#smai projects

[smaiart]

Here's a look at the Monsters I designed for Cassette Beasts! 📼

(Arkidd, Jumpkin, Southpaw, Frillypad)

[beewritesstuff]

One Taste Could Send A Man To Heaven

Chapter 16: Interlude- Taste

(Alright this one is purely ut-smay)

[gorjesshottmess]

Connect+Connect= Connection

Belonging

Social media platforms can aid in rekindling old friendships, share our pictures and lives with family, join groups or causes, and meet new friends, Pearson, (2017). Social media is desirable,you can create a new bond or even start a relationship. it can bring a sense of connection through similar interest. it bring common interest to a variety of people, to like, share or comment. it brings a sense of belonging, emotional safety and personal investments are factors that contribute to feeling connected in the social media world. Pearson, (2017).

Homophily

 Homophily, the tendency to associate with similar others. in term basically forming connections. The concept of homophily is how smay result from social media use. Discuss some of the benefits of homophily in social media. common usually bring individual together in connection with likes or dislikes.(Pearson, 2017) Most social platform used forming connection to keep you on. you meet people based on common interest. or based of who you know, you might see common friend of friends to add. you also share some of the same ties and are able to come together and communicate more effectively. Another benefit is having the capability to meet new people.(Homophily: The urban history of an algorithm an installation for the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial)

Algorithm’s!!!

The way in which, you see what is what on social media platforms. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,Tik Tok, have suggested profile or people you should know. Algorithms and platforms utilize them to connect the users to like-minded profiles, to get connected. Facebook lets the user search groups, chat, and engage other like-minded people. twitter shows you connected profiles based on your likes and follows Instagram lets you post pictures and ideas, look up old friends, and find new friends, Pearson, B. (2017).

References

Green, T. (2018, July 27). Homophily on social media: Predictive Friendships, unlimited sources. Medium. https://medium.com/@divinelyinspiredpub/homophily-on-social-media-predictive-friendships-unlimited-sources-8aac2d80a977

Homophily: The urban history of an algorithm an installation for the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Homophily: the Urban History of an Algorithm | Center for Spatial Research. (n.d.). https://c4sr.columbia.edu/projects/homophily-urban-history-algorithm

How behavioral homophily on social media influences the ... - sage journals. (n.d.). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14614448211020691

Pearson, B. (2017, September 1). Factors that contributes to feeling connected in social media. Medium. https://medium.com/@bryantp019/factors-that-contributes-to-feeling-connected-in-social-media-4446a55ddb73

[ultra-oh-carol]

Short Reflection of the Night.

During our showcase, we had our Demo VR going on and two videos (below) along with a wall full of processes. To set up our wall we printed all the process we could and set them up in a way it wasn’t in people’s faces and they could look if they wanted to. During setup, we noticed that we didn’t have much to place on the wall and while we did have our physical documentation on paper, it wasn’t refined. So, what we did was remake our physical documentation into new refined documentation made on the web. ** The type of people we had was aged between 13 - 27, this was great as our main target audience was 18-24 which as a large chunk of our participants for the night. We didn’t expect our project to be so popular, I was thinking that we would have to get some classmates to play so people could experience what was happening without getting in, but we were barely free the whole night as the only time we had it free was when we were changing users. It was great to see all types of people to play, we had a couple kids play (we didn’t get them to do the survey, they just wanted to experience VR, not our phone data) and seeing how much fun they had was worth not having someone who would give data. During the night we were ‘cable managing’ (where one of us would make sure the users didn’t have to worry about tripping over the cable, so we would hold and ‘dance’ with the cable) and when a user was taller we would have to dance like a monkey to keep the user from tripping. The showcase/playtesting night was so great, I wouldn’t wish to do it any other way because we were collecting data and data comes from failure. I do wish we could have had more people though  

Video links

These are the videos made from the recordings. One is our main video where it dictates what our experience could be.

Edited by Traz.

This video is a blooper for our recordings. 

Edited by Samy.

Images

Our Final Wall Setup. (Without Ipads)

Our Final Wall Setup. (With Ipads)

**

Some Documentation that was on the wall.

A Group Photo where we all have cupcakes (Thanks to Smay)

VR in action (outside)

VR in action (Inside)

VR = Virtual Reality 

[chitrakullkarni]

Kickboxing Equipment Market Sales/Retail Channel Analysis and Profit Margin Study, 2025

The global kickboxing equipment market size is expected to register revenue of USD 240.5 Million from 2019 to 2025, according to a new report by Million Insights. It is expected to grow with a CAGR of 3.6% in the upcoming years. This growth can be attributed to rising health awareness among people coupled with the emergence of sports activities like kickboxing across the globe. Moreover, adoption of kickboxing activity in fitness centers, health clubs, and gymnasiums has paved the way for its popularity thereby boosting the demand for utility products like punching bags and gloves.

Top Companies:

The market includes key players such as Last Round Equipment; Adidas AG; Everlast Worldwide, Inc.; Budoland; Twins Special Co., Ltd; Century LLC; Hayabusa Fightwear Inc.; WESING SPORTS; Hykso; and SMAI. These manufacturers are continuously engaged in product development and innovation for gaining a competitive advantage over other players.

They are also expanding their reach across the globe by implementing several strategies like acquiring partnerships with the distributors. For example, UFC collaborated with CSG Taiwan Ltd. to launch a product named UFC Force Tracker. This product is provided with features like a Bluetooth device that tracks the endurance, speed, and power of the kickboxers.

Request free sample to get a complete analysis of top-performing companies @ https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-kickboxing-equipment-market/request-sample

Growth Drivers:

The activity of kickboxing helps in developing confidence, self-esteem and helps in relieving mental stress. Since the last few years, the participation of women in such activities has increased manifolds across the globe. They also hold a significant share in the number of participants in kickboxing and other related sports activities. Thus, the majority of institutions have started organizing weight classes, especially for women participants. For example, Glory launched the super-bantamweight contest in the Grand Prix Tournament. This increase in weight category exercises is projected to drive the market demand for kick boxing equipment in the upcoming years.

Several tracking devices like smartwatches and wristbands are gaining popularity in the global market. This can be associated with their usage for collecting data on power, punch type, and speed of the players. For example, Hykso had launched a wearable device in 2016 that helped in tracking type, velocity, and the total number of punches. As the real-time results of punches are available in smartphone applications and other devices, players can track their daily progress. Thus, the market for such products is anticipated to boost in the upcoming years. 

Product Outlook:

Gloves

Protective Gear

Punching Bags

Boxing Pads

The segment of protective gear is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 4.2% from 2019 to 2025. This can be attributed to their property to provide maximum protection to critical human organs while playing such sports activities. They are launching many tracking devices like smart-watches and wristbands to track real-time activity data about the punch type, speed, and power of the players. The product segment of gloves held the largest share of 40.9% across the global market in 2018.

Regional Outlook:

In 2018, Asia Pacific held the largest share exceeding 40% of the global market. Many countries like China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia are considered as the major markets for these products. Moreover, promotional activities being undertaken by leading manufacturers to boost the sales of their products are attracting several fitness freaks across this region. Moreover, many kickboxing championships like Glory, K-1, Shoot Boxing, Kunlun Fight, and Wu Lin Feng are expected to impact positively on the market growth in the upcoming years.

Other regional markets such as Europe and North America are anticipated to generate revenue of USD 100 million during the forecasted years, 2019 to 2025. Moreover, the rising number of kickboxing competitions and events is projected to boost the market demand for such equipment across these regions.

Browse Related Category Research Reports @ https://industryanalysisandnews.wordpress.com/

[smaiart]

An illustration I made celebrating Rollin' Rascal's successful Kickstarter!

Thank you to everyone for your support!!!! ;n; 💖💖💖

[aurelia-which-means-sunrise]

New chapter!

[phgq]

Bulacan airport biggest ‘ray of hope’ for migrant workers: group

#PHnews: Bulacan airport biggest ‘ray of hope’ for migrant workers: group

MANILA – Groups of migrant workers have lauded the plan of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to construct an international airport in Bulacan saying it as a potential source of employment and livelihood opportunities for local and overseas workers displaced by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“This bold move of San Miguel Corporation to push through with the airport project amid the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 has become the biggest ray of hope not only for the people of Bulacan but also for our OFWs and other displaced workers,” said Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center,

Ople, a resident of Hagonoy, Bulacan, added that aside from providing jobs and livelihood, the project would address the perennial flooding problem in coastal areas of the province.

“It doesn’t make sense to build an airport in a place where planes can’t even land because of constant flooding, so definitely this problem will be addressed by SMAI (a subsidiary of SMC) in partnership with the provincial government,” she added.

Danny Ricohermoso of the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) said the maritime sector is supporting the construction of a new airport in Bulacan because it will create new jobs and help stimulate the economy.

He added that the new airport project, once completed, would put the Philippines firmly on the map as an investment and tourism destination, and a key player in the global market.

For his part, Luther Calderon, founder of the Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc. (KAMPI), a non-profit organization that assists distressed OFWs, said the building of a new airport and airport city is a long-term solution to the aspiration of OFWs to return home and find local employment.

“With the sharp economic downturn affecting traditional labor markets, many of our OFWs yearn to come home and be reunited with their families. Massive infrastructure projects such as the building of a world-class airport in Bulacan gives them hope for the future,” Calderon said.

OFW leader Venecio Legaspi, in his capacity as the director-general of the OFW Council of Leaders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, said the new airport would be a source of pride for OFWs who are tired of the airport congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We have always dreamed of coming home to a world-class airport with multiple runways so we don’t need to be circling in the air for so long because of too much air traffic. We also long for an airport where our families can send us off or welcome us home with greater dignity and comfort,” he added.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment, at least 346,555 OFWs have been adversely affected by the global pandemic. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Bulacan airport biggest ‘ray of hope’ for migrant workers: group." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116518 (accessed September 25, 2020 at 06:01AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Bulacan airport biggest ‘ray of hope’ for migrant workers: group." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116518 (archived).

[blog-mcc]

How MCC Helped Me Become a Software Engineer

By Smai Fullerton

“Carrying a metal culvert six miles into the wilderness with someone who regularly whittled baseball bats out of logs with an antique butcher knife in camp” and “spending my days in front of a computer screen writing software to provide an SEC filing solution for corporations” aren’t the two most compatible gerunds.

But I’m grateful they tell my story. I moved to Montana in 2011 and served as a corps member, crew leader, and staff member in the state office. Now, I live in Missoula and work as a software engineer with Workiva -- a career I never imagined possible.

Here are five ways the MCC and AmeriCorps experience fostered skills that were critical on my journey to becoming a software engineer.

MCC teaches the value of taking leaps into the unknown

My story will be familiar to many alumni: I was 20 years old, drove alone across the country with a car full of stuff, had never set foot in Montana, had never camped more than a couple nights in a row, and knew no one. It was the most massive leap of faith of my life.

Serving with MCC makes members more independent and reduces their fear of trying new things. It takes a lot of time and energy and self-motivation to finish a season, which translates into the courage to follow other callings. MCC turns “Can I do it?” into “How will I do it?” at an age where that perspective shift changes the course of lives.

I’ve always loved computers, but as a woman with a liberal arts degree, and someone who hadn’t spent her childhood coding, it seemed impossible that I could actually change my career and become a software developer. Because of MCC, I knew it was safe to try.

MCC teaches what it’s like to be a total beginner at something

I know from feeling it myself and from reading the applications of hundreds of MCC applicants that living a simpler life, working with one’s hands, being present with nature, and having a deep inner journey is what compels many people to apply.

Everyone starts out clueless about what this really entails. Not many experiences, especially for people in their late teens/early 20s, prepare a person to know what it’s like to live and work in the backcountry with a bunch of strangers for nine days in a row for months on end.

Spoiler alert: it’s challenging, and growth is inevitable. A lot of skills are brand new, and they require patience, feeling a bit foolish, and being exhausted to the core.

Learning to code is like that, too. It pushes short-term memory, problem solving, and systematic thinking to the max. Fortunately, MCC gave me a lot of practice in handling the uncertain and unanticipated, and I’m more apt to not give up when the going starts rough.

MCC teaches how to stay positive through discomfort

Many of my best memories of the trail are times of hysterical laughter when something was going poorly. That’s not a coincidence.

It’s unavoidable for MCC participants to reckon with their sense of perseverance. From grueling hours of labor, to cooking with few amenities, to not peeing on oneself, to resolving conflict through discussion, to existing with thoughts and feelings in full color with no screen-shaped dopamine retreat -- all are realms that require a surprising amount of introspection to handle.

I discovered through the months of physical and mental discomfort that it was easiest when I surrendered and chose to make the best of it. When I let go of trying to control what I couldn’t (i.e. mosquitoes, or thinking I’d come up with a plan that was more efficient than what my crew leaders came up with), I received immediate feedback that life felt better that way.

MCC is a wake-up call about the ebb and flow of all things. This lesson translates to resiliency and an acceptance of reality out of the woods, too. When I encounter unpleasant aspects of software development, I can improve them with an attitude adjustment. When I can’t solve a problem, I know my reaction to the discomfort is all I can decide and factors in to how quickly the answer comes.

MCC teaches how to work VERY closely with strangers

Not many people have the social experience of working 10 hour days in the pouring rain or blistering sun, and then going back to a small camp with little privacy. Fellow crew members stop being strangers fast.

Serving with MCC made me feel a whole new kind of vulnerability. It improved my ability to have good conversations and be there for others when they cross their boiling point. It made me confide some of my deepest stuff and seek guidance from people I probably wouldn’t have crossed paths with at a party. Some people I didn’t get as close to, but I still learned to meet them where they were at, and respect them for their experiences.

I don’t have this level of closeness with my new co-workers, but I benefit from being able to find common ground better than before. I’m the only woman engineer in my office and one of only a couple on my project. I learned through MCC that everyone is far more similar than different. When I lead with this perspective -- rather than hold on to the things I think no one can understand about me -- it makes for a much more confident, comfortable, and charismatic existence.

The Leadership Development Program goes far beyond the woods

Given that MCC was my first “real world” experience out of college, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to work for an organization that set aside explicit and abundant time to practice skills like communication, conflict resolution, active listening, empathy, and giving feedback.

The Leadership Development Program is AWESOME. It made me a better person, full stop. I went through the week at Camp Mak-a-Dream, where these skills are taught, three or four times, and every time I was blown away by the power and excitement felt in the room.

Because of MCC, I’m equipped for life with a vocabulary that translates to my job - and relationships! Organizing and completing a software project is a massive effort of people working together and communicating about what they’re doing. The LDP teaches people to bring a subtle awareness to the table that can make a big difference to a group. Small things like offering a constructive observation about a social dynamic, bringing people into the conversation who are on the introverted side, or asking questions like “What could I do better?” are far more natural for me.

And I know they’re worth the courage.

[smaiart]

Rollin' Rascal Kickstarter is NOW LIVE! 🎉

Excited to announce that I've been working with Gabriel Gonzalez and Curiomatic on their brand new game, Rollin' Rascal - which now has a Kickstarter!

If you love 3D Platformers, please consider checking the Kickstarter page! The whole team have been working super hard and if the campaign is successful, then working on this game full-time would especially be a dream come true 💙 🟢Kickstarter Page

[smaiart]

Cassette Beasts is OUT NOW on STEAM!! 🎉

Happy to announce that I worked on this game as Character Illustrator and additional character monster designer!

If you love Pokemon-like games, or know someone who does, please consider checking it out! 💙

✨Cassette Beasts will also be launching on Nintendo Switch & Xbox GAME PASS May 25th!

[smaiart]

Here's a look at my redesign concepts for Curiomatic's Buck Bumble small project :)

[smaiart]

Very happy and honoured to have worked on the cover for the newly announced Cassette Beasts Vinyl & Cassette!!

💜PRE-ORDER HERE! 📼

[smaiart]

XP-PEN UK very kindly sent me their brand new Artist 16 Pen Display (2nd Gen) to try out and review on Twitter!

🤍Read it here!💛

The Artist 16 (2nd Gen) is currently on sale until 24/05 at XP-PEN’s website!