Either or Ada?

You are probably wondering what this is all about? Well today is Ada Lovelace Day. Who? You ask? Only one of the best of geek girls and from a different century you could say.

The idea today was a pledge to write about tech girls we admire. To be honest theirs quite a few women that are published, scholars and in the limelight as tech girls.

I though, want to thank my geek girl friends who are not famous or particularly heard of but are what I consider real tech/geek girls.

I know of many girls in the industry that talk about it, make out they are tech savvy but do they really do it? Often not!

So here's to my real geek girls...

Sonia Rockett who has been there through the good, bad and the ugly! & my lovely friend Coralie Hyde, who weaves her magic when not knitting!

So to Ada, hurrah!

Less talk and more action I say....so for those that I don't know, especially in the Southwest UK, well done and I hope to make your acquaintance.

Or, if you feel like share your work or ideas at Dorkbot Bristol, I look forward to seeing you soon..

All the best

Rocket

Dorkbot Re-launch

Dorkbot is an international network of innovators meeting up to share in the spectacles and technical projects that have been created or are in progress.

It's good fun and with the chance that Dorkbot Bristol might be taking a plunge, so I've decided, with the help of Mike, to pick up the gauntlet.

So....

Whether you are an artist, filmmaker, scientist, programmer, or you’re just interested in doing strange things with electricity…you are invited to the re-launch of Dorkbot Bristol, on 27th May 2008 at the Pervasive Media Studio, above Firehouse Rotisserie in Anchor Square and also live on the Internet via the wonders of video streaming.

* The Theremin, with Alexander Thomas with a performance, the body capacitance as a music control and talk about 60’s instrument technology.

* Ray Brooks who will be taking a look at open source music software and giving an insight into how he creates tunes and the potential of Pure Data.

* The Astronaut Show, Rachel Carney & Co, will demonstrate the exciting 128 Monome, cult indie controller that’s takes home grown technology to new heights
…and much more, including drinks…

The Sossusvlei Shuffle

It's been awhile since the last post but then I've been on holiday to a Southern region of Africa.

I must admit it was easy to pretend that technology didn't exist whilst I was away, especially whilst I was wandering around in the Namibian desert!

However, it was a joy to listen to tunes on my iShuffle...Tori Amos' cover of 'I'm on Fire' was rather appropriate in the extreme heat!

The iShuffle originally didn't appeal, mainly not being able to decide what to listen to, but for my holiday it proved to be not only extremely practical but also great fun. Clever technology, a random download from my diverse iTunes library selection was really quite impressive, placing drum and bass next to folk!

I'm sure, that like most people, once given a proper break from computers it's often difficult to get back into the swing of things. Recently, it seems that most people are starting to complain about the real need for a work life balance, but are struggling to find it, whatever this might mean to each of us?

Now that I'm back in the throes of it all. Reality check, this geek girl's starting to realise the need to learn some basic lessons about work and day-to-day life. Personally I've really started to notice just how much I am addicted to technology.

Too many hours are spent in front of the computer. So I have decided to make a list:

1. Go out of the door every day and walk for 10 minutes

2. Eat regularly, (that means don't sit at the screen and forget to eat!)

3. Take breaks from looking at the screen

4. Evaluate at the beginning and the end of the day

5. Research is fine but limit it...the web is a sea of info, don't get swept away

6. Use the timer software, it works but you need to use it

7. Lists are fine if they are realistic (otherwise it's disheartening)

8. Remember to make money, so call up clients who haven't paid if they owe you

9. Learn from mistakes

10. Take a deep breathe

Currently I'm freelancing and work sometimes from home, the above, is a little reminder of some of the things that should come into play, but often get forgotten.

Experiencing the plains of the Namib desert and all it's wonder has only made me think that I'd rather prefer desolate deserts and be more sociable with technology.

....and not, as you may have noticed, have it the other way round as I discovered on dune 45.

(Image...Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert including pesky tourists!)

The woes of a web monkey or a tech junkie?

It's Tuesday morning after the delights of a long bank holiday weekend.
The weather certainly wasnt hot! but who cares, it was a joy staying out late and spending four days in my studio drawing...and no cold turkey, kewl eh?

Anyway, this morning it's all too familiar with tech issues! I'm having problems with a new install of a third party plugin for the Open source software Joomla. Aaahh! Nothing new!

A problem shared is a problem....er, well shared?

Actually, what's great about the web is it's like no other industry. Others are more than happy to help you out, and sometimes the support is really impressive. I posted out to a specialist forum and shortly after I got the friendly support from a couple of other web developers...the issues not quite solved yet, but it feels a whole lot better to know you can ask someone else for help.

So if you are new to working with the web, whether it's designing or developing, you'll find a whole world of friendly forums. With a little help from your (web forum) friends, it can often become a problem solved...

Over the years I've had to come to terms with the fact this web thing is a love hate relationship. Some days it can all be a bit too much, and with the local networking clubs, it's apparent that this isn't just the case for lil'ole me!

My advise is take a break, go do something else. Drink a beer with a couple of other web professionals, and if they can't help with your web woes..

...in the meantime you might find another tech junkie hands you the right tool while your offline.

Wi-fi hotspot when it snows...

Bbbbbbrrrrrrr, it's been so cold today...almost snowing!

But where better to be than the Watershed in Bristol UK. This is a real hotspot for budding laptop addicts.

Sometimes the Watershed feels like a geeks home from home. Aside from the free wi-fi, the Watershed offers the perfect environment for a whole host of activity with with it's friendly all inclusive atmosphere.

It's an interesting mix of people and you can almost see the energy. Budding entrepreneurs discussing projects, the host of nationalities that talk in tongues and message those back home. Some days it feels like a nursery (for cinebabies), with children running circles around parents. Whoever's around it always feels good.

So let's hope that the Watershed continues to be valued by both customers and the organisations that help support this wonderful space...Thank you Watershed...your fab.

And now for somethin else....

I'm gonna take a chance and go to the Chelsea in Easton for a new open mic night 2nite, so in the spirit of this evenings entertainment, I've posted something I came across earlier...hope you enjoy!



Leo's Song from impactist on Vimeo.

Tech talk and time to do it!

It seems that most geeks or web wizards are caught up in some continuous coding, and if that's not the case, well it's quite understandable that using the net can be a consuming experience.

So my only excuse for not blogging is that of being caught in the net of the web! Yeah yeah I know, LOL, but it actually feels like a whole lot of truth.

Anyway, I'm here now and I've decided to try again! really...like so many of us that have a go at blogging but fall by the way side despite good intentions.

It's nearly 1am and this is the norm, and I'm sat looking at the battery on my mac. Here it goes again into the red for the zillionth time at some early hours in the morning. My eyes are not too dis-similar, like those on a cartoon character about to break from staring at pixels too long.

So while I have a whole bunch of thoughts on all matters tech/design at the moment this is just a start.

Think I best wait till tomorrow and look to my machine when both have had a chance to re-charge...9% and countdown.

Hey computers, even astronauts sleep.... don't they?

Big Green Gathering Festival

It's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride recently so a week away at a festival round the corner from home made for a good getaway. At the BGG I was lucky enough to meet new people that were quite special in many ways. One of the most unexpected encounters was a maths lesson with Maths Guru Matthew Watkins. I certainly enjoyed learning about the mathematics of spirals in nature, thanks Matthew, it was a wonderful way to while away a sunny afternoon sat on the grass next to lots of people practicing their circus skills.

I start working with an educational software company that specialises in Mathematics in the way of Mathletics next week and my first impressions is that this seems to be everything that interactive learning should be; not just flash and no pants but real fun interactive learning experiences.

My interest in education stems probably from the disdain as a kid of being bored at school and not really engaging in the whole experience. Technology isn't a quick fix but it has the potential like any tool to help make it a valuable experience if used well.

I spoke to an old colleague of mine this evening who's just ditched her PhD due to the lack of real supervision. It's pretty sad that she's been forced to take this negative action. My own personal experience on embarking on MPhil study made for quite a frustrating experience. I real hope to pick up an academic research career in the future but for now I'll settle for reading the odd academic paper that I can find online.

One area that fascinates me is the Philosophy/Ethics in Information. In the scheme of it all, it seems that techno philosophy is in it's infancy at the moment although my favourite academic seems to be coming up with some pretty interesting ideas see Luciano Floridi.

A big shout to Bristol Wireless, it was a pleasure to be part of such a kewl team of geeks at the festival last week. I was proud to be part of a solar powered satellite linked internet cafe in the Amare field with a big up to Ray Mundo & Clive for the alt power and patience to talk through the power setup.

This week I've made some more jewellery with the wonderful Nini in our studio and had the pleasure of not finding a mouse in our humane mousetrap that could easily become inhumane!

If you fancy goin to see an exhibiton then check out 'You make my heart go BOOM' showing work from the luurrvily Rachel Bright at Bristol Guild on Park St Bristol till Saturday.

Bedtime stories take over at the moment! in the form of'The curious Incident of the dog in the night-time' by Mark Haddon, playing tunes on my guitar from Annie Lennox 'I Need You', watched 'The Transformers' on my Orange Wednesday ticket last night. Hmm well won't exactly recommend it, all effects and no story but who can resist watching cars turn into robots!

Over n out for now...

Rocket