JavaScript Adventures

Well, I’ve started the Head First JavaScript book by Michael Morrison, and I’ve made it to Chapter 03, p. 91. I figured since the Unity game development engine uses JavaScript and C# for scripting, knowing JavaScript in general would be a good thing. And since in many ways, it is similar to Java, the main programming language used for developing scenarios and software for SMALLab (my research group’s main media system at ASU at AME), I can keep my brain plasticity strong and keep learning and developing over the summer.

So far the book is quite interesting and engaging and uses the cognitive techniques that seem to be really effective to help me teach myself the logic of JavaScript. I will provide an update as I make it through this book.

Making Sense of It All (aka Sorting Out the Details)

Well, it’s been about three weeks since my first year as a PhD Student has come to a close, and I’ve been invigorated by all the things that I have learned and been exposed to. Eventually I will put together a software and hardware list, but it is quite staggering really. There is so much to learn and while trying to assimilate knowledge, there is the challenge of remaining balanced upon the tarmac that is the Information SuperHighway. I mean there are so many possibilities, so many directions that one can go, that I look forward to spending the summer exploring these possibilities further.

Just today, I spent some time upgrading some of my software. Got the latest version of Max (5.1.??) & Max Runtime, Live 8.1.1, and looking forward to Unity 3 here pretty soon. I will also be reviewing some great books that I have assembled in my learning arsenal of pulp paperbacks, because I am just now decompressing from the incubator of learning in the Arts Media & Engineering environment.

SOFTWARE: Processing, Max/MSP, Databases, Mercurial, Pure Data, X-Code, Unity3D, Blender, TUIO, CarnivoreClient, Eclipse Development Environment

LANGUAGES & CONCEPTS: Java, C++, Objective C, Cocoa, JavaScript, C#, Boids, Cellular Automata, Signal Flow, Databases, Terminal navigation

HARDWARE: BioSensors (such as Heart Rate Monitors & Skin Conductance Monitors: IOM Hardware & Infiniti Thought Technology Physiology Sensors); Brain Control Interfaces (NeuroSky Mindset); Motion Capture Tracking Software (Tracking Tools) & Infrared Devices; Arduino MicroController & Development Tools, Light Resistors, LEDs, Bend Sensors, PIR, and the list goes on and on and on….