Tuesday August 08, 2006

Preaching to the OSS...

Evangelist?

Hmmm. Open source communities are a big topic these days. What works, what doesn't. The biggest complaint from those who are not coders is that OSS communities are not setup to be inclusive of other disciplines and domain knowledge. That the meritocracy underlying all OSS communities is built around the concept that you earn merit but putting back code - and other disciplines do not contribute code.

Ok. So I read a bunch of governance policies, charters, mission statements, and threads for various OSS communities. Did a literature search on user experience and OSS. There is clearly a cultural aspect to all this and there are clearly places where things don't work and could work better.

So how does someone who's official discipline is not coding have a significant impact on an OSS community? Apple years ago introduced the concept of an evangelist. Its been used at various companies in various capacities. What about using that concept as a vehicle for facilitating integration?

Did you learn to play nice in kindergarten?

[evil laugh]

( Aug 08 2006, 10:33:39 AM PDT ) Permalink

Tuesday July 11, 2006

Not in my lifetime?

Shrugs?

So I made an attempt to keep up with the latest UE news. First I read about computers that are being taught to recognize body movements like shrugs.

Then there was the article about speech recognition and the idea that if your cell phone has a recognizer, and works on bluetooth and WiFi, then gee, couldn't you use it to talk to your house? (ACM Queue July August 2006 Interview with Jordan Cohen)

Hmmm. This is more worrisome than I expected. Can't you just see it?

You drive home... while talking on the phone via the bluetooth headset... the phone senses the garage door sensor and puts up an alert, you punch the button to say Open. Keep talking. The phone senses the door lock sensor, puts up another alert. You put your thumb on the screen and it reads that and unlocks the door.

You end your call. Then ask the phone to turn on the lights so you can put your bag down. Turn on the music you ask the phone. It puts up a playlist and you choose one. Then you head to the kitchen and ask the phone to ask the refrigerator what leftovers are still edible. It displays a list.

You realize you are hearing some odd noises over the music playing. Hmmm. Ack! Where is my kid? you ask the phone. It shrugs and shows you a picture of kid still strapped into car screaming.

[evil laugh]

( Jul 11 2006, 04:54:47 PM PDT ) Permalink

Friday June 30, 2006

I confess...

I'm an orthogonal thinker.

Say what? I'm one of those people who think in patterns. The way I problem solve is not analytical or logical (at least not to those who describe themselves as logical). I look across threads and topics and conversations and patterns pop out at me. Connections that other people just don't appear to see. Especially when you are surrounded by mostly logical types...

It's actually fairly hard to describe in words what I do. Words are inherently logical as they follow rules in the ways they are used. (Except when I use them, or so I have been told!) Regardless, words are a pitiful method to use to describe how I problem solve.

The process is visual, pattern-based, intuitive, connective, and balanced between both sides of my brain. When I am thinking on something, it literally gets put on the back burner in my brain. There it sits brewing, while the rest of the brain processes, sifts, sorts, and chews on interesting bits.

At some point I pull the back burner idea out, roll it over, and see what has collected around it. These things always collect bits - its like they are magnetic or something. The bits usually have patterns or ways they are connected. Those patterns and connections usually lead down interesting paths that ultimately end up with problem solutions.

Now if that description doesn't scare the whooey out of a logical, analytical thinker, not sure what will.

[evil laugh]

( Jun 30 2006, 11:42:57 AM PDT ) Permalink Comments [2]

Tuesday June 27, 2006

OSS, Words, and Culture.

OSS chatter is everywhere these days. And no, I am not going to define that. If you don't get the acronym, it's ok.

Every community out there has a culture that grows up around the community. The culture is defined by its words, art, music, personalities, behavior patterns, and so on. Communities usually have many different ways of communicating within themselves that evolve along with the community.

OSS communities are sprouting all over. The model used in most is not particularly inclusive to other domains outside programming. This is not necessarily by design; it appears to have just happened that way as OSS communities grew.

So if you are going to create a new OSS community, how do you gently expand the community to look outside its own culture? To bring in other modes of communication besides text and code? Or create a culture that welcomes other domains of expertise?

Its an odd exercise to do. Its sort of like asking all of us to step outside the words we use and look back in at what we were doing. I don't think most of us are very good at that given the current state of world affairs. Words define our lives. Real estate contracts, medical reports, emails, newspapers, books, blogs, paying bills, using credit cards, etc.

Sometimes I think its a good thing we have TV shows and movies. Imagine a whole day with nothing but images.

[evil laugh]

( Jun 27 2006, 03:24:17 PM PDT ) Permalink

Friday June 16, 2006

Back...

Left side of the road, left side of the brain?

Well, I am back from vacation. I even forgot my email password. That has to be a good thing.

Of course, I had my hands full driving on the left side of the road and navigating narrow roads with inconsistent, non-existent, and erratic signage. Getting lost, learning how to pass on narrow roads, and figuring out round-abouts all had their amusing bits.

We were in Ireland on a megalith hunt. Megalith meaning stone circles, dolmens, and cairns. These are not always located where you expect. Many are on the top of mountains or off across sheep pastures down long country lanes.

The actual act of driving on the left side of the road is not as daunting as it sounds. You get lots of feedback. If the idea of staying alive has any merit to you, you do fine.

[evil laugh]

( Jun 16 2006, 03:18:06 PM PDT ) Permalink Comments [2]

Saturday May 20, 2006

Off for a bit...

Ireland beckons...

I'll be back in about 3 or so weeks. Me on vacation. No computer. No work. Imagine that! :)

[evil laugh]

( May 20 2006, 08:48:48 PM PDT ) Permalink

Wednesday May 17, 2006

Duke Theme!!

Want Duke?

Sometimes you just have to do it. Create something really fun and put it out there. The picture above is a wallpaper from the Duke's World theme we did for the SavaJe phones they are selling at JavaOne right now.

If you are at JavaOne and have bought one of the SavaJe phones (the cool orange phones with JSR 209 on them), then Duke is for you. You might have seen him hanging out on the phones that the sun execs have.

Go here to get Duke.

Yes, I was the instigator. But without Gemma and Tim's help it would not have happened. And no, I did not ask permission first. Me bad.

[evil laugh]

( May 17 2006, 01:23:08 PM PDT ) Permalink

Thursday May 04, 2006

Kick that addiction.

No more series 60.

Well, I finally did it. I bought a new phone and its not a Nokia Series 60. Yup, its a Sony Ericsson w600i Walkman phone.

So far so good. The address book is a bit annoying as it doesn't have proper groups like the S60 does.

It also has a VERY orange case supplied by Cingular. Cingular also put a "mall" button on it as well as making the center icon in the main menu a "mall" button. Ok, already I get the point that you want me to spend money!

I did find a site that lets me put a photo onto a personalized case for the w600i. The site keeps saying upload a photo! Photo = anything I can do in Photoshop. The possibilities are boggling. Maybe a dazzling pink and purple striped monstronsity?

And it of course does NOT sync to iTunes. It does however sync very well with my mac iCal and address book. But apparently I have to go download "itunemywalkman" AppleScripts to sync my music onto the beast. When will Sony learn? Sigh.

[evil laugh]

( May 04 2006, 09:42:17 AM PDT ) Permalink

Friday April 21, 2006

Yup, I broke it.

Phones. Bling. Repair.

Alas, I have as usual done something to a phone. This time I did not kill it outright. The display got cracked. The bling did it. It wasn't my fault. Honest.

Well, maybe. I did put the bling on it. Dangles. From Japan. Kurumi and ninja. The ninja even has a shuriken. I had more of them but took off some so there were only two of them.

I was careful about placing dangles in pocket next to phone - not over the display - but apparently not careful engough. There was some jumping involved and a 4 year old. And, well, that was that apparently.

Now its repair time. I call Nokia USA. Sorry, we can't repair your phone as its not supposed to exist in the USA. Call London - use this number.

Call London Nokia. Get this phone menu that keep sending me to ClubNokia. Alas, these folks have no clue on how to help me. They want me to sign up and be a member. Of what exactly I can't tell. Finally, after the fourth call, one of them takes pity on me and gives me the number for the company that Nokia has licensed to do repairs for them in England. Of course, they are closed by the time I get the number.

Fortunately, the phone still works just fine. I put a piece of clear moving tape over the display. Good thing. I have a sinking feeling that getting it repaired is going to be a loooooong fun process.

[evil laugh]

( Apr 21 2006, 02:25:41 PM PDT ) Permalink

Tuesday April 18, 2006

Move over Easter Bunny.

My turn.

So Sunday was the day of the Bunny in our household. Bunny cake, decorated eggs, chocolate bunnies, foil chocolate eggs... you get the picture. Fertility and spring symbologies abounded.

Grandma and Grandpa and folks appeared. Grandpa and auntie went out and hid eggs for my daughter. Kiddo and I went out and found eggs. Eggs went into basket that I periodically held behind my back so Grandpa and auntie could snitch eggs and re-hide them.

Grandpa is an old pro at snitching and re-hiding. Kiddo never has figured it out. Alas, auntie is way-over-the-top obvious about snitching and hiding. So, kiddo figured it out.

When we all went in to eat brunch, she announced that SHE was going to hide eggs this time, and all of us had to go find them. After she ate brunch, of course, which included hashbrowns and sausage, both favorites.

Then off she went giggling and hiding eggs. Then ALL the adults in the household were required to go out and find the eggs. There was much giggling and goofiness. My daughter was quite proud of herself.

Isn't it amazing what a 4 year old can get a bunch of adults to do?

[evil laugh]

( Apr 18 2006, 01:45:24 PM PDT ) Permalink Comments [1]

Tuesday March 28, 2006

Not dead or gone.

Blogoid?

Sorry for the long hiatus. Work intervened.

[evil laugh]

Annoyingly amusing posts will resume shortly. As soon as life reverts out of "work on weekend for a month" mode.

( Mar 28 2006, 11:54:55 AM PST ) Permalink

Tuesday February 21, 2006

Showers and fire alarms.

Shower? Fire Alarm?

Was in Tokyo. I have been in this hotel before. I have seen this sign several times. And I still don't understand.

Why do I have to close the door? Does the steam from the shower make the fire alarm go off?

I am really tempted sometimes to try it out and see what happens. But then the Fire Alarm Security might go off and I might be taking more of a shower then I planned.

[evil laugh]

( Feb 21 2006, 03:19:35 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [1]

Tuesday January 24, 2006

Pattern-watching report.

Surreal Comparisons.

Driving home last night, I was listening to an old Cirque du Soleil CD in the car. The mind is meandering about doing its usual pattern-watching behavior.

It occurs to me that there is this interestingly surreal comparison that can be made between teenagers in Harajuku and Cirque du Soleil shows. The dress is never quite what one expects with bits and pieces in odd places. The characters burst out into strange noises with no provocation. They flock and cluster and move about in no discernable pattern. Or is there a pattern?

[evil laugh]

Well, some user research may be in order. I have tickets to a Cirque show towards the end of February. I fly to Tokyo again the beginning of February. Provided the entire month does not dissolve into one surreal mish-mash, I should have more to report in a month.

( Jan 24 2006, 05:23:33 PM PST ) Permalink

Thursday January 05, 2006

HALLUCINOGENIC?

TamiFlu.

Been one of those weeks. The husband kicked it off with a 102.5 dive into flu land on Sunday night. Temperatures soared about despite repeated applications of drugs claiming reduction. And he is the only one in the household who has had a flu shot. (Me allergic to egg whites.)

Visit doctor, watch while he mutters about chest congestion and pnuemonia and chest xrays. Sends us home. Starts him on TamiFlu. Tells me to start taking it too. Ok.

Call doctor the next morning. Husband worse. Walking pnuemonia? I have seen very little walking in that last couple days. Start antibiotics.

I assess my condition. Headache sort of. But the real issue is this absolute feeling of spaciness. Not entirely connected sensation. Then I remember...

[evil laugh]

I'm taking a hallucinogenic drug that reports side effects like impaired consciousness! Big issues in Japan around this recently. Hmmm.

So now what? I figure I either just sit back and enjoy the sensation or freak out. Isn't that the 60's sort of thing to do?

( Jan 05 2006, 05:10:19 PM PST ) Permalink

Tuesday December 13, 2005

What's a secret?

Bike Secret

The cognitive development of small children is fascinating. Especially when it backfires on you.

[evil laugh]

I take my daughter to the bike store to get her to sit in a bike trailer to see if she fits. She is very tall for her age. We check out various bike trailers, bike chairs, etc.

I tell her that this is something Momma is thinking of buying for Daddy. Its a xmas present and we have to keep it secret so we can surprise Daddy.

She appears to get the concept of a secret. They have secrets at daycare. It means she doesn't tell Daddy about it. She's good to go.

Next morning, we are horsing about with Daddy. Somehow the topic of xmas presents comes up. She says "We don't tell Daddy about the bike secret, right?"

Oops.

She got the concept of a having a secret. She didn't get the concept that you don't tell people you have a secret. Momma forget that from a cognitive viewpoint, there are actually two pieces that she has to learn before she merges them into one concept. Oh well. That's one way to test cognitive development!

( Dec 13 2005, 12:52:33 PM PST ) Permalink Comments [0]