While we close to DC2, the prof. closed the class by asking us "what will this degree do for you?" Thankfully, classmates are very honest, answers are various. Prof describes the degree as a necklace, so, what do you do with it? someone want to bury it, someone wants to display it on the wall, even put the picture on the facebook, some will exchange it for salary, freedom, power, etc. Some want to link with high known alumni, join the club... Then, Prof. reminds us to think about the frequency of of natural wave, do not go out side the wave, but keep bargaining for freedom, bringing impact from what you are good at; Gradually, he talked more about passions inside of you. What he asked us is a fundamental question, though I disagreed or should say, could not reach the same level of opinions as others on some part of his opinions, I appreciate he brought this question up at the beginning of the program instead of the end. It is a good question needed more thoughts.
I am so happy to have a one MIT undergraduate classmate in my team, who gave me a lot of insights about how to drink this water from fire-hose. It is totally MIT style. You will be dump with many and many overwhelming tasks, knowledge, and projects. It is your responsibility to learn how to swim, figure out where to find the support. School has so many support but they will not hand it to you, but you need to find it. When you find it, you will be amazed with how incredible resources are available for you. I view it as to be independent through your exploring. So, can you imagine how undergraduate 1st year look like? I am amazed with my classmate, such energetic and decisive attitude! also, I am so grateful for my first two years study in Iowa, caring and welcome, often I was asked if I need help, instead of now, I knowck door around asking where I can get information. different perspectives and different life stages for me to study.
My DC2 scrubber has been in a wild ride. I told Zhiyong that I will be in charge of my future household scrubber/sponge purchase as I have viewed and touched pretty much every kind exist in the Markets, not just U.S. market. The Mexico company's owner has quite expectation from us. Apparently, there are over 9 millions dollars profit from this per year there. The designer Professor warned us contently that we need to think outside of box, play with product, talk with real customers not just team members/classmates. We certain have a lot of wild check from various customers. I start seeing the light of marketing and sales strategy. This is not my strong area, I am in charge of Marketing and see how this has been tight up with product design.
We had a leadership framwork workshop the whole afternoon today. The presenter through several frequent leadership related questions on the table, but, instead of circling or debating, she asked us to see sometimes how you sort through the clear thread when you face a mass. How sensemaking, relating, inventing and visioning work coherently. A lot of time, only focus on vision will corner us on one thing, but combine all these together, will lead you the big picture of leadership. She shows up the story of Green Belt Movement by Wangorri Maathai, impressive. What even impressive more is the reminder she set that many of those leadership are from much more practice and learning from other leaders. I like the leadership journal we got today, using to capture our reflection of learning & thinking on leadership. How to make the triangle of reflection, skill development and practice in the best balance to help me grow, I know, one step at a time.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Technology
While I was debating which classes I should take in Spring, what to listen in and what I should wait, I found myself spending too much time on those choices, the bottom line is that I should use my time wisely on my study, social networking and what I am passionate about.
MIT's media-lab has attracted for several years, which you would feel like that you living in the technology fantasy world. It is not about what you can think, but what can you imagine?? Pranav's innovation has been quite hot here, but there are more. I am very thankful to live in this amazing high tech world, and glad that I am in this field.
My energy group has checked out last week MIT energy presentations, so many great things happening in Energy. I am glad that I took risks of picking energy topic and learn from scratch, instead of playing safe and staying in Software topic. So far, the most research I follow is about Lithium.
By the way, I have to mention about the survivor exercise from Human side of Technology class. Prof. Catz lets us to do a survivor exercise, suppose you all were in plane crash but all alive close by north pole, there are list of things, please rate it based on the priority of needs. After individual answer, form a group, to get group answer, the ending results are most group answers are either better or slight better than individual answers, showing the wisdom of group, But he asked us again to re-discuss to see if we could get the answers better, apparently, no single team got together to discuss. That is the point. He wants to show us that when there is task/design, team members will show the dynamics either following someone or compromising the decision to get the final plan. After the final plan is done, it is very hard to do improvement, much applied in the project mode. That is so true. If you have ever been in a IT project, you know what I talk about here. One side note, when prof. asked individual total score, the less the better surviving ability, our lowest score was from Rej, 25 points, the highest score in my class is 74, and the person was me :( after I honestly reported my score in the class, I got ear full comments, my answer was "I will sit next to Rej during the flight.".
MIT's media-lab has attracted for several years, which you would feel like that you living in the technology fantasy world. It is not about what you can think, but what can you imagine?? Pranav's innovation has been quite hot here, but there are more. I am very thankful to live in this amazing high tech world, and glad that I am in this field.
My energy group has checked out last week MIT energy presentations, so many great things happening in Energy. I am glad that I took risks of picking energy topic and learn from scratch, instead of playing safe and staying in Software topic. So far, the most research I follow is about Lithium.
By the way, I have to mention about the survivor exercise from Human side of Technology class. Prof. Catz lets us to do a survivor exercise, suppose you all were in plane crash but all alive close by north pole, there are list of things, please rate it based on the priority of needs. After individual answer, form a group, to get group answer, the ending results are most group answers are either better or slight better than individual answers, showing the wisdom of group, But he asked us again to re-discuss to see if we could get the answers better, apparently, no single team got together to discuss. That is the point. He wants to show us that when there is task/design, team members will show the dynamics either following someone or compromising the decision to get the final plan. After the final plan is done, it is very hard to do improvement, much applied in the project mode. That is so true. If you have ever been in a IT project, you know what I talk about here. One side note, when prof. asked individual total score, the less the better surviving ability, our lowest score was from Rej, 25 points, the highest score in my class is 74, and the person was me :( after I honestly reported my score in the class, I got ear full comments, my answer was "I will sit next to Rej during the flight.".
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Walk to the Sea
I certainly did not know that my DC2 week will be more demanding than DC1. It shifts from hands on building robot to abstract(somewhat) product design. The professor is from Mexico, who brought in 8 Mexico companies with their products, some are nation well known, some are small start-up. My DC2 team finally decided not to bid for well-known one but a family owned business. The product we got assigned is 'Sponge'. At the beginning, I thought, it is only a little sponge, probably only $1, does not seem too complicated. oh, How bad assumption did I make there!! we worked so hard with owner finding out the history, current business, customers feedback. there are several phases. for the first phase we need to provide our analysis and make business suggestions back to owner. I did research on Sponge patents, history and we brainstorming the potential needs on this design without causing significant owner's changes in their manufacture place. Thursday we discussed about Sponge over 6 hours, never in my life I would imagine that I care about kitchen stuff this much, and try to analyze customers' thoughts this deep. If you have any complaints about Sponge, I would like to know, which will help me to see the marketing strategy which I will work on tomorrow.
During our DC2 study, professor asked us to provide list of good design and bad design from our daily life. I see that we silently accept so many 'that is what it is' settings, instead of looking better design. Or, we see some new improved product, feeling like 'oh, how could I not see that simple change'. These are some of what I pick.
Besides DC2, significant time has been devoted to system architecture class. Like I said before, this is a great class and I enjoy it very much. But, it does not mean that this is a easy class. It is such a struggle for our of us. From Prof. Cowley talking about reverse your mind thinking, like reverse engineering, you will challenge your routine mindset to think differently. So far, making the change is such a hard task. He challenges each of us from small simple system breaking into form, process, instrument, function... to middle system. His questions were designed purposely ambiguity in order to force you to think, when you design system, how you should keep system thinking without jumping into other roles or accidentally taking others task preassigned into your system. When designer with your layout, they know what that means without any simple words and explanation. Last year his students said the discussion insides of team trying to figure out his questions is the plan he sets to force us to think more, the struggle is part of class plan and process. By Friday, when we finished last class, my team did not join the class to Muddy for relax drink, instead we stay inside from 4:00p.m. till next morning around 3a.m. working on System Architecture assignments. We certainly take the routine Friday night planning into next level. we choose Medical Device as middle system to analyze, by now, I learn a lot from Medical field, more than being a patient to visit there. When you spend so much time with a group of people, esp. under pressure and short of sleep, people will show you the worst port of themselves, or let you see another side of personalities you do not know. more or less, you feel that you know them more and see them not just a classmate but friends you can talk. Certainly, different personalities are always hard for coordination. This time, our leader is a guy who currently teaches MIT undergraduate design class, a super designer, perfectionist and a very patient person. plus he is the only American, who comments one day with Mexican owner that 6 of us, only he is from U.S., one from Spain, one from Columbia, one from Korea, one from India, and I am from China. When we speak with different accents, he may get our influence! One thing I learn from his design work is, when you work with a team, after communicating with customers, give each other a few minutes to draw down thoughts, then let each one present, without any critic/modification/comments, which is not easy to do, as everyone wants to jump in with his opinions. if you allow those happen, you will kill the good (maybe immature) design thought right at the root level. It reminds me of software related business requirements gathering, how often we jump into solution attack than patiently listen. Many times we know what is right, but we do not do it, repeating same thing. What he stops us with proper and well-articulate sentences, making you corporate very well. Prof. Catz said that the biggest learning here is from each other. The total years of working experience in my class is around 600 years(several in their 40s, some even retired and come back.), more than 35 years he had. We should well use the source. Now, I see his point. Only when you see how the best professional acts, you know you want to be like that and make things right.
Until Saturday morning we left office, we were drained. The road was so icy and I felt that I had a duck walk, so sleepy! One thing to be the minority(female group) in the class, all guys are very nice, offering to drive you back to my apt. or walk with me instead letting me wondering around the road three o'clock in the morning.
Today is the first time we do not meet on the weekend. But we have full days covered for Sunday and Monday holiday. I told myself that I need to step out of Cambridge to see Boston instead of viewing it crossing Charles rive in Cambridge. Plus, I need to step out of SDM office rooms for a day, in order to get focus again when I return. (Should I call it -- "mind cheating" to trigger your mind believe that you are in a new location next time?) I asked a few classmates to come to go with me to "Walk to the Sea" For our non-Bostonian, this part of important American History has so been taught/talked so often through words without seeing it. I could not believe that years ago at middle school, when I first learned American history and culture, learning its independence history, I never knew that someday I will walk at the real place to witness those historian sites.
Boston Common Memorial
from WWI
Beacon Hill State House, the beginning of 'Walk to the Sea'
Walking towards King's Chapel, we passed the Park Street Church, then we found this grave yard. The Granary Burial Ground is the final resting place for legendary Boston figures including Samuel Adams, Peter Faneuil, John Hancock and, Paul Revere.
As we wonder why Francklin's name is here. We thought he was buried in Philadelphia, our next step always answered our questions.
This old city hall was used to be a Latin school. Nowadays due to short of space, it is no longer used as city hall but a steak house.
King's Chapel, by now, I enter the freedom trail.
in front of Boston City Hall
By old Boston City Hall, I only saw the donkey, no elephant, making me want to check the history, "when the elephant enters the room?"
Famous B. Franklin sculpture in front of old Boston City Hall. A portrait statue of Benjamin Franklin overlooks the former site of Boston Latin School which Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock once attended. Franklin's place of birth was just one block away on Milk Street, across from the Old South Meeting House.
Standing at stairs of Government center, facing old State House
During our DC2 study, professor asked us to provide list of good design and bad design from our daily life. I see that we silently accept so many 'that is what it is' settings, instead of looking better design. Or, we see some new improved product, feeling like 'oh, how could I not see that simple change'. These are some of what I pick.
Besides DC2, significant time has been devoted to system architecture class. Like I said before, this is a great class and I enjoy it very much. But, it does not mean that this is a easy class. It is such a struggle for our of us. From Prof. Cowley talking about reverse your mind thinking, like reverse engineering, you will challenge your routine mindset to think differently. So far, making the change is such a hard task. He challenges each of us from small simple system breaking into form, process, instrument, function... to middle system. His questions were designed purposely ambiguity in order to force you to think, when you design system, how you should keep system thinking without jumping into other roles or accidentally taking others task preassigned into your system. When designer with your layout, they know what that means without any simple words and explanation. Last year his students said the discussion insides of team trying to figure out his questions is the plan he sets to force us to think more, the struggle is part of class plan and process. By Friday, when we finished last class, my team did not join the class to Muddy for relax drink, instead we stay inside from 4:00p.m. till next morning around 3a.m. working on System Architecture assignments. We certainly take the routine Friday night planning into next level. we choose Medical Device as middle system to analyze, by now, I learn a lot from Medical field, more than being a patient to visit there. When you spend so much time with a group of people, esp. under pressure and short of sleep, people will show you the worst port of themselves, or let you see another side of personalities you do not know. more or less, you feel that you know them more and see them not just a classmate but friends you can talk. Certainly, different personalities are always hard for coordination. This time, our leader is a guy who currently teaches MIT undergraduate design class, a super designer, perfectionist and a very patient person. plus he is the only American, who comments one day with Mexican owner that 6 of us, only he is from U.S., one from Spain, one from Columbia, one from Korea, one from India, and I am from China. When we speak with different accents, he may get our influence! One thing I learn from his design work is, when you work with a team, after communicating with customers, give each other a few minutes to draw down thoughts, then let each one present, without any critic/modification/comments, which is not easy to do, as everyone wants to jump in with his opinions. if you allow those happen, you will kill the good (maybe immature) design thought right at the root level. It reminds me of software related business requirements gathering, how often we jump into solution attack than patiently listen. Many times we know what is right, but we do not do it, repeating same thing. What he stops us with proper and well-articulate sentences, making you corporate very well. Prof. Catz said that the biggest learning here is from each other. The total years of working experience in my class is around 600 years(several in their 40s, some even retired and come back.), more than 35 years he had. We should well use the source. Now, I see his point. Only when you see how the best professional acts, you know you want to be like that and make things right.
Until Saturday morning we left office, we were drained. The road was so icy and I felt that I had a duck walk, so sleepy! One thing to be the minority(female group) in the class, all guys are very nice, offering to drive you back to my apt. or walk with me instead letting me wondering around the road three o'clock in the morning.
Today is the first time we do not meet on the weekend. But we have full days covered for Sunday and Monday holiday. I told myself that I need to step out of Cambridge to see Boston instead of viewing it crossing Charles rive in Cambridge. Plus, I need to step out of SDM office rooms for a day, in order to get focus again when I return. (Should I call it -- "mind cheating" to trigger your mind believe that you are in a new location next time?) I asked a few classmates to come to go with me to "Walk to the Sea" For our non-Bostonian, this part of important American History has so been taught/talked so often through words without seeing it. I could not believe that years ago at middle school, when I first learned American history and culture, learning its independence history, I never knew that someday I will walk at the real place to witness those historian sites.
Boston Common Memorial
from WWI
Beacon Hill State House, the beginning of 'Walk to the Sea'
Walking towards King's Chapel, we passed the Park Street Church, then we found this grave yard. The Granary Burial Ground is the final resting place for legendary Boston figures including Samuel Adams, Peter Faneuil, John Hancock and, Paul Revere.
As we wonder why Francklin's name is here. We thought he was buried in Philadelphia, our next step always answered our questions.
This old city hall was used to be a Latin school. Nowadays due to short of space, it is no longer used as city hall but a steak house.
King's Chapel, by now, I enter the freedom trail.
in front of Boston City Hall
By old Boston City Hall, I only saw the donkey, no elephant, making me want to check the history, "when the elephant enters the room?"
Famous B. Franklin sculpture in front of old Boston City Hall. A portrait statue of Benjamin Franklin overlooks the former site of Boston Latin School which Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock once attended. Franklin's place of birth was just one block away on Milk Street, across from the Old South Meeting House.
Standing at stairs of Government center, facing old State House
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Absorb and challenge
This month is MIT IAP time, many small sessions/workshops and condensed classes are in this months. I, along with all SDM '10 students are taking three classes, three design challenges and a few workshops for news students.
Classes are the Human Side of Technology(by Ralph Catz), System Architecture(by Ed Crowley) and Probablility & Statistics(brief update class, helping us to catch up those forgotten concepts). On top of this load, I registered one more class -- High-tech start-up, which is a series of talks from start-up CEO, which cover energy and other areas. It turnsed out that this class is right between end of my system architecture and lunch time. so, why not?
In Human Side of Technology, I admire Prof. Catz on his delication on teaching, though he had lost his voice several days, which did not stop him at all. Some of cases he discussed (like 3M, SouthWest), I have learned from other places, but he totally put you in a new perspective regarding technology management. How to view the impact of authority, how to define uncertainty, he does not present those as dry concept which you could read everywhere, instead, he uses all his consulting experience with those fortunate 500 CEO and senior managements to present the hard core concepts. He shows you how to precise and clear to deliver your ideas. Do you ever have a moment enjoying the talk so much, wish it would never end? That is what I am talking about.
I love my System Architecture class. Prof. Ed Crowley, who is chief architect of current President initiatives about Mar's plan. When he showed that plan to us, we were lost, at least to me. He just brief the entire plan in October to President in D.C. He brought our minds into deep thinking, what is system? truly, what is system? Even before I moved here, some of friends could not understand my study of system design and management. If you look at broad way, everything can be fined with its system, such as complex system -- human body. He did not start with the core design, but start to define the small terms, form, function, methods, before starting analyze large systems. He really set the bar high and told us to meet the bar. One sentence he said at the first class, really stick in my mind -- "what you do and say, reflect your thinking. Take your study and sumit assignment like submit to your boss. treat it professionally instead of considering this only as graduate school study." I really like those direct, maybe sound very deciplines but I bet I will thank him by the end of class for what I learn, what I challenge myself. This class will go through this month, then pick up in the fall. Fun part is, he not only gives us a lot of assignment each week, reading, but also a whole year assignment of collection of reading, researching due Dec., as well as life assignment on system thinking. I like how he decipline his life, taking his work seriously, with dry sense of humor. He asked us to form a team choosing a technology to follow and do research. I decided to challenge myself not to pick a subject in software since I have been in so many years, instead, choose energy team, giving me a completely new system learning curve. Like now a few technology and system design in Arospace, have been used in medical field, everything can be transferrable. Around MIT, everyone talks about clean energy solution, making you so excited to learn more. MIT will host energy conference in March, it is only $20 to attend for MIT students, but over $900 if you come in from industry. I am in.
Though DC1 was done, DC2 has started. Today's class went till 10 at night, plus team meetings later. Yes, we are tired, no matter how much you squeeze your leg(I did), or drinking coffee(some of classmates could not stop taking that), or stand up and sit down(you will see those funny movements during the class time), or someone has one finger support his one eye and close another eye(his explaination is that he can half-sleep and half-listen, the action of support one eyelid is to see what is going on, not missing anything), or like my teammate Karl, who just went to the hall taking a nap on the couch during break(that is a loud area, but who cares if you really are sleepy.), we tried our best to take in the knowledge Prof. presents. No one chicken out and skip the session, such a committed crowded. Use Prof. Catz's talk, when motivation comes internally, you will see tramendous changes and growth for the organiztion. (Also apply to individual, I think.)
Side of story, I originally planned to see Yo-Yo Ma's concert at BSO on Saturday. With less sleep for a week, I changed the ticket to Tuesday night, again, it got changed again due to class. Good thing is Yo-Yo Ma is Bostonian, which he performs quite often here. I got some of classmates excited to go with me for an Opera -- Madama White Snake in Feb.
Today we had professional photoshots. We are required to meet at 8:00a.m. and start. Unfortunately, people came in late or other reasons, we waited till nearly 9:00a.m. One thing before I returned school is to be punctural. One of my friends in Olympia told me that is all about plan. If you plan well, you will be there on time. I promised myself that I will take this serious and be on time. Today, when I wait for my classmates, I had a huge guilty feeling for my friends who wait for me when I was late. Here, one classmate took a picture of me right before the portait. Here is the area we spend a lot of time.
Right now, I am reading 'SuperFreaknomics'. Several years ago I read 'Freamknomics', which was well-written. If you read that one, you will not be disappointed with 'SuperFreaknomics'.
Classes are the Human Side of Technology(by Ralph Catz), System Architecture(by Ed Crowley) and Probablility & Statistics(brief update class, helping us to catch up those forgotten concepts). On top of this load, I registered one more class -- High-tech start-up, which is a series of talks from start-up CEO, which cover energy and other areas. It turnsed out that this class is right between end of my system architecture and lunch time. so, why not?
In Human Side of Technology, I admire Prof. Catz on his delication on teaching, though he had lost his voice several days, which did not stop him at all. Some of cases he discussed (like 3M, SouthWest), I have learned from other places, but he totally put you in a new perspective regarding technology management. How to view the impact of authority, how to define uncertainty, he does not present those as dry concept which you could read everywhere, instead, he uses all his consulting experience with those fortunate 500 CEO and senior managements to present the hard core concepts. He shows you how to precise and clear to deliver your ideas. Do you ever have a moment enjoying the talk so much, wish it would never end? That is what I am talking about.
I love my System Architecture class. Prof. Ed Crowley, who is chief architect of current President initiatives about Mar's plan. When he showed that plan to us, we were lost, at least to me. He just brief the entire plan in October to President in D.C. He brought our minds into deep thinking, what is system? truly, what is system? Even before I moved here, some of friends could not understand my study of system design and management. If you look at broad way, everything can be fined with its system, such as complex system -- human body. He did not start with the core design, but start to define the small terms, form, function, methods, before starting analyze large systems. He really set the bar high and told us to meet the bar. One sentence he said at the first class, really stick in my mind -- "what you do and say, reflect your thinking. Take your study and sumit assignment like submit to your boss. treat it professionally instead of considering this only as graduate school study." I really like those direct, maybe sound very deciplines but I bet I will thank him by the end of class for what I learn, what I challenge myself. This class will go through this month, then pick up in the fall. Fun part is, he not only gives us a lot of assignment each week, reading, but also a whole year assignment of collection of reading, researching due Dec., as well as life assignment on system thinking. I like how he decipline his life, taking his work seriously, with dry sense of humor. He asked us to form a team choosing a technology to follow and do research. I decided to challenge myself not to pick a subject in software since I have been in so many years, instead, choose energy team, giving me a completely new system learning curve. Like now a few technology and system design in Arospace, have been used in medical field, everything can be transferrable. Around MIT, everyone talks about clean energy solution, making you so excited to learn more. MIT will host energy conference in March, it is only $20 to attend for MIT students, but over $900 if you come in from industry. I am in.
Though DC1 was done, DC2 has started. Today's class went till 10 at night, plus team meetings later. Yes, we are tired, no matter how much you squeeze your leg(I did), or drinking coffee(some of classmates could not stop taking that), or stand up and sit down(you will see those funny movements during the class time), or someone has one finger support his one eye and close another eye(his explaination is that he can half-sleep and half-listen, the action of support one eyelid is to see what is going on, not missing anything), or like my teammate Karl, who just went to the hall taking a nap on the couch during break(that is a loud area, but who cares if you really are sleepy.), we tried our best to take in the knowledge Prof. presents. No one chicken out and skip the session, such a committed crowded. Use Prof. Catz's talk, when motivation comes internally, you will see tramendous changes and growth for the organiztion. (Also apply to individual, I think.)
Side of story, I originally planned to see Yo-Yo Ma's concert at BSO on Saturday. With less sleep for a week, I changed the ticket to Tuesday night, again, it got changed again due to class. Good thing is Yo-Yo Ma is Bostonian, which he performs quite often here. I got some of classmates excited to go with me for an Opera -- Madama White Snake in Feb.
Today we had professional photoshots. We are required to meet at 8:00a.m. and start. Unfortunately, people came in late or other reasons, we waited till nearly 9:00a.m. One thing before I returned school is to be punctural. One of my friends in Olympia told me that is all about plan. If you plan well, you will be there on time. I promised myself that I will take this serious and be on time. Today, when I wait for my classmates, I had a huge guilty feeling for my friends who wait for me when I was late. Here, one classmate took a picture of me right before the portait. Here is the area we spend a lot of time.
Right now, I am reading 'SuperFreaknomics'. Several years ago I read 'Freamknomics', which was well-written. If you read that one, you will not be disappointed with 'SuperFreaknomics'.
Monday, January 11, 2010
take a break
After a whole week busy schedule, Sunday afternoon last year SDM student Cyndy asked me to join her to do scavenger hunt at Harvard Square. My classmate Rutu also came a long. We called it "girls day out". Seriously, there are few, really few femails in the program. I said that we could be Queens!
Cyndy followed scavenger hunt side, we followed all the hint, a lot to do with history and literature. We found the Harvard library, School of Education with its famous garden, and the freedom trail walk... I have to admit, I was quite absent-minded wondering, just breath the mind-free moments, Cyndy and Rutu were so buy hunting. Harvard buildings are so different with MIT. Both have its own styles.
What draw my attention are those blue wood stand(should I use this word?) with old time. In West coast, everything older than 100 years, that is way too old. here, around 1600 or 1700 can be called old. Girls made fun of me that I am Chinese, what is in Forbidden city and Xi'an are really old!!
Here are some snapshots of our hunting path. Cyndy told me quite a few famous literature related, I could not remember now expect the author of stayed here. Sorry, not quite catch up my memory cells after a challenging week.
Cyndy followed scavenger hunt side, we followed all the hint, a lot to do with history and literature. We found the Harvard library, School of Education with its famous garden, and the freedom trail walk... I have to admit, I was quite absent-minded wondering, just breath the mind-free moments, Cyndy and Rutu were so buy hunting. Harvard buildings are so different with MIT. Both have its own styles.
What draw my attention are those blue wood stand(should I use this word?) with old time. In West coast, everything older than 100 years, that is way too old. here, around 1600 or 1700 can be called old. Girls made fun of me that I am Chinese, what is in Forbidden city and Xi'an are really old!!
Here are some snapshots of our hunting path. Cyndy told me quite a few famous literature related, I could not remember now expect the author of
Sunday, January 10, 2010
15 hrs sleep
If you ask me how much sleep I got in past week, I count it no more than 15 hrs; But if you ask me how much sleep I got on Saturday evening, I had over 15 hrs. Such contrast is so normal for majority of my classmate, some may even go extreme without two nights sleep straight. But, we are so happy for Saturday Robot Design Competition Challenge, also happy it done now.
Where should I start?
This is Spartan Warrior, also the name of our robot. So, that makes our team as "The Spartans". And this, is the original opening ceremony music I put together, contains: robot moving sounds, "How are you doing" from Joe's famous talk, robot moving sound, silly "burp" sound, pause (someone from team will say "Hey, Spartan, you are a GOOD robot"!), then Robot singing "What a wonderful life" (part of it, right by the middle of sentence "what won---"), robot moving sound, following by power off as failing robot fall. As I was happily preparing this, I found out that this music .wav file is about 4 MB, but robot can only handle maximum 130KB, that's a heart broken for me to start alternative. But, you never know what could happen, right? After a few search, I ended up choosing the music on my iPod Michael Smith into prelude, the wonderful drum beat. We will march into the stage with our Spartan, holding different (toy) weapon :) We won the best opening ceremony here. Spartan did wonderful dance with the music, esp. lift up the flag, which made the audience laugh hard. Our Italian Nuclear scientist prints the Spartan flag on both side of napkin. We even had a shinning red flashlight :)
I told the team that we should do a fun exit instead of simple walking away. So we danced toward the crowded with Bob's drum playing.
Then we have four activities competition: Relay Race, Archery, Scavenger hunt, and Sumo.
other teams opening:
During relay race, none of teams made through the race itself before handing over the relay. it turns out that NXT 2.0 light sensor is not good. It has hard time to distinguish dark shadow and black race line. Several robots start walking in a circle since they got trapped with its own shadow. In stead of wondering what happened with our robot, we, the human beings have to laugh at ourselves for imply believe what we purchase always have the best quality. Is that the wake up call applying for what we purchase out of this competition?
Scavenger Hunt:
We should definitely feel proud of our scavenger hunt Robot, which we call it out "Scorpion". It will get close to detect the color, then decide if it should open the door to grasp it or push it away.
Archery:
Three options to choose, 25, 30 or 50 inches to shoot. We should have choose the longer range as 50 as all three tempts Spartan shoots too far, near the crowd. So, we lost significant points here.
Sumo:
This is the activity getting the most attention. All kind of strategies came in, checking on weight, going under as one of approach. Our Spartan was attached with multiple magnets to suck enemy close and click them out soon. We won some, and lost the last match as Spartan is blind(yes, we made Spartan blind). Only go with the sound to save motor and energy. Some robot reduce speed in order to keep strength for pushing. Ironically, our Spartan just decided to go on his own. Is that sometimes Robot required break, getting some time off??
Here, Andrai creates a fan to cool off their heated robot :)
weight the robot before the competition.
Competition Ring:
By now, one of our team members, Ace, completely fall into sleep nearby. He was one of people stayed overnight, 30 hours without sleep, several of them by afternoon, already fall into sleep in the auditorium.
some Sumo scenes:
One of robots pushed this Black bowl-look robot out. Since it was made by a Russian student, we joked that no one could beat the Russia weapon. Soon, it was beat down by (a simple engineering concept)simple look robot. One American student said "We conquer the War, Warm-War(compare with cold-war)!" You have to admit, no matter how much short of sleep we got, we can not loose the humor.
By now, my team won some and loose badly at Archery, got 4th out of 8. We are happy, not caring the result. The next task, is to get home and catch up sleep.
Here are some highlights:
some of pictures you can find from my photos at Facebook.
This is our air force classmate, who is so funny, checking on us periodically during this week preparation.
Here is the happy me with Spartan, looking so exhausted, red eyes, pale face with smile. oh, I love this whole experience!
Where should I start?
This is Spartan Warrior, also the name of our robot. So, that makes our team as "The Spartans". And this, is the original opening ceremony music I put together, contains: robot moving sounds, "How are you doing" from
I told the team that we should do a fun exit instead of simple walking away. So we danced toward the crowded with Bob's drum playing.
Then we have four activities competition: Relay Race, Archery, Scavenger hunt, and Sumo.
other teams opening:
During relay race, none of teams made through the race itself before handing over the relay. it turns out that NXT 2.0 light sensor is not good. It has hard time to distinguish dark shadow and black race line. Several robots start walking in a circle since they got trapped with its own shadow. In stead of wondering what happened with our robot, we, the human beings have to laugh at ourselves for imply believe what we purchase always have the best quality. Is that the wake up call applying for what we purchase out of this competition?
Scavenger Hunt:
We should definitely feel proud of our scavenger hunt Robot, which we call it out "Scorpion". It will get close to detect the color, then decide if it should open the door to grasp it or push it away.
Archery:
Three options to choose, 25, 30 or 50 inches to shoot. We should have choose the longer range as 50 as all three tempts Spartan shoots too far, near the crowd. So, we lost significant points here.
Sumo:
This is the activity getting the most attention. All kind of strategies came in, checking on weight, going under as one of approach. Our Spartan was attached with multiple magnets to suck enemy close and click them out soon. We won some, and lost the last match as Spartan is blind(yes, we made Spartan blind). Only go with the sound to save motor and energy. Some robot reduce speed in order to keep strength for pushing. Ironically, our Spartan just decided to go on his own. Is that sometimes Robot required break, getting some time off??
Here, Andrai creates a fan to cool off their heated robot :)
weight the robot before the competition.
Competition Ring:
By now, one of our team members, Ace, completely fall into sleep nearby. He was one of people stayed overnight, 30 hours without sleep, several of them by afternoon, already fall into sleep in the auditorium.
some Sumo scenes:
One of robots pushed this Black bowl-look robot out. Since it was made by a Russian student, we joked that no one could beat the Russia weapon. Soon, it was beat down by (a simple engineering concept)simple look robot. One American student said "We conquer the War, Warm-War(compare with cold-war)!" You have to admit, no matter how much short of sleep we got, we can not loose the humor.
By now, my team won some and loose badly at Archery, got 4th out of 8. We are happy, not caring the result. The next task, is to get home and catch up sleep.
Here are some highlights:
some of pictures you can find from my photos at Facebook.
This is our air force classmate, who is so funny, checking on us periodically during this week preparation.
Here is the happy me with Spartan, looking so exhausted, red eyes, pale face with smile. oh, I love this whole experience!
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