Week 1

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WEEK 1: VERSION CONTROL

Day 1

My understanding of Git (https://git-scm.com/downloads), GitHub and GitLab was about the same before as it was after the first skype class with Fiore. That is to say that I understood nothing. Even before attempting to code, it already seemed as if the class was in another language. I was not close to understanding the tools, the use or even what it was that we were attempting to do. If I had to say what I learnt during that class, I would probably say that a few new words (Git, GitLab, GitHub, Terminal) were added to my vocabulary but in the way a child hears a word for the first time: I can repeat them but I’ve no real understanding of what they mean and I’m not entirely sure what someone might mean while using it. Fiore’s class did nothing to aid my first approach to the subject.

When asked where or how to open the Terminal in my Mac, I didn’t understand what was being asked, let alone how or where to find said Terminal.

Final Project thoughts:

At this point I’ve no idea what I’ll do for a Final Project despite the conversations we had at the Lab during induction last week. I’m slightly worried about having to merge electronics and programing into a project, seeing as none of the possible projects I had in minds had either of those things.

Day 2

Assignment:

I’ve been reading, or more like trying to read, the GitPro book I downloaded yesterday. I can’t quite grasp most of it, let alone execute any commands.

Final Project thoughts:

The Final Project is weigh heavy on my mind as I see that most people came with something specific in mind and I believe I misread the specifications of the Final Project when I researched the FabAcademy. I missed the specifications of the Final Project where it states that it absolutely has to have an electrical and a programming component to them. Coming from Venezuela, my thought process has been, up until now, to actively and purposefully avoid anything that involved heavy electronic or technology oriented designs or projects, simply because they weren’t feasible given the resources I had access to. So from the get go, the Final Project is already demanding a huge departure from my work and they way I normally think about a project. So, beyond the fact that I know nothing of either of these subjects, what I’m finding more challenging is to rethink my approach to start a project. I’ve yet to get a true scope of what is possible to make with a reasonable budget in the FabLab, and I find that somewhat unsettling.

Day 5

I have several ideas for a Final Project now.

I’ve a notion about possibly making a toy, as in a 3D puzzle of some sort. I’m uncertain if I can be ambitious enough for the toy to be educational or not. I’m also undecided about the age range it would target if I were to decide to make it educational. Another idea is to make a play book, based on either origami or in 3D lighttable pop-ups. Theme yet to be determined.

Day 98

This time it’s real.

This is the sketch for what will be my Final final project.

I’ll be making a two part project. A soft-robotic hand and a servo powered arm.

If I have time I might make additions, thought that seems unlikely.

I’m thinking of different designs for hand, seeing as they might serve different purposes depending on the range of their individual “grabbing” capabilities.