Weekly Report #28: 04/06 - 04/13

Final Presentation Invitations

This week was focused upon final presentation aspects, such as invitations and guest lists for the event. To begin with, the invitations were created and drafted through a website, which allows for the creation of invitations with visual appeal through clipart and word art. Overall, this website provided me with the ability to create an attractive invitation to provide to my peers, an invitation which will hopefully induce the desire to come to the event within the recipients of the invitations. My invitation was founded upon a standard foundation, with a technological feel, due to my topic of study being software engineering. Furthermore, I also created a guest list to decide who would be receiving the invitations for Final Presentation Night. This guest list mainly includes peers, family, relatives, friends, school members, and other individuals who I feel will participate and enjoy the presentation provided to them on that night. Holistically, the invite list is increasingly important, for it is this list which will create the constituency for my presentation audience. This list will ensure the quality of my audience, providing me with the responsibility and power to control how my presentation is perceived and experienced to a certain extent.

Weekly Report #27: 03/30 - 04/06

Final Product Organization Finalization

This week was focused on Final Product for me. During these past seven days, I partook in two different paths of work for the product. The first aspect was the individual brainstorming. This brainstorming consisted of the mapping out aspect of my product, which included me mapping out the various steps in my program. Within this, I had to consider the various aspects which are inherent within every single type of communication possible in this world. Such universal characteristics were the driving force for my mapping out, as I was able to dictate and assign essential values and variables to these necessary facets of communication. The second part of this mapping out process which occurred this week was my discussion with my mentor. During our conversation, Mr. Christianson was able to point out numerous ideas which I could implement within my program to ensure its display as a more holistic perspective of communication. Most importantly, however, was the discussion over the final product itself. We decided to make a large change to the overall structure and purpose of the product to ensure that it may impact and have a broader scope upon a wider range of society. This change will now allow my product to be much more significant and impactful than before.

Weekly Report #26: 03/23 - 03/30

Final Product Construction and Call Analysis

The majority of this past week was focused upon my planning and brainstorming for my final product. I had a mentor visit earlier in the week, on the Monday, and I was able to converse with my mentor upon the next steps and my progress within the process. Overall, the discussion went extremely well. We were successfully able to delineate the necessary steps to completion of the project, including the progress completed so far. This would allow me to have a strong structural foundation for my path of Final Product completion, as I would understand how and when to complete each aspect of the project. As of now, I am in the organization/brainstorming stage, in which I am simply mapping out the program which I will be creating for situational communication. Though the programming itself will take time, the organization and mapping aspect of such will ensure that my time spent programming will be constructive and well-directed in creating code which will initiate desired and structured results. The progress so far has been astounding, and I hope to continue this path into the bright future which I see ahead for this product.

Weekly Report #25: 03/16 - 03/23

Analyzing Corporate Organization

This past week, my focus was upon analyzing my experiences listening to my mentor’s pipeline call. This analysis provided me great perspective into leadership as a whole, both on a corporate and on a personal level. A pipeline call is simply a call done every two to three weeks, in which all team members are connected to. Within this call, the leader of the team, who in this case was my mentor, will facilitate discussion in various aspects. He will discuss the overall goals of the company, the future of this team, and how the team members can successfully reach the desired epitome of success marked by correct utilization of their individual potential. The effectiveness of such a call is solely dependent on the team leader, for if he or she lacks the capability to reign in the team’s focus and aspirations, then the team loses its unity and camaraderie, thus intruding upon its effectiveness. My mentor, in the pipeline call which I listened into, was extremely effective in how he portrayed the necessary information in a personable, yet productive fashion, a manner which maximizes the efficiency of each team member, and thus allows for the team to be more capable of reaching long-term goals. Overall, this call demonstrated the various aspects of leadership, and how such can be aggregated and utilized in a powerful spectrum of success.

Weekly Report #24: 03/02 - 03/09

Understanding Management and Leadership

This week was focused on my mentor visit. During my mentor visit this week, I was able to converse with my mentor for much longer than the usual hour allotment, as this week, the mentor visit was for two hours. This visit consisted of two different activities: listening into his calls with his team members, and discussing final product ideas with my mentor. To begin with, I listened into various calls which my mentor was leading with various members of his team located across the nation. These calls demonstrated numerous aspects of his leadership and management capabilities and requirements within his relationships with his team members. To begin all of his calls, he began on a personal note, a simple discussion of how the other member was doing. This small talk was a necessary prerequisite to developing a positive relationship with all of his team members, allowing for increased satisfaction, camaraderie, and desire to work well for the team as a united team. Next up, my mentor continued on the call by focusing on the member’s three biggest clients and his or her progress in each respective case. Overall, the attitude in which each client is discussed, combined with how the progress is displayed, provided my mentor with great input on holistic progress of the team, while also providing him with a successful assessment of team success. Furthermore, my mentor and I were able to discuss my Final Product by mapping out the idea which we would utilize. This was essential in how it allowed me to understand the path for the future, and therefore follow it accordingly.

Weekly Report #23: 02/23 - 03/02

Reworking the Blog

This week was focused upon a singular entity, which was ensuring that my blog is up-to-date and presentable to viewers. I focused upon ensuring that all of my assignments were posted correctly on the website. This included my research assessments, interview assessments, evidence of learning assignments, speeches, and mentor information. The purpose of such was to allow viewers to follow my ISM journey through my blog. They should be able to understand all that I have been able to accomplish and what I am on track to complete as effectively and efficiently as possible. Holistically, this will not only allow for critiques for me to learn and change my path through, but also, it shall provide me with a secondary perspective through which to witness how I have grown and matured throughout this journey. Overall, this blog will serve as an everlasting memoir and record of the work I have done this year, allowing me to reminisce upon the past in the future. Furthermore, this everlasting aspect of the blog will force me to ensure that my work will be as perfect as possible, for the motivation of this project never being deleted will ensure that I put in my best work at all times to make sure my work is not embarrassing, Holistically, this project serves as not only my marker for my progress for my journey, but more importantly, it will serve as an impetus for my success in this path.

Research Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4sk9qc44uw&feature=youtu.be

Original Work Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L1CmNzLrf4&feature=youtu.be

Evidence of Learning #17

Social Analysis

Due to my interest and analysis of communication enablement through my original work, added with my mentor’s position based upon leadership and management, I was fortunate enough to talk to a member of the social department at Dell. This individual, Janice Jacobson, provided me with great insight upon how Dell utilizes technology on a social basis to understand the desires and feelings of users of Dell products, and furthermore how this data is utilized to ensure client satisfaction is maximized in the future. Overall, my meeting with Ms. Jacobson was instrumental in how it showcased the wide spectrum of capability within technology to understand global and societal perspective regarding an idea or product.

To begin with, our discussion was founded upon the Listening Robust Program. This program is a data-compiling technology which allows for a wide variety of data component to be aggregated within a certain base, allowing for later analysis on an objective basis by the technological facet itself. This program can provide not only holistic analysis, but also platform-specific graphics, providing the company with the purview to look into various means of communication through which users are conversing regarding the company. She discussed how part of her job consisted of the conversion of users from “ranters” to “ravers”, a process in which she stated Dell has a conversion rate of about 40%. Dell receives around 4,000 issues per week from users and clients, of which most are responded to. Now, despite the technology being able to compile large amounts of data and analyze components coming from numerous platforms, technology remains lacking in its capability to understand the true emotion and tone of the message. Therefore, despite the wide variety of technological advancements which have occurred in the past years, a human touch is still necessary to not only understand the true message, but also to successfully respond in a fashion which is helpful and meaningful to the customers and users in question. Real-Language Processing is the term which conveys the idea of technology beginning to comprehend messages; nevertheless, as of the present day, humans remain necessary for this process. Furthermore, this human intuition is furthered by the understanding of the Dell workers of the corporation’s goals and desires for correct interpretation of a message. Without this prerequisite context, such responses are meaningless and can not be utilized to further a corporation’s efficiency, productivity, and overall success.

To conclude our discussion, Ms. Jacobson stated what she felt was emerging in the future of social media’s field within business and overall within technology. To begin with, she felt that video platforms will continue to emerge as increasingly powerful and useful, as users will be able to utilize the wide variety of benefits of YouTube to solve numerous problems which require a different skillset or another individual’s expertise. Furthermore, she sees an explosion within the mobile industry. She sees increased privatization and specialization of platforms for communication to segment interaction within the wide spectrum of capabilities inherent within it. This will allow for a better quality of interaction, for the separation will allow for a specialization unattainable at times with one form of media attempting to achieve various purposes. Holistically, I learned a great amount from our discussion, for it showed me the viability of technology within a seemingly unrelated field, while also giving me a tangible understanding of technology’s scope in the future.

Evidence of Learning #16

Pill Station

During my mentor visits with Mr. Al Christianson, I’ve been exposed to a variety of healthcare technologies, which will evolve how we utilize and reach healthcare throughout our everyday lives. Such will allows this process to be increasingly efficient and capable of saving the lives of many. One of these incredibly impactful technologies was the pill station, a B&J Medical product which is based upon the idea of home-health monitoring.

The Pill station’s target audience is individuals who must take certain pills on a daily basis due to their specific ailments. This usually includes the elderly and extremely ill. Basically, this technology is a cloud-enabled monitor which gives the doctor real-time updates on a patient’s progress within a certain healthcare process. This machine has seven compartments, for the seven days of the week, allowing for proper organization and efficiency of time. Beyond that, however, is a Xerox machine beneath the pills. This aspect takes a picture of the pills present at various times of the pill containers, allowing for the doctor to understand which pills are being taken regularly and correctly by the patient. Beyond the pills themselves, this packaged technology can also come with a blood monitor, utilizable for patients with certain ailments regarding constant blood monitoring, such as diabetes. Other items added into the package on a patient-to-patient basis include an electronic scale, which allows for constant monitoring of fluctuations of weight. Moreover, all the information and data which is gathered by these various technologies is electronically transmitted to the doctor in charge, allowing for constant and correct monitoring at all times. Additionally, with this station comes a laptop or tablet, which allows for the patient to be in constant contact with a doctor on a personal basis through video call, incorporating the face-to-face interaction which all consumers and patients value.

Overall, the power of this technology lies in its productivity and efficiency within the home monitoring field. This station, in essence, allows for the doctor to constantly be evaluating a patient’s vitals. It allows for the doctor-at-home feel for the patient, increasing their comfort and safety within their home as it pertains to health, without discomforting the time restraints of doctors. Furthermore, this technology increases the insurance that patients actually commit to the requirements prescribed by doctors. If a patient is not taking proper precautions or taking the necessary medicine, then the doctor is able to evaluate and view variations within the data, allowing for the doctor to quickly alert the patient of their negligence and the possible consequences of such as it pertains to their individual health. This technology keeps patients in check, ensuring that they follow their prescribed protocol for their health. Beyond the efficiency and productivity of this technology,  the power of the pill station and its capabilities lies in the increased ability to ensure a patient not only is monitored, but is also ensured to follow the prescriptions of the doctor. The viability of this machine is widespread, and there is no doubt that this technology will have immense consequences for the future of healthcare.

Evidence of Learning #15

The Health Spot Station

During my first mentor visit at my mentor’s workplace, my mentor provided me the opportunity to witness two extremely powerful technologies which will revolutionize healthcare through utilizing the power and efficiency of technology. To begin with, Mr. Christianson introduced me to his colleague, Mark Colker. Mr. Colker provided me with an in-depth tour of two technologies which have been developed to increase the healthcare process’s benefits and comforts to the users. The two technologies which were shown to me were the Health Spot Station and the Pill Station.

To begin with, the Health Spot Station is a room in which patients are able to conduct an appointment through self-service. Basically, a patient comes to the location of the station, which can be located various places, from the ER (to check whether the ailment is truly an “emergency”) to overseas (for the Department of Defense to be used for military purposes) to corporations. The patient schedules an appointment, or simply walks in, dependent on the situation, and is instructed to enter a circular, wheelchair-accessible, noise-cancelling room. This room provides the patient with comfort and confidentiality, continuing the HEPA Compliance and Confidentiality PIN which is quintessential for any healthcare process. When the patient enters and checks in, the system automatically retrieves all necessary information regarding the individual patient, including the patient’s medical history and the patient’s insurance information for payment. Next up, the patient does a pre-checking process. This includes height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure data, all of which is done by all doctors regardless of the purpose of the visit. After this pre-checking process, the doctor, who is present at an offshore location, is informed of the patient’s readiness, and starts the webcam. Through this machine, the doctor receives all necessary information and  data, while continually checking up on the patient according to ailments previously entered into the machine. Dependent on the ailment, the doctor can drop panels which allow the patient to access various devices through which the doctor can witness the troubling aspects of the patient. In case of a misunderstanding or confusion in any aspect of this process, the patient simply calls upon the nurse sitting outside for assistance.

The greatness about this machine lies in two main aspects: efficiency and mobility. As it pertains to the former, this machine will allow doctors to check-up patients much faster than ever before. All the time taken for the mundane tasks of doctoring are taken out and made more efficient through this technology, as doctors simply have to do the important, patient-specialized aspects of the healthcare process while leaving the other aspects to a more efficient and useful technology. Furthermore, as it pertains to mobility, this machine will allow for patients from across the world to consult a doctor sitting in a room. A doctor could treat people regardless of distance, making healthcare more plausible and accessible for many. Overall, the scope of this technology is tremendous, as it makes healthcare a commodity accessible to humans across the globe, regardless of location.

Research Assessment #7

Research Assessment #7

Subject: The Evolution and Future of Communication Technology

Date: 1/20/15

MLA citation:  

Natarajan, Ramesh. "The Evolution and Future of Communication Technology." The Geek Stuff RSS. The Geek Stuff, 24 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 Jan. 2015. <http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/11/the-evolution-and-future-of-communication-technology/>.

Assessment: With the proliferation and exponential increase within the productivity and scope of technology throughout the world, utilization of such technology has naturally broadened as well. The evolution of technology has redefined not only society, but also human connectivity. Today, impediments such as time and distance no longer keep individuals from communicating. The efficiency and productivity inherent within communicational technology today is unparalleled. Nevertheless, it continues to evolve. There lies a bright future for how we communicate. However, the product of this evolution is naturally befuddling, due to the nature of our presence in time. However, there lies hints as to what the future holds for human connectivity and rapid communicational efficiency. This article’s importance towards my journey within the technological fields lies in two areas: the focus of my original work within communication enablement and the creation of stronger networks for connectivity.

To begin with, for increased efficiency, the future holds a propensity of lacking number. In the future generations, humans will no longer need various technological devices and  numerous applications to serve various purposes. Rather. in years to come, a technology will arise in which the utilization capabilities and benefits of these numerous aspects will be aggregated to form a super-communicational device. This piece of technology will enhance communication greatly, as it will ensure increased efficiency and productivity of interaction while ensuring the necessary message is not lost in its transmission. This correlates to my journey within ISM in how I intend to initiate the creation of a similar device through my original work. My original work focuses on planning out the creation of such a device through the thoughts and desires of the individuals who communicate the most on a daily basis: teenagers. Using the data compiled in a survey, I will be able to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of various technologies and combine them to create a technology which is all-encompassing. This article is quintessential in how it showed me the need for this technology and the future plausibility of such.

However, to truly utilize such a device on a large scale within society, a necessary foundational step lies in one essential aspect of communication: networks. To truly create this web of interconnectivity between not only various people, but also various forms of technology, one must utilize the power of networks. At the present time, networks lack the power to truly provide for the requirements of the aforementioned communicational technology. Therefore, according to the article, increased work upon the technological networks within society are necessary and a prerequisite to substantiate the mega-communicational technology mentioned previously. Although the idea is inherently powerful in its plausible consequences of societal interaction, there lie many steps between idea, creation, and implementation, all of which must be duly considered before considering the products of such a device.

Research Article: http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/11/the-evolution-and-future-of-communication-technology/

Research Assessment #6

Research Assessment #6

Subject: Cloud Computing: Centralization and Data Sovereignty

Date: 11/21/14

MLA citation:

McCarthy, Smari. "Cloud Computing: Centralization and Data Sovereignty | De Filippi | European Journal of Law and Technology." Cloud Computing: Centralization and Data Sovereignty | De Filippi | European Journal of Law and Technology. European Journal of Law and Technology, May-June 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://ejlt.org/article/view/101/234>.

Assessment: In the modern age, technology has become the quintessential instrument for globalization. The world has seen its connectivity increase exponentially due to the prowess of productivity and efficiency provided by technology. A prime aspect of this globalization has been through the idea of cloud computing. Cloud computing, first seen in the Amazon Web Service (AWS) in 2006, provides a centralized data base consisting of many remote servers to create a powerful storage unit within the Internet, where users are able to store information, documents, and all types of other online materials. The spectrum of potential with such technology contains a wide variety of pros and cons: the privacy of user’s information is at times sacrificed for the increase in connectivity and globalization achieved by cloud computing. Nevertheless, cloud computing serves as an integral part of the future of computer science and communications. As it pertains to me, reading this article showcased the power of centralization and the risk of security inherent within the scope of such technology.

Centralization of information, a capability and benefit of cloud computing, has allowed for the manifestation of a database which various users can utilize despite locational restrictions. The flexibility of the structure combined with the user compatibility allows for worldwide applications facilitated by various technological facets. This centralization roots in the industrialization development of how products are manufactured. With the assembly-line and factory creations inherent within the 1800s and 1900s, manufacturing became a more centralized and efficient process. Similarly, with the Cloud, start-ups are able to invest less in large storage facilities and database requirements, and more within the technological aspects of their business due to the power and widespread variability of the Cloud. Without a doubt, the Cloud is the future of user information, how it is obtained, and how it is stored, thus naturally increasing the connectivity and globalization of technology. As it pertains to myself, understanding this connectivity only furthers the importance of communications in this field. Computer science is often considered a field strictly restricted to coding, programming, and other aspects of innovation. However, the communications and interactional aspect of this business is becoming more evident with the newfound inspiration provided by Cloud computing capabilities. Although my tangible skills within computer programming and hard coding are natural prerequisites for success within my field, I cannot neglect the communications aspect, for with the emergence of Cloud Computing comes the continuation of the globalization which will become the defining inspiration for future generations.

However, with this centralized property of Cloud Computing comes the inherent risk of security. Though efficiency is increased, information has become too accessible to a certain extent. With the containment of such a broad spectrum of information within one database, security has inevitably become a prominent issue, for the user is able to easily hack and access information which isn’t necessarily his or hers. This aspect of cloud computing affects me as it pertains to my work. In computer programming, certain loopholes through methods and variables must be done to ensure true privacy. In the past, I have had a lackadaisical perspective regarding this process. I felt that it was unnecessary in the scope of my programming, which isn’t affecting corporation well-being or the future. However, after reading this article, I’ve realized how important such little things are. The combination of such minor security aspects can make a massive difference for the implementation of technology and its philosophical foundation within the user. Reading about Cloud Computing has showcased to me the power of technology, yet also the moral and ethical gray-area which occurs as a natural consequence of such productivity.

Research Article: http://ejlt.org/article/view/101/234

Research Assessment #5

Research Assessment #5

Subject: Computer Engineering in the Real World

Date: 10/30/14

MLA citation:

Ark, Casey. "I Studied Business and Programming, Not English. I Still Can’t Find a Job." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/27/i-studied-engineering-not-english-i-still-cant-find-a-job/>.

Assessment:  The purpose of reading this article was to visualize the future of computer engineering in the field. This article shed some necessary light upon the preparation of college courses upon the individual for success in the computer science field. Furthermore, it considered what employment in the computer science field truly entails, from the necessary background knowledge-wise to the tangible skills required. The article was through the perspective of a disgruntled individual who found that his college degree and teaching had completely misconstrued the essentials of the computer science field as it pertains to employment, while effectively preparing him for the wrong sense of computer science. He felt that his theoretical basis was strong, as in understanding what everything was defined as, yet he lacked any tangible sense of usage and understanding with modern technology, rendering his knowledge and degree seemingly moot for employment and the professional world. The article’s importance, for my purposes, was how it demonstrated two essential aspects of the field of computer science in the future. It showcased the importance of a proper college education to succeed in the professional world, while also portraying the quintessential attribute of proactivity desired by companies throughout the technology field.

To begin with, education is foundational for success in the computer science field. The author of the article felt a paucity in his understanding and real-world skills due to the misdirection offered by his university and its curriculum. Rather than focusing upon how to achieve certain tasks, he was forced to understand what everything was. Though the “what” aspect is extremely important in the field, there needs to be a more tangible and purposeful path within one’s education in such aspects. What such has shown me is how essential it is that I properly choose a college for the next four years which will provide an education truly preparing me for my future. This article has provided me the impetus for increased research into the computer curriculums and course of each college to ensure that my four years of university life are productive rather than wasted. Through the pains and struggles of the author, as explicated by his ill-prepared constituency within computer science, I’ve successfully garnered the necessity of a proper college education in furthering one’s prosperity in this field.

Secondly, the attribute of proactivity contributes much to the longevity and effectiveness of a computer science professional. Overall, the article continued to stress upon the importance of searching for knowledge and understanding outside of what one is provided by his education or employment. To truly prosper in the field, one cannot simply be able to learn; one must truly want to learn. I’ve found that the driving force behind the successful throughout the computer science world, or even the technology world, are individuals who find a way to make it happen, individuals who lack fear of the consequences of standing out and will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Such a persistence, a drive, a need to achieve one’s aspirations, is what truly reciprocates success in this field, a concept which I knew before, but didn’t completely relish until the reading of this article.

Article Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/08/27/i-studied-engineering-not-english-i-still-cant-find-a-job/

Research Assessment #4

Research Assessment #4

Subject: The History of Computer Programming

Date: 10/24/14

MLA citation:

Ferguson, Andrew. "A History of Computer Programming Languages." A History of Computer Programming Languages. Brown University, 2000. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <http://cs.brown.edu/~adf/programming_languages.html>.

Assessment:  The main concepts of the development of computer programming as a whole has been defined by the foundations of the initial creations of programming languages. The foundation lies in the understanding of how programming language will continue to develop in the future. Thus, the preparation of such coding facets constitutes of extremely fundamental concepts for more globalized usage. Instead of increasing the complexity of the program’s foundation and thus restricting the holistic utilization capabilities of such, the simplicity of the program’s base allows for increased development and functionality for future usage by different developers. Overall, this concept has furthered the progression of technology throughout various fields, for a multitude of individuals find themselves capable of utilizing a wide variety of languages with a fundamental basis and understanding in the basics.

The importance of such as it relates to me is how, in reality, complexity is simplicity. I’ve found the concepts of computer science and coding to be completely foreign concepts when lacking the knowledge of its essence. Thus, I feared my capabilities to succeed in the field without a proper background of the history of computer science combined with a paucity considering the vast technology which has been created and will be developed in the future. However, this article has redefined this apprehension on my part, for it has shown me how powerful the fundamentals can be, especially in such a complex field such as technology. Furthermore, in the past, I’ve been so caught up in the complexity of what computer science as field pertains to that I lose my sense of purpose and motivation. The perplexing algorithms and conceptual confusion which arises in the field can easily consume an individual’s mental capability and capacity. However, after reading this article, I am comforted through my understanding that the basics are ultimately quintessential, for the complexity is only a byproduct of a powerful basis in the fundamentals. Overall, this focus upon the roots of technology will provide the beautiful flowers of complex understanding which I hope to achieve through my career in the technological field.

Article Link: http://cs.brown.edu/~adf/programming_languages.html

Research Assessment #3

Research Assessment #3

Subject: The Big-Data Revolution

Date: 10/16/14

MLA citation:

Shaw, Johnathan. "Why "Big Data" Is a Big Deal." Understanding Big Data Leads to Insights, Efficiencies, and Saved Lives. Harvard Magazine, Mar.-Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. <http://harvardmagazine.com/2014/03/why-big-data-is-a-big-deal>.

Assessment:  This article is founded upon the idea of big-data. To begin with, it considers the common misconceptions concerning this concept. Many people, when confronted with big-data, consider how massive technological storage has become in recent years, in pertinence to its capacity. With more and more data usage and creation, storage must naturally increase, and it is this ideology which is commonly attributed to big-data. However, in reality, big-data is more about a strategic revolution, combining the creativity of the human mind and the innate power of technology as it pertains to effectiveness and productivity. This conceptual revolution has driven the modernity of progress within the technology field. As it pertains to me, the ideological prowess of big-data contributes to the creative, solution-based aspect of the technology field’s future while also promoting the collaborative, and thus communications, based aspect of technology.

The field of computer science and technology as a whole is usually promoted as a field with endless possibilities and capabilities for the future as it pertains to the progress of such machinery and its utilization. However, with these affirmations come the natural worry that one day, the human aspect of technology will no longer be necessary, as technology will become so immensely powerful that it is capable on its own to do ten times what the human is capable of. However, this article regarding big-data assuaged some of these fears within me. Across many of my interviews, a commonality was the idea of big-data as the future of technology. This article stated emphatically how important the humane creativity is to this future. Humans, though not half as capable as technology when it comes to computing power, have the ability of ingenuity, which allows a small foundation in knowledge to bloom into something more powerful than anything a piece of technology could ever create. Big-data, as the next big thing in technology, is founded upon human intellectual capabilities in the power to think outside the box. The biggest impact this article had upon me and my desired future in the field of computer science was that it showed me how, though technology is becoming increasingly powerful and efficient on its own, adding the human component of ingenuity to the equation increases the productivity and usefulness of technology exponentially, which translated literally to lives saved and needs met across the globe.

Furthermore, the computer science field is often stereotyped and considered as a field in which there is minimal collaboration; essentially. an individual sits at his desk and codes by himself. This aspect of the field was one which I was increasingly apprehensive towards, for I enjoy communicating and sharing ideas with various individuals. However, as I’ve realized through reading this article, the future of technology requires collaborative efforts. Innovation is no doubt possible within the scope of one individual’s mind, but when this potential is increased through the collective efforts of various persons, innovation blossoms greatly. With big-data on the rise, increased creativity is necessary, and such is only possible with the combined efforts of a vicissitude in individuals. The article’s promotion of collaborative work in the future of technology has provided an understanding within me of the cooperative and interactive feature which technology will showcase in the near future of its progress.

As a whole, this article provided me a glimpse of not only what the future of technology is, but more importantly how it will be achieved and furthered. This promotion of the process has allowed me to widen my perspective upon the various components of the computer science field, increasing my overall understanding of the components of a successful individual in this profession. My research within this article has furthered my understanding of what the reality is in the field of big-data and computer science as a whole as it pertains to involved technology and business professionals.

Article Link: http://harvardmagazine.com/2014/03/why-big-data-is-a-big-deal

Research Assessment #2

Research Assessment #2

Subject: Computer Science - The Past and The Future

Date: September 20, 2014

MLA citation:

Hopcroft, John E. "The Future of Computer Science." International Journal of Software and Informatics 5.4 (2011): 1-17. 3 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.

Assessment:  

The basis of this article was the discussion of how computer science has changed over the course of its creation. When computer science was in its beginnings, the field was focused on initiating the creation of more efficient and useful technology. At that time, computers were extremely large, making them impractical and almost useless beyond a specific room or area. The purpose of computer science was to make this newfound technology a commodity which all can use due to its compatibility and connectivity. However, as times have changed, so has computer science. Now, with phones in the hands of seemingly every individual, with the power of the internet and social media to connect people from various countries at once, there no longer resides an urgent need for speed and efficiency. Instead, the attempt now lies in the idea of putting in place this power of technology in various facets of life which have been traditionally partaken of without the power of technology. In the present. computer science focuses on making not technology, but rather life itself more efficient. The attempt of computer science is to make technology so prevalent that it allows an individual to live life better based on in-depth analysis of a piece of technology upon large data sets to create more logical solutions to widespread problems.

First and foremost, this article and its message have shown me the depth of the computer science field. In many types of employment, only certain numbers of individuals are required to complete a task, for the task required only necessitates the work of a finite number of people. This is mainly because such is so ingrained in past tradition and discoveries. With computer science, there are infinite possibilities, for there are innumerable ways to make the little things in life more efficient and enjoyable through the transformation of technological intellect. From the way we think to the way we live life, technology has a lasting impression on how we live> Computer science is all about molding that influence into something which allows life to be more successful as a whole.

Moreover, this influence which computer science provides upon the individual and the community, as mentioned in the article, further warranted my interest and pursuit into the field. Besides my passion for math and science, I really hope to change the way people live in the future. It is my dream to create something to benefit people, especially those in need. This desire to impart prosperity is capable in my eyes; however, there is a medium which is required to reach such aspirations. Before, I used to believe that knowledge was the aforementioned required next step to help the community. However, I’ve realized since that if knowledge were the only barrier to such, then why do people continue to suffer? After reading this article and doing research, I’ve come to the conclusion that for me to achieve my desires to assist people in reaching individual prosperity, then I must have technology,  ingenuity, and creativity to supplement this knowledge. In the end, it’s not what one has, but rather how he or she uses it. This article has furthered my understanding of this foundation which is necessary to be successful in the field of computer science and allowed me to realize how much more there is to technology than computers.

Article Link: http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~lwang/wang11ijsi.pdf

Interview Assessment #6

I recently interviewed Al Christianson, the Global Business Development Executive Director at Perot. He studied Computer Science and Management at Minnesota State, and made the transition from engineering to management through his career. Throughout the interview, I garnered a great understanding of what it takes to be proficient in the field, mainly due to Mr. Christianson’s willingness to share his wide spectrum of experiences with me through our discussion. Overall, we discussed various topics, from the evolution of computer science over the course of the past generations to facilitating achievement of company-wide aspirations. One of the most intriguing topics of our conversation, however, was the idea of integration, the power of making use of the strengths of computer engineering and business to initiate progress within society through the facet of technology.

To begin with, we began our discussion on integration through the topics of computer science and its evolution throughout the past years. He stated how, naturally, with increased understanding of computer programming and increased efficiency of various technologies, computer science has developed extraordinarily. Technology has become faster, computers have become small, the world has become efficient. With this evolution comes inevitable change. This transformation has not only occurred in the tangible, but also ideologically. The perspective through which problems are viewed has changed, initiating new forms of solutions. These new solutions have affected our approach on society’s issues, allowing for us to achieve the progress and prosperity of the community which has come to define the purpose of society as we see it.

Next up, as it pertains to management, business is the conduit of this technology. The power of business lies in its emphasis upon the consumer. How to assist, to impact, to benefit the consumer is the goal of business, for such initiates the profit and money which drives companies. Business essentially capacitates how to reach the consumer and implement various ideas within the community. However, the business is defined by its vision. It can effectively achieve only what it intends to achieve, regardless of the impacts upon society. The impediment within business lies in this motivational aspect. Not all business are driven by beneficial purposes. Companies are incredibly powerful, yet not always does such necessitate responsibility, resulting in corruption and inefficiency. In essence, proper efficiency requires proper ideas.

Between idea and implementation lies a natural impediment. Despite the evolution of technology and the capabilities of business, there remains a bridge which must be built between these diverse concepts. That bridge is integration. Integration is our future, and the beauty of my interview with Mr. Christianson was developing a further understanding of this concept as a foundation for my career path.

Interview Assessment #5

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Shiva Krishnamurthy, the Senior Director of Product Management and Strategy at GenBand. Mr. Krishnamurthy’s journey throughout his career has been unorthodox, to say the least. He started off in the field of chemical engineering, and later transitioned more into the software engineering and management aspects of the field once he realized how uninterested he was in his work within chemical engineering. His passion for computers and problem-solving drove his newfound perspective on his career, and he has become a successful individual within his employment due to the impacts of his motivations. Of the various lessons I learnt from our conversation, a few key things truly stuck with me and have taught me how to approach my journey in ISM and my career in the future. Our discussions concerning the various aspects of the software engineering field, combined with his advice for how I approach the evolving spectrum of technology within the scope of my career, provided me with extremely beneficial knowledge for the creation of a solid foundation for my future.

To begin with, Mr. Krishnamurthy taught me the various avenues within the aggregation of computer science and business. He talked of three main constituencies: service providers, services, and product management. Service providers are the creators; they are the engineers who are given problems and are instructed to solve them in the most productive and efficient way possible to achieve the task at hand. Services refers to the people in charge of distributing the solutions provided by the service providers. These individuals must cater to a vision, and are essentially in charge of people management, finding ways for businesses to receive the solutions they require for functionality. Lastly, product management varies in its purview throughout this process. Within product management, the individual controls all aspects of a product: its creation, its distribution, and its utilization within the community. This field mainly consists of the entrepreneurship which has served as the catalyst for some of the greatest technological innovations of this generation. An understanding of the aforementioned aspects has provided me with a necessary understanding of the tangible, real-world applications of a computer science and business education. Furthermore, it has provided me with a sense of perspective, as it has shown me the final destination for this balance which I wish to achieve throughout my future.

Additionally, Mr. Shiva Krishnamurthy’s advice on how I approach this balance in the upcoming years served instrumental in how I perceive my future path within employment. When asked what he would have changed in the past if he had the knowledge and experience he has now, he responded with how he wished he would’ve started earlier. His dream is to start his own company, based on a powerful idea, and nurture its growth as the leader of the organization. However, he mentioned how, at his age and tenure now, the plausibility and functionality of such is lacking, as he now lacks the time necessary to mature and proliferate a start-up company into something more. His advice to me was to start as early as possible. He suggested that, in my second or third year in college, when I have a grasp on my strengths and weaknesses within the field and connections within the university, I should start my own company. This proposition was extremely attractive for me, as I have always dreamed of starting my own corporation. Through our conversation, I realized how powerful time is. The importance of finding one’s passions and then making use of such for one’s future is great, especially as it relates to time. I intend to start as early as these next years into the process of finding specific venues for my passion and utilizing such knowledge to manifest a powerful foundation for my career.

Interview Assessment #4

On November 26th, I interviewed Sam Waicberg, the Senior Vice President at Vidyo, at Coffee and Cream. Mr. Waicberg’s journey, as it pertains to his employment, is incredibly unique, not only in his approach, but in the final destination. Furthermore, his experience in multiple fields served as a foundational directive for this path, allowing him to dictate his future based on various options presented to him through his past.  Additionally, we conversed about the development of the balance between computer science and business in the future. His involvement in more of the business and communications aspect of this equilibrium provided me with a vicissitude in perspective to consider throughout my journey in ISM. Though my interview with Mr. Waicberg provided me with a great variety of his knowledge and experiences, the two thought-provoking discussions which invoked profound insight include the driving force of passion within employment and a future of communication enablement.

To begin with, Mr. Waicberg discussed to great length his journey throughout the fields of computer science and business. His journey is set apart by its unorthodox foundation. As a business major, Mr. Waicberg told me how he never truly strived to become a “Senior Vice President.” In fact, he said that throughout his journey, he didn’t have a final destination. What drove his path was his passions. Mr. Waicberg described his perspective throughout his life for his employment as one simply allowing the tide to take him. His whole mentality was one of destiny; if one follows his or her passions and is determined enough to see a vision through, then the job aspect of one’s life figures itself out essentially. Through our discussion, I’ve learnt how impactful one’s passions truly are for one’s future, foundationally, as it serves as the the driving force behind the peregrination through the path of employment.

Furthermore,  Mr. Waicberg and I discussed the concept of communication enablement, a vision which has come to define his experiences within the balance between computer science and business. This idea consists of making the transition between user availability to user communication a much faster and more efficient process. For example, right now, if one desires to converse with someone through technology, they must first check the other person’s availability at the time, whether they are “online” or “offline”. Next, if one is available, then the individual is capable of communicating to the other individual. However, the concept of communication enablement is creating a process which takes away this check. Communication enablement will allow the user to communicate with a single touch of a button, making this process efficient and productive. The repercussions of such are immense, but as it pertains to me, I have garnered a greater understanding of the future of the balance between computer science and business, for communication enablement epitomizes this balance. As a whole, it combines the ingenuity of technology with the interactional enablement of business. Overall, the beauty of this process is how it creates a bridge between computer science and business.

My interview with Mr. Waicberg was phenomenal. Our discussions elicited not a change in my path, but rather how I approach it. The motivations of my passions have become the basis for my path. Furthermore, I effectively garnered insight upon the technical and interactional aspects of communication enablement, and thus its purview within the community.