Feb 2009
Taking advantage of the situation
23/02/09 09:51 Filed in: Education
Taken from
the Asahi Shimbun:
“Murakami uses award speech to voice support for Palestinians”
Nicely done. You have my respect old man.
“Murakami uses award speech to voice support for Palestinians”
Nicely done. You have my respect old man.
|
siftables
16/02/09 09:50 Filed in: Education
I have to
say something about this after I saw the
demonstration on TED on my ipod touch this morning on
the way to school.
Check out siftables
It’s brilliant. I totally agree with and share the idea and concept of the creator of siftables. Having, presenting and comprehending, manipulating information on our own human terms. Smart technology that do away with complex interfaces and act on what is more natural and human to us human beings.
Most machineries, equipments, websites, web application have interfaces that totally astounds us. It could look so complex that its too tiresome to learn how to operate it. So we just let it be.
Take for example my personal experience with this company that sells its web application service to schools. They sell a so-called one-stop solution where teachers and students and parents can login and put educational materials in there like lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes, presentations, video, etc.
Now it all sounds brilliant until the teachers were asked to attend this training session to learn how to use the web app.
When it was presented to us on our computer screens in the lab, we were shocked. Most of us anyway. Others try to look impressed and diligently trying to understand how the thing worked.
The problem was, there were too many options presented on screen, too many buttons to press, too many things to click through before we can get down to do what we wanted to do in the first place. The person selling that web app was trying his best trying to make us understand how to go through each and every single option in that app.
Now, if you’re a total geek and a PC user, you might be slightly interested in what the trainer was trying to explain about the myriads of bells and whistles in that app. The rest of us, well, were basically struggling, become upset, resented and finally felt dejected because that app made most of the teachers feel STUPID.
Heck, I felt stupid. It was unbelievable. Yet the VP came up to me and casually said, “this should not be a problem for you right?” And with that she winked, suggesting that with my background in IT, this whole mess of a web app should be a walk in the park for me.
I gave a wry smile.
I didn’t even bother to learn how to work that terrible app. Heck I didn’t even bother to use it. I asked another teacher to help me to do it. Since the head teacher in charge of IT wants all teachers to make use of it to put up worksheets quizzes etc so that students can go online and do them when they are away from school. No prizes for guessing who agreed to engage that company to sell the web app to school. Hint: Head teacher in charge of IT. Was that a giveaway? oops…
So you see, simplicity is the key.
Ever since 2004 when I got introduced/suckered into Apple computers, my whole perspective changed about user interfaces and how information should be presented to people and how I should present information to people.
I was blown away because the clutter and the incessant bother of pop-up warnings, too many click-throughs, etc that I was expecting when I first used a Mac wasn’t there. It felt like a breath of fresh air. I have not used a PC since then.
Ever since then, I have been learning and creating interfaces that are more meaningful, easily understood, and as simple as humanly possible. I am still learning.
Check out siftables
It’s brilliant. I totally agree with and share the idea and concept of the creator of siftables. Having, presenting and comprehending, manipulating information on our own human terms. Smart technology that do away with complex interfaces and act on what is more natural and human to us human beings.
Most machineries, equipments, websites, web application have interfaces that totally astounds us. It could look so complex that its too tiresome to learn how to operate it. So we just let it be.
Take for example my personal experience with this company that sells its web application service to schools. They sell a so-called one-stop solution where teachers and students and parents can login and put educational materials in there like lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes, presentations, video, etc.
Now it all sounds brilliant until the teachers were asked to attend this training session to learn how to use the web app.
When it was presented to us on our computer screens in the lab, we were shocked. Most of us anyway. Others try to look impressed and diligently trying to understand how the thing worked.
The problem was, there were too many options presented on screen, too many buttons to press, too many things to click through before we can get down to do what we wanted to do in the first place. The person selling that web app was trying his best trying to make us understand how to go through each and every single option in that app.
Now, if you’re a total geek and a PC user, you might be slightly interested in what the trainer was trying to explain about the myriads of bells and whistles in that app. The rest of us, well, were basically struggling, become upset, resented and finally felt dejected because that app made most of the teachers feel STUPID.
Heck, I felt stupid. It was unbelievable. Yet the VP came up to me and casually said, “this should not be a problem for you right?” And with that she winked, suggesting that with my background in IT, this whole mess of a web app should be a walk in the park for me.
I gave a wry smile.
I didn’t even bother to learn how to work that terrible app. Heck I didn’t even bother to use it. I asked another teacher to help me to do it. Since the head teacher in charge of IT wants all teachers to make use of it to put up worksheets quizzes etc so that students can go online and do them when they are away from school. No prizes for guessing who agreed to engage that company to sell the web app to school. Hint: Head teacher in charge of IT. Was that a giveaway? oops…
So you see, simplicity is the key.
Ever since 2004 when I got introduced/suckered into Apple computers, my whole perspective changed about user interfaces and how information should be presented to people and how I should present information to people.
I was blown away because the clutter and the incessant bother of pop-up warnings, too many click-throughs, etc that I was expecting when I first used a Mac wasn’t there. It felt like a breath of fresh air. I have not used a PC since then.
Ever since then, I have been learning and creating interfaces that are more meaningful, easily understood, and as simple as humanly possible. I am still learning.
Snowboarding Kiroro Part 2
13/02/09 21:50 Filed in: JET
After snow
shoeing, we went to the Kiroro Mountain Center for
lunch.
This raw tuna in a bowl of rice with wasabi and some sticky bean liquid on top.
1150 yen.
After headed for the slopes. My snowboard is almost the same height as me!
Not too bad. Getting the hang of it. Haven’t tried skiing though. But I’ll try it some other time. Its not an inexpensive sport mind you!
This raw tuna in a bowl of rice with wasabi and some sticky bean liquid on top.
1150 yen.
After headed for the slopes. My snowboard is almost the same height as me!
Not too bad. Getting the hang of it. Haven’t tried skiing though. But I’ll try it some other time. Its not an inexpensive sport mind you!
Snow Shoeing
13/02/09 21:46 Filed in: JET
Went snow
shoeing at the Kiroro Nature center. We were
basically on a hiking trail. Our guide was well
versed in the nature spots around the top of the
mountain.
We took the snow cat up the mountain.
The snow cat can take 6 passengers.
The snow cat can be a pretty nimble snow beast if it wants to. But it went up gingerly to let us take in the view as travel up the mountain.
And we’re here!
My snow shoe all strapped up ready to hit the snowy nature trail.
Its a long 45 minute trekking downhill, but we got to see many things peculiar to Hokkaido.
That’s the ski slopes on another mountain nearby. That’s where we’ll be heading to after lunch.
The snow that we’re standing on is actually about 2 metres deep! We got to roll down snowballs and see it get bigger and bigger!
Our guide showing us the holes made by woodpeckers. These holes are like way up in the tree. Only in winter can you get to see it up close this easily thanks to the pile of 2 metre thick snow!
Our guide gave all of us a cup of hot oolong tea.
The original olden day snow shoe. This is the kind that I read about when I was much younger. Only today did I know the advances of technology had made the snow shoe so much more robust and strong.
One of my many photo collection of manhole covers in Japan. Manhole covers in Japan have so many different and unique designs! They’re unique to different parts of Japan.
We took the snow cat up the mountain.
The snow cat can take 6 passengers.
The snow cat can be a pretty nimble snow beast if it wants to. But it went up gingerly to let us take in the view as travel up the mountain.
And we’re here!
My snow shoe all strapped up ready to hit the snowy nature trail.
Its a long 45 minute trekking downhill, but we got to see many things peculiar to Hokkaido.
That’s the ski slopes on another mountain nearby. That’s where we’ll be heading to after lunch.
The snow that we’re standing on is actually about 2 metres deep! We got to roll down snowballs and see it get bigger and bigger!
Our guide showing us the holes made by woodpeckers. These holes are like way up in the tree. Only in winter can you get to see it up close this easily thanks to the pile of 2 metre thick snow!
Our guide gave all of us a cup of hot oolong tea.
The original olden day snow shoe. This is the kind that I read about when I was much younger. Only today did I know the advances of technology had made the snow shoe so much more robust and strong.
One of my many photo collection of manhole covers in Japan. Manhole covers in Japan have so many different and unique designs! They’re unique to different parts of Japan.
Snowboarding Kiroro Part 2
11/02/09 23:34 Filed in: JET
After snow
shoeing, we went to the Kiroro Mountain Center for
lunch.
This raw tuna in a bowl of rice with wasabi and some sticky bean liquid on top.
1150 yen.
After headed for the slopes. My snowboard is almost the same height as me!
Not too bad. Getting the hang of it. Haven’t tried skiing though. But I’ll try it some other time. Its not an inexpensive sport mind you!
This raw tuna in a bowl of rice with wasabi and some sticky bean liquid on top.
1150 yen.
After headed for the slopes. My snowboard is almost the same height as me!
Not too bad. Getting the hang of it. Haven’t tried skiing though. But I’ll try it some other time. Its not an inexpensive sport mind you!
Snow Shoeing
11/02/09 23:33 Filed in: JET
Went snow
shoeing at the Kiroro Nature center. We were
basically on a hiking trail. Our guide was well
versed in the nature spots around the top of the
mountain.
We took the snow cat up the mountain.
The snow cat can take 6 passengers.
The snow cat can be a pretty nimble snow beast if it wants to. But it went up gingerly to let us take in the view as travel up the mountain.
And we’re here!
My snow shoe all strapped up ready to hit the snowy nature trail.
Its a long 45 minute trekking downhill, but we got to see many things peculiar to Hokkaido.
That’s the ski slopes on another mountain nearby. That’s where we’ll be heading to after lunch.
The snow that we’re standing on is actually about 2 metres deep! We got to roll down snowballs and see it get bigger and bigger!
Our guide showing us the holes made by woodpeckers. These holes are like way up in the tree. Only in winter can you get to see it up close this easily thanks to the pile of 2 metre thick snow!
Our guide gave all of us a cup of hot oolong tea.
The original olden day snow shoe. This is the kind that I read about when I was much younger. Only today did I know the advances of technology had made the snow shoe so much more robust and strong.
One of my many photo collection of manhole covers in Japan. Manhole covers in Japan have so many different and unique designs! They’re unique to different parts of Japan.
We took the snow cat up the mountain.
The snow cat can take 6 passengers.
The snow cat can be a pretty nimble snow beast if it wants to. But it went up gingerly to let us take in the view as travel up the mountain.
And we’re here!
My snow shoe all strapped up ready to hit the snowy nature trail.
Its a long 45 minute trekking downhill, but we got to see many things peculiar to Hokkaido.
That’s the ski slopes on another mountain nearby. That’s where we’ll be heading to after lunch.
The snow that we’re standing on is actually about 2 metres deep! We got to roll down snowballs and see it get bigger and bigger!
Our guide showing us the holes made by woodpeckers. These holes are like way up in the tree. Only in winter can you get to see it up close this easily thanks to the pile of 2 metre thick snow!
Our guide gave all of us a cup of hot oolong tea.
The original olden day snow shoe. This is the kind that I read about when I was much younger. Only today did I know the advances of technology had made the snow shoe so much more robust and strong.
One of my many photo collection of manhole covers in Japan. Manhole covers in Japan have so many different and unique designs! They’re unique to different parts of Japan.
29th Susukino Ice Festival
10/02/09 23:24 Filed in: JET
Right
after the trip to Mount Moiwa, we decided to meet up
with another 2 Singaporean JETs from Honshu. So we
dropped by Susukino and chanced upon the 29th
Susukino Ice Festival.
Men giving out free kairo
More photos here
Men giving out free kairo
More photos here
Crab and Prawn Feast All you can eat!
09/02/09 21:08 Filed in: JET
Met up
with fellow singaporean JETs from other parts of
Japan!
They are from the same batch as me and their here to enjoy Sapporo’s Snow Festival. We met up for dinner at Susukino for an all-you-can-eat crab and prawn feast!
Its like every tourist’s ritual before they start eating. Everyone of us got out their cameras out to snap a picture before we gorge ourselves with crab meat!
Cutting up the snowcrab legs to get to the meat.
Scraping the meat off the shell.
Stroking the hairy crab good…
The hairy crabs have “hairs” and also sharp little spikes on their body. Its like handling durian when I was busy cutting the shell up.
The snow crabs were delicious!
Soft, creamy goodness….
The Honshu people and me
They are from the same batch as me and their here to enjoy Sapporo’s Snow Festival. We met up for dinner at Susukino for an all-you-can-eat crab and prawn feast!
Its like every tourist’s ritual before they start eating. Everyone of us got out their cameras out to snap a picture before we gorge ourselves with crab meat!
Cutting up the snowcrab legs to get to the meat.
Scraping the meat off the shell.
Stroking the hairy crab good…
The hairy crabs have “hairs” and also sharp little spikes on their body. Its like handling durian when I was busy cutting the shell up.
The snow crabs were delicious!
Soft, creamy goodness….
The Honshu people and me
Sapporo’s 60th Snow Festival 2009
06/02/09 21:27 Filed in: JET
Was at
Susukino to get a haircut but I got sidetracked and
got drawn into Odori Park. I just remembered the snow
festival is going on this week from 5th Feb to 11 Feb
2009. 11 Feb is a national holiday called the
Foundation Day. This is the day Japan was supposedly
founded by the first Japanese Emperor Jimmu.
Anyways I was wondering how the Festival is holding up. Sapporo has been having “warm” winter year after year and it actually rains instead of snowing on some days. But looking at the way its been snowing these past few days in February, I think the Snow Festival is all set to receive and impress the expected 2 million visitors to Sapporo.
February indeed is the coldest month of the year in Sapporo.
Sapporo people don’t make snowmen. They make snow statues! Impressive I tell you!
Anyway photos will be up soon!
Here are the photos!
Japan’s bid for the Olympics. This is getting some debate in the Diet right now whether Japan should go for it.
In Celebration of Tokyo Disneyland’s 25th anniversary.I miss Disneyland Tokyo. Mostly because I didn’t go to Disney Sea but to the kiddish Disneyland instead.
Look at the details on this one. Tinkerbell is amazingly able to stay perched up there. Wonder if the sculptors put in any wireframes to prop it up first to make sure it stays in place.
Love the cone held by Goofy
Totoro! I didn’t find any Neko Bus sculptures though.
Lots of food stalls here at the park
A symbolic tribute to the cooperation between South Korea and Japan
Shiroikoibito Park promoting their snow sports park at Miyanosawa. Looks like they brought part of their park to Odori!
Professional Snowboarders. Subarashii!
They don’t make no snow man, they make snow samurai!
Disney’s Stitch! A hot favorite among youngsters here
Do the locomotion!
This is really impressive. Measuring about 2.5 metres in height, the details in this snow temple are really something to be in awe of.
The irony!
Mister Donut making a presence in the snow festival with their cute lion!
Odori Park is really a beautiful place.
Anyways I was wondering how the Festival is holding up. Sapporo has been having “warm” winter year after year and it actually rains instead of snowing on some days. But looking at the way its been snowing these past few days in February, I think the Snow Festival is all set to receive and impress the expected 2 million visitors to Sapporo.
February indeed is the coldest month of the year in Sapporo.
Sapporo people don’t make snowmen. They make snow statues! Impressive I tell you!
Anyway photos will be up soon!
Here are the photos!
Japan’s bid for the Olympics. This is getting some debate in the Diet right now whether Japan should go for it.
In Celebration of Tokyo Disneyland’s 25th anniversary.I miss Disneyland Tokyo. Mostly because I didn’t go to Disney Sea but to the kiddish Disneyland instead.
Look at the details on this one. Tinkerbell is amazingly able to stay perched up there. Wonder if the sculptors put in any wireframes to prop it up first to make sure it stays in place.
Love the cone held by Goofy
Totoro! I didn’t find any Neko Bus sculptures though.
Lots of food stalls here at the park
A symbolic tribute to the cooperation between South Korea and Japan
Shiroikoibito Park promoting their snow sports park at Miyanosawa. Looks like they brought part of their park to Odori!
Professional Snowboarders. Subarashii!
They don’t make no snow man, they make snow samurai!
Disney’s Stitch! A hot favorite among youngsters here
Do the locomotion!
This is really impressive. Measuring about 2.5 metres in height, the details in this snow temple are really something to be in awe of.
The irony!
Mister Donut making a presence in the snow festival with their cute lion!
Odori Park is really a beautiful place.