My PHD Blog (Entries tagged as thoughts)

Something to think about

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:33:22 +0000

If your PhD is like mine and stretches over more than one speciality, a word of advice. Make sure you are reading and researching in all the fields equally. My speciality is the technical side and this is where I have been reading to the detriment of the other side. This is now really obvious when I look at the number of papers I have on both sides. I reckon I have at least twice as many documents on the technical side rather than the autism side. I think that the way to go is to try to keep it even, then you won't have a large amount of reading to do in an area that may not be your favourite. I am now trying to balance things up a bit. Not much fun

Research, research, research

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:07:35 +0000

At this point it is all about research; reading everything that you can find that is to do with your subject. But how do you find what it is you need to read? This I can not answer for you unfortunately, this is something that you will have to identify for yourself; it all depends on your field. The best place to start will have to be your supervisor as you will have been given a suitable supervisor, (hopefully), who is knowledgeable about your field and is well versed in the topics, giving you a head start.
What has become obvious to me is that, at the end of your 3 or so years is that you are going to be a world expert in this field. As scary as this sounds, that is what you have to aim at. Therefore there are no papers that are exactly what you need to read now. This is because you have not written them yet. As amazing as this sounds when you are here at the start, your path through the jungle you now face will be your own journey. Others may be heading in the same sort of direction but you are the one who will get to the endpoint of your journey and you will be the one who is the expert. Your university wants to be proud of you at the end, as you will be yourself but as you take these first few faltering steps it appears to me that the thing to do is read everything and keep a log of what you have read and the ideas that the reading sparks off.

I am helping out in practical sessions at my uni and one of the undergrads asked me how coursework can be marked when everyone's work is going to be so different. The coursework in question is a database system that has to be designed and developed for a pet shop with private breeders selling through the store. Each student that I talked to today had a different take on the structure of the tables, indeed, I don't think I saw 2 sets of tables the look the same. I got chatting with my supervisor after the sessions and I said that I could see how different undergrad tuition is to post grad; you have to be spoon fed info as an undergraduate as there are set modules that have to be taught. As a post grad you will not have this structure as it is not suitable as you are going to become the expert in your field. There is no one ahead of you to learn from. This sounds scary but if you are going to complete a post grad study course it comes back each time to the fact that you are going to be the expert on your field. Scary yes, but oh so unbelievably cool

Catch Up

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:38:00 +0000

It has been a busy couple of weeks. I have been through the induction process now. A few different induction sessions to go through with the faculty induction and graduate school induction and of course the school of computing induction. This last was not really needed as I sort of know who I need to know in the school of computing and I know where most things are from my year as an undergrad. However I would say that a new PhD student needs to go through these sessions and it will probably do your confidence a world of good; and possibly knock it down again.

I say this as you will be told, quite rightly, that you are at the top of the pile; you are very clever and you deserve to be there. Only the best get this opportunity and they are right to keep telling you this. Then, if you are like me, you will look around and see lots of other people in the same situation as you and you will hear about their fields and, in my case, think to yourself, "What am I doing here? My project is not as important as all these others". I was in a room full of people working on big stuff. I mean really big, you don't get bigger than this type big. You know, the cosmos! Suddenly my project looking at houses does not seem so important anymore. How can you weigh a house against the cosmos?

However, keep in mind one thing. You are at the top of the pile; you are pretty damn good to be offered this chance; the university that has asked you to join can see your capabilities and they will only ever offer these places to the very best. There is a lot riding on the people that they offer these places to as the reputation of a uni rides on the quality of its research and its researchers. That means YOU!

So, remember, you are one of the best in the world. Not just one of the best on your undergrad course or your masters course. One of the best IN THE WORLD. Never forget that.

Of course, you still have to turn in the work and this is not going to be easy. But, getting off to the right start must be important and thinking, no, not thinking, KNOWING that you are one of the best in the world should make you and your families proud of you!

What is a smart home?

nospam@example.com (Mark) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 09:12:00 +0000

I need to decide what various terms mean in respect to this project. For example a smart home is defined as "a home equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by phone or computer." if you use the phrase "Define smart home" in Google. Is this right? Yes, in some contexts this is right; however this is not really right for my thesis. "A dwelling incorporating a communications network that connects the key electrical appliances and services, and allows them to be remotely controlled, monitored or accessed." is closer as it does not state which devices are accessible as the first one does but states that the "key electrical appliances" are available. This is the definition in a fact sheet on the housingcare.org website entitled "Smart Home - A Definition". This is a document that was put together by the Department of Trade & Industry in the UK.

PC Magazine say that it is a "A home that is highly automated. It is entirely networked not only for computers, A/V entertainment and security, but also for heating, air-conditioning and lighting control. A smart house should have Ethernet outlets in every room. Although Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, and there are many appliances that are Wi-Fi only; connecting computers together via Ethernet is faster and more secure.". This is understandable as this is a computer magazine therefore it is going to veer towards the technological side. But again this is not really what I am aiming for.

Interestingly, a smart building is defined as "At the most fundamental level, smart buildings deliver useful building services that make occupants productive (e.g. illumination, thermal comfort, air quality, physical security, sanitation, and many more) at the lowest cost and environmental impact over the building lifecycle." by the Institute for Building Efficiency on their web site. Closer to what I want. So perhaps I need to be looking at smart buildings rather than smart homes? Are smart homes going to be thought of as a rich man's gadget playground? I must admit that this is how I have perceived them for a long time. I do not want something that can open the curtains or blinds in the morning to welcome the inhabitant to the bright / rainy / snowy / foggy new day. Unless it serves a purpose. I think that the "Unless it serves a purpose" is going to be extremely important and will be a useful yardstick. Or perhaps metrestick as we are supposed to be metric now. Funnily enough, yardstick is acceptable to the dictionary but there is no such thing as metrestick! There's my answer then

So, how do I see a smart home / building in this context? How about "A home that has been designed to assist the users, by means of appropriate technology, to live safer and more enjoyable lives. Key appliances can be monitored, accessed and remotely controlled to ensure that the users have an improved quality of life."

I am not sure about the last bit of that, I need to work on it but it seems about right for now.