Human beings and computers alike share the challenge of how to get as much done as possible in a limited time. Over the last fifty or so years, computer scientists have learned a lot of good strategies for managing time effectively — and they have a lot of experience with what can go wrong. Brian Christian shares how we can use some of these insights to help make the most of our own lives. Navigate to the folder you saved the file in and Right Click for PC or Ctrl + Click for Mac, then select 'Open With' from the menu: If the file is a PDF open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. If the file is a DOC open it with Microsoft Word.
Fair warning reader: this post has nothing to do with Ubuntu, or even Linux for that matter.
Instead, the following 600 words are about a promising (new to me) FreeBSD distro and why it left me rather excited about its potential.
So, for the duration of this ramble I’d appreciate you pretending it’s 2008 and this site is still called ‘FYIDYK’ — this was the forerunner to omg! with a worse acronym and a ‘cover everything’ attitude!
Human Resources Jobs
In this post I look at what this distro is, what it isn’t, and what it hopes to become. Plus, I share a link to download an install images (warning: experimental) so you can try it out for yourself.
helloSystem: FreeBSD for human beings?
A number of FreeBSD-based “distros” — I don’t know if there’s a different term for BSD flavours, so I’m rolling with this — are available but the first to catch my attention is called helloSystem.
This project was the subject of a talk at the recent FOSDEM event, and it’s that talk that pole-vaulted the project in to the eye-line of bloggers like myself.
What helps helloSystem stand out (to me, anyway) more than its ‘unique’ UI is its ambition. Devs working on helloSystem want to create “a desktop system for creators with focus on simplicity, elegance, and usability” built atop FreeBSD, an open source Unix-like OS.
Now, FreeBSD is a strand of computing I’ve never played with, not even during the exuberant and overreaching “FYIDYK” years. OpenSolaris? Oh yes! ReactOS? Roger that! But BSD? Still TBD, at least for me.
For me, new unexplored tech territory is exciting. And if Ubuntu is ‘Linux for human beings’ then helloSystem is close to being ‘FreeBSD for Mac switchers’.
Ahh, yes. Mac.
There is no getting away from the fact that helloSystem is part cool project, and part homage to the classic era of Cupertino’s celebrated computing export (aka Mac OS X) Like Apple, these FreeBSD devs want to offer an “out-of-the-box user experience” as simple and fuss-free as mid-2000s Mac.
“One objective for helloSystem is to be both easy to use for “mere mortals” yet powerful under the hood for advanced users, a combination that had been skillfully mastered in the first releases of Mac OS X,” the GitHub page blurb reads.
“The question is, can we take this objective of being easy but powerful but take it even further than Apple ever did?”.
It’s perhaps a but too early to answer that question. This project has bold ambitions for the future but humble roots in the present. Right now there are too many rough edges for it to function as anyone’s daily driver.
But it is coming together.
The system uses OpenZFS as its default file system, and has a custom Qt-based desktop (helloDesktop) sporting traditional windowing, a (basic) desktop dock, a unique global menu plugin (think HUD, but system wide), and right-aligned desktop icons and file manager (based on PCManFM).
Hello also comes with access to a range of apps, including LibreOffice, GIMP, and Chromium. Falkon is the default web browser, while a Qt-based text editor and Terminal are included for those who need them.
Neither the OS nor its desktop are “production” ready at the time you read this. Which brings me to the point of why I’m covering it at all.
I’m not expecting helloSystem to be the next big thing™, nor do I see it taking FreeBSD to heights that other *BSD projects haven’t.
But this project reminds me why I began experimenting with Linux and other systems in the first place: the thrill of potential; exploration without precondition; the bristle of possibility that open code (and open code alone) affords.
More Human Than Human Resources Mac Os Download
Download helloSystem Alpha
You can download alpha releases of helloSystem from GitHub.
Do read over the official help docs for assistance on getting it to boot in a virtual machine (which will need at least 4GB RAM, more than VirtualBox’s default).
- (via: Phoronix)
Instructional Team
David JoynerCreator, Instructor | Ida CamachoHead TA |
Overview
This course is an introductory course on human-computer interaction. It does not presuppose any earlier knowledge of human-computer interaction, computer science, or psychology. The class covers three broad categories of topics within human-computer interaction: the principles and characteristics of the interaction between humans and computers; the techniques for designing and evaluating user-centered systems; and current areas of cutting-edge research and development in human-computer interaction.
More information is available on the CS 6750 course website.
This course counts towards the following specialization(s):
Interactive Intelligence
Course Goals
There are three broad learning goals for this course. At the end of this course, you will understand:
- The principles and characteristics of human-computer interaction, such as direct manipulation, usability affordances, and interaction design heuristics.
- The workflow for designing and evaluating user-centered designs, from needfinding to prototyping to evaluation.
- The current state of research and development in human-computer interaction, such as augmented reality, wearable devices, and robotics.
Connected to those three learning goals are three learning outcomes. The learning outcomes are subsumed under the general learning outcome, 'To design effective interactions between humans and computers'. At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Design user interfaces and experiences grounded in known principles of usability and human-computer interaction.
- Iteratively prototype, evaluate, and improve user-centered designs with user feedback.
- Apply those skills to open or new areas of development in human-computer interaction.
Preview
Sample Syllabi
Spring 2021 syllabus and schedule
Fall 2020 syllabus and schedule
Summer 2020 syllabus and schedule
Note: Sample syllabi are provided for informational purposes only. For the most up-to-date information, consult the official course documentation.
Course Videos
You can view the lecture videos for this course here.
Before Taking This Class...
Suggested Background Knowledge
This class does not have significant prerequisites before participation. In lieu of readiness questions, the following bullet points describe the tasks you will complete as part of this class; you may use this description of tasks to evaluate your readiness to take this class.
In this class, you will:
- Analyze and evaluate user interfaces, both ones that we provide and ones that you go out and find on your own.
- Conduct needfinding exercises to uncover problems that can be address through HCI methods.
- Prototype user interfaces based on principles you learn within class in response to those needs.
- Evaluate your user interfaces based on feedback you receive from potential users.
- Revise your user interfaces accordingly and iterate on the prototyping process.
- Apply those principles to an emerging area of HCI.
Technical Requirements and Software
- Browser and connection speed: An up-to-date version of Chrome or Firefox is strongly recommended. 2+ Mbps is recommended.
- Operating system:
- PC: Windows XP or higher with latest updates installed
- Mac: OS X 10.6 or higher with latest updates installed
- Linux: any recent distribution will work so long as you can install Python and OpenCV
- Virtual Machine: You will be provided a virtual machine (VM) useful for performing class assignments and projects. For the projects, the supplied resources are identical to those used to test your submissions. Details for downloading and installing the VM can be found on Canvas.
Academic Integrity
All Georgia Tech students are expected to uphold the Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code. This course may impose additional academic integrity stipulations; consult the official course documentation for more information.