Summary of the presentation
Square is a mobile payment service application built on iOS and Android. It aims to bring immediacy, transparency, and approachability to daily life. With the hardware support, Square enables iOS and Android mobile phones to use the credit card or other cards at any time and any places. It will benefit the user who will have a relatively low monthly transaction cost. Overall, Square is a relatively nice-designed application both on the user interface and user experience. The only concern for Square is the security issue on both hardware and software.
The three points I felt important are:
1. Target Customer and relative competency
During the presentation, it was very impressive to see their analysis on the target customer. They compare the cost between POS and Square based on monthly transaction volume. From the graph they presented, it shows a clear result of benefits for the low transaction user. I believe this analysis is very important because it indicates the target customer of this app and its competency. Without knowing its customer and its relative competency, it is hard to market and advertise an application. In addition, by comparing with POS, we also could see their potential market size in future.
2. Security Concern
In fact, I did not realize that hardware will bring security concern before they mentioned about the hardware concern. For most of the applications, as they are built without installing new hardware to the device, it will hardly have hardware security concern. Hence, this application is a bit special. Meanwhile, as it is a financial related application, the security concern should always come first. Any possible security issue will possibly bring huge damage or lose to the application developers and company. For this application, both hardware and software should try to ensure the safety of all the transactions. In fact, up to now, Square did quite well in software but not hardware. It still gets room for the improvement on the security of hardware.
3. E-payment
What I learn from this application is their idea on E-payment. In fact, E-transaction is a relatively common idea nowadays. But all the E-transactions will be done via E-bank account. They seldom consider to use the card physically. Many small vendors will like this application. An iPad + Square will be a moveable all-on E-payment machine. Comparing to the heavy and expensive POS machine, it is more convenient and lower cost.
My ideas about this application
1. What is the future of Financial Related Application?
In future, most of the financial related application will be dominated by large banks or financial institutions. It will be very hard for small company to come up with Financial related application especially involving payments. There are two reasons. First, financial institution or banks have a nice network and could easily attract and "force" customer to use its application because of its "monopoly" market position. Secondly, comparing to these large institutions, small company did not have enough money to support the application development or possible loss in future. It is quite obvious that any errors occurred in financial related application will result in a huge lose to the company. Normal software company could hardly bear with such lose.
2. How to make a successful application?
No one could guarantee that one application could be successful in future. However, as long as it makes the important ideas correct, the chance to be successful will increase.
1) Good Target Customer: whole world or rich people or adults?
2) From the perspective of target customer, what is their fundamental requirement?
3) Design a very goood UI to solve their problem.
4) Market your product to your target customer.
It seems that all the four steps are clear. But it is very difficult to achieve all of them, especially for the 2nd and 3rd item. What is the fundamental requirement of your target customers? Sometimes, even the customers do not know what they want, it will be difficult for us to figure out. Also what is a good UI? It really depends on different perspective.
Aug 31, 2011
Aug 25, 2011
water {n,{n},{{n}},{{{n}}}}
The title looks even more weird today.
But I did have a reason to put it in this manner~~~
I felt now I really do not have so many things to write in the water post.
As most of them may not be interesting and not related to CS3216, I will not publish them.
But as I have promised that I will write a blog everyday, I will save all of them and publish them at the end of this semester.
For the weekly blog about CS3216, I will still publish it ~~~
This will be the Last Water post to be published before the end of this semester~~~
You are more than welcome to read my water post after this semester~~~
But I did have a reason to put it in this manner~~~
I felt now I really do not have so many things to write in the water post.
As most of them may not be interesting and not related to CS3216, I will not publish them.
But as I have promised that I will write a blog everyday, I will save all of them and publish them at the end of this semester.
For the weekly blog about CS3216, I will still publish it ~~~
This will be the Last Water post to be published before the end of this semester~~~
You are more than welcome to read my water post after this semester~~~
Aug 24, 2011
Water {n,{n},{{n}}}
===================About CS3216====================
More coding needs to be done in the next two or three days.
If it is too much, maybe we need to give up some features...
Facebook seminar deadline is near... We need to have a meeting and start to prepare for it.
==================Other things===================
One module is quite good now, everything can be done well.
One module is quite confusing, get an idea what they are talking about but it is just too conceptual.
Another one, I could fully understand but just can not do the tutorial, is it really a math module?
For another module, which got a very handsome German lecturer, I skipped all the lectures in the last week. Is it a waster?
More coding needs to be done in the next two or three days.
If it is too much, maybe we need to give up some features...
Facebook seminar deadline is near... We need to have a meeting and start to prepare for it.
==================Other things===================
One module is quite good now, everything can be done well.
One module is quite confusing, get an idea what they are talking about but it is just too conceptual.
Another one, I could fully understand but just can not do the tutorial, is it really a math module?
For another module, which got a very handsome German lecturer, I skipped all the lectures in the last week. Is it a waster?
Water {n,{n}}
Anyway I forgot to write blog for yesterday... Just too busy...
Just got too many things to do~~~ One day one blog, can I really make it?
P.S. I like today's title. If possible, I hope it will be a transitive set~~~
P.S.Fire drill is quite nice today~~~ Fire looks nice during night~~~ It is even more interesting to put them off.
Just got too many things to do~~~ One day one blog, can I really make it?
P.S. I like today's title. If possible, I hope it will be a transitive set~~~
P.S.Fire drill is quite nice today~~~ Fire looks nice during night~~~ It is even more interesting to put them off.
Aug 22, 2011
Reflection after Lecture
Is this title too formal?
==========================CS3216===========================
1.monopoly
While during the lecture time, I suddenly realized that why I have so many problems or questions about web programming and why most people will have bugs. The reason is simple and perhaps sounds a bit stupid. I think it happened because all the products are from different organization or companies. Just suppose, if the companies or organization develop the whole set of php, js, html and all the things as a whole. I do not think we will have so many troubles. Just recall, 20 years ago, once, there was only one browser IE in the world, web programming is just like normal coding, easy coding and debugging. (Of course, the word web programming did not exist at that time.) After years of development, we have various tools for web programming. Although people try to make them work fine with each other, it still not good. After thinking about this, I feel that if there is a monopoly company in the world, which will control all the php, js, css and related web programming language development, maybe the world will be easier for programmer.
Suppose that really happened in the past, then how will today look like? Maybe no progress at all. Maybe no facebook, no html5, no CS3216~~~
Monopoly in a field is good because the whole industry will share the same rules and standards. Hence it will be easy for people to cooperate. However, monopoly will damage the creativity and will slow down the potential improvement. Hence, maybe duopoly is better, just like today, we get Google, Microsoft and Apple~~~ The world will be progress in the dynamic equilibrium~~~ (Just like what we learn in chemistry)
2. changes
After showing the demo of HTML5 and Windows8, I suddenly felt a bit down. There are too many technologies in the world, we learn them today and maybe 5 years later no one will use them any more. The changes happen so fast that I am really worried whether I could follow the changes. During vocation, I bring an ipad2 back to my grandpa. I hope that he could at least try out the new stuff. But he only tried once and refused later. He did not know why ipad is useful. It will take him quite a long time to learn how to use ipad. Then I remember that Prof Ben has said that when he first tried Office 2007, he just felt not right and can not understand it. Now I am still young and smart, I will be curious about everything and keen to learn how to use them. But what if in 10 years later, I may not be as smart as now. And the technology advances in a even faster pace. At that moment, how could I adapt to these fast changes? How do I feel about myself? If at that time, what will be my core competency comparing to the smart and young and curious undergraduate? Suddenly I really have no idea about these questions. However, I still would like to end this topic by this famous sentence
"Youth is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, or supple knees. It is a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a freshness of the deep springs of life."
Hope I will be young all the time~~~ (Does this lecture make me too emo...)
P.S. Although this lecture it about technologies, I really did not attract by them too much. Anyway new technology will occur everyday, just like meals per day. But it is my great pleasure to hear from people to see their insightful prediction about futures. It may be the best thing I could get from this lecture...
P.S. Around 30 years ago, programmer decided the world. That's why people can not understand why Steven Jobs insisted on his small rounded design. Now, the world is decided by the designer and marketing people. Everything is possible to be coded...
P.S. 我不管以后是苹果还是芒果，反正果子总会有的，不会饿到。。。很冷啊。。。
=========================Other things==========================
for this week, linear algebra is boring...
for all the weeks, I will try to understand set theory. Although during today's lecture, lecturer keeps using N(the natural number set notation), I keep lost...:-(
If anyone wants to challenge his/her IQ, take group theory or set theory...
TMR, fix the bug, it is a must...
==========================CS3216===========================
1.monopoly
While during the lecture time, I suddenly realized that why I have so many problems or questions about web programming and why most people will have bugs. The reason is simple and perhaps sounds a bit stupid. I think it happened because all the products are from different organization or companies. Just suppose, if the companies or organization develop the whole set of php, js, html and all the things as a whole. I do not think we will have so many troubles. Just recall, 20 years ago, once, there was only one browser IE in the world, web programming is just like normal coding, easy coding and debugging. (Of course, the word web programming did not exist at that time.) After years of development, we have various tools for web programming. Although people try to make them work fine with each other, it still not good. After thinking about this, I feel that if there is a monopoly company in the world, which will control all the php, js, css and related web programming language development, maybe the world will be easier for programmer.
Suppose that really happened in the past, then how will today look like? Maybe no progress at all. Maybe no facebook, no html5, no CS3216~~~
Monopoly in a field is good because the whole industry will share the same rules and standards. Hence it will be easy for people to cooperate. However, monopoly will damage the creativity and will slow down the potential improvement. Hence, maybe duopoly is better, just like today, we get Google, Microsoft and Apple~~~ The world will be progress in the dynamic equilibrium~~~ (Just like what we learn in chemistry)
2. changes
After showing the demo of HTML5 and Windows8, I suddenly felt a bit down. There are too many technologies in the world, we learn them today and maybe 5 years later no one will use them any more. The changes happen so fast that I am really worried whether I could follow the changes. During vocation, I bring an ipad2 back to my grandpa. I hope that he could at least try out the new stuff. But he only tried once and refused later. He did not know why ipad is useful. It will take him quite a long time to learn how to use ipad. Then I remember that Prof Ben has said that when he first tried Office 2007, he just felt not right and can not understand it. Now I am still young and smart, I will be curious about everything and keen to learn how to use them. But what if in 10 years later, I may not be as smart as now. And the technology advances in a even faster pace. At that moment, how could I adapt to these fast changes? How do I feel about myself? If at that time, what will be my core competency comparing to the smart and young and curious undergraduate? Suddenly I really have no idea about these questions. However, I still would like to end this topic by this famous sentence
"Youth is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, or supple knees. It is a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a freshness of the deep springs of life."
Hope I will be young all the time~~~ (Does this lecture make me too emo...)
P.S. Although this lecture it about technologies, I really did not attract by them too much. Anyway new technology will occur everyday, just like meals per day. But it is my great pleasure to hear from people to see their insightful prediction about futures. It may be the best thing I could get from this lecture...
P.S. Around 30 years ago, programmer decided the world. That's why people can not understand why Steven Jobs insisted on his small rounded design. Now, the world is decided by the designer and marketing people. Everything is possible to be coded...
P.S. 我不管以后是苹果还是芒果，反正果子总会有的，不会饿到。。。很冷啊。。。
=========================Other things==========================
for this week, linear algebra is boring...
for all the weeks, I will try to understand set theory. Although during today's lecture, lecturer keeps using N(the natural number set notation), I keep lost...:-(
If anyone wants to challenge his/her IQ, take group theory or set theory...
TMR, fix the bug, it is a must...
Aug 21, 2011
Water n
Watering~~~
===========================About CS3216==========================
Suddenly realize a big bug in my code but can not figure out a way to solve it.
It seems that JS global variable is not so global... I could not change its values inside the FB calls.
Hope I could find a way to fix it... Hope I am wrong and such a bug is caused by my carelessness.
Finally I found out why it happens. Sometimes the bug could be so cute.
Sometimes it will display correct result and sometimes it could not.
Ajax is asynchronous, it is the advantage of Ajax but it is also the reason why such a bug occurs....
The problem is how to fix it... Or just use php instead...
===========================About Others==========================
It may not take too long to solve a math tutorial...
But it will definitely take a long time to figure out how to solve a bug in CS...
===========================About CS3216==========================
Suddenly realize a big bug in my code but can not figure out a way to solve it.
It seems that JS global variable is not so global... I could not change its values inside the FB calls.
Hope I could find a way to fix it... Hope I am wrong and such a bug is caused by my carelessness.
Finally I found out why it happens. Sometimes the bug could be so cute.
Sometimes it will display correct result and sometimes it could not.
Ajax is asynchronous, it is the advantage of Ajax but it is also the reason why such a bug occurs....
The problem is how to fix it... Or just use php instead...
===========================About Others==========================
It may not take too long to solve a math tutorial...
But it will definitely take a long time to figure out how to solve a bug in CS...
Aug 20, 2011
Water #
Don't remember how many water post I have written...
=======================CS3216==========================
appStore / iTunes the most successful app
Although Prof Ben mentioned that appStore is not an app in the email, I still want to say a bit more about it.
In my perspective, they are indeed the most successful apps. Admittedly Angry Bird (just take it as example) is quite successful and makes a lot of value. However comparing to appStore and iTunes, the value it made is really small. I believe that most of people think appStore or itunes is not "app" because they are the product of Apple Company and it is kind of system default ... People may argue the success of appStore and itunes highly depend on the success of ipod and iphone. Hence it was not fair to compare them with other apps. However, it is clear that the success of Angry bird also depends on the widely usage of i-products. If all of their success depend on the same i-product, we should be able to compare them.
In addition, the most successful app should and must have a very sharp idea. Just think about Windows System. They never try to come up with a software store... It is very challenging to come up with your own software store because it may kill the company's profit under the high pressure from open source softwares. Apple is brave enough to open its own app store and have a creative idea to sell music online without violating copyright. I have to say that such a great idea and great courage make these 2 apps so successful today.
Although these two applications may not be apps, they indeed changed the world. And they are one of the most successful products in the world.
========================Other things========================
After mid submission, finally we could have a sunday free to finish all the tutorials.
=======================CS3216==========================
appStore / iTunes the most successful app
Although Prof Ben mentioned that appStore is not an app in the email, I still want to say a bit more about it.
In my perspective, they are indeed the most successful apps. Admittedly Angry Bird (just take it as example) is quite successful and makes a lot of value. However comparing to appStore and iTunes, the value it made is really small. I believe that most of people think appStore or itunes is not "app" because they are the product of Apple Company and it is kind of system default ... People may argue the success of appStore and itunes highly depend on the success of ipod and iphone. Hence it was not fair to compare them with other apps. However, it is clear that the success of Angry bird also depends on the widely usage of i-products. If all of their success depend on the same i-product, we should be able to compare them.
In addition, the most successful app should and must have a very sharp idea. Just think about Windows System. They never try to come up with a software store... It is very challenging to come up with your own software store because it may kill the company's profit under the high pressure from open source softwares. Apple is brave enough to open its own app store and have a creative idea to sell music online without violating copyright. I have to say that such a great idea and great courage make these 2 apps so successful today.
Although these two applications may not be apps, they indeed changed the world. And they are one of the most successful products in the world.
========================Other things========================
After mid submission, finally we could have a sunday free to finish all the tutorials.
Aug 19, 2011
Water
Continue Watering~~~
=================CS3216=======================
Today is another coding day~~~ I did not hate it~~~ in fact sometimes it is pretty interesting.
Using 2 hours to discover a very very stupid bug... js is not always so great... it can not tell me some very simple syntax error...
xiangyun, so so so great, fast learner and good ui designer...
Now i think that it is possible for us to finish the assignment...
Today's lunch and dinner are very special and unexpected...
Thanks mingzhe and shaohuan...
================Other things===================
1. try to make someone sleep before 2am at least once in next 2 weeks...
2. have a free sunday to do my tutorials...
3. convince myself about the 3 door problem...
P.S. it is really lucky today that i suddenly remember to write the blog at 11:50~~~
=================CS3216=======================
Today is another coding day~~~ I did not hate it~~~ in fact sometimes it is pretty interesting.
Using 2 hours to discover a very very stupid bug... js is not always so great... it can not tell me some very simple syntax error...
xiangyun, so so so great, fast learner and good ui designer...
Now i think that it is possible for us to finish the assignment...
Today's lunch and dinner are very special and unexpected...
Thanks mingzhe and shaohuan...
================Other things===================
1. try to make someone sleep before 2am at least once in next 2 weeks...
2. have a free sunday to do my tutorials...
3. convince myself about the 3 door problem...
P.S. it is really lucky today that i suddenly remember to write the blog at 11:50~~~
Aug 18, 2011
watering 6
Continue watering......
==========================CS3216========================
Too busy today, got almost whole day lecture and whole night event.
Really sorry that did not do anything about 3216 today.
Anyway I will catch up later tonight....
=========================RVR Dance Party========================
Tonight I was so happy to be one of the organizers of RVR dance Party.
During the party time, I did dance with my friends. It seems my first time to join such party. Everyone enjoyed the party.
While dancing, I suddenly realize that my life should not be all about coding and maths. Although they are interesting, I should try out the other world. Try to know and experience all the different things and cultures. Now I regretted that I did not join the exchange program. I really should go out and experience different cultures. If I get such a chance in future, I think I would like to go to Germany or French.
It is already 10:30pm. I need to go back and clean the event venue.
Then I will be back and start coding ... A busy day~~~
==========================CS3216========================
Too busy today, got almost whole day lecture and whole night event.
Really sorry that did not do anything about 3216 today.
Anyway I will catch up later tonight....
=========================RVR Dance Party========================
Tonight I was so happy to be one of the organizers of RVR dance Party.
During the party time, I did dance with my friends. It seems my first time to join such party. Everyone enjoyed the party.
While dancing, I suddenly realize that my life should not be all about coding and maths. Although they are interesting, I should try out the other world. Try to know and experience all the different things and cultures. Now I regretted that I did not join the exchange program. I really should go out and experience different cultures. If I get such a chance in future, I think I would like to go to Germany or French.
It is already 10:30pm. I need to go back and clean the event venue.
Then I will be back and start coding ... A busy day~~~
Aug 17, 2011
Water 5
Watering~~~
==========================About CS3216============================
It seems that Prof Ben will really read every post.
If such a busy person could read every post, why can't I write a post every day to record my life of CS3216? In fact, everyone should try that as the best feedback to Prof Ben, isn't it~~~
Anyway, I almost coded for over 8 hours today same as my teammates...
Sad Story....
In the past 2 days, I tried to learn and use PHP. Luckily it could work. However it always has the auth error. I did hate that... Then the solution is to post signed_request every time when I change to a new php file.
As long as it works, I don't care about whether it is nice code or not at this moment.
But today, after discussion, we realize that js could provide really nice html design and animations.
Hence the whole php should integrate into js. During the integration, many errors occurred. Errors from facebook, errors from php and errors from js. Everywhere there could be an error.... Lucky we did not integrate with database now...
Finally, we gave up php and rewrite the code in js...
It seems that js is really better than php....
It also means that I need to spend another 2 days to learn js and the fql which does not look good.
==========================Other things===========================
printer fixed... I did not use my printer for about half year because of paper jam. today i have to call the service. How stupid i am ... really a "machine" idiot... (not according to the machine definition in three idiots)
three door problem is still confused me... hope that someone could finally give me a convincible explanation.
P.S. just realize that I can not code too much a day. It is better to code for 2 hours and do something else. otherwise, I will really get phd (permanent head damage... no offense to really PhD. )
==========================About CS3216============================
It seems that Prof Ben will really read every post.
If such a busy person could read every post, why can't I write a post every day to record my life of CS3216? In fact, everyone should try that as the best feedback to Prof Ben, isn't it~~~
Anyway, I almost coded for over 8 hours today same as my teammates...
Sad Story....
In the past 2 days, I tried to learn and use PHP. Luckily it could work. However it always has the auth error. I did hate that... Then the solution is to post signed_request every time when I change to a new php file.
As long as it works, I don't care about whether it is nice code or not at this moment.
But today, after discussion, we realize that js could provide really nice html design and animations.
Hence the whole php should integrate into js. During the integration, many errors occurred. Errors from facebook, errors from php and errors from js. Everywhere there could be an error.... Lucky we did not integrate with database now...
Finally, we gave up php and rewrite the code in js...
It seems that js is really better than php....
It also means that I need to spend another 2 days to learn js and the fql which does not look good.
==========================Other things===========================
printer fixed... I did not use my printer for about half year because of paper jam. today i have to call the service. How stupid i am ... really a "machine" idiot... (not according to the machine definition in three idiots)
three door problem is still confused me... hope that someone could finally give me a convincible explanation.
P.S. just realize that I can not code too much a day. It is better to code for 2 hours and do something else. otherwise, I will really get phd (permanent head damage... no offense to really PhD. )
Aug 16, 2011
Water 4
Still Watering~~~
========================About CS3216======================
Today one of the team member has almost settled the database schema and relative php function call. Although not sure whether these functions will perform well or not, still happy for the progress.
On my side, I used JQuery today without no knowledge about it...
Copy some code from other places and make adjustment in my php files.
Although it may not be efficient, it functions well.
Not sure whether I have time to learn JQuery or not, but I will try to use it anyway.
Now the front end almost 30% done~~~ Cheers~~~ Try to connect with database as soon as possible~~~
========================Other things=======================
Today I got my first lecture in uTown....
It indeed looked nice and had a really natural environment. We are very happy to see a mouse, Real Mouse, moving around the lecture theater. And the lecturer from German also looked very happy and took a video. Many of my classmates took photos of the cute mouse during the break~~~ What's more the cure little mouse slept on one of the students' shoe during the lecture time... It means that even a mouse does not like lecture :-P
Three door problem... Got confused again...
Sometimes probability is really evil...
========================About CS3216======================
Today one of the team member has almost settled the database schema and relative php function call. Although not sure whether these functions will perform well or not, still happy for the progress.
On my side, I used JQuery today without no knowledge about it...
Copy some code from other places and make adjustment in my php files.
Although it may not be efficient, it functions well.
Not sure whether I have time to learn JQuery or not, but I will try to use it anyway.
Now the front end almost 30% done~~~ Cheers~~~ Try to connect with database as soon as possible~~~
========================Other things=======================
Today I got my first lecture in uTown....
It indeed looked nice and had a really natural environment. We are very happy to see a mouse, Real Mouse, moving around the lecture theater. And the lecturer from German also looked very happy and took a video. Many of my classmates took photos of the cute mouse during the break~~~ What's more the cure little mouse slept on one of the students' shoe during the lecture time... It means that even a mouse does not like lecture :-P
Three door problem... Got confused again...
Sometimes probability is really evil...
Aug 15, 2011
Potentials
Although it is the second time to learn about the "Ben Potential Theory", I was still impressed.
To certain degree, I believe that it is a quite good theory and has a deep meaning. I am not sure where my potential is on the potential bar. Maybe up to now, I was always driven by the external forces (peer pressure, parents' hope and some of self pride). In fact, it seems that I never decided to do something from my heart even for learning maths. During spare time, I will read novels comics, watch movies, sleep and perhaps doing some sports. Maybe it is quite difficult for me to reach the intrinsic potential. However, it does not mean that I could not reach a full potential. It is still possible because sometimes external force will be enough for me. Unlike other guys who is so lucky to find their loving hobbies, I do not know what my hobbies are. However, if I keep learning and doing challenge topics, I will finally turn these topics into what I like, even hobbies, for example maths. I did not like maths when I was very young. However, after over 10 years' study, it has already become what I enjoyed.
In addition, I hope that I could remember "start easy, finish strong". It should be one of my goals for this module. I did not take CS3217 very seriously. Hence the result is "start easy and finish weak". I did not want the history to repeat... I hope after this semester, I will dare to say "start easy and finish strong".
P.S. Now I believe that Prof Ben will read every post. You really do not need to comment on every post.
P.S. We will try to come up with a good application...
===================Other things==========================
Set theory is really really deep..........
Everything is a set, function, relation, field, ring, group, vector spaces.....
All the important concepts are based on set. Now I know that set is important and really fundamental.
Cantor's diagonal argument is one of the most excellent designs of contradiction proof.
What if I took CS3231 and MA3205 together? Now my world has a clear separation between computer science and maths. When can I make this separation disappear? ai......
To certain degree, I believe that it is a quite good theory and has a deep meaning. I am not sure where my potential is on the potential bar. Maybe up to now, I was always driven by the external forces (peer pressure, parents' hope and some of self pride). In fact, it seems that I never decided to do something from my heart even for learning maths. During spare time, I will read novels comics, watch movies, sleep and perhaps doing some sports. Maybe it is quite difficult for me to reach the intrinsic potential. However, it does not mean that I could not reach a full potential. It is still possible because sometimes external force will be enough for me. Unlike other guys who is so lucky to find their loving hobbies, I do not know what my hobbies are. However, if I keep learning and doing challenge topics, I will finally turn these topics into what I like, even hobbies, for example maths. I did not like maths when I was very young. However, after over 10 years' study, it has already become what I enjoyed.
In addition, I hope that I could remember "start easy, finish strong". It should be one of my goals for this module. I did not take CS3217 very seriously. Hence the result is "start easy and finish weak". I did not want the history to repeat... I hope after this semester, I will dare to say "start easy and finish strong".
P.S. Now I believe that Prof Ben will read every post. You really do not need to comment on every post.
P.S. We will try to come up with a good application...
===================Other things==========================
Set theory is really really deep..........
Everything is a set, function, relation, field, ring, group, vector spaces.....
All the important concepts are based on set. Now I know that set is important and really fundamental.
Cantor's diagonal argument is one of the most excellent designs of contradiction proof.
What if I took CS3231 and MA3205 together? Now my world has a clear separation between computer science and maths. When can I make this separation disappear? ai......
Aug 14, 2011
Water 3
Today is a really very very busy day.
===================About CS3216======================
We spent the whole afternoon to further discuss about the ideas and try to come up the UI design frame as well as the data schema~~~
Maybe most of my teammates have less experience in web programming (same as me). It is happy to discuss with them and come up with the application. Freshness, sometimes is the best thing you could have. I learned many things from them and understood the logic more clearly.
It is really happy to see that our team is fast enough to start our project~~~ I really look forward to checking our final application~~~
===================About other things=====================
RA is really a heavy "job". We had meeting from 730 to 1130.....
But it is fun to work with other people and talk about the residential life. I am also happy to help organize the welcome fest for the new residents~~~
P.S. If I did not challenge myself to write a blog everyday, I will stay with other RAs and continue chatting with each other~~~
===================About CS3216======================
We spent the whole afternoon to further discuss about the ideas and try to come up the UI design frame as well as the data schema~~~
Maybe most of my teammates have less experience in web programming (same as me). It is happy to discuss with them and come up with the application. Freshness, sometimes is the best thing you could have. I learned many things from them and understood the logic more clearly.
It is really happy to see that our team is fast enough to start our project~~~ I really look forward to checking our final application~~~
===================About other things=====================
RA is really a heavy "job". We had meeting from 730 to 1130.....
But it is fun to work with other people and talk about the residential life. I am also happy to help organize the welcome fest for the new residents~~~
P.S. If I did not challenge myself to write a blog everyday, I will stay with other RAs and continue chatting with each other~~~
Aug 13, 2011
Water 2
Nothing to much and special to emphasize today.
====================About CS3216======================
Today we finished setting up the AWS account and getting an idea for Facebook application.
It is really happy to discuss the ideas with my teammates. Although the discussion continued until 6pm, it is really fun and makes me know about my teammates.
Tomorrow we need to come up with the draft of proposal and schema. Hopefully we could start as early as possible. We are not the best web programmers, learning will take a long time.
====================Other things=======================
Don't know why today I was so tired. After coming back from SoC, I just went to sleep. Almost forgot about watering the blogs~~~
====================About CS3216======================
Today we finished setting up the AWS account and getting an idea for Facebook application.
It is really happy to discuss the ideas with my teammates. Although the discussion continued until 6pm, it is really fun and makes me know about my teammates.
Tomorrow we need to come up with the draft of proposal and schema. Hopefully we could start as early as possible. We are not the best web programmers, learning will take a long time.
====================Other things=======================
Don't know why today I was so tired. After coming back from SoC, I just went to sleep. Almost forgot about watering the blogs~~~
Aug 12, 2011
Water 1
Explanation
All the posts named with water # will be a "free post", which means there are not too many things to say for that day, just write some random material.... Leave a record for that day...
===============About CS3216=================
Just start to read the FB notes... It is really a lot to read and more than a lot to do...
Start to be busy from tomorrow...
===============Other things===================
Fourier Transform is difficult, could hardly fully appreciate it...
Countability is a nice idea and it seems closed related with state machines...
Most memorable proof : R is uncountable set...
All the posts named with water # will be a "free post", which means there are not too many things to say for that day, just write some random material.... Leave a record for that day...
===============About CS3216=================
Just start to read the FB notes... It is really a lot to read and more than a lot to do...
Start to be busy from tomorrow...
===============Other things===================
Fourier Transform is difficult, could hardly fully appreciate it...
Countability is a nice idea and it seems closed related with state machines...
Most memorable proof : R is uncountable set...
Aug 11, 2011
First day of Year 4
CS3216 show and tell
It is amazing to see the CS3216 show and tell. I really have to say that everyone is talented. Computer science major does not imply that I am a good coder. After today's show and tell, I realized that everyone can be a very very good coder and come up with fantastic videos, apps and all the possible things.
I believe that it is no good to play computer games... Girls do not like games anyway. However, it was totally surprise to see the Warcraft presentation today. I am not sure how many coding evolved in order to come up with that video. However, I like the idea. At least, it attracted almost all the audiences when it was first shown (if this class has more girls, I do not believe it will have such good feedback). Anyway, their group picked the correct manner to attract audience~~~ really a brilliant idea~~~
In addition, the bank video is really professional. I tried some of the video editing before. It is really hard to come up such a nice video from scratches.
Should not forget the balanced cars. In fact, the presentation does not show the whole design as we all knew. However, as I was around SoC during the vacation, I know that he stayed in the lab for all most the whole month..... That is Passion!!!
P.S. Strongly recommend to use Aldrian's chatbox. It is very nice but also be noted that he could check all the messages~~~
After today's show, I feel a bit sad for myself. I really need to develop some random things to do when I was free or sad.... Most of the time, I will watch videos...
=======================other story of today========================
Today I wrote that I am passionate about maths. Prof Ben said that I need to take another semester to reform...
I am not sure how to check whether I was really passionate about maths. But I knew that among all the lectures, only the math lecture could make me smile from heart or the things related to maths. The reason is not that math lecturer is funny and interesting. It is the maths concept made me happy without reasons.
Today I had the first lecture in set theory. Sad to say that I did not expect too much from this course. Set, it is just too common to learn. It is a collection of similar objects --- definition from high school... However, surprisingly, the lecturer told us that "set does not have a definition, it is undefined, like you never define what is a number". I was totally surprised. Although all the other stuff he taught later were more or less known, I was still shocked by that sentence. I think he was right because set is the most basic concept of the whole mathematics. In that sense, there must be something undefined and can not be defined. Set is the fundamental concept of mathematics and logic, I guess. After learning some axioms about sets, I suddenly realized that some of the programming languages is kind of replicating the whole mathematics. NSObject, defined in iOS, it is the root object of all the objects. It just like the basic set concept and based on which recursion applied to create more objects. All the logic calculation is replicated by defining built in functions. Sets + Logic, they seem to form mathematics. Then all languages defined in this manner will be kind of replication of mathematics. Wow~~~ It is a huge work~~~ But anyway, I know that it could hardly be a complete replication because there are too many beautiful results could hardly be understood by 0s and 1s only.
Today I was really tired~~~ A whole day lecture. But it really fruitful and at least I did learn something~~~
P.S. I do not believe Prof Ben will read every post...
It is amazing to see the CS3216 show and tell. I really have to say that everyone is talented. Computer science major does not imply that I am a good coder. After today's show and tell, I realized that everyone can be a very very good coder and come up with fantastic videos, apps and all the possible things.
I believe that it is no good to play computer games... Girls do not like games anyway. However, it was totally surprise to see the Warcraft presentation today. I am not sure how many coding evolved in order to come up with that video. However, I like the idea. At least, it attracted almost all the audiences when it was first shown (if this class has more girls, I do not believe it will have such good feedback). Anyway, their group picked the correct manner to attract audience~~~ really a brilliant idea~~~
In addition, the bank video is really professional. I tried some of the video editing before. It is really hard to come up such a nice video from scratches.
Should not forget the balanced cars. In fact, the presentation does not show the whole design as we all knew. However, as I was around SoC during the vacation, I know that he stayed in the lab for all most the whole month..... That is Passion!!!
P.S. Strongly recommend to use Aldrian's chatbox. It is very nice but also be noted that he could check all the messages~~~
After today's show, I feel a bit sad for myself. I really need to develop some random things to do when I was free or sad.... Most of the time, I will watch videos...
=======================other story of today========================
Today I wrote that I am passionate about maths. Prof Ben said that I need to take another semester to reform...
I am not sure how to check whether I was really passionate about maths. But I knew that among all the lectures, only the math lecture could make me smile from heart or the things related to maths. The reason is not that math lecturer is funny and interesting. It is the maths concept made me happy without reasons.
Today I had the first lecture in set theory. Sad to say that I did not expect too much from this course. Set, it is just too common to learn. It is a collection of similar objects --- definition from high school... However, surprisingly, the lecturer told us that "set does not have a definition, it is undefined, like you never define what is a number". I was totally surprised. Although all the other stuff he taught later were more or less known, I was still shocked by that sentence. I think he was right because set is the most basic concept of the whole mathematics. In that sense, there must be something undefined and can not be defined. Set is the fundamental concept of mathematics and logic, I guess. After learning some axioms about sets, I suddenly realized that some of the programming languages is kind of replicating the whole mathematics. NSObject, defined in iOS, it is the root object of all the objects. It just like the basic set concept and based on which recursion applied to create more objects. All the logic calculation is replicated by defining built in functions. Sets + Logic, they seem to form mathematics. Then all languages defined in this manner will be kind of replication of mathematics. Wow~~~ It is a huge work~~~ But anyway, I know that it could hardly be a complete replication because there are too many beautiful results could hardly be understood by 0s and 1s only.
Today I was really tired~~~ A whole day lecture. But it really fruitful and at least I did learn something~~~
P.S. I do not believe Prof Ben will read every post...
Aug 10, 2011
... new semester...
Today I suddenly realized that new semester is really really coming.
After checking IVLE, I wanted to cry already, there are several assignments due in next 2 weeks. ......... Really got too many things to do now.... Bye my dear summer vacations~~~
=========================side note====================
From AAA to AA+
Several days ago, S&P downgraded US government rating from AAA to AA+. The stock markets followed the bad news moving down. Later, after US government made some announcement and promised to take actions in future, all the stock indexes went up.
Is this the beginning of the new financial crisis? What will happen in the next 12 months?
2012 may not be the real last day of human beings. But it is possible to be the nightmare of the financial world.....
After checking IVLE, I wanted to cry already, there are several assignments due in next 2 weeks. ......... Really got too many things to do now.... Bye my dear summer vacations~~~
=========================side note====================
From AAA to AA+
Several days ago, S&P downgraded US government rating from AAA to AA+. The stock markets followed the bad news moving down. Later, after US government made some announcement and promised to take actions in future, all the stock indexes went up.
Is this the beginning of the new financial crisis? What will happen in the next 12 months?
2012 may not be the real last day of human beings. But it is possible to be the nightmare of the financial world.....
Aug 9, 2011
what I hope to learn in CS3216
It is quite a typical "Ben" type of question to be answered at the beginning of each semester. Although I do not like it at all, it makes me clear that vacation is over and before taking any module, I have to make my goal clear.
Why do I take CS3216 should be the question answered before what I hope to learn in this module. Anyway in case the blog goes to long, I will list what I hope to learn in this module first and followed by the reasons.
What I want to learn from this module?
1. Business idea. What is the best way to promote an application? What is the business opinion towards an application? How to evaluate an application? Not sure whether I will learn all about this. But I think I will at least find some clues.
(difficulty level: possible to hit part of the goal, very unlikely to make all the questions clear.
overall difficulty level: 90/100)
2. Challenge again~~~ Without any doubt, CS3216 is a huge challenge to me, to my time management skill. Not sure whether I could survive and how I finally survive.
(difficulty level: I will survive almost for sure. But not sure whether I will be happy with the way I survived from this module.
overall difficulty level: 99/100)
3. Be a good coder that at least I could satisfy with myself.
(difficulty level:I could hardly satisfy with my coding skill in future
overall difficulty level: 200/100)
4. Hope that I could write a blog everyday, no need to be so long, even a word will work. Test for myself .....
(difficulty level: self-control is always the problem......
overall difficulty level: 0/0 )
5. I do not like facebook because it is kind of wasting time. However, it is useful in the sense of information passing. Hence maybe after this module, I hope that I could like facebook a bit....
(difficulty level: should be easy to achieve. anyway I need to use facebook more often in future.
overall difficulty level: 0/1 )
Why do I take CS3216?
1. Honestly speaking, satisfy my major requirement, no other choice.
2. To be a better coder. (Maybe I should have already achieved that goal when I finished CS3217. However, up to now, it is still hard to convince myself that I am a good coder. Hence it will still be one of important reasons)
3. To be different. Use the knowledge from different fields and integrate them.
4. To learn business. Sad story that my team did not get the prize for iCreate Competition. There are several reasons. Two outstanding reasons are
1). I am not a good coder. I did not try my best to product a user-friendly and bug-free application.
2). I have no idea about marketing. Sometimes, appearance (UI) says louder than functionality.
Hence I have to take this module, to learn from the industry people to see their ideas and options toward one application product.
Why do I take CS3216 should be the question answered before what I hope to learn in this module. Anyway in case the blog goes to long, I will list what I hope to learn in this module first and followed by the reasons.
What I want to learn from this module?
1. Business idea. What is the best way to promote an application? What is the business opinion towards an application? How to evaluate an application? Not sure whether I will learn all about this. But I think I will at least find some clues.
(difficulty level: possible to hit part of the goal, very unlikely to make all the questions clear.
overall difficulty level: 90/100)
2. Challenge again~~~ Without any doubt, CS3216 is a huge challenge to me, to my time management skill. Not sure whether I could survive and how I finally survive.
(difficulty level: I will survive almost for sure. But not sure whether I will be happy with the way I survived from this module.
overall difficulty level: 99/100)
3. Be a good coder that at least I could satisfy with myself.
(difficulty level:I could hardly satisfy with my coding skill in future
overall difficulty level: 200/100)
4. Hope that I could write a blog everyday, no need to be so long, even a word will work. Test for myself .....
(difficulty level: self-control is always the problem......
overall difficulty level: 0/0 )
5. I do not like facebook because it is kind of wasting time. However, it is useful in the sense of information passing. Hence maybe after this module, I hope that I could like facebook a bit....
(difficulty level: should be easy to achieve. anyway I need to use facebook more often in future.
overall difficulty level: 0/1 )
Why do I take CS3216?
1. Honestly speaking, satisfy my major requirement, no other choice.
2. To be a better coder. (Maybe I should have already achieved that goal when I finished CS3217. However, up to now, it is still hard to convince myself that I am a good coder. Hence it will still be one of important reasons)
3. To be different. Use the knowledge from different fields and integrate them.
4. To learn business. Sad story that my team did not get the prize for iCreate Competition. There are several reasons. Two outstanding reasons are
1). I am not a good coder. I did not try my best to product a user-friendly and bug-free application.
2). I have no idea about marketing. Sometimes, appearance (UI) says louder than functionality.
Hence I have to take this module, to learn from the industry people to see their ideas and options toward one application product.
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