Some folks are rather big on the use of games and simulations for learning. So were we.. back in 1995. Here is another article from our Fall 2003 issue of the mcli Forum. In “The Long After Life of Simulation Software: Hidden Agenda”, we interviewed Jim Gasperini who had created in the late 1980s a […]
I have a pent for photography. It was the last elective I took as an undergrad, and if it were earlier, I would have taken a different career path. Blogging is great, but there are some neat niches for other flavors. Take “photo blog”. I recently stumbled along via legendary web designer Jeffrey Veen this […]
Satire is a high form of art. (that was supposed to be satirical). Someone once told me, and I believed them, that satire comes from an ancient word that meant “to cut flesh.” Well, that means that DENOUNCE NEWSWIRE: All the news that never happened is the king fleshcutter for faked PR news:
IndyJunior Flash Mapping Module is a nifty Flash application from Bryan Boyer… By editing your own XML file, IndyJunior generates a dynamic map of places you have been or are planning to go to, and IJ features a configuration tool to customize the map appearance and features. Nodes can be set as hyperlinks to relevant […]
I was recently looking for a package to implement a discussion board for a group project, and luckily came across phpBB :: Creating Communities. phpBB is a high powered, fully scalable, and highly customisable open-source bulletin board package. phpBB has a user-friendly interface, simple and straightforward administration panel, and helpful FAQ. Based on the powerful […]
Following up on my nostalgia for ten years on the web, I also reflected on what was likely the first educational software I ever created, back in 1987.
As a Geology grad student at Arizona State University with a few programming courses as an undergrad, I was handed the opportunity to run a computer lab (14 Apple Mac Plus-es, no hard drive, one 300 kps modem, and a LaserWriter printer).
Upon request of a geophysics professor, I wrote a little application, Gravity Simulation (Talwani Method) designed to help students understand how a surface measured gravity profile (measuring variations in the earth’s gravity over a linear traverse) could help identify subsurface (anomalies, e.g. ore bodies, buried volcanic lavas, etc).
Exciting, eh? There is more…
Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of this month I missed a significant milestone. A tenth anniversary worthy of a gift of aluminium (this would be nice but this will do) as tradition goes.
It was sometime in October 1993 at our Ocotillo Technology Showcase (“Expose Yourself to Technology”). Demonstrations likely included laser discs, HyperCard, Toolbook, our text based Electronic Forum, and I think I was pushing Gopher.
It was during that day, my colleague Jim Walters of Phoenix College handed me a floppy disk with the word “Mosaic” scribbled on it. He just said, “Alan, you are into the internet, check out this program.”
It rocked my world and changed everything I was doing with technology (Thanks, Jim!)
Sometimes you can click yourselves into the most fun, obscure, un-googled parts of the web, such as Rune Johansen’s portfolio. Pure serendipitous fun. Okay, the music grates, but the pictures I gather are pictures of the home life of people in the far flung parts of Norway. There are great detailed shots of objetcs (they […]
It is likely impossible to describe in text NobodyHere… It is a site to explore messages, relationships of words, metaphors, and variety of interesting gadgets. “How does this work?” Just click. All pages are connected. “Why?” Because I like to express myself using animation, text and programming. The site has been on-line since 1998 and […]
Ouch, I just hurt mysefl laughing… The folks at J-Walk blog have done it again. Find out all about Spam University, ” the world’s top-rated educational institution for the growing spam industry.” Under Admissions: Spam University receives thousands of applications every month. Regretfully, we can’t accept everyone who applies. Consequently, we have stringent requirements for […]
