One of my favorite web sites to visit is www.hamstertracker.com. When I first discovered it, I was totally hooked! I was fascinated by it. The hamster pictures were adorable, and it was just so amazing that someone was able to combine their loves of technology and hamsters in such a way. I was so smitten, I emailed the creator of the site, Mathijs, and we've been email buddies ever since. Mathijs' passion for what he does is inspiring to me - now there is someone who is into what he does!! After we started this blog, I emailed Mathijs and asked if I could feature him and Lucy. They both said sure! Mathijs and Lucy live in The Netherlands - by day he works with computers, by night he is Hamster Tech Blogger Extraordinaire.
Mathijs: After being baffled by a hamster by junior high school friend, when I was in my pre-teen years, his hamster had a tube-d cage all over my friend’s bedroom, since then hamsters have always captured a special place in my heart. Eight years ago, I finally decided on getting my own (and first) pet. Having given it (many years) of consideration, I opted for a hamster. A dog seemed impossible with the many job-related travels. Even a cat wouldn't get the attention it would need (back then).
I think that a pet, whatever size, is a huge responsibility, so after much preparation, I 'adopted' a hamster; only to fall in love with them instantly ever since. Hamsters are not as high maintenance as (for instance) dogs; you don't have to walk them several times a day. A discipline I wasn't sure I could put up with. After taking care of my hamster the first couple of days I got so amazed by this wonderful little animal, it captured me in such a way that I got interested in learning more (as opposed to reading a few books about them), and get to know them in a personal way.It didn't take long for questions to arise; how much does a hamster run in the treadmill? What does she do when I am not there?
A 10 year old electronics project; interfacing with a PC, evolved in a system; a system that tracks the treadmill; keeping track of Lucy's speed and distance in her treadmill. It automatically updates this information to the website, therefore being a true HamsterTracker™-system.
The web site is a combination of various hobbies:
- Taking care of a wonderful pet
- Software development (98% of the website's software has been developed by yours truly).
- Photography; Learning it along the way, I've shot over 10.000 photographs while producing this website. Much was not publish friendly (out of focus or incorrectly shot). My fascination of photography was started by this, and I am always looking for other ways to improve my photo-shoots. (Although this is a difficult process, it is an enjoyable one!)
- Electronics; the system devised uses Infrared light to record Lucy's activity. Thereby, not intruding Lucy’s life in any way. (Hamsters have very poor eyesight; therefore dim-IR-light isn't bothersome). It has been designed and developed by me
- Blogging; it is fun to share experiences online! As well as the interaction it produces!
- Meeting wonderful people from all over the world via HamsterTracker.com
- Having THE most wonderful hobby in the world! I enjoy every minute spending (free) time on my hobby; the combination of things to do is endless, while doing it in the spirit of my pet. Even when Lucy is sleeping I am still busy trying to impress her. When she's awake, she'll get her reward; as always of course.
Paper Lotus: How many people visit your blog?
Mathijs: More than one a day, that's for sure! The HamsterTracker.com
Paper Lotus: What other hobbies do you have, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Mathijs: Spending time with my friends. [ In the weekend's afternoon (Saturday and/or Sunday) I do enjoy catching up with the latest stories and 'gossip' from my friends at my favorite pub. ] <== 18+ material I suppose :-)
Paper Lotus: What inspires you to continue with your unique type of creativity?
Mathijs: 'Unique type of creativity'... WOW, I never thought of my hobby like that...
For me it's fun to combine fun things to do in a (extremely evergrowing large) package; for me that's HamsterTracker.com.
Paper Lotus: What other blogs/web sites do you like to read?
Mathijs:
http://www.engadget.com/
http://cuteoverload.com/
http://blog.makezine.com/
and some dutch news blogs, are my daily visits.
Thank you Mathijs and Lucy, for bringing so much hamstery goodness to us all!!
-posted by andrea
3 comments:
Yay for hamsters! I don't trust people who don't like hamsters! (Sorry, Mom!)
Mathijs and Lucy rock!
Time is better spent with them than with television.
Susan
Hamsters truly are amazing creatures.
Hamstertracker.com is a fantastic site, up there with the best of them!
Well done Mathijs and Lucy, all your efforts are duly appreciated.
Thank You :-)
(Great Music links to Internet DJs on the HamsterTracker (TM) site as well)
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