Digital Futures 2010
16 and 17 November 2010
The 4th Annual Digital Futures event took place at the Hendon campus on 16 and 17 November 2010. Over 200 students visited the campus across the two days and attended taster session in computing, networks, mobile robotics and games.
Workshop sessions across the event included:
Secure Communications & Secret Messages
Robert Colson, Computer Communications
There are really only two ways of sending messages securely, so that (hopefully!) nobody but the intended recipient can receive them. One is to use 'encryption' - for example Sky TV encrypts Sky Sports and other channels so that only genuine subscribers can decrypt the programmes. The other is to use 'information hiding' - for example, concealing messages in photographic and music files. Information hiding can use some unusual methods. For example, the Victorians used pin pricking of letters in newspapers, and the Romans wrote messages on the scalps of slaves which could only be revealed with a haircut! This workshop considered some of these and modern methods in information hiding.
Rule based game agents
Kailash Nadh, Business Information Systems
Agents are virtual entities (software) that can perform different tasks that are programmed into them. Rule based agents behave according to a set of rules given to them. For instance, an enemy in a video game ducking when being fired at is acting based on the rule 'duck if fired at'. This workshop gave a short introduction of this along with a demonstration of rule based game agents.
Real time image processing demo and workshop using Visual Jockey software
Carl James-Reynolds, Computing and Multimedia Technology
Visual displays are now regularly used at concerts and in nightclubs, in this workshop we created our own visual effects from a range of images. We looked at how the real time effects can be controlled by a range of different types of input including audio data, random data and virtual mixing.
Network Modelling
Clifford Sule, Computing and Multimedia Technology
A simulation of intermediate and end devices in an internetwork of subnets. This involves the careful planning of IP Addresses, configuration of workstations, wireless nodes, switches and routers.
Noodling with Balsamiq
Simon Attfield, Computing and Multimedia Technology, Sponsored by Balsamiq.com
Creating a mock-up is a big part of deciding how a program will look and what it will do. Will it be engaging, fun, and easy to understand? Building a mock-up of a screen not only enables you to express your creativity, it helps you to reflect on your design and communicate it to others. Balsamiq Mockups is a piece of software which allows you to create mock-ups quickly and easily using readymade pallets of customisable components. In this session, using Balsamiq Mockups we designed some software that we would like to use.
Introduction to Mobile Robotics
Stephen Prior and Product Design Students
Current Product Design students introduced and demonstrated Mobile Robotics to the group including some of their own work and a mobile robot unit used in the World Skills competitions.
Mashing-up the Virtual and Physical World
Wyn Griffiths, Product Design
This workshop used physical objects and technology to create Tangible and Gestural User Interfaces to control sound and image. We looked at augmented reality and how this is improving user experiences.
Russell Pearson, Associate Dean of Engineering and Information Sciences, points out that computing degrees are not just about being in front of a screen and keyboard. Technologies that were 'cutting edge' 5 years ago such as 3D immersive environments are already commonplace in entertainment and industry. Many Middlesex IT students enter into computing after studying a range of subjects including design, graphics or music at school and are now combining those skills with computer programming knowledge to create the applications of the future. The School will soon be launching its 'App Academy' embracing students from across all subject areas in the University wishing to develop apps for phones and iPads.
