Week 6 @ IHPC

Monday 24/11/2008

Quartz composer rocks!

I guess for the next few month at IHPC, I would be closely in touch with Quartz composer and soon be Quartz Guru. Just got hold of some basic functions of Quartz composer. Pretty new to this programming language and very different to others. The only similar part is that it uses Javascript too.

As usual, working with Quartz composer to make the gesture application to run in Lightdraw. I spend quite some time debugging on the application but it still seem to be not working properly. Luckily Ming hong came to help me, he just simply help me change two lines of coding and there it goes. The program is running smoothly. While I was doing that application, Wilson was doing on our new version of pong game which would be developed using Quartz composer.

Tuesday 25/11/2008

Fusion world is so cool.

Continue with the work where we stop yesterday. I am kind of frustrated today as I meet some difficulty in doing the program. When doing the Pong game using C++/ Open CV, it was much more easily. However, now I had to use patch and connect them together and even type some javascript to make it working.

Lunch time, let's put that aside.

Went to IKEA to have our lunch. Nice Beefballs and chicken wings make me so hungry.

After lunch, we make a visit to FusionWorld, an interactive and multi-sensory showcase gallery of more than 60 technologies from seven of A*STAR's research institutes. The place is so cool, its make you feel like you have reached another planet, where technologies can heavily depend on.

These images were taken from FusionWorld Website

After the tour at FusionWorld, we went back to continue on our work. Research on the net to look for useful javascript that could help me in developing the Pong game. 

Wednesday 26/11/2008

Fusionopolis Sky garden

In the morning, the AC department was having a meeting at Lightdraw demo room. Well, we were not involved in that meeting, so we had to continue working on our application. I was trying to fix my part which is to make the paddles move at the right condition. 

Let me show you how our new application looks like.

spot the different. :>

New Version

Old Version

After lunch, Bernard brought us a tour to Sky garden and level 14, where students' located for their internship. We felt so lucky after visiting level 14. Bernard mention if we did not perform well, we would be send down to level 14. OMG!!!!

Level 14 : Student internship workstation

Or would you like to have these ?

Working with iMac
in nice office

Some photos we had taken at Sky garden. It supposed to have more photos than that. But something went wrong to my handphone camera, not working properly, lots of photos that I have taken were not in the memory. Everything seems to be spoiled. First, desktop then external hard disk. Then  laptop and now my handphone. What went wrong??

After that, we went back to the office and look for Kevin. We had a short discussion on our application. We were still not very familiar with Quartz composer that why our progress seem to be very slow. Wilson and I continue working on our parts. My mind was very refresh after visiting the Sky garden. I was able to code the paddles in such a way that it works properly. Shocked. I was so happy that I was motivated to move on and work on other functions. 

Thursday 27/11/2008

Most of IHPC staff went for the company retreat since morning till about 4 pm. Kevin, Bernard and Ming Hong were involved too. The rest of us had to continue on the application. As yesterday , I had completed the movement of the paddles using mouse. Continue from that, I had to make this application to work on Lightdraw. I was unsure about how to use the OSC receiver. Therefore, I had a look at the Lightdraw Quartz composer applications, hoping that I could get some useful source to assist me in that part. 

We also had our lunch by ourselves as they were still attending the company retreat. We went opposite to the Dover market to had our lunch. This time, we had chicken rice, recommended by Bernard, and I was sick that time when they had it. That why this time round, they decided to have chicken rice again.

After lunch, I continue on the research. However, I did find some useful codes but it seem not to be working properly in my application. I spent quite some time debugging the application, removing that patch and try adding new patch, it just not working. I decided not to spend more time on it,  I could ask Ming Hong the next day. I started another part of my application, which I need to check on collision and the moving algorithm. 

Friday 28/11/2008

Ming Hong came over to help me with my part, which was the OSC receiver. He help me solved the problem. Know what? I actually missed out one structure member which caused Lightdraw unable to work with my Quartz composer application. Continue working on the application, did some testing to ensure that the movement of the paddles were right. 

Kevin, Ming Hong and Bernard were unable to join us for lunch. So we went to the hawker centre and bought our lunch back to the pantry to eat. After lunch, there were group of  JC students visited IHPC. Our department show case Lightdraw and 2 by 3 tile display to them. We went to have a look at their demo. Then we went back to continue on our work.  

 

Week 5 @ IHPC

Monday 17 Nov 2008

Reached office at about 8.45 am and saw Wilson and Bernard at lobby. They just had their lunch at the hawker opposite Fusionopolis. I forget about last Friday Wilson , Bernard and I agreed to have breakfast together.

Although Kevin is at Texas, does not mean that we have nothing to do. He already told us what tot do when he is away.

To- Do List

Enhancement for Pong Game

• Make the paddles to move smoother
• Allow laser to point at a location within a selected area and the paddle will move towards it
• Add in sound effect

Test the other Lightdraw Applications

Quartz Composer

• Read the notes
• Do tutorials

So I started working on the enhancement of the Pong game to allow laser to point at a location within a selected area and the paddle will move towards it. First, I came out with the logic on how much of the selected area for the laser to point with out causing collision with other laser. As the corners of the game application allows interception within paddles. Then, I started coding on the application. After few rounds of testing, i finally make the application to run successfully.

Tuesday 18 Nov 2008

Had my breakfast together with Wilson, Leonard, Hock and Bernard at opposite Fusionopolis.

Started on Quartz Composer by reading the notes given by Kevin. It give us come understanding about Quartz Composer and also tutorial to do some hands on. After reading the notes, I start doing the tutorial. Well, before i were able to complete, it was lunch time. We went to the same hawker that we had breakfast this morning as Harold got some stuff on that why we need to settle our lunch quickly.

Getting back to work, continue on my tutorial. It use Quartz Composer to make a rotating cube and make in like a screen saver. After completing the tutorial, I set that as my screen saver. Let's have a look.

Wednesday 19 Nov 2008

Had my breakfast together with Wilson, Leonard , Hock and Bernard again. Same time and Same place with Same people but Different table and Different food.

Continue on Quartz Composer. Reading on Quartz Composer Programming Guide. It used Xcode to do an Cocoa application. And QCView to create a Standalone Composition. I found it very interesting when doing Quartz composer as I could create my own screen saver and create it into an application.

As for the Pong game, I manage to complete the laser detection part which allow the laser to point at a position and the paddle would move towards the laser.

Thursday 20 Nov 2008

Wilson and I had finished reading the notes and completed with the tutorials in the notes. However, I found those tutorials were pretty simple, but I would not said Quartz Composer is easy as I had seem the example of Quartz composer application. Those were tough. I went to google for more tutorial of Quartz Composer to learnt more about it so that I can get used to it.

I found QuartzCompositions.com which is a forum that provide source for Quartz Composer. I found a tutorial about the sound fader and download to application to try it out. And also, try on the Lightdraw Quartz composer applications.

Friday 21 Nov 2008

In the morning, we worked on the Lightdraw Fusionworld application to make it work with the new Lightdraw version and continue working on Quartz composer. From the Quartz composer application that I had downloaded yesterday. I study the source of the application and create a similiar but easier application by myself. Time is pretty short today, not because is Friday but because today we have a company event which the staff would bring their children to the company.

In the afternoon, we would have to organize some games for them. However, I was unable to join the event due to my napfa test. I went back to school for napfa at about 2pm. I got a bronze due to my 2.4km run. I only got 12.39mins if 19sec earlier I would get a silver award. From what I heard, those who get Bronze and fail the napfa, they will have to serve the NS for 2 years. While those who get Gold and Sliver, they will only have to serve for 1year and 10 months.

Fourth week @ IHPC

Monday 10/11/08

Monday Blue. When I reached the office , everyone were feeling so blue. I guessed over the weekend I had too much fun and forget about my work. So I did not where to start working from. It took me some time to get refresh and start working. Wilson and I worked on the multi-players mode and allow the system to detect more than one laser on the screen. However, we met some difficulty while working on it. Our game application was unable to detect more than one laser. So we actually code our program to test on each paddle working functionally at a time. We notice that there were some errors in our coordinates to match the laser together.

Tuesday 11/11/08

Day without Ming Hong

Could not do much as Ming Hong was not at office, we were unable to use his method to integrate with our game application. We have been trying out all the way till lunch time. After lunch, Kevin gave us a briefing about out new project coming up next week. Team one would be You Hock and Leonard, they would be working on the 2 by 3 using Linux to integrate Lightdraw with it. Just that projectors of the screen cost about half a million. Shocked? Team two Wilson and I would be using MAC Quartz Composer to develop an application so like a drawing board. I guess our project will be much more interesting as it got to do with more User Interface design.

After the briefing, we continue with our game application.

Wednesday 12/11/08

Ming Hong is back!! But kevin is away. We could ask him about how is method work so that we will be able to integrate in with our game application. He explained to us about the method and help us integrate it with our application. After that, we tested on our game application. Well, its works!!

However,It was just for 2 players at the moment. When we are busy time seen to be running. Because it's lunch time!!! After lunch, we went to market place to shop for awhile and buy some fruits. Then we continue with our work.I continue work on the paddles so that all 4 players will be able to play at the same time . After all, it seem to be working but in a weird way and guess what is actually my coding that make it run weird as i mistaken the naming convention and name the paddle movement wrongly. Of course, I changed those errors and the program run smoothly.

On the other side You Hock and Leonard were not that lucky. Although both team were stuck at the multiplayer mode but the way of doing it was different from us. Therefore, our coding would not do much useful for their program. You Hock seem to be very stressed by that as he have been thinking of ways to overcome the problem. Well, good luck funky. Tomorrow would be a better day!!!

Thursday 13/11/20008

 

Kevin is back.

In the morning,  Kevin had a briefing with us about the program of the upcoming week when he is away from Singapore. Basically, You Hock and Leonard will be working on the 2 by 3 display, which will be using linux to deploy Lightdraw  on the program. And they will be working closely with Bernard and Ming Hong for that project. While Wilson and I would be working on Lightdraw application using MAC Quartz Composer. We would be working together with Kevin. I believe more interesting stuff is coming!! I am ready... :>

As usual we had lunch together but this time round, we had it at the pantry. Due to heavy rain, we decided to have our lunch in the office. So we headed to the Marketplace downstair to buy some instant cup noodles and chips. 

After lunch,  Bernard brought us up to the server room and brief us about how the system works. We learnt about how the cluster run, architecture of cluster and the accessing speed of the data. After that, we continue to work on the application to do some enhancement. I was trying to add some sound effect to gain excitement of the game. But when I trying to retrieve to some file that I initially developed in Linux, I am unable to copy that file due the mouse control is not working properly. However, I managed to get Cheng Ting to help with that issue but he also unable to fix it. 

Well, somehow by luck, I manage to get the file to my thumb drive. Lucky me! I borrowed you hock's macbook pro to  work on my application. After several testing, I am still unable to fix the delay of audio, I tried google it but just could not find such similar case.

Friday  14/11/2008

TGIF!!!

We demo our game  application to Kevin. After showing him our application, he was not happy with our development. Due to our game gesture and the locking of icon were not very attractive and user friendly. As we did not try out Lightdraw applications that why our applications were not better than those previous application.  

After lunch, we had about an hour to improve our applications so that we were able to demo to our boss. During the demo, we demo how our game application played and explain which platform we used to develop. He also gave us valuable feedback to improve on our applications.  

Third week of IHPC

Monday 03/11/08

Today we continue our game development. I was working on the player's paddle so that the user can use mouse cursor to control the movement of the control. In order to do that I had created an on_mouse method to control the movement of the control. It actually detect the mouse left click and lock the padde to mouse cursor and a mouse move funtion to move according to the mouse cursor. Also, I researched on the internet to look for useful source code to play audio file in my game program. This is to add excitement to the game.

Tuesday 04/11/08

Integrated our application together. Wilson was working on the movement of the ball and calculation of the score for the 4 players. After the integration, we did some arrangement for our coding so that the application would be workable. After lunch, I continue to work on my audio file to be play in the game. According to the online source code, I implemented the codes into our application. The coding indeed works however the problem was there was a delay of 2 sec for the audio file to play.

Wednesday 05/11/08

I wasn't feeling well that day due to last night, had a dinner with my bros and sis, they are all ladies, we had our dinner at One Rochester Park. We had this dish called "Jackass hot wings". I suspected this was the main culprit that made me fell sick.In the morning,we showed Kevin our progress of the game development. And he gave us some feedback to our development. He told us to focus on the integration with OSC to make the application workable on Lightdraw and for the time being not to do the audio effect of the game.

As Kevin, Harold, Ming hong and Bernard had farewell party at Harry's @ fusionopolis.Wilson , You Hock and Leonard went to had their lunch at Dover Hawker Center. While I stay in the office to rest. Wilson brought back congee for me. Luckly, I did not went for lunch with them as they were caught in the rain. If not I would be terribly sick. After lunch, We continue work on our application so that it can run on both MAC and Linux.

Thursday 06/11/08

Deployed our application with OSC so that it would be able to detect the laser position and able to follow the laser and move towards it direction. As we were using the Mac Pro together with the projector display on anothor room, we had to do excerise by walking in and out of the room when we were debugging the program.

However, it was unable to integrate together successfully even after our lunch. We were still unable to make it run smoothly. There was some problems with our coding that the paddle could only move upwards. There are some possibility of such case, that was either something wrong with the coordinates or something went wrong with the paddle conditions. We would continue the debugging the next day.

Friday 07/11/08

TGIF!!! It's Friday.. Time seems to pass very fast in IHPC. I guessed because we were really busy with our project. To me, it was a great achivement to make our game workable within one to two weeks.

Started the day with the debugging where we stopped yesterday. Wilson and I really want to see our application to be able to run with lightdraw. Kept debugging and debugging even when the new projector came and they are fixing it. We still continue to work on the coding in our computers.

Well, our efforts were paid off, the game application was able to integrate with lightdraw. Wilson and I were standing in front of the projector and kept playing with our game. HAPPY!!!

Second week at IHPC ( 27 - 31 Oct)

As Monday was public holiday, Deepavali, therefore we had a long weekend.

Started work on Tuesday 28/10/2008.
In the morning, we had a briefing by our supervisor, kevin. There is a change of plan, we need to develop our games by a group of two.Hence, Wilson and I would be working on pong game. While Leonard and You Hock would be working on puzzle game. After lunch, we had a tutorial about basic C++ programming by Ming Hong and started working on the UI design for the game.

Wednesday 29/10/2008
As usual, Wilson and I continue to work on our application. Nothing interesting happened at work but I left my workplace at about 4pm because I need to go back school for Imagine Cup briefing for my juniors.

For the rest of days, we were busy doing our game application and researching on how some function can be done. All of us were very focus and make full use of our time to develop our application. On Friday, when Wilson and I integrated our application together, we actually notice that our application is almost done, about 80% completed. That was a fast development indeed.

First week in IHPC ( 15 - 24 Oct)

This is the first week of our internship and it also Fusionopolis Official Opening. Therefore, there is alot of project show at the lobby. These projects ,which were done by A*STAR, were real cool. The project that interest me was the robotic Lion Dance and robotic Server. The robot lion dance can dance together with the drum rhythm and THE MOVEMENT REALLY LOOKS REAL!!. The robot Server is able to detect objects around it and it would serve drink to the people around it and EVEN CHAT WITH THEM. ISN'T IT AMAZING ???

I would say internship at IHPC is very fun. Having nice environment and friendly colleagues whom teach and help us alot in our work. This really gave us a great working environment, making us always looking forward to each day of work. Our work is real interesting and challenging. Each day, we research and work on different stuffs.

Basically, what we have done on the first week :

Researching on

• linux
  


• open source
  


• distribution
  


• OS Licences GPL/BSD
  


• Linus Trovalds/ Richard Stallman
  


• Bill Gates

Installation Linux Fedora9 into a computer , VM ware into our own desktop and opencv and other neccassary documents.Of Course, we also try to run install web camera into our desktop and run Lightdraw project. Wilson and I were the "LUCKY" ones because we had iSight install in our computers but how are we going to run the iSight which was on Mac to run in Linux?? Good question. We spent one whole to debug and finally it works!!.

Also, we watched Pirates of the silicon valley. That was a great movie, I really enjoyed watching it. It show about the history of IT, how Apple developed macintosh and Mircosoft, Bill Gates, he was a great driver!! you would understand what I meant if you watched this movie...

On friday, we were told that we will need to develop a simple game using C++ and open cv that will be integrate with Lightdraw for the next time weeks. Therefore, we need to come out with a game and proposal to kevin how this game is going to work. Each of us will be working individually on our own idea.