Legos: for play or learning

     I recently read a Microsoft Next blog at TechNet about Legos being a play toy or for learning. I think Steve Clayton brings a good point. Now if you are like me, you probably grew up playing with Legos and K'nex.

     Part of the reason I am interested in architecture, building, and engineering so much is because I played with toys that you learn those skills in. I think that is true with many students because it makes you think. It can be considered a play toy if you aren't thinking outside the box but most of the time, I think everyone learns from it.
     As we get into high school, we have a lot more class options and career oriented classes. I accidently enjoyed Robotics and competed at Jefferson City State Competition in Skills USA in my 2012-2013 school year! My older brother did robotics and built them with Legos back when he was in college. Many of the geeks and tech people I talk with played with Legos and K'nex. So, as you can see, Legos and other build oriented toys are a big learning tool and can give you great thinking and engineering skills! There is some exciting stuff from Microsoft too with Windows 8.1 supporting robotics.


The video above shows you what's possible with Legos!

     It's not surprising to see Microsoft partnered with Lego education in the video featured below. Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president, Windows Program Management, demonstrates a new LEGO MINDSTORMS robot and Windows 8.1 app to inspire developers to imagine the possibilities on the platform.

Robotics and Windows 8.1

     I am excited to see this stuff in 8.1. One thing I hope Microsoft does is make the Robotics software run in Visual Studio! Check out the Legos Education stuff at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2013/jul13/07-17lego.aspx. Happy coding :)

 

Microsoft Imagine Cup 2013 Winners

     Very interesting thing about one of the most well known tech competitions. Students from all over the world test there creativity and problem solving. Very interesting stuff here I must say! The winners were announced at St. Petersburg, Russia.  Four fellows from the UK won the Innovation division for their work on soundSYNK, a mobile app that can connect a virtually unlimited number of devices like Windows Phone 8, iOS and Android.

Network Speed Test



Overview
    
 I've been told a picture is worth a thousand words. Well out of the two screen shots I took (both look about the same) of Microsoft Research's Windows 8 Network Speed test it really is a tell all. App looks good, has some good information, and does what it implies.

Functionality

Wow this is probably my shortest app review ever! App loads up fast because its a light app. It launches into a screen little chrome all content perfect MDL usage. Simple as shown you click start and it tests your internet connection which it advises not to do over a metered connection. Results were accurate I felt the ping was off but that's me and speedtest.net little bout. Anyway It showcases previous tests some were done while I was doing a lot thus the low scores. No sharing which made me sad but then it didn't advertise it.

Design

Not much too say. Clean simple UI design much to my liking. Considering it was a home grown app I expected something that had something like this. Not a fan of the scrolling bar at the bottom, but that is a minor niggle.

5/5 Very few apps get this rating and this deserves it because it delivers what it says it does no more no less. Good app I recommend. No slideshow because wasn't much of a point it would be redundant.

UX Design

UX Design, #contentfirst

When creating a user interface for websites, software, etc, you should consider the user experience, or UX. It should be straight forward and simple. Many companies design things with alot of chrome and shine. They use buttons that are supposed to mimic real world materials instead of having a digital layout. That design is considered skeumorphism. Apple was well known for skeumorphism but we want to avoid using that design language. Microsoft Design Language is the most mature and innovative design out and is being adopted by many. As you can see, this page you are on right now is following the #design.

Microsoft Design Language is supposed to be Modern, Clean, Fast, in Motion, all about Content and Typography!

That design language used to be called "Metro" but that is no longer the case. So don't call it Metro! This design might not be as appealing to amateurs because many of us are used to the shine and chrome. When people open a webpage, they don't want to have to wait on the decorations and usually want the info they were looking for.

So the next time you create a user interface for your website, software, or even your PowerPoint show, make it clean, modern, and put #contentfirst !

If you would like some great free example's just visit some Microsoft website's and take a look. Windows.microsoft.com, Microsoft.com, Microsoft Next and etc.