As part of another University Research Scholarship I was give the opportunity to develop AI interactions for an Adelaide Fringe show. 

The show, "Welcome to the Cave" took place in the first week of the Fringe Festival and sold out all tickets. The core element of this show has the audience and improv actors interact with AI characters, and for the AI characters to have conversations amongst themselves regarding the environment and context of how the current show is unfolding. 
 
 The show was overall a success and we are expecting to get a research paper from it, which will be very exciting. 

Co-ordinating Multi-LLM Interaction In Theatre

Developing AI Interaction For Adelaide Fringe

During the 2023-2024 end of year holiday period, I was awarded a College of Science and Engineering Research Scholarship and was given the opportunity to work with a French PhD candidate.

My role in this research project was to evaluate the relationships within scene graphs and test different data pruning methods. To evaluate these methods, model performance in both training speed and accuracy on unseen images were tested and recorded.

I am extremely proud to have been given this opportunity, and am pleased to announce that the resulting paper was accepted for publication by Elsevier in _Pattern Recognition Letters_. 

If you're interested in reading this paper, please check it out [Here!](https://kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fauthors.elsevier.com%2Fc%2F1kVBZ_3qHiVwye/1/010201949dd603fa-1de9f27e-dcdc-41b7-92a4-5a8df3085ee3-000000/mIVpgp0lMHHh1NrRdkz57GZ_3-g=410).

Yeah... I'm Something Of A Researcher Myself...

My First Published Paper!

I'm proud to say that I've finished my Bachelor of Computer Science with a GPA of 6.65/7. It was a difficult 3 years balancing the stress of study and trying to work enough to stay alive, but it's a journey that I'd take all over again.

I learned many things over the course of the my degree, but the greatest learning outcomes that I had were while building my own personal projects and applications. My University topics gave me the tools and baseline skillset to do my own research and learn how to solve problems with new technology.

The final year was extremely busy with difficult topics and some massive changes in personal circumstances, so my personal projects took a bit of a backseat in favour of succeeding academically with my research scholarships and professionally with my work at SAFEgroup Automation.

Now that I'm finished with my degree and eager to work professionally in this field, it's time that I sharpen up my existing skillset with tools that I have used previously, as well as start tackling some new projects and technologies that I haven't touched before.

If you're interested in checking any of these out, head to my [Github](www.github.com/xKaimac) and look at my latest commits! 


Post-University Productivity

Back On The Horse

As a prospective developer, I desired to revamp my prior HTML/CSS/JS dependent portfolio site to better demonstrate my competencies and implement a more production-ready tech stack. I utilized Next.js, Strapi CMS, Cloudinary, Vercel, and Heroku to erect a contemporary and high-performance portfolio website. Next.js is a React-based framework that provides a streamlined development experience with server-side rendering and other optimization features. This ensures that my website delivers fast performance and a smooth user experience.

To manage the content of my website, I chose Strapi CMS. Strapi is an open-source content management system that offers a customizable interface for administering website content. This allows me to update and maintain my website effortlessly, even as my content changes and evolves over time.

For storing and managing my media assets, I selected Cloudinary, a cloud-based asset management system. Cloudinary enables me to upload and optimize images and videos for my website, ensuring that they load swiftly and look great on any device.

To deploy my website, I utilized Vercel, a cloud platform for hosting and deploying web applications. Vercel offers seamless integration with Next.js, making it effortless to deploy and manage my website. And to host my Strapi CMS, I turned to Heroku, which offers robust hosting and scaling options for web applications.

Overall, using Next.js, Strapi CMS, Cloudinary, Vercel, and Heroku, I was able to build a modern and high-performance portfolio website that showcases my skills and experience. These technologies are broadly employed in the industry, and mastering them as time goes on will assist me in pushing my career forward.

Head-First Into Full-Stack Development

Relaunching My Portfolio Website with a High-Performance Tech Stack

For those new to the world of programming or who have only dabbled in procedural programming languages, the concept of object-oriented programming can appear to be a daunting task. However, with persistence and a little bit of patience, it is possible to master the basics and utilize them to create enthralling and intricate projects.

One such project that I recently tackled involved utilizing Python and the pygame library to create a game. To accomplish this, I relied heavily on object-oriented programming to establish various classes for the characters, buildings, and items that players could interact with. This method allowed me to create a game that was scalable and easily expandable.

Interestingly, as a telecommunications technician with no prior experience in writing Python in an object-oriented manner, I initially faced some obstacles. Nonetheless, through some self-guided learning and with the help of my experience in C++ and Java, I was able to swiftly comprehend the fundamental concepts like inheritance, objects, classes, and polymorphism.

One of the most significant benefits of using object-oriented programming is the ability to encapsulate data and functionality within classes. This makes it much easier to handle and structure code, and it lowers the probability of errors and bugs. In my game, for example, I created a distinct class for each building, which contained relevant information regarding the structure and its contents.

In addition to this, another advantage of using object-oriented programming is the ability to create modular and reusable code. For example, I created a distinct class for the movement of the game character, which I could subsequently reuse in other areas of the game. This made it simpler to maintain and modify the codebase as the game grew increasingly complex.

To top it all off, I employed an open-source project known as "pygbag" to build my Python game into web assembly and integrate it into my website. This enabled me to showcase my skills to a larger audience and potential employers and clients.

All in all, implementing object-oriented programming in Python allowed me to develop a scalable and modular game that could be effortlessly expanded upon. Throughout the process, I acquired an understanding of the basics of object-oriented programming and how to apply them in real-world projects. If you're new to object-oriented programming, I urge you to give it a shot and see how it can enhance your coding abilities and projects.

Object-Oriented Exploration

Experience My Life in Code: A Virtual Tour in PyGame

My second semester as a computer science student was nothing short of an invigorating and challenging journey. I had the pleasure of studying three subjects that not only enriched my knowledge of computer science but also prepared me for future studies.

In Information Science and Modelling, I learned the basic structures and techniques required to construct and manipulate a database using a Database Management System (DBMS), with an emphasis on relational databases. The course delved into the concept of data models, data modelling techniques using the Entity-Relationship (ER), Extended Entity-Relationship (EER) and relational data models, diagrammatic representation, normal forms, relational algebra, and the Structured Query Language (SQL). Additionally, the subject introduced us to the exciting field of data mining and knowledge discovery. I found this subject both intriguing and challenging as I learned how to build and manipulate databases.

In my Networks and Cybersecurity course, I was introduced to the essential principles of computer networks and cybersecurity. I studied the standards, processes, principles, and technologies used in computer networking and data communications, as well as cybersecurity vulnerabilities. We covered topics such as the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, network protocols, network communication, network classifications, communication cybersecurity, vulnerabilities, threats, cryptography basics, threat control tools, monitoring tools, incidence response, and ethical and legal issues. The subject taught me how to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks, a crucial skill in today's digital age.

In Mathematics 1A, I studied functions, limits, and continuity, differential calculus, computation of derivatives, the chain rule, Intermediate Value, and Mean Value Theorems, applications to graphing, rates of change, maxima and minima. Furthermore, we delved into complex numbers, Euler's formula, complex exponential, three-dimensional analytic geometry, matrices, systems of linear equations, vectors, equations of lines, and planes. This subject challenged me as I needed to have a solid understanding of mathematical concepts. However, it was also fulfilling as I could apply these concepts to real-world problems and gain a deeper understanding of how mathematics relates to computer science.

To conclude, my second semester as a computer science student was a challenging but rewarding experience that allowed me to explore interesting topics and develop new skills. I'm excited to continue my studies and see where my journey in computer science takes me.

One-Third Done

From Databases to Calculus: What I Learned in My Second Semester of Computer Science

As a computer science student, my first semester at university has been an exciting and enriching experience. I had the opportunity to study a diverse set of subjects that introduced me to the fundamental concepts of computer science and prepared me for future courses.

In my Computer Programming 1 course, I was introduced to Java and object-oriented programming. This was a new experience for me, as I had only self-taught the basics of JavaScript before studying. I found the course to be challenging, but also rewarding, as it helped me develop problem-solving skills that are essential for computer science students.

In Mathematics Fundamentals A, I had the chance to revisit my mathematical skills. I was enlightened about relations, inequalities, polynomials, derivatives, exponentials, and logarithms. Even though I had studied these concepts in high school, I found it beneficial to revisit them, as they are absolutely essential for computer science tasks such as optimization algorithms and data analysis.

Data Science was an absolutely pivotal subject in my first semester. In this course, I learned about the design of experiments, descriptive statistics, probability, and data management. This course was particularly challenging but fascinating. I learned how to work with massive datasets, analyze them, and interpret the outcomes. The skills that I acquired in this course will be utterly valuable in my future studies and career in Computer Science.

Fundamentals of Computational Intelligence was one of the most fascinating courses that I took in my first semester. I was introduced to the history of machine computation, system architecture, data manipulation, algorithmic design, and human-machine interaction. The course even provided me with the opportunity to write a literature review on language learning models. This was an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking experience that helped me comprehend how humans and machines can collaborate to achieve shared objectives.

In summary, my first semester as a computer science student was a multifaceted and gratifying experience. I had the opportunity to learn new skills, develop problem-solving capabilities, and explore interesting subjects. I am thrilled to continue my studies and push to become a great software engineer.


Back to School!

Reflections on My First Semester as a Computer Science Major

As an introduction to web development, creating my own portfolio website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript was an exciting challenge. It was the first website that I have ever created, and I wanted to showcase my skills and experience in a way that was visually appealing and informative.

I started by arranging the structure and design of my website. I understood I wanted to involve sections for my skills, experience, projects, and contact information. I produced a crude outline of my website layout and created a list of the essential features I wanted to incorporate.

Next, I began scripting the HTML structure of my website. As a neophyte, I found this to be the most arduous part of the process. Nevertheless, I managed to build the basic structure of an HTML document, including the doctype declaration, head, and body tags. I then erected the primary sections of my website, such as the header, primary content, and footer. I utilized semantic HTML tags such as header, nav, section, article, and footer to structure my content, which assisted in making my website more accessible to users with text-readers.

Once I had the HTML structure in place, I initiated styling my website with CSS. I established a distinct CSS file and linked it to my HTML document. I exploited CSS to add styling to my website, such as fonts, colors, backgrounds, borders, and spacing. I also utilized CSS to make my website responsive and mobile-friendly.

Finally, I appended interactivity to my website using JavaScript. This was likewise a demanding part of the process for me, as I was still learning the basics of JavaScript. Nevertheless, I managed to link my JavaScript file to my HTML document and utilize JavaScript to add functionality to my website. I created navigation menus, image sliders, and contact forms, and also added form validation to guarantee that users could submit their information accurately.

Overall, creating my portfolio website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript was a challenging but rewarding experience filled with learning. It allowed me to showcase my skills and experience in a unique way, and demonstrated my capability to work with these essential web development languages.

//Dev Blog