Author: ashleyelsdon

Storyteller - Poet - Explorer

Pd on Android

Posted by on in Tech

Getting Pd up and running on an Android device. Good to see it running, but I do wonder what I’ll do with it next.

The Sphero is on the go

Posted by on in Creative Process, Robotics, Tech

I’m really intrigued by the idea of physical objects interacting with the real world, which is why I decided to get a Sphero ball. It’s a very interesting device, and there are a few apps that work with it, including especially Shapesynth, which makes some amazing sounds.

So I’m just getting started now on this, and starting to think about how I can use Sphero in a variety of different settings.

Happy Birthday Alan Turing

Posted by on in Exhibitions, History

Mr Turing would have been 100 years old today. His legacy to computing is amazing, there’s no doubt about that. I went to a big celebration at Bletchley Park in 2009 where I learnt a lot about him and what he’d done. Back in 2009 you didn’t hear so much about him and his work, I’m glad that’s changed.

Today I went to an exhibition about him at the Science Museum, and whilst it was only a small exhibition it’s good to see the recognition.

New series of Primeval, no, sadly not

Posted by on in TV

Whilst Primeval certainly wasn’t the best of science fiction, it was also not the worst, and it had a lot of good points. So I was really pleased to hear that it was coming back to ITV1. Sadly, whilst that’s true, it isn’t actually a new series. It’s just ITV1 showing series 5. From what I’ve read it seems unlikely that a series 6 is going to come about after all.

That’s a shame as I think they were going in some good direction. There’s still some hope, but it is slim.

DS-10 again

Posted by on in Creative Process, Mobile Applications, Tech

I’ve no idea why, but I have a real bug for doing something on the DS again. I really fancy getting back to it for some reason. Perhaps it’s because it has become quite distant and retro, I’m not sure, but I may well indulge myself for a while.

Little Miss Sunshine

Posted by on in Films

I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed this film the first time I saw it. Not only is it amazingly funny but also incredibly touching as well. It is such a good journey, and I think seeing it a second time around made me see a greater depth to it.

It’s such a strange film. Truly disturbing in parts.

Blake’s 7, from the beginning

Posted by on in TV

I just had to see the whole of Blake’s 7 again. I don’t know why, I just got it into my head that I really wanted to see it all again. So I’ve started right from episode 1 and my plan is to work my way through the lot.

After that I might even go on to listen to some of the newer Big Finish CD stories.

Ultravox – Brilliant

Posted by on in Listening, Music

When I heard that Ultravox had a new album coming out I was relatively excited. I’ve always liked them, but perhaps their later albums not so much. Anyway, I thought I’d give this new one a try out, and I listened to it twice, or maybe three times, but overall, it really didn’t work for me, which was a shame.

Having said that, one track really stood out for me. It’s called ‘Rise’, and I’ve been playing it over and over. It stood out from the rest of the album by a long way, and I think it’s a great.

Technology will save us

Posted by on in Stuff

Technology will save us is a great little tech company who make kits and things and do talks as well. I got this badge from an event I went to. They’re lovely and so passionate about what they do.