Finding the Tools for Success

To be successful in any engineering or science major you need to know how to ask for help. Asking for help is something everyone should embrace. The tools some teachers provide to students is lacking and additional assistance is needed. As a computer science major, I have found this especially true. I often seek outside help to answer questions when I am unable to answer the question myself.

In my experience, I have found YouTube to be an extremely useful free resource for understanding basic concepts. YouTube is like a tool box and each video is like a tool. All you have to do is find the video that suits your learning style. I have learned multiple programming languages by doing this. I was recently contracted to build a website for a local school. I have never done any website related programming so I searched YouTube for help. I discovered a channel dedicated to teaching HTML and CSS and within a week I had the skills I needed to design a website.

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I tend to avoid asking others for help unless I know I desperately need help. Seeking help from others has benefited me in a few projects but I have found it’s not a reliable way to find solutions. There is always a chance the person might be busy or simply might not know the answer at all. This could be because I don't have the right connections, so I do expect this to change in the future as I meet more experienced programmers.

Tools are always changing and getting better. Competition has made these tools more useful and most importantly affordable. As more and more people turn to YouTube to learn, websites that specialize in teaching are forced to improve the quality of their lectures to stay competitive. In the end, it is a big win for any student.

References 

(2009, Dec 29). 3 Benefits to Using YouTube in your E-Learning. http://blog.integratedlearningservices.com/2009/12/3-benefits-to-using-youtube-in-your-e.html

Virtual Reality: Gimmick or the Future?

Virtual reality is an upcoming technology that has an uncertain fate. Virtual reality is basically a computer simulated environment projected to a person. The appeal of a virtual reality device is out there, but whether it will take off will be up to consumers and industry. Will it go down the same path as 3D TV technology? Or will it become the next big thing?

One of the projected uses of virtual reality is gaming. The depth can add to a video game is unmatched by any other technology today. The biggest appeal of virtual reality gaming headsets is the realism and immersion it provides the gamer. The future of virtual reality in this industry will rely on how consumers embrace it.   

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It also has the potential to be used in industries outside the consumer market. The Norwegian army for example, is currently testing tanks equipped with virtual reality devices. These vehicles are equipped with four different cameras, each pointing in a different direction to allow for a 360 degree view angle. The cameras then feed information to the virtual reality headset allowing the user to see exactly what is going on outside without the risk of being outside. 

I think virtual reality has a future in our technology driven world. There are many industries such as the arms industry where this technology can flourish. Even if it does not take off in the gaming industry, it will eventually find its own niche. Virtual reality has almost limitless growth. There are many ways to simulate a virtual reality experience, but we are limited to our current technology. It might even be possible to create virtual reality through neural stimulation. As technology advances, so will the success of virtual reality.

References

Starr, M. (2014, May 6). Norwegian army trails Oculus Rift to drive tanks. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/news/norwegian-army-trials-oculus-rift-to-drive-tanks/

How Well Do You Know Beta Testing?

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/2013/11/19/i-want-you-for-beta-testing/

Chances are you have probably been part of a beta test. Beta testing is commonly used by developers to test their projects. However; it is not the only way beta testing is used. A common misconception about beta testing is that they are are all the same. Developers choose to beta test for different reasons. Some developers beta test to discover bugs while others want public opinion.

Google is a company that beta tests in a very different way. Google tends to keep its products in the beta stage until the product meets its strict standards. These standards are so strict that it can take months even years for products to leave the beta stage. One extreme example is Gmail. Gmail was launched in 2004, and it didn’t leave the beta stage until five years after! Another is Google Maps which recently left its beta stage February 2014.

Another common misconception is that beta testing is the only test developers do. Beta testing is actually subsequent to internal testing; also known as alpha testing. Beta testing is only used if the developer feels that the alpha testing is not enough. That is why not every project goes through beta testing. 

I am a firm believer that beta testing is essential for any product's success. The success of any product comes down providing the needs of the consumer and beta testing can make that possible. 

References

Schofield J. (2009, Jul 10). Gmail finally slips out of beta. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/jul/07/gmail-out-of-beta

Why Prototyping Is A Must

A prototype is worth a thousand words. Projects big and small can benefit from a carefully drawn out prototype. A prototype can finalize the design before any actual development happens. This can save crucial time in the long run because it can avoid any late changes in the development process. Late changes can be costly and time consuming because that would mean some existing work would be thrown out completely. It can also streamline the project by reducing any confusion associated with how the final product might look.

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I recently started using paper prototypes to help me visualize my coding projects. This process has been helpful because it helps me breakdown each step. It has been especially helpful in a recent web development project. Our clients expected a brand new website, so we started off by creating a paper prototype. My team and I were able to create a final design in a matter of hours, and we ended up sticking to that same overall design throughout the project. 
I did not believe paper prototyping could help my programming until I started using it. A nicely designed prototype can predict the direction of the project much better than words can. That is why creating a concrete prototype can be so powerful.  I did not believe paper prototyping could help my programming until I started using it. A nicely designed prototype can predict the direction of the project much better than words can. That is why creating a concrete prototype can be so powerful. 

References

Usability Testing. Retrieved from http://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/usability-testing.html

Why blog?

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Blogging is a great way to share your voice with the world. It can give you the ability to spread ideas to people all around the world. One beneficial outcome of blogging is branding. Employers today tend to use the internet to scout out potential employees, so having a large footprint on the internet is important to stay competitive. Reading someone’s blog can tell you a lot about the person. It can show how well the blogger can write or even how the blogger might think.

Other people blog to educate others in ways mainstream media cannot. A good blog for programmers is Alfred Thompson's blog

(http://blog.acthompson.net/). Thompson is a computer science teacher that blogs about his opinions and tips on programming. At first it might seem a little bland, but he actually makes some interesting points. He talks about interesting topics you can only find in blogs like his.

There are also people who do it just for fun. I initially started this blog as a requirement for a class but it became much more than that. Writing became a form of expression for me. I was not expecting people to read my posts; it just felt good putting my thoughts down online. I am blogging now because I simply enjoy it and I hope you can find your own reason to blog.

References

Thompson, A. Computer Science Teacher. Retrieved from http://blog.acthompson.net/

QR Codes – More than just Advertising

Quick Response codes also known as QR codes are pretty much everywhere in our society. Public use of QR codes are used primarily in advertising but recent innovations are beginning changing that.

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Researchers are currently trying to integrate QR codes into the medical industry. They want ER doctors to have instant access to patient files so they can quickly diagnose patients. This is achieved with the use of a QR code and Google Glass. Google Glass brings the functionality of a smartphone into to a wearable eye accessory. It has the ability to project information into a built in head-up display. All doctors, with this technology, would need to do is look at a QR code posted in the patient’s room and they would have access to the patient’s file, lab reports and other patient data. This technology is beneficial because it will save doctors time. It will also give doctors the ability to read patient data and examine the patient at the same time.  

QR codes will become even more relevant in society as we keep innovating. Before I learned of this new technology, I could not see QR codes being used beyond advertising so seeing innovations like this one is quite an eye opener for me. I can’t wait to see what QR codes can do for us in the future. 

References

Brodkin J. (2014, Mar 12). ER doctors use Google Glass and QR codes to identify patients. Retrieved from http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/03/er-doctors-use-google-glass-and-qr-codes-to-identify-patients/

Why Cyber-Security Matters

There is no such thing as perfect software. There is no fool-proof security measure to fully protect security systems. Hackers are always trying to find holes in security measures. They exploit these holes to get important data from or to cause damage the victim they are attacking.When people think of hacking, they usually think of theft of personal information or taking down websites. When in reality, it has a much greater impact in the world.

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A big part of the Ukrainian-Russian situation is cyber-warfare. Ukraine is currently fighting Russian hackers that are targeting important Ukrainian infrastructures. Darren Hayes, a computer security and forensics expert, claims that the damage done by the hackers is severe. Ukraine’s Security and Defense Council was recently taken down by a denial-of-service attack which immobilized their networks leaving parts of the country defenseless.

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These kinds of attacks have far reaching consequences. Some other attacks include cutoff of telecommunication networks, disruption in financial sectors, and sometimes even cutoff of utility services. These attacks cause millions of dollars in damage and has the ability to stop productivity in a given area.

Cyber-crime has significantly changed over the years. I feel that it is hard to feel safe in a world that is becoming more and more digital. It feels like there are always new reports of people or companies getting hacked. With all this new cyber-crime, we depend on cyber-security experts to devise new ways to combat these hackers.

References

Kachkan, A., Marinovic, K., Zivkovik, A., Frye, B., & Caloianu, I. (2014). Around the Bloc: Ukraine Clashes Claim Their First Lives, Kremlin Accused of Backing Cyber Attacks. Transitions Online, (01/28).

Bender, J. (2014, Mar 10). EXPERT: The Ukraine-Russia Cyberwar Is 'More Serious And Damaging' Than The Annexation Of Crimea. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-cyberwar-extremely-serious-2014-3#ixzz2vfoojEUA