Hello world! My first blog!

For my first blog, I wanted to answer the provided sample questions as a way for everybody to become familiar with who I am and what my interests are in the world of computer science.

• What got you started with computers or software?
  • My origin story begins as a musician. I was interested in composing music in the realm of soundtracking as well as self-released material. I started getting into instrument software applications such as Omnisphere, EastWest Hollywood Orchestra, Native Instrument Libraries, etc…Very simply put, these applications provided a means to use digital versions of instruments as opposed to physical versions. For example, instead of having a bunch of orchestral instruments in my apartment, I can just use samples provided by EastWest Hollywood Orchestra. No mastery of instrumentation or space allocation required. After learning about how the user interfaces helped with navigating the applications, I became interested in developing similar applications that distorted sound. Thus my interest in learn computer science was born.
• Current job or internship
  • Currently, I work as an IT Developer at the County of Santa Barbara. I am in the middle of developing a script that outputs mailing labels from a selected subset of data. I also manage content for both external and internal facing websites, build FTP based connections as well as provide excellent options for culinary quest for those seeking good food.
• Your future career
  • My career goals tend to be based around the core philosophy of to desire is to suffer. In other words, I intend to live a minimalistic and intrinsic based lifestyle as opposed to maximalist and materialistic. In regards to how this influences my career goals, I do not seek to work with Fortune 500 companies, rather I prefer my work to prioritize the welfare of the public and its constituents more directly. I have found great success built on these beliefs. My future career goals are to explore fields in which feel most rewarding intrinsically and provide excellent opportunities for me to demonstrate my adept technical amplitude. I strive to further my education in the realm of data sciences and build an enriching network of growth and prosperity.
• Favorite technologies
  • My favorite technologies can be quite broad. At work, I tend to lean towards python based APIs such as ArcGIS PRO/arcpy as well as site management providers such as CivicPlus, WordPress, Sharepoint etc…In my spare time, I enjoy dabbling music such as industrial metal, trip-hop, dark jazz through software such as Omnisphere, Line 6 Helix, and GetGoodDrums as well as developing horror games in Unity’s API.
• New technologies
  • In my day to day, I enjoy using AI as a way to develop ideas or to inspire new ones in how I go about my communications or programming. I do love photography but I tend to avoid social media as I am not a fan of hype.
• Favorite listed projects (in this course) and why
  • My favorite listed projects in the course are as follows:
    • Escape Room Challenge
      • I find this to be a unique way to learn Unity and an opportunity to develop the experience further by adding elements of horror. Would be fun to add some music in the project as well.
    • ML Breakout
      • This project’s intent seems to be both reinforcing in my current understanding of Unity but provides a way to begin learning machine learning. I have discussed with my manager high level constructs of how we can leverage machine learning to categorize data and this would be an awesome way to begin broadening my skills.
    • Tap Tap Rhythm game for iOS or Android
      • Lastly, this would be a fun way to combine a multitude of my interest into one idea. I have not played guitar hero in a while but imagine the concept is relatively similar.
• Current interests
  • My interests outside of technology, school and work are quite simple. I would like to spend quality time with my chosen family, learn to make epicurean delights and find peace of mind through exercise, exercise here being that of physical and mental such as jogging or doing a puzzle. Naturally composing music is also an interest.
• Journey with OSU
  • Three years ago, I struggled so much to understand the breath of knowledge that is computer science. Not knowing exactly what you want out of the program can make your journey difficult. As I began exploring how I felt about each course and their respective projects, I was able to gain an insight as to what my proclivities were toward the concepts that we learned. In the end, I learned that I like working with data to accomplish observable tasks. Data easily fell into this category and I fell in love with analytics, migration and manipulation. This provides a means for me to provide quality output while feeling in tune with my tasks.
• This course (feedback is always appreciated!)
  • So far, the course seems pretty straight-forward and relaxed. I was not expecting to have a blog in this capacity but I have always enjoyed writing more than talking. I look forward to meeting my teammates and seeing how we can make a project that we are all happy with.
• Kids, pets, hobbies, sports, games, activities, etc
  • In my spare time, I like to go for long walks on the beach or hiking trails, completing jigsaw puzzles, reading a book or learning a new skill, playing story driven games such as The Last of Us, Mass Effect Trilogy, or Fallout, learning language inclusive of human and programming, and drinking some kind of caffeine and minding my thoughts.

I look forward to reading and learning about everyone else in the course! Tuyo, Dom