1. Vote for 2025–26 BruinTech Board!
It is that time of the year again, when your opinion and vote matters!
The elections for the 2025-2026 BruinTech executive board is upon us. We need your assistance in deciding the next President-Elect. We have 3 excellent candidates. Please take a moment to check out the candidates and vote here: https://sa.ucla.edu/forms/p/W01Kr
Voting starts Thursday, 8/7/2025 @ 9:00 am PST
Voting ends Tuesday, 8/12/2025 @ 11:59 PM PST
As always, thank you for being part of BruinTech!
BruinTech - A diverse association of Bruin technologists sharing a common mission for advancing technical knowledge and experience, encouraging innovation, and promoting participation among all our members.
2. Explore the Evolution of Mac Settings with “Frame of Preference”
Take a nostalgic and interactive journey through 20 years of Mac control panels with Marcin Wichary’s Frame of Preference. Hosted on the Aresluna website, this beautifully crafted experience chronicles the transformation of Apple’s system settings from the iconic 1984 Control Panel to the modern System Settings app.
Featuring fully emulated Macs via Infinite Mac, users can explore each interface hands-on, revealing the design philosophies and quirks that shaped Apple’s user experience over two decades. Whether you're a designer, developer, or longtime Mac enthusiast, this is a delightful deep dive into the hidden history of UI design
https://aresluna.org/frame-of-preference/
3. "Designing the Overlap: AR Storytelling Tools” with Heather Dunaway Smith
The XRI Design Subcommittee is excited to welcome visionary XR artist Heather Dunaway Smith for a compelling exploration of AR storytelling, as part of their XRI Design Speaker Series.
The overlap of the real world and the digital realm offers a powerful space for crafting meaningful stories and experiences. Discover storytelling techniques that harness AR’s unique capabilities and navigate its constraints, while gaining insights into the latest AR technologies and tools.
When: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 pm PT
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/99851225411?pwd=RQCL16wGaJ3bsF0mymfoIaiwjipnfl.1
Meeting ID: 998 5122 5411
Passcode: 582161
Bio:
Heather Dunaway Smith is an award-winning XR artist and interdisciplinary creative whose work brings together storytelling, interaction design, and emerging technology to create immersive art experiences. Over a long and diverse career, she has worked with Fortune 100 companies, start-ups, and cultural organizations to craft meaningful digital projects that engage and delight audiences. Her AR and VR artworks have been shown internationally, and her collaborations with Adobe and Snap—including curating the AR gallery at Adobe MAX 2022—reflect her ongoing leadership at the forefront of immersive storytelling.
4. Bridging the Digital AI Divide in Higher Education
The 2025 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study offers a comprehensive look into how colleges and universities are navigating the rise of artificial intelligence. Drawing insights from institutional leaders, faculty, and IT professionals, the report explores key themes including AI strategy and leadership, policy development, workforce implications, and the growing digital divide. It highlights both the promise and challenges of integrating AI into teaching, learning, and campus operations, emphasizing the need for inclusive, ethical, and strategic approaches to adoption.
