Today I've started my Maker in Residence. This is basically two weeks of priority to the lab of the MDD, to do a project.

I've had this idea of the lonely city installation, and I even started working on it - made 2 houses of boxes I've found in the studio, but realized I don't have little batteries and dimmers to try the led lights. NTS - bring on Wednesday.

But then I came across (oh well, it was sitting right above me) a box with the title "biofeedback sensors". I got so excited. I was thinking about the Biofeedback dance project I was a bit involved with. I did the first logical thing - I took this box to the other studio, where Miru and Ruben were sitting. She directly went looking online for what's in one of the kits. It was nice to watch. I got a bit worried I overshared, but it's always a good thing to share. So I've learned - I also looked at what's in the kit. It was a long list of sensors, and I'm not sure it's too easy to understand. And to do something with the heart rate sensor is just... old news.

But then I got home. And this heartbeat sensor kept beating. While walking with Meggie, I had an idea - two heart beat sensors connected to a computer. Two people sitting on chairs. Maybe in front of a camera, maybe in the same room. They try to make their hearts beat together (is it even possible to control?). Then something great happened. Rainbow colors. Something. I imagine me talking in class about the feeling of connection.

So I looked a bit online and found a really nice tutorial on how to work something basic with one sensor. The question is now how I connect it to a computer, make them two, compare them and display them, and calculate when heartrate1/heartrate2=1 (and somehow with a threshold).

We discusses if technology is neutral. And we said no :)) 

Basic introduction to what design ethics is. Actually, it's a big part of the reason I joined this program - the emphsis they put on it.

Later we watched together Dutch Digital Day and talked over the Slack chat. It was very energetic and fun. Here are some from it.

In between, I took my things and went from Nofit to Haifa, before the lock down would start, and the Jewish new year's eve would start. Hight energies day.

We got our first brief!

Peuhhhh, it was a tiring week. And very intence. I'll try to sum up some things:

• Great team work, listening to each other, trying to make it work. 

• Amazing subjet!!! Got me so excited. That's what I want to do with my life. 

• I should have documented during the week.

Design processes lesson. We made a magic machine - something that does something, that can help with a basic human need.

I choose the need to be validated, seen, and made a good vibes machine. If I think I'm trach, this one will tell me I'm mega!

Reflection:

We had only one hour for working. It bumed me. It made me go with my firest idea, after those conclutions I had about not to. But I had no choice, because there was only one hour.

So I folowed my first idea, and I learned that when you do, you can look at what you've done, and there's a thing to talk about. To refer to. Somehwere to start, and it's only with the price of one work hour.

But - the energy putted into this one hour is major. It took a lot. Maybe I would prefer to think a bit longer, and then get this hour of extreme. 

At this class we met our team for the first time, and they seem nice :))

This week, Gabriele talked about the documentation we're doing, and said that every project we do in this year, is part of the process. I think this storage unit and my move is a big project I'm very busy with, and proud in. So what did I do this week? The last step of the 

Sitting now. It's Sunday night, I'm in Nofit. I just finished a long day of moving my house from Tel Aviv to Haifa. I try to reflect on last week. It seems so long ago, but it's still this week.

I'll look back on reflection and how to do it, as taught by Angela.

(Just in an art-poetic moment I noticed how humble I am. Like I don't know anything by myself. Something to examine).

Angela - We did X, how did it feel, what was good and what didn't work.

I would like to have my own way of reflection. But for now, let's learn this one.

So:

It was a challenging and satisfactory week.

1. Step 1: Speculating on the fork way of thinking: With the group, we did the fork in a not perfect way. It was easy to do it this way, because the template was in the program. But I think next time I would like to sketch the fork on a piece of paper, so I won't be tied to the program I use. I think this could help see the events on the timeline better. But doing it this way was feeling collaborative and energetic. It was good to talk together.

2. The story itself: I really liked the story I wrote. I think that the way I speculate was easy and deep. Next time, maybe I could go on further - not take the first idea I had. A good thing: It felt really good to have an idea and go for it all the way.

3. The analog filter: I went out to look for natural materials. It was fun and connecting. I took too much leaves, next time go easy. Building it was fun and good, but I imagined more. I think I didn't go all the way. I went with my first idea because stress of time. Next time, sketch or give in "easier" form, and try to get beyond the first try and idea, or make multiple tries. I think I go too easy with the first idea, and I don't leave enough space for more to come. Don't pick your first idea.

4. Presenting the analog filter: I didn't present mine. Only a few did. I don't know if it's not being pushy, or being shy, or thinking it wasn't not good enough - but this didn't feel so nice, but not a big deal. A conclusion will be: This is high level studies, fly :))

5. The digital filter: Those two days I also tried to work on personal things and to pack. So, I didn't give it enough attention. I was busy with finding an apartment in Amsterdam and only joined the work later. I felt like I was slow and unable to learn new softwares. Now I can see that I didn't give it enough of my power. I don't think I could have done it differently since I am busy at the same time with preparing for leaving, but maybe: Have more self faith and stay calm, you need it.

6. My part in the exhibition: My story wasn't printed. I put it in the file itself, but it wasn't hanged. Next time, make sure I send the needed information.

7. The final result: Was good. Answered the brief. But, I think I'm not pleased. I'm very proud I did it, and I showed my friends in Israel and I saw I was proud, and that it was impressive and opened more connections. I think it goes with my last ideas: Go beyond the first idea, and see that the level is high so aim high.

8. Bonus: Involving people from my life is fun and brings me energy and understanding. Gil who I took the mouse from (another thing I had to do this week. It was lovely and gave me focus on what to do and some reflection). Talk to my people, involve them.

9. Another thing I remembered: I was added to the printed matter team, luis even asked if I could lead it. My instinct was to say I'm busy with everything going on in my life, and I haven't started my filter yet, but I didn't. I waited a bit. English is not my first language so it makes me less quick to respond, for good and for worse. So i didn't say anything. But I knew my limit. I didn't do much of the work, mostly one other student named Sophie de Haan, but I did manage to manage: went to all meetings, I said what needed to be done, and I followed the work being done, until I said I had to go back to my own business. So in a way, I used my gentle managing and organizational skills to make the thing I was asked to do. It felt nice.

10. And a nice little thing: I made everyone wear their analog masks in the video class we had, and asked them to speak so they could be seen. it was perfect. I was active and involved. Felt good, this little moment.

Oh, and some photos of the presentation and the filters.Nice reflection. Nice week.

Luis said at the end of the presentation, like we are in a movie: "welcome to M.D.D!". Everyone clapped and that ended the whole week.

+ And my friend Mor :)) 

Day 02: Building a 3D filter that would show an aspect of a speculative world.

Day 01: Inspiration and intruduction. Empathy. A long talk to a classmate named Sammira. 

Well, it's time to reflect on this past week. 

First, a note about reflections itself: We learned today, that ...

This morning, we gave our presentatoin in a format of a video I've made. This was the conclution of the day where we were busy

We finished the presentations part of the day, and our group won! We are one of the two selected groups by Gabrielle and our guest who represent our client.

And I have a bit of self pride: the idea we pitched was combined of two ideas I suggested - one was our most liked idea, and the second was part of the "worst possible idea".