2017 awaits - what will it bring

As I write this first blog for 2017, I am suffering, all self inflicted I might add, they say never mix your drinks, I didn't, all were consumed separately, beer first, then red wine, followed by a small night cap to welcome the new year in.

I have so many projects building up in my head, some are just floating, some are a little more than this, I need to expand my notes and see if they might be viable, some are, so the notes I have made need to be expanded, and things put in place, to trial them. I never have had a problem with failure, without it  i just don't learn, but it would be nice to get one or two paying wins !.

I can see that 2017 is going to be a busy year, its going to involve travelling a lot, something I enjoy enormously, so the Mac is going to get a new bag, my trusty Kensington is showing signs of wear, to the point of failure. So I an looking, as yet nothing stands out, but I can't delay to long.

My Mac is still ok, its not due for replacement just yet, although I am reviewing what I need to make it work better when traveling, spare cables, a new power cable and spair video dongle and mouse, plus travelling keyboard, I like to sit back from the screen and type.

For so long, I have used Dropbox as my main storage in the cloud, thats not changing, but I am separating my private life away from business, and all my personal files have been moved to Apples iCloud, it works and its as safe as anywhere, perhaps a little safer. I made several different dropbox accounts to do this, but seeing them all at the same time evades me, so Apple iCloud wins. I tried Google Drive, and again it works, but as most of my files are Apple, it kind of needed more time to convert than I wanted to give.

Evernote still remains my archive library, it works so well, and although I tried out the others, it still remains the best.

My photo's are still in Apple iPhoto, its so good, although for sharing I tend to allow Google Photo to take a copy, and its here I let people share sets I have made, I an using Pinterest, don't ask why, it's just easy to use and it has a lot of really interesting users.

Apple pages is not the best writing program, but it works for me, so most of my papers, articles and general writing start here, ok I often export to word, simply because its the medium most other are using. Google Docs just keeps being there, is easy to use and if I asm writing lectures then this is what I prefer to use, my personal lectures I use to consult with remain as Apple, but the University lectures remain Google Slides.

Whilst I talk Apple, my iPhone is definitely up for renewal, I have an iPhone 5s, but articles on the new iPhone for 2017 sound so good, I'll wait.

Vectorwork is, and will remain, my CAD package, this year I will get to grips with 3D, I use it, but not in anger, so my next job no matter what size, will be 3D. with all the bells and stuff of BIM. I need to get to grips with Revit, but I feel a conflict might arise with Vectorworks, i'ts one or the other, and Vectorworks will probably win.

I have a huge list of academic papers I want to write, so head down. I want to complete at least two before the spring, plus get my book into shape.

Thats it, no great revelations, just getting things in order and making a few plans

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The End of 2016

I sat down this Boxing Day morning to tidy up my desk, and files a few bits away. I normally do this small, in brackets, job at this time of the year, its seems right to start the year of to a clean plate.

But as always I get side tracked, and its hard to stay focused on the job at hand. So after a full morning, dodging tasks handed to me by my good lady, and incoming text messages from my sister who also seems to think I have nothing better to do, I have got my filing more of less done, a book shelf sorted and my computer cleaned, and I mean that in the literal sense, as the screen looked like it was in need of a dam good clean, so the glass cleaner cloth was used to a big effect.

Next is my year of CPD, as a lecturer, I can not be accused of not full filling my 35 hours, I read constantly and often, a lot of my notes and photos get logged into Evernote, I tried Microsofts OneNote, and dabbled with or is that continue to dabble with Googles Keep, I just want it to succeed, but how can it against Evernote. it just works, and works well across all my devices, the same can not be said of the others in this respect.

I want to update my spreadsheet for CPD hours, but i fear this is going to have to wait, I have just found my list of papers and articles I want to write, or finish, my web site needs updating with my latest paper, and I have the notes on my recent Professorial lecture to update and bring together into an article.

Saldey 2016 has not been a pleasent year, my father died in August, so a lot of things I had planned were put on hold and other things moved or did not get my full attension, whilst I dealt with this, but as I speak, dad is in a small plasic bag on my shelf awaiting a final resting place with his father. I know roughly were he is, but need to spend time finding his old plot in Aston Parish Church.

I live on the cusp, let me explain, I run a Mac, and for the best part, its fine, but I use Google for lectures, and writing, Drive is so good at being on all the machines I have to work on, here at home and at Uni, Mac just does not like sharing like Google does, Pages is ok for short writing, but I prefer Google Docs, for my longer papers and articles, and Chrome, I have set up with a few nice little apps, that Safari just does not have. You may ask why not move to a chrome book, I might in the new year, but my CAD work with Vectorworks is firmly placed on the Mac and I will not move from this, unless Nemetschek, come up with a web based app like Auto cad. I want to return to Gmail, after moving to Mac mail some time back, but the pain I will have to endure in doing this just is not worth it, so here i satay mostly Mac, with more than a little Google.

So there it is, end of another year, I have so much to do in 2017, my list of things I want to do grows longer, I shall be 65 this year, and thoughts of retiring just don't form any part of my plans, but a change in work just might, as I write more, blog more frequently teach better, and add to my mentoring, the future is not me, its the youngsters who are waiting in the wings.

Consultancy now seems more viable, as I concentrate on developing my futurist side, our industry is changing, CAD is morphing into something else, point cloud looks so inviting , but the real interest for me is all the data we generate, how we use it as we delve into AR and VR,  plus data has to involve Algorithms, and online data from so many places and things, hence todays photo. Oh and not to forget how spreadsheets and Google are going to play such an interesting part in all of this.

2017 is going to see all of these melt into MR, or Mixed reality. How it will be used is an ongoing development, there are several camps, which  track , one looks interesting, one has promise, and the rest, well we will see !. At the right time, I will expand my thoughts on this, but until them  watch the blog.

Talking of which, the blog has been a little quiet I know, but now, as I enter 2017 I have so many lined up to write about, expansions of several lectures, more videos to post and if I can some trial live lectures. As I write my abstracts for papers, I will use the blog to air thoughts and discus the paper before going to print.

So there it is, the end of 2016, and a whole new year looms,

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My data bank - Shall I stick to Evernote

For as long as Evernote has been in existence, I have been adding articles, pdf files, meeting notes, just about anything I thought work keeping, in the great archive Evernote.

I scan letters, articles I see in magazines, and my trusty Moleskine pages, I take photos within Evernote of bookshelves. The OCR will, if I have taken the photo close enough, will mean it's searchable.

I use it as part of my research, as the little app I have on both safari and Google Chrome Web Browsers, shows any links in my Evernote account as well as the internet. Very usefull for my private notes.

But in the last few month, Evernote has increased the premium fee, there is a free account, but my use means I need to pay, so is the increase justified,

I sat back and wondered,t has anyone else got a similar product that does all of what Evernote does and more.

My list is simple,

• Google Doc notes
• Google Keep
• Microsoft OneNote
• Mac Pages - Spotlight

I have alway used Mac, so have a lot of notes pre Evernote in Mac format, mostly “pages”, Searching can be done via the Spotlight search button, but is not easy and only brings up the file name

Microsoft OneNote has for some time been gaining ground on Evernote, but after using it to trial its ease and sharing I find on the Mac it's not really ready yet, the iPad version has a hit and miss approach to sharing the main account, and search is therefore limited, but I like the layout and methodology.

Google Keep, has quietly, been adding features to this simple yet so easy to use product, and sharing across all my devices is very google like, easy, it just works, I like the way I can add data, even on the Mac its simple, but it can’t save PDF files, there is a simple work around involving saving the pdf to Google drive, getting the link and pasting that into Google Keep, but any search will only read the link and notes you might have made, unlike Evernote that saves a complete pdf, and makes the entire content searchable. And the search is limited to Keep, searching on my browser does not bring in my keep notes unlike Evernote.

Making notes in individual Google Doc’s is so much like Apples Pages, it is so easy to use, but searching is so limited to the file name.

So after a month of trials and frustration, I am back to Evenrnote, well I never went away, I just duplicated my notes, it took time but showed me that Evernote still has the edge, by some considerable margin, sharing is so good, across all my devices, and almost everything I do is available for the search withing my browser.

Is the extra worth it, answer, yes, will I do the same trial again, yes, but I’ll wait a year and let the other programs mentioned, try and catch up, Google Keep seems to be the one I will watch, Google's ability to both store for free and search this information is well known. However they need to up the ante on pdf and photo import.

There is so much to talk about I blog, toweet, and add notes to various places, so to clooect all of these into a readable archive, I have created an email News letter

This first newsletter. Essentially it's going to be an alternative to my blog, with the current article, plus side issues.

I have for some time wanted to add, my side research and findings, like my Twitter  uploads, but not limited to the letter limit. I want to explore this newsletter design, so it will change.

I use a Google App called “Convert Google Docs to Gmail drafts”, which as the title says, I create this as a google Doc and transferred to gmail to send out. Taking a copy to add to my blog. So if you want so recieve this, try this download link to the PDF. or alternativley fill in this google form with your name and Email and I'll send as an Email. ( This is in trial so hang in there as I sort )

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Architectural Technologist - Data Convergence Specialist

One of the points I raised in my professorial speech was the way the algorithms we use now, and we will use in the future, are generated and written.

Whether we like it or not, data is going to become a huge part of the Technologists day to day work. For many of us it's going to be the generation of the core base that will eventually generate so much more data, plus the use of external data, that together with the data we helped to generate, will form the backdrop to much of the oldschool work we have traditionally done like detailing, spec writing etc.

We as technologists might under stand the construction but few of us understand the way the algorithms are written and to be truthful, the answers they give yet alone the deeper use of the data we genrerate. Ok the low level use at the contract stage is our first stab in the way some of this data can be used, but take it just a little further, and, we hand over to computer programmers who, are not so well versed in construction, or construct methods, to read the data we help generate and mix an match to external sensor data, and make conclusions based on what they can understand from us.

Current use of CAD data, in the form of BIM does not come close to the future I see just around the corner

Unfortunately it's not a two way exchange, we rarely get to see the methods, and if we do, can we understand it.

It's clear to me that a new branch of Architectural technology needs to be invented, that of the 'Data Convergence' specialist, who can live on both sides of the equation, construction trained as well as computer programmer.

So over the comming moths, I plan to investigate these algorithym a little exploring how they can be generated by us, starting with parhaps a mind map, then the flow chart, I use Lucidchart to do this, so should be fun.

The video below is a little long at a touch over 30 mins, but its well worth the time to get the basics and a little more. I must admit to watching it twice, once to get the feel, and once to make notes, stop and review.

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Home Security

I am at last moving into the home security market, I get clients asking what to do, so I thought its time to experiment and look for products that I can fit to my own home.

First it's the usual alarm, We had one fitted some 20 years ago, and its still as good as the day it was fitted, ok we have it services regularly, and the battery has been changed a couple of times. Its a same guard, I like to set the thing when we go out, most of my neighbours have the same unit, and we all check when it goes off. I have thought of getting a better, internet connected unit, but I thought about it and decided to invest in something a little up market.

Enter stage right, out new web-cam we purchased from Y-Cam, its a simple little device that is wifi connected, has sensors to detect movement and works in the light and dark of the evening.
The output is good, and its viewable on their web site vis their iPhone App, and on my Mac. I can down load the video feed, and best of all, once you purchase the unit, the web site is free. the video I attach is an example of the quality, its not bad.

We use this for two reasons, one to watch our dog, when he is home alone, and then we move it to a upper window to view the front drive, the sensor is good enough to pick up anyone walking to the front door. Although we quite like watching our dog, its surprising what he gets up to.

Next, a front alarm bell, I Have my eye on a Ring unit, but at £120 the same price as the Y-Cam, I think it will wait, as the cam in the window does what I want at present, although the idea of answering the door from the ring unit and telling the post man to leave the parcel is tempting.

As always, for us its a matter of adding the correct items to support all of this to the drawing, for both units it down to a simple power supply, the Y-Cam is 240v so a plug in a convenient place is all thats required, the Ring needs its own power via a transformer, Specifying that the house is connected to the WiFi is interesting, as thats down to the house owner, but as long as its mentioned in the specification.

Conclusion, I like the Y-Cam it does most of what I want, I can check on the house whilst away, and I get advice on my phone when its activated. I can easily phone my neighbours to check on anything, and adding another unit to say the back of the house is easy.

Techcitejournal my new site to promote academic papers

For some while I have been thinking about setting up a site to host not only my own Tech papers but any one who has or wants to publish a tech paper to promote Architectural Technology. I have named it Techcitejournal, I think it adequately describes what the site is all about.

Currently its hosted on a Wordpress.com site, but if there is enough interest I'll move it to its own site.

At present I an setting up the papers I have written, but if you have a paper old or new, sent it to the upload address and I will review and post

If your interested in becoming a reviewer, again drop me anEmail to the same address and we can talk.

I still have no logo, so thats next, also I need to add some html to allow citations to be easily done for any article. I also want  Scholar.Google.com or at least Google.com to list and scan my new site, this I have requested.

There is no cost to all of this, I want to provide a free and uncluttered publishing web site free of firewalls,  This Peer review journal will operate on the principles of Open Access. I see no reason but to quote this excellent open Access statement from Peter Suber on Open Access. The full version can be found here, it say it all. You might also want to read the Sparc site on this subject as well.

Open-access (OA) literature is digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. What makes it possible is the internet and the consent of the author or copyright-holder.

But till them take a look, I'll be uploading my papers as and when I can.

25 Year Track Record

What does it mean when a manufacturer say's  "We have a 25 Year Track Record" unless they can provide accurate records of all projects over the 25 years, then the statement is meaningless.

Most will have no idea or have accurate records of projects they have sold onto, simply because they sell vis distributors and they are so often reluctant to divulge their client list.

They might refer you to their agrement certificate and thats a start, but they will only have selected projects collected for the purpose.

Ask manufacturers for failed projects and you will get a stone wall, yet its what we need to know. I recently gave my professorial presentation to my University, and it, I stated that its not unreasonable to ask these questions, I wanted it to be presented via an electronic search, I add their products to my drawing and the CAD package or perhaps a specialist service, that searches online for information good and bad.

There is the obvious litigate routes we can check, the Technology and construction Law courts are the obvious start. blogs, open notes, manufacturers literature, online applications to both planning and building regulations will offer another excellent project list. The Government has some excellent sites, trade records, weather stats from the met office, some even have API's or application program interfaces ready and waiting to allow you to do this.

Would I subscribe to a specialist service that would not only, search for my specific requirements, but perhaps research manufacturers from say the RIBA product selector, visit sites and ask questions, independently, take photos, make notes, its an interesting question, and one that might bring a little attention form lawyers.

But back to the main question, of can we search now for data, this all part of what I have named  Data Convergence Specialist, the Technologists role in applying search parameters to algorithms that will look at all these open source data sources and start to give us answers to questions we should be asking.

Data is becoming so important to us yet we get bogged down in the tech site of BIM, and its application. BIM is important, but some of use should be looking a little further into the future, and laying down a few ideas and research notes on how BIM might evolve.