Signals company blog

Worth the wait?

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:59:59 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I was one of just a few girls to attend a very busy midnight launch of GTA IV at a local store, queuing up to purchase a copy of the game seconds after release. (Or in my case, keeping someone who wanted to buy a copy company!) It truly was a glimpse into the world of the ‘Gamer’ – a world to which I’m something of a stranger.

The knowledge that only a precious few copies of this highly anticipated game were available at the launch really got the adrenalin going, and for someone who didn’t particularly care or have an opinion on the game a week before, I ended up more tense and anxious about the possibility of my companion coming away empty handed than he did!!!

Could it be compared to the latest Next Sale or similar? - for which my flatmate, bless her, will quite happily queue up and wait hours just to get one particular item? Maybe not, but I really did get caught up in the moment…. I can’t imagine a guy getting quite as anxious over losing a bargain at the Next Sale! But you never know!

(I would post a link to GTA IV or possibly Next, but let’s face it, the die hard fans of either will already know where to find them!)

GTA IV - Geek Theft Auto

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:43:31 GMT

It's rare that I get this excited about a computer game launch... but on Tuesday the 29th April, Rockstar Games launched Grand Theft Auto IV onthe Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

Now I know I'm a geek. I've know that for a while, but even I was shocked at how far into the realm of the Geek I have gone: 23:59 in Tescos at the back of a 50 geek queue waiting for the release!!

Of course after all that excitement I got home and my Xbox broke, but I can still say I was there!!

At least I wasn't stabbed!!

Say it out loud

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:31:37 GMT

It’s funny how often this happens in my team: one of us hits a brick wall with a coding problem. All avenues lead to errors and it feels like you’ve forgotten the basics of programming.

Calling a colleague over to discuss the issues leads to finding the answer while trying to explain the problem. Does this happen in other industries? Do doctors do the same thing when stumped with some unknown medial complaint?

Director 11

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:04:59 GMT

I am, and always will be, a Director user.

It's the API I used to learn how to code. It's where I cut my teeth in the world of MultiMedia. Then Flash turned up and everyone seem to jump ship... well not me!

So when Adobe released Director 11 I was so happy! Ok, it's version 11 and still only has one level of undo, and the Xtra manufactures haven't kept up (come on INM - Where's secureNet?? I could have really done with that this week!!) but it works properly on Vista and OSX 10.5.

So, why doesn't any one care? Even Adobe forgot to mention it on their homepage when they released it! The first Director release in 4 years and you have to hunt for it on the website...

Anyway, it has a reworked 3D/physics engine and I hope to be doing some fun stuff with it soon! All of you thousands of readers be patient!

Microsoft Excel - 3D Engine

Scott Airth — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:39:25 GMT

We've all seen the Excel easter egg's in the past, but this is something home made using some maths and some macro script.

More

Bill drops to 3rd as he prepares to exit

Scott Airth — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:19:28 GMT

Looks like after so many years at the top (13 or so) poor Bill (Gates) has been finally ousted at world's richest man as he finds himself 3rd. He's also unlikely to get back to the top as he stepping down from Microsoft in June this year as well.

Well, can't feel to bad with that much surely?

More

- Scott

Why didn't I think of this???

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:33:48 GMT

Yes. It's true; You really can make money by doing nothing!

This guy is staying in bed until he is rich. And he's well on his way having made nearly £4K in under 3 weeks!

Check him out and give him some more cash (he earns money through advertising hits!)

www.slapendrijk.nl

Missed Opportunity

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:10:47 GMT

I just notice that no-one blogged here on the 29th of Feb...

Only 4 years to wait for the next chance!!

Wii Project - the next generation

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:35:19 GMT

Finally getting back to thinking about my Wii project, I saw this article and wonder if the two technologies could be combined:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2008/02/the_next_3d_revolution.html

Head tracking & true 3D with very light-weight glasses... how cool would that be? Total immersion here we come!

Where have all the CDs gone?

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:13:55 GMT

In the past we used to produce hundreds, if not thousands, of CD-ROMs every year.

Then one day we stopped... not our choice, but all of the projects we did on CD moved to the web. Our duplicator is now gathering dust.

So why no more disc based projects? Is it just our client base moving online or is there a general movement away from duplicated media?

With Toshiba (finally) backing out of the newest format war will we find ourselves using 50GB Blu-ray discs for future projects?

And how long would that take to burn?!

Alastair

P.S. the wii project has been put on hold for the last week due to new technology distracting me! Will be back up and running next week! J

Scratch and .... taste !

Scott Airth — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:43:29 GMT

Just checking over a few articles in the WSJ and I noticed this one. A new marketing idea from the maker of Welch's juice drinks... remove and lick!

Original article

I guess someone had to one day, and what about smell-o-vision tv, this has yet to grace our living rooms!

- Scott

Top 10 thoughts to ponder for 2008

Scott Airth — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:55:26 GMT

10: Life is sexually transmitted.

9 : Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

8: Men have two emotions, Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

7: Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the internet
and they won't bother you for weeks.

6: Some people are like a Slinky .. Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

5: Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

4: All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to Criticism.

3: Why does a slight tax increase cost you £200.00 and a substantial tax cut saves you £30.00?

2: In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is Weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought For 2008 :

We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located among millions of cows in Britain but we haven't got a clue as to where millions of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located. Maybe we should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of Immigration.

- Scott (Blatantly copied from somewhere)

I love the smell of technology in the morning!

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:59:05 GMT

New Laptop Arrived. Portal.

Need I say more?!

Piclens - Cool little firefox plug-in

Scott Airth — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:25:08 GMT

I came across this neat little plug-in last night. What it does is take all the images on the page, and puts them into a fly-by-wall type preview allowing you to pan through the images, select and enlarge the image you want. A few sites like google images, facebook, myspace, flickr and deviantart are already compatable with this plug-in, so I can presume it isn't hard to add the necessary markup to make it work on any site.

You can see a quick example below I made searching for Italy on google images (click for larger picture):

The plug-in is made by cooliris, is around 1Mb to download and you can find more info and a demo here.

- Scott

Let There Be IR Light

Your DisplayName here! — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:00:03 GMT

YAY!

Using a 9 volt battery I have managed to get the IR lights to work (as tested through the laptop via BlueTooth).

The blue light on the left is simply to show that the curcuit is working. It might look like the LEDs on the right are shining but that's just the reflection of the light. They are actually working, sending out IR light!

If anyone has any ideas as how you get a really bright IR LED into a pen (do you get 9 volt mini batteries? Do I even need 9 volts?)

Time to check out Wikipedia or my new friend: Battery University

Wii Project stage 3:

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:54:28 GMT

I’ve taken apart the sensor bar and found it to be full of useful things I would never have thought of getting had I got the components separately. For example, I would not have thought of putting a small blue light to show when the IR Leds were on (as they are invisible to the naked eye!).

However a small problem has arisen – my complete lack of electronic knowledge! I thought that although the bar required 6 X 1.5 volt batteries to run, it only really needed 2 AAs and everything would be fine (and it would fit better to the glasses).

But I was wrong... so time to learn about electric circuits!

My continuing efforts to rule this blog:

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:51:37 GMT

Wii Project stage 2:

Well some stuff arrived in the post:

So I now have everything I need to get some head tracking up and running at home properly!

But to make this a little more relevant to Signals I have decided to use this technology to make an interactive whiteboard for our meeting room!

Any help with this would be appreciated (hint hint @ Gary and Scott!)

Watch this space!

Al's Wii Project - Stage One

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:12:41 GMT

I got home last night, fired up the laptop and installed a Bluetooth adapter (which took longer than Windows to install... why is that?!) to link my Wiimote to the PC.

Within a few minutes I had managed to create a link between the PC and the Nintendo Wii remote, downloaded the software from here and was up and running.

Ok, I looked like a fool dancing around my room holding my Wii sensor bar to my forehead, but the 3d effect produced on the tiny screen was truly awesome! And well worth the effort.

Next steps:

1 – Link the laptop to the big TV to enhance the effect (need to by a VGA to Composite lead)

2 – Get hold of some Infrared LEDs, a pair of safety glasses, some glue, a battery and other electronic bits to make the head tracking device (or HTD from now on – I’m doing this properly after all!!)

3 – Create a 3D program that I can interact with, utilizing the power of the PC and the interaction made available by the HTD*

So I have a wireless Wii Sensor bar coming in the post from Amazon (I see this as the easiest way of getting the bits I need...) which should arrive tomorrow!

The only question left is what am I going to do with it once I have it all set up?

Answers on a postcard to the usual address!

*er... I should probably learn how to write C# to do all this too!

My new hero

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:55:45 GMT

It’s very rare for me to have a proper geekgasm, but this guy really ignites my inner nerd! So much so I have purchased a Bluetooth adapter and will be linking my Wiimote to my PC at home!

Here is another great use of cheap technology to answer a usually expensive need:

> >

Maybe we could do this in our conference room?

Alastair

Human Nature

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:04:41 GMT

It would seem it's human nature not to leave things alone. We will take something designed for one role and use it for something completely different. This emergent use of technology creates some unique and unusual uses of existing objects. Take a look at what you can do with a Nintendo Wiimote:

I think I might give this a go when I get home! If I do I’ll post some videos of my results!

Alastair

To Blog or not to Blog

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:14:07 GMT

Why is blogging so hard? We all have so much to say and yet can't find the time to say it!

I guess it's better to be too busy to blog that have nothing but blogging to do!

Oh, and Happy New Year!

Alastair

Software Phrases

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:45:29 GMT

Going back to what Richard said a couple of weeks ago regarding new media phrases it is strange how new words spring up from the technological world.

Phrases like "Pwned" come from typos. Others, like LOL (Laugh Out Loud), BRB (Be Right Back), IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) etc come from the need to express yourself quickly online.

But some phrases surprise even me!

Check here for some unusual software terms!

Alastair

Rise of the Digital Editions

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:56:02 GMT

Having recently been commissioned to produce an online, touchy feely brochure for one of our clients, I am encouraged to see so many 'Digital Editions' going live this week.

Both New Media Age and DDR magazine (Digital Display for Retail) have now embraced this technology, and more and more corporates and publishers are buying into the concept, Microsoft, VW, Ikea, 3M,

The premise is simple, provide the user with a a tactile and familiar alternative to the real thing, with the added benefits of video, hyperlinks and searchability to name but a few.

There are two leaders in this technology, Zmag and Ceros. Both are similar in many ways but the Zmag solution tips the balance for me with the CMS engine that drives the digital editions.

The core technology behind the scenes is Flash, and the orginal master of the page turning arena was Pageflip, you can download the FLA source for free. I seem to remember doing this about five years ago and having lots of fun.

It's great to see the technology being embraced at last. Check out the DDR example below.

Richard Lawrence

Multi-touch interface to Multi-surface

Scott Airth — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:38:58 GMT

A company seeks to resolve the "occlusion problem" in touch screen interfaces. LucidTouch demonstrates a working multi-point and multi-surface interface, whilst currently bulky could suggest the a direction that we may be heading towards, with new interfaces and design.

More, including a video here.

- Scott

A few Good Creative Men

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:06:19 GMT

This is too funny

Terminology & phraseology of new media projects

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:23:51 GMT

It is very easy to presume that when a new media agency refers to a client stuff like a ''Sitemap'', ''Mockup'', ''Walkthrough'', ''Storyboard'', ''Draft'', ''Beta'', ''Pilot'', ''Demo'', ''GANTT'' etc etc that the client knows what you are talking about, there is a language designers and developers use that is simply not in their vocabulary.

This terminology also differs from agency to agency, for example I don't use the term ''Colourways'' or ''Swatch'' to describe what I would call a ''Palette'' or ''Corporate Colours''.

Often the terms used on new media projects are an essential part of a design or development process so if their is any mis-understanding as to what they mean this can have dire consequences.

In addition to to the non-technical terms you can add to the mix the Technical acronymns, the Software and File formats that are regularly added to such as ''CMS'', ''LMS'', ''.NET'', ''W3C'', "PSD", "FLA", "SWF", "FLV", the list is endless.

Basically, don't presume that a client understands the term or the process that you have labelled, explain it thoroughly and ensure that the client is on board, be willing to educate the client in a non-technical, non-patronising way (unless they are really really stupid in which case good luck to you!)

Richard

Look out MP3, the thought police are coming!

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:35:12 GMT

It seems record label Sony- BMG have once again put their foot in their mouth over Digital Rights Management.

Not content with stealth installs of their rootkit DRM software that leaves users' PCs vulnerable, they now hope to make it illegal to rip a CD. Yes, that’s right, the CD you paid for and own is not yours to transfer to your PC or iPod to enjoy on the move. Oh no, that would be stealing according to Sony- BMG chief laywer Jennifer Pariser.

As tech.co.uk report, Pariser was giving evidence in a US legal case involving Capitol Records v. Jammie Thomas where she stated: "When an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song. [Making a copy of a purchased song is just] a nice way of saying 'steals just one copy'."

I’m sure the accountants at Sony- BMG are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of consumers having to pay again for a digital version of what we already own. Well, much as I'd hate to disappoint poor Ms Pariser and her accountant friends, there’s this small thing called the digital age that they might have noticed. The very concept of digital content is its versatility, flexibility and portability that allows us to enjoy it where, when and how we like. I would not buy music that only played in my car for example. Equally I would not buy a book or magazine I can only read in my house.

As a developer I can see the need to protect intellectual property from unauthorised exploitation or theft. However, this could have been achieved by a workable system of DRM, with appropriate licensing of portable copies for consumers who simply want to enjoy what they’ve paid for. The sad truth is that record labels where late to the digital party so now they’re screaming and stamping their feet in the corner when things don't go their way.

What the whole thing serves to highlight is the desperate need for new legislation to protect the rights of the consumer. In the US ‘fair use’ legislation has in the past been held up in defense of backup copies of digital media, but in the UK our legislation is woefully archaic. Wary of impeding private enterprise and seemingly unsure in technological matters, the UK government has failed to produce anything meaningful to address copyright in the digital age. With the Internet and new technologies driving the growth of portable, on-demand content this issue is too important to be left in the hands of big business. Sony- BMG will just have to forgive me if I don’t throw out my iPod just yet.

Nick Welch

Signals better not go global...

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 10:14:18 GMT

It's my birthday tomorrow. Usually a time of joy.

It is apparently a trend that's been around for a while. On your birthday you buy everyone in the office cakes.

But if Signals go global I'll need to re-mortgage my house!

Alastair

Are the virtual Olympics next?

Your DisplayName here! — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:51:52 GMT

Sky One is to start showing sports.

Not really news, I guess. The players are all Professional (they receive a wage) and there is an official league, run like an American Pro league; The league owns the teams and finds all of the sponsorship needed to run. They also offer huge amounts of prize money to the winners.

All very normal unless you take into account which sports they are: Project Gotham Racing 3, FIFA Soccer 07, Dead or Alive 4 and Counter Strike Source.

Yes, all those hours in a dark room playing games may have finally paid off! Not only are computer games bigger than Hollywood (and have been for some time) but you can get paid to play them!

Pro Gaming is about to become big. Are you the next virtual Beckham?

More info here

Alastair

Papervision 3d

Your DisplayName here! — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:09:45 GMT

Check out this awesome Flash demo using the Papervision components for Flash CS3.

Its a 3d rotating image gallery!

http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/tiltviewer/app/

Richard

New uses for old things

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:28:09 GMT

A new web based technology that uses a program to stop spam is now saving our classic books.

This recent article on the BBC news site got me thinking; What will technology, that we take for granted today, be used for in the future? How can we use current technology in new ways that they were never intended for?

Will the telephone somehow solve poverty? Will chewing gum be used to clean the streets? Any thoughts welcome!

Alastair

Blurring the Boundaries

Your DisplayName here! — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:19:53 GMT

It seems social networking online is becoming more and more like the real world.

I found this article about IBM employees planning a virtual protest:

Check it out here

Is this the future? Is this Web 3.0?

Alastair

Think you've had a bad day?

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:10:39 GMT

There are days it all goes wrong: PC's have a habbit of knowing when you're on a deadline and suddenly start running slow, every queue at the supermarket is 40 miles long, the sandwhich shop have run out of sandwhiches... you know those kind of days.

But, thanks to the internet, it's possible to find people out there who deal with real problems, day in day out, as part of their work. Next time you have a bad day, think of these guys...

http://randomreality.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2004/5/1/45188.html

http://maypeacebewithyou.blogspot.com/2007/07/perspectives.html

Alastair

Your Social Networking Site Needs You

Your DisplayName here! — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:25:00 GMT

Watch any Hollywood thriller and technology is nearly always portrayed as the tool of Big Brother.

Whether it's films like The Bourne Ultimatum, Enemy of the State, or the recent Die Hard 4, network technologies are largely used as a means to repress and control the general public.

In real life then it's refreshing to find social networking site Facebook being used as a tool for democratic protest.

As the BBC reported today an online protest by students on Facebook has forced HSBC bank into a u-turn over its plans to scrap interest-free overdrafts for students.

Faced with an organised online boycott by thousands of students the bank withdrew the measure, with NUS president Wes Streeting acknowledging the impact of the Facebook protest on the decision.

Detractors of Facebook have long been scaremongering over privacy concerns about sharing your thoughts and information online with large numbers of people. What's far more interesting though is the very potential to do just this on more important issues, helping people collaborate in a way that would not otherwise be possible.

With traditional media channels increasingly homogenised, and modern politics less-and-less a viable means of representation for some of us, its great to see the web still affords a democratic outlet as a way to get your voice heard.

Nick Welch