Day 11

I'm Finally Finished

After eating the usual breakfast, I ventured into the library in hopes of completing two graphs. Both having to do with the output of my age long program of persea. Unfortunately, I have not used excel for quite some time and as a result, was having a considerable amount of difficulty when attempting to create these graphs. Both graphs would use the attack edges as their independent values while, but my first graph would utilize the percentage of success a packet has in reaching its goal, past those attack edges. The second graph would use HOP-Count as its Y-axis.  After finishing these, and taking a break, I returned to that library in order to complete a power-point presentation. I had to return once again after dinner but finally..

I'm finally finished.

6/28/2012

28 June 2012, Tuesday

From 9:00am to 12:00pm, I worked in the Library.

From 4:00pm to 6:00pm, I did the same.

From 7:00pm to 8:00pm, I finally finished.

Day 10

This Pace Is Picking Up

After waking up this morning and eating breakfast, my first order of business was to attend my scrum which takes place every other day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. During this time I took on even more information concerning DHTs, Kademlia, Persea, and basically Peer to Peer systems as a whole. I knew even more than I had the previous day after this encounter with my TA, Charles, Mahdi, and Piop. During the duration of this meeting, I learned that a DHT, or Distributed Hash Table, was actually a more specific and precise form of a P2P system. Also, I learned that Persea was the program we had been running since Monday. This program simulates nodes in a Distributed Hash Table and gives an output on how successful a malicious node is depending on how strong the ca value is. ca stands for the number of attack edges within the Table and as that number rises, the the packet is less and less likely to reach its target successfully:
Thus, a lower Success-P. I spent about 2 hours with my TAs and partner discussing these terms before they were forced to disperse in order to take up their every day tasks as grad students trying to get a proper education for themselves as I am now. That next hour I, and my partner Rebecca, continued to study and run Persea on our own until around 3:00pm when we attempted to go to a Reading Group that occurs once every Wednesday. Unfortunately, as a result of not being able to find the location of this event, we were forced to give up on it and head home. This is where I continued to study on my own work until Dinner time arrived--which I missed out on due to my falling asleep on the keyboard.
It's very obvious that things are becoming a bit more hectic...This pace is picking up.

6/27/2012

28 June 2012, Wednesday

From 12:00pm to 2:00pm, I attended my teams meeting, learning even more about P2P systems.

From 2:00pm to 2:55pm, I continued to study and run my Persea program until reading group time.

From 3:15pm to 5:20pm, I completed my programming and re-wrote my notes on P2P systems.

Day 9

Harder Than I Thought

On this day--day 9 of my internship, I continued to research Java programming in hopes of gaining more skill in the realm of computer science for another day that I may need it. Continuing to bang my head into java I found the program becoming more and more bearable. It is no longer the impossibility that i once believed it to be. But still, I never want to be overwhelmed with the pressure of needing to learn it within such a limited amount of time again. Once I decided i had enough practice for the day I decided to take a nap for it all to soak in. 

I wasn't until today that I actually began to look into the program we were given for homework and i must admit; plugging in numbers is no problem whatsoever. However, actually understanding what these variables and classes actually mean is a completely different story, entirely...but i can't say it isn't fun. I actually only happen to be updating my blog at the moment because i decided it was time to take a break after banging my head into this program for over 2 hours. Once I'm done here, I'll continue to figure this program out for at least 2 more.

All in all it's definitely...Harder than I thought.

6/26/2012

26 June 2012, Tuesday

From 10:00am to 12:00pm, I researched and practiced with Java

From 6:30pm to 8:30pm, I worked on my assignment solo.


From 8:35pm to 10:05pm, I worked on this same assignment with my partner.

Day 8

A Slow Day

For the most part, today was one of the slower days. There wasn't very much to research or study as a result of not only my banging my head into learning java programming though out my entire first week, but also because our entire curriculum seemed to take a drastic turn. Instead of learning computer programming, strictly, we will be focusing on primarily on research along with a much slower paced head drilling into java. Aside from our afternoon scrum where we discussed several new terms such as:

Nodes: connection points, either a redistribution point or communication endpoints,
Edges: paths that connect those nodes
DHTs: Distributed Hash Tables
Distributed Hash Table: An incredibly popular type of decentralized unit
    Ex. Napster
Attacker Nodes: Malicious nodes that wish to cause harm to the network
and
Attack Edges: Edges malicious nodes use to reach honest nodes.

Like every other day there was information to learn, but not much practice to put into it. 

All in all, it was...A slow day.

6/25/2012

25 June 2012, Monday

From 12:00 to 2:00 I attended my group's scrum and did some work of my own as well

From 8:15 to 10:30 I worked on my homework assignment.

Day 5

Relieved

Today, Friday, was the best day I've had since my admission into the REU Internship. As this is only the fifth day, I understand that this may not be saying too much; however, a great deal of magnificent information has been soothing my eardrums and stressed mind today.
After beating my head into learning java programming, throughout my time here, I can honestly say I have taught myself a great deal. I've learned that i will no longer have to do this as this will not be our goal in the internship anymore. From this point onward we we will be pursuing and detaining experience in the feild of research rather than programming. Of course, as the knowledge hungry individual that I am, I will continue to learn computer programs and programming them myself, but at a much more relaxed pace since it is no longer a necessity for me to know these things. 
All in all, I', overjoyed to learn that I will be practicing something that will aid me better in my later endeavers to become one of the best mechanical engineers to date.
Honestly, I'm completely.....Relieved. 

6/22/2012

22 June 2012, Friday

From 1:00 to 1:25 I practiced my computer science skills using java.

From 1:30 to 3:00 I attended a meeting with my TAs and partner to discuss future business and learn more.


From 3:10 to 5:10 I conducted research on several topics of interest.

Day 4

I'll Get There

This day was another rough one, but progress was made.

Today I, and my partner Rebecca, attended a fairly advanced computer programming class after we were offered the opportunity by a very helpful TA. During this time we were able to take in a nice amount of inormation that we could apply towards our goal.
Unfortunately, many of the things being discussed in this class today were a bit above my head as I was overwhelmed around 50% my time in the classroom. I may be losing morale now, but I catch on quick. I'll build it all back up. I'll know exactly what I'm doing soon enough.

Definitely...I'll get there.

6/21/2012

21 June 2012, Thursday

From 1:30pm to 3:10pm, I studied java and read several books on programming in the Engineering Library.

From 3:30pm to 5:30pm, I attendeda computer programming class with a heavy emphasis on the java program.

From 6:00pm to 7:00pm I continued to drill my head into learning java and programming.

Day 0

I'll Do My Best.

Today happens to be my first day here at this internship--I've just entered the dorm I'll be staying in for 6 weeks. I've created this blog to share with you all my progress through out this experience as well as everything I may learn along the way.

Although the butterflies continue to fluster in my stomach, I won't admit to my nervousness even if you ask. And although I have confidence in myself, I won't say I'm going to be the best.

But I know one thing for sure, and this I can promise.

Regardless what happens...I'll do my best.

6/17/12

Day 3

It Was A Rough One.

I learned alot today; I also learned how much I dont know as well.
Not that I see this as a negative in any way. Regardless how depressing my previous statement may have appeared on this computer screen, I actually see my lack of knowledge in the feild of Computer Science as a good thing; to a certain degree of course.
After spending a few hours with the graduates that are to be working with us, I realized that I quite where they expected me to be which is a bit discouraging but just fine. It leaves more room to see my growth.
I also came to the conclusion that I dont quite know enough to complete this assighnment to the point in which I can be satisfied with myself on it. Java seems to be incredibly difficult to master and comprehend well or good enough to complete a difficult program effectively. Learning to program will be an incredibly lofty task, but nothing above my ability. So much, I learned and need to learn on this day...It was a rough one.

6/20/2012

20 June 2012, Wednesday

From 11:30am to 2:00pm I met with my team for the first time.

From 2:15pm to 3:55pm I focused on learning as much as possible under their supervision.

From 4:10 to 5:30 I, and my partner, diligently worked on our assignment with little success.

From 8:00pm to 10:30pm, we continued to work on the project at hand.

Day 2

I'll Be Enjoying This

From 9:00am to 2:30pm me and my peers discussed the ethical delimnas an engineer will be forced to face during projects and research from day to day. I had a broad understanding on the subject originally such as: Safety, Integrity, and Honesty were the primary driving forces. However, I had no clur that subjects delved so deeply into how different types of engineers must conduct  themselves...This seems to be a very strict, straight-forward career as far as interaction goes.

Misconduct, Plagerism, Honesty, Caution, Quality, The Law, Knowledge, Fairness, Mutual Respect, and so much more is crucial for me to know. With so many rules and ambiguous situations that are sure to come I'll always have to be on my toes as both a researcher and a great engineer...

I'll definitely be enjoying this.

6/19/2012

19 June 2012, Tuesday

 

From 9:00am to 2:30pm I attended the Engineering Ethics Workshop

From 2:40pm to 3:10 pm updated blog

Day 1

18 June 2012, Monday

Waited from 7:30am to 8:30am because I wanted to be early.

I was too early.

Had orientation from 9:30am to 2:30pm.

Filled out survey at 2:30pm. Finished at 3:15pm.

Worked on blog from 3:45 to 4:30.