June 2010
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WatchI’d really like to get back into 3D modelling and video; this is the official video from Official music video for ‘Ljósið’ taken from Ólafur Arnalds - ‘Found Songs’ (2009) album. It’s beautiful.
Once upon a time 3D stuff was all I cared about - I’d carry a mini portfolio about with me (geek) but for some reason now all I do is websites. Don’t get me...
Anonymous asked: HDR isn't necessarily either made with a RAW photo or bracketed exposure. In fact, the full range of colors and exposures can only be captured fully by bracketing RAW images.
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HDR funtimes.
I’ve seen a lot of HDR imagery on the web and it varies in quality drastically. I thought I’d give it a bash and see how it came out. I created this using Auto Exposure Bracketing (as opposed to a RAW image) on my Canon 1000D. Please excuse the lame self-portrait.
I’m not amazed at the outcome (some of these are, however, amazing) but there’s a quality I particularly...
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Emma's Birthday Camping
We went camping for Emma’s 23rd birthday. Lots of marshmallowy fun!
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Real Life
I’m currently in Manchester looking for flats. I’ve found a bunch of nice ones (one really nice one). This is kinda terrifying. I’ve quite enjoyed the past couple of weeks being uni-free but it’s all starting to feel quite real now! I am running out of money and beginning to realise that I really need to get myself organised for the immediate future and I think Manchester...
May 2010
9 posts
WatchThis is frickin’ sweet!
calumpringle:
Wish I’d seen this before. I’m in love with the cybraphon - affected by it’s online reviews ( and the emotions people express towards it through facebook, twitter etc ) the ‘band in a box’ plays music that reflects it’s current public status.
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Degree Show 2010
Well, a week or two since my last entry I have finally found some time to wrap this year up…
I recieved my degree classification: a First - yay - the exhibition space looks fantastic, the opening night went well and so far SlopeScope seems to be holding out on me; which makes a nice change (edit: it died today, hopefully I can fix this. dammit fixed!). Things are looking good.
We have...
WatchI too like these. Pointless, but no doubt fun.
calumpringle:
While I should be going over my presentation, I’m looking at cool things I’d like to buy. Probably useless things. But these are cool.
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End of Uni > scariest thing ever
Tomorrow, at precisely 2pm, I shall be starting my final-basically-decides-my-degree-classification presentation tomorrow. And, you guessed it, I am beginning to panic.
Now, I know this project inside out so no problem them but WHAT THE HELL DO I SAY? There is soo much about this project undone (never intended to finish EVERYTHUING) but it’s stressing me out.
Anyway, this to be young...
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SlopeScope : Project Review
SlopeScope is a conceptual service for snowboarders which allows passive recording from multiple angles on a slope. Riders can review, share and learn from footage both on the slope on mobile devices such as iPhone or from the comfort of a web browser at home.
Imagine training for a race and being able to see exactly how you took a particular gate while waiting in line for the tow back to the...
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SlopeScope Website →
Just a quick update as it’s been a while.
Things are beginning to come together nicely; after a somewhat terrifying moment when one of my servos broke down I have since bought new ones and installed them - they seem to be working ok. Phew!
The link that this post points too is my project website. I’ve slowly been shaping it over the past week and, although it’s not entirely...
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April 2010
21 posts
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SlopeScope 'about the project' website →
Have settled on a design I like for the websites. The site here is an ‘about the project’ site which contains all the information of the project. I’ve still to properly fill it with content (I’ve done some) but I’ve decided to stick it online and just update as I go so that it’s obvious things are progressing (and it makes me feel like I’ve achieved...
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Things are never easy are they?
Three things happened today: I wrote my 100 words, I managed to get my new servos to work smoothly (making the unit more responsive) and I took some of the unit apart to see how much of a mammoth task installing my new servos would be…
They don’t fit, they don’t fit at all! Oh, dear.
I’ll need to build a new bracket so that they fit. Ali seemed to think someone in the...
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100 Words for SlopeScope
My project, in 100 words (well, 99 if you’re being pedantic). YUS, another ToDo item ticked off.
SlopeScope is a conceptual service for snowboarders which allows passive recording from multiple angles on a slope. Riders can review, share and learn from footage both on the slope on mobile devices such as iPhone or from the comfort of a web browser at home.
Imagine training for a race and...
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WatchSlopeScope has a concept video! Music is The War on Spoken Word by Let’s Fighting Love.
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New website layout
I have spent today redesigning the websites for the project. I think I’m settled on this one. It seems to be looking good so far…
I’ll update www.slopescope.co.uk with it in due course.
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Hurumph.
The more I ‘sleep on’ my video the more I think I hate it’s amateur / unprofessional crapiness. I really feel like I can’t do anything well these days.
Where has my creativity / motivation / inspiration gone?! I used to have it. I used to have it so much.
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Video = 70% complete
Today was a good day. All the footage I shot the other day hasn’t been wasted - I have managed to cut together a first take of my video. Granted, it’s over a minute long but I’m relatively certain the minute requirement is flexible within reason.
I’ve still to find a suitable audio track to compliment the video but that will come with a little time and patience. I had...
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I am not a (video editing) robot
I spent the day in the Cairngorms on Sunday shooting some video with the lovely Emma, Jamie and Sam. I had a great day in the snow, the sun was blaring and, based on the tiny camera LCD, thought I had some pretty sweet shots.
I was wrong. Although a couple of the shots are really sweet the majority are overly shaky and unusable or out of focus. I put together a (very, VERY) quick cut and,...
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Video Storyboards
I’m heading to the Cairngorms tomorrow for a day of filming so to prepare (and I realise I should have done this days, if not weeks, ago) I am putting together a quick storyboard for some possible footage.
I have no idea what I’m wanting. *sigh*
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Red Bull sky walk - very cool.
This stunt performed for / by Red Bull is very impressive and makes me want to get my Private Pilots License a whole lot more. Click through for the video, definitely worth it.
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Yay, servos!
Ali has a couple of continuous motion servos he’s willing to lend me. He also reckons I don’t need to bother rebuilding a second unit as the servos are physically the same size. Provided I can control them properly pre-installation then everything should be fine and my project will be awesome!*
*This may be subjective. But fingers crossed.
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SNO!zone & servos
Video
As it turns out a friend of mine works at the SNO!zone in Braehead - an indoor ski slope. I have been thinking that it may be best to angle my project towards an indoor centre as it allows for more control over the environment in which the cameras operate. I know the scope of my project doesn’t really cover all these details but it also means I am not limited by there being snow or...
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Decisions.
The last time I posted I was somewhat stressed with the direction of my project and what I still have to do. Although this generally still is the case I have put together a series of simple, yet direct, questions to ask myself regarding the direction and scope of the project. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to nail down certain elements and continue with others.
You see, I think I have...
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Hmm.
Well, I’m not really sure how it’s happening but I just can’t progress with my project. I’m at that sorta stage where I seem to have an endless mental list of things which need done but can’t prioritise or write them down. As a result I feel like I’m achieving nothing.
I also have quite a lot else on my plate in terms of freelance and personal commitments....
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Hating websites, new WiiMote code and the video
It’s been a wee while since I updated this blog with anything properly uni related. So here’s the run down on what I’ve been doing with myself in regards the SlopeScope interaction design project…
Since the MkII hand in I’ve been primarily focused on getting the other elements of the project finished up a bit more; i.e: the website and iPhone app. This, annoyingly,...
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Coda-Slider - a plugin for jQuery →
I created a plugin for jQuery which creates a ‘Coda Style’ slider in a jiffy. I know it’s been done before but I’m really just getting my head round the jQuery construct and it’s good practice!
If anyone wants to extend it then I’ve created a public repository on gitHub so feel free to fork away!
March 2010
21 posts
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Let's put an end to procrastination.
Was aiming for an early start today but body said otherwise. Nevertheless, I’m on my way in now and am aiming to get a lot done.
Recently I’ve been spending a lot of time on freelance stuff and ignored my coursework. I’m kinda in a catch 22 as I have never been poorer and need to do work but at the same time can’t neglect my studies. sigh
Still, I suppose I’ve had...
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Alexander Grünsteidl visits IMD4
Alexander Grünsteidl joined us in the studio today all the way from London. He’s one of the founders of Digital Well Being Labs, a company specialising in innovative consumer experiences through design.
Alexander talked to us in the morning about who he is and what he’s done (and how he got there); it was a very enjoyable presentation and gave me a lot of food for thought regarding...
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WatchSlopeScope in all it’s crapiness.
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Feeling: underwhelmed
Today I got the entire unit togther (minus a camera casing due to some issues physically accessing the wiimote to turn it on, doh! - new case is tomorrow’s task) and actually had my first go at using the unit and seeing video from it’s point of view.
Ignoring the rubbish quality of the camera (still to decide if it’s worth investing in a more expensive one) I was somewhat...
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Watch
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Pictures I like
Now that I have a temporary break from immediate deadlines. I thought I’d spend the evening fannying about on the web. I found these. I like them.
Man, I wish I had more time to do fun stuff like these.
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Make Mark II
I hereby (embarrassingly) submit my Make Markl II blog post a few days late.
I don’t feel the need to write a short story summarising my Make Mk II phase as I have been continuously blogging my thoughts, experiences and issues from the beginning. However, nothing wrong with a few, short, points explaining the gist of things…
Mk I was very much experimental, I was toying with...
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Pre-Make Mark II deadline
Today I finished crafting the first iteration of the cardboard model of the pan-tilt camera unit. Yay! Unfortunately it was promptly broken (accidentally, of course) which means I’m begging to be allowed back into the laser cutter first thing tomorrow morning to recut the bits which snapped. Shouldn’t be a huge issue to fix and hopefully won’t take too long as I have all the...
