Notes on Asst 3

Malcolm X

"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today"
-Malcolm X

Exceptional Person

While riding the train to Penn Station I meet a filmmaker, named Keith Battista.  I was lost and he helped me with directions.  We got to talking and I found out that he is a filmmaker in Long Island.  He writes and directs a web series called "The Professionals."  "The Professionals" is a comedy about tech support and contract killers.  He has close to 100,000 subscribers.  One episode

at it's peak had about 50,000 views.  His highest viewed episode has 673,240 views which is pretty impressive.  "The Professionals" has its own youtube channel and it has 2,318,454 views.

He got into doing what he does because of his love for film making.  He was just always into it.  He has a undergraduate degree in film and worked on independent films projects in school.  With that background he decided to create his own web series.  Which is coming along very nicely if I might add. 

As I was getting off the train he left me with a few tips on becoming successful.  For film makers you have to have a love for films because you will be working and thinking about them all the time.  Also you have to be able to multi task and tell stories well.  The last and best tip he has for all creators is "Just Do It!"  There is only so much you can learn from books.   You can learn so much more if you just get out and just do it!   

Omnio WOWkeys and iPhone team up to make an awsome keyboard.

This prototype keyboard looks amazingly fun and I don't even have a iPhone.  The doc is PC or Mac compatible.  It has 15 hot keys designed for the iPhone and you could  make the phone into a media center remote control or multi-touch trackpad with apps from the app store.  This reminds me of the ipad.  If you could have a keyboard for the iPhone why need the ipad.  It's cheaper.  The USB keyboard is only $100.  Because this is only a prototype there isn't a lot of information about it but my favorite feature would be to use it as keyboard to type in text messages or write blogs only using the keyboard.  I falling in love with this keyboard already.

Victoria Monsul

Victoria Monsul came to Prof Klinkowstein's class last Thursday to share with us some tips on life after graduation.  She graduated from Pratt Institute in 2007 with a bachelors of Fine Arts in comm.design and has done of number of things with her life. Like interning at various places and working for places like IMG, Silent Touch Productions, and Mother Industries to name a few.  A few tips she gave us were, be authentic.  Be yourself, be real show that you are passionate about what you do.  Every interview she went to, she got the job, because she is authentic.  She shows flexibility, excitement, manners, and that she is an overall interesting person.  Victoria also strives on doing things that might be out of your comfort zone.  Like meeting random people,  and exploring different things.  Life is your education and you show live it to the fullest. Another tip was to learn how to fail.  Don't focus on the negativity, let it go, push it behind you, learn from it and move forward. "If your not failing everyday, your not setting enough goals."  I found her answer to my grad school question interesting.  She said that it looks good on your resume and it is a door opener.  But in her opinion it isn't that necessary. And for every job postings, the requirement lists that I have seen, they mainly focus on experience.  They don't ask what master's degree you have.  And if I could get out of being in debt before the age for 50 without going to graduate school then I would take it.  Like Victoria said it looks "sexy".  Overall I greatly enjoyed her presentation and I am definitely going to visit the WIX lounge when I get a chance. Thanks Victoria!!

Quirky's Unhampered Has Got Me Interested

When I first saw this hamper I automatically thought. This would be Great to have in my dorm room.  I already have a really small space and I'm always looking for little places to put new things.  Now that laundry on campus is free I find myself dong more and more laundry.  Unhampered by Quirky Designs is a laundry basket that can fold flat when not in use.  It also holds your laundry detergent and softener in a smaller compartment as well.  When folded, Unhampered can be easily stored between the washer and drier, under your sink, or any other place where you have an extra inch or two.  Unfolded, it has multiple handles, and storage compartments.  It costs $24.99 from the website, which i think is a pretty good price.  The other items on their site are pretty cool as well, Check out the Wrapster.  

Video

Check Into Charion Hotel With your NFC-equipped mobil phone.

The Charion Hotel in Stockholm is starting a new pilot program that allows guests the ability to use their phones in order to get into their rooms.  You can download the program from your smartphone, store it and wipe it clean.  You can check in and out with the application as well.  You just hold the phone to a check in/out station and it does the process instantly.  During the trial run Samsung handsets are being provided to select customers.  the trial will last four months.  the application is called Near Field Communication (NFC).  the ASSA ALBOY's goal is to be able to have cell phones open office doors, and even your home doors.  I am a little skeptical about the safety of this.  But there are also safety issues when it comes to regular keys and card keys so having your cell phone to open doors shouldn't change much.  I think the idea is pretty cool. Video