Lab Notes

Machine learning is changing the world around us and it will continue to dramatically shape our future. Complex computer algorithms are slowly starting to define our interactions with vehicles, social media, and Netflix. That’s right, even the shows Netflix recommends for you are, in part, the result of a complex machine learning algorithm.

Despite the omnipresence of machine learning in the world around us, the mystique that surrounds these two words is palpable. Many people forfeit trying to understand how machine learning works upon reading the word algorithm. I, however, decided to delve into the topic through an online course. In an attempt to better understand just what is happening during a machine learning program, I completed the Lynda.com course, “Machine Learning and AI Foundations: Value Estimations,” taught by Adam Geitgey. Participating in the course left me believing that, although machine learning is a highly complex process, one does not need to understand exactly what is going on under the hood of the algorithm, so long as they can navigate the program.

Imagine you slipped on a wet floor and fractured your feet. The doctor recommends you not to exert any pressure on your feet for the next 2 months. You still have classes to attend, assignments to submit and exams to write in these 2 months. You decide to stay strong and be brave enough to continue to go to school, instead of skipping the whole semester.
On your first day of class after the accident, you reach to your school only to realize that your class is on the third floor and the lift is out of order. What do you do?

In an age where everything is digital—from the ways we communicate to grocery shopping—it is not only a challenge, but also irresponsible to not consider the digital in design. While the concept of design is inherently innovative, it quickly becomes obsolete if it does not enhance or complement the lives of those who the design is intended for. Design that has not been tested or piloted in a digital environment is not trusted to be built. But does it mean to design digitally if not simply that? How do incorporate the “digital” not only in the process, but in the product as well?

One of the best ways to decompress after a long week is to do something that you really enjoy, even if it is for an hour. The workshop I attended this month was doing just that. The ArtEco club at the School for Environment and Sustainability offered a photography and sketching workshop. This was a unique opportunity where I was able to work on something that I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing. With art materials provided and a quick but informative presentation, we dived right into the sketching activities. Something new that I learned was blind contour drawing.

As our world becomes more and more digitized and the amount of information we store about ourselves on the cloud or other online servers grows, it becomes all the more important to ensure that we are equipped with the means to keep this information safe. In a Lynda.com series about protecting the information we store in our digital footprints, Scott Simpson presents viewers with a toolkit covering this topic.

Why did you choose to attend this workshop?
The Center for Socially-Engaged Design works with students who want to make a conscious effort to design and engineer for a more sustainable, inclusive, and culturally-accepted future. As a part of BLUElab, I looked into their online programs and came across many workshops that can be done online with an in-person coaching session at the end to complete the training.

A profile of Shapiro Design Lab Resident Connor Lockman.

Have you ever sat before your computer late at night and giggled in glee as you blended layers in an imaging editing software? If not, that is probably a good thing. However, as of this week, I can proudly say that I have.

Through my job at the Shapiro Design Lab, I have access to Lynda.com, a professional training service . A subsidiary of Linkedin, Lynda contains a plethora of training materials, including an introductory course to GIMP (General Image Manipulation Program). GIMP is an open source, free image editing software that allows for high quality photo editing and image creation. Although Adobe suite programs like Photoshop are more powerful, GIMP is an excellent option for dabblers, such as myself. Moreover, many of the functions in GIMP have analogues in Photoshop, making the software great for individuals who are trying to learn but aren’t quite ready to shell out the cash. Taking the Lynda training course on GIMP was an enlightening experience—one I would suggest to others.

One would be hard pressed to avoid hearing about artificial intelligence (AI) in the news. It’s everywhere: from AlphaGo, the new world champion of the board game Go, to Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement on framing AI as the core technology of Facebook. With all of this buzz, what actually is artificial intelligence?

An overview of the Shapiro Design Lab's themes, student positions, and spaces for 2018-19.