DEV Community: Francis Galarza

The Story of SonicMind

Francis Galarza — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 17:45:46 +0000

When it comes to coding, usually this includes knowing all the different types of statements and or coding in order to best orchestrate the code. Everything can be programmed; you just need to know how and what to code.

For example, the primary program language that is used in Twine is JavaScript, which is more for beginners such as myself; however, the user interface has made it easier, and also initiative from myself to look at videos and techniques of ways to code to simplify my life.

1 Asking Chat GPT for advice on how to code, such as the prompt (Provide all the possible coding prompts for Twine in regards to XYZ) this allows for an endless amount of information to come, and more importantly, variation in order to make the code what you want to make of it.

2 Another link that helped me a ton was https://www.adamhammond.com/twineguide/

This is a website for Adam Hammond, the guide for "A Total Beginner's Guide to Twine 2.1". This allowed me first off to become more familiar with all the different functions within Twine, but also the different ways you can create stories and an endless amount of different paths and or branches within.

3 "Interactive Storytelling- Intro to Twine by Mighty Coconut has helped a ton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnARX2ToqYc
This allowed me to see another person's code and explain the different pathways you can create. He was writing a short story within, and seeing the different pathways and ways he was prompting was interesting and very engaging to see.

By using a wide variety of different sources to discover and overall familiarize myself with Twine, it has been me to become more in touch with my Human Artifact by making it what I want to. Twine has allowed me to make it more interactive than I thought Possible, even as on Sunday the Artifact is due, this has allowed me to create a new project and more importantly, be proud of one which I can work on and truly make the best for myself.

Following Steps

Francis Galarza — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:07:09 +0000

As we now have another week to finish and improve our project, following the reading and focus of Frankenstein, the theme of the Technological Sublime and The Coming Wave, I'm now in a point of developing the project and my personal "artifact". Last week it was a very broad topic and can be expanded upon further. I believe the next step would be to implement the following themes and topics from all 3 of these concepts into a PowerPoint, which we will then present, that is relevant in today's world.

As stated within last week's dev blog, many AI tech companies are launching these tools which are used to improve and build upon our everyday lives; however, when they launch their marketing campaigns, they never focus on the customer's approach.

The way the customer will approach the tool is the key solution or guideline to what to create, as to how it can create value in a world full of others trying to do the same. Multiple companies always talk about the future, but never the present as in terms of the audience's fear, possible dependency, or ethical concerns that may occur from the use of AI. Simply addressing this issue it can lead to more people simply becoming comfortable with the terms and uses of AI. So many people still have so many questions that are unsolved regarding AI, however, companies never have an answer, by simply launching a campaign that can relate the potential drawbacks, it can lead to users becoming more relieved and have trust within the company to build upon loyalty.

I believe this is the first step to do regarding the Frankenstein project, this can be related to how Victor had all of these questions regarding the potential dangers of creation and how it can lead to doom and despair (which it did). However, all of his role models and advisors had no answer and instead talked about the positives. It can show how not all things are positive and they need to talk about the drawbacks as well.

This is an interesting one!

Francis Galarza — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 20:11:32 +0000

The main true question that I want to answer this week is what occurs when the one thing that we created to make people in awe, starts to become our worst nightmare reincarnated.

This week I wanted to touch more about the human artifacts from the previous weeks, however have a little twist regarding the "technological sublime". As we are now approaching the Frankenstein project, there are so many metaphors and underlying meanings which I covered last week which can relate to modern times and how our world is becoming more and more technologically advanced. As a marketing major, one of the core aspects of the field is advertising, spreading awareness, and branding. We are trying to sell the experiences, wonder, and opportunity that can come, which can then rebrand Sublime in terms of my major.

As I start to create the project for the upcoming weeks, one core concept is creation and simply making something out of nothing. Sublime acts in such a way regarding how it can be both beautiful and horrifying like the monster from Frankenstein, it literally be played in the exact scenario of how in awe Victor was once he started to create the monster and the graphic details of the monster's limbs and body parts show the terrifying mistake he did and it could be shown within a marketing sense. This could be shown for companies and how they create technology and frame it in such a positive and glowing light, however, the true horrors are starting to shine, mainly regarding the invasion of privacy and the verification. "AI Hallucinations" is a prime example of how a beautiful creation can have its drawbacks as well.

With the human artifact in mind, I'm planning to shape it into a marketing campaign, simply spreading true information about AI and what is occurring to change the narrative to one where we not truly, but at least grasp a little bit of knowledge of how much control do we truly have over the technology we are creating to awe people. I'm planning on experimenting with AI with different prompts to just play around and truly see how authentic the information they give are, since so many people depend on it, it's better to observe and see from all different aspects and angles.

I have to stop here for now, due to me simply brainstorming and not fully knowing what the project would be about. However, the dev blog simply being a place to vent or brainstorm thoughts is pretty cool to think about now, after reading and simply typing my thoughts. Also, are you aware of the blockchain and how they are trying to implement so much information into it, as a source to verify everything to ensure it's authentic and the transaction actually took place. I've heard about it, and it caught my eye.

There is no prompt; we are gonna try to make this interesting.

Francis Galarza — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:59:14 +0000

This will be hard, mainly regarding how I came into class very late; however, after reading more about Frankenstein and the Coming Wave. I've started to better understand the true connections and the message that they both start to have. Mainly with the Coming Wave, it was difficult at first to navigate and read into as it was a really long book, but after grabbing a fresh cup of grapes and a comfortable spot, it allowed me to fully enjoy and catch up on chapters as well. I like how, mainly in Frankenstein and the Coming Wave they talk about the "Almost Human" concept. (I'm going to be honest) that part was from CHAT GPT the "Almost Human" due to how it honestly made sense after it describes the assignment in better regard after the following prompt I put into it. However, with Victor so fascinated and fixated on creating an "Almost Human" back to Life it resonates so much with AI and both of these books have so many connections, even after 200 years since Mary Shelling produced the book.

I like and understand now how The Coming Wave is simply about our relationship with technology and how it has advanced so rapidly. In the age of technology, innovation is everywhere, and it won't go away any time soon. It showcases how AI is used as a tool and can help refine and tune ideas to showcase them in the best light and for what you particularly need. It goes hand and hand with Victor's monsters as he grabbed a variety of body parts from different graves to showcase them in "his perfect light and vision". AI could be the same as we can prompt them and ask them certain questions, and in a certain way, to get the best possible result, which creates our own Frankenstein.

It's starting to click now, the reason why you wanted us to read the book, since they are so similar in the ways of creation and how maybe Nature should play as the only "GOD" to creation and not human or manmade. The 2 texts reflect off of each other, but also our society and how ethics may play into the two. What Victor did wasn't ethical by any means; he created a monster in order to fulfill his own desire to create a human from nothing and disturb nature. Could we be doing the same with AI, and it's too soon to find out? I'm not sure that's the biggest question to be honest. But that could be better answered in Next Week's Dev Blog.

What Does being a Human mean and why?

Francis Galarza — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:39:59 +0000

This is a question that philosophers and bright thinkers have pondered for most likely all of our existence. The big question: Why are we here? You can go one route with science and with the concept of evolution, or multiple other routes with so many stories of the first humans and how we came to be.

For me, these can be shown through history and analyzing human artifacts. These include arts, poetry, etc., anything that showcases or reflects the creations or ideologies of humans. With this class being about the "Age of the Bots", the more I think about it, it makes it like the matrix, where I'm going to be unplugged any day now, but it's truly interesting to think about the biggest question. Why. Why was I born to this specific family, time period, gender etc. Why? This is a very big question I've had my whole life, but one I want to tackle and understand more of. Right now we are learning about the ages and concepts of Enlightenment and of Romanticism and it's interesting as to how they are polar opposites; however, they work so well together

It shows that opposites attract and nothing is ever too good if it's by itself, but rather with another complement, which can benefit or strengthen them. I like this a lot within The Coming Wave and within Frankenstein, as it shows how with certain events which are inevitable or foreshadowed, such as the first cellphone and the introduction of the internet to IOT, and AI, and Walton meeting Victor to showcase what will happen in the future.

Rather than the biggest question of why we are here and what our purpose is, it could be redirected to what does our future looks like and instead of being swept up and thrown metaphorically like during a tornado or wave, we could ride it and prosper from the benefits of what is to come or what we don't know rather then repeat history and have to learn the newcomings.

Dev Blog Entry 2

Francis Galarza — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 17:32:19 +0000

Throughout the week, when we uncovered and found connections between the book The Coming Wave and the philosophy of Kant, they both illustrate how important it is to be "intellectually mature". Now more than ever, with the emergence of AI and fake media, there is so much information out on the internet that spreads false narratives about a variety of topics. It's our duty as civilians and people as a whole to be educated regarding not taking everything we see as the truth.

This is the main topic of discussion for Kant, and how, during the Age of Enlightenment, humans should not rely, as Kant stated, "blindly" on authority but rather make our judgment and insights on the topics.

This connects to AI as AI is going to keep growing, and so is the amount of information it will show. We should be educated about AI, and by simply educating ourselves, we can not necessarily control AI, but use it as a growing tool for us to advance our own lives and create it for ourselves, instead of becoming reliant on the machines and algorithms to do it for us.

Dev Blog Entry 1

Francis Galarza — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:26:04 +0000

To introduce myself: My name is Francis Galarza, and I'm currently a sophomore at Florida International University, taking an honors course about "Humans in the Age of Bots". Technology has been a part of my life since I was born, but recently I've become more aware of the impact it now has on our day-to-day lives. The more I interact with AI, I start to think about the true capabilities and effects that machines have on our lives. Through this course, I want to further explore this topic to engage with AI and try to answer the question for myself regarding whether AI is truly beneficial for our future, or the doom of our future.

Throughout the past 2 weeks, with this course, I've started to become more interactive with AI, and the one thing I've realized is the importance of prompting is very important. ChatGPT, which I especially use, can be especially very people-pleasing in terms of the answers it provides. However, depending on how you prompt the question and the more specific details you provide, it allows for a more specialized response as a result.

I believe that AI connects very deeply with the Scientific Revolution, mainly in terms of shifting the way people think. In a similar way, AI uses algorithms to shape the view of how humans intercept information and this could be seen through the amount of knowledge we now know and the more we will learn with the introduction of AI.