The story of the Design Challenge!

It all started with an email from Kirti di, one of my IIT Guwahati seniors, to four of us, erstwhile IITG design students. The mail had a link to the forum Nokia-USID Design Challenge 2009. And said “Are you interested in repeating history?”.

There is a sense of déjà vu about the five of us getting together and a Design Challenge. It brings back sweet memories from three years back, when we, the five girls of the Design Department at IITG, (Sharmistha, Kirti, Divya, Ityam and I) spent two evenings and a night on the entry for the Kyocera All India Competition. An experience that was a matter of three days, one “night-out”, a lot of memorable moments and finally, The All India First Prize!

Three years had passed since then, and a lot has changed. The five of us are now located in three different continents! One member has moved on to a different profession altogether. However, being the ambitious and enthusiastic lot that we had always been, we finally formed a team of four for this competition (Sharmistha di was traveling at that time and not able to join us, she kept supporting us throughout nevertheless. ).

It was an interesting team, with two members in the US and two in India, spanning four different cities and three time zones! Finally, all those “academic” discussions on online-collaborations were to come to life!

On the other hand, close at home, formed a rival team comprising my room-mate cum “ex” classmate (It’s so hard to keep in mind that we’ve graduated already) Priyanka, and Mukul, another IITG friend of mine, located in India. Since the competition rules wouldn’t allow more than four team members in a team, there was no way for all of us to collaborate. Together, we formed an interesting pair of teams. No two members of either team were at the same place. However, members of rival teams were co-located either as room-mates (Priyanka and I) or as colleagues (Ityam and Mukul).

What followed was a three weeks long stretch of long meetings on Skype and Google chat, at times, combating very erratic internet connectivity. Not to forget the hilarious incidences of my “competitor” and I having Skype meetings in the same room with our respective teams, and getting involved in each other’s team conversations in the process. Of course, we kept saying that we are rivals after all and do not intend to co-operate, while at the same time shared user interview data and participated in each others’ productions.

For what was the foundation of this collaboration, the internet did pose to our team, challenges serious enough to potentially dampen anyone’s spirit (It’s another matter that it couldn’t dampen ours ). There was hardly ever a ten minutes stretch of communication without at least one of the four getting dropped out.

A special mention must be made of Divya, who participated actively with a connection that wouldn’t let her download Skype and at times, even log into Gmail!! I am sure she had to spend more time in making relentless attempts to send files across to us than in actually making them…amazing endurance!!

The most surprising aspect that came out of the whole experience was how little the three years and the different directions we had pursued had changed things between us. The frequent connection failures notwithstanding, gelling together as a team and sharing ideas had rarelyever been so effortless. From deciding on meeting times that worked for the three vastly disparate zones, to building up on one another’s ideas and work over long distance (the wiki was immensely useful, thanks Kirti di!), very few teams that I have been part of have had members complementing one another this seamlessly.

To my awesome team: we should get together more often, looking forward to the next competition. And yes, there seems to be a growing consensus that the two “rival” teams should merge sometime (and co-operate legitimately). Let’s start looking for competitions that permit a team size of six.

The Indian Independence Day…CMU style!

With the sheer magnitude of the Indian student body here, it’s doesn’t come as a surprise that Carnegie Mellon should have its own tradition of celebrating August 15. What makes it special is that it ties in to CMU’s very own Fence.

The Fence, as it stands now is the concrete re-incarnation of the original wooden structure, right in the middle of the campus grass (known as The Cut). Being strategically located to attract attention of all commuters, The Fence serves as the university “bill-board” for students, frequently painted in order to display a slogan, publicize an upcoming event celebrate an occasion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Mellon_University_traditions).

The Fence in 2008, painted as a tribute to Randy Pausch

On the eve of every August 15, this fence gets painted in tricolor hues by a group of Indian students from Carnegie Mellon and the neighboring University of Pittsburgh. Interesting and seamless blend of two very diverse customs! Sure, it makes CMU feel more “homely” to all its Indian members

The Fence as it was last night (Source: http://im-a-believer.blogspot.com/2009/08/independence-day-celebrations-at.html)

Of the power called Anonymity!

“Sometimes talking to a stranger brings a fresh perspective to life” ….a line from the movie “Mitr” that I just happened to watch. One of those rare movie lines that make you pause to think.

So ironically true, how not being aware of the other person’s identity can facilitate easier communication. How, at times, a screen of anonymity and a “safe distance” makes communication so much more empowering and liberating…and yes!! What a boon the internet is to facilitate it all!

It’s not my purpose here to get into the details of the movie and its context. Rather it’s the underlying theme of “anonymity fostering communication” that struck a chord. I don’t know for how many of us the online medium has emerged as the primary tool of communication, the number is substantial.  Kudos to the medium that has gone on to become the ground to express- to no one in particular- all that we could not communicate with the people we meet everyday. Hail all those forums and blogs that have become the sole channel of expressing thoughts and ideas which would otherwise have found no audience.

Why is this internet afforded anonymity, complete or partial, so empowering? Is it mere escapism? About wanting a way to express thoughts without having to be associated with it?

I guess it is more about a desire to create an identity solely on the basis of one’s thoughts and ideas. To have complete control over how much about us people get to know. To be perceived and judged only based on what we chooses to share in a blog/forum free from any pre-conceived notion and biases about the person…akin to famous writers resorting to pseudonyms! And yes, a world where people are identified only by virtue of the thoughts they share is very close to a perfect world. All for the great leveler called the internet!

That’s not to overlook the downside of this easy anonymity as manifested by the growing instances of online flaming, but I’ll rather not ruin the spirit of this post with any more on that. For now I am glad this movie made me realize once again, how fortunate I am to be living in this age of “user controlled” internet affording free speech like never before!! And how I would have never thought of writing this article had it not been for a blessing called the blog.

“Sometimes talking to a stranger brings a fresh perspective to life” ….a line from the movie “Mitr, My Friend” (Originally Enlish and Tamil, 2002) that I just happened to watch. One of those rare movie lines that make you pause to think.

So ironically true, how not being aware of the other persons’ identity (and not revealing your own) can make sharing thoughts easier. And we always thought familiarity is a requisite for communication!  How, at times, a “screen” of anonymity and a “safe distance” makes it so much more empowering and liberating…and yes!! What a boon the internet is to facilitate it all!

It’s not my purpose here to get into the details of the movie and its context. Rather it’s the underlying theme of “anonymity fostering communication” that struck a chord. I don’t know for how many of us the online medium has emerged as the primary tool of communication, but the number is substantial.  Kudos to the medium that has gone on to become the ground to express- to no one in particular- all that we could not express to the people we meet everyday. Hail all those forums and blogs that have become the sole channel of expressing thoughts and ideas which would otherwise have found no audience.

Why is this internet afforded anonymity, complete or partial, so empowering? Is it mere escapism? About wanting a way to express thoughts without having to be associated with it?

I guess it is more about a desire to create an identity solely on the basis of our thoughts and ideas. To have complete control over how much and what about us people get to know. To be perceived and judged only based on what we choose to share in a blog/forum free from any pre-conceived notion and biases about the person…akin to famous writers resorting to pseudonyms! And yes, a world where people are identified only by virtue of their thoughts  is indeed very close to a perfect world. All for the great leveler called the internet!

That’s not to overlook the downside of this easy anonymity as manifested by the growing instances of online flaming, but I’ll rather not ruin the spirit of this post with any more on that. For now I am glad this movie made me realize once again, how fortunate I am to be living in this era of “user controlled” internet affording free speech like never before!! And how I would have never thought of writing this article had it not been for a blessing called the blog.

Convocation over…it’s back to classes!!

My Convocation (or Commencement as they call it here) at CMU today was special due to a bunch of different reasons. 

Firstly, it happened with an entire term still to go. So the next day, I need to get back to classes. Amidst the entire School of Computer Science Community in the Carnegie Music Hall, we, the MHCI students walked up on the stage to ceremoniously receive the degree that is due to us only in August. Well, this is what it looks like for the time being:

One of my friends had a rare distinction of receiving her Bachelors and Masters degrees on the same day…interesting fallouts of an academic system with a tremendous amount of flexibility.

 

Secondly, attending a convocation eight months into a program is a strange feeling. This day as everyone who went on-stage talked about all the wonderful and unique experiences that up the essence of CMU, it was a moment of pride of belonging to this fraternity and at the same time a queer realization that I never really had the chance to explore it fully. Perhaps a little unfair to usher someone into a place like this and give only a year to make the most out of it.

Thirdly, in this fast paced crash course like program, it was a moment to pause and realize how amazing the people here have been and how truly cherishable they have made my stay here.

Not to forget, one of the high-points of the ceremony…….an incredible bagpipe performance by a robot from our own Robotics Institute….trademark Carnegie Mellon! And yes…the loud roar when Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, the Keynote  Speaker for this occasion summed it up by saying “I want you to remember that everything you touch (computers, mobile phones and other digital devices) was probably invented by a computer scientist that came from Carnegie Mellon”!!! 

Here’s the entire address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX6soj3g9zs 

Proud to belong here and looking forward to the last term before I actually graduate.My Convocation (or Commencement as they call it here) at CMU today was special due to a bunch of different reasons. 

My Convocation (or Commencement as they call it here) at CMU today was special due to a bunch of different reasons. 

Firstly, it happened with an entire term still to go. So tomorrow, we get back to classes. Amidst the entire School of Computer Science Community in the Carnegie Music Hall, we, the MHCI students walked up on the stage to ceremoniously receive a degree that is due to us only in August. Well, here’s what it looks like for the time being:

The tentative degree

One of my friends had a rare distinction of receiving her Bachelors and Masters degrees on the same day…interesting fallouts of an academic system with a tremendous amount of flexibility.

Secondly, attending a convocation eight months into a program is a strange feeling. This day as everyone who went on-stage talked about all the wonderful and unique experiences that sum up the essence of CMU, it was a moment of pride of belonging to this fraternity and at the same time a queer realization that I never really had the chance to explore it fully. Perhaps a little unfair to usher someone into a place like this and give only a year to make the most out of it.

Thirdly, in this fast paced crash course like program, it was a moment to pause and realize how amazing the people here have been and how truly cherishable they have made the CMU experience.

Not to forget, one of the high-points of the ceremony…….an incredible bagpipe performance by a robot from our own Robotics Institute ….trademark Carnegie Mellon!

Bagpiper Robot

And yes…the loud roar when Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, the Keynote  Speaker for this occasion said “I want you to remember that everything you touch (referring to computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and other devices) was probably invented by a computer scientist that came from Carnegie Mellon”!!! 

Here’s the link to the entire address, an unusually engaging speech for a Commencement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX6soj3g9zs 

Proud to belong here and looking forward to the last three months before I actually graduate.

To India…..a billion people!!

A few moments. Two Oscars.
For someone who years back, had reached a stature that no award or recognition can match upto.
For fifteen years has been spelling a magic that no accolades can measure.

I am not sure if, to me, the pre-fix “Academy Award Winner” really adds anything to the name already synonymous with all things immeasurable and everlasting.

But the award gains its meaning at another level, as a bridge that connects Rahman’s music to more people across the world.
As a milestone in his journey to create a truly universal bond.

This moment is perhaps, most meaningful for all those across the world who had so long been oblivious to the treasure of his music, and for whom the Oscars are a gateway to start experiencing the divine bliss.
To all those who will start taking notice of his work after this day, it is truly a day to remember and be thankful for.

What made February 22nd 2009 really special was not the twin Oscars but one man’s unaffected humility that made him greater than the honor itself. The Oscar Stage at the Kodak Theatre was graced by the presence of  A.R. Rahman!

On “humanizing” interaction

The Spring Term of MHCI is pretty much all about frequent role-switching between a student and a professional, with a typical day featuring activities ranging from writing discussion posts on the state of the art Online Communication Tools to innumerable group meetings and teleconferencing with the clients of a project. Not to forget the snow-laden Pittsburgh roads and the occasional blizzards that characterize these months here.

While the fast paced and eventful nature of the program makes each day a worthy experience, one flipside is that it leaves you with so much food for thought and so little time to mull over it. How I wish I could take some of my courses in a different setting that would make room for more “exclusive” attention. One year is really short!

One such issue that has been on my mind lately is from a series of readings and classroom discussions on Computer Mediated Communication. There has been this constant quest to get Human Computer Interaction (HCI) as closely aligned to natural, human-human interaction as possible. To virtually simulate the “real world” experience. Although with so many of us increasingly spending so much more time interacting with devices than with people, I am not sure if this notion of “real world” still holds ground.

Well, on the same line, there seems to be this inclination to model distance communication via computers on the lines of face to face interaction. For what might have started as a mere substitute of direct face to face interaction, online communication tools like e-mail and Instant Message seem to have come a long way. To have created norms and behaviors of their own. The constraint, they say is, the lack of richness which defines face to face interaction – no tone, no expression (except for a set of emoticons). So is that really a limitation which needs to be eliminated? Haven’t we at times (rather, many a times) used it to our advantage? Preferred to mail rather than talk just to avoid meeting someone? Or because it is so much easier to be pleasant and polite over an e-mail than in person when we are not in a mood? Why is it that so many people who hardly make their voices heard in face to face discussions are such active contributors in online discussion forums? Hasn’t talking to a “faceless” icon often proved so much more comfortable? When it is so important to want to keep that distance with the people we interact with, in order to communicate effectively, isn’t it wonderful to have a tool to do just that? Is it then worth losing this upper hand of online communication in an attempt to ape the “real world” ?

Not surprisingly, quite a few people in the class seem to think likewise.

It raises a more inherent question though. Are we in some sense progressively getting more comfortable with devices than with people? To the extent of at times wanting to use devices as a “shield” in inter-personal communication? Well if that is to be believed, it could pave way for a drastic change in the very definition of a “natural” interaction. Just wondering…would we then, sometime in the future be looking at modeling human-human interaction on the lines of HCI?

Happy Birthday to the Musical Marvel

It’s January 6th again. The Birthday of that one man who has been a relentless source of strength, inspiration and happiness over all these years. I won’t re-iterate what I have written so many times about the divine quality of his music. I’ll rather take this opportunity to say a few things about what his music has meant to me personally.
As I had described in a post before, Rahman, in a very sublime way makes fusion seem like the most natural form of music. As though the vast diversities of genres and styles were born to be integrated, to blend together. Creating a kind of music that truly cuts across barriers, that represents the world in its entirety.

From tunes that fit two or more diverse languages (sometimes as diverse as Chinese, English and Hindi!) so perfectly as if they were composed for each of them individually, to never-heard before bits of sound from across the globe that in the course of time become our very own, there is one inherent message that his brand of music has been constantly emphasizing on. That perhaps, the differences aren’t so different after all, that at one level, the entire world and its people are connected.
A little inexplicably, this is what had made my transitions into distant places like China and the US so much easier without ever letting me get disconnected from India. The underlying similarities of the seemingly different people is what emerged as the most striking experience.
At another level, it redefined the notion of “home” for me. Why else would a language that I don’t understand give me this sense of anchorage in a far off land? It’s strange how the sound of spoken Tamizh words on the streets of Pittsburgh (which is pretty common by the way ) epitomize the “at home feel” for me; not just because it’s Indian, but because it’s the language of MY kind of music…been so for years!! More strangely, now if I land up in a part of India that I have never been to before, the sense of familiarity and belonging would just be the same. Talk of the unifying power of music!
Thank you Maestro, for bringing to life all those experiences which otherwise would have remained mere obscure words, heard or read somewhere. Looking forward to many more years of those priceless gems.

And yes, for the past few days, I have been completely addicted to “Mausam and Escape” from Slumdog Millionaire….amazing use of Sitar, some three minutes of pure heaven. Once again scaling unforseen heights of musical brilliance!!

More pics…

Some day time pics along the way to Niagara courtesy Sindhuja’s cam.

 

 

A New Year Eve by the Niagara

Well, this time I’ll rather let the images do most of the the talking. A few to start with, more to follow.It’s just some memoirs from a one day trip marked by a few rather fleeting glimpses (couldn’t afford more, thanks to the freezing temperatures) of the majestic Niagara Falls, the spectacular lighting and fireworks that characterize New Year eve there, long drives on snow laden roads making for a picturesque landscape all along (will put up those pics in the next post) with Rahman’s divine music playing, and a bunch of companions who were such a pleasure to be with, being so much in touch with the finer sides of life. Well, this needs a special mention since it’s not everyday that I come across people who can explain in words what exactly it is that makes my favourite songs so special.

And yes, let’s not forget the delicious Indian food that was a highlight of the trip

The winter chills and the mounds of snow that had to be waded through did take away some of the charm but overall, it was an immensely cherishable trip.

So here are a few glimpses of the Niagara on the eve of 2009.

The Niagara on the New Year Eve

Canada on the other side

A bright beam on the Falls

New Year Lighting

The serene Lake Erie

A story contd…

And then came the day of Vidya’s departure. She still remembers the look on Chithra’s face when she told her about it. She was happy for her of course, but deep within she was aware, it meant the end of their joint venture. So much said..in so few words.

What could Vidya have done? Someday she had to make a choice. And when she returns to India, they could always start from where they had left…..well this was wishful thinking for so many reasons. Firstly, the day was not in immediate sight, secondly nothing stays still for so long. She would probably not find Chithra at all when she went back.

The first few months of her stay in New York were like living a dream. She was of course as oblivious to her surroundings as expected, with the office, the labs and her apartment forming the periphery of her existence. But ironically, she had never felt so connected to the people back in India as she did now. The geographical distance had, in a strange way brought her closer to the land that was hers. The destination of course, was nowhere in sight, but the sense of moving in a direction that would help build the India of her dreams….well that alone was worth it all!

So days went by, and amidst all the busy, intriguing work and single-minded determination, the memories of an unfulfilled promise kept creeping up in Vidya’s mind. A void, an emptiness, a sense of having left a part of herself behind. Of a budding friendship with a singer by the sea that had to be snapped before it could blossom.

A few more months later, on one lonely New York night when she was browsing the internet randomly, she came across something that caught her imagination. It was an online musical collaboration site where people at different locations created music and performed them collaboratively. All recording, mixing and production online, here was a delocalized music band that had never met!

And the result was to be heard to be believed! Vidya instantly realized how thoughtless she had been to believe that mere distance could bar her from doing what she wanted. It was the moment of inspiration she had waited for all these days.

A phone call to Chithra and a few moments of sharing the new found excitement, and there they were, nurturing the long cherished dream!

Each day had a newfound meaning, a new dimension now. When Vidya returned home at night, she couldn’t wait to check for the sound files Chithra had recorded and sent to her. Exploring the sound waves that created such exotic patterns on her laptop monitor and adding on her own bits to them soon became her fascination. One sang, the other played, and then they were blended in unison, all over long distance. Separated in time and space, they now shared a bond that went beyond both dimensions.

The music they made together brought to Vidya’s apartment a whiff of the sea from the land she belongs to …..every single day. A softly blowing breeze and Chithra’s mellifluous voice from a few yards away.

Physical distance had been rendered meaningless. Yet again.

P.S. The story draws inspiration from the concept of Blogswara.