Update on Projects

Currently, I am working on two assignments in preparation of the ending of my first year here at Texas A and M university but also closure to my ENDS 170 class. I am focusing on my final project which I am currently trying to download the programs and shortly after that will begin working on the project through use of tutorials which I will be posting later with screen shots to show development as well as the final project. For the time being though I am working on a different project using the program Revit and learning from it using a tutorial. That project is due Thursday and I am roughly half way done so I want to finish that one as soon as possible and start to turn my focus to my final. The Revit tutorial is going really good right now as it's very easy to understand and follow. I'm learning a lot and could see myself using that program again. It is really interesting and user friendly and what's more is I don't see any programming involved, which is always of course a plus for me! I'll be posting screen shots in my next blog of the total process of the tutorial from screen shots on my computer. I'm saving them in a word document to transfer to jpg's for the blog of the tutorial. Next blog I'll post all them and give another update on how things are coming along.

Final Project

My final project is going to be a rendering using Autodesk Viz with an installation of V Ray which is a program that makes 3-d realistic models on the computer. I don't believe it uses programming as far as I'm concerned which is great, but I have roughly 3 weeks to complete the project. I'm going to watch tutorials and begin working on a project while still continuing side projects and assignments assigned throughout these last few weeks. I'll post more later as my project develops, but I do want to do an interior perhaps living room or bedroom would be an interesting take. To be continued... --Erica Salinas

Gravity Study using Macromedia Flash Professional 8

Before Gravity





After Gravity













Printscreen of Macromedia Flash

I decided to give programming another try since my freshman high school days when I first learned Java and was it an eye opener trying to remember what I had learned. I did remember how fustrating it can be to program because honestly unless you can think like a programmer step-by-step multi-tasking several thoughts to stream it into simple commands, you may not like it.

I first started to download the Processing Beta program but for those of you that want to, don't because it is a corrupt file and will freeze your computer for several minutes and still will not load correctly.


I then researched the programming behing Google Sketchup who's programming console is called Ruby. Ruby is located under the tab window as the last button. I searched for tutorials but as many as you would think would show up not as many were because most people didn't know there was programming even available to use and bundled up in the program. Inclusive of the program are plug-ins and different coding for different functions. I tried programming it a couple of times and I was unsuccessful in many attempts since I wasn't used it and quiet frankly it seemed to be easier to just do it using drawing instead of specifing line by line and so forth.
Sketchup though, is a great program and for someone knowledgeable of how to program it is very simple to use but personally I didn't care much for it. As far as tutorials go, simply click on the Help button and type in your search where you can find basic tutorials on how Ruby works.


Here are a couple of tutorials if you are interested in learning Ruby:
"Programming Ruby" online at http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/ProgrammingRuby/
The "Ruby user's guide" online at http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/UsersGuide/rg/
"Introduction to Ruby" online at http://www.ruby-doc.org/docs/Tutorial/
"Learn to Program - A Tutorial for the Future Programmer" on line at http://hellotree.gotdns.com/LearnToProgram/

I then turned my attentention to Macromedia flash and searched for tutorials. The tutorials I found to be most interesting were those of how gravity worked because from understanding the basic concepts behind how the program works it can be translated for use in video games as many tutorials based on that showed up. I started with a circle and drew it in the stage area where I modified it to become a symbol and later an action clip with a designated name. I then added the code under the layer of that circle and changed the components of the gravity and acceleration in order to regulate how fast and slow and how far the circle would fall. The program script had a built in way of controlling the circle by using the arrow keys to make it shift left and right. The reason for experimenting with the code is because really the only way you're going to learn is from trial and error and experience. Honestly, you can read a thousand tutorials but it's not until you start to try and work it out for yourself that you start to get a better understanding of it. You could change the up and down motion based on the principles of math and acceleration in relation to gravity. At the same time the more you changed the variables they were affected to the background coordinates or plane of x and y axis which would cause the ball to speed up or slow down in certain areas as well as speed up to the point of flashing as is shown in the second picture above where the green ball goes missing. In fact it is not missing but is caught in motion flashing. If you didn't put constraints on the balls they would simply run off the page and start over again in a loop. The little creature icon with a smiley faced nicknamed Skeeter was a face that was based directly on the principles of gravity and slid down slowly leaving behind his standing face. Skeeter and each of the balls were on different layers were the code was added. The program when executed showed the balls and skeeter in motion. Using the side left and right toolbars the balls would move accordingly but still up and down.


Using the program, animation could be done but buttons and non-moving objects could be made as well using the basic paint tools. The main thing is designating each object in motion to declare it's name for use in it's program under it's layer.

Tutorials in both programs were helpful as were the help toolbars, but in regards to programming it is not something you can learn overnight or even over a series of years because as you start to grasp the concept another program is created and yours has already become obsolete. The basic ideas are there which can be used later and the mindset discussed earlier is what will make you a programmer. It is based on experience and learning and reading others codes and practicing with much trial and error. Personally, I do not care for programming many the mindset of breaking down things, perhaps I overanalyze and I know for sure I overthink things sometimes to the point of overcomplicating things that are basic, but I do have a great respect for those that do program. Most of the world we function in is based on programs everything from handheld devices such as Gameboys to computers to television channels. It is how the world is organized of one event affecting another to cause an effect.

Here are a couple of websites I used to find tutorials:
http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Flash/Games/1

These are the two tutorials used from the website above to cross refernce the code including the help feature from the Macromedia Flash program.
Gravity in Games http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/Create-Gravity-in-Games/22963
Steering a Falling Ball http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/Steer-A-Falling-Ball/22810

Final Project

A couple of the recent ideas I've had concerning my last project are as follows:

- I did like working with and experimenting with the program I learned a little over Spring Break which was Caligari TrueSpace which was discussed in an earlier post. I enjoyed studying the different features of the human face manipulated and transformed into 3-D animations. If there was a way of using the full version or working with a program similar to that one, I would be intrested. The reason I can't use Caligari though is because it is a trial version that crashes after so many functions and does not support saving without a full version.

-Another idea I had was working on creating an architectural space in Sketchup or TopMod and then rendering it. I think this would be good for my portfolio or doing something similar to the Lighthouse rendering because it looks professional and it allows me to practice with the program.

-Another idea would be to learn more about that program algorithms discussed in class because I did find them interesting but the downside is they require a knowledge of programming, one of which I have not practiced Java for several years now and was not good at it then particularly and may not be able to learn all that I need to in the designated amount of time given.

I want to work on the project by myself mainly so that I can manage my time without having to be at the mercy of trying to figure out the work ethics of another and try and plan mine and their schedule to get the project done and have it suffer. I would consider a partner if they were highly dedicated and had the same work ethic as myself and were willing to put forth the effor to have it be 50/50 because if not then the project would suffer. These are just a couple of thoughts floating around in my head for now, any feedback is greatly appreciated in helping me develop an idea of a final project. Thanks. --Erica Salinas

Graduate School

I visited Rice University during the summer of my Junior year on a school trip, the Science Academy of South Texas a magnet school specializing in engineering, math, and science. I visited for a session of 2 weeks where we visited the university, attended classes, stayed in a hotel since we couldn't in the doors, and visited many of the important attractions that Houston had to offer including a private tour of NASA, Shell, MD Anderson and even got to go to the amusement park. I learned more in that summer about myself in that short amount of time than I could fathom. I learned about college life, independence since I had never been gone from home for longer than a few days, connecting to people, life and death from the hospital, but more importantly, I learned about myself. I learned that I had to speak up for myself, sell myself without being fake, be comfortable with being my own person, and I learned that the best friend you could ever have is the one that stares back at you every morning. THe one that knows you best and can guide you with your passions to learn and live is yourself. I fell in love with Rice university and wanted and still want to go to school there. It's a gorgeous campus that has so much to offer including one of the most prestigious colleges in Texas and the US.
Currently I am attending college at College Station at Texas A and M doing my undergrad degree in the School of Architecture which is also very prestigious and ranked in the top ten in the nation, tieing with Yale University. I am excelling in my studies and am enjoying my classes learning a lot from them, having plenty of laughs, sunsets and sunrises in one day working in studio, but I'm learning and living and following my passion. For the time being my place is here in College Station, but in the future I would like to pursue graduate school at Rice. I want to go to a different university to not settle and conform to one point of view offered here at A and M but rather get other perspectives those of which are offered in the big city of Houston. Maybe my passion will push elsewhere but for now I hope to go to Rice. The experience had there was a unique one and one I will never forget. The campus is inviting and the people are friendly. I know my education and time spent here at A and M is well worth it and a stepping stone to get to graduate school and it will take hard work, but it's something I'm willing to work for.

Why Rice you ask? According to Rodolfo Machado of Machado-Silvetti Associates in Cambridge writes: "We have had similar experiences with a few other schools across the country, and Rice is the only one where we find students to be intellectually developed and professionally useful, which is unfortunately a rare condition these days. " That's saying something. Rice accepts only 200 students each semester divided between graduate and undergraduate to the program. It is needless to say very difficult to get into. It offers an accredited Architecture degree for 5 years and offers a lot of study abroad programs to help create well rounded students. Links are shown at the bottom in regards to more about the university, but I will say that while Rice is a dream of mine, I have to leave things to God and his will and follow my passion of learning and architecture to find out where it will lead me. I ended up here at Texas and M and thank God I did. It's a great program where the professors are superb and challange the student and I'm glad I came here. The classes are amazing and something to look forward to and will prepare me for that next step in life, grad school. Best of luck to you on your journey.

Rice University School of Architecture :http://arch.rice.edu/modules/indexwin.php

Aggie Habitat for Humanity

Aggie Habitat for Humanity is a club I've been wanting to join lately as I volunteered last semester with St. Mary's Catholic Church to help paint a house for community service. It was a great experience and I have volunteered with the less fortunant before at my local chuch, St. Jude's Catholic Church, back in my home town over breaks. This is a great club to consider joining because not only does it help out the community, but in the process you learn about construction methods which are always a plus for an aspiring architecture student, but also life lessons and relationships you learn along the way. It's not just about building a house as I came to learn, it's so much more than that. You help create a home for family that wants to better themselves and essentially shelter the future, their children and builders of tommorrow's society. At the same time you're making friends and helping build apart of your own society.
The goals the club promotes is to create low cost homes where since labor is on volunteer basis so it's essentially free for the owner, but all the owner has to pay for is the materials over the course of 30 years with no interest. It is an attainable goal for them and it helps give them back a little part of their dignity back. The organization is founded by a Christian group, but is open to all volunteers regardless of faith or culture. There is expectations to meet in regards to the club in that if you say you'll join and volunteer you have to show up, there is no room for wishy-washy flip flopper behavior as each house takes at least 500 hours to make given that all the volunteers are present. On the contrary, it is very easy to sign up for by simply entering your email and the club is very structural with officers and activities planned out. The way I see it as with most passions is if you love what you're doing and you're helping others then you'll want to show up to lend a helping hand and those expectations will be met and if need be you'll be accomidated by your situation and talking to offers. The main idea is get involved and see how you can make a difference, every little helps, so that being said, I think I just convinced myself to join the local Aggie chapter, you should to.

Here is the link to the Aggie Habitat for Humanity official website main page where you can sign up for the following semester and learn more about what the club has to offer:
http://habitat.tamu.edu/

Mission Statement:
http://habitat.tamu.edu/about/mission.asp

How to become a member:
http://habitat.tamu.edu/members/member.asp

iNTA Conference

Upon furthering my research I decided to search Google.com to find a conference that highlighted the aspects of culture and Architecture. Considering my interests in design, sustainable architecture, and green architecture it came to great surprise that that I stumbled upon a site highlighting a conference held in Indonesia. The conference's main goals were to combine the culture, natural environment of the tropical rainforest and urban society to maintain and further all three of these key aspects. The conference was held in Jogjakarta hosted by Duta Wacana Christian University April 3-5 of this past year, 2006.

According to the site conference, the goals of the conference were as follows:
1. Traditions, Vernacular Architecture and Urban Forms
2. Tropical buildings construction using local materials
3. Comfort and Quality of Tropical Urban Spaces
4. Design Paradigms and Strategies, Complex Decision Making Processes
5. Parametric Comp Tools for Analysis, CAAD Design & Knowledge Systems
6. Planning and Building Regulations, Criteria for Sustainable Design Standards
7. Planning and design for disaster response and reconstruction

The overall theme was "Tropical Architecture: Harmony in Culture and Nature". The place the conference was held, in Jogjakarta is a center occupied by roughly half a population of college students and is one of the leading places in Indonesia having the highest rate of education. The reason I decided to further pursue the study of this conference and why it peaked my interest was because it prompted me to learn about another culture a little further through getting a taste through what I've read about the city and to see how other's plan to teach other's about the environment around them to preserve it but adapt it to their growing needs of urbanism.
To learn more about the city and the conference click on the links below:

Main Website
http://www.inta2006.org/client/programs/front/index.php

About the Sponsors
http://www.inta2006.org/client/programs/?menu=organization&submenu=about_dwcu

About the City
http://www.inta2006.org/client/programs/?menu=general_info&submenu=about_jogja