I am taking one computer course at ACAD this semester. It is really my first computer class at the college, since I would rather spend my time learning things I have less experience with. The class is Jwlm 216: 3d modeling for rapid prototyping. It layman's terms: we learn how to design things on the computer so a robot could make them.
When I signed up for the class, I had hopes that it would be different from any of the other 3d computer class offered at Acad, and I was luckily right. I don't think there is any more technical class in the school, both because of what we are learning, and by how knowledgeable our teacher is. I have had lots of experience with 3d graphics and computers, and still, every week I am surprise when our teacher can explain something about the process that I didn't know.
Here are some of the projects that I have made for this class. What I find most appealing about these designs is actually how they exist on the computer in the original 3d file. They are simply described by different mathematical curves called nurbs that all join together to form the final object. They are (when made correctly) sort of like ideal objects since they have infinite precision (technically, not practically).
I think the teapot render is pretty much the nicest render I have ever done. The teapot is inspired by Jutta Sikka's original, however the color design is all my own doing.
"Man, when I was young I shoved my ignorance in people's faces. They beat me with sticks. By the time I was forty my blunt instrument had been honed to a fine cutting point for me. If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn."
This is a quote from Fahrenheit 451 (yet again).
It seems recently this quote has been helping me. In my painting class, we do a lot of talking. My teacher is exceedingly informative and the discussions are really great. However, for me to take part in these discussion, it usually requires me to say things that I know are might be wrong. I bring up topics that are interesting, but I introduce them very badly. I bring up things I have read, and I explain them badly. However, almost every time, after we have finished whatever we are discussing, it is usually apparent that something important has been figure out.
I usually just have to think of that quote in my mind before I say anything, I know why I am saying whatever stupid thing I need to say
Here are two projects I was able to complete this week. They were both printed off the computer, so here they are in almost original digital form (just lower resolution).
The first was for painting class. I took pictures of a painted globe while it was spinning.
The second project was for drawing. We had to use some sort of historical imagery as the starting point. My imagery was the font of Helvetica. I ended up drawing buildings in the style of helvetica.
It was a productive week.
I also sent off my portfolio for Concordia University for there Film animation Major program.
I have to say that the hype around Rockband is true, it actually is really good.
Why is it really good?
Because unlike any other games I have played my parents actually want to play it. And when it is getting late at night, it's not them who are saying we should stop. It is usually them saying, "Just one more song..."
What I am really interested in finding out is if there is a chance that this could be the game that really gets people like my parents into video games. I am not really convinced because when I play Rockband, I never have an urge to pick up other games. It seems to now exist in a seperate space than other games. I feel almost no link between Rockband and Halo, even though they can both be cooperative games.
One other thing that Rockband has made evident to me is just how proficient I am at looking at videogame screens. I can play guitar on expert difficulty while still scanning the screen to see how everybody else is playing and what needs to be done. I end up orchestrating the band to get through the more difficult levels.
A second thing that Rockband has made evident is how playing video games has become a game in itself. To win video games I seem to have developed various techniques that let me get through any difficulty that I come up against. The only way I really noticed that these were habits I had formed was by playing with my parents who do not have these habits. Within minutes of playing I will have figured out most of the possibilities of what I can do and how I can use that knowledge in levels that seem impossible.
Guess what I did as a little kid. All of those things. And most of them I did at our families cabin.
1. I played with fire. We had a fire pit, and we had fireworks. The adults let all of us kids set up and start the fires. I think I remember burning myself three times. Probably twice on marshmallow sticks which don't glow red when they are hot enough to still burn, and once when I was moving a stick that was burning and grabbed a part that was hot.
What did this experience probably result in. I suspect it is alot of the reason why I was so keen to get to pour bronze in my sculpture class.
2.Own a pocket knife. I had various pocket knifes that I only ever remember using at the cabin. We had a large supply of wood, and I could work outside without having to clean up a mess. I probably only ever was able to carve an extremely rudimentary fish and take the bark off of a stick, but I never cut myself.
In art school I hear stories from people cutting themselves all the time on scissors and exacto knifes. I think I have had one papercut sized cut in the last 2 years. I must have learned something.
3. Throw a spear. I have used a slingshot, darts, bow and arrow, and lawn darts at our cabin. I also learned how to juggle and yo-yo when I was little. I seemed to thrive off of any activities such as those. I suspect that these activities are why I have good hand eye coordination, and usually work really quick. They are really varied task which would have started my ability to learn different activities really quickly and have the patients to master them.
4. Take apart an appliance. I have to say that I never really got into this one. I have taken apart, (I think), a fan or a drill and a TV. Neither was very informative, though at least I did it. I think I learned alot more from building vehicles out of Knex and building card houses. I learned about how iterative design works. Build something once, test, change one aspect, repeat forever. I built 4 wheel drive steerable cars and 14 story cards houses using these methods. It's undeniable how influential this experience was.
5. Drive a car. Again, at our cabin my dad let all the kids get on his lap and drive our car around one of the the desserted streets. It was the biggest treat in the world and once again, taught me that I could do stuff like that.
6. Break the DMCA. Oh, I think this is something I actually have to get my parents to do.
Other dangereous things.
Jump off high dives and cliffs Fly off of swings Trampoline and tumbling Water ski and tube like a crazy person Drive a boat Swing on ropes Climb trees
Obviously I was greatly helped by these abilities. Though I was lucky. Our family had the cabin where we were allowed to do this stuff. And I had parents who let me. Obviously our society is not setup to let kids do this type of stuff, that needs to change. We are dumping the worlds down and making it boring. Why do we always have to build stairs, why can't we put ladders and fire poles in buildings. Rock wall and obstacles?
