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Homework Blogging

Sumeet — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:39:12 +0000

Anyone who has ever been on a hike, inebriated late at night, or refreshed early in the morning can tell you that the best conversations cannot be forced. When the air is fresh, the senses focused, the mood right – only at such times will the Muse begin her song.

Classrooms are ill-suited for genuine, in-depth conversations. They are run by one individual, limited by time, crowded, indoor, and the seats are uncomfortable. Members of a classroom are obligated to be there, and most forms of jesting, fighting, and crying are discouraged. The Muse can choose any audience: Why would she sing to such an unnatural and unhappy crowd?

This article is not about the shortcomings of any system of education. For now, I accept that broad-scale education cannot be as inspiring as a walk through the woods or a twilight dialogue. But it can be better than it is right now.

Start small: Students should blog their essays.

They need to be reminded that they are part of this world – not just components of a tiny classroom. Understanding common literary themes is important, because that wisdom helps people live well – not because it will get them good grades. When a student recognizes this, the quality of their writing will improve. The stakes are higher, so they will take more risks and enjoy the work more.

And they will remember. Students forget an assignment after its completion, because the assignment is the only part of the learning process over which they have any control. By preserving an essay, opening it up to discussion with people who have lived some of the lessons about which the student is learning, and removing the grade dynamic, the value of the assignment becomes unpredictable and thus intersting (and thus less temporary).

I firmly believe that a child’s mind expands to fill the space it is allowed. Let’s encourage our students to broaden their worlds and blanket us in the warmth of their brilliance.

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Real quick, my thoughts on Apple’s iPad

Sumeet — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:24:15 +0000

It’s a gap-filler. A few niches have been created where the current offering of gadgets is inadequate for whatever reason, and the iPad can cater to many of them.

Students

In the future, every student at Acme University will carry a single item for all their classes. As class begins, the professor instructs them to refer to their textbooks. Every student touches the item’s screen, and their textbook appears. As class continues, the students navigate from page to page, typing notes as they go, calling a calculator to the screen for some quick math magic, adding an exam date to their calendar without reaching for their datebook, confirming some facts on the Internet, sharing notes with a tardy classmate (without having to hand over their notebook), and eventually taking a quiz and getting their scores… All from a single, slim, usable screen.

This is possible right now – no second-generation features are needed to achieve this future. Just adoption by a school. If I was a student at such a school, you bet your overstuffed backpack I’d spend $499 on an iPad to participate.

Old People

Today’s elderly don’t have a good computing option. I know this is terribly unoriginal, but my grandparents need only a handful of features on their computer. Everything else is either a distraction or an obstacle in the labyrinth that is a typical operating system (Yes, even Mac OS X).

Tablets of the past basically replaced the mouse with a stylus, so using them wasn’t much easier than using a laptop. But having to touch an icon to look at photo albums, play a movie, have a video call*, write an email… That’s easy.

This is simultaneously both the most awesome evolution and devolution of digital interaction ever: We’re a huge step closer to Minority Report, but all we’re basically doing is grabbing, poking, and groping the areas of a screen that look like they’ll accomplish our goals. (“Unhh. Must watch movie. Must press movie picture. Funny movi-Must make bigger. Must stretch movie to make bigger. Stretch with hands. Gooood.”)

* Yes, I know there’s no camera on the iPad. Just be patient.

Healthcare

Everyone knows doctors like tablets. Nothing new here. Google if you’re curious.

What It Isn’t – and Some Closing Thoughts

The iTab isn’t a replacement for anything Apple is selling right now. I’m not buying one, and I’d be surprised if many of my friends do. I simply don’t buy Steve’s claim that the iPad does things the iPhone and Macbook do – but better. Designers, programmers, CAD engineers, gamers, and people who just like to tinker with their computers won’t want an iPad – at least not in lieu of a Macbook. And I doubt lots of people are going to double up on their mobile devices.

But I do think Apple has the opportunity to take hold of new and developing markets. This is a checkpoint (milestone?) in the computing revolution: Hardware innovation is plateauing as integration with public services, ubiquity of data networks, and efficiency and grace of software mature. To all the people underwhelmed by the iTab, I empathize. But to the people who are trashing the iTab for being a huge disappointment, I have to ask: In what massive way has the iTab failed you?

I think the truth is that it got reasonably close to our mental image of a mythical digital gadget. Yea, it needs a camera, AT&T needs to start not sucking, multi-tasking, and a couple other things which we’ll get soon enough. But what the heck else were you expecting? Hardware is done innovating for a little while.

Apple is wise to spread its user experience magic to as many niches as it can. Get those credit cards into the iTunes Store, impregnate educational institutions with Apple’s sensibility and usability, rejuvenate relationships between grandparents and their grandkids, replace hospital clipboards with iPads.

Every major technology company should be focused on merging itself with people’s lives. Steps toward this goal are the only achievements that sound impressive anymore! (“Solar panels on your company’s roof? Cute trick, kid. Your company’s solar panels power my house? Holy shit!”) Google is making itself the omniscient brain of the world, Amazon is a seemingly omnipotent consumer universe sitting on a single mouse-click, and Apple could be the company that makes all of this omnipresent… and elegant.

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Avatar

Sumeet — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:33:01 +0000

I saw James Cameron’s new film Avatar this weekend. It’s wonderful.

Much has already been said about the film. Response is mostly positive:

The visual effects are stunning and new.
“Pandora” is one of the most lush and breathtaking fantasy worlds ever created.
The 3D is implemented tastefully and enhances the film rather than distracts from it.
The characters are real enough that you care for their cause and fate.
The CGI natives of “Pandora” are the best attempt so far to overcome the Uncanny Valley.
The film has positive messaging, including strong environmental and anti-war stances.

Of course, the film has left some fans disappointed as well. Mostly, they complain about the following:

The story is predictable and recycled.
The soundtrack is uninspired.
“3D glasses give me a headache.”

I fall into the group of fans who loved the movie with a passion, and I’d like to see it again some time. Here some personal thoughts of mine that I hope are not just a restatement of the above consensuses:

“Pandora” is remarkable. However, I think it will be a challenge to achieve the same diversity of life in this world that – for example – Star Wars achieved with its massive Empire and Rebel planets. This might be due to the fact that only one species (the Na’vi) actually speaks on Pandora, whereas most species have some kind of communicable language in the Star Wars movies. I believe this challenge is not insurmountable, but future films won’t be able to rest on their visuals’ laurels. So they better get to work on adding more rich primary species or other planets.
This is the first 3D film in which I didn’t get a headache. Much obliged.
Reading a bit about the struggles overcome and investments required to make the film added to my excitement and enjoyment. (Further Reading: 1, 2, 3)
Even though it’s almost 3 hours long, I didn’t have to go to the bathroom during the movie.

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Some Holiday Randomness

Sumeet — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:44:38 +0000

Today, I present three pieces of randomness. Enjoy.

1. Java House
I go to the same place almost every day for lunch. It’s called Java House. It’s basically a really big shack on the marina. I like to look at the sailboats. I love it. The food is okay, but mostly I go because I love the environment and people.

The owner, Philip, hates that I do web design. Every time I come in, he’s like “What’s your business?” and I’m like “Philip! It’s Internet!” and he’s like “Ahhh, I don’t understand that stuff. It’s God’s curse to us. Just you wait, we’ll all be robots in 10 years!” and then I tell him off and he waves me off.

He’s Greek and very, very old. He was a civil engineer back in the day and helped build San Francisco’s traffic management system.

Last week one day he sat down with me, and we were chatting. And in the middle of the conversation, he just picked up the syrup bottle and poured more syrup on my pancakes. “There, now they’re Java House pancakes.” And they tasted better!

Philip is set on me marrying an Indian girl – soon. Today he told me to go to temples because girls with faith are better than girls without faith.

2. Sachin’s Graduated
Well, he walked anyway. He graduated months ago and has been in Washington, D.C. Interning for Senator Feinstein and attending George Washington University for his Master’s Degree. He came back this weekend to be in his graduation ceremony at UC Berkeley, and it was wonderful watching him get his degree. He looked so studious in his cap and gown!

More important than his graduation is his return. In an impressive but not surprising display of maturity, Sachin decided to finish his Master’s Degree online from California. He’ll also be preparing for law school and perhaps doing a social project on his own. The maturity of his decision lay in his motivation – part of which was to be nearer to his family. We’re all happy he’s back. Color this brother proud.

3. Christmas Time
I’m on record as having stated that I’d give up Thanksgiving and Christmas for another Halloween. I hereby retract that statement. Winter – and the holiday season in particular – have a unique magic which I hope to preserve forever. Even in warm(ish) California, we appreciate the occasion to settle into our blankets around the fireplace and sip hot cocoa as we chat about this or that. Or – as we’re more likely to do in our family – settle into our blankets around the fireplace and sip hot Chai as we listen to Naniji play the harmonium.

Gift-giving is also one of my favorite activities – a practice which was sadly left out of the design spec for Halloween. I love thinking of the right gift for a person. I’m certain I fall short often, but the thinking process itself can’t be done without revisiting fond memories.

Please don’t throw rocks at me for this, but I love Christmas music. Walk by the street corner at 17th and Noe in San Francisco around 9:00pm and you’re likely to hear holiday standards coming through the window from my apartment. Nothing beats coding sessions set to “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”.

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Cold, Cold Water

Sumeet — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:54:06 +0000

About 6 miles and 3,000 feet from camp sits Franklin Lake – a pristine pool of ice water semi-frozen even in July. Bring a good sleeping bag; the nights are very cold year-round.

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Swing Scream

Sumeet — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:03:16 +0000

She actually wanted to be let off the swing, but I kept refusing. Just kidding. Not really.

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Double Frisbee

Sumeet — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:11:26 +0000

The game is simple enough: Throw two frisbees at the same time, and watch as your friend tries to catch both before either hits the ground.

Failure is guaranteed. The risk of injury is always present. This game is for the strong and courageous.

Success is sweet and satisfying. Acrobatics are always appropriate. High-fives will ensue.

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Children of Sunam

Sumeet — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:49:18 +0000

Sachin and Suneel had so much fun playing with our little cousins in Sunam:

Probably a good idea not to let Suneel near your children.

Suneel showed Sucharan the wonder that is Rubik’s Cube. Needless to say, Sucharan was entranced:

Sachin took this photo, which I think is probably one of the best from Sunam:

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Holi

Sumeet — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:09 +0000

You want to check out these photos.

Last Wednesday (March 11th), people in India and other countries with large Hindu populations celebrated Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring, and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. What that translates to in action is an enthusiastic dropping of inhibitions, as people chase each other and playfully splash colorful paint, powder and water on each other.

View the Photo Set at The Big Picture.

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The Crisis of Credit Visualized

Sumeet — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:04:08 +0000

Watch this. Don’t ask for a explanation. Just click Play.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

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