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Showing posts from April, 2018

Medicine + Technology + Art

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When I was a junior in high school, I injured myself playing basketball. My middle finger dislocated and popped out of my skin. I was rushed to the ER where I was given an X-Ray, relocated my finger and had the wound sewn up. By then in Highschool, I disliked Biology as a science. However, after the injury, I realized the amazing facets of biology and medicine. With my experiences regarding my hand as well as professor Vensa's lectures, I've learned much about the relationship between medicine, technology, and art. My sewn up finger My injury gave me the chance to see my very own bone and flesh come out of my finger. Afterward, I became very interested in the inner workings of the human body. I had the chance to see the Body Worlds exhibit professor Vensa talked about in her first lecture at the California Science Center. Dr. Gunther Von Hagens' display of bodies truly changed the way I look at the human body. In his plasticized models, I could see every strand of m

Event 1: California Science Center

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On Friday, April 20th, I went with my friend Bryan Mau (who is also in this class) to the California Science Center. What we wanted to see, in particular, was the Endeavour. Even though both of us are residents of Southern California, we have not seen this exhibition before. Me at the second exhibit We first went to the small warehouse that housed the Endeavour. The size of the space shuttle was awe-inspiring. It was over 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. Underneath the shuttle, you can see thousands of individually placed tiles about 6x6 inches each. Each tile has a unique, 10 character code. It shows how much individual care is given for each tile and part to make this masterpiece. The rest of this exhibition detailed the history of the various spacecraft launches of the United States. The Endeavour Afterward, we went to the next exhibit that detailed the behind the scenes of the space shuttle. There was a fascinating exhibit on how restrooms were used in space. It wa

Week 3: Robotics + Art

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    As an Electrical Engineer, I have a strong background in robotics. My multiple classes and projects in circuit design and machine work, as well as my background in Computer Science, makes me believe that a world with AI in robots is coming very soon. The robot from Ex Machina  learning about herself    Professor Vensa talked about Alan Turing and his influential work in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. However, Turing had another important contribution in the development of the Turing Test. The Turing test is essentially a test for machines and robots. A robot with a perfect AI will be indistinguishable from a human in its responses. A movie that explores robotics and AI is the 2014 movie  Ex Machina. In this movie, an engineer works in the private laboratory of a renown scientist who is trying to create the perfect AI. The engineer attempts to apply the Turing test on the robot and due to the robot's human-like attributes, he ends of falling in love with it.

Week 2: Math + Art

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     When I was a child, I was not a very artistic person. Rather, I enjoyed the topics of math and science. However, it wasn't until I was introduced to the Golden Ratio  in middle school did I truly appreciate art. It was mind-blowing to me: a single number can have such a huge implication on how a figure looks. However, what I never considered, was the Golden Ratio applied to humans. The Golden Ratio... ...is Amazing    In Professor Vensa's lecture, she mentioned the Vitruvian Man  by Leonardo Da Vinci. It was truly fascinating to see how the ideal male body followed the Golden Ratio. Also, according to a website devoted to the Golden Ratio, your arms and hands are filled with golden ratios as well. The proportion of  the hand and forearm is the golden ratio. Also, if you curl your index finger as shown below, it forms the Golden rectangle. It is mind-boggling to me how the body can follow a number in even the most minute of details. In one of the videos the

Week 1: Two Cultures

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      C. P. Snow's "The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution" resonated with me. As an  Electrical Engineer, I have most of my classes on the South side of campus in buildings such as Boelter Hall and Engineering IV. To the left are pictures of Engineering IV and its interior. The exterior walls are painted a dull grey-white and rarely is cleaned. It has the look of a boring corporate office with its flat colors and plain windows. And finally, right outside, you can see the beautiful view of traffic going to and from the school and hear the sound of car horns chriping and people barking at each other. Meanwhile, the inside of the building is equally depressing. The walls of the walls, ceiling and floor are a piercing white which makes it seem like the inside of a hospital or mental asylum. The lights always seem to be on high which causes everyone to wince as they exit a room or lab. The inside of Engineering IV The outside of Engineering IV Obviously, m