Scientific Computing

Scientific stuff!

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Scientific computing is development utilizing/creating/maintaining programs/suites which focus on data and scientific processes. These include fields such as bioinformatics, neuroscience, computational physics, numerical analysis, symbolic computation, computational chemistry, and computational biology. Like any development, the requirements are defined, designed, and implemented through processes such as AGILE, with constraints on accuracy and precision of data, where warranted. Sensibly, scientific programs may be as complex or simple as they need be; they can be a simple web form that generates properly formatted formulae via Latex, a mathematical scripting language, or through frameworks such as Mathematica (Wolfram-Alpha software) or Opera (one of many open-source programs, this one handling matrix calculation/transformations.)

Having taken Biology, Oceanography, and a number of heavy Physics courses, I am interested in facilitating and modeling real-life processes in code. It is not my focus, but I enjoy a good puzzle, and algorithmically representing non-digital concepts definitely fits the bill, considering the limitless potential complexity. Neuroscience seems to be all the rage today, in attempting to model human perception,expand artificial intelligence, and assimilate neuron-based storage/processing data for faster/more responsive computing. If we can model human consciousness, we can better understand ourselves. There is a lot of interest in creating a synthetic consciousness, but there are also many ethical and philosophical concerns there as well.

Bonus! More Science applications! (CLICK ME!)

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Computer Graphics: Shiny Stuff

Display thyself, knave!

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Shiny water, texture maps, bloom, sky-boxes, billboards, vectors, anti-aliasing, particle effects, cell shading, gradients, directional lighting, and many other terms describe aspects of modern-day graphics. With the ever increasing speed of rendering, libraries, and creation tools available, the graphics become more clean, crisp and plentiful in applications from the OS to applications. This extends across more and more devices from the PC and laptop, to smartphones and smart watches.

But graphics aren't just about games and interfaces, they also are a great way to visualize expensive or difficult real-world concepts such as quantum physics, or tangible arts. Engineering most anything can be done on the computer inexpensively before rendering them in real life. In fact, the graphic image above was used to create the correct angles and form of the following sculpture.

Three dimensional graphics can be rotated about axes by using matrix-based mathematical transformations. These transformations are called quaternions, and reference a point of rotation while supplying relative positional information per affected point on a rigid body. Spline, and other skeleton-simulating methods can be used to add in relationships between multiple rigid bodies, and while I'm fairly novice where it comes to these multi-part objects... they are interesting! Take a look at the orc and goblin's skin on Lord of the rings, or the fur on the Monsters, Inc. monsters. The detail is complex, amazing, refractive/reflective, flexible, and maintain different behaviors based on the type of fur/fuzz/hair.

Bonus! More Snazz (Old, but Relevant) on Graphics. (CLICK ME!)

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Communications and Security

Defend thyself, knave!

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With the current climate of information theft, transparency wars, and a war on rights versus monitoring, we really need to protect ourselves on the Internet.

This includes cloud networking, cellular information, and other wireless devices which can make us vulnerable to predation and inethical policies out there in the web world.

Communications security is important, and to address it intelligently is no simple task. There are guidelines to go by however:

• Separate your public and private self, putting only what you want to be freely accessed out there.
• Question before checking or sending emails, is this an address I identify with, and is it completely correct in spelling.
• Use a firewall, whether software, or hardware. Configure it on the strong side, and add permissions as needed in order to get the things done you need to. Erring on the side of safety is a good start.
• Turn off location services for photos so that your photos can't be traced to where you are, and minimize you and your friends'/kids'/etc's traceability.
• Keep your information -yours-. Don't allow people to use your accounts for their purposes. Instead, set up guest profiles or alternate accounts to lend out as needed whether it be chat, forums such as Facebook, or other web-based services. Also, never give out passwords.
• Email and chat are not very secure when it comes to sharing information such as passwords, identification, or authorizations. Be a bit paranoid when exchanging these. It is much better than gritting your teeth through reimbursement policies or even litigation regarding information theft.
• Use trusted sites and services. Do your homework first if you have doubts. The better business bureau and security sites can save a lot of grief in the long run.
• Use secure settings for public browsing and network protocols should be set to a more secure setting than when at home. This includes cellphones and other mobile devices.
• Facebook, G+, Reddit, and other social media networks can be fun, but they can also be used against you. This restates protecting yourself and separating public from personal profiles, but the idea is imperative to maintaining security for your information and reputation.
• A lot of people save passwords on their browsers and through third party add-ons. This is fine as long as you have and use a lock for the machine so you can log off when not around.

The bottom line, is that just like driving, you have to be smart about it in order to protect yourself and the people that depend on you. Your information is worth a lot, even if it is just email addresses. These can be sold to telemarketers, or stolen by hackers, who if they find a way to access them, can get passwords for your services, and sites including online banking. Not good. Bot good at all! So be safe, smart and do stuff so that people don't do stuff to you.

Bonus! More Snazz on COMSEC. (CLICK ME!)

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Artificial Intelligence

Cyborgs, Androids and Skynet, oh my!

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Artificial intelligence by definition is:

artificial intelligence noun

• a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers
• the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior

More commonly, amongst those developing A.I., it is referred to as the study and design of intelligent agents, where intelligent agents are enclosed systems which perceive their environment, taking actions in order to increase/maximize chances at success. Success depends on a goal or ideal which the artificially intelligent 'being' is given as targets to provide a context against their current state/progress. Depending on the scope of the A.I. this can be specific or relatively theoretical, utilizing higher mathematical concepts to model uncertainties and erratic behaviors in tangible, mathematical ways. From here computers can consistently analyze and benchmark progress similar to human perceptions of progress in regards to life goals, or task-based intentions.

Artificial intelligence was founded based on human intelligence... rather, on the capacity to model it in a manner which machines may simulate. As such, there are many of mixed feelings about the concept, as machines may be aberrant in purpose depending on their design. This pessimism is typical as people do not trust new technologies and tend to be fairly skeptical, or downright violently superstitious with powers they do not understand. On the other hand, as technology becomes more familiar, dependencies form, and complacency/apathy grows. The field is interesting and versatile, and with the increase of power per unit of volume circuit boards have, we really have to take responsibility, and create things that better life for everyone, not just progress for the sake of progression.

Bonus! More Snazz on A.I.(CLICK ME!)

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