Letter to Future Seeing Sideways Students

Dear Future Seeing Sideways Students,

     You are about to enter into a class like you've never taken before, in a good way.  Seeing Sideways is about opening up your mind and creativity and looking a everything in a new way, not just they way you've been taught. 
     What I got from this class is that you should keep an open mind about most things and try and stay creative.  In your future or current career you may not have complete creative controll over your work and this class teaches you to be creative for yourself and to stay creative. 
     This class will change my outlook on future classes by not being afraid to do something creative and different even it doesn't neccessarily fit what the project or assignemnt is for the instructor.  They may love, they may not, and if they give you a bad grade for being creative then you can always fight for the grade you feel you deserve as long as you feel passionate that the work you did is worthy.

Sincerely,

Kyle D. Heacox

FINAL - Research Project

     For my Final Research Project I decided to research Tagging or Metadata.  For my project I researched what tagging was, how it was created, and how it is used.  The following is the information that I found and ultimately used for the project:
     In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information (such as an Internet bookmark, digital image, or computer file). This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching. Tags are generally chosen informally and personally by the item's creator or by its viewer, depending on the system.
Tagging was popularized by websites associated with Web 2.0 and is an important feature of many Web 2.0 services. It is now also part of some desktop software.  Labeling and tagging are carried out to perform functions such as aiding in classification, marking ownership, noting boundaries, and indicating online identity. They may take the form of words, images, or other identifying marks. An analogous example of tags in the physical world is museum object tagging. In the organisation of information and objects, the use of textual keywords as part of identification and classification long predates computers. However, computer based searching made the use of keywords a rapid way of exploring records. Online and Internet databases and early websites deployed them as a way for publishers to help users find content. In 2001, John Harrower - a schoolboy from Scotland - created an online yearbook application that made use of photograph tagging allowing users to post comments regarding the person from the photo they clicked on. In 2003, the social bookmarking website Delicious provided a way for its users to add "tags" to their bookmarks (as a way to help find them later); Delicious also provided browseable aggregated views of the bookmarks of all users featuring a particular tag.  Flickr allowed its users to add free-form tags to each of their pictures, constructing flexible and easy metadata that made the pictures highly searchable.  The success of Flickr and the influence of Delicious popularized the concept, and other social software websites – such as YouTube, Technorati, and Last.fm – also implemented tagging. "Labels" in Gmail are similar to tags.  Websites that include tags often display collections of tags as tag clouds. A user's tags are useful both to them and to the larger community of the website's users.  Tags may be a "bottom-up" type of classification, compared to hierarchies, which are "top-down". In a traditional hierarchical system (taxonomy), the designer sets out a limited number of terms to use for classification, and there is one correct way to classify each item. In a tagging system, there are an unlimited number of ways to classify an item, and there is no "wrong" choice. Instead of belonging to one category, an item may have several different tags. Some researchers and applications have experimented with combining structured hierarchy and "flat" tagging to aid in information retrieval.


     With the information I found and researched, I divided it up into five seperate paragraphs and put a different paragraph on the back of some indez cards.  I think I ended up with 50-60 index cards.  During class I would try and listen to everything everone was talking about; not just the people presenting their projects, but anyone that was talking.  When I would hear a word that could be used as a Tag, I would write that word on the front of the index card and give it to them.  With doing this, I was hoping that they would turn the card over and read it and realize what my project was all about.  I ended up giving every student 2-3 cards.  At the end of class, I was going to try and pull up an online Mad Libs site and have the tagged words used as our words for the Mad Lib, but I decided against it.

Better Left Untitled

I have come to realize that there are many things in life that I really enjoy, as hobby's or whatnot.  There actually may be too many things.  I usually get really involved in something and put all of my time and effort into a project or whatever it is at the time for a few weeks to a month and then it's on to the next thing and this cycle continues and never stops.  New interests arrive and some stay and some go, must come around again after one or two other interests consume my mind and time.  I'm not sure if this happens to everyone, but its been a part of my life ever since I can remember.  I'm glad I have all of theses interests, however I really wish I could totally focus on something at a given time and not loose the focus to something else.  Maybe this is where my personal wellspring of creativity and inspiration come in.  The simplest things inspire me, like taking a walk outside on a nice day, although I find that most of my creativity stems from the work other people do.  My current project that is keeping me occupied is my Capstone project.  The project was originally just going to be a short film for my own personal pleasure and experience before I started on my Capstone, but it turns out things haven't exactly worked out for it that way; so now I am making this my Capstone project.  I have decided to make the project more of a feature film and include some short films along with it in the final DVD.  My Capstone isn't due until May 2012, and I plan on shooting the film this summer.  I have already done some test shooting over the past year and a half with the actors, and I'm glad I'm now using that as only test footage, because I would not want to use it in the final film.  It's not that the footage was bad, but I am a perfectionist, and if I'm going to be presenting this film for everyone to see as all the work and effort I have put into school, it has to be done to my specifications.  Anyways, this is what I've been working on and will be working on for the next year, and I hope not to lose focus on the project.

First teaser poster for the film.  Yeah, it's pretty lame, I have a lot of work to do.

Along with this film project, I am also starting to create my personal website portfolio and I want to make it impressive (obviously), so hopefully I can split my time between the two projects and not lose anything.

The Story So Far

At the start of the semester, I was very interested to see what Seeing Sideways was all about.  Through the semester so far, I have discovered that the class isn't quite what I expected.  In class we mostly have discussions and talk about projects that we have done for assignments.  This is all fine and dandy, but I was wanting more out of the class than just discussions.  Don't get me wrong, the discussions are great; they are very interesting, comical, thought provoking, and educational.  I feel if the class was broken down into two parts for each class time, that might be more up my alley.  I would like to see the first hour and a half be discussion and the second hour and a half be something different (I don't know what I'm really looking for for this half of the class time, but I know I don't like to sit still for a whole class period).  Overall, I am really enjoying the class and the assignments we have, I know I've never had a class like this before or will ever have again.

Why Am I Here?

Why Am I Here?

     When I start to think "Why Am I Here?", many thoughts go through my head.  Why was I put on this earth, as a human, and as a male?  Why was I born into my family instead of someone else's of any species?  Why am I anywhere at any given time?  I have many different opinions as to why I'm here.  First off, I'm not a religious person.  I belong to no religion, yet I believe in something, however I'm still not sure what.  So, at times I believe I have a purpose as to why I am here.  When I say "here" I mean on earth as a male human living in Indiana doing the things that I do and the way that I do them.  I feel that god as put me here for a reason, whether in the end it is good or bad, it all has a purpose and keeps the world interesting.  On the other hand, I think that type of thinking is complete bullshit.  There is no plan for me, there is no reason for my being.  It's completely random and that's just the way it is.  I find it easier to think through my first opinion, yet I don't take it too seriously.  For me not to go crazy thinking about why I'm here, choice #1 keeps me a little more sane and it's easier to wrap my head around.  Why I'm here, right now, at a computer typing this blog about "Why I'm here" is because of countless actions throughout the time of anything.  So, "Why Am I Here?", I think their is a reason for why I'm here right now at this point in time, yet I will never know why.  That's the easy answer.

     Why am I here in NEWM N385 Seeing Sideways at IUPUI with Beth Lykins, because I chose to go back to school when I was 24 and pursue a degree in New Media.  I need to take a certain amount of credit hours in NEWM at the 300 level and I had heard from past students who have taken the class that it is a very interesting class, so I thought I would see what all the hype was all about.  That's why I'm here in this class.

Reaction to Fear Part II

I was unable to make it to class for part one of our fear projects, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I came into class for part two of the projects.  Of course this meant I had to present on this day, which i felt I could have done a much better job on coming up with an experiment and project all together.  I found that the projects brought out a lot of emotions with the presenters as well as for the rest of the class.  There were two projects that stood out to me because they were so personal to the presenter and it took a lot of courgae for them to tell the class what theie fears were.  I also enjoyed the balloon popping project becuase it was a got icebreaker to get out of the emotional state the class had gotten into and it made the transition into my project easier.  From what I've heard, I missed some really great projects from part one, but I think part two had some really great work as well and was kind of like a bonding experience for those that where there.

Fear Project Experience and Presentation

Today I presented my experiment for the Fear Project and I got the reaction I though I would have from the class.  For my project I gave everyone a single piece of blank white paper and told them they had 3 minutes. That was all I told them, that they had 3 minutes.  The purpose of this experiment was to conquer a fear of my own and help the class face a fear of their own or maybe tell me about it.  The reason i chose to do my experiment this way is because I am personally very fearful of having attention on me, so standing up in front of the class was not something I really wanted to do.  I am also fearful of looking like a colossal ass-bag in front of people (which is what i felt when I just gave you guys the paper without instructions).  After I did the experiment, I realized that none of you probably thought I looked like an idiot standing up there giving you no instructions, but instead you were more concerned with what you need or wanted to do with the paper.  I purposely did not give the class any writing utensils because I didn't necessarily want you to just write something down, I wanted you to face your Fear of the Unknown (like many students do).  I wanted you to do something creative with the paper or maybe even write down something personal or a fear you might have.  After looking through the papers I got back from the class, I found that 3 people decided to make paper airplanes (which i expected), 1 made a paper fold game, 2 folded the paper and I'm not sure what they are suppose to be, 2 didn't even do anything with the paper, most of you either drew and picture or wrote something on the paper or both.  I was surprised to find one crumpled up piece of paper with a list of fears or secrets on it.

After thinking about the experiment I only got a little bit out of a few people of what I really wanted, but I got what I thought would happen from most of you.  In conclusion, my fear of have the spotlight on me is really uncalled for because most people aren't paying attention anyways and even those that are, they're probably thinking about something else.  Most people are predictable when you give them something to do for 3 minutes with instructions.

Fear Part 1 Recap

I was not in class for the first part of the fear presentations, so I do not have a favorite part.

Tears For Fears

To me a fear is something that everyone must have to really feel alive.  Without fear we would live without emotion and drive.  Everyone has some sort of fear in them whether the realize it or not.  Some fears are more obvious than others, but they all elicit the same pulses in the body.

I expect the class to not understand my experiment right away, but hopefully it will be something they will think about for the weeks after and realize what I was trying to accomplish regarding fears.

My Bliss

For my 3 hours of "Me Time" I wanted to go to IMS and watch the Indycars and just be at the track because that is my favorite thing to do.  However, since it's only March, I had to settle for lounging on the couch and watching the 1992 Indy 500, which was still very relaxing and enjoyable.

I was not in class for the day the stuffed animals were handed out.  After reading the assignment details I realized that I did have one "stuffed animal" at one.  I searched through boxes I had in a closet and pulled out a Homer Simpson stuffed doll, I guess you could call it that.  Homer is about 16 inches tall, so I decided I would buckle him in to the passengers seat of my car and drive him around with me for a week so that he could get out of the cramped box he was in and experience the world through the passengers seat in my car.

Tripping in Fields

Last Monday our class took a "field trip" to the.....I'm not really sure what they call it.  I think it might be the UITS or UTIS part of the Informatics building and got a tour and demos of the VR room and room with a big ass TV.  I had last been on this tour about 2 years ago with another class, so it wasn't anything new to me.  However, during this tour I was given more detailed information about each of the rooms, the equipment and the technical aspects the how and what the stuff did which I found interesting.  I felt the field trip was good for the class because some of them may have never seen that side of the building or what was over there.  It also allowed the class to think about other technology and media available that what most of us have been taught or thought about doing for projects.

Does It Add Up???

In class last Monday, we discussed how we as people and specifically New Media and Arts students go through the motions of creating something.  The equation we identify mostly is the Inspiration>Idea>Concept>Trial>Refine>Product formula, however each person has there own way of thinking and creating, so this formula can be interpreted in many ways based on how an individual thinks and does things.  As for New Media students we must think about the final product with our client and target audience in mind first and foremost, while Art students will think of themselves for the final product.

As a New Media student I think it is important to think about the clients needs and target audience first, especially when we have yet to make a name for ourselves and creative style to identify ourselves.  When I think about the formula mentioned above, I find it hard to identify what the "Product" is because there is so much to New Media.  The product could be a design, website, video, sound, program, film, game, app, or a brand new invention involving the use of multimedia.  Depending on what your goal is, there are many steps and variations that one must go through to reach that goal.  If I where to start out with a blank canvas to create something, anything, I would first look at the Need/Want and then figure out an Idea.  From that Idea I would need to draw Inspiration, or maybe I would get Inspiration first and then figure out an Idea.  From there I would probably go through the Inspiration/Idea, Idea/Inspiration process a few times before I was set to move forward.  That could be considered Refining, and from there, my personal equation starts to build up.  I feel like the whole formula is basically an algorithm, where there are many steps to go through, but until one works we keep going backwards and repeating steps.

After thinking about how I go through my own workflow, I have discovered that my equation would look something like this:

Need/Want>Idea><Inspiration>Refine>Concept>Refine>Trial>Refine><Repeat Process To Perfection><Product

After doing a couple of video projects sticking to this workflow, I've come to realize that I need a better workflow that will allow me to bring the best of my work out without over thinking the whole process that I thought I once followed.  I final outcome of these products, I don't feel where any different from the ones before, but I believe I can and will find a good flow to work with the get the best out of me.  I'm not sure if this process was meaningful to me.  I did allow me to think as to how I work on different projects and analyze what I should be doing better, so I guess it was more helpful than meaningful.

1/31/11 Class Discussion & More

     Concept vs. Final Product in Projects - The initial concept of anything with go through many changes from ideas that first pop into your head until you get the concept just right for what you want to do.  If you really think about an idea, your concepts will change and go through many phases to extract the bad and perfect the good.  Once concept is completed to the point where you are ready to begin production of a project, your concept will obviously continue to change.  There are many pieces that go into any project and each piece must fit just right (in your own mind and creative thought) to complete the project.  I notice that when I begin to a project with the intent to stay close to my original concept, by the time I have completed the project nothing is the same or as I originally had planned.

     During our class meeting last Monday, January 31st we discussed our "What We See Projects" and I found most of the ones we discussed as well as the ones I view through our blogs were quite boring, including my own.  I know a blog is primarily meant to be read with only visuals to enhance the reading, but we are mostly New Media students.  In my mind I wish I had done something different fro my project, I was originally going to do some sort of video, but the lack of time I have to do things let me to do what most students did and write something and show a visual.  The felt the class discussion on Monday was boring, in that I was literally trying to keep up with the conversation but it was too dull that I found myself peaking out the window and daydreaming about other things.  This usually doesn't happen to me and I can concentrate on what is going on around me most of the time, but this discussion didn't seem to have a whole lot of solid substance.  That's just my opinion, or maybe I was just having a bad day, who knows.

Believing Isn't Always Seeing

My Reflection In The Mirror

Everyone has seen their reflection in the mirror (well, maybe not the blind), but when I think of my reflection in the mirror I think of multiple mirrors like the three that i have in my bathroom.  When I face a certain direction I can see an infinite number of reflections of whatever is in the path of the mirrors.  Though science says that each of these reflections are just what I see, I still like to think that there are different dimensions in the mirror.  Each of the replications of myself or in their own world and once I leave they leave to do something different that what I am physically doing.  Maybe their apartments look different and lead completely different lives than mine.  It's kind of like the video for A-ha's "Take On Me".

Bent, Broken and the Unknown-1/24 Class

In class this past Monday we discussed a whole heep of topics, mostly relating to thinking and rules.  It seems the same people are always giving there opinion, which is about a fifth of the class.  I'm hoping as the semester moves on more of us will give more input into the discussion.  I'm all for having discussions on many various topics and making us think, however I would prefer to have half of the class dedicated to discussions and the other half for doing something and not sitting in a chair, but that may just be my inability to sitting still for mor than five minutes.  One of the main topics we touched on in class was about rules of the world, for example the rule that a vehicle must stop at a red light.  I've found that rules are both good and bad, and they are meant to be bent and broken.  Rules in sports are neccesary to keep the game solidified, however when I've been playing in a baseball game, I would prefer to not strikeout.  Although strikeouts are neccesary, no player wants to do it.  Fuck the rule, I'm gonna stay at the plate until I hit the ball in fair territory.  If the ball is caught in the air, I don't want to be "out", I'll keep on running the bases until I want to stop.  I can't do it and wouldn't do it becasue it's a major rule of the game and people would get pissed and think I was retarded or something.  That is just one rule I'm not fond of, but it is neccesary.  What about the rule about paying for stuff?  I don't wanna do that, give me that shit for free.  Here are some other rules that suck: gravity, being nude in public, being drunk in public, pretty much doing anything fun in public, time, holidays, drugs, parking, careers, science, diving in the shallow end, speed limits, anything illegal, etc....

This is your brain on drugs...any questions?

I was given an egg close to two weeks ago to do whatever I pleased with.  I took this egg home, drew a face on it (cause I don't like things to be all white) and put it in the fridge until I could think of what I wanted to do with it.  To be honest, I kept forgetting to think about what to do with the egg until I opened the fridge and then I would forget again less than one minute later.  The egg had been sitting in that cold box for about 12-13 days by now and I decided I had to do something with it.

I decided to put a name with the face of the egg, so I thought I'd call it Meggatots.  Don't look too far into the name, it means nothing really it just has the word Egg in its name.

I then did what any normal person would do with an egg, so I decided to cook it.  I waited for the pan to get warm and then placed Meggatots in the pan.  He/she laid there looking back and me with those big puppy dog eyes and at that moment I knew I couldn't cook Meggatots.

I then took Meggatots to the bathroom where I though he/she might enjoy a nice hot tub party.  However, I forgot that eggs do not float.  They just sink straight to the bottom.

As I got Meggatots out of the makeshift hot tub, I notice he/she was deteriorating.  Its back was starting to crack, I was obviously not take good care of my new friend.  So I knew there was only one thing I could do...set him up outside for someone or something else to take Meggatots and do something with him/her.

I typed up a quick note about Meggatots and fashioned an egg holding device out of a toilet paper roll, set him up in the public place for all to bask in his glory and hope that someone or something would take him.

I don't know what happened to that egg, I went back the next day to see if it was still there, but it wasn't.  I check the ground next to where I sat it to see if it had fallen over, but there was nothing.  Wherever it is, I hope it's having a kick ass time.

First Day of Class Overview

Today was the first day of class and I had no idea what to expect or what the class was even about.  I was happy to see that the class was NOT made up of 95% dudes.  It seems like every class I have had for the past 2 years was all guys, so that was a nice change.  The class was interesting for the most part, the whole class pretty much just talked the entire time, but it was interesting conversation that covered many topics.  I do however hope that all of the classes are not all discussion, I would like to work or projects or whatever we do in the class.  The room we are in was kind of chilly, which was weird because the class I had right before it was steaming hot, actually the whole building was really warm.  I guess they turned off the heat.  I'm not too sure about the chairs we had in the room either, they look cool and have wheels, but are a little uncomfortable to be sitting in for 3 hours.  Back to class, uh...we watched a couple of shorts videos, one of which I had already seen and the other something called 4:33.  I didn't really contribute towards the discussions in the class, however I think I will eventually warm up and throw my 2 cents into the mix as the classes move on.

Upload and Expectations

I have heard that the NEWM N385 Seeing Sideways class was a fun class to take and was different from all of the other New Media classes, so I thought I would take it.  Luckily the class is on a Monday, so that worked out with my schedule.  For this class, I expect to learn more about myself and the way I think about things.  I like to think that I think out of the box most of the time, and hopefully this class will expand that thinking.