So I took some time to design what I think is a nice way to browse the
CHI 2010 conference schedule. My CHI Program can be found at
http://nirmalpatel.com/chiProgram/program.html and the list of papers
sorted by author can be found at
http://nirmalpatel.com/chiProgram/byAuthors.html

The Program page allows you to filter program by strings that appear
in Session Titles, Paper Titles, Authors or Location. Additionally, to
see the papers in a particular session you click to expand. You could
also use it to make a quick personalized program by expanding sessions
of interest and printing out the result. Clicking on any author will
take you to the Author page and show you all of the authors papers.

The Author page allows you to jump by starting letter of last name or
filter by any part of the name. For each paper listed for an author
clicking on any fellow authors will filter to the papers written by
the fellow author. Each paper is also accompanied by the session it is
in. Clicking there will take you back to the Program page and an
expanded view of that session.

In both cases the filtering is done live as you type. All of the
filtering is done on the client side using Javascript. You can type
accented characters directly into the search boxes.

       

Click here to download:

My_version_of_the_CHI_2010_Pro.zip (660 KB)

Note : The results presented here are entirely non scientific.

THE CHALLENGE : In a variation on the Pepsi v. Coke taste challenge, I decided that it would be fun to do a Pepsi Throwback vs HFCS Pepsi challenge. Here's how it works:

1. Each participant is given 3 cups. One marked "A", one marked "B" and the third is plain water for rinsing in between sips.
2. Each participant tastes from the cups "A" and "B" with water in between.
3. Each participant answers 2 questions: Which cup is the Pepsi Throwback? and Which one do you like the best?

OFFICIATOR : Matthew

PARTICIPANTS : Nirmal, Mansi, Rebecca, Mike

RESULTS : All 4 participants correctly identified cup "A" as the one with Pepsi Throwback. However, the participants were evenly split regarding which Pepsi they preferred. To sum up the results, Mike made a quick graph:

I encountered this coffee mug at a sari store in Mumbai called
Seasons. While Mansi and her cousins were busy trying on outfits, the
rest of us were asked if we wanted something to drink and my coffee
came in this mug. Something about the tilted handle made it very
comfortable to hold and I offered to purchase the mug but my offer was
rejected. Not entirely sure why.

If I can't purchase a mug with a similar handle, I will probably end
up making one myself.

     

Click here to download:

I_want_a_coffee_mug_like_this_.zip (588 KB)

Mansi and I didn't make a Jackolantern last year. This is our first
one together and maybe the first one I've been involved in actually
cutting. We were inspired by the design at
http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/pumpkin-carving-decorating/jack-o-lanterns/shish-ka-boo-jack-o-lantern-785265/

                         

Click here to download:

Pics_Mansi_and_I_make_our_firs.zip (941 KB)

I setup Dropbox to simplify data gathering across multiple computers. I
suspect I will get back on the Dropbox wagon once I get ahold of the
new Mac Mini to use as my HTPC.

A few pics from my recent trip to Bonn, Germany for Mobile HCI 2009.

1) Glass ceiling of Frankfurt airport train station
2) View while on train
3) Crazy tiny hotel room (with complementary gummy bears)
4) A recent Jun Rekimoto project (Pet Lifelogging)
5) DJ Ludwig - the best of the Ludwig statues in Bonn
6) Some pics of the rooms used for presentations

                                     

Click here to download:

mobile_hci_pics.zip (4961 KB)