UrbanLabs OS, a project currently in development is an innovation which may see cities being able to run themselves through a series of interlocking and relative data provide by a range of systems. So what implementations would this technology have? Well, according to the project’s only Wiki pages, there are many. From economy, education and social applications to communication, the environment and traffic management and many more besides. With much of the infrastructure already in place, it would seem it’s just a case of joining it all together and creating an accessible piece of software to control it all.

Other projects including IBM’s Smarter Planet also contribute to data collection which will undoubtedly form a basis for UrbanLabs. Smarter Planet alone has developed a large number of applications for clients, with interaction with sporting events (a long-standing trend for IBM’s intelligent systems) as well as helping to develop projects which will overall mean a solution to environmental issues such as pollution, deforestation and waste management.

Something a little closer to home (or my University I should say) is Portland Square on the University of Plymouth campus which is able to take readings from sensors within the building to adjust parameters related to security, heating and cooling systems as well as lighting. These systems not only help to improve the working environment but maintain comfort for those utilising the space but also attempts to offset consumption and the environmental impact the building has.

Control of technology is quite a popular subject with many films which happen to be in my list of personal favourites. Of course the plots are fictional but there is also an element of realism involved. Two favourites of this sci-fi/thriller genre are IRobot and the Terminator series which focus on the subject of technology taking over and the dangers of allowing technology to do so. Terminator 3 in particular involves SkyNet, an international network whichis used to combat security problems. I won’t spoil the ending just incase you haven’t seen the film but let me just say – SkyNet itself was not meant to be trusted.

Okay the stories of IRobot and Terminator are just that – stories. However, it is a real sign pointing towards how our world could be controlled purely through technology – a worrying thought maybe? Let me know your views via Twitter, the comments below or via email.

It’s been a long time coming but I’m back blogging after quite a bit of work on other projects and things I’ve been meaning to catch up on for quite a while.

One of these things was to head up to Dartmoor National Park to put my camera through its paces and also just to take some time out of my usual trips to bustling towns or sitting at my computer working away. Dartmoor itself easily has to be one of my favourite places in Devon simply because of its tranquil surroundings and the sense that in many parts of the moors, noone is around for miles.

So I seized my chance after watching the Korean F1 live at 6am, grabbed my camera and tripod and headed out the door. The drive itself through to the moors is an interesting one as my chosen route passes through Buckfastleigh and snakes around until you reach Dartmoor itself.

After passing through and taking a few shots at Dartmeet and (another place), I moved onwards to other parts where there weren’t quite so many people (it was a Sunday after all; lots of families and couples around etc) and parked up just on the outskirts of Princetown before snapping some pictures of the wildlife of the moors – including the infamous dartmoor ponies!

Of course, Dartmoor can be a very different place almost each time you visit and certainly at different points in the year. For example a few years ago I went up there with my family to take some photos for an A-Level Photography project I was working on. It was bitterly cold but bearable!

A few weeks later and snow had covered almost every inch of the grassland there when I drove up again with my dad. People were still enjoying themselves though as they always do – sledding and throwing snowballs.
I’d like to make the trip up there again sometime before the year is out, and especially if another snowfall hits the region. Dartmoor isn’t just a unique place for landscapes and the place for hiking and walks, but a treasure to the South West and one which will always remain as a special place to me.

To see my photography of Dartmoor, just click here to jump through to my Flickr page. And, if you have any interesting imagery of your own, please feel free to share via my Twitter, email or within the comments below.

Just a few hours ago, the technology website Ebuyer released details of a monumental sale which saw their website crash, leaving thousands of frustrated customers constantly staring at blank screens and failure notices. The original link came directly from their Facebook page as the firm promised that those who “liked” their personal page would gain access half an hour earlier than the rest of the online-buying community, so as to gain a head-start with the buying.

However, that isn’t exactly how it worked in practice. Shortly after 11am the website was taken offline momentarily, with many (including myself!) hoping to grab a bargain and instead being faced with error messages due to the server overloading under the sheer weight of visitors. The power of Facebook? Quite possibly.

Many social networking tools are used on a daily basis by companies and individuals alike to keep their followers or members updated with the latest happenings either within their lives or the lives of others; commenting on news stories and general gossip. With so many people around the world using these websites, it’s no wonder that the strain is too much to bear for even the likes of Twitter and Facebook themselves.

Recently, the sad announcement of the death of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of computer giant Apple and many other ventures including Pixar instantly crashed Twitter as people began to tweet and re-tweet messages between each other. Of course, any big news story such as this is highly likely to put immense pressure on any infrastructure, but most notably social networking systems due to their seemingly unique and interweaved system with other services.

Perhaps companies should unleash their products and services on social networking including special offers; but maybe a thought should be spared for their existing websites and servers which are quite often not able to take the load. Yes, social networking is a fantastic communication and marketing tool; a direct connection to consumers if you will, but surely there are times when companies must also ask the question – “can we really cope with the intake?”

As for Ebuyer and in their defence, a message from the Managing Director was issued as soon as possible which described the problem and included a promise of “plenty more promotions in the future” – full message here.

Let me know your views on the subject in the comments or via Twitter (ironically!).

Red Bull, one of the most successful energy drinks companies in the world are not only conquering the drinks market but also many areas of the sports industry including Formula 1 and extreme sports. However, now the company is turning its attention to animation and enlisting the help of animators and designers to produce a two-minute video featuring their iconic blue and silver can.

So, the entries have now been made and awaiting the decisions of millions of visitors to Vimeo and the dedicated Red Bull voting website on canimation.redbull.co.uk.

The categories for Red Bull Canimation are CGI, Drawn and Stop Motion, with the prizes including software and a top-of-the-range laptop as well as placements for some of the industry’s leaders in CGI and 2D animation – The Mill, Aardman Animations and 12Foot6.

Of course, being a keen animator and graphic designer myself, I have entered the compeition with my own entry entitled “Bul and Can” which was designed in Adobe Photoshop and animated using Adobe Flash. To view my entry and vote for it (shameless plug!) please visit http://bulandcan.psychobeing.co.uk which will then re-direct you straight through to my entry. Then when you arrive, please like, comment or share it with the nation! Thank You!

Have any comments on my entry? Please feel free to leave them on my video itself. For more information on Red Bull and the Canimation competition, simply visit canimation.redbull.co.uk