the name... eComStation. Isn't that a bit dated already? eCommerce, eShopping, eThis, eThat...
that reminds me of that Dilbert cartoon where Wally says "I came up with a new name for the our marketing department, it would be called E-Marketing. I am also working on a similar project for Accounting, but I am not done yet."
keeps PCs physically accessible to IT staffers at all times
(and normally it's not?)
gives IT the ability to back up user PCs
(that's why we have networks, duh)
allows IT staff to disable some components or capabilities
(once more... you can do it remotely. unless you REALLY want to prevent user from using their cd-rom or a floppy)
may be able to get by with a smaller workspace
("may be" is the key word. now let's see how long it would take for people working on a 2'x2' desk to rebel. or steal the components from inside the box before they quit)
removes the heat and fan noise of PCs
(yes if you are running an overclocked p4 and have 10 fans in it and you embedded a coffee mug heater inside it)
components inside the box can't go home with a dishonest employee
(yes i really want that 64MB memory chip from my machine so it wont work at all and when i call help desk they will figure out that i had to take it home)
Overall.... what IS the gain of removing the box from underneath the desk? It's not that we are still in the 70s and a computer is a size of a big closet. So, unless you are a manager that is really trying to look good by "saving money" (cutting the costs of everything possible), then this idea is a good one. At least on the paper for your boss.
I am a graphic/web designer but i also do a lot of UI programming. I taught a class on multimedia design a couple of times, and I used some resources that i'd recommend you to look into, if you'd like.
I would also recommend concentrating on a particular part of the aspect of multimedia: Web experiences, advertising, non-Web multimedia solutions. The one that you should be able to find teaching material relatively easy would be that pertaining to digital forms of medias.
The main one that comes to mind is Shockwave and Flash, that is omni-present. It's definately the most popular but also the most flexible. Of course, animation and sounds is not everything what you can do with that, you can also make interactive cd-roms, games, UI that tie to databases(!). The sites I'd recommend for you to check would be www.ultrashock.com, www.flash.com (Macromedia's Showcase), where you can find LOADS of really good work.
Particularily look into the stuff that other designers, firms, and companies do. Some of them would be www.mostasa.com, www.rezn8.com, www.carbonhouse.com, www.chapter2.net and so on...
Also, with that, there is ActionScript and Lingo, programming scripts and languages that lets you really do some amazing things (earlier mentioned games, UI for databases, and so on).
There is also a number of other multimedia applications, which are not necessarily Web-enabled, that include video, audio, and image editing that companies use in TV advertising, movies, shows or concerts.
Another suggestion would be going to a bookstore or a library and just finding some books on design, interactivity, and designs, you will be surprised by how much stuff there is out there, as well as how many things people copy after each other.
Whatever you choose, remember that 'multimedia' doesnt mean just a moving.gif or a.swf file, there is a lot more to that aspect.
Hey, even life is a highly interactive multimedia experience:)
six figures a year? and they spend it on laptops?
wht the hell would you do with all that stuff?
'hey man i got a closet full of laptops'
sure.. like no one would notice. feds and IRS is not that retarded to overlook some dude that has so much money. but then again maybe he just meant that it may earn him a two figures in jail.
If you gotten here by now, most likely you already know that those rip-proof CDs may not play in CD-ROM drives or even a number of cheap CD-players.
So, if I would be an average joe redneck that picks up a cd like dat and tries tah play it in mah truck and it wont play ima gunna only get mah shuttgin and get mah mohney bawck!
Aren't the rednecks a very infeluential lobbyist group in the US now (looking at how their states voted in the last election)?
Slashdot Mirror
the name... eComStation. Isn't that a bit dated already? eCommerce, eShopping, eThis, eThat...
that reminds me of that Dilbert cartoon where Wally says "I came up with a new name for the our marketing department, it would be called E-Marketing. I am also working on a similar project for Accounting, but I am not done yet."
http://www.rocketguy.com/rocket/testcap1.html
here's the dude's capsule. *chuckle* *snort* *laugh*
keeps PCs physically accessible to IT staffers at all times
(and normally it's not?)
gives IT the ability to back up user PCs (that's why we have networks, duh)
allows IT staff to disable some components or capabilities (once more... you can do it remotely. unless you REALLY want to prevent user from using their cd-rom or a floppy)
may be able to get by with a smaller workspace ("may be" is the key word. now let's see how long it would take for people working on a 2'x2' desk to rebel. or steal the components from inside the box before they quit)
removes the heat and fan noise of PCs (yes if you are running an overclocked p4 and have 10 fans in it and you embedded a coffee mug heater inside it)
components inside the box can't go home with a dishonest employee (yes i really want that 64MB memory chip from my machine so it wont work at all and when i call help desk they will figure out that i had to take it home)
Overall.... what IS the gain of removing the box from underneath the desk? It's not that we are still in the 70s and a computer is a size of a big closet. So, unless you are a manager that is really trying to look good by "saving money" (cutting the costs of everything possible), then this idea is a good one. At least on the paper for your boss.
but youremployees will hate your guts.
i cant let you do that, Dave...
I am a graphic/web designer but i also do a lot of UI programming. I taught a class on multimedia design a couple of times, and I used some resources that i'd recommend you to look into, if you'd like. I would also recommend concentrating on a particular part of the aspect of multimedia: Web experiences, advertising, non-Web multimedia solutions. The one that you should be able to find teaching material relatively easy would be that pertaining to digital forms of medias. The main one that comes to mind is Shockwave and Flash, that is omni-present. It's definately the most popular but also the most flexible. Of course, animation and sounds is not everything what you can do with that, you can also make interactive cd-roms, games, UI that tie to databases(!). The sites I'd recommend for you to check would be www.ultrashock.com, www.flash.com (Macromedia's Showcase), where you can find LOADS of really good work. Particularily look into the stuff that other designers, firms, and companies do. Some of them would be www.mostasa.com, www.rezn8.com, www.carbonhouse.com, www.chapter2.net and so on... Also, with that, there is ActionScript and Lingo, programming scripts and languages that lets you really do some amazing things (earlier mentioned games, UI for databases, and so on). There is also a number of other multimedia applications, which are not necessarily Web-enabled, that include video, audio, and image editing that companies use in TV advertising, movies, shows or concerts. Another suggestion would be going to a bookstore or a library and just finding some books on design, interactivity, and designs, you will be surprised by how much stuff there is out there, as well as how many things people copy after each other. Whatever you choose, remember that 'multimedia' doesnt mean just a moving .gif or a .swf file, there is a lot more to that aspect.
Hey, even life is a highly interactive multimedia experience :)
six figures a year? and they spend it on laptops? wht the hell would you do with all that stuff? 'hey man i got a closet full of laptops' sure.. like no one would notice. feds and IRS is not that retarded to overlook some dude that has so much money. but then again maybe he just meant that it may earn him a two figures in jail.
If you gotten here by now, most likely you already know that those rip-proof CDs may not play in CD-ROM drives or even a number of cheap CD-players.
So, if I would be an average joe redneck that picks up a cd like dat and tries tah play it in mah truck and it wont play ima gunna only get mah shuttgin and get mah mohney bawck!
Aren't the rednecks a very infeluential lobbyist group in the US now (looking at how their states voted in the last election)?