My contribution to the project was the web voting interface and database backend as well as a simple API for communicating with it. I wrote the application using the Sinatra microframework for Ruby and utilized couchrest to communicate with a CouchDB database. A control panel interface enabled an operator to update the voting interface status messages and to open the next event for voting. A display page mocked up the live video with Fly and Pie status bars for viewers to watch.

Although the system is very rudimentary, all the pieces are in place for a live voting situation. During the class demo however, the server was crippled by only a dozen simultaneous connections, and become sluggish enough to be unusable. I believe that the problem stemmed from each of the clients polling the database, and couchrest seems to update a view each time it’s requested. CouchDB is quite fast at reads, but far slower at writes, and I think these things combined to make a big problem.

I think that performance could be greatly enhanced if status polling were eliminated, or at least read from static file that was generated by the control application or server when data needed to be refreshed.

Live voting is a tested and successful model, and the class seemed to enjoy the real-time updates at the beginning while the system was responsive. The show itself was successful largely thanks to Gordie and Lisa Maria’s performances (and willingness to take a pie to their faces from Jong Yoon).

an iPhone application records accelerometer data at anywhere from 1-40Hz (arbitrary rate) which is geocoded using core location (including heading, altitude, and location). every second the most recent sample is uploaded to a server running couchDB. after a ride, the full-resolution file can be e-mailed or uploaded to the server. for the proof-of-concept the data is being plotted on a dynamic Google Map.

in the immediate future i’ll be adding live updating of the map via ajax or some other web sumthin’ dot oh technology.

longer term is to build out similar applications for android and symbian (or maybe just j2me if it’s feasible). i’m also planning on getting back to the ardunio-based sensor packages which started the project.

the interface is clean and with keyboard shortcuts for each of the view modes. i do so wish for more info in the files panel….i’m used to comparing modification times and the sync features of full-fledged FTP clients.

anyway, it’s good software – and i’ve come to really appreciate good software lately after writing a lot of bad software myself.

Using largely the same overall layout with both of these comps. The pattern proved to be too busy, and of course, the logo is too gratuitous.

The second color scheme is more promising. Creating the wireframes has gotten me to reconsider the scope of the proposed service…just what types of content is appropriate for this format (besides short-form poetry, of course).



Also got the first demo of Cloud Reader working on the iPhone. I ported the java version to openframeworks, then compiled it as an iPhone app. It’s far too slow at the moment to be acceptable, but it’s a proof-of-concept. I’m sure that it could be optimized, but I’m wary of the text handling in OpenGLES…and of how openframeworks does it. I’m not looking forward to having to manually implement this to get useful performance.

In the spirit of John Maeda’s Laws of Simplicity, I used this as an experiment in asking “What can you add by taking something away?” – In particular, I was attempting to add some sanity through organization. My notes detailing the reorganization are below.

What are common (high-priority) uses for the DMV site?

• Paying fines.
• Renewing driver’s license.
• Moving / new license.
• Vehicle Registration.
• Vehicle title. (private sales, likely)
• Find location – hours.
• Get forms.
• Read regulations.
• Business services, licensing, regulation

Sort:

Traffic Violations Bureau
- pay fines
- plead not guilty and request a hearing
Driver Services
-licensing
-renewal
-testing
-permits
-non-driver id
Vehicle Services
-title
-register, renew / new
-transfer ownership
Business Services
-regulations
-information
Forms / Publications
-all forms for above services
-driver’s manual
-sample tests
Locations / Contact
-find licensing and testing locations
-get operating hours
-telephone
Search
-site-site, full text search.
-find form by number or title

Integrate/Prioritize:

Search
Traffic Violations
Licensing and Vehicle Services
Information / Regulations
Contact Information
Forms

Everything else will descend from these categories.

relatively new tools such are google’s street view and various mashups have helped, but i still feel lost in all this. the difference in rental prices between philadelphia and new york also smart and are making it difficult to think objectively about where i want to live versus where i can afford to live….come on jackpot!

there has to be a better way….i’ll be giving the old methods a try tomorrow by <gasp> heading up there to ask to look at apartments in person…crazy, i know! wild times we live in…

i’m still reconciling privacy issues in the wake of the myspace generation but i’ll just have to treat my online identity in a similar fashion to my physical one. i’m accessible yet private and responsible for my actions. it seems as though the anonymity enjoyed as i’ve grown up with new telecommunication technologies has given way to the hyperpersonal…but most folks don’t seem to have come to terms with the inherent causality of this shift….

…take a deep breath…