Hear ye, Hear ye!!! I have decided to move my blog site to my personal site. Please visit...
leahkahl.weebly.com
Here, I have posted all my past blog posts and will continue to post at that location.
Blogger, it's been real! Peace out.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
My Week at Work with R-Tech: Behind the Scenes with Howe and Howe Technologies
Raise your hand if you have seen the show “Black Ops Brothers, Howe and Howe Technologies” on the Discovery Channel. Now keep your hand up if you get to work with them this week! (My hand is up, just F.Y.I, and no one is around me so I feel silly). If you go to the Discovery Channel website, the show is described as such: “[It follows] the family of identical twin brothers, Mike and Geoff Howe, as they design and build the coolest machines you’ve ever seen: from military tanks to supercharged subterranean rovers…” This week, there is no sitting in a cube, no receiving spam e-mails, no awkward conversations in the break room, no long drive up to Aberdeen Proving Ground, and no running down three flights of stairs to get signal on my cell phone. This week, I get to work with Howe and Howe Technologies (specifically Mike, I have no idea where Geoff is.) We are up in a small town outside of Boston, and my office is a firefighting playground.
I get to do something pretty fun at work this week. A little back story first. I had the hobby of creating videos back in the day and luckily I get to apply my video talents to the First Responders Technologies (R-TECH) portion of my work at SAIC. I get to throw on the director’s hat and pan, tilt, and zoom my way through the week. I’m not going to get into the logistics of what section of DHS and what EXACTLY they do, blah, blah, blah, because you’ll probably fall asleep (and isn’t the point of a blog to have people read it?!) But basically, SAIC is contracted to test and evaluate prototype responder equipment that is not on the market yet. Howe and Howe Technologies brought their SUPER COOL HUGE YELLOW MONSTER TRUCK (that I got to ride in, no big deal!!) with two fire-fighting robots tied up on the back (which were equally as cool) for first responders to assess this week (robots, not the truck). My job is to produce an informative video on the capabilities that R-TECH assesses of this piece of equipment.
I am writing this blog more to share my thoughts I have had this week dealing with research and development (R&D) of a product. SIDENOTE: the SAVER Program I also work for (same employees, just different contract) pretty much does the same thing, they just test readily available commercial off the shelf equipment (so I have been involved with the evaluation process for about 2.5 years.) R-TECH is different in a sense that responders are working with something new!! A new invention! The kind of inventions that link old technology to new technology in this world. I work with a great team that knows how to conduct a legit assessment. We had a propane tank on fire, we ran the robot through water, we had it running over trees, and tomorrow we have it climbing steps! The experienced responders we have hired this week have been very helpful, they know their stuff. Holding an event to orchestrate the assessment of a prototype requires a lot of work and research. So far this week it has been an exciting few days.
I wasn’t around to see the thought process that went on to literally build and design the robot (I believe this equipment was on one of the episodes, but I am not 100% sure on that). However, I get to see the testing and evaluation portion. The part that, in my opinion, REALLY matters; how responders view this piece of equipment. How they pick out the valuable and subtle features that manufacturers and designers might not be aware of at first. Also, it’s helpful because the manufacturer learns what they need to improve upon. I may be filming a video, but we have data collectors who record every bit of feedback that the responders make during the assessment.
Not every product in the world goes through the same process, but there is an importance of R&D. I consider R&D an investment to the quality you are providing your customer. From a simple survey to a focus group, there should be some type of research involved in understanding your target market and figuring out what they need/want. How can your product be the best? What could you have missed? What does your customer value? How can we produce it efficiently? And so much more… Understanding the back ground through R&D creates a higher return on investment. From my experience with the first responder community and SAVER/R-TECH Programs, without the focus groups and these assessments; responders would be less educated on what is available, less aware of how well a piece of equipment performs, and BENEFICIAL advancements would not be applied if it were not for this research produced by these programs.
Now for a plug… To find out more on the R-TECH program, go to http://www.firstresponder.gov. To learn more about the SAVER program and available report documents, check out www.rkb.us/SAVER
- Turtle
I get to do something pretty fun at work this week. A little back story first. I had the hobby of creating videos back in the day and luckily I get to apply my video talents to the First Responders Technologies (R-TECH) portion of my work at SAIC. I get to throw on the director’s hat and pan, tilt, and zoom my way through the week. I’m not going to get into the logistics of what section of DHS and what EXACTLY they do, blah, blah, blah, because you’ll probably fall asleep (and isn’t the point of a blog to have people read it?!) But basically, SAIC is contracted to test and evaluate prototype responder equipment that is not on the market yet. Howe and Howe Technologies brought their SUPER COOL HUGE YELLOW MONSTER TRUCK (that I got to ride in, no big deal!!) with two fire-fighting robots tied up on the back (which were equally as cool) for first responders to assess this week (robots, not the truck). My job is to produce an informative video on the capabilities that R-TECH assesses of this piece of equipment.
I am writing this blog more to share my thoughts I have had this week dealing with research and development (R&D) of a product. SIDENOTE: the SAVER Program I also work for (same employees, just different contract) pretty much does the same thing, they just test readily available commercial off the shelf equipment (so I have been involved with the evaluation process for about 2.5 years.) R-TECH is different in a sense that responders are working with something new!! A new invention! The kind of inventions that link old technology to new technology in this world. I work with a great team that knows how to conduct a legit assessment. We had a propane tank on fire, we ran the robot through water, we had it running over trees, and tomorrow we have it climbing steps! The experienced responders we have hired this week have been very helpful, they know their stuff. Holding an event to orchestrate the assessment of a prototype requires a lot of work and research. So far this week it has been an exciting few days.
I wasn’t around to see the thought process that went on to literally build and design the robot (I believe this equipment was on one of the episodes, but I am not 100% sure on that). However, I get to see the testing and evaluation portion. The part that, in my opinion, REALLY matters; how responders view this piece of equipment. How they pick out the valuable and subtle features that manufacturers and designers might not be aware of at first. Also, it’s helpful because the manufacturer learns what they need to improve upon. I may be filming a video, but we have data collectors who record every bit of feedback that the responders make during the assessment.
Not every product in the world goes through the same process, but there is an importance of R&D. I consider R&D an investment to the quality you are providing your customer. From a simple survey to a focus group, there should be some type of research involved in understanding your target market and figuring out what they need/want. How can your product be the best? What could you have missed? What does your customer value? How can we produce it efficiently? And so much more… Understanding the back ground through R&D creates a higher return on investment. From my experience with the first responder community and SAVER/R-TECH Programs, without the focus groups and these assessments; responders would be less educated on what is available, less aware of how well a piece of equipment performs, and BENEFICIAL advancements would not be applied if it were not for this research produced by these programs.
Now for a plug… To find out more on the R-TECH program, go to http://www.firstresponder.gov. To learn more about the SAVER program and available report documents, check out www.rkb.us/SAVER
- Turtle
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Brand of Baseball
It's Sunday. In my household during the summer season it usually means one thing; baseball. I am currently sitting at Sawmill Park in Glen Burnie at the moment, watching my boyfriend play catcher. I'll be honest, I had a few other topics I was interested in discussing with this blog post, but I believe when you feel inspired, go with your gut. Between my dad's mid-life crisis involving taking on the game of baseball, his new found love for the game, and me being in a relationship with an Orioles fanatic, I have not only learned so much about the game, I have come to respect it much more.
If you play a sport competitively after high school and college, it's probably because you love it, right? That's why Chuck still plays. He has been playing since he could say "play ball", knows all of the Orioles players, plays 3 times a week in the summer, and gets super excited when he has double headers. But there is so much more than playing the game and loving it. I played softball for fun through middle school and high school, I didn't love it, but it was enjoyable (hence why I play soccer now and not softball ;). As I have been sitting here, I have been thinking about the image of baseball and what it means (to me, at least). I start asking myself, how did baseball become America's past time? And when you think of a baseball game, why do you think of innocence? Sunflower seeds... a father and son eating a hotdog with baseball caps on... the national anthem... dirt and grass stained pants. Such classic images, right?
A brand is all about what you think about something and the way it makes you feel. In order to develop that brand, it takes time and experiences in order to grow that emotion and attach it to whatever. My experiences with baseball have been pleasant ones. When I was little, I remember sitting in Camden Yards right behind first base thinking it was SO COOL that Cal Ripken jr. was number 8 and I was 8 years old; it was like we had a special bond (but I was weird and in hindsight, it was just a coincidence). Also, memories of walking down the (safe) streets of Baltimore with everyone else decked out in black and orange, grabbing the bag of peanuts before entering the stadium, screaming "CHARGE!", and getting super excited when my dad would buy me cotton candy. And how can you not think that a tiny kid in a little league jersey running to home plate with the huge helmet bobbling on his head isn't the most adorable thing in the world?
But what about how the sport is portrayed when you're not at a game or playing? Other than getting into the politics about Major League Baseball and the rivalries, (since I hardly know anything about that...only that the Yankees are evil), it's interesting to see how the sport is portrayed in various medias. When you watch movies, the characters are always having a good fun-spirited time a at a baseball game. On tv, baseball highlights are diving catches and home runs while the players appear as super heros. During the summer, it feels like there is a major league game on at every bar.
It's the images and experiences such as these that give me a content and happy feeling when I think about baseball. The atmosphere, the spirit of the players, the patience of the game, and the memories I have sync together to create my personal opinion of my baseball brand. To me, it's a cultural thing, a Baltimore thing, and an American thing. Let's go O's!!
If you play a sport competitively after high school and college, it's probably because you love it, right? That's why Chuck still plays. He has been playing since he could say "play ball", knows all of the Orioles players, plays 3 times a week in the summer, and gets super excited when he has double headers. But there is so much more than playing the game and loving it. I played softball for fun through middle school and high school, I didn't love it, but it was enjoyable (hence why I play soccer now and not softball ;). As I have been sitting here, I have been thinking about the image of baseball and what it means (to me, at least). I start asking myself, how did baseball become America's past time? And when you think of a baseball game, why do you think of innocence? Sunflower seeds... a father and son eating a hotdog with baseball caps on... the national anthem... dirt and grass stained pants. Such classic images, right?
A brand is all about what you think about something and the way it makes you feel. In order to develop that brand, it takes time and experiences in order to grow that emotion and attach it to whatever. My experiences with baseball have been pleasant ones. When I was little, I remember sitting in Camden Yards right behind first base thinking it was SO COOL that Cal Ripken jr. was number 8 and I was 8 years old; it was like we had a special bond (but I was weird and in hindsight, it was just a coincidence). Also, memories of walking down the (safe) streets of Baltimore with everyone else decked out in black and orange, grabbing the bag of peanuts before entering the stadium, screaming "CHARGE!", and getting super excited when my dad would buy me cotton candy. And how can you not think that a tiny kid in a little league jersey running to home plate with the huge helmet bobbling on his head isn't the most adorable thing in the world?
But what about how the sport is portrayed when you're not at a game or playing? Other than getting into the politics about Major League Baseball and the rivalries, (since I hardly know anything about that...only that the Yankees are evil), it's interesting to see how the sport is portrayed in various medias. When you watch movies, the characters are always having a good fun-spirited time a at a baseball game. On tv, baseball highlights are diving catches and home runs while the players appear as super heros. During the summer, it feels like there is a major league game on at every bar.
It's the images and experiences such as these that give me a content and happy feeling when I think about baseball. The atmosphere, the spirit of the players, the patience of the game, and the memories I have sync together to create my personal opinion of my baseball brand. To me, it's a cultural thing, a Baltimore thing, and an American thing. Let's go O's!!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Combo-Creatures... Fact? Or Fiction? Illustrations to Prove it.
While on the island of Bermuda last summer, snorkeling in the crystal deep blue, I saw the strangest thing creep in the corner of my eye. A swimming RABBIT... A Fish-it... Bunny-ish... a Rabbish, if you will... Since that encounter, I have seen numerous unbelievable animals... a She-dino Superhero and a baseball playing Elephant-Tiger....I was compelled to illustrate my encounters and above are the sketches to prove it...
Just kidding. The inspiration for these crazy illustrations is simple... So we all know how my nickname is Turtle, and how my dad had the honor to start the tradition. I have these 2 friends (believe it or not) and a few years ago, they insisted on my dad assigning tribal animal names. My dear friend Jayne Chong was given the honorable name “Swimming Rabbit,” while my other friend Phylicia was dubbed (pardon the language) “Crapping Bear”... And the names stuck! (Poor bear)
Bored one evening, I decided to doodle a little something-something and on my sketch pad appeared this rabbit-fish with her turtle friend. After posting to Facebook, my buddy Brittney requested a self-portrait. Naturally, she requested a female super-hero dinosaur conquering the world on top of a mountain, of course. My third illustration came a few months later, and was drawn for my “new” boyfriend (at the time) who was unaware of my paper and pencil abilities. I said, “CHUCK! Pick two animals and a verb”.... Not knowing what he was getting himself into, he said, “Elephant. Tiger. Throwing.” HA! How the heck am I going to do that?... Well... Here you see.
These have been some of my most favorite illustrations I have ever drawn. I loved combining opposite things and creating something new! Creating a visual for something we have never seen before, and giving life to the un-imaginable. If you have any request, I would love to crank out a few more of these illustrations!! It has been awhile since I have brought any “combo-creatures” to life... What should I draw next? Most creative combo wins!
- Turtle
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