Although I have finished my studies in may 2007 it hasn't been possible yet to take part in the official celebration so called "Sponsion" because I have been on my round the world trip from may to september. I had to wait until december for the next event so this day, dec the 17th, was now the end of my academic education at the University of Technology in Vienna. After my studies in Hagenberg where I graduate to Bakk. (FH) I received now my degree as Dipl-Ing - the result of 6 years of hard work.
Date of Entry:
2007-12-01
cpm project swarovski kristallwelten
The first main project I was envolved in since my comeback at checkpointmedia were the fascinating swarovski crystalworlds in Wattens/Tyrol. cpm was responsible for the multimedia entertainment in 3 so called "wunderkammern". I was part of a team that designed and created the technical infrastructure for all the multimedia installations. It was a interesting and funny experience to do this job. Especiallly working in Tyrol was very nice. Have a look at kristallwelten.swarovski.com to get more information.
Date of Entry:
2007-09-29
checkpointmedia - comeback
Although I split up with checkpointmedia in February 2007 I got in contact with the management again. We decided to start a new cooperation for the next months. I am looking forward what the future will bring! Anyway it's also a reunion of the so called "marderhunde" (have a look at the picture in an older entry).
Date of Entry:
2007-09-19
Back from Round the World
After 112 days or 16 weeks or 4 months we are back in Austria. Behind us a very special time in many different countries where we got to know so many different people and cultures. At the end of may 2007 my girlfriend Johanna and I started a trip that led us round the world. As I mentioned in a former blog entry we started in South America in Argentina. We visited the wonderful town Buenos Aires, saw the amazing Glaciers of Patagonia, went Whale Watching and experienced the power of the huge Iguazu Falls. From Argentina we went on to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The town of sun, beach, rich and poor...Brazil maybe is the country of opposites. Through the Pantanal (a huge wetland area in the South of Brazil) we reached Bolivia, rushed trough the Saltflats of Uyuni and went on to Peru to visit the Lago Titicaca and the sacred places of the Inca in Machu Picchu. Via Lima and Santiago de Chile we went on to Newzealand - a very nice country with smart people and a must-visit for every Lord of the Ring fan. We got around by campervan for 2 weeks and checked a wonderful and colourful landscape. After Newzealand we reached Australia. We started our country-exploring in Sydney and went up the East Coast to Cairns. After a visit to the Ayers Rock in the Red Center and a stop in Melbourne to drive along the Great Ocean Road we flew to Indonesia to finish our Round the world trip in SouthEast Asia. We relaxed in Bali and went Surfing in Kuta Beach. After a visit to Singapore we arrived in Malaysia to make a tour into the jungle and to watch out for the Orang-Utans. The last country we visited was Thailand and this was the best opportunity to relax at the beaches. Now in September we came home again. We have visited 14 countries, went more than 8000km on our own by car and spent numerous hours on buses, planes and any kind of transportation. If you are interested to get to know more about our journey have a look at our travel blog on www.statravelblogs.com
Date of Entry:
2007-05-21
Round the World
At the end of may my girlfriend Johanna and I go on a trip that leads us nearly round the world. We begin our journey in Buenos Aires / Argentina. We go on to Brazil, Bolivia, Peru and Chile. Then we move over to the other side of the world to Australia and Newzealand. Over Bali, Singapore, Malaysia and Kambodscha we get to Thailand and from there back home to Vienna. We leave in one week from today and Iam really looking forward. You can read about our adventures in our weblog at www.statravelblogs.com.
Date of Entry:
2007-05-21
TU Wien - Studies finished
Today is a really wonderful day. I was at the Dekanat of the TU Wien to hand in my masterthesis. Fortunately I don't have a final exam - so called Diplomprüfung- anymore, so my course of studies called Medieninformatik is finished now. My mastertheis is called 'Analyse von Varianten der Mensch-Computer-Kommunikation'. It's about different ways of communication between humans and computers. Within my work for this thesis I created an interactive Tracking System according to the concept of the Zooming Interfaces which was created by Jef Raskin. If you want to know more about it just have a look at masterthesis.grantspirit.com or at www.youtube.com.
Date of Entry:
2007-02-05
checkpointmedia - QUIT
At the end of January I decided together with the managment to quit my job at checkpointmedia. I have worked for more than 3 years there and I really liked it. It was a wonderful time for me, I had the possibility to learn a lot about media technology and I got to know some nice and cool colleagues. I was part of a team so called 'marderhunde' (->image). I think it was a good decision because now I have got enough time to finish my studies.
Date of Entry:
2006-09-10
TU Wien - masterthesis
after coming back from holiday I decided to bring my time at the TU Wien to an end and started writing my masterthesis. my topic is oriented in the area of interaction design. my aim at the beginning is to find and describe different types of human-computer-interaction (hci). in my thesis I call them interaction paradigms. the results of this research should be the basic for the implementation of an interactive system. I hope I can present results very soon.
Date of Entry:
2006-09-03
Egyptian Holiday
within this summer my girlfriend johanna and I decided to travel to egypt for two weeks. although it was just a short period of time it was enough for us to see a lot of interesting stuff. we started our journey in sharm el sheik - a very strange place. it looks a little bit like it was directly beamed down from the mars. so we went do dahab which is a very nice place for diving and relaxing. there we got to know some nice people who took us to kairo, the capital and a really huge melting pot of culture. we visited the pyramids their and made a short nile cruise. by train we went on to luxor - the hottest place on earth I have ever been to. in july it get's more than 50 °C !!! but we were lucky - we just had about 45 °C (-; we saw the temple of luxor and karnack there and visited the valey of the kings. after some days we got back to dahab again for 3 last relaxing days. I just can recommend a visit to egypt to everybody - a really wonderful country.
Date of Entry:
2006-04-28
checkpointmedia project: maw steyr
of course the projects in the austrian parlament and the mozarthaus have been a great success but time goes on. our current project also deals with a very interesting topic. I am working with checkpointmedia in the 'museum arbeitswelt (maw)' in steyr. basicly it presents factory and working technology from the 19th century until today. the exhibition is totally redesigned. it presents a very interesting mixture of technology, art and multimedia - really worth seeing.
Date of Entry:
2006-02-11
checkpointmedia project mozarthaus
the year 2006 is the 250th birthday of the very famous austrian musician Mozart. so the last still existing house in vienna where mozart has been living at has been renovated during the last 5 month.
on the 27th of january it openend it's doors again but now as a museum. my company checkpointmedia was responsible for the multimediatechnology on all 4 floors except the mozart apartment. i was part of a team that was responsible for the technical environment/basement for all the multimedia content. we produced some really nice installations especially the magic flute which is the main attraction in the house. alltogether it was a very nice project but very tough because it was close after the parlament. i can only recommend to visit it.
Date of Entry:
2005-11-02
checkpointmedia Project: Parlament
On the 26th of October the Austrian Parlament opened it's doors for a public day. It was the first one after the great renovation. My company checkpointmedia was responsible for media technology and infotainment there. I was part of a team which was working in the parlament the last two months. We have been very successful and the result is really nice. checkpointmedia created 15 media installations there and additional a more then 20m2 large Videowall. Just take the time and visit the parlament for free - I think you'll be impressed.
Date of Entry:
2005-11-02
Malagasy Holiday
This year's summer holidays I spent some weeks in Kenia and Madagaskar. Two very interesting and really nice countries. Unfortunately I only had three weeks for this trip (because I have been very busy at checkpointmedia's project in the Austrian Parlament) but I was very happy because I could make it together with my girlfriend Johanna. First we visited Kenia and stayed in the area around the capital Nairobi. We made a Safari in Lake Nakuro and the Masai Mara. Two really impressing regions with wonderful animals and a very nice landscape. After that week we went on to Madagaskar to have some relaxing days there. We stayed at the two islands Nosy Be and Ile St. Marie which were really really wonderful and amazing. The people are so nice and the landscape is like a dream. We had a wonderful time there. Watch some pics in the gallery
Date of Entry:
2005-07-04
Trip to Venice
One highlight of the 2nd term at the Technical University of Vienna of course was the Biennale in Venice. It's a famous international art exhibition with a lot of artists from all over the world. We stayed there for nearly three days and it really was a tough time to watch all the very different exhibits. Additional Venice is a very nice town. I have been there for the first time in my life. I also had a good time with my co-students from the university. Alltogether a nice trip.
Watch some pics in the gallery if you're interested
Date of Entry:
2005-06-14
Nice Weekend
last weekend I was at the so called "Sponsionsfeier"
of Phil's sister Patricia. It was a nice event and I met again a lot of "old" friends I Have not seen for a long time. you can watch some pics in the gallery...
Date of Entry:
2005-02-21
Master`s Degree Program
I've already mentioned in a former posting that my time in Hagenberg is over. That sounds a little bit tough but it means that I've finished my course of studies "Medientechnik und -design" at the FH Hagenberg with the degree Bakk. (FH) Because of my employment at Checkpointmedia I decided to keep on studying in Vienna at the Technical University. My course of studies there is called "Medieninformatik" - very similar to Hagenberg. It's part of the TU's master degree program. I must confess it's really tough to get everything under one hat (job and studying) but anyway it works (mas o menos). I also started a language course in Spanish at the University's institute Romanistik. I like that really very much.
Date of Entry:
2005-02-18
Employment at Checkpointmedia AG
Although my internship at Checkpointmedia in Vienna has ended in may I keep on working there.
I decided to take an offer about an employment of 20h per week. That's a really great chance for me. On the one hand I really like working there and I also can need a little bit more money.
I hope studying at the Technical University and the job beside will work together. We will see...
Date of Entry:
2004-10-21
Graduated to Bakk.(FH)
last week there was the so called "Sponsionsfeier" in Hagenberg - my last moments there where I spent more than 3 years of my life. Together with my 65 classmates we graduated to the academic grade "Bakkalaureus (FH)". I know a very nice nam but it's the result of 3 hard years of working. Now I am gonna keep on studying at the University of Technology in Vienna. Besides I also stay at checkpointmedia where I spent my internship. It's gonna be a very nice time now in Vienna.
Date of Entry:
2004-09-18
Back from the U.S.
Since two weeks I've been back from my trip through the United States of America. I didn't already have time to tell anything about it - was very busy the recent days. I have been there during the month of August and it really was an interesting and nice time.
I must confess I'm not the great "fan" of the Americans but I can recommend to visit this country once in your life. We started our tour in New York City...a huge and very impressing town. We stayed there for five days and did anything that was possible to do during that short time (watched a game of the NY Yankees, visited the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, of course the Time Square and so on)...and be sure a lot can be done in this town. Then we moved on to Philadelphia, the so called cradle of democracy. One of the nicest towns in the U.S. It was very funny there when we climbed up the stairs of the national musem of art what you'll know from the Rocky-Story.
Via our next stop in Washington (a very beautiful town) we moved on to Florida by car. It was not possible to get any public transport because of the hurricanes so we decided to rent a car what was a really good idea because we had a long way through five states an more than 1000 miles. Florida is a really good place to stay in the U.S. The people are more relaxed and especially the food is better. We
discovered the whole state including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, The Florida Keys and Miami which was our last stop. On the whole it was a really great time there. so many impressions...But I must confess that the Americans are a crazy people. They think they live alone on this place called earth and thats the way they lead their life. Things like environmental protection or saving energy do not belong to their language. Also their way of nutrition is only ridiculous. But in spite of the country is definitly worth seeing. You can find pics in my personal gallery.
Date of Entry:
2004-07-06
European Champions
Congratulations to Greece
Date of Entry:
2004-06-14
EURO 2004
olè, olè... the european football champoinship the EURO 2004 in Portugal has already begun - wonderful. only football for the next three weeks.the first match between Portugal and Greece was a big surprise - but definitly not the last. I am looking forward to the game between Germany and the Netherlands on Tuesday evening. I think that will be a great match. My personal favourite is not France but either Spain, Italy or Germany - we will see.
next news coming soon.
Date of Entry:
2004-06-07
Beatsteaks - shut up stand up
a great concert in may at the arena in vienna - where else. it was the 3rd time for me to watch the beatsteaks live in concert and it was a pleasure once again. thanks to the arena team - they just try to keep straight with their performances - just good old punk. not like the losers from the wiesen festival who invite bands like placebo and so on.
metro punks only suck
Date of Entry:
2004-04-28
ten foot pole - unleashed
I didn't really have time to add new info to the news section the recent weeks (have been very busy during my internship). But yesterday monday I have once again been at the arena watching the concert of TEN FOOT POLE. It was a nice gig especially because only ~ 200 people have been there. Another two bands have been performing there: SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK and... I don't know the name of the third but doesn't matter.
I am looking forward to the BEATSTEAKS concert
in may and the deconstruction tour with pennywise, antiflag, beatsteaks, snapcase...
have a look if you're interested: www.arena.co.at
Date of Entry:
2004-03-12
Anti-Flag in Concert
last monday I've been at the Arena to watch the concert of the american punk band Anti-Flag. I must confess it was a really great experience because of the great band. They are quite good live performers.
I have heard also the Beatsteaks are going to come to Vienna the next weeks. Anytime in April I think.
I have already seen them two times and it has always been an amazing time. I am really looking forward.
Date of Entry:
2004-03-12
internship has begun
today on monday I started my internship at checkpointmedia in Vienna. I can only say the first day was a great experience and very interesting. erveryone was really nice to me and I soon got know a lot of colleagues. but be sure it's not easy to remeber so many names at once. I hope my internship will keep this evolution so that it really becomes an interesting and instructive time. by the way you can watch the website of checkpointmedia: www.checkpointmedia.com
Date of Entry:
2004-03-12
No Use For A Name - in concert
...last friday at the Arena in Vienna. A really great concert with a great band and additional another two punk bands. It was the first time in my life to watch this band in a live performance (they have once been at Wiesen but I wasn't able to see them - too dr..k !?!). My friends and I have been very lucky to get the tickets because we arrived very late at the Arena. But with a good trick we were able to catch 5 of them. I can only recommend this band to anyone who likes punk - a great experience.
Date of Entry:
2004-03-12
great game - great fight
...but no victory unfortunately. Yesterday I was in Vienna to watch the football match between Austria and the Czech Republic. A close match with a tough fighting Austrian team but they lost 2:3. The first half the czechs were the better team and they were in front with one goal. But the 2nd half was the one of the Austrians. First the 1:1 and then with only 10 players the 2:1. But the czechs wouldn\'t already have qualified for the EURO 2004 if they weren't a great team. So they shot the 2:2 and in the 92nd minute the 3:2. A pity for Austria but they can be proud of their play. Good luck for the next games and especially for the qualification for Germany 2006 !!
Date of Entry:
2004-03-12
MotoCross
Today (sunday) we have been at a motocross race in Grieskirchen where Erich took part in. It was a great experience to watch the fight between the racers standing only some metres away. erich was very successful in both runs. In the first one he finished on the 3rd place (after winning the start) and in the 2nd tun he caught the 4th place although he had a small crash . Finally he won the 3rd place this day. I can only recommend to anyone to watch such an event once in your life - really amazing. I'm going to add some pics in the gallery soon !
