Architecture for Humanity, TED, BaseCamp, better late than never

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/cameron_sinclair_on_open_source_architecture.html

This talk is at the nexus of several of my biggest interests.
1. This guy, Cameron Sinclair, has a fascinating story about developing a non-profit architectural organization, Architecture for Humanity. His story is amazing, and his main points are inspiring.

2. TED, Technology, Entertainment, and Design - This conference consistently delivers exciting and inspiring speakers and topics. Presentations are added weekly and are available as a podcast. If you subscribe to no other podcast, this is the podcast you should listen to.

3. SketchUp Basecamp - The connection here is a little tenuous, but here it is anyway. Last year (June 2008) there was a user appreciation conference/party for a few select SketchUp users (at the Googleplex). I, very fortunately, was invited to attend. It was AWESOME. One of the highlights was that Cameron Sinclair spoke with a similar theme. The conference concluded with a a little design charette for an Architcture for Humanity project in Brazil. My team came in 2nd.
http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2008/06/sportables-design-challenge.html
More basecamp videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/sketchupbasecamp

AutoCAD 2010 Faux Review

First the Link:
AutoCAD 2010 tips and tricks video
http://adskmedia.com/autocad_2010/

Now the rant:
From my experience, AutoCAD spent many years (R12-2007) in a rut. The interface remained basically unchanged (same commands new images), while new, fragile, features were added with every release. The features often seemed half-baked and languished in an unfinished state for many (sometimes all) subsequent releases.

In the last three releases, the interface has received a major overhaul. I find many of the changes fascinating, and refreshing. But it seems that the dust hasn't settled on the interface. It continues to change in each of the three previous releases. This is a reversal from the many years when the interface remained basically static, but not necessarily a better scenario. To be productive, you really need to know where all your tools are going to be.

The interface has changed, but has the underlying problem been improved? Are the new features now more stable than the ones of previous years? What about the big new features of AutoCADs past. Has there been any improvement? I guess it isn't as much of a selling point to say, "Remember all those broken features we gave you five years ago? Well, we finally fixed them."

That being said, I should fully disclose: I haven't tried the new release. My previous work computer struggled to manage the interface adjustments in 2009. My home computer is a Mac. So, while the software has upgraded, my hardware hasn't.

In spite of my complaints (it is mostly just sour grapes), I appreciate the power and change in focus of the new features. The additions of parameters and constraints to geometry in this release along with improvements to the 3D modeling interface and tools over the course of the last four releases makes the full version of AutoCAD begin to come into its own as a true design tool. It is no longer CAD drafting that tries to emulate hand drafting conventions, but a completely new variety of drafting where lines respond to relationships to other lines.

SketchUp Scripts and Renderers

Yesterday I presented "SketchUp Scripts of which I am Fond" for a portion of the San Francisco CAD Managers meeting. We also talked a bit about Rendering programs. Here are the links:

Scripts:
www.smustard.com
S-mustard
(Goes with S-ketchup) an e-store that has lots of excellent scripts. Some are free others you pay for. Even the expensive ones aren't very pricey.
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http://www.crai.archi.fr/RubyLibraryDepot/Ruby/RUBY_Library_Depot.htm
Ruby Library Depot
A library of hundreds of downloadable scripts.
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www.sketchucation.com
SketchUcation
A community site that has its own script library. This is a great place to find scripts as they are being developed. The forums are well organized and moderated. You can find a lot of great information here.
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http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/
[Plugin] SketchUp Blog
A blog that keeps on top of new developments in plugins.
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http://www.special.eclipse.co.uk/sketchup_training.html
Quarr-IT
A collection of excellent scripts integrated into toolbars and the SketchUp interface.
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Rendering Programs:
I'm only including the renderers that work inside of SketchUp. There is a wide range of other programs that can take files exported out of SketchUp.
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http://www.suplugins.com/
Podium
Simple to use program that works inside SketchUp. I've used it and it works quite well.
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http://www.light-up.co.uk/
LightUp
Also works inside SketchUp. "Bakes" textures onto the model while using the tool. Fascinating program, when I used it (a couple releases ago) it was a bit difficult to figure out the interface. But it has incredible potential.
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http://www.idx-design.com/
IDX Renditioner
I haven't used this one, but it is supposed to be similar to Podium in difficulty and quality of final products.

My portion of the meeting focused on how to install the scripts and where to find them online. Chris Fullmer preceded me with dynamic components and scripts that he put together. His presentation was a show stopper. It was inspiring to see what he's been able to put together in just a few months. Makes me want to spend more time with the program.

Investigating Potential Employers

Being only recently unemployed, I'm going to be fastidious about which firms I apply at. To help me in this quest, I've enlisted InsideArch to find out about office culture in the offices that I might work at.

In a couple months we'll see if I am still this picky.

AutoCAD on the Mac Redux

I may get my wish. AutoCAD on the Mac survey today. Revit Tomorrow?

From - http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/

AutoDesk Assistance Program

If you are like me, you really relied on your employer to provide the tools of your trade. Now that you are unemployed you are in a real bind. You want to keep your skills up or learn new programs, but you don't have any money to spare.

Well, you could visit Pirate Bay, WarezRUs, or some other purveyor of viruses, worms, and cracks.

Or you can finally go legit (if only for a year) through AutoDesk's Assistance Program:
http://students6.autodesk.com/?nd=assistance_home

Now if only I could run Revit on my pre-Intel Mac!