WEEK 2: UNDERSTANDING INDUSTRIES AND IMPROVING MY STUDYING HABITS

 We continued working on our Industry Analysis Essay this week. I decided to write mine on Data Science, specifically in Product Development. This weeks video and reading materials helped me a lot with this because there were points that I wanted to make in my paper that had to do with technological advancements and how we as a society have to keep up with it. A brief summary of what I have watched will be below:

THE FUTURE IS FASTER THAN YOU THINK VIDEO:

This video focused on the time that it takes for technology to advance. We learn in our perquisites that the number of processors double each yea while the devices become smaller and less expensive (Moore's Law). The speaker states that our dollar is going a longer way as technology advances, making start ups an easier endeavor to begin. Crowd funding is an essential part of technology advancements because people want to remain current. He states that it is virtually impossible to predict how technology will change in the next coming years because it happens too fast. "Don't Blink!" Because if you stay complacent, you'll miss out on opportunities. He ends his speech by saying that the speed at which technology advances should give you a purpose. The possibilities are endless when it comes to solving all of the world's problems.

INTRO TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT VIDEO:

This video describes what makes a well-executed project. The 4 components are: Time, Goal, Scope, and Cost. You should have a set timeline to develop a project, there needs to be an end goal, you must be able to adapt to changing environments, and you should have a budget set as well. Each component affects the other so a good project manager is necessary to ensure smooth productivity in project development. Successful project managers have excellent people skills, business and management knowledge, and have strong strategy and leadership skills. Their attitudes need to be positive and goal oriented.

HOW TO CREATE A WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE VIDEO:

A work breakdown structure shows deliverables, something tangible to present. Deliverables is either a product, the capabilities, or the end results. The WBS can be broken down to levels.

Level 0 - The project itself

Level 1 - Keyline: How to compose your deliverables, sometimes it is the deliverables themselves.

Level 2: Major Deliverables. Goal/End product of the project.

Level 3: Interim Deliverables: Tests, prototypes, plans, and stakeholder lists.

Level 4: Sub-deliverables - lower-level deliverables

WHAT IS A GANTT CHART VIDEO:

The Gantt chart plots the timeline of a project in a chart. Different activities are represented by bars and the length of the bar represents the time it takes to complete. To label an activity, such as a milestone, you would label it with a specific symbol. The symbol needs to be understandable by everyone that is involved with the project.

We were able to look at previous Cohort's CAP STONE projects to get inspiration about what projects we might come up with when we get to that point in the program. The three that stuck out to me were:

1. OPEN ENERGY DASHBOARD

HELPS ORGANIZATIONS MINIMIZE CARBON EMMISSIONS

2. NATIONAL AI CAMPUS

IMPROVES ACCURACY OF AN ALGORITHM THAT DETECTS BRAIN TUMORS

3. A BIRD'S SONG

VIDEO GAME FOCUSED ON ENVIORNMENTAL DEFORESTATION

FOLLOWS A BIRD THAT WENT EXTINCT IN HAWAII

These particularly stuck out to me because the focus on the greater good. Technology should not be a privatized or prestigious thing. We should strive for advancements to focus on creating a better life for every living creature. 

This week we also continued learning different study strategies. My top three study methods that I feel the strongest in are: making time for studying, note taking, and prioritizing assignments. The three that I need to improve on are: reading with intention, gathering writing materials before writing, and not studying right before bed.