Ensemble at 'Inclusion not Exclusion'

The Apollo Ensemble took centre stage at the 'Inclusion not Exclusion' event run by East Riding Voluntary Action Services. It was part of the display and presentation for the Inclusive Youth Theatre Project.

The club is free to join and teachs skills in dance, music, singing, drama and performance. There are also opportunities to learn backstage techniques including prop making, creating sound effects and recording studio technology.

Jacki Dealtry, Project Manager, said “This is fully inclusive, allowing students from mainstream and special needs schools/colleges to take part. It’s a brand new initiative and something that has never been done before in the East Riding”.

The project has acquired two portable kits, with laptops, Ensemble Hubs, lighting, speakers and a range of Ensemble sensors and switches. Delegates at the event had the chance to play on the kit, triggering sounds and lights with a carnival feel.

York Press Business Awards 2010 - The build-up

The York Press Business Awards are tomorrow night and Apollo Creative is short listed in the Best Business and Higher Education category. Judging was about two months ago now, so it all seems a distant memory. Having said that, our work across the education sector continues with any potential award being purely the icing on the cake.

As well as the course just completed at the Scarborough Campus University of Hull (which was developed jointly with the Creative Music Technology lecturer Rob MacKay), we also have the following on-going or scheduled in:

• "Interactive Technology in Action" Lecture and student feedback session, University of Huddersfield, November 2010 
• "Practical applications of Creative Music Technology" Lecture, Scarborough Campus University of Hull - December 2010
• Support for GCSE Design Project - Radio Design
• Support for A-Level Product Design Course - Bubble Lamp
• A series of lectures in the Department of Electronics, University of York
• Continuing work with the Research and Innovation Office, University of York

That's not to mention some of the bigger, longer term projects I'm not allowed to talk about. Even if we don't win this year we'll have plenty to recommend us for next years awards.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow night.

Scarborough Session - Final Presentations

It was the final session in Scarborough today, where the students had to present their finished installations. The four interactives have been combined into a single, touchscreen podium, installed on the first floor of the Rotunda Museum.

All four groups have done a fantastic job, producing installations that wouldn't look out of place on permanent display. Combining learning and games, each one takes a slightly different approach to present their charms.

I'm now busy typing up my notes from the session to send back to the University to help provide some feedback to the groups. Unfortunately I can't make it back to the opening reception on Wednesday, when hopefully they can celebrate their achievements.

The installation will be open from Thursday this week (18th) until the 28th November. If you get a chance then I highly recommend a visit. The students will be on hand over the period to help you out and talk through the work that they have done. Judging by the standard of some of the interactives you may well be seeing their installations in museums across the world in a few years time.

For opening times and location details visit the Rotunda Museum website: www.rotundamuseum.org.uk

Scarborough Session - Prototypes Presented

The students at Scarborough today presented their prototype installations to Jan and Ian from the Scarborough Museums Trust, Rob McKay and I. This was the first opportunity for us to see working versions of the systems that the four grousp are designing.

Overall I was impressed by how far most of the groups had got within such a short space of time. It's only four weeks since we set the assignment and three weeks since they pitched the initial ideas. Most groups had graphics, voiceovers, audio (tunes and sound effects), plus various working interactive elements.

The main criticisms were around the use of language and text. This included voiceovers that used complex words and tricky fonts on complex backgrounds. It's a common mistake to get carried away with the 'look and feel' of an installation and forget about comprehension. These installations need to appeal to audiences from 5 to 95.

The groups are keeping blogs detailing their work on the project, allowing me to keep up to date between sessions. They've also been provided with Flip video cameras so that they can put on video clips. The process is very interesting and the students are making use of some interesting software tools. You can visit their blogs by following the links below:

• Group 1 - Trade
• Group 2 - Protection
• Group 3 - Health
• Group 4 - Good Catch

They now have just two weeks before they have to be finished and we get to mark them. A lot of sleepless nights to come. At least this time it's not me.

Scarborough Lecture - Pitching and Blogging

Today was the first lecture for the Creative Music Technology Course (Scarborough Campus, University of Hull). Following on from last years successful project, I am acting as the client/consultant for the students as they attempt to produce some exciting interactives for the Rotunda Museum. This year they are working with some more of Clarke's Charms, helping to show to the public 'charms of the sea'.

Carved bone Intuit Good Catch Charm (c) Scarborough Museums Trust

During the lectures today I covered two main topics: pitching ideas and blogging. The following links and sites I found particularly useful in pulling together the overview for the students.

Scott Berkun - How to pitch an idea
A great rundown of the techniques to use, including an overview of the classic 5 second (the film Chicken Run - "Great escape for Chickens"), 30 second (Elevator pitch) and 5 minute pitching templates.

TED: Ideas worth spreading
Technology, Entertainment, Design - TED shows how you can get across almost any idea, in as little as 18 minutes. A fantastic, inspirational set of online lectures available for eveyone to watch and be inspired. If you need to get a flavour, then this 'Best of ' compilation will get you hooked.

Garr Reynolds Presentation Tips
Avoid 'death by powerpoint' by following these tips for a more 'zen' like approach. This presentation tips handout is essential reading.

Present like Steve Jobs
Love or hate Apple, you can't deny that Steve Jobs has presenting down to an artform. This site has a video that talks you through some of his main techniques.


The result of this project will be a two week installation at the Rotunda.

Next week the students will be pitching their ideas for interactives and creating short videos to send to me. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with.

Apollo Creative on BBC News

Following an update on the economy from the Bank of England this morning, the BBC News team have been on site at the Knaresborough Technology Park to talk to businesses. Mark was interviewed for a live broadcast immediately following Mervyn King's press conference at 11.40. He was also interviewed for the World at One broadcast on Radio 4.

Both reports featured our demo and testing room playing the Jungle theme. The television report also showed one of the portraits from the 'Me, Myself and MRI' exhibition, with Christine Talbot making an appearance on screen towards the end!

Apollo reaches shortlist for York Press Business Awards

After four months and several hundred entries, the finalists for The Press Business Awards were announced today.

Apollo Creative has reached the final three in the Best Business and Higher Education Link category, sponsored by the University of York. It reflects the work done by Apollo with colleges and universities across the region. You can get a taste of this by reading the company blog.

The judges will now meet the finalists in each category before the winners are announced on the 18th November at York Race Course. For a full list of finalists and to read the profile on Apollo Creative, see The Press website.