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How do you take notes during lecture? I don't usually bring my laptop to class. I usually write my notes. I have an outline - headings are the main points. Within each one I outline the notes by wh...

My first article on berkeleyByte! It's not an article as much as a mini Q&A, but it's still my first post as a journalist for berkeleyByte! Check it out!

#berkeleyByte #journalism #berkeley #note taking #design #culture #college #technology

02.18.14 - Macbook App Recommendations

So I am a recent owner of a Macbook. 13" Macbook Pro with Retina Display to be exact. And I really really really like my new computer. I don't know why I was so against getting a Mac before.

Well, I do. It has to do with my love of OneNote and need to use it constantly, something you are only able to do on a PC. But that's a story for another blog post.

But now I'm a Mac and excited to learn about all there is to do with my new device! I kind of love productivity tools, and recently surveyed my Facebook friends for their favorite apps. Here is the list I compiled:

Sparrow: http://sparrowmailapp.com/mac.php Mail-consolidation app with great UI $9.99 NEWS: Was bought by Google. Not being updated. Sketch: http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/ Vector art, replaces need for Photoshop/Illustrator $69 Skim: http://skim-app.sourceforge.net/ PDF reader and annotator Free Zotero: http://www.zotero.org/ Personal research assistant; helps collect documents and articles Free MenuMeters: http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/ Set of CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring tools for Mac OS X Free AirMail: http://airmailapp.com/ Another nifty mail app $1.99 InsomniaX: https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/22211/insomniax Disable sleep mode on the Mac whenever you want Free Caffeine: http://lightheadsw.com/caffeine/ Prevent your Mac from sleeping/showing screen saver when you click the coffee cup Free on App Store Latexian: http://tacosw.com/latexian/ Great LaTeX editor, includes live preview of PDF being created $9.99 Fantastical: http://flexibits.com/fantastical Really nice calendar app with easy-to-add events features $9.99 at the moment (and free trial) in the App Store

(Disclaimer: The only apps I have downloaded/used so far from this list are Skim, Zotero, and Caffeine.)

#mac #apps #mac apps #recommendations #technology

02.09.14 - My very first Arduino. Goal for February: Build something cool.

#arduino #sparkfun #computer science #Critical Making

01.28.14 - Without Their Permission

Today was a pretty cool day. I had two important presentations to give, and then I got to meet Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit. Not bad for a Tuesday.

The first presentation was in my graduate-level class called Critical Making, subtitled "Material Protocols and Culture". Kind of dificult to explain, but you could say it's about making, hacking, studio culture, and technology of the future. We read some articles to go over in class today that would get us in the mindset as we go into the rest of the semester/our first provocation (aka group project). Four of us were chosen to present for 10 minutes each, and the article I spoke on is called Uncomfortable User Experiences. I would definitely recommend reading it - it's really interesting, and a different way to look at interaction design.

The second presentation was in Berkeley Innovation, the human-centered design club on campus that I am President of. We had an infosession to provide information for prospective members. I was kind of scared at first, because I had heard the old presidents speak at previous infosessions, and they had such a good job. I also can get pretty nervous about speaking at times - it's pretty random, but I think it has to do with weather something is being graded or not. Because during this presentation I didn't feel that nervous heart-pounding at all! I actually got into a pretty good flow. Hopefully we have a lot of great applicants, but unfortunately we won't be able to accept everyone - there were over 50 people at the infosession, after all!

And now for meeting Alexis Ohanian! So amazing, so wonderful. I went to his talk for his new book, Without Their Permission, about how the internet is changing the rules of the game. What game? Every game. Entrepreneurship, startups, who can become famous, who can become successful, who can access information, etc. His talk was great! He even included a variety of memes (including my favorite, Grumpy Cat). Some of my favorite quotes of his from the night: "Ideas don't matter. Execution does." "Don't just settle for wantrepreneurship." "If anyone thinks they have it all figured out, they're either lyring or delusional." Also, the Reddit co-founder's thoughts on Digg: "Here was a competitor who clearly knows how to use CSS." (In the very beginning, YC stages, reddit was lacking...more than a bit.)

I also met Alexis afterward, and he was great to talk to! Definitely a really interesting, inspiring guy. He's got some more universities lined up on his book tour, and that information can be found at withouttheirpermission.

So overall, very busy and successful day. Now time to get all my reading done that I've been putting off.

#wtpbook #alexis ohanian #design #berkeley #entrepreneuship #blogging

01.23.14 - Critical Making, Day 2

Today we learned about prototyping with foam core, using a lightbox to photograph our work, and how diverse a "hack" can actually be. The first two pictures are the Homeless Helper, a "waterproof" sign and money holder to be a "companion to our target audience," as per the prompt for the in-class assignment.

So excited for the rest of the semester!

#critical making #berkeley #school #photograph #hands-on learning

01.18.14 - Day 18/365 - The Fondue Cowboy

#fondue #food #photo #delicious #365project #my first fondue ever

01.17.14 - Day 17/365 - We couldn't figure out if this was meant to be a unicorn...

#unicorn #chalk #photo #365project

01.16.14 - Day 16/365 - Frozen

So yesterday I had the pleasure of finally watching the movie Frozen, which came out this past November. I had heard a lot of hype, and luckily little spoilers, so I went in purely with the knowledge of one song and both the criticisms and praise I had read online.

The criticisms were mostly geared toward the lack of diversity, the major changes from the original The Snow Queen tale, and the resemblance of the main female characters to Rapunzel from Tangled. The praise came from every single friend I talked to who had already seen the film.

Sometimes, when I go into a movie or TV show that has been hyped up too much, it doesn't meet my lofty expectations. This has happened quite a few times in the past.

This was not one of those times.

Frozen was amazing. The characters were strong, the music was catchy, and the animation was beautiful. I wonder if Disney has purposefully decided to test the waters of animation in its more recent films, such as with the difficulties of creating Rapunzel's hair in Tangled and with the many intricate ways to perfect ice and snow in Frozen. It excites me to think about what they plan to tackle next.

I like that the music also helped drive the character arcs and personalities. I suppose that makes sense for a musical, but I never thought before how one song could inspire an entirely new view of a character and their actions, as "Let It Go" did for the character of Elsa. And now the song is nominated for an Oscar.

Even though I had no part in the making of this movie, only getting glimpses of artwork and stills from its Facebook fanpage throughout the movie-making process, I am very proud of all its success.

Frozen, thanks for continuing my love of animated movies.

#frozen #movie #review #365project #disney #definitely recommend

01.15.14 - Day 15/365 - Homecoming

Yesterday, I sat on a plane for 10 hours as we raced the sun across the world and reached the airport before it set.

It is quite jarring to think that this home of mine, this beautiful campus and vibrant city, are mostly the same as when I left. But I see it all through new eyes. Eyes that have taken in centuries-old castles and cities. Eyes that overlooked Paris from atop a giant ferris wheel. Eyes that have taken in the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci in person. Eyes that roamed the waterways of The Netherlands as my feet carried me across the cobblestone streets. Eyes that squinted into the sun of a gloriously bright Czech Republic (which went back to its wintery self right after we left). Eyes that appreciated the curiousness of the geese and swans as they waddled toward people instead of away throughout Hyde Park, London.

The rest of my senses, too, have found a newfound appreciation for the world. In the past three weeks, I smelled the fresh baked tarts and treats of Belgian, Parisian, and Czech bakeries. I heard new languages, English spoken by many accents, and the notes of street performers, metro performers, and songs playing on the radio that followed us on our journey throughout Europe. I touched the fireplace in Shakespeare's birthplace, Delft tiles a couple centuries old, the walls of the Annex that Anne Frank and her family hid in, Abbey Road under my feet as we crossed the street to take the iconic photo, and plenty of train doors. I tasted a six-course meal in a boat on the Seine for New Year's Eve, traditionally prepared Chinese lobster and duck, the meaty richness of meals in Germany and the Czech Republic, butterbeer in the studio where the Harry Potter movies were filmed, Sunday roast in England, and even fish and chips for the very first time.

I spoke with many strangers, laughing with them as we shared our travels. I visited family friends I had not seen in ten years. I learned from everyone and anyone - from educated guides at the Lourve to an amicable waitress in a pub in London to the friends and family that toured us through the many towns, cities, and villages that crossed our paths on the journey. My friend and I even got stuck on a train in two separate instances, giving us the unplanned opportunity to see a bit more of Europe (well, the train stations of Europe).

Before this winter, I had only ever been to one country - The United States of America.

Now, I have been to nine: USA, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and England. Some countries we spent half a day in, some several days, some simply the airport, but all have been worth the memories they've created.

As my friend and I have been saying, it is time to move back into "reality," but I have a feeling that "reality" will never be the same.

#europe #winter travel #memories #senses #thoughts #365project #blogging