Wii Fit

Since, I have found that I have started to get very flabby and that I am not dealing with the stress with finishing up my distertation very well, so I have decided to get back into shape. Along with the normal eating better and cutting back on portions, I have also purchased a Wii Fit. I have to say after completing my third workout this morning this system is a real winner. PROS: I like that I am getting some feedback on my workout, and that I have a set goal in mind that is monitered by someone else. CONS: Some of the comments and suggestions get a bit annoying, and but at the moment the only major issues in my mind is that there is no mechanism to string a series of workouts together and that you can't have multiple people using the board at the same time. SUGGESTIONS: I would suggest getting a yoga mat for your Wii Fit, any ROSS, or other discount store will have them MUCH CHEAPER then the suggested ones on Amazon (mine was only 6 dollars) and get hand weights for the cardio workout (at the same place as the yoga mat).

My hope is that the CONS in this post are addressed by Nintendo in short order, because to ensure long term use of the system they should really fix those items.

Literature Review

So I was told by my advisor to review the control literature for my PHD thesis based upon the following criteria:

1.) Plant Model- what parameters did they use
2.) Task - What are trying to do.
3.) Control- What type of control algorithm have they designed
4.) Stability Analysis - Did they have one, what method did they use?
5.) Simluations: Comparative- Anecdodal
6.) Experiments: Comparative- Anecdodal

Now my response:
1.) You want me to rate their stability analysis? I dont know if the following statement is appropriate:

The authors report the development of an overly complicated control law, using an equation representing the dynamics of the robot that gets rid of all of the inconvient terms. The stability analysis is wrong or simply the author made it so convoluted that I cannot figure out what he was attempting to do. Then the author applied these equations to a set of simulations, and because simulations are doomed to succeed, they showed the robot doing what the author intended it to do. Then the author applied the control algorithm to an actual robot, but since the control algorithm they developed is over complicated they decided to make some simplifications to the control law by getting rid of all the terms that make it either unique or interesting, I should at this point out that the experiments reported is a special case and could be masking significant problems with the algorithm.

But I cant say that. I have to be diplomatic.

North by Northwest at the Charles

Tonight I saw the movie North by Northwest at the Charles Theater with Cary Grant. And I have to say, whoa, its so different seeing old movies on the big screen. Of course the implied relations between the Cary Grant and Eva Grant
and Martin Landau and James Mason are hilarious.

First Post/Bday

Today was an interesting day, I had my family's bday for me. I got to go to the farmer's for more herbs, had homemade breakfeast sandwiches, and got to do a planting. It was a great day. I have much to be thankful for, and I hope to enjoy posting on my first blog.