My main reason for majoring in Computer Science in addition to Cognitive Science was to increase my employability. Potential employers would understand the C.S. degree instantly and I had taken the majority of the courses needed for a major anyway. I wasn’t sure how marketable a cogsci degree was going to be, though I knew it would help me design better user interfaces. It’s been ten years since then, and where has the Cognitive Science field gone? To the marketers. According to a bit in Wired Magazine, cognitive science departments are “filling up with profs who specialize in the psychology of acquisition and the science of material desire.” They’ve found the money, and it’s in the old trade of making people want something they don’t know they need. Apparently “there’s a new push for relevance” in selling the field to students. I suppose this trend will further the eclectic mix at the cognitive science conferences.

Charles (of six different ways) noted my mention of bookkey and suggests Powermarks as a better (though $25) alternative.

At one of my first baby-sitting jobs, the toddler had not yet mastered how to build things with blocks, but his parents would build him structures so that he could knock them down. They demonstrated this skill to me with great pride. Sometimes I wonder if he grew up to be a building demolition expert. I think he would enjoy the ImplosionWorld site. It’s all about controlled demolition. (via memepool)

A power plant may not seem worthy of preservation, but the NY Times reports that the Mechanicville Hydroelectric Station in New York is attracting attention from engineers and historians who believe it is worth saving. Built in 1897, the station generated power until 1997. Its seven cast-iron generators supplied power for General Electric, and were eventually purchased by a local utility company. Current owners Niagara Mohawk aren’t interested in funding a restoration; the power it can generate wouldn’t be worth the cost of operation. As time marches on, preservationists are realizing the value of the structures from our early industrial era. I have to wonder if my grandchildren will be taking field trips to nuclear power plant museums.

Wanting the best of both worlds
After we had bought our house, I finally faced up to being a California resident. Forget that I had already owned a condo here for five years; I still felt temporary. Now I actually own land, not much, but enough. This fact is important because of a pronouncement I made a few years earlier when I realized I may become a transplanted New Englander forever. My statement was “well, if I have to live in California, at least I can have an orange tree.” Lo and behold, our backyard came with an orange tree and a Meyer lemon tree. There are bushels of them ripening their immature green skins right now. But instead of being satisfied in the fruit tree department, my brain, raised on yummy New England apple cider, is off looking at the web site of the Sonoma Antique Apple Nursery (recently changed to the Trees of Antiquity) and their incredible selection of heirloom apple trees. There are close to 150 varieties on that page, familiar names (Jonagold, Braeburn, Cortland, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh) and odd names (Black Gilliflower, Red Astrachan), varieties from Russia, Israel, Germany. It’s a treasure trove of apple history. I need to go find some cider.

Here’s a true story with a classic theme. Teens who broke a $200 floodlight while skateboarding on the grounds of the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown, CT were dragged into the director’s office. Instead of calling their parents or the police, she listened to them complain about how they didn’t have a place to skateboard and then educated them on the history of the mansion and its preservation. They were allowed back to skate on certain areas of the grounds and now consider it their after-school hangout. The boys eat food leftover from meetings and banquets, then help out director Deborah Moore with any odd jobs. She keeps them in line, converses with them on an adult level, and they stay out of trouble.

While searching for historical photos of San Francisco, I stumbled across Groceteria.net (which I overlooked when it was a Yahoo Pick of the Week last year). The site chronicles supermarket history and architecture and is chock full of old photos of store interiors and exteriors. Do you miss the old supermarket fonts and logos from your childhood? Revisit the ol’ A&P;, go into depth on the history of Safeway, find out what happened to old market buildings. I discovered that the Michael’s I go to in Sunnyvale used to be a Safeway, which explains the arched window treatment. There’s also supermarket news and a listing of who owns who in the consolidating market of markets. I don’t think any of my childhood supermarkets are still in existence, unless you count Stew Leonard’s, which isn’t really a supermarket as much as a food market Disneyland. But I can still remember back to when I could dangle my legs out of the shopping cart seat and watch the aisles go by.

The International Children’s Digital Library contains 200 books selected by children and scanned in for digital reading. It was created by The Digital Archive and the HCI Lab at the University of Maryland. The software that displays the books is a key component of the project. Children will probably accept reading books on a computer display, but they may enjoy having an actual book instead. The interface was designed to be kid-friendly and universally accessible. (via an NPR item)

I’ve been wanting portable terminal access to my main computer for many years. The problem is, when I start envisioning how this would work, I always end up with a laptop with a Windows Terminal Services client. And then I wonder if I should just switch to a laptop. This week, Microsoft announced a wireless display that lets you use your primary computer from anywhere in the house. ViewSonic is selling the first versions of this device, which is marketed as an evolution of the display not the computer (which differentiates it from the Tablet PC which looks similar). At first glance I was excited about how well this matched up with my needs. But the price point is a problem. At $999 ($1,299 for a larger screen) I can buy a low-end laptop instead. A laptop is useful outside of the house. I think I’d be willing to spend up to $500 to have the terminal access device I’ve been envisioning. (via misnomer)

I started this weblog three years ago today. I’ve done a bit of redesign to commemorate the occasion. Thank you to my regular readers, especially those who have written me words of encouragement.