Thursday, 31 August 2006

Some Funny Videos and Links (2)

Coming Soon - Packed Buses. Things Lecturers Should Know. And NUS Pentium IVs lab computers being slower than PIIs?

Who wants to be a millinaire indirect link http://www.ugoplayer.com/games/winamillion.html direct link http://www.joytube.com/win-one-million-2006/winamillion2.swf

Engrave your Laptop! http://www.youtube.com/v/vm89tfprStE

Guy crosses 16 lanes of traffic link

Funny Japanese controlling gold fish http://www.youtube.com/v/8bt6K521o3Y

Car Explosion (Not for the faint hearted) http://www.youtube.com/v/FHmdvcJmenM

Stolen Vehicle Speeding, and looks who's driving! http://www.youtube.com/v/TNd0_ctaOSk

Magic Sand link

Slow-Motion Shopping http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?mission_id=59

iPod Useless http://www.youtube.com/v/mVd91U0r1-w

The Hiroshima Bomb http://www.youtube.com/v/p3U040optE4

NewsBleat News http://67.19.215.37/albino_flash01/newsbleat01(www.albinoblacksheep.com).swf

Hallucination http://embed.break.com/MTI3NDQ1

Wet Shaving (For Men) http://www.youtube.com/v/xjhIy9rgWQU

World's Fastest Drinker http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/205515/fast_drinker.swf

Police Dogs are Well Trained link

20 Things You Didn't Know About Death http://www.discover.com/issues/sep-06/departments/20thingsdeath/

16 Buildings Demolished At Once http://www.youtube.com/v/GaWdVzfqXao

Wednesday, 23 August 2006

Step-By-Step for Getting CourseMarker to run

CourseMarker is used by most (or all?) programming modules especially Java and C++ courses to grade assignments in less than a minute. However, the setup procedure requires technical knowledge of paths and JDK installations.

Hope this helps all those struggling to get this thing to run.

  1. We need the latest JDK ("JDK 5.0 Update 8" as of this writing) from this page ( http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp ). If you are just developing C++ applications, you can just download the runtime ("Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 5.0 Update 8" as of this writing) only. Which JDK to download? Accept License Agreement Downloading JDK Offline Installation File Save the file in your Desktop.
  2. Get cmc.zip from your course module's website. Due to copyright reasons, I can't release it here. Save it in your Desktop.
  3. Cut CMC.ZIP (CourseMarker Client) and put it in C:\ (not in any folder). You can access C:\ by clicking My Computer, then Local Disk (C:).
  4. Right-click the file, click Extract All. You can also use your favourite utility (such as WinZip, WinRAR) to extract the files. Windows XP Unzip utility
  5. Click Next. Extract to C:\ as follows Extraction Wizard Select Destination
  6. Follow the prompts (keep clicking Next) to extract the files.
  7. You should now have a folder named CMC in your C drive.
  8. Let's install the JDK which we downloaded in Step 1. Double-click the file and follow default prompts. JDK Installation .. after a couple of prompts and copying files ... JDK Installation Completed
  9. Now we need to open the respective bat file and edit it to point to your JDK and CMC folder correctly. Navigate to your CMC folder located in your C drive. You should have some batch files like the following Batch Files for various modules
  10. Your module should be one of them. We are only interested in the GUI versions, but all of them follow the same standard. RIGHT-click the file that corresponds to your module and ends with gui, and select Edit. You should get something like the below: Environment Settings We're only interested in changing the shaded area. Don't touch the rest.
  11. These are the settings we need to change to point to our own folders. You only need to make changes to the 5 lines. set CM3_CLIENT_HOME=C:\cmc (OK!) set JAVA_HOME=C:\jdk1.5 (NOT OK! - Change to "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08"* inclusive of double quotes) set CMHOMEDIR=H: (NOT OK! - Change to "C:\cmc\Home" exclusive of double quotes) set CMHOME=%CMHOMEDIR%\CMhome\cs1101x (OK!) set LOGINADDR=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (OK! - scrambled for security reasons) So the new settings comes to this
    set CM3_CLIENT_HOME=C:\cmc
    
    set JAVA_HOME="C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_08"
    
    set CMHOMEDIR=C:\cmc\Home
    
    set CMHOME=%CMHOMEDIR%\CMhome\cs1101x
    
    set LOGINADDR=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
    * - May be different if you are using a different version of JDK/JRE. Go to your C Drive, Program Files, Java and see if you have a folder named "jre1.5.0_08", if not substitute the folder above - the digits change with every new release.
  12. Tada! We're done! Save the file. Light up a joss stick or two (just kidding) and double click the file. Hopefully, after about a minute (at most), you'll get to see this screen. CourseMarker 3.00 GUI Login Window

Suggestions, comments are welcome. Problems? Hm, will try to help =)

Monday, 21 August 2006

The Forbidden Send Button In Outlook Web Access

Normally, I use my Outlook to reply to e-mails. Today, I happened to be in the lab and I had to use the web interface to reply to an e-mail.

Again, I had to login, even though I am logged in onto NUSNET already.

Implement a standard login page for all systems!

I kept entering the password when the focus was at "remember UserID" as I am used to pressing "Tab" after entering my username .

Then I realised that its because that "remember UserID" should be placed after the Password box and not before it. Again, a special NUS only irritating feature :-/

Anyway, I proceeded to log in.

The interface was almost similar to Microsoft Outlook. I knew immediately what to do to create a new mail.

I click New Mail, spent about 10 minutes typing out a message...

Almost like using Microsoft Outlook!

Now after hitting the Send button...

Ah, a popup that IE is blocking. Gotta allow it. Easy, just right-click the yellow bar...

and allow the pop-up...

The window refreshes and... my message..! Where's my message?! My 10 minute long message!

Unfortunately, this was one of those rare times where I forgot to hit Ctrl+C before hitting the Send button.

NUS CORS Tutorial Balloting

It's bad enough that I have to ballot for my tutorials. After spending 15 minutes to select 22 tutorial slots that I was able to fit in my time table, I finally hit the Next button.

And I get presented with this error message.

Seems that I can only select a maximum of 20 classes.

Why wasn't there at least a JavaScript function to check this requirement on the first page itself?

OK, I scroll down. Guess what I saw?

All the checkboxes cleared. (None checked)

That's right, I spent 15 minutes carefully selecting tutorial slots, and one error message destroyed all my efforts for that period. I had to recheck, and manually count them by hand again.

Test a system with many users before releasing it - this way, you get problems and suggestions from the user's point of view, not from a developer's point of view.

Sunday, 20 August 2006

Some Funny Videos and Links

Not much time to vent my problems here. There's the CORS tutorial problems and the Lab computer. Coming soon. For now, enjoy these direct links to some videos (full screen videos!) and interesting articles. All links open in a new window. Remember to click the play button and let it buffer. Amazingly, NUS's computers are very fast in loading local and foreign websites and videos, but not the other way around - accessing NUS resources from outside NUS network. High Resolution Wallpaper http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/index.php?sort=ratings&w=1920&h=1200 Snake in Plane Game http://uploads.ungrounded.net/328000/328498_soap.swf Cat Flashing Toilet link Backward Movements Played Forward http://embed.break.com/MTM5ODAw 31 Different Ways To Lace Up Your Shoes http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm Amazing Shadow Video http://embed.break.com/MTQwMjM4 How to not ride your bike http://www.youtube.com/v/nR2ygFn-yR8 Numbers in 5020 Languages http://www.zompist.com/numbers.htm Inside the Mac Pro http://www.youtube.com/v/XtaeM1T4ZRg Microsoft's antivirus package makes a splash http://news.com.com/2102-7355_3-6104926.html?tag=st.util.print How Durex Helps http://www.youtube.com/v/RpH2_Cgm1xE The Price is Right -- Cheaters Prosper http://www.youtube.com/v/Pm6Ca0SnEsw Lady magician with nothing to hide (Video) (M18!!) http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/1dY4bBbeJPbTV1QIZ IBM Server Ad http://www.youtube.com/v/rmxPfZtV6w0 Reporter Gets Irritated http://www.youtube.com/v/h_trGNU86k0 Funny Japanese Video http://www.youtube.com/v/qJ_8qYidXAg Million Dollar Player Loses First Question http://www.youtube.com/v/yls_qSaJbLo Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Amazing final http://www.youtube.com/v/hr3tsMCrQgo Million Dollar Cock Up http://www.youtube.com/v/v7NXQqHF6vI Who Wants to be a Millionaire UK blooper http://www.youtube.com/v/i9K9ZwRmT20 One of the Worst The Price Is Right Players Ever http://www.youtube.com/v/sqk1-q8gXcY There, that should keep you busy for some time :)

Thursday, 10 August 2006

CORS Usability (Part 2)

CORS. Centralized Online Registration System. So many irritations. So many problems. Here comes Part 2. The Front Page of CORS Below I match the Problem Number to Problem Description. Eg. Number 1 points to Number 1 in the image above

  1. Login page is another Page. See (NOTE1) below Why can't the link be in the front page? Like IVLE. See (NOTE1) below for the 2nd problem.
  2. System is under maintenance everyday from 3AM - 6AM? Don't put alerts for events that don't happen.
  3. Okay! What's today's latest news? (wait 5 seconds for news to scroll by) Oh no, I missed that line! Now I have to wait for the ticker to repeat itself! Please don't use auto scrollers for news updates. I know how to use the wheel in my mouse - thank you very much. And what is the difference between Latest News and Announcements? See (NOTE1) below for the 2nd problem.
  4. See (NOTE1). See (NOTE1).

NOTE1

Don't Open Links in New Windows! EVER! (Link to usability expert Jakob Nielson's advise)

Please stop setting the target of the links to _Blank. It is very annoying when a link opens a new window.

And with the JavaScript usage on the CORS page, I can't use the IE Cheat Code of dragging the link to the address bar to bypass a new window. Nice JavaScript. Bad Usability.

And there's more

Let's find out about Module Information. So I click on Modules Info, which bring me to this link.

https://aces01.nus.edu.sg/cors/jsp/report/ModuleInfoListing.jsp

A HTTPS page. Great. And a very long one on that. On my home connection, I need to wait 5 minutes for it to complete loading.

After loading, you get the list of modules in the whole of NUS and the contents are such that you do not need to refer to the header more than once.

Now, lets take a look at Bidding Statistics at End of Open Bidding

http://www.cors.nus.edu.sg/Time-sensitive/openbid_2A_20062007s1.html

And it shows me this page. Easy.

OK, let's find how CS1104 Computer Organisation fared. I did a Find, and got this screen.

Right. Now what were the titles of the column. *scroll back up* *scroll back down*. What about CS1101? Find again, get the titles, shit I forgot the column headers, *scroll back up* *scroll back down*.

Get the point? The headers need to be fixed (not moving with the document) for the table as the column headers are too much for a person to keep track of.

Make the intranet an enjoyable system, not a frustrating one to use.

Wednesday, 9 August 2006

NUS IT Admins Need to Understand the Proper Usage of "S" in HTTPS

The S in HTTPS stands for Secure [sockets] - an encrypted connection to the server, which means exchanging much more data than a normal HTTP connection.

When used in ideal situations, the admin (or anyone else monitoring the packets from your PC) can not see what data you are sending, including form data as it is all encrypted. Even if the admin is a super administrator of the NUS network.

So, having said that, WHY do these pages require (read:won't work with normal http) HTTPS connections?

IVLE - Integrated Virtual Learning Environment https://ivle.nus.edu.sg/default.asp

Mail https://exchange.nus.edu.sg/exchweb/bin/auth/owalogon.asp?url=https://exchange.nus.edu.sg/exchange&reason=0

Modules Listing https://aces01.nus.edu.sg/cors/jsp/report/ModuleInfoListing.jsp

mySOC https://mysoc.nus.edu.sg/mysoc/index.cgi

Need to know module information? Its in a HTTPS website for no particular reason! CS1110X - https://aces01.nus.edu.sg/cors/jsp/report/ModuleDetailedInfo.jsp?acad_y=2006/2007&sem_c=1&mod_c=CS1101X

Timetable Builder https://webrb.nus.edu.sg/ctt/builder.aspx

You may argue, the authentication details need to be encrypted. The username password should be in a secure channel.

Yes, I agree - but why encrypt the whole system? Why not just create a *standard* login page for the entire system in HTTPS mode and perform normal authenticated actions in HTTP mode?

See Hotmail for a perfect example. Click "Sign in using enhanced security", brings you to an HTTPS page. Sign in. Notice that you're brought back to a HTTP page after successful login.

The reason why HTTPS should not be overused is because of its higher bandwidth requirement. NUS is already slow as it is (yes, for a local site, it is very slow - try downloading Ubuntu and max speed is 10-40KB/s - US sites can go much faster than this).

That brings me to another issue - NUS needs to consider a bigger pipe to the major ISPs here. Loading the homepage itself takes about 15-20 seconds with my Singnet broadband.

Otherwise, preparing myself for the 8am class on Monday next week, that means I have to leave at 6-630hrs in the morning. Took a glimpse of the MA1301 exam paper, OMG it is so complicated! Take for example, this question.

Easy, I thought. O level question. Well, read on.

Looking forward to getting done and over with this module and the other Maths modules. God, why do we have to learn Maths.

Some Interesting Links (Not NUS related)

Would you dare to do your business at this toilet? http://www.yatblog.com/2006/08/08/swiss-public-toilet/ Top Flash Games http://www.diggpuzzles.com/

How a pregnant ladies' stomach grows everyday Long Link

Photos of lightning fast action http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/exhibit-3.html

Animated Jigsaw Puzzle http://www.brl.ntt.co.jp/people/hara/fly.swf

Watch A Live Ant Farm right front of you http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/08/07/ant-farm/

Magic Card Trick http://www.youtube.com/v/2KrdBUFeFtY

And how it was done http://www.instructables.com/id/EUO2ZWGMX3EQEC14US/

Tuesday, 8 August 2006

Improving CORS Usability

Being a polytechnic student, I could find no record of my exempted MCs. Heck, I was even allowed to take CS1101 Programming Methodoloy module, which I am already exempted from! Here is my dream version of CORS. Before

New Version - Freshmen already has MCs!
First year student having 36 MCs? Click on Details, and a pop-up window appears. This is just a mock-up.
Combining the above in the Add Module page With some extra elements. Before
After
Now it shows bidders and total vacant slots for each module. Much easier to find vacant modules! Now combining the above...
Now you have all your requirements listed out neatly and you know where you stand! Maybe another column for "Coming MCs" to indicate current modules I am taking.

Saturday, 5 August 2006

5 Reasons Why SoC Freshmen Orientation Sucks

  1. Mostly Games, Games and nothing but Games
  2. They will not let you see the schedule so that you can avoid the games and attend the important briefings.
  3. They try to coax you in by telling you it also has lectures (when its only 10-15% only)
  4. They make you do stuff that you don't like to do - eg dancing, doing embarrassing stunts, etc
  5. The number one reason, to find more friends. IMHO, I don't think it is easy to find mates for taking modules together. There are SO many modules that each person will have their preference for module taking
5 Reasons Why SoC Freshmen Orientation Doesn't Suck

  1. You meet new friends, but only within your group.
  2. You make friends with many experienced seniors, whom you can approach for advice on academic matters
  3. You will get to know your NUS campus better
  4. You get to learn the difficulties of modules, if the seniors have taken them
  5. And will get all the above through GAMES!

Otherwise, I managed to get all the modules I bidded for in CORS with 2 days of consistent planning. Not much competition as I have a advantage as being a freshmen and having "protected" slots, and furthermore exempted from some modules. Its ironic that NUS, being a institution, does not have basic usability principles in many of their systems. For example, in the TimeTable Builder site, after you have chosen your modules, and started planning, it doesn't allow you to easily add more modules to the list while preserving the tutorial and lecture classes I chose. And in the CORS system, they have a Search Box for finding modules. One would expect it to find the code in all modules that are available to me, not just in the current category. And why isn't CORS updated with my free MCs? It shows me Zero, ko-song?? Tried the 1800 776 2242 (a NUSSU Hotline) number yesterday. Guess what - "leave a voice message". 2 calls at 4pm and 7pm. Now I need to figure out if I can access my NUS mail through POP3...

Wednesday, 2 August 2006

Welcome To My First Post

I started this blog as a personal diary of my life in NUS. First, a little intro. I am a guy. I joined NUS on August 2006. I did not know what is CORS or points or module bidding or what I am going for in the course. My choice was limited to Computing degree only as my IT diploma only allowed me this. So I happily picked Computing and they accepted me in. 1st August 2006, 2pm. That was when all the answers were given. It left me worried, very worried. Why didn't NUS release all these on a earlier date than 1st Aug 2006? Things that increased my Worry Level - The number of Maths modules. The problems that CORS (Centralised Online Registration System) can cause if you did not plan properly. The number of modules that I had to bid for and complete. And the MAJOR worry - I have BARELY much time to think about it. They stared squeezing Matriculation Fare and Freshmen Graduation for the rest of the week and next too! Thinking about it, I should have stayed in a hostel. After all, it takes about 1.5 hours from my home to the NUS campus. Then again, hostel staying comes with its problems of room mates, cost, parting with my sweet home and of course, my home computer. Hopefully, I get to understand the CORS system enough to plan my timetable for classes at 11am-3pm. And avoid the Maths modules. At the moment, I am thinking to go for the 3 Year Degree course with Business Focus - it has only 2 Maths modules! I don't need the Honours as I know I am a average student only and will probably get only 2nd Lower or Upper at most. The Matric Fair today made my "NUS celebrates 100 years" bag super heavy. Luckily I brought my carrying bag along and it went to good use. Things I got were water bottle, NUS mug, SPF pen, canvas bag and loads of advertising papers. If you are looking for a laptop for studying (and *only* studying), get it from NUS. What, you thought I'll say not to get it from NUS? Well, I'm coming to that. If you are looking for a laptop for *both* studying and gaming, then *don't* get it from NUS as NONE, except for Apple's $3500+ Macbook Pro, has a good dedicated graphics card for gaming. When I asked the vendor why, they claimed NUS does not allow any laptops with dedicated gfx cards ('cept for Quardo Professional series) for tender. Luckily, some of them were willing to sell me such laptops at student price minus the Macromedia Studio 8 and other NUS stuff which I don't need anyway. Not gonna reveal them here but I need to say this, the NUS Co-op or whatever IT dept in charge of the tender are really too much. Why not just let the vendors sell the laptops openly and let US choose what WE want? Student Union? you listening? And where's Dell - the budget but quality IT Laptop company? Gotta sleep now - long first post. Freshmen Orientation tomorrow. Hope it grows to be a at-least-3-updates-a-week blog.