Google UX MasterClass { 2nd Edition }

The first edition of the Google UX MasterClass was a blast and that's why I am so happy to announce that the second edition is here with us! ...and the crowd goes wild...

This April, designers from the Google User Experience Team will be visiting Sub-Saharan Africa to conduct hands-on user experience MasterClasses in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos.

GSoKites Virtual Classroom {Google Summer Of Code}

The +Google Summer of Code is a global program that offers students stipends to write code for open source projects. GSoKites Virtual Classroom (GVC) is a community which is best suited for University students interested in coding and want to enhance their open source development through +Google Summer of Code. 

If you are interested in participating in the Google Summer of Code 2015, join or invite your developer friends to this community in order to get every update and guideline that will prepare you before you apply.

Meet Mombasa's Young Techies

When I read this story in one of Kenya's leading newspapers, I knew I also had to have it on my blog. This is not only because I have a soft spot for technology and community but also because the mentioned young techies happen to be my very good friends as well. They shared with me their story of how they it all started some time back and it was nothing short of inspiring. With that said, read the article that was published about them and get inspired as well.

From L-R: Said Fuad, Abdulswamad Nassir, Alifiya Ganijee
and Aisha Mohdhar

They met at the university both pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in computers systems. Little did they know that their passion for computers will one day give birth to the first networking organisation at the Coast.

Fundamentals Of UX

I learnt a lot during the Google UX MasterClass, and I shared my experiences with you in this brief recap that I did. There, I said I would share with you some of those nice points that I jotted down during the wonderful presentation by Masumi Matsumoto and Ben Davis and here is me doing just that! I know it is a bit overdue, please pardon the delay.

So, what is UX and why does it matter?

UX is everything you need to know, think about and do to make sure that you are launching the right product for the right people. UX matters because access to your competitors is only ever a tap or two away…

Brief Recap: Google UX MasterClass

My friends are starting to think I sound like a broken record because every time I come back from an event and they ask me how it was I always say something like “It was awesome! You really missed out!” Even with that said, I will still not make an exception this time around and I will go ahead and iterate those very words when it comes to describing the Google UX MasterClass event which went down this past weekend because as you guessed it…Yes! It was awesome! If you weren’t there you really missed out!

But I am that person. That guy! So instead of just telling you how awesome it was, I thought it would even be better if I showed you. I didn’t have time to go about taking a bunch of photos as the two day event was fully packed with marvelous activities. However, I hope that the few that I have will go a long way in providing the 1000 words that this post will obviously not have.

#gDaysKe14

As much as the weather was gloomy this past Saturday, the colorful #gDaysKe14 event quickly warmed up the ambiance and raised the spirits of all those who attended. And that in itself will go a long way to try and explain why days later, I am still hung up on that particular occasion. Yes, that is how good this past weekend was!

The event kicked off with the keynote speech from the one and only +Elijah Kitaka {Google}. He shared with the audience some of the cool opportunities that are available at their disposal, including the UX MasterClass which I shared with you here.

Google User Experience Masterclass

Reposted from the Google Africa Blog.

If you are intrigued by the world of User Experience and Design like I am, then this is definitely the post you should be checking out.

This October, designers from the UX team at Google will be visiting Sub-Saharan Africa to conduct a 2-day, hands-on user experience masterclass in Cape Town, Nairobi and Lagos. Attendees at the masterclass will learn the process of taking an idea from concept to launch, including sketching, user testing, prototyping, and the importance of making continuous improvements to keep your users engaged and satisfied. It will cover interaction and visual design pattern including Material Design. The masterclass will be conducted with in collaboration with Flow Interactive {Cape Town}, the +iHub {Nairobi} and the Pan Atlantic University {Lagos}

G|Days Kenya 2014

Hey there,

In the past couple of months, I have had a lot people ask me what happened to the G|Days Kenya event that I was ranting so much about in this post. Well…I am here to tell ya’ll that you don’t have to wonder anymore. Phew! This is because the event has finally materialized and now you will have a date to bookmark, yeey!

G|Days Kenya is a community organized conference with the mission of building an ecosystem of top developers, business/decision makers and students in Kenya. The event this year will be powered by the GoogleDeveloper Groups, Google Business Groups and the Google Student Ambassadors. To understand more about what the event is all about, read here.

C4DLab ICT and Innovation Forum. { Public Review Of 'Umoja Kenya’ }

In case you were wondering what I was up to yesterday, here is a small brief. Hehe, actually chances are you weren’t wondering about that one bit, but I will just go with my earlier assumption that you were.

Yesterday was a fun day for me. I took a day off my usual work (everybody’s been doing that this week so don’t look at me like that hehe) to attend the C4DLab ICT and Innovation Forum which took place at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo Campus. This event was sponsored by Google Kenya and beautifully planned and executed by +WaridiEvents. And I am proud to be associated with both!

GSA Success Stories { #gsassaalumni13 }

Hey guys,

Words alone can’t describe what being a Google Student Ambassador has done for me. But I will try! Being involved in this program is by far one of the finest experiences I have had. It came to me at a point in my life when I really needed something to uplift me, something to distract me. And to be honest, I think it did more than that.

I expressed some of it in this post here and every time I read it or think about it, it’s as if a giant chopped onion is tossed in my eye! LOL! But they are definitely tears of joy. I have had fun as a GSA. And most importantly, I have learnt a lot. More than I ever expected. One of our most memorable events on campus was the Going Google Awareness Campaign. And my journey as a GSA became better and better since then! To pass on what I learnt through the numerous events we held and attended will always gave me great pleasure. And the fact that I am now an alumni will not stop me from continuing to do the same.

Google [ X ]: Solve For X

On Wednesday 16^th July 2014, all roads led to Nairobi University’s Confucius Centre (Education Building) for the Google [X]: Solve For <X> Nairobi event. This was an intimate event for a group of exceptional technologists, entrepreneurs, and polymaths-at-large to discuss and debate audacious science and technology proposals that could change the world. What we refer to as our X! Read here for more details.

 However, if you happened to walk in the room shortly after 4:00 pm during the individual introductions and you had no idea what the event was all about, you would have been slightly confused. Hehe, it was therefore wise to listen a little bit before sharing how you have a jilted past with some guy called Suarez who happened to bite into everything in the house!

Google I/O Extended Viewing Parties

Hey everyone! As you all know by, the 7^th edition of the Google I/O is around the corner.  {And if you didn’t, I don’t know which hole you live in but well…now you do, hehe!}. It will be kicking off on June 25^th, 2014 and run through to June 26^th, 2014 in San Francisco, Moscone Centre.

What is Google I/O?

Every year, Google hosts a technology conference that aims at sharing new product ideas, platform innovations and interactive experiences with the masses. Google Input/Output features highly technical, in-depth sessions focused on building web, mobile, and enterprise applications with Google and open web technologies such as Android, Chrome, Google APIs, App Engine and much more.

Grace Hopper Conference {Google Travel Grant 2014}

Those who have been keeping tabs on all my blog posts know that this is not the first time I am talking about the Grace Hopper Travel Grant. The other time was last year and you can see that post here.

Well, the opportunity is presenting itself again this year and I thought I should briefly let ya’ll know in case you would be interested in applying. Or to remind you just in case you knew about it but had sorta forgotten. Again, sorry fellas…this is just for the ladies!

Google Nairobi Interview

Happy new month people!! Whaaat, is it just me or does this year seem to be on steroids! I mean, just the other day it was Christmas and I remember telling ya’ll about my new year resolutions, which by the way are not going so well, and now we are already halfway through the year! Crazy, ey?

One of the Google offices in the world

But hopefully you are having better luck with your resolutions. As for me, I already converted those ones into my bucket list. This way, I’ll actually have more time to do them. However, if visiting a Google office was on your list, especially after watching that awesome movie The Internship, then here is an opportunity to finally do it! And cross it off once and for all…

Technovation Challenge Local Awards

Yesterday, all roads led to the Michael Joseph Centre for the Technovation Challenge Local Awards. If you have been keeping up with my posts, (LOL, almost said ‘the Kardashians’), then you will know what exactly I am talking about. If not, see here and here and probably here too.

After an intense 12 week program, it was finally nice to see the competition culminate in a beautiful ceremony which saw teachers, journalists, business guys, varsity students, +Akili Dada mentors and high school pupils in attendance.

Doodle 4 Google Art Gallery

By a show of hands, how many of you have been to the Nairobi National Museum in the recent past? And no, I’m not talking about the primary school trip when you were in class five. See, I thought so. Very few!

It’s unbelievable how much we, as Kenyans, rarely tour our own land as much as tourists from other countries. I am also guilty of this! Just the other day, a good friend of mine went on a nature walk in Karura Forest and when she got back she couldn’t stop singing praises about the place. After seeing the pictures she took, I understood why. The land is so peaceful and tranquil and undisturbed. It is a place I would definitely like to visit.

AdCamp {Google Opportunities}

Those ‘Aaargh’ moments when you come across an amazing opportunity that you know (deep down in your gut) you would have sailed through but for one reason or another you fall short of a requirement! Anyone ever experienced such? Kinda like how I would make an awesome runway model but apparently my being 5 ft. 2 won’t let me prosper? No? LOL!

Well, the Google AdCamp is one such opportunity for me. As much as I would have loved to take part in it, currently serving as a GSA automatically makes me illegible to participate. Bummer! Would have really loved to go to Dublin or Poland! And the fact that it would have landed on my birthday only makes my pouting worse! Darn.

Google Student Ambassador Program Application {Now Open}

Well…This post is so long overdue I’m even getting embarrassed putting it out here at this particular moment! But I did some soul searching this morning to find out why I was slacking off in writing this particular one and I think it finally hit me! You see this is a kind of bitter sweet post for me and you are going to find out why in the next couple of minutes.

I am glad to announce that the Google Student Ambassador Program application is now open! Ok, it has been open for a couple of weeks now and I apologize for not telling ya’ll about it sooner. Part of this delay is caused by my tremendous workload but apart from that I can attribute the delay to the fact that this application going live only means that my tenure as GSA is almost coming to an end! And that, my good people, makes me a bit sad :(

Africa Connected: Success Stories Powered By The Web

Hey there! I hope your past week and weekend were good. However, I can’t possibly use that adjective to describe mine as that would be the understatement of the century!! This past week was the illest, it was happening, it was on point and it was out of this world…extra-terrestrial!! LOL, okay you get the point!

I had told you about the Africa Connected Web Summit and Africa Connected Youth Forum that were to take place last Tuesday and Wednesday but if you didn’t catch that post you can check it out here. Well, they did happen and there was no way I was not turning up. I promised to share with you what went down and I’m going to do just that. I can’t possible put everything into words so I will leave a lot of it to the photos. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words anyway so.…  Anyway, stick around, won’t you?

Africa Connected Youth Forum

Hello folks! The last day of the month is finally here with us. Excited, No? Yes? Well, I am! Of course my excitement has something to do with a number of reasons but I will only share a couple with you...at least just for now.

Hehe! For starters, I had been looking forward to 1^st April, 2014 for quite some time now and if my memory serves me right that should be tomorrow! Yeey! This is because the tomorrow marks the day when the Africa Connected winners will be announced and non-other than yours truly will be in attendance :)