During the meeting with my advisor on this Monday, he told me I should finish my current research project and considering graduation in the next spring. Well, this is sooner than what I expected. On the one hand, I am glad I can get out of graduate school sooner. On the other hand, I feel more pressure because I still have so much to do in order to prove my abilities and find a job I like.
The next a few months will be very challenging. Time is just not enough, and has to be wisely spend on the most important things.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I am a father now!
My daughter was born on August 2nd. She is a beautiful and heathy baby. We gave her a Chinese name called 书馨 (Shuxin), and an English name, Emma. Life has been quite busy since she was born. But every time I look at her, I feel so much love and happiness. It's great to be a father.
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Si surface project
I have been working on this project for several weeks. Now most of the technical problems have been solved. A rough outline has been decided. It's time to clear my mind, and write down the goals with this project.
1. Use plates to explain ideas. Each plate contains several images. Each image depicts a view of a structure, or a step of a process. When all the images are examined together, the viewer should have a good understanding about the structure or the process. Attention should be on (1) the scientific effectiveness of the images, that is how to use 2D images to depict 3D structures, (2) the visual effectiveness of the images (color, light, materials etc.), and (3) the layout of the plates.
2. Use text to further explain the ideals. Text and plates should be synergetic. Also think about the typography.
3. Use animations to explain complicated structures and processes. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of still images and animations.
4. Make a small booklet with 10 to 20 pages at the end.
1. Use plates to explain ideas. Each plate contains several images. Each image depicts a view of a structure, or a step of a process. When all the images are examined together, the viewer should have a good understanding about the structure or the process. Attention should be on (1) the scientific effectiveness of the images, that is how to use 2D images to depict 3D structures, (2) the visual effectiveness of the images (color, light, materials etc.), and (3) the layout of the plates.
2. Use text to further explain the ideals. Text and plates should be synergetic. Also think about the typography.
3. Use animations to explain complicated structures and processes. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of still images and animations.
4. Make a small booklet with 10 to 20 pages at the end.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
From crystal structure to surface structure: Is it a trivial problem or not?
I have been stuck on a problem for more than a week. The problem is how to visually describe the relationship between the crystal structure of silicon and its surface structures. Si(100) surface is a easy one, but to show how Si(111) surface comes from crystal is a tough one.
We you look though books, you can find a lot of information about the crystal structure of Si (because it is such a classic example.) You can also find enough information about its surface structures. But little information can be found about how these surface structures come from the crystal.
Is this a trivial problem? When you look at a image of Si crystal structure and a image of Si(111) surface, you can definitely learn some relationship between them. But how much is learned by looking at these two still images?
The two images are 2D projections of 3D structures, which means that a lot of information about the 3D structures has already been lost when the projections are made. Also the process from crystal to surface is absent, but the process is even more complicated than still structures. The viewer has to imagine this process based on incomplete information of the 3D structures, which makes it ever harder.
Generally, we learn things that are important to us, and things are easy to learn. The structures of Si crystal and surfaces are important, and they are easy to understand by looking at still images. But the relationship between the them is complicated, and might not be as important, so we ignore it. But to me, by looking at this relationship, by asking how the surface come from crystal, by visually illustrate the transformation/generation process, much more could be learn! And the new information learned leads to better understanding of both the crystal and surface structures.
This problem is just an example of how to visually display complicated 3D structures and processes. Unlike several decades ago when we only had books, today we have computers which enable multimedia learning: we can use interactive programs to show the 3D structures, and use animations to show the processes. But how to effectively use these media is what I want to explore as my future career.
We you look though books, you can find a lot of information about the crystal structure of Si (because it is such a classic example.) You can also find enough information about its surface structures. But little information can be found about how these surface structures come from the crystal.
Is this a trivial problem? When you look at a image of Si crystal structure and a image of Si(111) surface, you can definitely learn some relationship between them. But how much is learned by looking at these two still images?
The two images are 2D projections of 3D structures, which means that a lot of information about the 3D structures has already been lost when the projections are made. Also the process from crystal to surface is absent, but the process is even more complicated than still structures. The viewer has to imagine this process based on incomplete information of the 3D structures, which makes it ever harder.
Generally, we learn things that are important to us, and things are easy to learn. The structures of Si crystal and surfaces are important, and they are easy to understand by looking at still images. But the relationship between the them is complicated, and might not be as important, so we ignore it. But to me, by looking at this relationship, by asking how the surface come from crystal, by visually illustrate the transformation/generation process, much more could be learn! And the new information learned leads to better understanding of both the crystal and surface structures.
This problem is just an example of how to visually display complicated 3D structures and processes. Unlike several decades ago when we only had books, today we have computers which enable multimedia learning: we can use interactive programs to show the 3D structures, and use animations to show the processes. But how to effectively use these media is what I want to explore as my future career.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Microsoft Project Natal vs. Nintendo Wii Motionplus
To me, Microsoft's Project Natal was the biggest surprise I got from this year's E3. Project Natal is a new kind of camera system that recognizes the face, voice, and whole body movement of players. The center concept of project Natal is to remove the need of a physical controller with buttons, and to make the player the controller. Steven Spielberg appeared on Microsoft's press conference to support project Natal, calling it landmark achievement, and "not reinventing the wheel, but no wheel at all."
During the press conference, Dan Mattrick said controllers are the main barrier separating the non-gamers from gamers. So the elimination of controllers would potentially bring everyone to play video games. I am not fully agree with this argument. Firstly, people who don't like to play video games might still be not interested in games no matter how innovative the game control is. Secondly, Nintendo was able to bring more non-gamers into video games by a new physical controller (Wii remote control) that enables new gameplay. To me, it's not the controllers, but the innovative gameplay enabled by the controllers will draw more people into video games.
Project Natal will definitely enable new gameplay and interactivity that can never be achieved on any other video consoles. Actually, traditional gameplay using controllers and buttons might be hard to realize with Project Natal. So Project Natal is not about replacing traditional gameplay, but inventing new kinds of gameplay. Spielberg said it might change the way of storytelling and social interactivity. Peter Molyneux said that it will make players much more connected to the game world and it will change the landscape of the gameplay. I totally agree on that. What project Natal can do is getting more information about you (your facial expression, your voice, your body movement) and make you feel you are truly present in and interactive with the game world – you are part of the game world.
What Nintendo did with Wii Motionplus was less revolutionary compared with project Natal. But Nintendo has its own vision about "physical reality" for gaming. The introduction of Wii remote control was absolutely revolutionary, but the Wii Motionplus was more like to extend the function of the remote controller, adding more precision to the game control. I think the precision control is important for some games that would be very hard to realize with Project Natal. Also with a physical controller in players’ hands might feel more real than making gestures with empty hands.
Overall, I think Wii Motionplus and Project Natal will focus on different areas of gameplay. What exciting is that both of them will enable more innovative designs and possibly bring more people into gaming.
During the press conference, Dan Mattrick said controllers are the main barrier separating the non-gamers from gamers. So the elimination of controllers would potentially bring everyone to play video games. I am not fully agree with this argument. Firstly, people who don't like to play video games might still be not interested in games no matter how innovative the game control is. Secondly, Nintendo was able to bring more non-gamers into video games by a new physical controller (Wii remote control) that enables new gameplay. To me, it's not the controllers, but the innovative gameplay enabled by the controllers will draw more people into video games.
Project Natal will definitely enable new gameplay and interactivity that can never be achieved on any other video consoles. Actually, traditional gameplay using controllers and buttons might be hard to realize with Project Natal. So Project Natal is not about replacing traditional gameplay, but inventing new kinds of gameplay. Spielberg said it might change the way of storytelling and social interactivity. Peter Molyneux said that it will make players much more connected to the game world and it will change the landscape of the gameplay. I totally agree on that. What project Natal can do is getting more information about you (your facial expression, your voice, your body movement) and make you feel you are truly present in and interactive with the game world – you are part of the game world.
What Nintendo did with Wii Motionplus was less revolutionary compared with project Natal. But Nintendo has its own vision about "physical reality" for gaming. The introduction of Wii remote control was absolutely revolutionary, but the Wii Motionplus was more like to extend the function of the remote controller, adding more precision to the game control. I think the precision control is important for some games that would be very hard to realize with Project Natal. Also with a physical controller in players’ hands might feel more real than making gestures with empty hands.
Overall, I think Wii Motionplus and Project Natal will focus on different areas of gameplay. What exciting is that both of them will enable more innovative designs and possibly bring more people into gaming.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Designing a new probe station 3
The probe station has been completed for a while. Today I took some pictures. And now I will post my design solutions.
1. The probe station must be compact, light and user-friendly , since it will be used in a glove box in the end.
Solution: Using aluminum breadboard to layout all parts, using linear stages instead of microscope boom stand, locating all probe positioners on the same side.
2. The cost must be less than $2000, since most of the grant money was spend on the glove box.
Solution: Reusing everything already available in the lab, making minimum adjustment if necessary. The microscope, camera, and positioners are reused in the new setup.
3. The microscope should be able to move in x and y direction for easily locating the samples on the substrate.
Solution: Instead of making the microscope movable, making the substrate movable by using two TSX-1D linear stages ($150 each) from Newport. This solution enables more compact design and effectively lowers the total cost.
4. The working distance of the microscope has to be ~3 inches, leaving enough room for the probes under the microscope.
Solution: Changing the previous 5x objective lens to 1x converter lens, achieving the desired working distance.
5. The operation of the positioners should be simple and stable, since users will use them with thick gloves on their hands.
Solution: Switching the previous vacuum bases to magnetic bases, making a new steel plate with arc shape.
Here are two photos of the new probe station.
1. The probe station must be compact, light and user-friendly , since it will be used in a glove box in the end.
Solution: Using aluminum breadboard to layout all parts, using linear stages instead of microscope boom stand, locating all probe positioners on the same side.
2. The cost must be less than $2000, since most of the grant money was spend on the glove box.
Solution: Reusing everything already available in the lab, making minimum adjustment if necessary. The microscope, camera, and positioners are reused in the new setup.
3. The microscope should be able to move in x and y direction for easily locating the samples on the substrate.
Solution: Instead of making the microscope movable, making the substrate movable by using two TSX-1D linear stages ($150 each) from Newport. This solution enables more compact design and effectively lowers the total cost.
4. The working distance of the microscope has to be ~3 inches, leaving enough room for the probes under the microscope.
Solution: Changing the previous 5x objective lens to 1x converter lens, achieving the desired working distance.
5. The operation of the positioners should be simple and stable, since users will use them with thick gloves on their hands.
Solution: Switching the previous vacuum bases to magnetic bases, making a new steel plate with arc shape.
Here are two photos of the new probe station.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thoughts after iPrime meeting
Got the iPrime talk and poster done yesterday. Write done some feelings before I forget them. I work on a project without a clear goal. After several years of research, I am overwhelmed by the data generated in experiments. Unfortunately, I still don't quite know why I am doing this and where the project is going. At this point, I was required to give a talk about my research. Well, how can I give a talk if I don't know what I am doing? My advisor can surely help. But I have to depend on myself since I am the person who knows most about the project. A lot of stress forces me to get something good out from the mess I generate in years. It's tough. But I survived this time. The fog is lifted a little bit; and the road becomes clearer a little bit.
Getting a Ph.D. is like running on a road from start to finish in 5 years. For some, the road is clear and bright: you just need to run as hard as you can. For others, the road is like a labyrinth and murky: you have to find you way after hitting you head on the wall so many times. Totally different experiences, but you learn totally different things.
Getting a Ph.D. is like running on a road from start to finish in 5 years. For some, the road is clear and bright: you just need to run as hard as you can. For others, the road is like a labyrinth and murky: you have to find you way after hitting you head on the wall so many times. Totally different experiences, but you learn totally different things.
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