LCEA Alumni are graduates of the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts,
a post graduate research centre at Middlesex University in the UK.
Many alumni have set up their own new media businesses and consultancies.
Other alumni careers include graphic design, interactive media design,
new media research, game design, web site development and design,
animation, teaching, film making, audio design, journalism and various management
roles.
LCEA alumni have a good record for winning new media awards, including
BAFTAs, Milia, BIMA and others.
Professor John Freemans essay "Engine Nearing Perfection?"
Written by Paul D
Monday, 04 June 2007
The rise of the internet and the web has created an ideal environment for the distribution of information about new 'miracle' projects. One of the first was 'Freedom Ship', a massive floating city that was probably inspired by Jules Verne and for some reason reminded me of the massive (doomed) projects in the TV series Thunderbirds. Recently whilst looking for events to post on this site i came across an essay by John Freeman, Professor of English, University of Detroit Mercy.
In his essay titled Engine Nearing Perfection?, Professor Freeman looks at the controversy over the Steorn company and web site. OK so i might be slightly off topic here, but then the essay does have a lot of interesting analysis of the way people perceive ideas and other people. Freeman travels through the ancient world of mystic machines, Utopian societies, online speculation, perpetual computer texts and open source software.
Will computers really help create a Utopian future? Or will Qweevox's warnings come true? The essay has something for everyone and is a good read.
Last Updated ( Monday, 04 June 2007 )
Interval 07 - call for submissions
Written by Paul D
Friday, 01 June 2007
Interval is an independent artist led platform with a focus on new media practice. Established in 2005, it acts as a critical springboard, offering collaborative exhibition opportunities to both emergent and established practitioners using technology as a key component within their work. This is Interval's second annual programme of events.
Turnstile will consist of a series of 4 single-day exhibitions. Each day will see 5 artists install, exhibit and remove their work from the venue. This style of event is new and innovative, responsive to tight schedules and busy lifestyles. The space will be open for preview each evening from 5-9pm, after which the work will be removed ready for the next 5 artists to install. Each day is sub themed, aiming to explore different contextual approaches around the notion of Single Use. The exhibition will take place in a large empty retail space in central Manchester at the end of July.
Deadline for submissions - 25th June 2007 at 6pm For more information and submission details see the Interval web site.
Intuitive User Interface: Microsoft Surface
Written by Apostolos Logaras
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Microsoft has announced their first surface computing product that will “break down traditional barriers between people and technology”.
They introduce an extremely intuitive human-computer interaction model, by which the Surface computer can recognize physical objects placed on its surface and interpret gestural interaction.
International design and digital art Congress concerned with the new information technologies
Date and location: o 21st and 22nd of September o Municipal Congress Center. Ribera del Sena street. 28042 Madrid o Congress timing: From 11:00am to 20:00pm both days.
Apologies for the lack of forum and events calender. We intend sort out these problems in the not to distant future.
Scratch - childrens animation tool from MIT Media Lab
Written by Paul D
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
A new project released by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch aims to make the construction of interactive media easier for children. As with all such tools now, Scratch uses a graphic interface and the interactive elements are created using code objects as building blocks. The code objects are split into different categories such as Motion, Looks, Sound and Control, these are also colour coded.
The designers appear to have used some modern ideas used in professional software and taken it to a new level. Like many programing tools the lines of code are colour tagged, whilst indentation is used to show the structure of the code. By taking these two ideas and enhancing them, MIT have created a simple graphic building block system for creating code for the interactives.
At a different level Scratch could be used as a simple introductory tool to programming languages, showing the structure and general elements of a language.
The interface is easy to navigate and a quick glance at the starters manual is enough to get most people going. The basic interface begs to be played with and is quite intuitive. Those that have used Director will recognise the language used to describe the interface elements, such as Stage, Sprites etc.
If you have kids, then download it today. They could end up at the LCEA!
Danny Bluestones Cyber-Duck web production company, recently exhibited at Internet World 2007 offering Website audits to blue-chip companies and startups. Danny is a graduate of the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts .
Cyber-Duck explained to existing and potential clients the benefits of user centric design (user centered design). A show reel was presented on a large plasma screen introducing visitors to award winning designs, web technology and online productions created by Cyber-Duck. Usability, creativity, Web 2.0, Ajax, Search Engine Optimization and Online Marketing results were at the top of visitor’s interests.
There were audits of 100 visitor’s websites in 3 days, and Cyber-Duck analyzed the creativity and functionalities of prestigious websites such as www.ba.com, www.3m.com, www.sciencemuseumstore.com and many more.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 May 2007 )
Jeff Bezos: After the gold rush, there's innovation ahead
Written by Apostolos Logaras
Monday, 30 April 2007
What is the connection between the 1849 Gold Rush and the Web? Jeff Bezos presents the analogy and suggests that "there is more iinnovation ahead of us than behind us". Watch this entertaing presentation from a TED Talk that took place on April 2007.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 May 2007 )
Friends of the Earth international film competition
Written by Admin
Monday, 30 April 2007
Make a film of exactly 60 seconds which explores how we look after our planet and use it like there is a tomorrow.
The high-profile panel, including Oscar-winner Lord Puttnam and producer Andrew Macdonald, will select the Best Green Film during festival month in September.
Deadline for entries is midnight 20 August 2007.
(News update - David Sproxton a co-founder of Aardman Animations will also be on the panel of judges)
