In this talk, I will provide a set of metaphors and potential approaches to solving hard-to-define and hard-to-conceptualize problems. These are problem domains for which unknown and unknowable factors predominate. We will focus on two types of system that characterize the reciprocal causality and interactions inherent in sociotechnological complexity: hairballs and futile cycles. Borrowing from […]
Tag: Bradly Alicea
Open-source Campus
Tags: Bradly AliceaAs the University campus becomes ever more digitally connected, it enables new forms of collaboration and communication. The Rokwire and Smart, Healthy Communities Initiatives are currently realizing this potential on the University of Illinois campus, a place where open-source has a rich history. Yet to fully realize the promise of this trend, there needs to […]
Open Source Communities: why, how, and ethos
Tags: Bradly AliceaWhile the benefits of Open Source collaboration are self-evident, the path to success in such an environment is less obvious. To better understand this path, we will revisit the practice and foundational ideas of open-source communities, particular with respect to open-source in an academic environment. In doing so, we will also revisit the rationale for […]
From Vision to System: Prototyping with Ease
Tags: Bradly Alicea, Isaac GalvanBuilding apps is a costly endeavor, with many potential pitfalls and points of failure. Getting user and stakeholder feedback early can save your team time and effort, particularly as the product vision develops. We will demonstrate that it is never too soon in the development cycle to start building prototypes. Building your first prototype is […]