Author Archives: caislas

from interactivity to back-channel (1/3)

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The last weeks I had gather A LOT  of food for the though, or  perhaps my brain is strangely configurated since my basics. I will try to process all these ideas  before express them out in here step by step. Today’s turn is of “INTERACTIVE”. (Thing I will research after my PhD, as now I am running out of time).

Interactive is a powerful and complex concept, that I do not have on clear. In the dictionary as a second definition of this adjective we find Interactive in “Computer Science: Of or relating to a program that responds to user activity.”  But the first definition is: “Acting or capable of acting on each other.” (source: the free dictionary).

Interesting…. as we always focus on the tool (in here any computer and/or machine) and superficial layer of understanding, we think and/or assume that a system is interactive if it makes noises, changes the graphics on the screen, or do something correlated to the “input” we are given to it. In other words we consider that a system responds to our activity if we can perceive without effort a “change” just by looking at it, or smelling it, or touching it or hearing it. Hence, the system is interactive. My question: if something does not “react” or “respond” according to my expectations then it is not interactive ???

To make my post shorter, then I will stop here, continue with the second part…

interactive-website

interactive-website

 

Credit of image: http://sivers.org/interactive-website

 

 

getting serious at work chapter I – references

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Two basic pre-conditions are needed if one wants to be a researcher:

a)     To read, read, read…..

This point does not need explanation, just one MUST read A LOT and CONSTANTLY.

b)    Have a bibliographic management software.

RefWorks has been my election for some time. But there is always a “but” each time I need to use it for my writing. My poor references are always a mess.

Some days ago I read about Zotero. It seems that the light is getting to my reference-mess.

Each person is a world, then each one takes its own decision. Zotero is just an option, which I recommend to put an eye on it!

zotero in my manzanita

zotero in my manzanita

 

 

 

work hard and play hard

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In the last weeks I had worked as crazy  but also  I had the opportunity to be in Lappland, Joensuu, Tampere, Bahamas and Orlando, and in each spot the main focus has been: life, learning and games.

 It will be needed some time to diggest all these, but in brief to bring together industry and academia towards a similar goal besides to be a must (from my perspective) it is full of  richness. Yes, I have much to share, the FDG2009, was a learning experience in all senses. In the last days (weeks) I have seen collaboration between individuals in amazing ways, and the interaction with systems (between human-human and human-machine) very innovative, “pervasive“, immersive. In few words, I was shaked to wake up and realize that our “progress“ goes faster than I was thinking in my small brain. Yes, there is much to work and to do, I am slow in my own process, but persistant in the path. However it is room for everybody and every idea. Life and things are constantly moving and evolving… nothing is static!

“The future is today and tomorrow is just one dream away”  this is one of my BIGGEST learning experiences, which I knew, but sometimes I forget or I need some reminding about it. The are different worlds, but we have the most important elements: time, imagination and mind, then let’s go for it!!!

I wish all the individuals in this planet listen to themselves and work together towards believe in themselves, in  their friends and family and harmonize all that “magic” with our amazing and surprising plannet. Every corner of this globe is just a wonderful spot full of surprises!

More details of this will come soon, just reporting from „Rock& Roll Coaster“ leeet’s rock!!!!!  Now to keep on my last hrs of Mickey Mouse’s overdosis! 🙂

reporting

reporting

the power of the mind

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Opportunities for learning something are always present. Each single moment of our existence can be a learning experience.  Interesting enough it seems it is up to us to make the best out of each opportunity.

As time pass by, I get the impression that most of the learning possibilities that one has are not utilized.  One can be “educated” or trained for something in specific. Actually our economical-social system has built educational institutions, that as far as I understand, offer to individuals the information and training needed to create the “proper” skills to function in our society.

Through the diversity of projects I am right now actively working with besides my own PhD focus (LieksaMyst, SciMyst 2009, Biosphere project,  CS students, etc.) I see and sense continually: we need to learn to listen constantly without loosing our self-confidence. Each one of us is so important, and has an incredible richness inside. When one can exteriorize this richness and connected with others, the results go beyond any expectation.

Then, while listening and putting a bit more of attention in the self, it is possible to realize the importance of the power of the mind.  Actually that is the core of everything we do, as its influence is more relevant and decisive than all the information and training that each one of us can have. Our mind is just incredibly powerful.

What your mind says is the truth and each one of us will act and experience according to it, because that is the truth.  If you mind says you can, you will do it, independently if you have many resources or none, you just know you can do it and you will. If you mind says forget about it, you will give up even if you have all what it is needed to achieve that goal.  Furthermore, our interpretations of our activities and relationships are closely related to what our mind believes.

It is just fascinating, how my mind affects me. As it happens to me, I wouldn’t be surprise it happens to others as well.  What I/you truly believe, it is what it is, but not necessary is what it really is. One needs to be open enough and listen carefully to realize there are different options, nothing is static.

 The power of the mind is unlimited, and I attempt to say personally under-use. In several cases it is controlled by external individuals  (e.g. “brain washing”) or habits. But it does not mean we can’t have access to it and shape it to our will. At the end our mind is ours.

each flame is unique and powerful

 

shooting sequel

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My common sense can be losing direction, but there is something that confuses me. Some days ago in Germany, the Galleries Kaufhof announced a strategy to retire from their shelves the “killer games”(killerspiel) a.k.a. violent games. This is a response from the school shooting they had in early March (see my previous post)

The intention of the departmental store is respectable. However still I wonder, why don’t we educate people? and over all, why do not give time to listen to individuals? We need time, respect and love to evolve as humans. Wondering why is not possible to hear about laws or actions towards that direction? that is what confuses me.  I think this problem is deeper rooted than only ban a product genre, but where are those deeper actions?.

Each time I read the newspapers, my reaction is: we are in an URGENT NEED of  EDUCATION and COMPREHENSION. Or in other words, to have proper information first and then be able to digest it to finally develop an individual with common sense.

 Let me give a complete unrefined example, just an impulsive one. If a youngster in a “develop” country makes a school-shooting, then the video games are found potentially guilty of such event. If the school shooting is in a “conflict” country, the violent video games are not even in the picture. Well one can say there are other types of “violent” immersion.

 However, after any shooting event what it comes to the surface after the investigations is:  anger, frustration, depression…. Shooting seems to be the only way for the shooter to make things “change”.  Hence, my main question: why don’t we care about all these problems muuuuuuuuch earlier ?, not only wait for the problems to boil and then see the bullet.

Well everybody puts a small grain of sand each day, let’s see how the story continues….

comforting

comforting by a book *BIG HUG*

 

 

credit of image: http://www.thebookzombie.com/