Mike Oren.com

Since my last update, I aquired a brand new MacBook because while I have a perfectly capable desktop computer that's great for everything (and is still my primary computer), I needed something mobile for classes and for travel. I had been wanting a laptop for awhile and had been leaning toward getting a tablet (fairly ideal for jotting down class notes and such), but I had been waiting for my graduation money before buying anything. I ended up going for a MacBook instead of the tablet because I had been wanting OS X for testing cross platform applications, trying out another operating system, and the stability and control that the Unix backend offers--not to mention that the lowend MacBook ended up costing me less than a lowend tablet would have cost me, factoring in a $100 student discount, free 2 GB iPod Nano (it's black--and it's for sale... so if you're interested, let me know), and a free $100 printer (I went with the Canon Pixma iP4200 because my previous printer was a Canon and my experience with that was cheap ink--the most important thing--plus the Pixma has fast print times). I'll have a write up about the MacBook and OS X later on my tech blog, but expect it to take another week or so--for now feel free to read my initial thoughts on Windows Vista that I have up there.

I also just finished up my first full week of duties as a research assistant. During this past week, I managed to fix several bugs in Moosic and build several alternative versions to it (each version represents the position and distance of objects in a slightly different manner through sound). I've also been working on contacting Nintendo to see if we would be able to obtain a developer's kit for the purpose of porting Moosic over to it so that a more natural gaming platform can be utilized (the DS will also be useful when the results of the Moosic study are applied to a sound based mapping system--if we end up going that route). I also sent some e-mails out to Iowa State University staff that are involved in aiding visually impaired individuals on campus in an attempt to get some general statistics about the visually impaired population so I can run some preliminary tests and possibly find a design partner (as designing a system for the visually impaired without constant feedback from a member of that community will lead to an ineffective interface). Then, of course, I also read and found several papers related to sonification and interface for the visually impaired--so all in all, I've been keeping myself fairly busy.

Beyond work, I've also been trying to get involved in Iowa State University's Graduate Student Senate since I would like to continue having some political activity--it puts me in contact with new people, the administration (to avoid red tape), and if I reach the executive board then there are several free parking options... I've also been looking into trying to find a more permanent living situation, and I am currently hoping to get an efficiency at University Towers since their rent is reasonable, their facilities look nice, and they only rent to graduate students and professionals--so it should be quieter and things should be kept in better condition. I still haven't really gotten around to meeting people/making new friends (I spent this past week--outside of doing research--editing a DVD of my sister Katrina's wedding), but I did go out last weekend and see Cars and went to a very good Thai restaurant. Today I just went looking at various apartment complexes and did laundry (yesterday I order Papa John's Pizza and found a neat little Vietnamese restaurant that I need to check out in the future)--oh and I did a few simple excercises (I would've done more, but the equipment at my apartment's complex isn't in the best of shape).

In the (hopefully) near future, I plan on adding my Google calendar to my web site, but since I have yet to do that, just a reminder that I'll be up in Chicago from June 30th (for a concert) until July 4th so if anybody in that area wants to hang with me then, make your appointment now as I'll probably be booked up quickly (by Danielle...)