A virtual chatterbox
October 25, 2006 Posted by Woodsy in : Wireless, Computer science, Bristol, Technology , add a commentRecent visitors to Bristol Wireless’ chat channel will have noticed a new user - eggzy - in addition to the usual suspects. When you log in, eggzy’s there with a friendly greeting for you, but unlike everyone else on the channel, eggzy isn’t human.
In fact, eggzy is an IRC bot, originally developed by EggHEADS.org, and performs a number of useful functions, including a searchable knowledgebase and recording users’ last visits (very handy for hunting those hard to find people); eggzy can also learn stuff too, which then gets added to the knowledgebase. Martin Cosgrave, who is looking after eggzy, tells me that he’s continuing to work on eggzy to make him friendlier and more useful. He also told me of one bot he came across that performed a play in its own channel window and, if anyone dared to talk during the show, a virtual usher would politely tell them to keep quiet.
If you’d like to experience eggzy yourself, you need to add the following information to your IRC client (e.g. Gaim, XChat, Trillian, mIRC, etc.):
- Server: irc.psand.net/6667
- Channel: #clan
Alternatively, you could always use the link at the head of this article and the chat channel will appear in your web browser.
A long half-day in the life of Bristol Wireless
October 10, 2006 Posted by Woodsy in : Digital Challenge, Wireless, Bristol, Community Media, e-society , add a commentIt’s midday when I arrive at St Werburgh’s Community Centre and the Bristol Wireless lab is a hive of activity. All told, there are half a dozen volunteers in attendance before dispersing to various tasks.
After a while things quieten down a bit. Lloyd, our network engineer, has been joined by Matt Zero (we have several Matts, all numbered for convenience) and together they disappear off to the top of Twinnell House to do some work with our hardware in the lift room at the top of the block.
Ronnie Corbett, the warden of Princess Royal Gardens in Redfield arrives; he departs again with our Polish volunteer Michael and a new LTSP server for the residents’ common room. Later they’re followed by Everton who’s offerred to assist.
The lab is a bit emptier now. Who’s still there?
Installation of a Public Wi Fi (802.11x) Network
September 30, 2006 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Digital Challenge, Wireless, Bristol, Bristol City Council , 5 commentsBristol City Council has issued the following Expression of Interest. Please bring this notice to the attention of anyne who you feel might be interested
Installation of a Public Wi Fi (802.11x) Network
Bristol City Council invites suppliers to submit an Expression of Interest to invest in the installation and provision of a non-exclusive public wireless network. Initially the network will be deployed in Bristol city centre but is also a council priority to ensure equal access to wireless connectivity in
outlying city neighbourhoods.
The installation of the network would be at the supplier’s cost and risk. Bristol City Council will negotiate over non-exclusive access to its street furniture, buildings, future services and joint marketing linked to community benefits.
To download the service specification and submission requirements visit
www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/wifi
If you are interested in being considered please write to: -
Mr Stephen Hilton
Connecting Bristol Lead
Bristol City Council
Council House
College Green
Bristol BS1 5TR
Or e-mail your proposal to stephen_hilton@bristol-city.gov.uk
The proposal should be returned by 16/10/2006 12.00 noon. Should you wish to arrange a discussion of an outline of your proposal or if you require further details contact Stephen Hilton tel: 07795446286 or email stephen_hilton@bristol-city.gov.uk
Bristol Mediascape technology used across the world
September 19, 2006 Posted by Clare in : Wireless, Community Media, News , add a commentOn Friday 15 September, HP Labs, Bristol staged the first Mediascape conference, an event which brought together people from around the world who have downloaded the Mobile Bristol mediascape authoring tool.
From tourist guides to health-related games, the tool helps users to create applications that overlay digital experiences (sounds and images) onto physical environments. Since the authoring toolkit has been available it has been downloaded as far afield as Australia and Japan.
From Odense in Denmark to Yosemite in California, The Mediascape Conference featured applications that used the tool within heritage, education, community and artistic installations as well as interactive games.
The tool has also been widely used with a school and community setting - participants were treated to a glimpse of the work of children from schools in Belfast, who had collaborated with researchers to create social and personal histories of the Titanic.
In the Southville area of Bristol a local group have not only created their own mediascapes about wartime memories of Bristol but have set up a loan scheme for equipment to encourage others to create their own mediascape eperiences.
At lunchtime, attendees of the conference were invited to experience ‘ere be dragons’ one of the first games to be created in the new medium which used location and heart rate sensors to encourage excercise and determin the game’s outcome
Bristol’s Futurelab also announced the recent launch of www.createascape.org.uk, a mediascape creation website for schools which provides a resource for pupils and teachers to encourage use of the toolkit and the exploration of the new medium for education.
Finally, HP Labs, Bristol described the forthcoming release of the latest full version of the toolkit this autumn which addresses many of the limitations of its predecessor.
