master of none

Looking for a university in USA, preferably California,  that have a master programme that I like.. Bachelor in digital media. Specialising from that, you should think was pretty easy to find these days. Oh, what adventure!

I am thinking around information architecture, interaction design, human-computer interaction, infographics. You’d think that would be reasonably easy to find. Nah.

Some classify HCI under psychology, some see infographics as either arts or engineering. Some see it as information technology, but then from a programming perspective. Some see it as art, but then with crayons and brushes. Some see infographics as library studies or mathematics. Or “informatics”. In some cases, “information” is bundled with “education”, and on top of that is classes in pedagogy. With pictures of teachers and little children.. Read the rest »

bachelor thesis: a walk in the rift valley, four million years ago

So what was that bachelor thesis all about? I have had that question a few times, and now that I have room to breathe again, I will elaborate.

At the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., they have a programme that’s been going on for a number of years; The Human Origins Program. This is to bring evolution and research out there, mainly via the exhibition Hall of Human Origins. In the US, this is considered politics. I venture to say that in Europe this is considered history. So as the americans need to do sensible research, they also to a certain extent need to step carefully. Interesting, bizarre and a wee bit disturbing to me; this tip-toeing.

Scientists argue. Scientists have specialities, and some are extremely specialised in very detailed, at times small and obscure fields. Sometimes they want to share, sometimes not. Sometimes they dislike other scientists definitions, sometimes the overlap of fields can be enriching or frustrating. They work on projects, and they create the tools they need. It seems that they, for all sorts of reasons, creates their own databases; gather their data and information in forms that suits them best there and then. Not necessarily very sustainable, but if you don’t want to share your findings, well, I suppose you could have it inscribed on scrolls under your bed. Read the rest »

the bachelor years

And so three years ended. Higher education. Just as I got good at playing the game, it is over. It was a mixed kettle; these three years. Most of the courses seemed exciting on paper, and a good handful of them turned out to be dreadful. Pointless. Insulting. Yes, digital media production is a new-ish branch, and my university college a small one, but dmPro is clearly the stepchild of the IT department. A good deal of the lecturers there would rather not have us meddling in their pure, proper information technology. The sign of small minds. Read the rest »

wildlife, geeklife

I haz nut.

Work work – no time to sightseeing or go arty photographing. Little snippets, though. Read the rest »

days

Warmer days in D.C.  (foto by Lars)

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relatives and ancestors

australopithecus africanus, approx. 2.5 million years old Read the rest »

computers & bones

Ignoring all the stupid meta-problems to solve before proper work can begin, the environment is inspiring. Read the rest »

lost in transition

This is the first time I’ve been properly stuck. Takeoff postponed for 7-8-9 hours. Good job we got up at five in the morning for this. Read the rest »

– au revoir, D.C.

D.C. is a strange city; it feels like a bubble. It is a smallish, administrative city in a very very large and powerful country. It is rather anonymous. It seems, in this city of administration, power and museums, people live here for a few years, and it gives the city a neutral feel. I am sure the masses of security forces helps too. The city have some lovely, quirky neighbourhoods; places I could live. A little outside the centre, there is life. The city centre is over-dimensioned with bizarre architecture. A mish-mash of styles and taste. Sometimes it works, sometimes it is awful. A new nation cherry-picking world history. Read the rest »

last days

the last days. heading home soon, from our little jaunt that got an unexpected two weeks extension. Good work done, fine people all around. Read the rest »

catch of the day

took a couple of hours off work, and went to the eastern marked. Colour, air. air & space. Read the rest »

the dead, the food & the living

Fine days, hard work. I am getting a blister on my neck from the chain for the ID card. I guess that means we’ve been here a while. Read the rest »

shelter from the storm

One of the boys ended up in hospital for a few days, and everything stopped for 48 hours or so. We had a glimpse into the health care system here, and it was – retrospectively – interesting. Read the rest »

squirrels & nuts

Squirrels are the best pea-brains I know of. Oportunistic, curious, adaptable; and wonderfully forgetful. It always makes me smile when passing a tree, rock or building, with a little tree growing out of it. Forgotten nuts moves nature around. Read the rest »

the show must go on

The museum of natural history is an endless inspiration: I wish so hard I would have had the time to sit down and draw all those wonderful things.. Read the rest »