TechStyle

Big Wall

The National Theatre has started its 'big wall' that showcases interviews with actors, background material to the production and contextual material for the play in the auditorium. Building on their successful Stagework, the wall brings some of the website ideas into the physical space of the theatre. At the moment it contains content around their production of Coram Boy, but as it is technically just a touch sensitive projection so there is no reason why it couldn't show a variety of production or repurpose some of the brilliant content from Stagework.

Its a great way to spend 15mins whilst waiting for the play to start. The navigation is clear and there are a range of activities - from the hobbies of hovering actors and actresses, to a music mixer and a slightly disappointing timeline. The Wall shows that institutions don't have to  do something technically cutting-edge to be innovative. They can extend their brand and offering to audiences with simple use of content.

Paper Computer

In the 'Future Computing Collections' project we developed earlier in the year with the Interaction Design group at the RCA, one of the students came up with a great idea for a paper computer. Matt Falla developed a 'cut-out computer' which would aid non-computer literate people to understand what the components of a computer are and how one works. Users would have to put all the components together to get the 'machine' (of sorts) to work. The idea is similar to the Middlesex Uni Teaching Resources currently available from the Science Museum shop (and great Christmas presents...) where you can relive technological history by building a telegraph transmitter, your own desktop steam engine, a  tachyscope  and a camera obscura. Matt's 'computer' was more beautiful and contemporary, using screen printed lights to illustrate electronic processes.

Science Show

Last night I went to Theatre of Science at the Soho Theatre for a display of Simon Singh and Richard Wiseman's showmanship. A small and intimate affair, the show took us through optical illusions, contortionists, theremin playing and electrical games.  It was great fun, and even included a scientific proof of why the Teletubbies are Evil:

Teletubbies = Time x Money

Time = Money

Teletubbies = Money x Money = Money²

Money = √Evil

Teletubbies = Evil

There could have been a bit more explanation at times, but the whole thing felt like a rather wonderful Victorian display in someone's living room. With the passing of one million volts between two tesla coils it reminded me of a short course we developed on Fathom with Iwan Rhys Morus on Electricity Shows which looked at electricity's cultural role  as something exotic and spectacular in Victorian society.

Steam keenies at Ironbridge

Blists Hill wrought ironworks
Originally uploaded by TechStyle.

Blists Hill is re-enactment heaven - from a Victorian pharmacy to a replica of the Trevithick locomotive, it gives its visitors a real experience. The Victorian town at Coalbrookdale is a wonderful example of how industry and science museum volunteers preserve old skills and making themselves the life and soul of the place. We had a great day chewing inedible licorice, riding the cart and trying to explain what coal was to the kids. The moody wrought iron works were my own personal favourites, but the kids liked the Victorian kids bedroom for three.

Heppellism

So they have finally lured Stephen over the water to Dublin. Like New Zealand and Thailand weren't enough. He's director of the new e-learning research centre at the National College of Ireland in Dublin. "The world needs a clearer view of how good the future might be, for learners. Cosmopolitan, global-facing, creative, wired Dublin is a perfect place to build that vision of the future. " Oh yes, and there is great sailing. 'Why didn't someone just give him Media Lab Europe' I hear you all scream??