[Arc]

We had a topic like this 1.532134 million years ago (rough estimate), basically this topic is all about what are you doing with your life right now? Are you advancing a future dream, just grinding through out the day? Being a total bum?

Currently I am pursuing a Masters in Computer Science. Specifically I am studying Intelligent Systems (see new name for Artificial Intelligence). I love what I have learned so far, so much so that after my last final (six hours ago), I rushed out to get my text book for the Machine Learning class I am starting in two weeks. Already read a chapter. I really want to create something intelligent, which at this point may be a bit of a wet dream, but if there is anything I have learned, it is that being obsessive and working hard gets results. I got the obsessive thing down, and working hard is what I always do.

Why the interest in AI? I want to be comparable to God. That means creating something intelligent. Take that for what you will.

So how about you?

[???????]

I wonder why the name was changed from AI to IS.

I'm doing school online. I lack solid transportation, so this is my only option. I'm aiming for an Associates in Science and will transfer to a university in a couple of years to get my bachelors in compsci. Dunno about getting a masters nor what exactly what I plan on doing with my degree yet. I'd like to get involved with the game industry, but I don't wanna be restricted to just that and I want to be an independent developer on the side, making games on my own and, eventually, with a small group of friends. Software engineering is definitely a consideration. I can see myself studying Artificial Intelligence Intelligent Systems since I've taken an interest in it and read a book about it in high school. Doesn't surprise me that playing God is what motivates you; I can't really picture anyone doing this without at least partly having that desire.

I'm still trying to find out just who the hell I'm supposed to be seeing to turn my AP exam scores in to so I can be exempt from the low-level programming classes in my community college.

So, in short, I'm aiming to move up from a homeless shelter to my own home in the third ward.

This post has been edited by ???????: 18 November 2010 - 06:24 AM

[Arc]

Intelligent Systems has been stamped over AI because AI made a lot of promises for almost four decades and never delivered. So much research just pissed down the drain.

[Requiem]

At this very moment I'm writing an essay for a course I'm doing. It has been many hours of struggle and a lot of it seems like waffle. My deadline is for a week's time but I'm probably going to have no time over the weekend.

[Arc]

What is the degree you are going for?

[KennEH!]

Right now I'm working so that I can afford to take the 5 grand a year; Integrated Telecommunication and Computer Technologies course. Gets me a Bachelor of Applied Technology, pretty much equal to Egineering.

I figure what business doesn't need a phone/computer guru? Keeps me flexible, especially since I plan to jet from this crap city the minute I can.

[???????]

Crap city? I'm curious. Care to elaborate?

[Sway]

Right now I'm revamping my portfolio in preparation for getting out there and getting a real graphic design job. I'm similar to Arc in that I love to create, just in a different way. I want the "intelligence" I create to be in the form of clever design, interesting and witty messages, or an experience that won't be forgotten.

I love designing, and especially designing those experiences -- making something more than the sum of its parts. Everything is a campaign to me. I believe graphic design to be the most universal of the arts in these modern times. It's replaced what we think of as art in a lot of ways. What used to be made for ceremonial purposes, to decorate a cathedral, or tell a story is now in the realm of the museum, outside of its intended purpose, and its place in current society. Instead, graphic design has taken that mantle; it's all around us, explaining, decorating, and identifying. This is my philosophy on design and why I consider it to be so vital, because it helps drive our culture, and I want to be a part of that.

Hence, updating the portfolio!

["That Other Guy"]

The past few days I've been trying to learn stuff about programming for Android, but there is just so much shit to sift through. I really feel I would benefit from having someone else who knows the shit explain it, rather than just reading document after document on a website, but I have no idea where I would find someone to do that, and just that, without me having to take 50 other unnecessary classes in English and science and literature and whatever other bullshit the government thinks I need. It's all a bit overwhelming, and a full-time job makes it difficult for me to force myself to sit down and learn every day because I'm so tired all the time.

[???????]

To be fair, math and science are closely related to computer science and programming, so I can see why they'd be required, depending on the course. It's English and certain other courses that I don't understand the requirement for nor give a fuck about. All I feel like I'm accomplishing by taking those classes is wasting a fuckton of time and money considering what type of degree I'm aiming for... Now, I wouldn't have as much of a problem with being required to have so many credit hours if I wasn't required to pick from classes I wouldn't take unless I was forced to. What's worse is that new students attending my college are forced to take a mandatory no-credit college and career planning class. This class has not had any impact on me whatsoever aside from getting me to realize what the software engineering industry is like and just how much money engineers make on average.

[Kvitne]

Android programming sucks pretty hard, especially if it's your first dip into the programming pool. I'm biased, but I'd suggest trying out iPhone programming first. It's easier to grasp in a shorter period of time.

Me? I'm still at school, finishing my second major, Computer Information Systems. This major is pretty easy, especially after finishing my comp sci degree. I'm taking the web development route, since that seems like it'd be a useful skill to have under my belt. I've only got two classes left in the major though, one this semester and one next semester, so I'm filling my free time with art classes, because I like being artsy fartsy and shit like that. I'm taking drawing and intro to digital photography this semester, and the senior sem for digital art next semester. So yeah, pretty easy year overall.

I'm still working at the Iconfactory while I go to school. Right now I'm developing a Mac version of my Take Five application that I came out with earlier this year, and I'll be developing a third iPhone app with them in January. This week an iPhone game I worked on with some other developers came out, check out my self-promotion topic if you want to know more. I'm hoping they'll hire me, but for the time being I'm keeping my options open.

["That Other Guy"]

Kvitne, on 18 November 2010 - 03:40 PM, said:

I'm biased, but I'd suggest trying out iPhone programming first. It's easier to grasp in a shorter period of time.

Chyeah, sure. And it's also 6 times as expensive. The only fees you have to pay for Android are the...what, $25 to get your app into the store? With Apple, you have to pay for the development tools, and the entry into the (considerably stricter) marketplace is $100, if I recall correctly. And it's not like I have a team to work with like you do. Anything I do will likely end up with me doing everything. As far as programming goes, I've got a basic understanding from when my dad used to try and teach me coding back when I was little, but I don't know how to code specifically for any one language.

(PS I downloaded Astronut it's pretty cool. But I'm not gonna lie, I wouldn't have gotten it if it wasn't free. Nothing against you, I'm just a cheapskate who refuses to pay for apps.)

[Kvitne]

Actually, the development tools are free, unless you want to test on a device. Then you have to be a member of the developer's program, which costs $100 annualy. Regardless, I wasn't talking about getting applications out to the public, I was just talking about a learning platform. Java and Objective-C are fairly similar. If you're just doing the coding, that can be done for free. There's even an iPhone simulator.

Shit, I just realized you don't have a Mac. Yeah, can't develop for iPhone on PCs. My bad.

["That Other Guy"]

See? Fuckin' expensive.

[Kvitne]

WELL IT WOULDN'T BE IF YOU JUST USED THE RIGHT OS.

["That Other Guy"]

WELL I WOULD IF THE RIGHT OS WASN'T $1000 OH WAIT THAT JUST PROVES MY POINT.

[Kvitne]

HACKINTOSH MOTHERFUCKER DO YOU SPEAK IT.

But in all seriousness. Shitting on Arc's topics is fun, but I'm actually interested in this one, so I'm gonna stop derailing it.

[NiGHTS Noob]

Don't you need a specific type of motherboard to get a Hackintosh? Isn't it kinda slow too?

Also, am I the only guy who wouldn't use OSX if given the chance? I'd take a Mac, they're damn sturdy and well built, but I'm not a fan of OSX. Sorry, I prefer the program selection of Windows, and the interface of GNOME, OSX can't compete with either of those for me.

Anyways, for my life. Well, currently I'm going to college, and I want to do something in the English field, I'm just not sure what. Possibly a comic writer, maybe a book or screenplay writer, maybe even an editor or journalist. Don't really know at the moment, maybe I'll try to dabble in all five to see what I like best.

[Arc]

Kvitne, on 18 November 2010 - 05:40 PM, said:

Android programming sucks pretty hard, especially if it's your first dip into the programming pool. I'm biased, but I'd suggest trying out iPhone programming first. It's easier to grasp in a shorter period of time.

Me? I'm still at school, finishing my second major, Computer Information Systems. This major is pretty easy, especially after finishing my comp sci degree. I'm taking the web development route, since that seems like it'd be a useful skill to have under my belt. I've only got two classes left in the major though, one this semester and one next semester, so I'm filling my free time with art classes, because I like being artsy fartsy and shit like that. I'm taking drawing and intro to digital photography this semester, and the senior sem for digital art next semester. So yeah, pretty easy year overall.

I'm still working at the Iconfactory while I go to school. Right now I'm developing a Mac version of my Take Five application that I came out with earlier this year, and I'll be developing a third iPhone app with them in January. This week an iPhone game I worked on with some other developers came out, check out my self-promotion topic if you want to know more. I'm hoping they'll hire me, but for the time being I'm keeping my options open.

I think doing any mobile development would suck balls for a beginner. Personally I'd say go for learning with Visual Studios Express 2010, and look up some tutorials. The GUI developer takes away a lot of the challenge of making a non-trivial application. Not to mention C# is pretty slick on a Windows PC. You could also download Eclipse and learn Java. Though Visual Studios > any IDE out there right now.

This post has been edited by Arc: 19 November 2010 - 03:47 AM

[Kvitne]

I had to learn completely on Eclipse. I swear, that program is the spawn of Satan. No, just give me my Xcode and I'm good to go, thank you very much.

But in all seriousness, Arc's right. Beginner's programming is not mobile friendly. I'd say start small, like Visual Basic, then move into more complex languages.