Visual Computing

I just read an interesting article about the NVision conference that happened this week in Silicon Valley. It focused on the changes that are happening in the computer industry that are putting more attention on a visual style interface. Here is a quote from Chris Malachowsky, a co-founder of a graphics card company:

"It used to be about the computing part, but the emphasis is shifting. It is not so much about the computation but how it is presented and seen by people."

At last! People are really starting to get it. We can create the greatest systems (or online courses) in the world, but if we make the interfaces difficult to use, then we won't be successful. It's not about the system, it's about how the system helps people. We won't help them if the system just gets in the way.

Check out the article - it reveals some fascinating trends

LA Pierce College

Yesterday I spoke at the LA Pierce College Faculty Convocation and it was great. I always enjoy doing my "iPod Generation" speech because it's something I feel very passionate about, but this was even better than usual because I attended Pierce right out of high school (a very long time ago). Just walking around campus brought back a lot of great memories and I got some wonderful feedback from some of the people afterwards. Thanks Pierce College - for your kind hospitality yesterday and for getting me off to a great start in my career!

Yesterday

(This week my family went through a major transition as my daughter moved away to college. I wrote the following in response to the strange set of emotions this event has elicited in me. I promise I'll get back to the kinds of postings you expect from an emotionless geek after this brief indulgence.)

It seems like just yesterday, my little girl was shyly hiding behind my legs any time a stranger was near… Today she is a beautiful, confident and fiercely independent young woman.

Yesterday we dropped her off at college and drove away without her… Today she is beginning a grand new adventure without us – as it should be.

Yesterday I knew this day would come… Today I wished it hadn’t - yet it also feels strangely right.

Yesterday when she was a baby she would fall asleep with her head resting on my chest… Today she sleeps on a pillow hundreds of miles away – so why does my chest feel so heavy?

Yesterday she thought everything I said was true… Today she argues with me about politics (or anything) – and holds her own.

Yesterday my son was tormented by his older sister… Today he thinks being tormented sounds pretty good.

Yesterday it was my job to protect and manage… Today it is to advise (when asked).

Yesterday my daughter begged us to leave the big city we stopped in during a vacation because the homeless people frightened her… Today she is living in that same city.

Yesterday she was my little girl… Today, she still is. And she will be tomorrow.

Yesterday when she was a toddler she came up to me and handed me a rock, explaining that it was because she loves me… Today she tells me the same thing through a text message (but I still have the rock).

Yesterday it was hard to remember what it was like before I was a Dad… Today I’m wondering how the time went by so quickly.

Yesterday I thought there was nothing more important than being a good Dad... Today I understand even more why that’s true.

Yesterday I wished I had spent more time with her… Today it’s too late.

So how are you going to spend your time today… so you don’t regret it tomorrow?

Geek Report at IVC Only

For any Saddleback faculty reading this - I turned in my paperwork too late to get into the Fall in-service schedule at Saddleback. I'm trying to see if I might be able to set up another time later in the semester if there is enough interest.

I am doing my "Geek Report" at IVC on Monday, August 18th at 1:00 in A 207.

LA City College Student Services Retreat

I spoke today at the LA City College student services retreat and it was a real treat. The organizing committee was very hospitable and the audience was great. Very attentive - I always seem to get the post-lunch time slot, yet they were right there with me. In talking with people before and after, I was struck once again by the dedication of people in student services in a community college. They have a very difficult job that has to be done with scarce resources, and I appreciated their passion in serving students in the best way possible.

If any of you from today are reading this post - thanks for the great experience. The links I mentioned are in the right column of this page. And thanks for atrtificially inflating my hit count as I requested. Please feel free to hit "refresh" on your browser a few times to make it look even better.