I just had my first meeting with Sarah.

I showed my previous works and projects, including my smart home panel. She reminded me the software I’m using in my smart home is also an open source project, which is my thesis topic. However, I’m not clear about the direction.

During our conversation, one direction is about these projects’ interfaces. For example, redesigning my smart home panel. I can invent new interfaces for existing softwares.

Another direction is about open source projects’ origins. There are stories in the history of those projects. Who created the project. For what. etc. And a story is usually more engaging.

My initial idea of the form is data visualization. Something like a chart or infographic. Sarah suggested I give more thought to the interaction. My final project can be a combination so I don’t have to drop directions.

Moreover, I asked some questions about thesis requirements. We don’t have to write a long paper. The main part is the presentation. And I can tell the intention of my project in the end instead of deciding right now.

I just finished the first meeting with professor Sarah Rothberg. She gave me a lot of valuable research suggestions and direction which let me think about what form and content are suitable for my condition.

First, I introduced myself and my education and career background. Then I demonstrated my works that were made during the IMA LOW RES. After that, I shared my idea of thesis and according to my demonstration, Sarah asked me some critical questions that guided me to think about deeper about my thesis topic. 

My thesis is still related to buddhism. I said “still” because I had made two projects about this topic in our program. I want to explore more possibilities and extend what I had done. Before, my buddhism related projects have less educational or thought-provoking contents. This time I want to focus on the “six unwholesome factors(attachment, anger, ignorance, pride, doubt, wrong view)” mentioned in buddhist philosophy and try to guide people to meditate and remove negative emotions whiling visiting my project. My thought was utilizing VR to build an environment for meditation.

Sarah suggested me look VR meditation apps in market. She asked me what the target audience is and where will the space or surrounding environment will the project locate. She also suggested me research on Lawrence Lek, Ian Cheng and other artists’ projects and careers. By looking at their grow up process in their fields, I may think about what is the realm I am trying to develop. Last, She hoped me keep research on the “six unwholesome factors” and thought why these factors are worth noting in 2023. 

In the first one on one meeting, me and Professor Rothberg discussed a lot about my inspirations and thoughts for my thesis.
I introduced my background, including my undergrad experiences in neuroscience and IMA, my work experience in the education industry, and my current thoughts in IMA Low Res.
For my thesis, I had several directions. My recent interest is in science fictions. I want to explore and research more on future technology and what the future world would be like. I also thought about add my experiences in neuroscience and education into my thesis, since I’m familiar with these fields.
Professor Rothberg gave me a lot of good advice and some examples that are close to how I described my thesis to be. The examples includes investing in future, the game Everything by David Oreilly, the game paperclip, and the artist Ian Cheng.
After this meeting, I’m going to play and explore these examples and try to have a more solid grasp of how I want my thesis to be.

Enjoyed the group activity, it is good to think about what I would like to do with the Thesis, definitely a lot of ideas floating around, but to condense them into 1 sharp direction is challenging, but already on it.

02/02/2022

I had the first meeting with Sarah.

I proposed my idea, a very scattered idea to her, about doing an installation to demonstrate the collective power of small things.

And how I want the thesis based on the context of ageism in our societal activities.

I also mentioned elderly dance and aging body movements because I always hear professional dancers talking about planning their early retirement (around the age of 35!) when they feel like they will no longer be considered good dancers.

In my thought process, Ann Hamilton’s work appears instantly.

She is very good at using tiny objects, stacks, piles, etc.

Throughout our conversation, 2 things she mentioned inspired me to make this note:

1. The way of interactivity is constantly forming my work.

• a relationship that points to a certain mental path that reminisces with the others
• but s not the only way to interactivity

2. The form of delivery should evolve along with the research process.

I’m very thankful for the makeup session this morning and the opportunity to have the shared brainstorming session. I was paired with the lovely Jamie McCoy, who has been a constant support/brainstorming partner for me through this program. Hence, we already have a baseline/comfort level in discussing and directing our ideas, so we were able to get off to the races and have a productive conversation. I was super enthusiastic not only to receive but share feedback with Jamie; it is exciting to see our ideas spark and take shape visually on our Miro boards and see the throughlines of interests from previous classwork converge. I know it will be a lot of work, but I look forward to this process and producing/distilling the proposal.

Hi Class

This is Suri.

This is a test of posting in the thesis journal. Here we go!

This is Yunshan’s test post