From the link above you can download LavaBall.exe, the game I created with Game Maker.

Creating a game in a development environment like Game Maker is very easy but also give you a look at Object Oriented Programming from a practical standpoint.  You can directly see how the objects you create can be manipulated and setup in many ways.  Through the object properties you can assign methods known as “actions” and “events” and can set how the object appears on the screen and its behavior.  The game can be driven on the methods you set for your objects.  Even though there was no actual coding required to create this game, the lesson in objects was valuable.  I first had to create a “sprite” for the object, which I would call a property in OO terms.  This property defined how the objects would appear when entering the game world.  I also had to create methods for this object.  Once method was the create method.  This is what happens with the game starts and an instance of the object is placed in the world.  Specifically this object when placed in the game world begins to be affected by gravity, pulling to toward the lava.  Other methods for the object I created were bouncing off the walls, being clicked by the mouse and landing in the lava ultimately ending the game.   I enjoyed this exercise and I’ll definetly look more into Game Maker and its more advanced features.

Jobs I am interested in:

Network Administrator – This is my current profession.  I enjoy it because it emcompasses a very broad range of challenges and keeps all of my skills sharp.  I certainly don’t get board and there is something new every day.  It is a constant learning experience.

Database Administrator – As the sole IT person for a medium sized company I have to be able to handle a great many tasks.  One of these is administrating a few company databases.  Since I have been with this company I have learned much about databases and database interopability.  I think this could also be an enjoyable job.

Computer Programmer – Over the years I have learned many programming languages including Fortran, Basic, C++, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Java and Pascal.  I enjoy the logic behind programming and I like creating useful applications.  I don’t think I’d like to work on a very large project with a large team, but small projects would be good.

These jobs all seem to have salaries in a similar range but the amount of experience would make a big difference.  I have the most experience as a Network Administrator so that would be the best choice for me.

I think display technology was a huge milestone in how we compute today.  Before the computer could represent data and idea in graphical format the uses of computers was very limited.  I think the next big step was the graphical user interface.  This allowed a much more intuitive approach to computing for the average person.  A future trend I see for an average user is the increased power and flexibility of handheld computers.  While it may not affect computer enthusiasts, who undoubtedly will use handheld computer in addition to regular dekstop computers, I think it will slowly fade the casual user away from desktops.
2. The computer and IT industries have rapidly emerged as a global economic force in the last twenty years. What benefits and drawbacks does this rapid growth have for our culture? Do you think this growth should be slowed?

The benefits of this growth are apparent in nearly everything we do today.  Computers are everywhere and in almost everything we use.  They make things faster, easier and even possible.  A draw-back I can think of is privacy concerns and the same devices that make life easier for use can be used by others to make life harder for us.  I don’t think it is ever beneficial to artificially stunt innovative growth.

3. Compare computer professions to other professions such as the law, medicine, teaching, etc. in terms of working conditions, educational preparation, salaries, and social status. Consider why you are attracted to the computing professions and discuss what would provide the incentive for you to be successful in an IT field.

I think computer professionals have a pretty good salary to educational/monetary investment ratio compared to lawyers and doctors.  It certainly is much more appealing and challenging to me to learn while working with the computers I love as opposed to volumes of books that are boring and bland.  As far as working conditions go, I think computer professionals for the most part have it great, unless you have to work long hours.  My biggest incentive for entering the IT field was that it was first my hobby and still love to do it.

Now for some photoshop fun:

1) The only time I recall having a problem with a legitimately purchased product was when I bought a computer game that used a keycode to allow installation of the game.  In this particular case the keycode was not placed in the place the game documentation described.  However, after a flipping out for a short while I found the key hidden on the second to last page of the manual.

2) I think iTunes does a good job of balancing end-user flexibility with copywrite holder protections.  In most cases end users can move the songs to their portable players for use.

3) I do think DRM technologies are justified.  However they need to be implemented in a very visible way to the end user and still provide the flexibility that end-users demand of purchased products.

Objects encountered in the game:

Desktop Tower Defense 1.5

1) Language Menu - Here you choose the language the game text is displayed in.

2) Main Menu – This is where you select the game difficulty and type.

3) Tower Icons – You can click these to purchase defense towers and place them on the playing field.

4) Creeps – Once the first level begins multiple creeps will come out of the entrances and your towers have to kill them all before they get to the exits.

5) Next level button – You can use this button to send the next level of creeps early to add to your score.

6) In-Game Command Buttons – These can be used to restart the game or set sound volume.

7) Voices – When the creeps launch each level they say, “Let’s go”

8) Sound Effects – When your towers shoot at the creeps they make various sounds and when the creeps are killed they let out a little “ouch”.

1) I get frustrated every time I turn on a windows computer.  Here we have a multi-tasking operating system with sometimes multiple processors and I still have to wait from background programs to load before I can start using the system.  I suppose Microsoft hasn’t figured out how to give the user the first priority on resources.

2) It depends on the nature of the task.  Complicated tasks require complicated programs.  I person at least needs a good fundamental understanding of a program before they use it.  I think programs that perform basic tasks could be made easy to use by everyone.

3) I think this is possible.  Programmers often wait to the last to program user interfaces and generally are more concerned with the program running correctly than making the interface easy to understand.

Also, what do you think of the Computer User’s Bill of Rights?

I think it is cute, but ultimately a user has the right to use whatever software/hardware they want, so in most cases they are the cause of their own frustration.  The always have the right not to use a computer or a specific application.

How would you like to see technology used in your courses? Do you think games and/or simulations or blogs or wikis could be used effectively in courses?

I think games and simulations provide a very useful visual learning environment.  Visual learning seems to be the most effective for most people.  Blogs and wikis are good for references and sharing ideas as well.  They seem to help in areas that classmates can help in traditional learning environments.

Some strategies a company could consider would be to fine tune their market niche to be the best in a specific area, or to attract top notch people and keep them onboard by providing better insentives to work for them, or to forsee economic downturns or booms and plan accordingly ahead of time to be in a better position to take advantage of either situation.  Most mission statements are pretty direct and simple, if the organizations goals have drifted over time for good reason, then the mission statement may need to be updated, otherwise getting back to the plan would be a good thing.

2. The decision to create an information system is sometimes driven by new technology “that is, new hardware or software that makes it possible to automate a system or process” while others are driven by users’ the people who will ultimately use the information system. What are the pros and cons of each approach?

If utilizing new technologies can be a cost effective and produce higher profits then that would certainly be a pro.  However, due to the nature of technology, cutting edge innovations can sometimes be poorly implemented or expensive.  If a company isn’t careful they could dump alot of money and resources into a failed or marginally useful outcome when they could have waited a short time and acquired the same technology but cheaper and more useable.  User driven innovation I think is the most effective approach.  If there is a need from a user standpoint then clearly there is room for improvement.  The need has presented itself and the benefits are obvious.  If the solution can be reached with a reasonable price tag, then it has to be the best choice as long as it makes the company more profitable.

3. Recall a time when you were frustrated by the way a program or operating system was functioning. How did you solve the problem? For example, did you use a help desk, user manual, or solve the problem on your own? Could the design of the program or operating system itself cause the problem? If so, what changes would you recommend to make the solution to your problem more obvious.

In my line of work I deal with frustrating problems every day with operating systems and software.  It is my job to fix these issues and it is pretty rare when the operator is actually at fault, so manuals are often useless in these situations.  Sometimes calling a vendor can be beneficial, but unless you have hours to sit on a phone and wait to finally be put in touch with someone that can actually help, it seems best to fix it yourself.  I think the biggest problem is poorly written and barely tested software.  Many times simply providing a more descriptive error message can mean the difference between a few minutes of troubleshooting and several hours.

4. Some users have suggested that user documentation should be developed before the system, and then used as the blueprint for system design. How would this approach change the development process and the system itself?

I think in many ways this approach would be beneficial.  It would aid in the development of the system by forcing a consistent approach to each development of each module.   It would also give the end system a more consitent look and feel to the end user as the manual could be written by a single team of people covering all aspects of the system.

I think it is a parents obligation to filter what their children see and do on the Internet.  Children aren’t emotionally or mentally developed enough to be exposed to much of the content on the Internet.  However I do think the responsibility falls on the parents to make sure their children aren’t seeing this content and not on others or the government to censor it.

As a tool of freedom I don’t think the Internet should ever be censored or filtered.  I certainly don’t think any particular entity should be in charge of policing it either.  Whose ethics or morals should be used to filter the content?  Why would they be right compared to anyone else?  People have the right to not view whatever they don’t feel is appropriate.  We don’t have the right to tell someone else what is or isn’t appropriate for them.

With all this said, if content on an Internet site is in violation of local laws where it is hosted, then I think it is appropriate for local law enforcement to shut the site down.  If someone is committing a crime by engaging in activities on the Internet that are illegal where they reside, then obviously they can be prosecuted.  It is unfortunate that in other countries things we take for granted are illegal, but one of the exciting things about the Internet and its freedom of expression is that the ideas of civil liberty can be shared throughout the world.  Maybe through our example of freedom of expression and civil liberties we’ll inspire citizens and even governments and help them move a little closer to the freedom we enjoy.

It is difficult for me to remember the first web page I viewed, as it wasn’t my first experience with the Internet by a long shot.  I do remember thinking the “world wide web” was a nice idea but would take a while to become useful enough to replace the typical Internet activities at the time.  It didn’t take very long at all though.  I think it took about three years for my primary activities on the Internet to shift from command line interfaces and text based games and chat to something similar to the web we use so often now.

In the last two years, other than a few browser updates and perhaps some flash based games, I don’t think my usage of the web has changed too much.  I still use it for just about everything like I have the past ten years.  It keeps getting better, I’ll say that for sure.