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Imagine that. All them misbehavin’ beans there have uploaded themselves to the Interweb to start an anti-literacy campaign. I didn’t know beans had interesting literature, or links like these.
Drop.io - Quickly share files. I mean quick. Drop 100MB like its hot.
SomeEcards.com - Yeh, ecards. Ok, some of these are REALLY inappropriate… but some are really funny so that makes it ok.
Remember the Milk - I don’t use this, but if I needed to manage tasks I probably would.
Adobe.tv - Looky here, another online TV, but this one is from Adobe. I hear they’ll be getting other shows.
WorldClock - The stats of the world dynamically making you realize that a lot of people are dying and pumping oil.
FontStruct - Saved the coolest for last. Create and Share your own Fonts. For a font geek like me this is bleepin’ cool.
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I’m not sure about you, but I am increasingly frustrated in the separation between 3D design and data management. Yep, I have two hairs left on my head and permanent marker all over my face from nervous twitching each time something needs to be checked-in or out.
There’s creating a model and then there’s managing it. It’s separate, but for the most part you’re already managing the data in the assembly structure you create and the drawings you churn out. All that data is in the model files. For some reason it takes another program to structure the data, produce reports, handle revisions, etc. even though you build that every day into the model. Heck, not only models. Any document.
I imagine sooner or later this could merge and completely destroy what we know as PDM or PLM. Maybe it because we think of it in the sense of managing 3D CAD Data in lists instead of like filling a glass of water, so to speak. Part of this happens because companies want reports and revs to look like they always have. The hardest part about developing a new technology is convincing people that it’s better than how it has been done. That scary.
Hopefully, one day, the resource and data management will happen behind the scenes and data can be generated dynamically not matter if we start from a spreadsheet or a 3D environment. think it can happen?
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Today, SolidSmack is shedding it’s stylesheet and baring it all. It’s official CSS Naked Day and while seemingly a bit silly (which is not beyond this blog) it’s all for the good fun…
to promote Web Standards. Plain and simple. This includes proper use of (x)html, semantic markup, a good hierarchy structure, and of course, a good ‘ol play on words. It’s time to show off your <body>.
Kinda cheesy huh? Not only am I a CAD nerd, I’m also a web nerd. how cool. anyway, this is what SolidSmack looks like without any stylesheet. Not too pretty, but very proper and linear, dont ya think?
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If you’re involved in plastic design you may have heard of Protomold. If not, they’re a Rapid Injection Molding outfit. You can send them your 3D models and have a prototype created super fast for as little as $1795.
If you just completely glaze over when somebody mentions plastic design or want a interesting purple cube sitting on your desk, they have a free sample they’ll send you. It shows you good and bad practices and what to consider when creating a RIM part. Really cool.
You can go get a sample cube here.
Via Core77
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Slice! Dice! Oh, shazang! my favorite Scrubs episode is on right beneath my tomato slices! Sweet!
This fine example of kitchen gadgetry was created in SolidWorks 2008 and rendered in PhotoWorks by Marc Nardangeli, an industrial designer. It’s an acrylic board with a chromium handle and a flexible (OLED?) screen embedded within. The idea is, of course - to view your recipes on while you’re makin’ that magical lasagna for the kiddos.
I imagine it could come loaded with Wi-fi to access and flash memory to store your favorites. A great addition would be to link it to the top recipe sites or cooking site that has video download available.
Practical?
Maybe not the most practical when you have chicken and mushroom smeared across the display, but practicality is that stupid wall the prevents cool stuff from being thought up. There’s no reason it couldn’t work and it’s a great example of a specific solution applied to a niche market. How would you design it?
ProductDesignForm Via BizToolBelt
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Last week I gave you some tips on how to get hired on the spot. I got some good feedback from it and apparently some people are taking the advice. Like Caleb Stoll who just launched SolidWorks Unleashed and already has a healthy amount of great video posts.
Buell Motorcycles, which primarily uses SolidWorks, is looking for a Senior CAD Designer. They ask for a resume of course, but what would set you out amongst the others applying for the opportunity to design one of the coolest motorcycles around? Go for it.
Update?:SolidWorks has alos posted a job opening for a “Content & Social Media Manager.” Sounds like an interesting title huh? Here’s the specs…
The content and social media manager for SolidWorks Corporation will be responsible for leading the creation and execution of all global, online content strategies targeting a variety of customers and prospects including engineers and designers in industries ranging from machinery and metalworking to plastics and consumer goods.
So, now you have two places to try out some of your newly implemented hiring strategies. I’m sure it will also help if you tell them you read SolidSmack. 
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There’s a conference that has been taking place for, oh, about the past 9 years, where the elites of the CAD industry get together and mash-up all the collective information and emerging interests of the CAE (Computer-aided engineering) industry.
The conference is called COFES2008: The Future Of Engineering Software. It sounds like your boring my-stuff-is-better-than-your-stuff kinda shin-dig right? While it probably its stuffy moments, the agenda paints a different picture.
Great Topics
I’m particularly surprised at the amount of roundtables and keynotes on the social sphere and the semantics of information and knowledge. Ya know, all the networking type sites on the web and the push toward interoperability between each? These aspects are pretty much non-existent in the CAD industry. The industry has seemed slow to adopt the idea of the web as a source of growth, or rather REVENUE, because exploiting it just doesn’t make that much sense. Oh, and there’s even a discussion on World of Warcraft and how the next generation will have different expectations about design tools. Interesting.
My Bet?
My bet is that many of the presidents, VPs, and other decision makers come out with a bunch of ideas about making more items available online before the other guy. Pessimistic huh? My hope, however, is that everyone comes out with better ideas on simplicity in program and technology design and understanding the problems of increased complexity for users. Is that too much to ask?
Via Deelip Menezes. Have fun out there.
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Wow, you all have some really interesting ideas about the future. I think you need to be in charge of some stuff or hooked into a giant hummin’ glowing thing that sucks all your good ideas out and turns the bad ones into compost for a colony of really nitrogen-depleted scientists.
Until then, congratulate the two winners of the SpaceNavigator/iTunes contest. Using the power of Random.org they have been randomly selected to randomly receive these great prizes!
Daniel B. - wins the 3DConnexion SpaceNavigator. Rotate!
Muenzer - wins the iTunes gift Card! Music!
You two should send me your contact info and then go rub it in everyones face how much cooler you will be in 3-10 business days after delivery. Rockin’ fun everyone! and look out for for more contest goodness comin’ your way with all the other mildly interesting tips and CAD related tech on SolidSmack.com!
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It’s not the price son, it’s the durn color. I mean, whus’ your grandpa gonna say when he sees a horse dressed like that. It’s just ain’t natural!
HDR Wallpaper Resources - Crazy Cool HDR (high dynamic range) photos, a TON of them from place all over the webulous.
Robosapien Mods - Here’s all those mods you all ask for to mod the Robosapien sitting on your lap. Thanks to my bro for this one.
Turn PC into DVD Ripping Monster - How cool. I can finally fill up that terabyte drive.
Trim Down Windows - Microsoft Windows? Who needs Windows, I much prefer a large patio door to a window.
Inflatable concrete housing - I’d probably start with floors and countertops myself. Concrete bears, oh and squirrels for sure.
Blogsessive - A cool new site covering the ins and outs of blogging. Great Design. Great Content.
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This isn’t going to tell you what to put on your resume, how to dress or what to say. This is going to show you what you can do right now without even setting up an interview, making a call or going out to buy a new outfit. It’s really easy and you’re probably closer to being in the spotlight for that new position than you think.
It used to be that all the effort of getting preparing for an interview was put into the resume and looking sharp. Now, a clean resume and outfit are not bad, but there are new techniques that make them less a factor.
Personal Branding Secrets
There are no secrets. The job hunting and people hiring have pretty much changed. You may not even be aware that half of your interview could take place online. This can be bad if you’re not aware of it, but really, really good if you are and it’s a whole lot better than mailing resumes to the HR waste basket.
So, experience aside, here are four things (plus some bonus items) that can help you get hired on the spot, make any interview easier and have you standing out above everyone else.
Continue reading ‘How To Get Hired On the Spot Plus Have An Easy Interview’
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