Eventyr

Alice and Bob and my Job

This has reminded me I need to get on with my Security Protocols work.

I laughed.  Is that wrong?

Dojo Game

The dojo ran again last night, and seemed to go well.  This time we started to explore representing a text adventure game.  The elements* I gave were never implemented (or even considered beyond the first 5 minutes).

I think there is starting to be an interesting tension between methodologies here.  Those that are used to development driven through TDD methods vs. those that are used to traditional methods.  Both these groups seem to be being subverted by the time constraints, as people leap in to do the one thing in the problem space that they can immediately see in their 5 minute slot, and so neither methodology leads as each individual pairing over-rules any systematicity.  The result is, simply-put, something of a mess.  Fascinating.

I am starting to think I should get people to sign ethics forms so that I can properly look at the data for how this is working.  It looks like it could produce some beautiful work.  Shame this is social and not for my PhD.

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Interesting Thoughts from Dojo Session 1: Tom, Dom, Jez, James, Joh

Very Interesting thoughts from Dojo Session 2: Tom, Jez 

Flickr Photos: CodingDojo

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One thing which I think we need to explore at the start of the next session is the purpose for the dojo. 

• Are people coming to explore a problem space, experiment with agile, learn from other people, show off their programming skills, etc? 
• What do people see the purpose of the dojo as: art, practice, learning, teaching, exploring, communicating, socialising?
• Should we be aiming to be 'completing' a task in the time period, or just exploring the start and space?

This should be to open up discussions that have already been happening in the tea-breaks and certainly not to change or formalise anything.  At the moment I think there is a very good balance in the various interests and desires of everyone involved.  A stated purpose would be limiting and restrictive.

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* A House, A Cat, A Blue Necktie, A Nodding Dog Ornament, Something Orange, and a Lift.

Stop Now

Note to self:

I may soon be (for the first time in my life) a student with a decent income, but this will only be temporary.  It does not mean I can continue to worship the book delivering entity that is Amazon.  That way lies poverty and no room to move in my overflowing room. 2-3,000 books is enough.  Isn't it?

Paper in Hands

Today I got to hold in my hands for the first time a copy of the Computer Society of India Communications containing a brief article I had written. 

Getting to physically interact with something you have written is an amazing feeling, and one I hope I will never tire of.

Social Informatics

Conversation heard today:

"Although, I should say, they don't have the best social skills.  Thought I should mention."

"That's hardly an impediment.  This is an informatics department."

Student Narratives

First meeting with my new student today.  It feel odd to know that I am actually now supervising final year undergraduate CS students, but these things happen I suppose.  It should be a wonderful opportunity for him.

Hopefully this should help get the Agile Narratives database moving anyway.

Secret Bookcase

We were running out of shelf space in our back room, so I thought it'd be a fun project to build a shelf unit...

This Bookshelf Hidden Door has me wishing I had enough room so I could mimic this.  Want. (via MAKE)

I know I have enough books, I just need to magically find a room of my own...

Car Re-Bang

So, newly fixed just two months ago it was. 

And then this morning, while it was parked, I got to watch it reversed into.

Ho hum.

It does seem to be a lot of trouble owning a car sometimes...

Newly Integrated Readings

Over the weekend I finally managed to finish up a project which has been looming over my head for some time now - redesigning the old IS2 course. 

Now, done, and I am not just relieved but actively looking forward to leading this course next term.

There is nothing like being paid to redesign a course into something interesting.

It will be nice to have readings for the group which do not refer to the problems involved in getting people to use DOS in companies...

Here is the new course outline [pdf].

Laptop Re-death (mk 2)

Today they took away the beast that is my twice-died Dell laptop.

May this renewal breathe some permanent life into the machine.

I can hope.

Either way, I shall move the rock collection on its return.

(And, this time, I mean it).