Attending ONCWIC

It’s been a while since I updated this blog, and as I have just had a GREAT weekend meeting and listening to some of the most exceptional women in computing, I thought it might be time for a blog update.

This weekend, I attended ONCWIC, the Ontario Celebration of Women in Computing, modeled after the famous Grace Hopper Celebration that takes place in the States every year. ONCWIC is a regional conference that brings together Ontarian women in computing, providing inspiring talks, workshops, and a space for them to meet, learn and have fun! This year’s conference was held at the Waterloo University. It was my first time attending (and first time in the city of Waterloo!).

Learning how to use breadboards

So I just started a new (and my final!) school year and one of the courses I’m taking is Computer Organization. The course itself focuses on digital logic and design, microprogramming and (of course) computer system organization. The content – especially digital logic – reminds me very much of the circuits we had to draw in Grade 12 Physics.

(app review) Blekko

Blekko home page

Never heard of it? I hadn’t either. I came across the company while reading this article on MobileSyrup. Founded in November 2010, the company aims to be a Google alternative and uses “slashtags” to curate their searches.

Their website states:  “At Blekko, our mission is to create a differentiated search experience by delivering high quality, curated results and organizing content into categories.”

Anyway, so the article peaked my curiosity and since I’m always up to try something new (and because their website looked very clean and minimal), I decided to review it!

Here are my findings:

(tips) How to extend the battery life of any android device

So I recently got a new nexus 7 (review/pics coming up soon!), and while surfing the net to find some relevant tips, I found this one.

“What the internet is doing to our brains”

One of the things that often comes up for students like me (and for people who work primarily with the internet) is the great distraction it poses to “real life” and “real work”. Suffice it to say, there are many arguments against this phrasing, but the fact remains that the internet can be as great a distraction as it can be an aid.

How to conquer the iPod/iPhone white screen of death

So, I recently had this scare where I woke up, picked up my phone to check the time, and… was greeted by the “white screen of death”. No, this is not really death (or so I told myself as I hauled up my computer and got googling).

The queries returned several options, but this is the one that worked for me: simply hold down the HOME + POWER key SIMULTANEOUSLY and within seconds, your phone or iPod should reboot!

There are other threads out there with different solutions (such as holding down the volume up + home + power key simultaneously) , but those didn’t work for me.

And now you know!