Hobbies and Interests

My interests are music and movie multimedia, racing and flying simulations interactive simulation environment, high tech toys mobile computing and cars and airplanes vehicles. I also enjoyed mountain biking. See, that's a pretty good match to my professional interests. :-)

• Movie and music: I am not picky, and have no preference for any particular type of music and movie. This is for entertaining.
• Music Instruments : I played a bit Synthesizer/Keyboard and Saxophone. These are old hobbies. I was never a good piano player, but playing and tweaking the sound, adjusting the synthesizer parameters are entertaining enough. I have some dated equipments but most are still working fine. I own a Roland D10, a Korg M1, a Roland SC55Mk2, a Yamaha PSR510, and a Roland PAD-8. All can be connected to my PC via MIDI. I also have an Alto Saxophone (Bundy II).
  I played saxophone in the National Tsing Hua University Wind Band. I was a member of Harmonica club in senior high school.
• Mountain Biking : Biking is a fun exercise, and I got to learn basic mechnical repairing skills by tuning and upgrading the bikes. I am doing regular maintenance and tuning myself. I've also upgraded one of my bikes to disc brakes from its OEM v-brakes.
• Automobile : I love cars. Ever since I was a little child, I learned to recognize cars and remember their models. Thanks to my father for knowing my dream and taught me to drive, I learned to drive when I was 15. (In Taiwan, 18 is the official age for obtaining a drivers license) My dad even sent me to his friend's driving school so I can learn it right. While in college, I translated articles from foreign automobile magazines for Automobile Encyclopedia Magazine in Taiwan.
• Auto Racing Simulation : My favorites are Gran Turismo 4 (PlayStation 2), FIA GT-Racing (PC) and Richard Burns Rally (PC). I actually don't consider these games, they are driving simulations. I built a racing cockpit to attach a racing seat and my steering wheel / pedal set for a more immersive experience.
• Airplane : I love airplanes and try to go to airshows often. My favoriate is the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. I have seen them performe twice, and I've visited Blue Angels' homebase at Pensacola, Fl. I also have seen the Air Force Thunderbirds twice.
• Flight Simulation : Like my love for cars and racing simulation, flight simulations give me a chance to easily fullfill part of my dream of flying in a very affordable way. I use MS Flight Simulation 2004, Falcon 4.0, F/A-18 Operation Iraqi Freedom, and X-Plane, and I have a complete HOTAS setup with rudder pedals.
• Gadgets: Mobile devices (Palm, PPC, EPOC, etc), Home Theator Equipments, Cameras (Digital, SLR, P/S), etc. There is always something to upgrade... if I have the time and money.
• Computers ... : just can't live without it.
• Digital Video : None Linear Video Editing, video compression/encoding. I created DVDs of my kids so my parents and relatives not close by can see the kids.