuff, and decided to try and whip this up. It's not a true representation of quantum mechanics, but I think the connection can be made.
Basically, we're given all sorts of choices (infinite, or so I've heard) but each choice we makes influences our next one. And so on and so on...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Vat Ist Nu Meeeeeedia?
So, today we discussed a bit about what New Media is. It seems to mean different things to different people, but there are a few constants. For one, the terms "digital" and "creative" seem to pop up often.
My best attempt at trying to describe what New Media is taking what Computer Science uses to do what Herron does. That's definitely oversimplifying, but I'm trying to say that we create SOMETHING for some purpose with an artist's eye, but with a technology-based approach. This can take a million different forms - for example, using Photoshop to create a digital image (even one that appears to have been created from traditional art means). But where I find New Media to REALLY flourish is when you use what makes digital technology such a wonderful tool to its fullest. Personally, I've been messing around a lot with using Flash to generate some...well, it's better to just show. Here are a few examples of my recent experimentations...
http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~cscallah/experiments/fireWorx05_mouse.swf
http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~cscallah/experiments/painter03.swf
I would say that it pulls on the art side of New Media since...well, it sort of just exists for its own sake (and yeah, there are a few deeper concepts about enjoying the moment, appreciating what we have since it's very fleeting, etc. etc.), but it doesn't really have a practical purpose. And we've got the digital side of it, since it's...digital (all Flash, by the way).
On a side note, I almost always get frustrated with classes like today. Discussing something that has tons of possible variations, interpretations, and so on just tends to wind up a jumbled mess in a class this size.
Guh...brain just got gunked up. I might expand on these thoughts later, but don't count on it. I seem to be runnin' out of mental energy...
My best attempt at trying to describe what New Media is taking what Computer Science uses to do what Herron does. That's definitely oversimplifying, but I'm trying to say that we create SOMETHING for some purpose with an artist's eye, but with a technology-based approach. This can take a million different forms - for example, using Photoshop to create a digital image (even one that appears to have been created from traditional art means). But where I find New Media to REALLY flourish is when you use what makes digital technology such a wonderful tool to its fullest. Personally, I've been messing around a lot with using Flash to generate some...well, it's better to just show. Here are a few examples of my recent experimentations...
http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~cscallah/experiments/fireWorx05_mouse.swf
http://www.cs.iupui.edu/~cscallah/experiments/painter03.swf
I would say that it pulls on the art side of New Media since...well, it sort of just exists for its own sake (and yeah, there are a few deeper concepts about enjoying the moment, appreciating what we have since it's very fleeting, etc. etc.), but it doesn't really have a practical purpose. And we've got the digital side of it, since it's...digital (all Flash, by the way).
On a side note, I almost always get frustrated with classes like today. Discussing something that has tons of possible variations, interpretations, and so on just tends to wind up a jumbled mess in a class this size.
Guh...brain just got gunked up. I might expand on these thoughts later, but don't count on it. I seem to be runnin' out of mental energy...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Bleepin' Bleep
Alright, so What the #$* Do We Know? was definitely an interesting watch...one that I'm glad I've seen.
HOWEVER, I can't say that I buy it. Much of it borders on just...guessing and frankly, making things up. I would liken it to a wonderful thought exercise - it really can exercise the mind to attempt to wrap your brain around the concepts presented, but ultimately, does it really help anybody? Perhaps somebody can get a positive message out of it (say, "change in the world starts with my thoughts" or something), and that's not too bad a thing. I just question the true value of all of this. Especially if this is something that's literally beyond our capacity to understand, why try to understand it? In fact, saying that it's not really possible for our minds to truly grasp it seems to be a bit of a cop out - if we can't grasp it, how can we really disprove it?
Anywho, like I said, I'm glad I saw this. I do really dig some of the concepts (especially the idea of infinite possibilities and splintering into alternate realities), and the idea that we never really truly TOUCH anything is pretty nifty. The movie was put together well, with nice transitions between documentary and narrative styles.
For anyone who's open-minded, I definitely recommend seeing this movie to see an alternate theory of how reality works. I just can't say that there's anything too practical about seeing the movie. Sometimes, I just think that trying to understand the WHY of absolutely everything is a lost cause - as that trio from Toronto once said "Why are we here? Because we're here - roll the bones. Why does it happen? Because it happens - roll the bones."
fin.
HOWEVER, I can't say that I buy it. Much of it borders on just...guessing and frankly, making things up. I would liken it to a wonderful thought exercise - it really can exercise the mind to attempt to wrap your brain around the concepts presented, but ultimately, does it really help anybody? Perhaps somebody can get a positive message out of it (say, "change in the world starts with my thoughts" or something), and that's not too bad a thing. I just question the true value of all of this. Especially if this is something that's literally beyond our capacity to understand, why try to understand it? In fact, saying that it's not really possible for our minds to truly grasp it seems to be a bit of a cop out - if we can't grasp it, how can we really disprove it?
Anywho, like I said, I'm glad I saw this. I do really dig some of the concepts (especially the idea of infinite possibilities and splintering into alternate realities), and the idea that we never really truly TOUCH anything is pretty nifty. The movie was put together well, with nice transitions between documentary and narrative styles.
For anyone who's open-minded, I definitely recommend seeing this movie to see an alternate theory of how reality works. I just can't say that there's anything too practical about seeing the movie. Sometimes, I just think that trying to understand the WHY of absolutely everything is a lost cause - as that trio from Toronto once said "Why are we here? Because we're here - roll the bones. Why does it happen? Because it happens - roll the bones."
fin.
Monday, March 30, 2009
My contribution...
This was my task in our comic to Mary Ellen - the inking of the comic. I also did a diiirrrrty version:
No, not THAT kind of dirty...
Anyway, I hope the comic pleases her! Seeing as she is one that definitely respects creativity, I would imagine most creative endeavors would bring about some happiness. The absurdity of our comic (along with the Jitterbug and computer trouble references) should hopefully be that little sumthin' sumthin' that makes this work shine!
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