Pray for snow

Photosynth - Microsoft do something cool shocker

2006-08-02T16:56:00.000Z

This will be good. The program analyses photos for similar points and then creates a 3d world from them.
You can zoom in to photos with more detail. As more and more photos are added the world becomes richer and adding in your own photos allows you to explore areas around them using other peoples photos.... doesnt makes sense? watch the vid

This combined with google earth and the matrix is but years away!!!*

* Pending the invention of computer to brain interface

Greg Lee: Bachelor of Arts

2006-06-27T21:55:00.000Z

Woohoo...Got my final exam results and passed.
I now have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Multimedia Computing.

Time to sign on or work at McDonalds :D

VW Show

2006-04-30T20:00:00.000Z

A few of us (Laura, Me, Neil, Sarah and Marcus) went to the VW show at Stamford Hall today. Some really nice cars and makes me want one even more. Trouble is time and mechanical skills are against us.
I can just picture me and laura in a split screen camper, a lot like this one....

Mostly original on the outside (has to be lowered, with alloys) but definately not original on the inside. We would have all mod cons, namely flat screen TV's and playstations, not to mention the Subaru engine in the boot.

Check flickr for a few more pics.

We will live the dream!!!

Woohoo!!! Simpsons Movie

2006-04-03T18:39:00.000Z

Finally after years of speculation as to whether it would happen, The Simpsons movie teaser trailer has appeared in the US before Ice Age 2. It's due out next year!!

I was gonna link to a trailer but they seem to be going down like flies...damn copyright infringement

Update: This one here works for the time being.

Sauze d'Oulx 2006

2006-03-27T22:47:00.000Z

We have been back a week so I thought I best post about our great time in Sauze. The hotel Orso Bianco located in the Sportinia area was the best I have stayed in for location, friendly staff and good food. The rooms are a good size, views spectacular and they have satellite TV. Lots of little touches like a free 3D piste map, complimentary bottles of wine and tea in proper mugs made it a place I would stay at again.

The resort is not the best we have stayed in. Although the area is big, the 5 main villages are not connected in a snowboard friendly manner with ball crushing drag lifts ready to test your pain threshold should you desire. However the snow and off piste were fantastic, plus the queues were short.

I also pulled off one of the main tricks I vowed I would learn when I started snowboarding - a backside 180. We made a little jump near our hotel, with me and Neil practising on it until we could do them. It's one of the simplist tricks to perform (on a board at least) but one that looks great, hence the reason it's popular.

Check my Flickr photostream for more pics!!!!

Rendering and Visualisation

2006-03-09T15:26:00.000Z

This week at work I have been chatting to and providing models/info for Jim Mann of Lightwell. Jim is producing some Photo-montages of a site we are currently designing to aid with planning permission.

This image is copyright lightwell

I was very impressed with Jim's work and client list. He actually produced the background animations of the BBC News set..you know the monitors and offices that are behind Sophie and Hugh. I actually thought these were real. Check out some of his other work....talented chap.

While not quite up to the standard of Jim's work I thought I'd post some renderings that me and Paul have produced over the years. I can't claim to have modelled the lorry that's Paul's masterpiece.

I best put that all images apart from shaun the sheep! are copyright Mouchel Parkman

Web 2.0

2006-03-07T17:53:00.000Z

I thought that while I was'nt told much that I did'nt already know, yesterday's lecture was really interesting. Web 2.0 is linking people and information together that I'm sure the internet's creators never dreamt of.

Take for example 30boxes

Me and my friends are now signed up for the Beta of this new application and while there are still some teething issues, it is proving really useful to me and has allowed me to sync: my computers calendar, which syncs to my phone, with my online calendar, with my friends calendars and now with my blog, so everyone can see what's coming up.

30 boxes and blogger are the Web 2.0 applications I use the most. If I could upload full resolution photos to flickr and have unlimited space I would photocast too. I'm not sure about the whole social bookmarking thing yet though. It's good for getting new links tho!!

Anyone got any other suggestions?

Joey from the half way line

2006-03-06T21:16:00.000Z

In honor of Joey's fantastic strike at the weekend I have created a panoramic shot of his brilliant goal. A larger version can be found here

It's not brilliant quality as the only footage I have to work with is from the TV cameras which blur when they pan. You can see the path of the ball quite well tho I've highlighted it in yellow to make it clearer

Shame he's leaving I think we'll miss him in the summer.

Up the city!!!

Why can't all interfaces be as good as this one?

2006-03-04T18:35:00.000Z

While research for our HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) assessed seminar (which Steve stormed) I had a nightmare trying to remember all the evaluation techniques. However one quote we found on the web I had no problem remembering, I wonder why!?!?

"The only "intuitive" interface is the nipple. After that it's all learned"

How true!

Keynote not up to par

2006-02-28T19:22:00.000Z

Well that was a lot of fuss over nothing...I'm disappointed with the Apple products that have been announced today.

The intel mac mini is nice, its quicker with the core duo processor and has a new version of front row (with bonjour) which allows it to get music/photos off other machines in the network and display it on your TV. However...

Both the Ipod Hi-Fi and new Ipod cases are over priced and suffer from both a lack of features and design ideas IMHO.
The case has no access to controls or the screen!!! The boom box looks like its from the 80's and has poor design in the fact that the ipod docks on the top, which means your gonna have to be careful not to knock it out...great idea for something thats supposed to be portable!!

It seems to me that mac mini aside the other two products have 3rd party solutions that are not only cheaper but offer more features...thoughts?

Looks like Apple can have bad days too

Cool japanese game - War of the Hell

2006-02-28T13:02:00.000Z

The idea is to get the troubled souls from hell to heaven using the rope. No real end to it just try and get as many as you in one go.

I best link to the original blog it is here

Steve's Outfit

2006-02-28T13:00:00.000Z

The rumour factory has been in full production this last week over what Apple will be announcing in about 6 hrs. Will it be the new touch screen Ipod, the Ipod boombox, or the Intel mac mini? Who cares!! what I care about is what Stevie J's gonna be wearing !!!

A clever way to make money from referrals but still funny

Cool touch screen prototype - Multitouch Interaction Experiments

2006-02-09T00:02:00.000Z

I may not update by blog often but I like to think that when I do, my posts are either funny, cool or interesting.

Well this video ticks 2 out of 3 boxes.

Ever dreamed of manipulating computer screens with your hands like they do in sci fi films!?!?!
This is a video of a new touch screen interface that has been developed and it is rumoured that Apple have the patents for it.
The part where he manipulates photos and the google earth look-a-like are sweet.

Make no mistake this is the future and will replace the mouse one day and if the above rumour is true another reason why Apple rock.

Link to Video

Snow wayyyy

2005-11-25T16:33:00.000Z

A week of snowboarding this week.

Got my new gear... Burton Hail boots, Burton Mission bindings and Section MFM jacket
I was pretty surprised that I went with Burton as I view them as the big corporate boys within the snowboarding industry
but as the man in the shop says you just gotta go with what feels right and the boots felt great. So having burton boots kinda meant going for burton bindings and I have wanted to try out cap straps so nows my chance.

After going for Burton gear I thought i best give them the 2 fingers with my jacket choice so I went for the underdog; a Section MFM. Section are a new brand and have only been going for 2 seasons they were formed by 2 brothers who used to design Burton gear and have all the pros wanting to work with them. They are tipped to be huge over the coming seasons. I could not find a jacket from the big manufacturers that had as much attention to detail or features for the same price and plus the fact I reckon it looks sweet :)

oh and to top it off....first snow in livigno

1 Month 5 Days 13 Hours to go

and i thought our neighbours were bad!!

2005-11-22T13:01:00.000Z

Anyone that has been near our house around christmas time can't fail to notice the glow of lights coming from a house round the corner. Every inch of wall is covered with lights but its for charity so people tolerate it.

However I thought that he went over the top.....

Well take a look at this...cool...once but the poor neighbours.

Alternative Afan Weekend Report

2005-07-14T09:30:00.000Z

Now for the real story how I remember it :))))

CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN, CLIMB, PAIN,

DESCENT

SLEEP

Read Steve's Report here. He's done a far better job than I could and it reminds me some of it was enjoyable and you do get a sense of achievement.

Ever get the feeling someones watching you?

2005-06-29T17:14:00.000Z

If not make this and someone always will be... very weird but cool

http://www.grand-illusions.com/images/dragon.pdf

Just shut one eye and look into his eyes and he'll appear to be 3d

Coldplay announce new album: X&Y

2005-03-12T00:22:00.000Z

So at last the album I'm most looking forward to this year has been revealed. It's called X&Y and is out on 6th June, with a single called 'Speed of Sound' released a coupe of weeks before it on the 23rd May.

Let's just hope it can live up the hype. no pressure lads.

Me and Tim, Tim and Me

2005-03-08T17:17:00.000Z

So after being that pissed off at Saturday's 'big match atmosphere' I posted on talkingballs at the weekend and last ight spur of teh moment decided to try and email tim davies teh leicester chief exec. I guessed at his email and it was right! Heres my email and his reply

Tim,

This is just a guess that this is your email address, and I hope you won't mind me contacting you on it. I've heard you on the radio many times saying your door is always open and I'm hoping this is also true of yoru mailbox.

I'm writing this email because as a season ticket holder I am very concerned, as I'm sure you, the management and the players are about the dwindling atmosphere at the Walkers Stadium.

I remember many a game at Filbert St, where despite the players maybe not playing very well and us maybe going in a goal or two behind at half time, the fans would really get behind the team second half and you could see players raising their game and go on to win. This just does not happen at the Walkers. We no longer shout players names. The link between players and fans has gone.

I urge you to act now before it's too late. I believe one of two things must happen. Either the club change what is the kop to the family end and vice versa to generate the much missed banter between the home and away fans and thus the desire to want to out sing each other. However I'm not sure what the position of the authorities is on the club doing this. Failing this I think a more specific area of the current kop needs to be designated the 'singing' area, so as to group all those that want to sing into one area, as at the moment we are all spread around the kop.

If changes like these don't take place we could be looking at the possibility of no atmosphere at all in a few years, when certain people such as myself grow older and new younger fans do not know of songs and believe that just sitting quietly at the football is the norm.

Please try and implement some changes before next season so we can give Craig and the players the support they deserve to help them get us back into the Premiership.

Yours Hopefully

Greg Lee

Season Ticket Holder

Tim Davies:

Thank you I agree with your concerns and we are working on this. Moving the kop/ family area seems difficult as you say and due to moving sesaon ticket holders, the other area is one of a number of issues being considered.

Thanks for your support and ideas.

Kind regards

Tim

Well impressed that he bothered to reply, so thumbs up to Time for that

Up the City!

Don't be alarmed

2005-03-07T23:39:00.000Z

Doh, I was on lock up duty today and i managed to set the alarm off at work, calling the police out...what a tit!.....Done it loadsa times before aswell...I won't hear the end of this

Java must die

2005-03-03T22:18:00.000Z

Ok so i slave my guts out, to get this weeks java and log book finished only to be told my logbook is a bare pass...man am i pissed. i wouldnt mind i spent that much time actually getting the code to work (which I consider to me the important part) that it was just a real slog to get the logbook done to her satisfaction. I mean which is better time spent actually using java and gettin the code to work or spending 4 hours cutting and pasting stuff into a fookin book.

She can sod off

Sick of uni work...but on a lighter note

2005-02-27T23:10:00.000Z

Ok, uni work is doin my head in, motivation min, annoyance max.
At least I got to go down the dome again, last night where I renewed my membership. Man do you feel inferiour down there on a saturday night, some seriously good boarders.
I won the ebay auction for my new board a Ride Kink 2005. Wohaa
Price in the end was reasonable and a good bit cheaper than the shops. Be intersting to see how much dif there is between that and my old one.

peeps seem to be having a good time in Center parks where there is some snow apparently!! maybe I shoulda gone after all!!

Bored lets talk board

2005-02-21T23:23:00.000Z

well, first chance of some snow of the year, theres been a few light flurries so fingers crossed.

After seeing the ramp night on Saturday with Jon on Paul, I have renewed vigor for going to the snowdome every week, I NEED to get better and going every week especially to ramp night I think is the only way.

So I'm afraid better good at 1 sport than crap at 2, so I guess I'm saying at least for now no to a mountain bike and yes to ramp nights every saturday (well it might have to wait till after america) and a new board in the summer...Let the bruises commence

Not much

2005-02-15T19:10:00.000Z

Just an update.

Still have'nt found a holiday, went round Paul's last night to try and find one. I've refused to organised this one tho so we probably won't end up going! Good ol' paul has volunteered tho.

Steve's gradually persuding me to try mountain biking...I've been checkin ebay for old bikes but I think I'll wait till I've tried it first before commiting cash. Can't forget about this years new board or is that bike...board...bike...hmmm decisions.

Oh and I've gotta save up for one of these....http://www.oqo.com/...couple of years everyone will have these

Ok time to get this thing going

2005-02-11T15:48:00.000Z

Right its been long enough.

6 months without a post and if I'm ever to remember stuff, I need to start noting it down.

So last night we found out about our last module at uni - applied programming....my first reaction was that I'd be doing 5 modules next year!! But after steve calmed me down, I'm hoping it's not gonna be too bad (touchwood).

Anyway off to Jen's birthday meal tonight in sharnford, which should be good and after that a weekend of uni work awaits...oh joy.

Bank Holiday - What the hell to do?

2004-05-31T11:52:00.000Z

OK so it's another bank holiday, and I'm doin bugger all...could have gone to skegness for the day but I think I'll pass on the raw sewege.

Went round Jon's for a bbq last night, watched the DVD again...would have thought they'd be bored of it now. So want to go boarding again after watching it, oh well only 7 months to go!!!

Oh and the month of fitness/diet has started, Jake, Jen, Me, Laura and Jon are participating. Good luck to us all!!

My first entry

2004-05-29T17:40:00.000Z

Ok, after seeing my friend steve get slowly hooked on this blogging thing, I've decided to set up my own. Not quite sure what to expect yet but I'm hoping for a place that will help me remember stuff cause I have a tendancy to forget things and just provide a place to let off steam, document my life-o-fun and 'big up' my friends.