My Web sites, plus a note on using Purdue webspace

It was requested that I post the link to my site, which I showed in class today, to the blog. Here is the link.

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~dherring/cgt141/project2

Also, while I'm at it, here are links to my older sites:

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~dherring/cgt141/project1
http://bob.ivytech.edu/~dherring6



I was going to post a highly detailed explanation of how to use your Purdue webspace for a site, but after the previous, very long explanation of hex color codes, that may be pushing things a bit. It's not too complicated, anyway, as long as you know where your Purdue "H drive" is. (The H drive is your Purdue network drive space, easily accessible from ITaP lab computers through the "My Computer" section of Windows Explorer; you'll find it at or near the bottom, with your career account username mentioned in the name, I think.) Once you enter your H drive, find the "www" folder, which should be clearly visible. Place any files for your site - HTML, CSS, etc. - somewhere within this folder (you can make subfolders inside the "www" folder if you want), and you will be able to instantly view the files in a browser by putting the appropriate URL into the address box. Here is how to start typing the URL:

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~username/

You must, of course, replace "username" with your own career account name, but you should keep the ~. After the last slash, you must add more, but that depends on where your file is inside the "www" folder. For example, if you have a file directly inside the "www" folder called "page.html", just add "page.html" after the last slash. However, if you put a subfolder called "com315" inside of the "www" folder and then put a file called "page.html" inside of the "com315" subfolder, you'll have to add "com315/page.html" after the slash, so that the total URL is as follows: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~username/com315/page.html

If this is unclear or if you need more info, ask me in the comments.

Explanation of Hex Codes

I mentioned in class today that I might post an explanation of hexadecimal (a.k.a. hex) codes for colors used in Web design.

Hex codes are all combinations of 6 characters (preceded by a # sign in HTML). The characters can either be digits (0-9) or letters from A through F. The letters count as digits also, since hex numbers are not 10-based (like decimal numbers are) but 16-based. A represents 10, B represents 11, and so on until F, which represents 15. So basically in hex codes there are 16 individual digits, representing the numbers 0-15.


If you use combinations of two hex digits, you can create numbers ranging from 0 through 255 (in hex, from 00 through FF). Just use the first one as a "sixteens' digit" (analogous to a "tens' digit" in decimal number operations) and the second one as a "ones' digit". Therefore, to convert two-digit hex numbers to decimal numbers, you multiply the first digit by sixteen, and then add the second digit to the result. This process can also be reversed if you want to convert decimal numbers between 0 and 255 to two-digit hex numbers: you divide the decimal number by 16 and use the quotient as the first digit, and then use the remainder as the second digit.

For example, in the hex number "C5", the first digit, C (which in decimal number terms is twelve), indicates that there are twelve sixteens in the number, and the second digit indicates that there are five ones. Thus, C5 is equal to (12 * 16) + 5, or 197. Similarly, the number "1E" is equal to (1 * 16) + 14, or 30. (Recall that the digit E is equal to fourteen.)

To convert the decimal number 241 to hex form, divide it by sixteen. You will get 15 with a remainder of 1. In hex numbers, 15 has a digit form, which is F. Therefore, when you use the "reverse" process mentioned two paragraphs above (at the end), you find that the hex form of 241 is "F1". (IMPORTANT: Only use this method for numbers between 0 and 255.)


Why did I explain a process that specifically concerns the numbers 0-255 (or 00 - FF in hex)? It was because those numbers directly have to do with the use of hex codes for colors. As I mentioned, hex codes for colors are all 6 characters (i.e., digits) long, not counting the #. These 6 digits are actually 3 two-digit hex numbers put side-by-side. Each two-digit hex number represents the value for each of 3 basic colors - red, green, and blue, in that order - composing the color in question. Every color on a Web page is a certain combination of these three colors, even if there is a value of 0 (none) for one or more of them. For example, pure, bright green has a value of 0 for both red and blue, but a maximum value for green. Pure, bright yellow has maximum values of red and green, but a value of 0 for blue. Black has a value of 0 for all three colors. White has a maximum value for all three. Most colors have some combination of all three, and the color values tend to be lower for darker colors and higher for lighter ones.

In hex color codes, the lowest possible value (none) for a color is 00 (0 in decimal), and the highest or maximum is FF (255 in decimal). Hopefully now you see how all this comes together. 6-digit hex codes are broken down as follows: the first two digits represent the amount in hex form, between 0 and 255 inclusive, of RED in the color; the next two, similarly, represent the amount of GREEN in the color; and the last two represent the amount of BLUE in the color. The range of colors possible using hex codes is known as the range of RGB colors (RGB stands for red, green, blue).


Someone in class today was wondering why the hex numbers for different shades of the same color all looked completely different. The following is an explanation of why that is.

In order for the same basic color (apart from the lightness/darkness) to be preserved, the relative proportions of the component colors (R, G, B) must stay the same. In order for that color to get darker, however, the component colors must go down together (with the proportions constant), and in order for it to get lighter, they must go up together (again with the proportions constant). Think of it varying like this: 4|16|28 --> 2|8|14 --> 1|4|7. Same proportions, different amounts. Since this sort of change generally involves each of the three numbers changing simultaneously every time any change is made to lightness/darkness, the 2-digit values generally all vary together when you even move to a slightly lighter/darker version of the color.


If any clarifications are needed, please ask me.


Here is an easy hex/decimal number converter: http://www.statman.info/conversions/hexadecimal.html

Discussion for Week 7

A couple of things to think about...any final thoughts on the last informative presentation? Feel free to share here. I'd also be interested in hearing your first impressions of the web site design assignment. Draw upon your knowledge, experienced or not. We had a lot of good comments and suggestions for additional resources today-- you might want to post those and share any tips or even questions you have yourself.

For those of you going through the job application process, take this into consideration. Most people feel they have strong interviewing skills, and because of this, don't really bother to brush up on things or read about tips and suggestions for the interview process. Try looking on websites or google searching interview tips and tricks. This might give you ideas you otherwise might not have considered.

Discussion for Week 6

As we spend these past several days on this assignment, let's think critically about these second presentations. Which speeches do you tend to remember? Why? What aspect of them stands out most? What makes these presentations credible? On that note, what challenges have you encountered, if any? Have the presentations begun to ease up for you, remain the same, or increase in difficulty...note that there is no right answer; in fact, different opinions can make this an interesting discussion.

Air Race

So as most of you know or remember i gave my first speech on the Air Race this summer. I just wanted to post the link to the website incase any of you wanted to follow a long or read more about the race.

www.airraceclassic.org

Hey guys, here is the link to the website I made for my presentation yesterday. Its pretty easy to use and create. Just go to www.doodlekit.com and sign up to create a website. All the templates are there. All you have to do is add your content. www.garmin.doodlekit.com

Discussion for Week 5

As you develop your next presentations, what challenges/successes are you finding with your topics and integrating a technology? Is it a challenge to use a tool other than PowerPoint for this presentation, or is there liberation in using something (potentially) new? Are you trying to make connections between these presentations-- or do you have a different approach?

Other ideas, issues, etc. are welcome for discussion.

Discussion for Week 4

How is your experience working in a small group progressing? What challenges are you facing-- or successes? How have you had to develop a strategy for accomplishing your task (the service learning grant), given the short timeframe in which you have to work together?

We watched an episode of "The Office" this week as an example of some of the common issues that occur with public speaking, both in giving advice and in actual presentation. What sorts of observations did you note? Furthermore, how did this episode show why we need to be effective communicators? How will communication skills aid you in the future? How are presentational speaking skills useful in any profession?

Further issues that you have noticed, either in the readings or in some of our experiences this week, are quite welcome.

LinkedIn

Chris' post below inspired me to ask if you are all familiar with LinkedIn. If you aren't a member, you should consider joining. This is a great resource for developing a professional network and sharing your skillsets, expertise and experience.

You never know what possibilities could emerge from joining this site; although with anything, it all stems from how much you are willing to put into it. Some of the projects you've worked from your time at Purdue can be shared here and are great conversation starters. Another tip I have is that if you do join, make a detailed profile. Your experience in your work and education tells us a story about you and primes potential connections about you. I see many Purdue students on this site with minimally developed profiles, which tells us very little about why we should connect with them. I know you all have some very interesting skills, projects and interests going on-- don't discount those experiences.

post-graduation job search

For those of you who are seniors, you might realize that the time to find work after school is rapidly approaching. Some of you, the lucky few, you already have something lined up. The rest of us, myself included, do not however. Some people have come to me asking where they should go to find jobs outside of the classroom and up until recently I didn't really have anything for them. So I looked into it, and found that a few websites help with such issues. CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com are great sources to get your resume to the masses. Next time you find yourself in a pinch and need a job, be sure to look at these sites for some suggestions to get you started.

Social Connections

Interesting article about social networks and number of friends...

Dwight's Speech

What was the significance of the Office episode we watched today? What advice dead you pay attention to in the episode, both good and bad? What should we take away from this episode, as speakers-- and educators?