Category Archives: Uncategorized

Staff profiles and activity, Students, Uncategorized

MOOCs give taster to pioneering Computer Science degree

Academics from Goldsmiths, University of London have created two new Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to give students a taste of a pioneering web-based degree in Computer Science.

The two Moocs, entitled Introduction to Computer Programming and How Computers Work, are now available to students all over the world.

Delivered by online learning platform Coursera, the MOOCs are designed to prepare students for the world-first BSc in Computer Science which has been designed by Goldsmiths and is being offered by the University of London.

The Introduction to Computer Programming MOOC gives participants foundation skills to write computer programs in programming language, as well as learning to create 2D and interactive graphics.

Lead instructor Dr Simon Katan, Lecturer in Computing, said: “In Introduction to Computer Programming, learners will be approaching the fundamentals of code through practical and creative exercises, and also explore how coders think and feel. We’ve drawn on our many years of teaching experience to deliver some cutting-edge pedagogy including our code adventure game Sleuth.”

The How Computers Work MOOC is designed for learners who are proficient with computers, smartphones and the internet but wish to improve their understanding of how they work, or go on to study computer science.

On this MOOC, learners can acquire key computer skills that can be applied to word processing applications, e-commerce, the internet and websites.

Instructor and Senior Lecturer in Computing Dr Marco Gillies said: “I’m really excited to be working with the University of London and Coursera to create a new way of learning computer science for the 21st Century.

“We’re bringing together the best learning technologies and the best teaching techniques to create a fantastic computer science learning experience for anyone, anywhere in the world.”

He added: “How Computers Work will introduce you to some fundamental computer science concepts and you’ll find out how they apply to the kind of computer applications you use every day. It’s a great foundation for starting to study computer science, but it will also give you a better understanding of the technologies that are so important to modern life.”

Sam Brenton, Director of Educational Innovation and Development for the University of London’s distance and flexible learning programmes, said: “This is an exciting time for the University as it prepares to launch one of its most innovative programmes, the BSc Computer Science.

“We anticipate a very broad appeal for this degree programme from students all over the world; not just those working in the technical field but also those from other industries.”

This post was originally written by Tom Morgan for Goldsmiths News

Uncategorized

4-year funded PhD places in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence

partners

10 fully-funded studentships are available for 2015/16 entry in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI), to conduct cutting-edge research and train the next generation of researchers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs in digital games.

IGGI is a collaboration between three UK Universities: the University of York, the University of Essex and Goldsmiths College, University of London. IGGI PhDs will be based at their principal supervisor’s University site with travel to the other sites for team and training activities.

IGGI brings together 60 industrial partners from the UK games industry and related organisations (including Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, The Creative Assembly, Codemasters, Rebellion, TIGA, and more:  see www.iggi.org.uk/our-industrial-partners/. IGGI PhDs will have the opportunity to engage in placements at these partner organisations, as well as international research labs, during their PhD research.

In addition to conducting research with world-leading academics and industry partners, IGGI PhDs will participate in global game jams, co-organise and participate in an annual games symposium, and engage with industry-led seminars. They will also receive training from experts in Games Development, Games Design, Research Skills and a range of optional modules including AI, computer vision, human-computer interaction, storytelling, graphics, sound and robotics.

To contact potential supervisors directly see: http://www.iggi.org.uk/supervisors/ for a list), or we can help you to choose a principal supervisor from York, Essex or Goldsmiths based on your interests and background.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 30th January 2015. Shortlisting will take place on Tuesday 10th February and successful candidates will be contacted within 24 hours. Interviews will be held at the University of York on Friday 20th February, 2015.

For further information and details of how to apply go to www.iggi.org.uk.

Events, Inspiration, Students, Uncategorized

THE N0THING, SEEKING ANSWERS_   

elias-2

On 4th and 5th December C&R space in Deptford held performances of the work of  Elías Merino, Rian Treanor and Daniel del Rio with ‘three approaches to abstract computer-generated music’. They presented their project ‘The Nothing, Seeking Answers’ a multifocal installation, based on a set of unanswered questions, conceptual reflections and hermeneutics about abstract computer music and algorithmic composition.

The installation allowed for complete immersion within the varied soundscapes, set in darkness apart from the spill of light from the entrance, with the composers completely hidden from view.

Elías Merino, a composer and sonic artist presented an abstract composition of pure sine waves against,  distortion, fizzle and creeks, contrasting meditative sound against abrasive noise. He develops his work in computer-generated composition, electroacoustic music, soundscape and concrète sounds as an abstract and imaginary object away from the acoustic environment, processing sound through digital technology.

Uncategorized

Undergrads featured in the 1st International Web Audio conference

wac

Three of Goldsmiths undergraduate Music Computing students, Nevo Segal, Jakub Fiala and Hugh Rawlinson have had a paper entitled “Meyda: an audio feature extraction library for the Web Audio API” accepted in the international Web Audio conference at IRCAM sponsored by Mozilla.

WAC is the first international conference dedicated to web audio technologies and applications. The conference addresses research, development, design and standards concerned with emerging audio-related web technologies such as Web Audio API, Web RTC, WebSockets and Javascript.

This is a fantastic achievement for an Undergraduate project and the department are hugely proud.

WAC: http://wac.ircam.fr/

Uncategorized

CREATIVE MACHINE

Harwood:Wright:Yokokoji ‘Tantalum Memorial’, Harwood/Wright/Yokokoji

William Latham‘Mutation Space’, William Latham

Félix_Luque_Sánchez‘Different Ways to Infinity’, Félix_Luque_Sánchez

This major exhibition explores the twilight world of human/machine creativity in contemporary art, including installations of video and computer art, artificial intelligence, robotics and apps by twenty-five leading artists including well-known international artists, Goldsmiths staff and students.

The exhibition will feature international artists such as Naoko Tosa and Yoichiro Kawaguchi (Japan) Jon McCormack (Australia), Cécile Babiole (France) Félix Luque Sanchez (Belgium), Quayola (Italy) alongside leading artists from Goldsmiths and 2014 Lumen Prize gold and bronze award winners, Andy Lomas and Patrick Tresset and leading digital artists Memo Akten and William Latham.

Many of the works on show will be created live in the gallery using specially-designed hardware such as customised drawing machines, video projection, robots arms and 3D printers.

The show has been curated by Goldsmiths professors and artists William Latham, Atau Tanaka and Frederic Fol Leymarie.

Creative Machine reveals the interdisciplinary nature of computer art, with many of the artists collaborating with scientists in areas such as Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, Maths, Biology and Psychology. The artists showing use a range of novel technological approaches including machine learning, cellular growth simulation, fuzzy logic, organic structure mutation and automated aesthetic selection to create work, allowing them to explore new uncharted creative domains.

The artists are shown across six main themes: Mechanical Creative; Robotic Drawing and 3D Printing; Machine Image/Sound; Mutation Art; Pioneers and Critical Practice.

William Latham, Professor of Computer Art in the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths said: “The vision for the Creative Machine Exhibition is to show exciting works by artists who use original software and advanced technology in the creation of their work, often blurring the roles of the artist and machine in the creative process. The aim is also to coincide the timing of this exhibition with the current wider growth of public interest in digital art stimulated by such events as The Barbican Digital Revolution Exhibition.”

Professor Atau Tanaka added: “Goldsmiths Computing is proud to contribute to this digital revolution and take a lead in the debate about what defines digital art”.

Artists showing in the Creative Machine are: Memo Akten, Cécile Babiole, Daniel Berio, Damian Borowik, Paul Brown, Sean Clark,  Simon Colton, Brock Craft, Ernest Edmonds, Ian Gouldstone, Harwood/Wright/Yokokoji, Yoichiro Kawaguchi, William Latham, Lillevan, Andy Lomas Manu Luksch, Alex May/Anna Dumitriu, Jon McCormack, Parashkev Nachev, Vesna Petresin, Quayola, Félix Luque Sanchez,  Naoko Tosa, Peter Todd, Balint Bolygo and Patrick Tresset.

The opening of the exhibition is preceded by the Goldsmiths’ Human Interactive Conference, which explores human-machine interaction across computer games, neuroscience, psychology, robotics and computer art.

The exhibition is supported by The Arts Council England and the Enterprise Office at Goldsmiths.

#creativemachine
#humaninteractive

http://www.creativemachine.org.uk
http://www.humaninteractive.org.uk

 

william_4

BSc Digital Arts Computing, Careers, Inspiration, News, Uncategorized, Women in Computing

Not all bad for #womenintech

Ada Lovelace
image: Ada Lovelace

‘There aren’t enough messages to young women that technology is a fascinating area to work in, a fast-moving field, one that rewards hard work, an area where you really can change the world’ (Naomi Alderman, The Guardian, 

The media has been rife with stories lately about women in technology, or rather the lack of them. According e-skills, the number of women working in the tech sector has fallen from 17% to 16% in 2014.

There are numerous initiatives to increase the number of women in the sector from the classroom to big business, yet in the last ten years the number of women in key roles in the technology industry has remained roughly unchanged.

Yet despite the statistics there are causes for celebration. We have very recently celebrated Ada Lovelace Day, who at the start of it all – working in the 1800’s – produced the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine. Because of this, she is often described as the world’s first computer programmer…a woman!

In April this year, the US appointed a female chief technology officer which is inspiring women across the country to break the gender bias in the tech industry. Megan Smith was previously a vice president of Google[x] at Google. Smith has been one of the country’s leading advocates in the movement to get more women into tech jobs*.
(*http://www.wired.com/2014/09/megan-smith-cto/?mbid=social_twitter )

Closer to home, the BSc in Digital Arts Computing course at Goldsmiths has defied the odds and attracted a 65% female cohort this year. A key element of this programme is that it integrates technical programming skills, theoretical and historical conceptions of art into a distinctively computational arts practice. The programme is taught in an integrated way, with a mix of critical studies and computational arts practice elements across both the Art and Computing departments.

We still have a long way to go, but rather than looking at cold statistics, lets focus on the positive stories and inspire the next generation of women programmers.

#womenintech

 

Uncategorized

CREATIVE MACHINE

image (flyer)

On 6th November a major new exhibition exploring the twilight world of human/machine creativity will open at Goldsmiths, including installations, video and computer art, artificial intelligence, robotics and apps.

The show has been curated by Goldsmiths professors and artists William Latham, Atau Tanaka and Frederic Fol Leymarie.

The line up of artists includes Felix Luque whose recent work ‘Different Ways To Infinity’ installation focusses on the limits between scientific modelization and reality.

Full line up:
Memo Akten, Cécile Babiole, Daniel Berio, Balint Bolygo, Damien Borowik, Paul Brown, Simon Colton, Ernest Edmonds, Ian Gouldstone, Yoichiro Kawaguchi, William Latham, Andy Lomas, Manu Luksch, Alex May/Anna Dumitrui, Jon McCormack,  Parashkev Nachev, Vesna Petresin, Quayola,  Félix Luque Sánchez, Naoko Tosa, Peter Todd, Patrick Tresset, Harwood/Wright/Yokokoji 

Private View: 6—10pm

Thursday 6 Nov 2014

Open Daily: 10am—6pm, 7—14 Nov 2014
St.James, Hatcham Church Gallery Goldsmiths, University of London

www.creativemachine.org.uk