Tools

As a computer science, I use tools that suit me in ways that I find that makes doing my job more faster and effective. If there is a faster, more streamline and easier method of doing the same task with a different tool, I will immediately adopt it to my toolbox. 

This semester I really discovered the power of using the Cygwin to compile my C programs on windows. It comes with a terminal that functions just like a UNIX terminal, but in a windows operating environment.





One of my favorite tools to use is Sublime Text, which coincidentally is a text editor that I used over Emacs because I thought the latter was extremely clunky and awkward to use.


Currently tools, are starting to become more similar to each other as newer versions start become available. What I could see happening is that eventually there is going to be a point where there could be lawsuits occurring when companies will start suing other companies on basis on infringement. This could also spur more innovations to make tools more effective, such as haptic feedback or alternate means of input.

Game Development

Video games are one of the most fastest and biggest industries within the current technological market. The amount of time consumers invest within video games collectively is astounding, and the culture created behind it is very common place in popular culture. The development of these video games, and the stress behind creating these video games, is something that people are not entirely aware of.

Many of the triple-A production video games, such as Call of Duty, Mass Effect, or Battlefield have massive production teams around them. With tight schedules and often hectic due dates, these teams often work tirelessly around the clock, building the next multimillion dollar blockbuster video game.

There are also independent video game developers, individuals who are not affiliated with any publisher. They set their due dates and their deadlines. However, this comes at a cost: they are not paid hourly and their sole income solely depend on their end-product. There are no benefits, no vacations, no insurance whatsoever. It ultimately depends on the success of their end product, thus there is a high risk-reward.

The documentary "Indie Game: The Movie" covers this extensively. It takes the narrative of several indie gamers and covers their journey in their quest to create the next big indie title. Its a gritty, but realistic depiction of the kinds of pressures and stress that these individuals face. Another similiar documentary is "Pixels and Polygons"



GUevara-Villalobos, Orlando. "Cultures of independent game production: Examining the relationship between community and labour ." Digra. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. <http://www.digra.org/wp-content/uploads/digital-library/11307.08157.pdf>.

Beta Testing

Every iteration of software that has been extensively designed needs a means of testing to ensure working order and functionality. This is especially important when projects start becoming increasingly bigger as the developmental cycle draws out. Such applications to use beta testing are imperative in applications such as mobile applications, video games, and financial software.

 

Beta testing can be either open or closed, depending on the decision of the developers. A closed beta testing session only allows a very selective group of testers to use an early build of a piece of software. Quality evaluation is heavily depended on the type of feedback provided by the testers. Thus, there needs to be measures taken to insure that the testing group are that of quality. Ideally, a closed beta testing environment should have testers that have extensive prior knowledge with testing.





With open beta testing, the early build of the advertised software of open to the public. This exemplifies the notion of "quantity over quality". There is usually a forums that users can input their feedback and ideas to make the product better. The downside of this is that the developmental process is at risk of being lead by the "mob mentality", and possibly derailing the original vision for the original project.

Plotnick , Neil . "Best practices for beta testers | ZDNet." ZDNet. N.p., 1 Mar. 2001. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://www.zdnet.com/news/best-practices-for-beta-testers/298382>.

Plotnick , Neil . "Best practices for beta testers | ZDNet." ZDNet. N.p., 1 Mar. 2001. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. <http://www.zdnet.com/news/best-practices-for-beta-testers/298382>.

Usability Testing

As a necessity for computer interfaces, it is important to test the quality and the function of all the implemented features to ensure that everything is working in proper order. The same applies for software and their hardware counterparts, as each needs repetitive and stringent means of testing to insure against the likelihood of error or defect.

In the realm of computer science, software is an always changing field. As the famous saying goes
"Products are never finished, only abandoned.", figuratively: it means that while the product itself has fulfilled all the requirements, it is not particular "finished" in terms of efficiency or portability. There is always for improvement, just never enough time.

To make ends meet in software working envornments, the traditional means of development used to be known as the "waterfall method". This method is nearly obselete due to its inflexible structure and quality control. Following the flow chart below, companies would require a software team to implement each category in its own independent workflow, without any involvement from any of the other categories. This has a tendency to create a frustrating workflow, especially if requirements or specifications change (which they WILL). It does not allow the programmer to go back and modify any previous works since it will be too late.


To counteract the frustration of the waterfall method, the iterative design was implemented. Instead of having each process being an independent and detached work process, testing occurs at every level. This way, quality and usability can be tested thoroughly to ensure optimum functionality.


Nielsen, J. (n.d.). Nielsen Norman Group. Parallel & Iterative Design + Competitive Testing = High Usability. Retrieved April 13, 2014, from http://www.nngroup.com/articles/parallel-and-iterative-design/

Waterfall model. (n.d.). Princeton University. Retrieved April 13, 2014, from https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Waterfall_model.html

Blogs, and more blogs.

Ever since the advent of written history, mankind has often documented its actions, achievements, as well as events that occurred within its life. As a species, we want to feel involved with the happenings of the world. Hence we blog about our thought on certain topics and events. Blogs can come in form of text blogs, such as Wordpress or Xanga. Others can take form of  image-boards: such as Tumblr, LiveJournal, or MySpace. The third form that blogs can take shape is in the form of podcasts. Podcasts can be a series of video or audio recording that expresses the blogger's coverage on a particular subject or event. These blogs are not always opinionated, as some serve educational or informative purposes, as some government and educational institutions have their own specific blogs to keep the public informed.



Lastly it is important that blogs be a medium for debate and the circulation of thought. Many movements such as Occupy Wall Street have been set in motion following a flood of blog posts regarding the issue. It is an expression of free speech that is to be reckon with, a tool that can have immense power in the hands of intellectuals.

Kamel Buolos, M. N., Maramba , I., & Wheeler, S. (2006, August 15). BMC Medical Education | Full text | Wikis, blogs and podcasts: a new generation of Web-based tools for virtual collaborative clinical practice and education. Retrieved March 23, 2014, from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/6/41

QR Codes

Chances are that if you have a smart phone, you will have a scanner app  that allows you to scan QR codes, such as the one above. If you can it, you will be linked to my Linkedin profile. Neat, isn't it? Here's some interesting trivia: QR codes originated from Japanese automotive manufacturers for industrial usage, but it slowly made a huge hit across mainstream media for its cross-platform comparability.

QR codes function by the means of using  matrices using different a combination of pixels in up to nine distributed quadrant across the 'square' that the code is encapsulated within. Each quadrant contains a particular pattern that all sequence together to produce the URL code that is sent to the scanner. Compared with traditional bar-codes, there is no need to worry about issues regarding alignment, and QR codes allow for alpha-numeric combinations otherwise not reproducible by bar-codes.

It gives users means to attain URLs to websites rather than to input them manually. QR codes have been used for advertisements as well, with great success. The potential business revenue generated by QR codes will only grow from this point due to the increasing number of smart phones in society. With the ever-increasing integration of technology in everyday culture, it's only a matter of time that QR codes will start replacing everyday means of identification. QR codes comes in many different revisions and one can even customize the color and add an image to their QR codes.

 

Dou, X., & Li, H. (2008, December 1). CREATIVE USE OF QR CODES IN CONSUMER COMMUNICATION.: EBSCOhost. Retrieved March 17, 2014, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=3e3a104b-a19d-46c5-919d-3e27d6bc817b%40sessionmgr4005&vid=2&hid=4212