The Final Round of the Game

CS3216 = a fun and tiring game... we survived to the final round!

The Change of Project Teammates

Why am I in another team? Some of you are puzzled... Initially i was in my Facebook group, and so i rejected ppl's offer cos of I alr have a team. But now I end up in another team!

Actually initially our Facebook grp planned to come together again for the final project to continue our Facebook app. But seeing our app after release to the Application Directory has its popularity shot up so high and dropped drastically the next day (remaining low subsequently), then perhaps the viral element of the app is not there.

Then we plan to build an app on a phone... But we actually have not enough time to discuss more abt the idea, when everyone in the group is busy with other stuff.

The change in situation started when one of our teammate decided to join another group to work with more ppl. He felt bad about it, but we didn't blame him. In fact one of CS3216's purpose is to make us work with more ppl right? Then not long after this happened in that day, a teammate from my current group appeared right in front of me to persuade me again to join his group. Being able to participate in the Imagine Cup is already attractive enough and that they seemed to be quite prepared (written partial proposal, did research etc). Furthermore, isn't it meaningful to be involved in "saving the world"? Plus the fact that he approached me at the right time, when there is a change in suitation in our group! In the end, I join their team. Initially I did felt bad abt it towards my previous teammates also. But then again it may be good for everyone to be a part of different teams in the final project so tt we get to work with different ppl and probably find different opportunities? Let's move on!

Microsoft Talk & Final Project pitching party

I combined them cos i find them got overlapping parts...

I think the Final Project Pitching Party is the best session I seen so far! It managed to capture my attention even it is already so late at night. I think the most important factor was the interaction part. One comment by another, so interesting.

In the meanwhile, i divert a bit to the Microsoft Talk on Mon. The guy has a weird accent (i am glad his collegue agrees with what i thought), such that I find it hard to follow what he said.

I caught what he said about do what we are good at, so that we don't get just in-between skills (this is an interesting phrase i nvr heard before, so i remembered). But then if we do not try out various things, how do we know which we are good at and which we are not. In-between skills is unavoidable. Most importantly is to get involve in something you love and u feel it is worth spending time on.

Then also about people being not the same as you. Truth is sometimes we made too much assumptions based on our limited scope about others when is not true. Just like rich people cannot understand poor ppl and visa versa. Even u r once poor but now u r a rich person, there is no guarantee u will rmb what it was like being poor and is still able to understand poor ppl.

Back to the Final Project Pitching Party. I am actually quite amazed by the preparation done by some of the group. For eg. Supremacy. They already have the cards designed, wow. The more wow part was they actually have so many ppl in their team! I think i heard someone mentioned about culture... Actually i think using Ben Leong's photo is probably not a good choice to bring the game public. In our MisMatch, we thought of using Prof Ben's photo + 2 horns for the devil cards before. But with second thoughts, we decided not to. The reason being the players don't know who is Ben Leong. As Prof is someone who is famous mainly in the academic and business aspect, ordinary folks probably don't know him. So in this way, there is a culture difference, hence it may be difficult for them to find meaning in the game.

The treehouse presentation was done very well! Even though Cedric, the presenter had a headache, the presentation shows the fact that well preparation is essentially for good presentation. Yes I agree, the relationship we form through Facebook and Twitter are very superficial. People change because of certain incident or life experience, if we do not know how they change and why they change, we get detached from them. Not seeing each other for quite some time can drift relationship apart. IMO, any technology device substition is never adequent to maintain a relationship, we need to see each other often... If really cannot see each other often, then there leaves no choice to depend on technology. But I think it may be difficult for Treehouse to get users who don't like to write and don't have photos or videos to substanitate their thoughts...

World issues such as poverty, diseases and natural disaster are difficult issues to solve. They definitely cannot be solved in a single Imagine Cup project. These problems need many many years of hard work to be eradicated slowly. But if we can make a difference to just one, why not? Remember the starfish story? “Well, I made a difference to that one!”

Then at the end, this collegue from Microsoft convey the message of "穷则变，变则通，通则达，达则久，久则穷", i tried to search online for the "offical" definition of this word, but can't find. This phrase looks really interesting (Orry says it is recursive, true leh). So I went to research online, but it seems like it is difficult to search for the whole phrase, ppl usually leave out the last phrase. So to get the result i want, i had to just search for the last phrase. I realised this phrase is from 《易经》,and according to this link, we don't know who wrote this book, so may not be Confucius.

For more info on this phrase, u can check it out here:
 “《易》穷则变，变则通，通则久，是以‘自天佑之，吉无不利'”。这就是说，万事万物发展变化的规律，就是“分久必合，合久必分”，“穷则变，变则通，通则久，久则穷”，是一个太极循环格局。当然不是简单地重复过去，而是螺旋式上升，不断向更高层次发展变化。所谓“生生之谓易”，“天行健，君子以自强不息”。

The meaning of this phrase loosely translated for those who don't understand it is "If u reach a bottleneck, u hv to change; if you change, things will go fine; as things go fine, u will gain success; as you gain success, this will go far; if you go far, u will reach a bottleneck again". Good food for thought to end off this blog!

Last but not least, thanks for the food!

Time allocated for modules per week

This was probably what i have been allocating for my modules on average per week...
(sum of time taken throughout a week; not subtracting time required to survive - eat/sleep etc)

0.5 day - Module A
0.5 day - Module B
1.0 day - Final Year Project
0.5 day - Teaching Assistant Task
0.5 day - Preparation for Future Career
4.0 day+ - CS3216

Time to get worry for my other modules (and spend more time on them?!) :(

GetHelp! Analysis

Without the application for hands on, it is actually a bit difficult to piece up the puzzle using the pieces of screenshots given. I have to use a bit of imagination for navigation around the application.

1. Usability vs Aesthetics (Is the interface attractive? Is it functional?)

Needs improvement.

Usability: 

• What is the meaning of feeds and SMS? I think the Twitter option could be I post my request as a Twitter status, but I don't understand how feeds and SMS work. If SMS means Facebook will send SMS to my friends, I don't think it is helpful as not many ppl reveal their phone no on Facebook.
• The description for the project is not shown on the page that shows the project to the others. And there doesn't seem to be a page to view more details about the project? Where can I view the description that the person who created the project entered???
• The tags are of no use?

Aesthetics: 

• The graphics are actually very beautiful, they must have put in quite a lot of effort. 
• Why is the SQL query shown to the user? (Figure 1)
• There sections "Helpers" and "Probables" seems to be misleading. For eg in "Helpers" it says "9 souls have offered their hands" but I only see 3 people each having their photos repeated thrice. So shouldn't it just say "3 souls have offered their hands"? (Figure 3) It sort of makes the app look over clustered with (irrelevant) info. Maybe can replace these sections with a tag cloud and related qns asked. Maybe can put up these info as numbers under each project but not include the photos (we can make the numbers as clickable links, so they can click into it to see who has helped in this project).

PS: Some comments on the statistics page on Figure 4. "Statistics" is not a good word used here. Isn't hvg a leaderboard for this kind of helping app create similar controversial issue like that of Causes? I looked back at the Causes slides for the FB seminar, the "spirit of giving" go against the "social incentive appeals to altruism", hence the "double edged sword"...

2. Number of options / freedom given to user when posting a need.

Not enough.

• There should be a contact detail input box for the user to enter how can the helper contact him if he can help.
• The location should be more specific to the country the help is required in, as Facebook is for users around the world. 

3. Cycle of interaction & incentives (Are the elements of the app engaging?)

Not enough.

• There doesn't seem to have a page for them to edit their past project posted => they should include one.
• There isn't a page for them to change the status of the project (alr helped or help still required) => should let the person who posted the project change to status of the project to "pending" and "done".
• We do not know who is helping who for which project under the list of projects, some projects may get extra help that is not required while some get no help at all => put numbers next to each project on how many ppl has offered help and whose help is helpful. Then we can sort the projects by the no of ppl who have helped/ lastest projects etc.
• We do not know the person that offered help to the project is really helpful to the project (the person just get the points for wanting to help even if he didn't really help?) => the helper should only get the points if the person that asked for help marked his help as helpful.
• It seems like we can only help our friends not users around the world => allow the user to select the location around the world for users to select, include a map or dropdown box that allow user to choose the location he wants to help in.

4. Other problems you think the team might have faced

I think the major problem is really getting users to use the application. There is one saying  in Chinese that says "water at a distance away can't save the fire at near", so if a person really need help eagerly, i think he will rather email/sms/phone/look for the person (including his friends) who he can help rather than make a post on Facebook using an app and hoping his friends will help. There is a barrier created thru Facebook/this app btn he and his friends. Not all ppl will log in Facebook frequently and even if someone logins Facebook frequently doesn't mean this person gets to notice all his friends status.

If someone just only have one or two specific qns to ask, he can post on many of the online forums or qns-and-ans websites. The idea of this app is too general, it will not attract the kind of experts gathering there and interact. So I can't post help to specific qn there also. So this app is somehow impractical. Last but not least, i think this kind of app attracts more spams then ppl who truly needs help or wants to help.

Extension: Just a crazy idea... what if this app is on a phone with a map? For eg this person sends a help that he has fell down into a drain with no one around... anyone with this app can get info of his status and can rescue him (better if the helper is nearby)? lol

Welcome to the New Year!

Recess week is brought earlier means there is a longer way to go in the 2nd half of the semester! Actually I prefer recess week is later, so my 2nd half of the semester is shorter. 

Actually this sem really got a lot of opportunities... But time is  limited, many things that I have to give up a few things that I want to learn and do. It is cos I want not to be just involve in something but be committed to it. And also I am the type that requires quiet time to be able to reflect, think or come out with new ideas.

Realized I have not been doing much during these few days of CNY... still reading this 700+ pages thick library book which I haven't finished... My reading speed needs to be improved :( 

Pitching Session by External Parties

Among those things I heard during the session, I think these messages that are important to be take away with.

They are: 1) Entrepreneur spirit; 2) Market trend; 3) Facebook effect

1) Entrepreneur spirit

Looking out for opportunities to solve a problem. Just like the Module-review.com, the founder isn't a IT person but yet he is able to execute his idea n produce this website, which is already amazing. I have been to the website before to make reviews and feedback to him anonymously quite some time ago. He is quite efficient in his reply. I am glad I am of some help then.
I believe many people had already have this idea before him, just that no one did it. The idea is actually very simple, create a channel for students to highlight their frustrations about or love for a module. This is enough to get "customers" coming.

My thought is that the end of semester teaching feedback (to get general account points) is not sufficient cos it is really not the end of semester that we have to do this review, hence not accurate. What if I got to know more about this lecturer after the study week (I do sometimes), I cannot edit my feedback anymore. So Module-review is probably the place I can go and feedback. And because it is public, it brings the message to more people and faster. And it is not a means to get general account points, people do it more sincerely and probably accurately. One thing that cannot really avoid is spam, I saw once or twice that someone actually put spam reviews.

This website has potential to do better once it is connected with Facebook.The viral effect of social network!

2) Market trend

I think the presentation that left quite a lot of impact on us is the 6 Waves. This is especially so, cos it has shared with us the social games trend in detail. Then we got to learn about terms like Daily Average User (DAU) and Average Revenue per User (ARPU). It made us realise our game is actually under the lowest category. We wanted RPG last time (2nd best after Gambling which is not allowed in this module), but due to time constrains we were unable to implement it. Maybe we can level up the category in the final project? Yup, we still planning to make a game, but the type of game is still under consideration/discussion.
This module has succeed to bring my attention from the person who initiate something to the person who revamped it to made it big and from the person who provides the idea to the person who execute it. So again this famous message about "Ideas are cheap. Execution is the most important." worth to be mention again. However, there is one hidden implication that one may misinterpret this message as to it is ok to steal people's idea and use it as your own... but this is not meant to be what it initially wants to mean.

3) Facebook effect

Though Facebook is no longer new, but the fact that it is the growing increase in its popularity in marketing shows that social network effect is long term. Hence finding the right social networking platform for a kind of propaganda effect is really important in gaining popularity.

PS: I typed this blog before the CNY, but didn't really complete it then... if not after CNY, surely cannot rmb so much details...

Random related articles/videos

Kids steal to feed gaming habits (link)
Wed, Feb 03, 2010 by Sia Ling Xin
"MORE children are stealing credit cards and cash from their parents to secretly purchase virtual items for computer games."
"In the past year, he has seen a shift towards stealing for gaming – from hardly any cases, to two out of 10."
The term virtual is like a wolf in sheep's clothing, people unknowingly fall into it, causing much social problems. Not just kids, adults do can become a victim of addiction such as online gambling.

We're not ready for Google Wave (link)
30th September by Adam Griffiths
"Because it is too different to what is available now, many people will go onto Wave and dislike the interface, or dislike the features or dislike the way things are done, and then revert back to Facebook or whatever social network they prefer."
"Google Wave is being billed as it’s what email would be if it had been invented today. But my argument is that it could be too advanced for today. People could use it and find out it’s just too much for them now."
Quite true. Cos with the small "survey" (by asking them if they know of this) I did with my fellow SoC schoolmates, they either have an account by don't use it or don't know about it. Even Computing people don't "support" the latest technology, not to say non-Computing ppl would "dare" to try it out.
Having used Google Wave for my project discussion for Facebook Assignment and Facebook Seminar... I found that it is quite a useful alternative discussion if any of the teammates are not online. MSN or Google talk what so ever requires teammates all to be online to initiate a group chat, but Wave don't need. Wave is not like email, rather rigid, it is more flexible, better than Instant messaging. Then when the teammates are online, they can look thru the wave and see what's happening. But the problem with it is it hangs quite a lot.
Another thing is real time messaging. Pros and cons. It speeds up the conversation but may be a bit awkward to let ppl see all your thoughts. Draft (the small box) shld be implemented quickly for users to have alternative.

Cloud Computing Plain and Simple

Cute presentation that simplifies "Cloud Computing". The metaphor of a car at the back is quite innovative.

Facebook Seminar & Flixster Presentation Review

Facebook Seminar

The Facebook seminar was an eye opener for me. Regardless whether is our group’s preparation before the seminar or hearing all other group present during the seminar. It brings me closer to sth that is Business.

Both my cousins took/is taking Business in university, and me being the odd one out is taking Computer Science. I have never taken Business module or really planned to take one. This is because am not the outgoing kind or eloquent person, so Business was never the choice for me. That’s why I am actually quite ignorant in regards to Business.

From the whole process of Facebook seminar, I learnt that business needs a lot of partnerships and supporters. It is impossible to be an island. Regardless of how unoriginal, how ugly or how meaningless your product is, it will sell if you know how to use the right way to get to the audience and make them addicted.

What is the element to attract so many audiences? Some say a product will sell if you are the first to come out with the product. From the Facebook seminar, we see that it is not true. Not as though the follower made the product better that made their product sell, there are many reasons behind it.

First is to find the right platform to get people to advertise for you. These people may not be the willing ones; they may just victims who advertise for you unknowingly. Second is to attract people emotionally, exploit their curiosity, ego and sympathy. But I believe the session is not to teach us to be evil; rather then make us see the market world’s reality.

Flixster Presentation Review

What a topic to assign me to. When Orry the presenter said, “Who don’t watch movies? Everyone does.” (I don’t rmb the exact words, but just the meaning) I would like to answer to this question, I don’t.

To be exact, I don’t go cinema and watch the latest movies that are shown. I watch from television and maybe internet. And I prefer dramas than movies. Not that I like long shows, dili deli shows will scare me off too. And I don’t watch a lot of English shows. Don’t make me watch one without any subtitles, cos I may not be able to understand cos of their heavy accent…

Flixster is an app I will never add, if not for Facebook seminar. I think the main reason is that it is pertaining to movies in America. So it is not very relevant in Singapore’s context. Even though I have 76 friends who added this application, I don’t see many active users; in fact I only see 3 ppl who reviewed/rated the movies and 2 of them are my classmates from CS3216, i mean recently... The quizzes seem quite popular, but I am not sure when they have taken it. The quizzes reminded me of Likeness.

Well, what attacts people to Flixster, particular to those who watch western movies is the truth that there are many ppl who watch movies.  And like the presentation has mentioned, it is a really a one-stop shop for who, what, when, where. Who as in which friends want to watch which shows, as a result, u can find friends who have the same interest as you and watch the movie together.  What as in synopsis, ratings etc. One thing not mentioned in the presentation is there are movie trailers! I personally like that. When as in when is the movie showing and where as in where it is showing. And it has a nice user friendly interface. However like many of the apps there are advertisements. One of the advertisements I see is Mafia Wars, I think that is one place Mafia wars gets its users, explaining its unreasonable high user rate. One thing in particular (see print screen below), is Mafia Wars accurate advertise themselves as Mob Wars, but when I click it, it leads me to Mafia Wars!

And like what is mentioned in the presentation, this app is independent of Facebook, so even Facebook collapse it is not affected. This is good cos it doesn’t need to relay on Facebook to survive. But I doubt Facebook will ever collapse in the near future.

Probably we can bring this over to the Chinese market. I try to search online for Flixster in Chinese edition but couldn’t find… If Flixster can partner with the cinemas and ppl can actually order tickets from there would even better.