Sub Ubi

Last year, I worked on a project with some Olin students to explore building a “dummy GPS.” The idea was to have the simplest possible GPS unit—one where you simply said “I am here,” and then it points back to that location until a new waypoint is set.

Someone went and built one. And manufactured it. As a keyfob.

Hammacher website

I think that’s funny.

UPDATE (20081229): This device is actually the Bushnell Backtrack. Above is just a link to a rebranded version that costs $30 more. If one were so inclined, Amazon has them for around $50. There were some comprehensive (fairly negative) reviews at Amazon that seemed to indicate that this is useless for mall parking lot navigation. However, I can still see this device as being useful to campers/hikers and the like. That, and there is more info at the Bushnell site.

Last year, I wrote a post titled Reflections on Software Design F2007. This was a summary of the feedback from my students at Olin regarding the introduction to software design that I led there. This semester, I taught a section of introductory computing (CMPSC 111), and have repeated this process.

I have attempted to capture and reflect on the things my students would keep, change, add, and throw away about their experience in my section of CMPSC 111. The title may change, but for now you are welcome to the still-evolving CMPSC 111 Final Reflection (PDF).