Before I start, just want to say happy 1st birthday drive:activated (3 days ago now actually)! Thanks to everyone who have dropped by somewhere along the way - it's been a hell of a journey; met a heap of people, and has gotten me all kinds of places. Best of all, I've had fun writing about all this stuff, even though it has been a rough ride at times. I'll definitely be continuing this 'experiment', so stick around 
So in the last post, feeling a bit stretched, I left you guys hanging about what I was doing. This post should complete the picture, hopefully.
Last Monday, I went to the Microsoft Mix on Campus event in Melbourne - an event for students interested in web and design in general. Of course, being a Microsoft event, they were extolling the virtues of their products, but when you look between the lines, there was some good stuff in the presentations.
There was a session about designers and developers working together from the beginning and throughout - this is something that affects the entire industry, desktop apps, web apps, Windows apps, Linux apps, Mac apps, and even bleeds over to the consumer electronics industry. Nothing new, and Microsoft isn't the only one tackling this, although the integration they offer is good. Ultimately though, both sides need to be aware of the other's job in order to get them working together.
There was a business-oriented start-up talk, which had good info (especially in terms of non-technical things like patents and NDAs). Unfortunately the presentation was a bit bland, although from the heap of questions asked after, many were clearly interested.
The best one I thought was the careers one though - two web design firms, reactive and lemonade, were on hand to offer tips to get into the industry. The uni mentality of relying on the slides being posted up later kicked in for me, so I didn't take any notes, but the ones I remember were:
- always keep learning
- have broad knowledge, but specialise too and learn to delegate to other specialists
- know the industry - network, make the first step
- don't bullshit your CV or resume - it will show and reflect badly
- be selective about your job applications - web designers are in demand
- be specific and focused on your CV/cover letter - address what they're looking for and sell yourself
- be opinionated about things in the industry - have favourites
- be prepared to back your CV with a portfolio - a personal website says a lot
Overall, it was a great event - did I mention it was free, and there was stuff to be won? Two thumbs up to Nick Ellery from Microsoft. I'm surprised there aren't more events like it - the other events around are general industry ones, which can be scary. Sure students should be using their own initiative to connect with the industry, but I think firms have to start realising that because developers/designers are in such great demand, they have to proactive and lure students themselves. Students, especially talented ones, have the power now. I'm not expecting Fog Creek style treatment any time soon though 
.
Speaking of connecting with people - the networking atmosphere just wasn't there. Maybe it was because I was sick, coughing and looked under the weather, but even so, people seemed to stick with who they know, and those who didn't know anyone, stood alone. The Xbox was a bit of an ice-breaker, but it could only do so much. Guess geek and being social just don't click, although once they get over the initial barrier, it gets a lot easier because there's a common interest. More ice breakers would help I reckon.
I did managed to meet a few people, and collected some business cards too. There's something cool about getting them - it's like they want to build a relationship with you, and is more significant than just a handshake. Can't wait til I get one to hand out
Looking forward to more of these events (in spite of what I'm gonna say next), and hopefully I won't be sick next time round. Some photos of the event available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/longzheng/sets/72157603296041972/.
Anyway, the reason I talked about all that (apart from the fact it was great) was because in a roundabout way, it told me that in-browser web-design/development just isn't my thing.
Part of it is the platform which I'm not that ecstatic about (browser incompatibilities - ugh), but the main reason is that I like to be in direct contact with those who use my creations, rather than creating a product (e.g. a website) that others (i.e. the client) use on a different audience (e.g. their customers). It's not exactly true, but the disconnection is enough for me. So that rules out web design for clients; I could still do a web app right? I don't see web design/development disappearing any time soon, and there's still enormous potential there, but I see even more potential in the ubiquitous computing space. Eventually though web designers will become part of that movement I reckon. I won't complain if I create the next facebook, but the passion's just not there (web social networks are so yesterday 
).
I think to be honest, the reason I started down the web track was because I got a bit carried away with the whole web startup thing, the hype, the coolness, the perceived money and success, everything. I even thought I'd use a web startup as a launching pad into what I actually want to be doing. But at the end of the day, doing a startup is hard enough - doing a startup on something you're not really passionate about is way, way harder. So I thought screw that, I'm gonna work on what I'm passionate about, and while it's a harder industry to succeed in, if my calculations are right, it'll be massive in the future anyway. Besides, I'm convinced now that I have enough basic skills and the proven capacity to learn to allow me to move around the wider computing industry anyway if all else fails.
So without further ado, and as I hinted above, my guiding direction for what I concentrate on from here on is:
To work on technology that takes and affects people away from their computers.
(by computers, I mean it in the desktop/laptop sense, not the wider, all things with computerised-logic sense.)
That's right - away. For too long have we been bound to the computer to do things, and having to do things it's way. It's about time we took back control and make computers fit into how we live our lives. Why do I have to boot up my computer to watch a youtube video when I want to watch it on my TV? Why do I have to download the video I shot on my camcorder to my computer before editing then submitting it to youtube? Or why do I have to be on my computer to see my work colleague's schedule to work out if now's a good time to call?
The computer should return to its role of being a typewriter. That's it. (Ok, maybe a bit too extreme, but seriously, not much more than that.)
Google ubiquitous computing, or check out the book Everyware by Adam Greenfield for more.
So right now, I've got work, a personal web app and another web app project I'm basically consulting for, plus a Flash/AIR project, WPF-based media project and a work web app project that I want to get started.
Work is not completely related (more computer admin stuff), but it's a good distraction, pays, and opens me up to client issues I can capitalize on. In fact the work web app project I will be working on is a result of that, and yes it is a web app I know, so I won't be completely breaking away, but it won't be my main project.
I'll continue the web app consulting for a short while. But after much thought, I've decided to axe the personal web app I've been working on. Luckily it hasn't gotten very far, but it has been an interesting experience. I believe the idea has legs, but now I'm just not so excited about it anymore. Maybe later on I'll blog the idea and someone else can pick it up, but in the meantime, R.I.P. loopboard (2007-2007).
To compensate, I'll most likely be picking up a WPF-based media appliance project to work on. As for Flash/AIR, I'll be utilising that in my work web app project, so no loss there, and I might also complete the project I had for that originally too (a public transport planner that's actually useful!), given time.
All this hasn't really solved my issue of feeling stretched, but the plan for next year is to scale back on-site work and take on the work web app project instead, add uni back into the mix, and work on my WPF media project, as well as a healthy social life of course, and some time to work on my fitness too.
I wish I could be like those people who seem to be able to do everything at once, but I'm not, and the fact that I like things to move fast doesn't help either. I'm already waking up earlier on average now (no longer sometime in the arvo anymore ), but I've still gotta find ways of streamlining what I work on (and stop being distracted by facebook). The other big thing is to learn not be afraid to say no, as reluctant as I may feel at the time, because being stretched means nothing gets done well.
Let's see how this goes. I'll be posting a bit more on this new direction soon - a list of things actually...