For my 5th assignment i decided to do my best on the flash presentation (see it on the previous post).

Ever since Trevor introduced me to Flash, i was captivated by it. Even before that, I was interested in learning it’s mysteries but did not know how. The ability to produce moving animations and create a combination of different media elements is a rather fine skill that I want to possess. Not only did I use basic animations (like moving pictures sideways) but I also included some images I edited in photoshop, and an instrumental used in audacity. The thing I really like is that I was able to learn a lot of stuff in a matter of weeks; and learn a decent amount of effects to use in Flash in a couple of days. Some of the things that I believe could use a little enhancement are the transitions between frames and the text is a bit small and blurry… perhaps I can make it more legible?

It took me almost two whole weeks to make my flash presentation, and in the process I learned to use my own imagination to create cool effects on the frames and make the project as a whole look a bit more professional. For me, in Flash, I have to first think about what I want to do; the effects, how I want the images to appear on the screen, the background and what it represents, etc… But the hard, yet interesting part is that I have no idea of how to make them!! Of course I got help from my instructors most of the time, and they were patient enough o help me, but I had to figure out several things by myself. The transitions I implanted I had to figure out how to make them (based on what both Trevor and Simon had taught me). I’m really proud of myself because I believe I did a good job.

I think that my presentation is both interesting and informative. One is easily amused by the simple effects it has and is persuaded to read the text and hear my voice and concerns.  I would like to add a few more slides, perhaps explaining and describing the good things about the program like the people we meet and the experience of living on a college campus.

Flash presentations, I have found are very good way of distributing information to the public. The effects that are possible are truly amazing and will easily catch the reader’s attention.  There are so many issues around the world that most people don’t know about, and don’t learn about because the way they are presented is a bit dull,  but with flash we could call attention to these issues. In SMASHcast, I will use flash to make the topics a bit more attention-grabbing.

This Flashback took me almost a week and a half to produce and I believe I did a rather good job. The images took a little while to adjust and manipulate because I’m still not used to Photoshop. I’ve played with Flash for a few months and i think I’ve learned a lot in the few time I’ve had.

I picked this image because i think it shows some effort and skill in photo manipulation. As you can probably tell, there’s three different pictures that are together: the guy, who is my brother, the eagle and the circle.

A community is a group of people who have a common interest.

Our class blog is a community because we all contribute to it and respond to each other’s work.

This is our podcast. Picture coming soon =] intro.mp3

By Carlos, Noel, and Armani

My name seems to come from some Portuguese Middle age family, however this means nothing to me. My name is a rather simple thing when you first hear it; insignificant, most people don’t waste their time trying to figure out what it means to me. Well, it turns out that my name is very complex and full of meaning; the first thing people say when they hear my name is “oh, your Mexican, huh?”, and I’ve also encountered several people who relate me automatically to soccer. People have the tendency to assume that I’m a very simple person just because my name is very common; how wrong they are!

Let’s start off easy. First off my name represents to me a connection with my parents. I often spend time wondering how I’m ever going to repay my parents for all they have sacrificed for me? I would be nothing without my parents, and i feel appreciation towards them for taking the time and effort to think of all the possible names for me and decide upon the one they liked the best.

I chose a pen and paper to represent the irritation of having to write my name on assignments every day… but also to symbolize my passion for writing poetry; for me writing was a way i found of letting out stress and letting out my frustration on anything. I actually learned to write (poetry) and got inspired by a poem my English teacher gave me in 9th grade by the author of Lenin Carlos and the book “Los Ojos de mi Princesa” by Carlos Cuauhtemoch Sanchez.

Although my name does not literally relate to soccer in any way, i feel like it has a strong connection ever since i started playing. There are nine people currently in my dad’s house, seven of which are related to me by blood and one who is a very close friend of my family and goes my the name of Don Carlos. He was one of the people, along with my big brother, to not only introduce me to soccer, but also to help me find that “peace of mind” where all my troubles go away while I’m running or kicking a ball. Now, I am really passionate about soccer and like to lean about related events around the world. Though i do not look to soccer as a future profession, i chose to depict my passion with C. Ronaldo and Messi, the two best players in the world at the moment.

A name, no matter how simple or complex it is, no matter where its roots are from does not define a person. It’s like Trevor reminded us about the part in “Romeo and Juliet” where something will always be the same no matter what it is called. My name is Carlos Eduardo Andrade Estrada, but even without this. . . I’m still me.

1. My avatar could not possibly compare to me, because my hair is one characteristic that distinguishes me from everyone else. My hair, unfortunately, was not a possibility in the game, but apart from that, all the different things you could do with the appearance kind of confused me. I tried my hardest and apart from my hair and the mustache, I think we look alike.

2. The first features i edited where those found in the face simply because they where the first ones available.

3. The easiest feature to replicate were the eyes because there wasn’t much adjustment needed.

4. The most difficult to edit was the hair because they did not have my style of hair as an option so it was really tedious to make it resemble my hair as much as possible.

5. It was difficult because my hair is very messy, but mostly because my hair was not possible to replicate.

6. I modified all of the attributes in my avatar simply because i like experimenting with new things, especially technology.

7. To fully replicate my appearance, i would need for my style of hair to be a possibility in Second Life.

8. My avatar reminds me of no person i have ever seen or met, but it does remind me of another avatar I have. There’s this game, Runescape, which is also a type pf virtual world. I made an avatar there too, but not as detailed, and looking at both of them, they kind of look alike!!

One of the many things that I dislike about society is that it has made it crucial for a person to be skilled with technology if they want to succeed. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against technology, if anything it has made entertainment a lot more fun,especially computer games like one of my favorite ones; Age of Empires II ,but it just seems like society is forcing us to learn it in and out. I enjoy using electronics a lot and I understand that if I want to make big money someday, then I need to get really comfortable with tech stuff, but it takes some of the fun away when I know that I have to do it. However, technology has had a great impact on my life. I remember that I first used an old computer in 6th grade, a year after I arrived here in the US. I found it truly amusing and amazing all the things that I could do! I could play games, do homework, or even get an email to send letters to someone on the other side of the world!! (before, I used to hand write them and send them to my family in Mexico)

Before I realized the importance of technology and the need to be skilled with it, I had taken for granted every electronic I had. I remember that in Mexico I was fortunate enough to have a radio and a television, which are two examples of media according to Trevor, the Tech teacher. I figured that I had them because I was supposed to and (though it’s pretty dumb) I memorized the different types of music in the different stations, and the different shows in the different channels. I think that even though I wasn’t aware of it, I knew I had to master these devices. Being able to do my work, faster, simpler, and more efficiently really motivated me to do well in school. I neither saw nor faced any hardships throughout my years at King Middle School. I had a computer, I had a TV, I had an ipod; I was set.

A type of media that is really helpful is the Internet, especially pages like Myspace, or Tagworld, where lots of people from around the globe can stay in touch and have a conversation. The purpose of the Internet was to share information, bypassing the simple natural barrier of distance. They (the people who designed it) wanted for example, someone from China to be able to tell an American of their findings quickly and not in a mater of weeks or months. When I look at it more personally though, I realize that the internet is vital for me to feel complete. My whole family (excluding my immediate family) live in Mexico and I have not seen them for over 5 years! The Internet, more specifically the Windows Live Messenger, is the easiest and best way for me to communicate with them. I could buy some of those long distance calling cards, but it would be a hassle every time. The Internet has simply helped me to maintain a comfortable relationship with them and with some very old friends. The Internet and all the programs that depend on it can really aid when you want to communicate with someone that’s far away.

Also, nowadays information seems to spread faster through the net. If some big problem is happening in congress, you can always find the details on the Internet. If there is a big controversial issue and you wish to give your opinion all you have to do is type a blog on the internet. Change will, sooner or later, depend on the internet. Information on natural disasters, on political debates, even on personal problems can be found 24/7 on the internet, and all it really takes is a Web Browser. Our world has already been revolutionized once by the internet, and there’s a second one coming; can you see it?