Month: May 2004

What is Informatics?

Well, this question has been asked recently and I always answer “It is human centered technology.” That response usually will suffice for the temporary conversation, but if they asked a follow-up to that question, what would I say? My friend Aaron summed it up pretty well in this post on his blog.

To me, I guess Informatics is more than just technology. That idea was something that drew me to this major. I liked the aspect that what I was working on had a direct effect on the people using it. Also, the fact that it wasn’t CSE or IS was an added bonus. I really like the program that I am in. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I mean, look at the blogs that I read. Most of them are of the Informatics people. They are by far some of the coolest people that I have meet during my time @ UW. This makes me enjoy the major that much more.

Really, I am dry on a description on what Informatics means. I can think about what it means in my mind, but to put it into words is something that I don’t know if I can do. So, we’ll leave this for another day.

However, one theme that Aaron pointed out was that, “My classmates are very bright people who could tell you the advantages of applying Kuhlthau’s Model of Information Search Behavior to a particular User Group, but couldn’t code themselves out of a paper bag.” That can sum up the programming abilities of some on our major. But, hey, what can you expect? We are Informatics not CSE.

Week in review 5/23 – 5/29

Well, since I last left you, quite a bit has happened over the past week. The week has ended on a relaxing note with the knowledge that there is still work to be done, but knowing that the peak has been reached and now it is all about pacing myself on my way back down is something that I can handle.

This week was definitely a work week. Our 380 proposal needed to be revised and edited in time so that it was in the best condition that it could be in when it was due on Thursday. Only a few late nights was spent on getting it in top form, but those nights were reminiscent of many that I had during my Freshman year. It was the couple nights that made me realize how much a value my sleep.

I could go on and on about 380 or the 380 presentation, but I won’t. The week is over and I am glad that it is. Now the time has come to move onto the last large deliverable of the quarter for 340, preparing to move into the condo, and somewhere in between all of that I will find time to relax, like I did last night with Trotter. In either case the worst is over and the rest will seem much easier from here on out.

Current Feeling: Relaxed
Good Thing of the Week: Being done with 380
Fact of the Week: On average 1,200 WWII veterans die every day

In a 380 class far, far, away…

I was an Informatics student enrolled in a systems analysis class. I thought this class that was supposed to be taught by a professor. However, this professor did not teach. He had a grading rubric that was never disclosed to the class. He kept the class in the dark about what he expected from his students and then he graded as if they knew what he wanted. This caused a stirring response from his students. Many were in dismay when deliverables were returned to them. They were thinking, “Why is it graded like this?” His response was, “Didn’t you just know? Well you should.” Of course we did not know, that is why we didn’t complete the assignment how you desired. On top of the lack of solid grading procedures, the dates that assignments were due were very hazy to the students. This created some tension between the students and their professor.

When steps were taken to clear the haze of the due dates only more confusion arose. No emails were responded to. Phone calls were left un-answered. This only added to the confusion of the students in this class. In a twist of fate, the professor parted the haze of due dates and provied a solid layout of the due dates for the class. This eased the tension between the students and their professor, but the students knew that there was a lot of work left to be completed.

As the quarter winded down the level of work increased along with the students stress level. However, once the presentations are completed and the system proposal is turned in, a burden is lifted from the students chests. It was now time for them to enjoy the summer and to forget about the hellish times that were found in this class.

But, we are not there yet. In one week this will be a reality. In the present, this is currently only a fantasy that is longing to be achieved.

Truckin’ Along

Man, I’m beat. I must sleep seeing that this week will be quite busy and long. I cannot say that I am looking forward tomorrow, or any day this week. But, I will be taking it a day at a time and rolling with the punches. Deflection is key in a week like this. You need to bounce, recover, and move on. If you don’t do this you will fall behind without the chance to make anything up.

The 380 proposal is shaping up quite well and it will be completed by tomorrow night or early Wednesday morning. It just all depends at this point. I figure that after a 9 hour combined editing effort between Jamie and myself it is time to put it to rest for tonight. Tomorrow will bring another day of editing and lame work that I don’t want to do (F I G). It will get done, no doubts about that, I just don’t feel like working right now. Is chill time too much to ask?

I usually don’t make random posts like this anymore, but I am just so tired that I don’t know any better. So, I’ll let the time stamp do the talking since my bed is weeping as I have been neglecting it for the past 4 hours.

Current Feeling:Tired, but ready for what is next
Listening to: DMB Live @ Central Park

Week in Review 5/15 – 5/22

Well, what a week. It was a busy work week and there was quite a bit to do. But, at the same time there was a lot of time to just relax and enjoy the free time that I had. It’s strange how my weeks are so lopsided from the first half to the last. But, last week will be nothing compared to this upcoming week. That is O.K. though, each week has its own personality and for some reason this past week’s personality will be much nicer to me than this upcoming week’s.
Continue reading “Week in Review 5/15 – 5/22”