Factors to Consider When..

BUYING A LAPTOP FOR MY COURSE

This is the final part of my I.C.T Autumn continuous assessment,

I am studying psychology, so which laptop would suit me best....

What exaclty would I need for my course requirements? It's research time!

Starting with the core requirements:

• Random Access Memory is perhaps the most important factor to consider when buying your laptop or any computer. RAM will greatly determine the speed of your laptop or computer. How fast it will process your tasks and graphics. You must make sure you have enough for your needs. You can now find many laptops pre-loaded with 1 Gig of RAM and capable of upgrading to 4 Gigs or more. RAM is critical for my course, I'll have several word documents open, several tabs on Google Chrome, Photoshop open for Multimedia module and possibly Itunes for easy listening, open all at the same time. I will need a laptop with a high RAM to cope with it all and process it fluidly.
• The Hardrive, for my own personal use (Photos and immense library of music), simply must be close or over 500GB. It is more expensive the more the hardrive, but ultimately with my personal documents and assignments, a hardrive full of memory is a must.
• SIZE: Obviously you must pick the best sized laptop to suit your needs. Laptops are divided into different categories, here's a quick rundown: -Tablet PC (smallest) Size of a paper tablet or notepad, less than 3 pounds. -Ultra Portable (small) <11" x <10" Less than 1.3 inches thick, less than 4 pounds. -Thin and Light (mid-size) 11-14" x <11" 1 to 1.4 inches thick, from 5 to 7 pounds. -Desktop Replacements (largest) >13" x >11" More than 1.5 inches, more than 7 pounds and up. I would look to purchase an ultra portable laptop. I travel for Kilkenny to Dublin twice a week, therefore I need a lightweight and portable laptop that will smoothly fit into a comfortable bag. I want it to be small and unassuming, otherwise potential pilfers will look at my bag, see the outline of a rectangle and know exactly what it is!
• Price: Yes, I am a student, and like the majority of us I am financially playing a balancing act from September to May. I have a weekend job but this is only enough to tide me until the next weekend. Every week I have to alot money to food and other basic requirements- theres only so much money left over and this would need to be saved up over a long time in order for it to be substantial to buy a laptop. I'm looking for affordable but not cheap.
• Programs: Deals with laptops in other words. I undoubtedly need Microsoft Works/Powerpoint Viewer, a virus scan and Photoshop (Adobe) for my course. Currently I am never off Word between assignments and journals. Photoshop is pivotal for Multimedia and a virus scan is a must to protect my laptop. So I would be looking for a deal like ''halfprice M. Word when you buy this laptop'' for example. Word itself is a whopping 120 Euro. Which is simply not on for students like myself. To summarise, I would be looking for:

1. 4 GB RAM or more.
2. Nearly 500GB of hardrive memory.
3. A highly portable design.
4. Affordable but not cheap.
5. Twinned with deals regards virus scans and typical student software.

With that, my list is complete. I feel content that if I printed this 'checklist' and went shopping for a laptop, I would find the perfect one to match my course requirements.

Treasure Introduction

As they say in college, you simply cannot write the summary of something until you create and complete what that something is, in order for it to be summarized in the first place *takes breath*.

So basically, now I know what my blog is about- I can pleasantly introduce you to The Treasury!

Firstly, the bullets on me are as follows:

• Name is Stuart, Stu, Stubert or Gerard, James, George or Keith (yes, people misinterpret my name alot..)
• 19, 20 in February
• From an averaged sized town called Callan, just outside Kilkenny City
• Attending IADT to study Psychology and also yes..
• This blog is part of this Psychology degree =]

Now for the blog introduction,

Its a compilation or treasury if you will, of all things and links that interest me and snatch my attention from the web, and my experiences. These are taken from the world of psychology (which I study), art (which I study and practice), photography, technology and the world of (la) Mode( yes I quite like my garments, and cheaper the better!)

So this is my Treasury, I hope you enjoy examining each Treasure as much as I have had in discovering them.

C'est tout pour le moment,

Stuart

Article of Interest #2 : Cylon, the race of killer teddy bears...

ARTICLE SUMMARY

I came across this article by Donald Bell, CNET's senior editor for tablets and other technologies, he is also a musician and a talented computer hacker. He has wrote an article about the creation of your very own terrifying bear, hell-bent on annihilating the human race!

The Cylon Bear is the new and imaginative way to terrify your child or younger sibling while they are away at school. The guys at Indestructables have invented a cheap tutorial to transform your victims favourite teddy or soft toy into something a lot less cute and cuddly...

You'll need 3 possibly 4 things to make this Super Ted:

The Microphone

Innocent Ted before transformation..

The Laser strip that goes on the face..

1. A Teddy bear- The most important thing is to keep in mind that the bear is large enough for the LED strip to fit across its face. Whether this is your unaware prank victims, or a newly bought bear for the sole purpose of this experiment, it is entirely up to you.
2. A strip of Scanning LED's- Easily gotten cheap off the net or if you buy the starter kit off ebay.etc its all the more easier because it includes the works. 
3. A voice recorder- No, not a terribly expensive model from Sony's best. You can easily get one of these out of a 'leave your own message' card available in most gift stores for under ten euro's. This should be inserted into the snout. 
4.  Gun/Weapon of choice- This is optional, personally I think the lights are enough to cause alarm and confusion.If you do, then you must go out and browse toy shops and euro saver stores to find the  weapon most appropriate for the size of your chosen bear.
5. You'll also need glue and a zipper among other assembly items.

Bear Guts! The implants..

...And the bear is ALIVE!

Finally place the finished, newly transformed bear back into the room you got it from (or camouflaged among the rest of the bears, if it is indeed a new bear you got for this experiment). Even if not for a prank, it makes a pretty good present for your average child as the 'alternative bear'. One can even leave a sincere message in the voice recorder such as, ''at your service master''- use your imagination!

MY PERSONAL OPINION

I was browsing through several articles looking for one that caught my interest, from iPads to concerned articles about computer company's and more of the same. This flashed across as a link of one of those pages and finally, my interest was caught! At last something different came along, surprisingly written by a well qualified editor who usually writes serious articles about the latest dramas in technology, it was pleasant to see something different and light-hearted.

I give you Cylon Teddy;

The bear was inspired by the Cylon on Battle Star Gallactica (yes, I admit I had to Google search what the Cylon are too). They were the evil antagonists of the show back in the 20th Century version of the show.

I for one think it is a brilliant idea, whether it be an April Fools prank or 'just for fun'.

-Stuart 

Links:

(initial article)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10455815-1.html

(where I found the more information on the topic)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Cylon-Teddy-Bear/

FURTHER READING I'D RECOMMEND

Here's another bear with a more useful purpose (FRESHLY INVENTED GUYS!!) , it will condition you to STOP snoring!?

Whatever it is, it seems adorable...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57326328-1/rest-your-snoring-head-on-a-robot-bear-pillow/?tag=mncol;cnetRiver

Article of Interest #1 : Outrage Caused By Android App..

ARTICLE SUMMARY

In early Autumn, French developers Emmene Moi (meaning ''Bring Me'' in French), launched an app which sparked widespread controversy and speculation.
''Is Your Son Gay?'' is targeted at worried mothers pondering their sons sexuality. The App claims to determine whether or not the user’s son is homosexual through a series of 20 questions. The questions range from “Does he like to dress well?”;“Does he like diva singers?” or “Does he get along with his father?” Once the test is completed, the app sizes up all of the answers. It then weighs up the answers given and concludes with: “No need to look the other way! He is gay! ACCEPT IT” or; “You have nothing to worry about, your son is not gay. So you have a very good chance of being a grandmother with all the joys that brings.”
Controversial indeed, there was some serious speculation as to how it got passed the App Board in the first place (they regulate and assess Apps) which  has been criticised as 'insensitive' and 'ridiculous'. ''Is Your Son Gay?''  plays detective with your sons personality. The App has since been pulled off the App Store by the Apple Corporation. Here the App is discussed brifly..

PERSONAL OPINION

Enneme Moi stated ”This app was conceived with a playful approach. It is not based at all on scientific research…Through humor, “Is My Son Gay?” [has] the sole objective of toning down/improving the situation and helping mothers to accept their sons’ homosexuality.” 
I think this is a petty excuse of an apology. I believe this App exploits the worries and emotions a mother may have about her children and further amplifies these thoughts into dangerous homophobic ones. I think the primary source of homophobia is in the ''playful'' answers provided by the App,
 ''You have nothing to worry about, your son is not gay. So you have a very good chance of being a grandmother with all the joys that brings.” 
This App insinuates there is something wrong and negative with being gay, and I personally think gay individuals get enough of this stigma in society today- they do not need the same treatment from their parents in the home.
To conclude, I think if the creation process of the App was handled differently (maybe produced by psychologies who specialize in sexuality studies for example) it may have been a success. They could have added realistic questions like, '' is your son avoiding questions about his relationship status?'' and ''has your sons behaviour changed to become more introverted in the last number of weeks?'' for example. Then the psychologists might proceed to offer snippets of professional advice but never give a definite answer.


Links:
http://blog.vixely.com/2011/09/28/sex-and-tech-is-my-son-gay-app-launched-on-android-market/
(with more insight from)
http://stopthehatestopthehurt.wordpress.com/category/homophobia-in-technology/

Magpie (pt. 1): Run with your reflection..

Hey guys,
So, in my last post I showed an image of a puddle with reflecting a car- but could also have been perceived as the car falling into a hole. This was the best ''reflection'' themed illusion I could find after an hour of sourcing (hence the violent transvestite above- the only other ''What the hell!?'' -image that kept cropping up on my searches!).
In the total lack of reflection-themed illusions my thirst for all things reflective was not quinched.
So I've decided to run this as my next post, both for new knowledge, self exploration, and to discover how mirrors and reflections can alter and apply to, everyday life. Magpie time!

I actually HAVE to begin with this video for ''Snowhite and the Huntsman''

I saw this yesterday [14/11/11]. It feels like ''my inner child''- if theres such a thing- has finally realized it has grown up all those years since the first ever animated movie I watched. I can't help feel a welcome sense of nostalgia due in 2012 when Snow White and the Huntsman makes its debut around the cinematic world.  Its been well over a decade since I've seen the original animation.
Three guesses for which animated movie that was...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full color, the first to be produced by Walt Disney and Walt Disney Productions, and the first in the Walt Disney Animated Classics canon.
-Wikipedia (15 Nov, 2011).        


I'd like to place emphasis on the fact it was Walt's first Disney film. What strikes me is that the whole film is drenched with the themes of  biological aesthetics ,reflection and of course the war between beauty versus personality. I find it no coincidence Walt Disney produced this movie during the 'era of timeless glamour', when the global quest for wealth and beauty begun large scale. Could there have been a higher message in this movie? Natural beauty and personality always persevere? (or) That behind a beautiful face is raptor -a predator that will claw every other beautiful face- in a hierarchy for aesthetic superiority? Maybe..

All I know is that today no one is alone, our reflections are everywhere, mirrors adorn every wall, in car windows, panes of glass.. I guess its up to the us as individuals as to whether we get consumed by them. Beauty is only 'skin deep', and that really is not enough depth to run a personality on don't you think?
















Alas, time to get out of heavy talk! 
It's time for something, I think, which is quite amazing 
and fits in perfectly under the theme of this post.



These are reflective ''mirror heels'' designed by the late Anidrea Chaves. I had previously admired his works and their originality, but these shoes indeed set new boundaries. The shoe almost manages to camouflage into its surroundings! 
In the metaphorical sense,
 I love how instead of constantly seeing all our features and 'flaws' in mirrors, the designer has managed to use mirrors for the opposite purpose- to hide and conceal.
Ill finish part 1 of  my Magpie posts with a video of the ILLUSION heels among other surreal ones in action.
C'est tout pour the nuit!

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film)>.

Perception

Hey guys found another pretty cool illusion
''How many faces do you see?''
Took me around twenty seconds to perceive the side face properly.


This one, sourced from visualfunhouse.com is pretty rad,
The caption, ''schmeckt hervorragend'' means 'tastes great', if one was wondering


The next is possibly my favorite visual moving illusion, sourced from DamnLOL.


For something totally unrelated, this popped up on my ''reflection'' journey through several image searchs.
''Transvestite Fights In Street'' I give thee..



Now for the illusion I sourced on reflection, Its pretty interesting, on one view, this is a puddle, on another view its a car being swallowed into a hole, a surreal image.


Now for classics, expect headaches...



The next one convinced me this was actually moving..


Et c'ect tout pour le moment!

Stubert

Photoshop projects: 2: Photo resoration-

A challenge Indeed...
There's roughly 25 steps  and the takes up to an over an hour to complete.

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/photo-effects-tutorials/professional-photograph-restoration-workflow/

This is the example given, before and after....


Many clone and patch tooling later I managed this, took around 40 minutes....skipping steps of course. Some of them are irrelevant and can be done an easier way In my opinion.

I fine eye would notice my botched background :P Overall I guess I am happy with the result.
Regards the exercise as a whole I found it quite rewarding. It forces you to experiment with Photoshop which I think, is necessary to grow in Photoshop skills- there's only so much theory we can do! :D

-Stubert