Lecture at University of Huddersfield

Today was my annual lecture at the University of Huddersfield, talking about real world examples for interactive installations. It's an opportunity for the students to see how some of the work they are doing might be applied in the 'real world'.

I also stayed around after the lecture to provide some feedback on the students work and also to chat to Anton, who is doing an MSc by research and will be working with the Apollo Ensemble.

Another day, another lecture!

Today was my annual visit to the Creative Music Technology course in Scarborough, to give my overview of practical applications of Creative Technology. Most of the group braved the snow and cold to get in for the 9.15 lecture slot.

Luckily for me the trains from York were running pretty well despite the cold.

Lecture at University of Huddersfield

In full flow in the lecture theatre

Today I was at the University of Huddersfield delivering a lecture to students on 'Interactive Technology in Action' (part of the Undergraduate Music Technology course). This involved looking at how interactive technology has been used to create a range of installations covering everything from sensory rooms to exhibition stands.

This is the second time I've visited to present the lecture.

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.

IET Music Technology - Webcast

Music Technology Now and in the Future David M Howard Any arbitrary sound can be created using technology and of course, electronically created sounds can be used to make music. "Connecting" the player, composer or user into the sound creation system involves the provision of an interface with which a musician can make music in a performance situation. This lecture will consider the needs of the musician in terms of both sound creation, sound modification and sound real-time control and it will illustrate this with interfaces from the past and present as well as some that might well be seen in the future. >> go to webcast

Update
You can see the Ensemble in action at the following points during the lecture:

• 29min - Use of the Dice 
• 31min - Ensemble connect with four switches used to play drum sounds
• 33min - Dice playing chords with a slider connected to the Ensemble Hub
• 41min - Dice used to control a Digitech Vocalist over MIDI
• 43min - Single switch playing chords in a sequence, controlling the Digitech 

IT Diploma - Wilberforce College, Hull

Following on from the session last week at Manor School in York, today I was at Wilberforce College in Hull for their IT Diploma. The students there are going to be looking at the Ensemble Designer and Player software, offering their expertise on icons, window design and technical support documentation.

We hope that their assignments will lead directly to some visible changes to the software.

Students install at The Rotunda

Today was the final session on the Interactive Technology course at the University of Hull, Scarborough Campus. The students had to present their interactive installations at the Rotunda Museum and allow those of us marking to have a play.

Apart from a few technical issues (most of them not to do with the students) the whole event went very well. Each group had devised a creative way to present a selection of Charms from the collection.

I advise you to get down and have a look if you are over in Scarborough over the next couple of weeks.

Manor School Creative Industries Lecture

I was at Manor School today in York as part of the new Creative Diplomas. As well as giving an overview of Apollo and the Ensemble system, I've also left the students with the task of developing a 'cookbook' to use with Ensemble. I'm looking forward to seeing what they devise over the coming weeks.

Interactive Lectures

I returned to Scarborough today to give a follow up to my regular Interactive Technology lecture on the Creative Music Technology course. This time I've been talking to the students about pitching for work and working as a team. Rather than just talk at the students, we set them the task of pitching some ideas back at me. They had to work in groups to come up with an idea for an interactive exhibit or display for International Brain Awareness Week

The groups only had a couple of hours, but came up with some really good ideas. The best part will be in March when I go back and they have to have actually built the exhibits. Glad I'm not them...!

MRI - Working with video

Today was the latest session before the summer with the young people taking part in the Me, Myself and MRI project. The primary focus was on using video to capture a portrait of someone and the different methods we might use.

More on the project blog at: http://geodesicarts.blogspot.com/

"Interactive Technology" Lecture

Today I gave what has become an annual lecture at Scarborough Campus of the University of Hull. It is part of the Interactive Technology course and involves looking at some of the real-world applications of this technology that I have been involved with.