• • Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays
  • 8 Personal Video Message Terminals
• • BC Canada Pavilion
  • 3D Immersive Theatre in the Green Room
  • 3 Glass Touchwalls in the Green Room
  • 2 E-Postcard Terminals in the Green Room
  • Introduction Touch Screen Content for the Green Room
  • CIRS Building Touch Screen Content for the Green Room
  • Project Management of the New Media Room (with interactive touch screen cubes)
• • Canada’s Northern House
  • 2 Personal Video Message Terminals
  • Green Screen Interactive Terminals
• • Robson Square
  • “Front Page News” Newspaper Kiosk

Personal Video Message Terminals are kiosks you walk up to and record a video on. The ones on the torch relay were used to record videos in each community on the relay that would be played in Robson Square during the Games. The e-postcard version used at the BC Pavilion took a snapshot of you in the Pavilion that you could add a message to and send to family and friends via email with a message. If you were there, you probably saw one – so, what did they look like? or, I have a close up sexy photo.

The 3D Immersive Theatre showcased the fun things you can do in BC as the viewer follows a family on their vacation in the province. The theatre included not only 3D visuals, but wind effects, rumbles, and scents.

The Glass Touchwalls showcased four energy efficient companies in BC in a fun game-like format. The touchwalls are approximately 8ft tall clear glass with the interactive space at about chest level (for touch usability).

The Introduction Touchscreen simply showed you the different areas of the Green Room and a little bit about each area. For example, it would tell you where the Glass Touchwalls and the 3D Immersive theatre was. We supplied the illustrated graphics and text content.

The CIRS Building Touch Screen simply allowed you to view videos on how the CIRS Building was conceptualized and how it would be environmentally friendly. We supplied the illustrated interface to navigate these videos.

The New Media Room is the area of the pavilion which featured 3 large multi-touch cubes which allowed the visitors to wipe away layers of animation for such products as the Need for Speed video game as well as watch behind the scenes clips from movies like District 9. We provided the project management for this room. Watch the video featuring “The Curious Tree” cube.

A Green Screen Interactive Terminal is a booth you can walk into and record fun videos in front of a green screen to send to friends and family. It’s great fun and the videos to choose from can be customized by the venue or client using it. Watch a video of someone using it.

The Newspaper Kiosk was a fun free way for people in Robson Square to have their photo taken on the zip line, with the Olympics mascots, or in front of the GE Ice Plaza. It uses the same green screen technology as the Green Screen Interactive Terminal except it takes a snapshot as opposed to a video and presents you with a print out of your picture on the front page of the news. See some cool people in the Vancouver Sun.

Needless to say, we were quite busy and there was a lot of overtime worked, however it was quite the experience and I wouldn’t take it back at all. I loved being involved and working on something that was for a bigger cause.

In December, we had our annual Christmas banquet for Toastmasters and I performed speech project #10 – “inspire your audience”. So, in case you missed it, you’ll find the text version on my Speeches page under “Attainable Dreams”.

Now that the Olympics are done and my year of being President at Burrard Toastmasters is coming to an end, it may be time to take a step back and look at what’s coming down the path next.

Until next time, adios.

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For those of you interested in participating in Thrill the World, however are not in the Vancouver area, can check for events in your city here.

Stay tuned!

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I still get a kick out of the name of the magazine, BUTT. Could you imagine having to tell someone where you worked or interned? “Yes, I had an internship at BUTT.”

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Check it out!

P.S. The design of the Citrus SEO website makes me feel so happy inside! Excellent job Justin!

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I’ve only worked for Netgenetix Media for a week and a half and I already love it. The people are awesome, it’s work I love to do, and when I wake up in the morning (for the first time ever), I actually WANT to go to work. I’m so happy that I can say that. It’s a small company with great achievements and it sits on the entrance to Gastown in Vancouver.

Thanks to Leigh, Jess, Gerrod, Darius, Devin, Justin, Eric, and Paul for making it so easy to work for them. I even get to play softball with them and their friends on Thursdays in a beer league. It’s awesome.

And so, turning 20 and entering the industry, I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish and learn in the years to come.

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Living in B.C. a recent extra tax has been added to our gas prices. They call it the Carbon Tax.

“[Finance Minister Carole] Taylor said the new carbon tax will begin July 1, starting at a rate that will have drivers paying about an extra 2.4 cents per litre of gasoline at the pumps.

If you drive a Prius hybrid, the government estimates the new tax will cost you about $20 extra per year. If you have a Dodge Ram pickup truck, that number will be closer to $68 it says.

The tax will then increase each year after that until 2012, reaching a final price of about 7.2 cents per litre at the pumps.” (The Vancouver Sun – “B.C. introduces carbon tax”)

We all understand that we want to improve our environment and reduce global warming – however I’m not sure this is the way to do it. As much as many people would love to not drive to work, a lot of them don’t have the option. People who live in the suburbs where no transit extends to, but work in the city would have a problem with this.

I really don’t think it’s going to take many cars off the roads. Although the government says all money received as a result of this tax will be returned to consumers through a package of tax cuts and credits, because prices are going up (and wages are not) people will be forced to use the money they get back, on the very gas the government doesn’t want us to spend it on.

Even for those who will only drive short distances to get to the transit and finish their commute on transit – it still doesn’t save money or encourage people to take the transit. Transit prices are rising too, and to top that off – to park anywhere near any sky train or bus station, it’s pay-parking in effect (if you park at the mall you have a large risk of being towed).

So tell me – why would I take transit if it costs almost as much as the gas to fill my car (other than to save the environment I mean)?

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The next topic are the new cell phone charges put out by Telus Mobility and Bell Mobility.

Consumers are now gong to be charged for incoming text messages. The companies are saying they can’t afford what it’s costing them so they have to charge their consumers for the cost of incoming text messages.

Calls is one thing – you can choose to ignore it so that you don’t pay for the incoming call. There is no choice involved with a text message – especially with all the spam text messages that some people get. The charge is said to be $0.15 per incoming text message – that adds up, and quickly.

Why should you pay for something you have no control over?

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Oh, and how could I forget? There’s the highway robbery of infamous ICBC. I don’t need to explain or rant about anything here because I’m sure we all have experienced the financial raping ICBC does to every single one of us. Let’s just say I pay $270/month for my car insurance, and that’s WITH 40% off. Explanation and example over.

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What I’m trying to say is, personally I don’t know what to do about these things and I’m sure a lot of other people don’t either. We continue to let the government and the corporate giants to take advantage of us when we have the power to do something about it.

So the real question is, what will YOU do to make a difference? (and encourage others to do so as well?)

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I think it’s ingenious. Especially for those of us
who are computer maniacs. Yay for helping the
environment!!!

Peace.

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Rest-assured that the new design will NOT be a template and I’m super stoked for that. Yay for my own design!

Until later.
Peace.

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But then we got a brand new 17″ MacBook Pro with our program and I fell in love – although I still use PC’s I’m a total Machead now and I would rather do anything on a mac than on a PC.

So in celebration of Mac I thought I’d post the link to the 60 most beautiful apple desktop wallpapers. I love them, I hope you do to.

This one is one of my favourites:

Peace.

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Peace.

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Around the time when my third term started here at BCIT, I was beginning to think I was going to have sketchy chances of finding a company who would take me on as an intern for my requirements at school. I worried about it way too much. Fourth term rolled around and I ended up with 3 interviews for internships. The one that I was hoping for, was the one I got. And I couldn’t be happier with the place I’m working at. I’m currently a proud intern of Fjord Interactive Marketing + Technology and I absolutely LOVE it. The people I work with there are the most amazing people ever. None of them ever make me feel stupid or that any question I have are unnecessary. The people I work with are Ricky, Jax, Andre, Jonesy, Dana, Brad, T.Y., Berger, Joelle, Flor, Heather, Chris, Marcel, Kirsty, Chelsea, Selma, Sean, Steve, and Tara – and they are the greatest people ever – they’re all easy going and fun, they help me with whatever I need, and they make me feel included in everything we do. I dread the day when I have to calculate the final hours of my internship requirements. Although if they need me and want me I’ll stay longer than anything required just because I love being there and working with them all so much. I could see myself staying there but I won’t get my hopes up, it’s better to set expectations low so that you aren’t disappointed right?

Working at Fjord has brought to reality all the things our instructors have taught us about the applications of the things they’re teaching and about the new media industry in general, especially about dealing with clients. I’ve learned what it’s like to work in an office with other people doing the things they love to do and exactly how every single detail counts in everything you do. I’ve also learned tons about the applications of the programs we use and how the most efficient ways of doing things are – and I’ve learned a few tips and tricks too. But believe me when I say I still have A FREAKIN’ LOT left to learn. After all, I’ve only been doing this for almost a year now – and I have the rest of my life to get pro at it. My goal for 10-15 years from now is to be a technical director like Dana – someone who knows tons about coding and knows all the tricks in the book about making things work. Dana’s knowledge is amazing – but I’m sure he’s been doing this for a very long time. I like being the one people come to with questions, the one people look to when they need help or want an opinion or advice. It will take a lot of work and it will be a while, but that’s definitely something I’m aiming for. One day. I promise.

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