August 22, 2005: Today the intern meeting was held in the auditorium so that we could all get acquited to its settings. We were also given the opportunity to load our powerpoint presentations on to Joe' computer and test them out. Afterwards I went back to up to the Rapid Response Lab. The batteries that Steve ordered finally came in and they were fully charged. Matt and I made power connectors for the batteries and loaded them into the wagon. We also brought the usual toolbox, access point, and four cameras. We left a walkie-talkie in the lab in case Steve arrived while we were in the field. As we were assembling the cameras and hooking everything up Steve called us on the walkie-talkies saying that he just checked into the lab. Once we finished hooking up all the cameras Steve had to go on the roof to try and ping the access point and the cameras. We only used three out of the four cameras, I suppose the fourth is a spare camera in case on of the others fail. No luck for either thing, and after a few attempts we brought the access point back to the lab. As it turns out it was configured incorrectly and once the necessary changes were made it seemed like everything was all set to go. Matt and I brought the access point out the forest and hooked everything up once again while Steve stayed behind in the lab to try and ping the access point and the three cameras. This time our luck was a little different Steve could ping the access point, but only two of the cameras. With some fiddling around Steve could ping the third camera, but it would not maintain a steady signal. So, after several tries we brought back two cameras for testing in the lab and left everything else out in the field. Hopefully, our luck will change tomorrow.

August 19, 2005: Today started with the usual morning intern meeting. However, part way through the meeting Lon came in with Jesse and brought cake for Courtney, whose birthday was on Wednesday. Afterwards I went to the Rapid Response Lab where Matt was just finishing up the cameras for Nature Spy. They were all working perfectly and it seemed that everything was going to be ready to be deployed on Monday. Also Courtney, Karen, and Katelyn dropped by for awhile and we went to visit them in the Measurements Lab. While we were talking Steve arrived and we headed back to the lab for awhile. Later we brought some boxes from the Lab and went to Steve's apartment on Perkins Green to help to him move some stuff to his new apartment in Westbrook Commons. (Don't worry we clocked out for this) After loading Matt's car and Steve's car to full capacity Matt and I drove down to Westbrook Commons while Steve went to the bank to make a deposit. Once Steve finally arrived we put all the stuff into his new apartment. Once finished Matt went to his other job and Steve dropped me off back at the center. I grabbed a few things then I went out to lunch. When I got back I just worked more on my presentation.

August 18, 2005: Today started off with the usual morning intern meeting. Then afterwards I went to the computer lab where Tyler showed me his powerpoint presentation. His was pretty cool all the animations and stuff weren't just for show, but were very helpful in showing the process. He also seemed to show a lot of knowledge in his area, so hopefully in the my presentation I create the same quality powerpoint. Once he was done showing me his presentation I went upstairs to the Rapid Response Lab. Matt had me grab a walkie talkie and go out in the forest to retrieve two cameras and the power supply that was powering the router. When I got back I watched Matt try to get the cameras and the access point to work together properly. He was finally able to get the two cameras working by the time he left. Steve and I then went out to lunch at Wegman's, he got a box a cereal because he missed breakfast and I got a pizza and m and m's. On our way back we parked in the parking closest to the forest and went to retrieve the rest of the cameras and the radio. When we got back Steve was working on another project while I was trying to get the other two cameras to work. Unfortunately I kept on getting my wires mixed up, but Steve helped me correct my mistakes. However, even once the hardware was connected correctly the cameras still were not working. So I suppose we could deal with this problem tomorrow.

August 17, 2005: Today I overslept so I did not clock in until 10:30, so I missed the morning intern meeting. However, when I went to see Mr. Callens he said there was no new business, so I guess I did not really miss anything. Then I went up to the Rapid Response Lab, but the floor was being buffered and Steve and Matt were out somewhere. So I went out on a walk around campus and met up with my friend Alex Arcey whose going to attend RIT in the fall. We talked for awhile and he took me to Gracy's and after a quick look at his dorm I went back to work. Exciting thing happened today, Steve picked up his new Saab 9000 and new plates. For lunch we went out to Dibella's. After we were finished eating we went back to work in the lab. I had to test out the camera, receiver, and transmitter to see if I could get the video on a television they just bought. It seemed to work fine, so sometime this week they will put the camera system and television at the zoo to monitor blind areas in the otter display for the little kids. After that I did some more sodering for the rest of the day on the boards I had already surface mounted the components. This time I did regular through-hole sodering instead of surface mounting.

August 16, 2005: Today once again began with the morning intern meeting. I went upstairs to the Rapid Response Lab to once again help out Matt and Steve. However, today Steve never checked in so it was just me and Matt. We began by just surface mounting some components onto a circuit board. Then the janitor came in saying that she was going to clean, buff, and wax the floor the next couple days, so Matt and I had to move everything off the floor. That included several boxes that were stacked in the corner, which we just put on the counter. Then after that we organized most of the things on the counter. Then it was back to the forest to test out a router, which was supposed to replace the hub. We also brought out the batteries we recharged to power the access point and the cameras. We then went back to the lab to see if the cameras were functioning, but we were unable to ping them. Another weird thing was we could not ping the access point either. So then we basically had to go back out again to retrieve the battery as well as the router and bring it back inside. Matt left a note for Steve saying what we did today and he left to go to his other job. For me I had to go get the other battery for the access point after lunch to recharge and it is back to the LIAS lab to work on my powerpoint presentation, and of course volleyball later today.

August 15, 2005: The intern meeting is routine, but it makes a good introduction. Anyways, afterwards I went back upstairs to the Rapid Response Lab. Matt and I went to RadioShack in the mall to be more hardware such as wire tabs and power connections. To find a stencil kit we had to go to Michael's. When we got back Steve tried to explain some imaging science stuff to me. It had to do with how certain dots when placed a certain distance apart can create the appearance of certain color densities due to the bad resolution of the human eye, which the theory behind inkjet printing with dots. Also certain patterns or colors and circles also creates some type of interference pattern. When Alvin stopped in he tried to explain to us a Radon transform, which had to do with the mathematical theory behind magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans. This one was a little over my head. All I got was that when certain angles are taken on a specific object the area from one point to another has to be slightly interpolated or guessed, which results is a wrong diagnosis. Then Steve had Matt and I work on surface mounting, which is a new type of sodering technique I have never learned before. Basically unlike regular components, the components are sodered to only the top of the board and that is where the connection is made. Unlike regular sodering where a hole is drilled and the connection is made beneath the board, while the component rests on top of the board. Matt did the first board and I did the second board. Then it was lunchtime and I went to McDonald's with Alvin. When we got back we stopped at the interfaith center in the Student Alumni Union where there was a piano we could play. When we got back Alvin went back to his office and helped out Steve for the rest of the day.

Free Line #11

A moment just flashed by, but the camera misfired
A forgotten memory turned into a missing desire

August 12, 2005: Today began with a field trip to Kodak. Since we arrived at Kodak earlier than expected we took a walk on the Platt Bridge at High Falls to take pictures and burn time. After ten minutes or so we went back and entered Kodak office where we had visitor passes waiting for us. We headed upstairs to the next floor and entered the Experience Kodak room. The purpose of this room was for showing visitors from all over the world all the new technology Kodak had to offer. The tour started off with the tour guide showing us how the Kodak Easyshare program works and how pictures can be saved on an online album. After that short demonstration she showed us some different digital cameras Kodak has on the market and one in the prototyping stage. The next part of the tour was a picture kiosk that could print pictures from multiple types of memory sticks and prints them out rather rapidly. The next part of the tour was a few new innovations in printing and display of pictures that had applications to the medical field such as displaying magetic resonance imaging (MRI). One of the coolest parts of the tour was the videos she showed us with special effects and a preview of Kodak's new commercial. Next we saw a slideshow of how imaging science is being applied at Kodak and the opporturnities and training programs Kodak has to offer. However, the best thing in the tour was the three-dimensional gaming console that had Nascar Thunder 2004. Besides making me a little light-headed it was an amazing way to play a game, I hope Kodak decides to put that on market for arcades and home entertainment gaming. A couple things I remember most were the ceramic golf club and the organic light emitting diode (OLED). I have seen both things before during "bring your son or daughter to work day" when my dad took me a few years ago. I knew the golf club would not become a major project, but the OLED technology I thought would be massed produced by now. Because a few years ago during a presentation the people developing the technology said they had already had contracts with Motorola and Nintendo, but I suppose the deals fell through. Hopefully I will be seeing them on the market soon. Lunch at Jimmy Mac's was not bad and the ride home was filled with a conglomeration of music as Jason was riding shotgun. Back at work I basically did more research for my presentation and I am greatly looking forward to a weekend of relaxation and unwinding.

August 11, 2005: Today started once again with the usual morning intern meeting. Afterwards, I went upstairs to the Rapid Response Lab to help out Steve and Matt. We had to head out to the forest again to add some new netwok cable, which we made right out in the field. When we got back Joe was giving some people from ITT a tour of the building and one of them just happened to be Steve's new boss. Steve was able to make it back just as they were leaving the lab and he was able to make a short conversation before Joe took them to the next part of the tour. Back in the lab I worked with some more hardware stuff. After lunch I had to cut insulation foam to fit inside a camera box and more hardware stuff. I apologize that this blog is a little shorter than usual I was trying to remember stuff from yesterday because I forgot to blog, and some of my recollections were a little fuzzy.

Free Line #10

If I could jus stare into eyes for that one moment of serenity
Forgettin da times of broken dreams n unscripted tragedies

August 10, 2005: Today started off with the usual morning intern meeting. Then afterwards i went with Tyler to the Library to browse each of the levels containing different types of literature. Tyler gave me a quick tour of the different areas he usually visits while he is in the library then we headed back to the imaging science building. There we went our separate ways he went to astronomy and I went upstairs to the Rapid Response Lab. Already waiting for me there was Steve and Matt who were doing final preparations before going out to the forest where the equipment was setup. Matt and I went to borrow a wagon from the remote sensing group next door to carry some of our equipment. Into the forest we hooked up the cameras and the newly charged batteries. Once everything was hooked up and setup we took the battery we took out back to the lab to recharge. Then it was off to Chase Pitkins to purchase some extra tools equipment. There we found a wagon for the Rapid Response Lab, so we would not have to borrow one from the remote sensing group everytime we went out to the field. We also got some other stuff like buckets, wrenches, super glue, spray paint, and other miscellaneous items. When we got back we were just a little late for the picnic at the Gosnell Building and we ate basically what they had left over. Then after lunch we went our separate ways I took my thirty minute break. I went to the Ritz Sports Zone to play a couple games of Dance Dance Revolution and I went back to the lab.

Free Line #9

Its the pain thats inflicted when playing these love games
For once its game over, its she, who shall not be named

August 9, 2005: Today started off with the usual morning intern meeting. Joe briefed us on our presentations and what the deadlines were. Afterwards, most of us (interns) or all, I'm not completely sure, went to see the Master's Thesis defense in the auditorium. I thought the speaker did a very good job at explaining what she did and what she accomplished. I suppose if I plan on getting my Master's and PhD there's something I have to look forward to besides typing my thesis. With the conclusion of the defense everyone in the room dispersed and I went up to the Rapid Response Lab on the third floor to help out Steve and Matt. When I got there Steve had not checked in yet, so I helped Matt clean up the lab and put the cables onto the camera cases. Once Steve came in he had Matt and I go to the workshop to drill a hole for a camera in the workshop. When we returned Matt had to leave and Steve had me take some pictures with the digital camera and import the pictures onto the computer. The pictures I took were of a calibration chart at various distances so Steve could find out, which distance he wanted the camera to placed at. The weather seems to holding up nicely, so I am looking forward to playing volleyball later today, but for now it's back to work, laters.