Phil Beards' Weblog

iPod magic

philbeards — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:51:31 +0000

IPod Magic

Johnny Lee adaptation of the wii remote

philbeards — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:23:31 +0000

Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote

Sony Revolution

philbeards — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:17:05 +0000

Here is yet another Minority Report type interface under development. A bit like Microsoft Surface and the Tangibletable I looked at in October.

more about "Sony Revolution", posted with vodpod

Blaise Aguera y Arcas: Photosynth demo

philbeards — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:42:16 +0000

This is a really interesting project that demonstrates how huge video libraries like Flickr can be merged into a networked experience. “Using photos of oft-snapped subjects (like Notre Dame) scraped from around the Web, Photosynth creates breathtaking multidimensional spaces with zoom and navigation features that outstrip all expectation. :

more about "Blaise Aguera y Arcas: Photosynth demo", posted with vodpod

Dasher Demonstration

philbeards — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:11:16 +0000

Thanks to Jim Lake for spotting this alternative text entry system. 35 words a minute seems quite a reasonable speed for some of us slower typers but also this could be really useful for learners with disabilities?

from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

Facebloke – The Wall / Idiots of Ants – BBC Three

philbeards — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:00:09 +0000

If you have any doubts as to why we use Facebook this should set your mind at rest.

Bhangra Exhibition

philbeards — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:54:21 +0000

Back in the mid 1980′s and early 90′s I ran a recording studio in Birmingham, I recorded hundreds of sessions with all sorts of bands and artists, recording for major and independent labels, local radio and the odd session for the BBC. One musical genre I was extensively involved in was Bhangra. (Traditional Bhangra is a fusion of music, singing and the beat of the dhol drum, a single stringed instrument called the iktar (ektara), the tumbi and the chimta. The accompanying songs are small couplets written in the Punjabi language called bolis. -Wikipedia)

Bhangra relies on the heavy percussive beat of the tablas, Dholak and Dhol and in the 80′s this was incorporated with synthesizers, electronic percussion and electric guitar to create a new form of Asian popular music for the younger generation. Day-time Bhangra shows were organised around the Midlands and attended by coach loads of young Asians wishing to escape from their religious family ties. Here they could listen to something new and exciting whilst their parents thought they were attending college.

I worked mainly with the band DCS recording several albums with them which where highly successful and were awarded platinum disc status, reaching No1 in the Bhangra charts for many months.They still remain the top Bhangra band in this country as well as being Internationally recognised across Asia.

Now many of these recordings are being featured in an exhibition “Soho Road to the Punjab” currently on show in Bristol.

The exhibition features cover art work, posters and graphics from the time and explores the design and culture of Bhangra. The exhibition is currently showing in Bristol Central Library, College Green from April 21st – June 20th 2008.

DCS • ‘Rule Britannia’ • (1982) With ‘Bhangra fever’ gripping many South Asian youth across the country by the late 1980s, many bands attempted to crossover into the mainstream charts, including Birmingham’s DCS with their 1989 track Rule Britannia. The song was a call for national racial unity: ‘We all live under the same sky, the same moon, so let’s dance to the same old tune’. Such endeavours were unsuccessful, primarily because of the cultural racism encountered by British Bhangra artists when faced by the mainstream music industry. Their albums sold in thousands, mainly through South Asian music retail outlets. Yet the sale returns from these smaller stores weren’t included, or even acknowledged, in the make up of the British pop charts of the time.

Here is a clip of DCS now from a recent studio session for the BBC Asian Network revisiting one of their classic tracks from the 80′s and one of earliest tracks I recorded, Vaisakhi Boliyan.

Dominotes Mk2

philbeards — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:19:45 +0000

Have a look at BA(Hons) Graphic Design (Interactive Media) student Peter Van Lanschot’s Dominotes project currently on exhibition for 2 more weeks in Barrio North, Angel, Islington.Peter along with other ex graduate Tom Moody is working as an Information Architect at Syzygy in Covent Garden.

from www.youtube.com posted with vodpod

View Peter’s site Here

Sony Walkman

philbeards — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:05:45 +0000

An interesting way of getting people to make music together on line. View the original TV Ad here then go to the site and have a go at making your own tracks.

from www.walkmanproject.c posted with vodpod

New Interactive Magazine

philbeards — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:44:07 +0000

Here is a new interactive magazine, supposedly ‘ the WORLD’S FIRST fully interactive digital magazine dedicated to bringing you the very latest and best in consumer technology straight to your inbox” The layout is well designed and the interactivity allows easy access to the content, iGIZMO is free so register now and give it a try. Click Here