I reviewed a video series from O'Reilly recently: Strata Conference New York + Hadoop World 2013: Complete Video Compilation - Tools and Techniques That Make Data Work
I have not yet watched all of the 71 hrs+ of conference content but from what I have seen I have been absolutely blown away by this series. The quality of the content and format makes it the next best thing to being there.
On my Mac, the conference sessions download as QT movies. The presentation from each speaker appears in a main window on the left and there is a smaller window in the top right where you can see the speaker. The quality of both the video and audio is first rate and I was able to stream the content to my Apple TV and watch it on a big screen and it was like having front row seats at the conference.
One day I would like to get to a Strata Conference and this video series from O'Reilly has made me want to go even more. However, I don't think I have missed any of the content last year by not being there. For much, much less that the price of the airfare, I now have the whole conference program to watch.
PROS
Quality of content
Able to watch any sessions from the conference I choose
CONS
Presentations are large so make sure you have enough disk space and bandwidth
Bottom line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend!
Monday, January 13, 2014
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Game theory can be fun
I reviewed a book recently: Theory of Fun for Game Design, 2nd Edition by Raph Koster
I have always been an aspiring game designer and developer and thought this would be a good one to read to get a few ideas.
When I think of 'theory' I usually envisage something that, while useful, is going to have a hypotheses and some research and analysis... a stereotype I know, but I dot usually expect it to have any fun. Despite its title, this book bucks my stereotype.
The author's style is easy to read and 'conversational' and gives good practical examples of the 'theory', supported by lots and lots of nice hand drawn illustrations.
One of the points made in the book is that fun games are a form of 'pleasurable learning' and I certainly had fun reading this book and feel like I learned a lot.
As an aspirational game designer, I am not sure how I would apply what I have learned as there appears to be no 'formula' for designing fun games (and maybe that is just as well) but there are a lot of good stories and examples to get you thinking and this is what makes the book a good read.
PROS
Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written
CONS
Might Be Hard To Apply The theory
Bottom line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
I have always been an aspiring game designer and developer and thought this would be a good one to read to get a few ideas.
When I think of 'theory' I usually envisage something that, while useful, is going to have a hypotheses and some research and analysis... a stereotype I know, but I dot usually expect it to have any fun. Despite its title, this book bucks my stereotype.
The author's style is easy to read and 'conversational' and gives good practical examples of the 'theory', supported by lots and lots of nice hand drawn illustrations.
One of the points made in the book is that fun games are a form of 'pleasurable learning' and I certainly had fun reading this book and feel like I learned a lot.
As an aspirational game designer, I am not sure how I would apply what I have learned as there appears to be no 'formula' for designing fun games (and maybe that is just as well) but there are a lot of good stories and examples to get you thinking and this is what makes the book a good read.
PROS
Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written
CONS
Might Be Hard To Apply The theory
Bottom line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Too sexy for my job?
I found this article on being a Data Scientist: The sexiest Job no one has
It could be a case of 'the grass is greener' syndrome but this is the job I want and I think Im on the way to getting it :) ... to me, its an exciting prospect that 'the universe (is) one large data set' ... *big data* indeed ;)
Now here come the 'damned lies and statistics'... Gartner estimates that there will be 4.4 million IT jobs created to support data analysis in just the next two years... and about half of those will be outside the US... I wonder what the stats say for data scientist jobs being generated in Australia?
I wonder what qualifications and experience I will *really*need, maybe its all that geeky stuff I keep hearing about...
- watch The Big Bang Theory religiously ... maths, science, history, unravelling the mystery ... (tick)
- can recite the script of The Matrix, 1, 2 and 3 (tick)
- think that leela and amy are hot (tick)
- yada, yada, yada (tick)
... oh, oh, what's this....
- PhD is advanced statistics
... darn, I was really close... well there's something to work on!
I just hope this 'wave' is really and not all sexy hype... cue LMFAO ;)
It could be a case of 'the grass is greener' syndrome but this is the job I want and I think Im on the way to getting it :) ... to me, its an exciting prospect that 'the universe (is) one large data set' ... *big data* indeed ;)
Now here come the 'damned lies and statistics'... Gartner estimates that there will be 4.4 million IT jobs created to support data analysis in just the next two years... and about half of those will be outside the US... I wonder what the stats say for data scientist jobs being generated in Australia?
I wonder what qualifications and experience I will *really*need, maybe its all that geeky stuff I keep hearing about...
- watch The Big Bang Theory religiously ... maths, science, history, unravelling the mystery ... (tick)
- can recite the script of The Matrix, 1, 2 and 3 (tick)
- think that leela and amy are hot (tick)
- yada, yada, yada (tick)
... oh, oh, what's this....
- PhD is advanced statistics
... darn, I was really close... well there's something to work on!
I just hope this 'wave' is really and not all sexy hype... cue LMFAO ;)
Friday, November 29, 2013
Technology leadership and innovation at Google - how does this relate to 'normal' organisations?
I came across the following article by Google on 'the 8 pillars of innovation' a few weeks ago and it got me thinking... what is innovation and technology leadership for a 'normal' company?
'Normal' companies are not Google... but there are many companies that would *love* to be 'like Google' (at least in some respects e.g. market cap, revenue streams, etc.) and so do some of the ideas presented in the article apply?
In many ways, companies like Google, and Apple, and others, are synonymous with innovation. The visible innovation occurs in the market, with new products and services that are offered. The less visible innovation is happening on the inside - as illustrated in the article and also in Hollywood films like 'The Internship' ;) lol
Its hard to imagine a 'disconnect' between the internal culture and the external culture. They may not be the same in every respect but there is no doubt IMHO that there is significant congruence between the two.
I think that is one reason why when I see a focus on client-facing-innovation I get excited because it probably means that there is a very innovative company on the 'inside'. It makes me want to be part of it :)
One of the interesting points made in the article is how Google handles 'failure' - never fail to fail! That part reminded me a lot of when I first became a consultant, at Simsion Bowles & Associates (good 'ol SBA)... Graeme (Simsion) did not mind failures, they were a chance to learn, the only rule was 'fail fast and learn quickly' ;) SBA was a very innovative company, at least in my own experience to that point, and its was a really fun place to work and to grow.
As an IT guy, one of the 'spin offs' I look for in an innovative company is how innovative they are in their use of technology. I just hate it when IT is seen as 'pure expense' or a 'necessary evil' that makes it really hard to enjoy my work... in my career I have had a gut full of 'bureaucratic IT departments' pushing their view of how technology can and can't be used... the worst thing is its done from a purely 'selfish' or 'ignorant' 'don't create work for me' point of view :-/
As a disclaimer, let me say that last part is not a criticism, it is more of a challenge!
Every company needs to have some control over their technology, its cost, impact, etc. but I think it sometimes goes too far... people so far removed from the 'customer' think they are in charge and that they can make up the requirements... this is where it all goes pear shaped IMHO.
The 'effect' of client-facing-innovation is a catalyst to putting the focus squarely back on the client and their needs and when this happens it can help 'obliterate' the way companies think about technology (to borrow an expression from Michael Hammer in his famous 'don't automate, obliterate' article in the HBR).
The 'spin off' winners are the internal staff who get to share in the innovations created for clients and, to coin another term, 'the cobblers children will *finally* get new shoes'... because the shoes will have been designed for the client and, as we all know, there is nothing more enlightening than 'walking a mile in another person's (the clients) shoes' ;)
I hope our 'cobblers' in your organisation are up for it, there are a lot of new shoes to make ... welcome to the revolution ;) **1
**1 I had a choice between the song 'Children of the Revolution' by T-Rex or Tommy Lee Jones' quote from 'Under Siege' ... I went with the song :)
'Normal' companies are not Google... but there are many companies that would *love* to be 'like Google' (at least in some respects e.g. market cap, revenue streams, etc.) and so do some of the ideas presented in the article apply?
In many ways, companies like Google, and Apple, and others, are synonymous with innovation. The visible innovation occurs in the market, with new products and services that are offered. The less visible innovation is happening on the inside - as illustrated in the article and also in Hollywood films like 'The Internship' ;) lol
Its hard to imagine a 'disconnect' between the internal culture and the external culture. They may not be the same in every respect but there is no doubt IMHO that there is significant congruence between the two.
I think that is one reason why when I see a focus on client-facing-innovation I get excited because it probably means that there is a very innovative company on the 'inside'. It makes me want to be part of it :)
One of the interesting points made in the article is how Google handles 'failure' - never fail to fail! That part reminded me a lot of when I first became a consultant, at Simsion Bowles & Associates (good 'ol SBA)... Graeme (Simsion) did not mind failures, they were a chance to learn, the only rule was 'fail fast and learn quickly' ;) SBA was a very innovative company, at least in my own experience to that point, and its was a really fun place to work and to grow.
As an IT guy, one of the 'spin offs' I look for in an innovative company is how innovative they are in their use of technology. I just hate it when IT is seen as 'pure expense' or a 'necessary evil' that makes it really hard to enjoy my work... in my career I have had a gut full of 'bureaucratic IT departments' pushing their view of how technology can and can't be used... the worst thing is its done from a purely 'selfish' or 'ignorant' 'don't create work for me' point of view :-/
As a disclaimer, let me say that last part is not a criticism, it is more of a challenge!
Every company needs to have some control over their technology, its cost, impact, etc. but I think it sometimes goes too far... people so far removed from the 'customer' think they are in charge and that they can make up the requirements... this is where it all goes pear shaped IMHO.
The 'effect' of client-facing-innovation is a catalyst to putting the focus squarely back on the client and their needs and when this happens it can help 'obliterate' the way companies think about technology (to borrow an expression from Michael Hammer in his famous 'don't automate, obliterate' article in the HBR).
The 'spin off' winners are the internal staff who get to share in the innovations created for clients and, to coin another term, 'the cobblers children will *finally* get new shoes'... because the shoes will have been designed for the client and, as we all know, there is nothing more enlightening than 'walking a mile in another person's (the clients) shoes' ;)
I hope our 'cobblers' in your organisation are up for it, there are a lot of new shoes to make ... welcome to the revolution ;) **1
**1 I had a choice between the song 'Children of the Revolution' by T-Rex or Tommy Lee Jones' quote from 'Under Siege' ... I went with the song :)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Agile Data Warehouse development
I am currently 'brushing up' on Agile Data Warehousing approaches to match a need which has arisen in my work.
Being a Scott Ambler fan, I decided to start with Agile Best Practices for Data Warehousing (DW)/Business Intelligence (BI) Projects and also with the TDWI as I recalled that the 2010 conference in San Diego was about agile DW/BI approaches
From the Abler article, I found a link to AgileData methods and also to AgileModelling . One thought I really liked was the 'Let's keep the modeling baby but throw out the bureaucracy bathwater. ;-)' ... this I *really* like, to me, modelling (and the design aspects that go with it) are key. If you don't have a 'top down' view of the model and the key design points its very hard to be effective using Agile IMHO... Agile without modelling is a bit like Monty Python's 100 yard dash for people with no sense of direction ;)
I'd be happy to hear about anyone's experiences with Agile DW/ BI approaches. I will post more on this as I read more and formulate an overall approach for 'my project'
Being a Scott Ambler fan, I decided to start with Agile Best Practices for Data Warehousing (DW)/Business Intelligence (BI) Projects and also with the TDWI as I recalled that the 2010 conference in San Diego was about agile DW/BI approaches
From the Abler article, I found a link to AgileData methods and also to AgileModelling . One thought I really liked was the 'Let's keep the modeling baby but throw out the bureaucracy bathwater. ;-)' ... this I *really* like, to me, modelling (and the design aspects that go with it) are key. If you don't have a 'top down' view of the model and the key design points its very hard to be effective using Agile IMHO... Agile without modelling is a bit like Monty Python's 100 yard dash for people with no sense of direction ;)
I'd be happy to hear about anyone's experiences with Agile DW/ BI approaches. I will post more on this as I read more and formulate an overall approach for 'my project'
My new 'project' - Wordpress and GIT
So, my new 'project' is getting Wordpress and GIT working together.
My 'ultimate' goal, at this stage at least, is to have a local install of Wordpress and GIT, running on a Mac Mini on my home network, that 'mirrors' a hosted install of Wordpress (except for some Wordpress settings that need to be changed).
The idea is to be able to make changes to the local development installation, track changes with GIT, and be able to 'push' updates up to the hosted install once I have had a chance to test things out.
Its early days but I have found a few articles on the net that sound promising... here is one that I am studying to learn the basics of what I need to do Developing on Wordpress using GIT and here is another Using GIT for Wordpress development and this Adding GIT to your Wordpress development workflow
Anyone know of any other articles worth reading?
My 'ultimate' goal, at this stage at least, is to have a local install of Wordpress and GIT, running on a Mac Mini on my home network, that 'mirrors' a hosted install of Wordpress (except for some Wordpress settings that need to be changed).
The idea is to be able to make changes to the local development installation, track changes with GIT, and be able to 'push' updates up to the hosted install once I have had a chance to test things out.
Its early days but I have found a few articles on the net that sound promising... here is one that I am studying to learn the basics of what I need to do Developing on Wordpress using GIT and here is another Using GIT for Wordpress development and this Adding GIT to your Wordpress development workflow
Anyone know of any other articles worth reading?
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Recommended ebooks on Wordpress Multisite
Check out http://wpebooks.com/2010/09/how-to-enable-multisite-in-wordpress/#comment-478
There are two ebooks on WP multisite that I have bought and can recommend
The first book is by Andrea Rennick and is a short guide to enabling WP multisite. Its clear and well written, easy to follow and explains the basics of WP multisite. I knew most of it but it was a good refresher to check my understanding of the key concepts.
The second book is one that has been co-authored by Mika Epstein and Andrea Rennick and is a more in depth look at WP multiple networks and multisite… I'm only part way through but I like the easy to follow style of the book. I'm learning heaps about WP multiple networks and multisite and I hope I can learn enough to be confident to manage my WP multiple networks / multisite installation. You can find more info about the second book here http://halfelf.org/ebooks/wordpress-multisite-101/
Both come in Kindle format for use on a Kindle or, as I do, on an iPad with the Kindle app installed. There are also PDF and ePub formats.
Good work Andrea and Mika I love your work :)
p.s. I came across Mika on some of the Wordpress.org support forums… a very knowledgeable and helpful person :)
See http://wordpress.org/support/topic/warning-upgrade-to-37-killed-my-multisite?replies=12#post-4832058 for an example
There are two ebooks on WP multisite that I have bought and can recommend
The first book is by Andrea Rennick and is a short guide to enabling WP multisite. Its clear and well written, easy to follow and explains the basics of WP multisite. I knew most of it but it was a good refresher to check my understanding of the key concepts.
The second book is one that has been co-authored by Mika Epstein and Andrea Rennick and is a more in depth look at WP multiple networks and multisite… I'm only part way through but I like the easy to follow style of the book. I'm learning heaps about WP multiple networks and multisite and I hope I can learn enough to be confident to manage my WP multiple networks / multisite installation. You can find more info about the second book here http://halfelf.org/ebooks/wordpress-multisite-101/
Both come in Kindle format for use on a Kindle or, as I do, on an iPad with the Kindle app installed. There are also PDF and ePub formats.
Good work Andrea and Mika I love your work :)
p.s. I came across Mika on some of the Wordpress.org support forums… a very knowledgeable and helpful person :)
See http://wordpress.org/support/topic/warning-upgrade-to-37-killed-my-multisite?replies=12#post-4832058 for an example
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