My Work: 2008

Monday, 15 December 2008

References

Film and Recording Studio

The Ultimate Film and Sound Studio

This is a really new kind of recording studio, combining film and music to highlight your passion for both. I have eliminated the need for a massive sound studio by adding some space saving inventions.

A set of digital instruments for plugging directly into the console several ports will be available on the digital mixing desk. The cables will be wireless to save the clutter.
They can also add effects as if real microphones were being used as you can get a more “natural” sound. It’s a matter of taste really but at least you have the choice.
A sound booth will be able to be created to cut out the noise from the mixing desk to save the need for two separate rooms, you can design the shape and size depending on your needs at the time on the computer and the white shield will come down from the ceiling over the musicians.
Headphone monitors will also be wireless
Effects will be managed from the console desk and can be added wirelessly again by selecting the desired effect and the air inside the sound proof booth will change so that the sound waves can only move in the desired way.

The film area of the studio will have remotely controlled cameras so you can record from any angle without cranes, tripods etc, just a remote control pad. They are also light and small, a tiny ball shape. A microphone will need to be used in order to record the sound and they will beam a signal straight to the camera to record all the sound and picture on the same machine, however once they are uploaded to the computer they will have two separate tracks to allow editing.

Sound and film editing software will be installed into your computer in the studio. This program will have these features:

Sound
· Will record sound from the mixing console and will import sound recorded on the remote control cameras.
· Effects can be added after the recording
· Scores will automatically be written correctly
· Will be able to burn straight to a CD or DVD (if there is film to go with it)
Film
- Will upload film track recorded from the camera
· An Image editor will be included to edit the pictures. Every effect possible will be added.
· Edit section where you can change and mix around with the order, length of shots etc.
· Burn straight to a DVD.

I wanted to design a studio that was practical for you to use but with some new and exciting gadgets. The wireless cabling will make it so much easier to use. I did not feel it was necessary to reinvent the recording system because what we have works really well. The problems with recording technology at the moment is that is takes a lot of room, it’s cumbersome and a lot of setting up is required. I felt it was important to take all the hard work out of it and make it something that is plug in and go.

Study Tools

The idea for developing study tools for students in further / higher education is to play an important part in their development. I had an idea for a small screen (not unlike a tablet) that can:

· Record Audio
· Visual
· Convert audio into text
· Can be connected to computers and record the screen

All these different attributes will be user defined as these are all different ways of learning. There will be an inbuilt test on the machine to determine what kind of learner the student is and this can be used for two modes at once should the user be multimodal. The machine can be used to record lectures in the way that is useful for the students to learn. It is also compact and light to carry around the school with them and upload the days/weeks work into the computer when they get home. This gadget can also be used as a diary the user can speak into the device and record their thoughts and feelings should they want to. There will be a password function on it to keep things private.

I also had an idea for you as a freelance lecturer. The studio could be used as a place that schools/colleges/ universities could schedule visits and you could provide workshops for the students. This will give you a chance to work with all ages and to give the students a look at the cutting edge in recording technology.

Domestic Deliverables

Home Cinema

The Room Is The Television

For this area I would like to develop a system of complete luxury and usability.

With your permission for a room to be devoted to a home cinema, we will install OLED technology into the walls floors and furniture so the picture comes to life in the whole room. Combined with 3D imagery the walls will come to life and you will feel like you are in the television program or movie. You can manipulate the settings as well if you want to watch it off one wall for example.

This system would have the following features:

· Internet
· Movie library rather than storing dvds in the house and downloading link to internet
· Music library
· “Special scenes” Program that has different scenes that you can just have on for lighting effects for example, watching a sunset in the African Planes, a fire on a beach at night, or simply candles all around the room. If it is raining outside for example you could have a picnic on a sunny day indoors, or put on the fire. You can match these scenes with music of your choice.
· “Feed Me Now” Interactive Take away menu system for ordering food online from a pad in your armchair
· Complete TV on demand, interactive menus for each channel so you can just select what you want to watch, when. No need for a recording system
· Reclining armchairs that vibrate at the push of a button and remain out of the screen. It also converts into a complete multi gym exercise machine so you can work out in “different locations”
· “Vrooom Vrooom watch out it’s Finlay and Jessica!” A section of the room will be an interactive area for the children. You can select this option from the command pad and they can interact with the program by pushing buttons and playing games. It can produce different textures and sound music and an interactive voice/characters guiding them through the game, story or educational exercise. A wide variation of these options will be available. Hand print recognition so that the kids can’t use the system when there not supposed to! There will be secret patches that make funny noises if you find them.
· “Command Pad” will be in the armchair underneath the arm rests the control centre of the system
· Most up to date surround sound with speakers perfectly placed inside the wall so that optimum sound can be heard at any point in the room. Additional speakers will be placed around the home to play music or hear the television all around the home (these settings are completely user defined)

I designed this system for you because you are very passionate about film and sound. Here we have combined these interests in this complete Home Cinema System named Vroom (Virtual Room). You and your family will be able to enjoy all aspects of this new technology. The only problem is you may not ever want to leave your house again! The software will be updated for the kids as they get older otherwise it would date very quickly. I think it is personal in the way that the interactivity parts are named in a way that is relatable. I want it to feel like a friendly system and to also give you that wow factor. Everything you could want as requested is at the touch of a button.

I made the system in one room because it will be completely immersing. The room will not be able to be used for anything else other than what is mentioned, but I believe it will be worth the sacrifice for the quality and realistic imagery that will surround the user. The internet is necessary for the interactive menus to be updated and to order through for take away or whatever is required. Also communication over the web and the view of the web in general can be enhanced. Space saving for the DVD’s as a massive library will be required, given also that the children’s toys take over the house anyway. Music would be required to compliment the “Special Scenes” again to create and atmosphere. Also the kids like to have music on whilst they play.

The “Special Scenes” feature is one that I thought the kids could get a lot out of but could also create effects for relaxation and atmosphere for you adults also. Combining your love for take away and sitting down the “Feed me now” element seemed the logical solution to making this system perfect for your indulgences! The next step for TV on demand. It is natural progression really, were going to get there any way you might as well have it first! You will never have to worry about missing your favourite shows. There is also the back up of having the internet if you delete a program by accident.As a safety precaution I included the multi gym to make sure there was never a complete excuse to do nothing physically as this system could quite possibly turn you into a vegetable! I think it’s only right that at least the option is there. Of course it is absolutely essential to watch Tv like this in complete comfort of a state of the art armchair.

I think the kid’s area is perfect for what you are looking for. It’s personally designed for your two little ones and can keep them entertained as they get older. (Shhh but It can surprise the kids and turn into a visit from Santa at Christmas!) An easily accessible sound pad that can control the system easily from a fixed place, and practical so that the kids can’t break it!The sound quality will be the best available and you can adapt the speakers to where and how loud you want them.

Literature Survey

Home Cinema

Home cinema is developing rapidly as television is so popular; we are now bringing the cinema quality home. The newest revolution in this field is the LCD television or flat screen. However, there is already a new kind of technology just waiting to take its place. OLED screens function by using organic light-emitting diodes which are printed on to a panel and luminates when the current passes through it.

The main pro to this new breakthrough is the screen is only 3mm thick! It can be printed on to plastic and the screen is malleable. It negates the need for a bulky backlight and power supply. These screens are capable of producing a perfect black as there is no backlight to filter through to affect the picture. They are also 1000 times faster, blur-free and the pictures can be viewed perfectly from all angles while maintaining its resolution. Sony has taken the lead in mass producing this technology. It is popular to manufacture because it is easier and they use less power than their LCD equivalent.

Although it does have its downside. The design has an effect on the sound quality as there is not much room for speakers, so only 1W can get through the digital amps. It has half the lifespan of a LCD or plasma screen, but 30,000 hours is 8 hours a day for 10 years so it’s not too bad!

The screen sizes in development at the moment are at 11in but Sony is looking to increase this in the future. Mobile OLED screens should hit the shops early 2009 and other possibilities for the future are using them to use them on moving materials like roll up blinds and clothing! I think with the money and research this will eventually surpass the popularity of the LCD and Plasma screens.

There is also new prototype TV that can be controlled by hand gestures or sound. Motion sensors and microphones are integrated into the sytem so that that you can manage the system with your hands or voice. In researching this report I watched a video demonstrating how this product works and to be honest I thought pressing the buttons looks a lot easier than waving you arms up in the air to select a different channel. There is also a simillar prototype for a computer and you have to actually hold your hand in the air to scroll through a menu. To me this product is not worth investing in.

Pods have been unnveiled as the new way forward for cinema for one. Its called the Ovei Media Pod and these are custom designed so that you can have it made as a presonal haven for yourself. The ultimate in luxury the pod is air conditioned and a touch pad control. They have been deveoped by McLaren (yes the ones who do the motor cars!) Perfect if you want to get away from it all, not if you actually want to see your family!

How about virtual reality glasses? They are a reality and you can use them to take your home cinema with you by plugging them into your phone or Ipod. You view a OLED screen, so the quality is top of the range. According to reviews I have discovered that the images feel like 3D! Reasonable price at £150. I definitley approve!

What was previously used for conference and cinematic uses only is now being brought to us in the home. Projectors are becoming more popular in home cinema systems because they give such good picture quality. Options are also available to suit the picture to you liking, they have almost every option available for edit. You do have to spend a bit of time working on the settings, as it does take quite a technical head as they are so specific but once its done you can reap the benefits! I am a major fan of the projector for the following reasons:
· The picture screen size is roughly 72” which is not avalable in TV format for the price of a projector
· It’s a piece of technology that has been used in other areas and now easily converts to the home so the technology is well developed.
· The user is able to specify their settings to a further extent to make it there own which is not possible with TVs
· The spec is a lot higher, so the image quality far outways the TV. Cinema quality at home!

Study Tools

As computers have exploded in popularity in the home, they have made their mark in schools to assist students with their learning. Early this year there has been a new device that connects children to their teachers, a whole range of information and new ways of communicating - all in the palm of their hand. The iPhone will be the vessel for a new system called Studywizz. After students log in they can access information, take tests, submit work and blog to their hearts content and they don’t have to be in school! Parents can also log on to check how their children are doing as they are given access to reports and assignments from the iphone.

This system was invented to encourage students to work outside the confines of classroom walls. Whether this will actually achieve the aim of getting students to do their homework I am doubtful! Also I want to raise the issue that students are always under pressure to work as their work can always be accessed, and it may encourage truancy because they can finish there work at home rather than even coming into school. Or be up too late finishing off things. Aren’t exams enough? The opposite side to this argument is that it may relieve the pressure because they don’t have to be at school to finish off assignments.

There is a prototypes being tested in schools in the South West of England for a DJ system and a new learning interface for music technology. The DVJ X1 system combines music and DVD mixing to provide a visual accompaniment to music all controlled by the same decks. Revolutionary multimedia educational package called the music key which teaches Music and Music Technology to junior to A level. Here is a video to describe these new areas of technology in more detail.

A music software program has been developed called “In the chair” by Starplayit (formerly in the chair) This program enables students to play with proffessional orchestras or bands around the world “every time they pick up their instrument.”

· You can select a level of difficulty
· You can achieve a score at the end on of a piece as it can measure pitch, tempo, tone, intonation and dynamics
· It can even tune your instrument!
· You can rehearse
· All you need is a microphone to attach to your clothes and off you go!
· You can select from a constantly updated library of pieces
· You can progress through levels – Tutor, (you get tips on how to play the piece from a professional musician) listen, (to how it should be played by professional solo-ist) practise, (your own part with a solo-ist) rehearse (with the band and soloist playing along with your own part) and perform (where it’s just you and the band)
· It also gives you feedback on the sheet music on screen and as you are playing lets you know if you play the note correctly and if you don’t it tells you what is wrong.
· You can slow the piece down or up in certain sections should you desire
· You get a score at the end of each piece to give the students point from which they can improve.

I think this is a brilliant piece of software, you can see, hear and play with people all over the world, let alone the perfect learning environment this program provides. It seems like there is nothing it cant do!

Recording Technology

Digital Recording was the latest phenomenon to change the way we record sound in the 1970s and is still hailed as the way forward. Nowadays pretty much anyone can record their own music with a computer at home. I have found a device called the Blue Snowball: It can record sound pretty much anywhere as it looks like this:

It is the world’s first USB microphone. It is a condenser microphone and it has 3 settings, one is the Omni Directional which records sound from all it, this is good if you want to pick up sound from all around the room, two and three are Cardioids and they pick up sound directly in front of it, (the third from slightly further back). You can just plug in and go and it doesn’t even need batteries as it is powered by the usb port. It is also very reasonably priced for a professional microphone. (About £50) For its price you get great quality results for your audio recording. Reviews of this product have all been great. I think that making recording more accessible and cost effective for people is great.

Another Portable recording device I have come across is the Olympus LS10 Audio recorder. This device is not that much bigger than a state of the art mobile phone and it records sound. You have al the features of a computer and mic into one with this gadget. It is packed with everything:

· Level control (manual or automatic)

· Inbuilt mini microphones
· Inbuilt mini speakers
· Line in
· External Microphone line
· Headphone ports (although you shouldn’t need them as they have speakers)
· 2GB of memory and capable of adding another 30 GB in an SD card.
· LCD screen with menus
· Quality of recording options from CD level upwards
· Peak light
· USB port which an upload and download files to your computer
· And lots of other features that the statement of all of them would make for a boring report!

As I gather the sound is very good but suffers a little on the line in connection. It costs a mighty £260 but given this is a computer and microphone combined I’d say it’s a reasonable price and can be used in professional situations.

Millionaire Profiles

Female, 63: Irene Riley

Family
Irene owns her own home in Joppa, Edinburgh (right on the beach) and she is now a retired secretary. She lives there alone however her family consist of two adult daughters (36 and 32) and in laws with 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons with another boy due any day now. She stays with her daughters to regularly to help out. She can stay for weeks at a time. She also has two “step” granddaughters (23 & 25) with whom she spends time with.

Life until now
She has moved around quite a lot in her lifetime, she has lived in Aberdeen, Newcastle and Edinburgh at several points in her life but has settled in Edinburgh for the last 20 years or so since her husband died. Personality wise she is extremely kind and gentle. She is very understanding and she would do anything for anyone.

Lifestyle and Hobbies
She has a quiet life when she is at home but she is content with that as she has had a tough life. She lives with her dog Peggy (A golden retriever mongrel) who is 12 years old. She loves to walk the dog and they have a very strong bond. Her other hobbies/interests include shopping at brand name cosmetics stores, independent food stores and hairdressers, beauty spa’s etc. She only uses ecologically friendly products or produce. She also has a flair for interior design, and takes pride in her home. She would like her products to enhance the look of her home, instead of imposing the amount of money she has won or to make her home look sterile. She wants her products to add warmth and style to her abode. She likes to keep active and out and about so she enjoys an evening class in whatever takes her fancy.

Relationship with Technology and advances over her lifetime

Irene first got a television when she was 13 it was a (BT2253) 17" tabletop, Bakelite (see image) and she and her husband bought her first television when she married - 1971 RGD SV237 black and white UHF TV. They always had a television in her household from that point on. She bought Telewest cable television package when she moved to Edinburgh 14 years ago however she had a very basic package as she is only interested in certain shows. The last picture is the TV she owns now.

Radio technology has always been in Irene’s household. Ever since she can remember she has always had one, she also switched to DAB radio but found that she couldn’t use it as the signal did not work in her area. She would like to listen online to the radio as there is a lot more choice however her internet connection is not very fast. This is something she would like to improve on. She hasn’t used technology a lot as she has never had the means, but she now wants to utilise this area as she has the money to do so. Computers have not been part of her life much apart from work but she has never really had an interest in using one at home. She is more interested in television development as she loves her police dramas and Location Location Location! When she was a child television was starting to break through as a “must have” item for every family. She has seen television come a long way and she has an appreciation of how far it has been developed.

Technological requirements

· Technology she has at home at the moment is standard. She has an old computing system in need of updating. She wants to install up to date computing system for her grandchildren to make use of. Also a laptop for when she goes away.
· She does not want her interest in technology to mean she has to be stuck in front of a computer screen. She wants technology to make her more able to get out the house rather than encouraging her to stay indoors.
· She wants to make shopping easier as she does not drive.
· She requires a state of the art television system for home, that is user friendly
· She wants to start a business that provides Coffee shop business that is a coffee/electronic book shop and also provides reading material through various technological means.
· She also wants a gadget just for fun that she can use at home. A little bit of luxury!

Male, 40: Noel Mepham

Family
Noel owns his own home in Harrogate with his wife. He is a freelance university lecturer in film and television studies at a University in York. They have 2 children, a boy (3) and a baby girl (16 weeks) Noel has lived in Harrogate all his life and they have lived at the same address for about 17 years. His household consist of the above. He has come from a big family as his mother fostered a lot of children. He is closer to two brothers which are his biological relations but he does not see a lot of them. His mother visits them quite regularly and his in-laws also are very regular visitors to their home. His wife is on maternity leave at the moment but normally works as an occupational therapist.

Life till now
Noel has lived all his life in Harrogate his upbringing was always busy as he had so many siblings. He left school at 16 and started working at an independent electrical shop. He formed a rock band but just for fun really (although that’s what he says!). Over the years he worked his way to the top of the tree in his job and ended up managing the shop. He met his future wife at the gym and they went out on a few dates and have been together ever since. They bought a house together, and they married soon after. That was 14 years ago. Noel began to get itchy feet in his job; he felt he was capable of so much more, and he was bored rigid. So he joined a course at college in performing arts course at Harrogate College and he went from there to University to study film and television production. Once he graduated he took a teaching course and became a lecturer at the University. Three years ago his wife gave birth to their first child and then to their second 16 weeks ago.

Lifestyle and Hobbies
Noels loves music, he loves to sing and rock out in the garage on his electric guitar. As he has been in various bands over the years he has a collection of guitars, amps and speakers etc in his sound proof den. He is very committed to this hobby and dedicates a lot of time to it. His friends come over and jam so it gives him a creative outlet. He even plays the odd gig on occasion! He also enjoys going out with his wife and/or mates for a good knees up. He loves his lager and take-away. He also relishes a good movie, and as he is a music fan he loves to get the best sound for his televisual experience.

Relationship with Technology and advances over his lifetime

For Noel’s generation he has been a lot more involved in new technology as it has become available. He always had a television as a child, and young adult using brands such as Decca, Bush, Philips and Murphy. It was also quite fashionable at the time to rent your TV, as Noels family did when he was a child. Transistor radios were his first link to the musical world. He bought a Walkman in 1984 when they first came out as Noel loved music from a very young age. He bought his first Hi-Fi in 1982. It was an Optonica and he still swears by it today. It is still living and breathing in his living room 26 years on. Noel bought a mobile phone in 1990 so he latched on to this particular technological advance very quickly. Noel has not followed the mobile phone specifically as he just wants to be able to make a call or text, he only has a phone with the other functions such as camera, Mp3 player, radio etc because you cant buy one without them.

Noel first bought a computer in 2000 purely for word processing, but as he familiarised himself with it he got involved in its other uses like email, internet etc. He uses the internet for anything and everything. He is a fan of social networking sites like Facebook; he uses it to connect with his old friends, band mates and his students at college, and he loves having yet another way to get his opinions out into the world. He also uses the web to learn, he has a thirst for information and it is now at his fingertips. This is significant to him because he remembers when the web didn’t even exist, and now he has all this information at his fingertips. As he was a student later on in life, he was re-acquainted with the modern technology of computers. He recently updated his computing system last year purely to use sound and video recording software. Noel was one of the first people to buy a home cinema system as soon as they were available! Film and sound recording are his passions so these are paramount items of technology for him therefore he always has the most up to date technology available within his price range. Working alongside younger people affected his attitude towards new technologies. He became more aware of new advances in technology.

Technological Requirements

· He requires a fully working recording studio/ film suite to be built into his garage
· He wants the best home cinema system that money can buy
· He wants a state of the art kid’s play area that is safe for them to use, fun and will help their development.
· He wants to use his recording studio for his business which is to develop the idea of study tools for his film students. As he is working freelance at the university he would like to use this to supplement his income.

Female, 22, Joanne Lang

Family
Joanne lives in Glasgow and she is a student at Glasgow college, she is studying music technology. She lives in a rented flat with 3 other flatmates who are of a similar age. She has a boyfriend who she spends a lot of time with and has an active social life. The household have plenty of parties at the flat to celebrate their youth! She moved out of her family home at 19 and lived with a boyfriend for a few years but the relationship did not work out and after a brief period of living alone she moved in to her mother’s house. When she started at college Joanne moved into her current dwelling.

Life till now
Joanne has lived at home for most of her life apart from the last 3 years. She has had a comfortable upbringing. She worked in an administrative role in a payroll office. When her relationship ended it caused her to re-examine her career and where it was going. She realised that she wanted a career in the music industry and enrolled in to college. She moved from Edinburgh in order to go to this college so she had a complete fresh start.

Lifestyle and Hobbies
Joanne loves music, she loves to play and write it. She is involved in a choir which meets every week, and she takes extra curricular lessons in order to improve her ability. She wants to make musical composition a career one day so she works very hard at it trying to perfect her art. She loves to keep fit and healthy as she lost a lot of weight a year ago and likes to keep herself in shape. She also loves shopping and socialising with her friends and boyfriend. Contrary to her active lifestyle she also loves to be a couch potato as she loves movies as well. She also loves getting pampered and getting her hair cut at the best salons.

Relationship with Technology advances over her lifetime
Given her age, Joanne is more familiar with MP3, mobile and computing technology. She can remember as a young teenager carrying around a disc man, and before that a walkman. Now it’s amazing to her that she can carry around thousands of tracks in something the size of a lipstick. (and it doesn’t jump!)

Joanne has always loved gadgets since she was a child. She had a Dictaphone when she was 13. So she has always had the latest in gadget technology as a child/adolescent but as money was a bit harder to come by as an adult she has not been able to feed her technological cravings, until now.

Joanne has experienced lots of different technologies over her lifetime. Her family had a black and white TV until she was about 6 (unusual for the time) and then they bought a colour TV in 1989 then a VCR in 1993. A widescreen TV was bought in 1998, made by Philips and still sits in the living room today 10 years later. Her family bought game consoles as she grew up, she had a Sega Megadrive, then a Playstation 1, but she hasn’t sought out gaming technology since she flew the nest.

Music was her main interest so her Christmas present when she was 7 was a Sharp ghetto blaster. This was a single tape with two speakers and a radio. She also got a microphone to go with it. This was endless hours of entertainment! The next step up was a Panasonic Hi Fi which had a CD, double tape deck, radio and auxiliary feature. The dawn of the compact disc! The evolution then came around for MP3 technology and now she uses her computer or MP3 player to play music. As she got older she wanted to sing so she got a professional microphone and stand.

Joanne bought her own computer when she was about 22 purely because she needed the internet, like Noel she found other uses for it like playing music, email and word processing. She used computers a lot in her job so it became a natural progression. Now she uses it a lot for her course work as technology is involved, and pretty much everything else in her life like the calendar, calculator, word processing, spreadsheets, MP3, watching DVDs, and connecting to her phone.

Technological Requirements

· She wants to develop interactive music composition technology for a business
· Along with a recording studio with a full kit to develop her ideas
· She requires a state of the art “Spa Bathroom”
· She wants a state of the art gym in her household

My Work

Monday, 15 December 2008

References

Business Deliverables

Domestic Deliverables

Literature Survey

Millionaire Profiles

Followers

Blog Archive

About Me