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Events, News, Staff profiles and activity

Sept 2016: Goldsmiths Digital Bootcamp

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Ten hup! Time to get yourself in shape for the digital world of interconnected device computing. This summer we are running an eight-day Bootcamp suitable for anyone who wants to access contemporary digital culture more deeply.

Highly recommended for those without a technical background and about to embark on postgraduate course in digital humanities or even those who simply want to bring themselves up-to-date in a fast-moving digital world, this course covers the basics of computing from ‘what’s inside the box’ through to the basics of coding and Big Data.

Over the last three years this course has become the starting point for many careers at major newspapers, consultancies, NGOs, software startups, and social and public researchers. At less than a £100 per day this represents incredible value for such high-level training.

When: 10am-5pm Mondays-Thursdays (8 days)
Dates: 5-15 September 2016
Cost: £750

The course assumes only a basic knowledge of computer operating systems, word processing and the internet. Students have ample time to practice skills and experiment with tools and ideas. Daily self-assessment exercises allow students to gauge their own progress.

If you aren’t able to commit to the full course, we offer one-day (labs 3 and 4) and two-day (labs 5-6 and 7-8) standalone courses.

Lab 1: Lab primer and Computing basics
10am-5pm Monday 5 September 2016

An introduction to our working environment and the basics of computing, hardware and software. This day forms the base for a good understanding of later technical material and gets you started in the computing department labs environment.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use the resources offered by the computing department labs in a safe and efficient way in order to complete their study and coursework requirements
  • use the university’s virtual learning environment and computing department intranet servers in order to get information on their courses and submit their coursework for assessment
  • gain basic knowledge of computing history and internal computer organisation in order to identify the differences between hardware and software, manage resource requirements and fix common issues involved in contemporary networked computing.
  • identify the common hardware and software components of a modern computer and computer networks in order to manage those resources and work effectively at all times
  • use common computing units of measurement (Bits, MB, GB etc) in order to calculate sizes of informational units and thus transmit and store them in an efficient manner
  • set up their working environment for correct ergonomics in order to minimise physical harm and maximise efficiency
  • perform backups of their work in order to protect their digital work from loss or corruption
  • use the university’s computing support resources in order to overcome computing-related issues.

Lab 2: Desktop Skills (Mac OS X, Browser, Apps) 
10am-5pm Tuesday 6 September 2016

This day builds on day one and gives a detailed introduces the Macintosh operating system used in Goldsmiths Computing labs. The session then moves onto developing skills with common desktop apps including a variety of web browsers, spreadsheets, code editors and media editing tools. Although focussed on computing lab machines, those with laptops can bring them in and the tutor will give you guidance of setting them up for completing coursework.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use the software suite supplied by the computing department in order to research and complete coursework requirements
  • use advanced MacOS X and web browser skills in order to work quickly and efficiently on computing lab machines
  • use advanced web and desktop searching techniques in order to quickly find material relevant to their research or coursework
  • use the core functions of the Microsoft Office suite in order to manage data and complete coursework for submission
  • use advanced features of the Chrome web browser to profile and identify issues with web sites in order to design and build efficient and correctly coded web sites
  • use a code editor to write text or computer code in order to work on websites and software production
  • use an FTP tool in order to transfer files between machines
  • secure their computer and online resources in order to prevent loss or theft.

Lab 3: UNIX Fundamentals
10am-5pm Wednesday 7 September 2016

Also available as a one-day standalone course.

UNIX is a key technology of contemporary networked computing and is the world’s most popular operating system. Understanding how to use it and develop practical skills with it is the key to participation in the wider world of digital humanities, open source and creative and social computing.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use the Macintosh terminal program in order to enter UNIX commands
  • use the terminal program to perform basic file commands in order to manage files and directories
  • use the terminal program to connect to remote websites in order to use their resources or move files to them
  • use the terminal program to create code files and run a webs server in order to develop web resources for publication or perform research related analysis
  • use the terminal program to interact with the MacOS finder in order to work quickly and efficiently on web and coding projects
  • use Git version control soft are in order manage and protect code resources and digital assets.

Lab 4: HTML and CSS 
10am-5pm Thursday 8 September 2016

Also available as a one-day standalone course.

HTML and CSS are the basic digital languages of the current online and device-based computing era. By understanding the basics of HTML and CSS, students will be able to work at a higher level with a huge range of contemporary online resources such as WordPress, web site publishing, social media and digital mapping. This day serves as a basic introduction to this important markup and layout technology.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use a professional code editor to write correct HTML in order to build websites
  • use the Chrome browser inspector in order to identify issues with HTML or CSS
  • use a range of HTML tags in order to produce a basic web page with images, text and hyperlinks
  • use CSS in order to style and layout a page
  • use an FTP tool in order to put their work on a website
  • use Uniform Resources Locators (URLs) to provide links to pages.

Lab 5: Introduction to Programming with JavaScript I
10am-5pm Monday 12 September 2016

Labs 5 and 6 are also available as a two-day standalone course.

JavaScript has become the world’s most popular programming language and is available on almost every device that can run a web browser. From a relative novelty offering simple enhancements to web page it has grown to take centre stage not only as a technology for web pages but also for web apps and general command line programs. This course assumes that you have already have some basic knowledge of HTML/CSS and have already made your own web page (you will be asked to supply a URL) or have completed Lab 4.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use the Chrome developer tools in order to write JavaScript interactively, test commands and interact with existing web pages
  • use the HTML script tag in order to include JavaScript in their web pages
  • use the console.log statement in order to debug their programs
  • use variables in order to hold data or various types
  • use control structures and loops in order to manage the flow of execution in their program
  • use functions in order to encapsulate and reuse their code
  • use JavaScript Objects in order to build compound data structures.

Lab 6: Introduction to Programming with JavaScript II
10am-5pm Tuesday 13 September 2016

Labs 5 and 6 are also available as a two-day standalone course.

This day moves on from yesterdays basic introduction to talk more about how JavaScript objects are used through contemporary networked computing and using the Document Object Model (DOM) commands to interact with web pages and respond to user generated events. We also introduce the popular utility library jQuery that makes writing effective JavaScript easier for the beginning programmer.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use external files in order to organise your code and include third party libraries like jQuery or UIKit
  • use JavaScript objects in order to produce and consume common online data structures
  • use jQuery in order to simplify common programming tasks
  • use jQuery to animate HTML elements
  • use jQuery to retrieve and use web resources and include them in your web pages
  • use online resources in order to develop coding skills and overcome common programming errors.

Lab 7: Handling data with spreadsheets
10am-5pm Wednesday 14 September 2016

Labs 7 and 8 are also available as a two-day standalone course.

Spreadsheets are the basic tool of data analysis and investigation for a range of professions from social marketing through to data science. Good data handling skills are essential for the public researcher or marketer and in this course we cover the three central skills, sorting, filtering and pivots that are required to analyse data sets. Although our emphasis is on using Excel we will also look at using Google Sheets to perform the same level of analysis.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use shortcuts in order to navigate large data sets effectively
  • use correct formatting  in order to represent numbers, money and percentages
  • use formulas in order to calculate new columns
  • use formulas to calculate percentage change, rates and per capita values
  • use sorting in order to find outliers in data sets
  • use filtering in order to produce subsets of data for further analysis
  • use pivot tables to summarise and analyse data sets
  • use export and import functions to produce or consume other common file types.

Lab 8: Statistics with spreadsheets
10am-5pm Thursday 15 September

Labs 7 and 8 are also available as a two-day standalone course.

Data ‘evidence’ is the fundamental principle of many contemporary decision making processes in various levels of business or government. Whatever your opinions on this trend, a lack of data skills can hamper your engagement with the issues. Building on Lab 7, we look at the central principles of modern descriptive statistics such as measures of centrality and distribution. We also take a brief look at the world of inferential statistics and probability. Throughout the day we will use current data sets involving crime, health and the census.

Participants will learn how to:

  • use a spreadsheet to produce and check summary statistics from large data sets
  • use a measures of centrality in order to describe large datasets
  • use a spreadsheet to calculate measures of spread
  • use charts in a spreadsheet to do visual analysis of data sets
  • use a spreadsheet to perform basic trend analysis
  • identify tools to manage very large datasets used in Big Data.

Course tutor

andy-freemanAndy Freeman has 30 years of experience with corporates, startups, non-profits and arts organisations, from Apple Computers to Islington Council.

He now teaches award-winning students on Goldsmiths’ Digital Journalism, Digital Sociology, Creative Computing and Computer Science degree programmes.

Andy Freeman on LinkedIn

Register for Digital Bootcamp

Two-week course for £750

One-day courses for £150 each

Two-day courses for £275 each

Students registering for one-day and two-day courses will be required to attend their first day at 9.30am, in order to read through some notes on how to use the computing lab resources.

Careers, Events, Students

Wed 18 May: Careers in Computing

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This May, Goldsmiths Computing students are invited to our Computing Careers fair to meet potential employers and kick-start your career.

When: 1.00 – 4.00pm Wednesday 18th May 2016
Where: RHB 274, Richard Hoggart Building, Goldsmiths

As the academic year comes to a close, here is an opportunity for our students to meet employers from across the computing sector, including IT consulting, tech and software development. There will also be a chance to discover opportunities with design studios and other creative roles.

Confirmed exhibitors include Hewlett Packard, Euromoney, Sogeti UK, GradIT, QA Gateway and Vassit.

The event will include:

  1. an exhibition where you can meet employers on a one-to-one basis
  2. a programme of talks to give you an insight into developing relevant skills.

2.00-2.30pm – Shay Olupona, Hewlett Packard
Goldsmiths alumnus Shay Olupona will be discussing his experiences of the Hewlett Packard graduate scheme and his current role within one of HPs most high profile projects. He will give an insight into the industry from his perspective as a recent graduate and offer some advice for students looking to secure their first role, as well as tips for the HP application process.

2.30-3.00pm – Helen Kempster, Goldsmiths Careers Service
Helen will lead this session to help you think about how to put together a successful CV or application for the IT and computing sector. We will look at some examples, and you will get tips on how to make your applications stand out from the crowd.

This event is open to all Computing students, and is a collaboration between the Careers Service and the Department of Computing. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Helen Kempster.

 

Staff profiles and activity, Videos, Women in Computing

Staff profile: Sylvia Xueni Pan

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In this blog post, we profile the professional development Dr Sylvia Xueni Pan, who joined Goldsmiths in September 2015 as a lecturer and researcher in Virtual Reality.

In 2015, deputy head of Goldsmiths Computing Marco Gillies (who had been one of her PhD supervisors) invited Sylvia Xueni Pan to apply for a job at Goldsmiths. She had been with for University College London for 11 years, and was ready to move on. Sylvia had joined UCL for her Master’s in Computer Graphics after studying Computer Science at Beihang University, Beijing. She wanted to answer the question: Beyond mere entertainment, how can computer graphics benefit us?

For instance, she was interested in how socially anxious and confident men interact with a forward virtual woman.

The beginning of a conversation with an avatar

And it gets more personal

Some participants really enjoyed this experience, quite visibly

Continuing on this theme, Sylvia’s PhD research looked at how virtual reality systems might reduce social anxiety, language barriers and cultural difference (something she had experienced personally as a Chinese woman in London). For instance, she studied how the personality of an avatar (shy or confident) could influence our behaviour.

A subsequent post-doctoral position at UCL investigated how people respond when confronted with a moral dilemma in Virtual Reality. Her work was featured in BBC Horizon: Are You Good or Evil? (1’40” to 7’40”). (Related publications here and another here)

Her research interests pulled her towards psychology and neuroscience, resulting in post-doctoral positions at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (UCL), using VR to study the neuroscience of social interaction. Here, she discovered that we subconsciously copy an avatar when playing drums with her.

“But at UCL, the emphasis is on being brilliant at code. But there’s not enough creativity or appreciation of how code might be applied in the real world. I’m not so interested in the technical stuff – I’m interested in how it feels, and whether it works. So it made sense for me to come to Goldsmiths Computing, where creativity is really valued.”

At Goldsmiths, Sylvia teaches third-year and Master’s modules in Data Visualisation, Computer Graphics & Animation, first-year module Audio-Visual Computing, and second-year module Perception & Multimedia Computing. Part of her research interest is on building understanding between autistic and non-autistic people.

“There’s lots of work that tries to teach autistic people how to live in the non-autistic world. For example, at UCL I was working on a camera that can alert its users to emotional meaning by sensing facial expression. But I’m now more interested in teaching non-autistic people how to understand the autistic experience.”

At Goldsmiths, Sylvia is working with her students on VR environments that simulate what it’s like to be autistic. These tools can show non-autistic people what it is like to live in a world where sound affects vision, and where it is difficult to filter or prioritise sensory input.
She’s also keen to involve her students in this research.

She recently challenged her third year Computer Graphics students to create their own work that simulates autism for the non-autistic user. Some students were excited with this idea and decided to do their final year project with her. For instance, see this blog profile of one of her students’ project.

Alongside this, Sylvia has also been working with a team of philosophers, neuroscientists, and doctors on how GPs respond to medical dilemmas in Virtual Reality.

She is excited about the future of Virtual Reality and the unlimited applications in VR that would change our life in all aspects.

“Virtual Reality is going to revolutionise the way we teach, and more and more students will be excited about VR and motivated to pursue a career in this area.”

 

News

One more funded PhD in Intelligent Games & Game Intelligence

Could you be one of our next cohort of students who are putting advanced research ideas into digital games and finding ways to improve people’s lives using games technologies?

We have one more remaining 4-year studentships available for September 2016 entry, fully-funded to cover fees (Home/EU rate) and a tax-free stipend.

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI) is an exciting place for you to undertake PhD research, working with world-leading academics and top industrial games partners. We currently have 23 students working on research in areas including:

  • artificial intelligence
  • emotion and immersion in games
  • new ways to interact with games
  • applications such as using games to help neurological patients and to learn how children acquire language
  • intrinsic motivation in computational creativity
  • crowdsourcing solutions via gamification.

About IGGI

IGGI is a collaboration between the University of York, the University of Essex and Goldsmiths, University of London. We train the next generation of leading researchers, designers, developers and entrepreneurs in digital games.

IGGI gives you the chance to work on a focused research topic to extend the forefront of current knowledge in digital games technology and applications. IGGI gives you the opportunity to work with our industrial partners on your research, allowing you the possibility to contribute directly to the future of games. You’ll have the opportunity to undertake industrial placements during the programme. These give you first-hand experience of the gaming industry, contributing to your research, as well as giving you the skills needed to succeed in a career in the games industry or games research.

Our partners include organisations such as: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, The Creative Assembly, Codemasters, 22Cans, Eutechnyx, Roll7, Rebellion, Game Republic, UKIE, TIGA, The Knowledge Transfer Network, BT, Age UK and Sue Ryder. Your research work with partners like these will help to increase the use of games as a tool for scientific research and societal good, as well as creating more fun and profitable games that exploit research advances.

Your research will take up around 80% of your time, working closely with one or more expert supervisors. This research will be supplemented by a tailored teaching and training programme where you will develop games and undertake other activities in small teams with the other IGGI PhD students.

You’ll also develop through events such as:

  • the IGGI Games Jam, a 48 hour Game Development Challenge to enhance your skills in game design and development and teamwork. This is part of a global Games Jam, so you will be working with and competing against teams from across the world
  • the IGGI Symposium, a student-led event that is a showcase for student research alongside industry and academic speakers
  • industry days, where practitioners from industry share insights into their business and present real-world problems for teams to solve.

You’ll receive practical skills training from a range of academic leaders. Core modules include Games Development, Games Design and Research Skills.

You will have the opportunity to access cutting-edge advanced optional modules from all three institutions with topics such as:

  • Advanced Computer Vision
  • Multi-Agent Interactions and Games
  • Storytelling in Theatre, Film and Television
  • User-Centred Design
  • A.I. for Game Developers
  • Graphics and Geometry for Games
  • Understanding Social Media
  • Intelligent Systems and Robotics
  • Machine Learning and Data Mining
  • Media Theory.

Apply for IGGI

We have 11 fully-funded studentships to award to outstanding students that cover fees and an annual stipend of £14,057 (or £16,057 with London weighting if studying at Goldsmiths) for four years (at rates current for 2015/16; this may increase according to EPSRC minimum payments guidance). 3 studentships are available at Goldsmiths, University of London.

You can contact potential supervisors directly or we can help you to choose a principal supervisor from York, Essex or Goldsmiths based on your interests and background.

>> Apply here

Events, News, Students, Women in Computing

7-8 May: Anvil Hack 2016

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Get your energy drinks ready. Anvil Hack II invites students from around the UK to congregate in Hatcham St James (aka The Church) for our FREE annual 32-hour creative hackathon.

Organised by Hacksmiths, Goldsmiths’ student-run computing society, Anvil Hack II focuses on the creative applications of technology (this is not a prototyping session for your new startup). Use your skills to make something wonderful, arty, musical, or just plain old awesome.

We’ll provide you with space, food, drink, electricity and WiFi (thanks to support from Goldsmiths and Degeneration IT, plus sponsorship from Improbable and Chirp)  so that you can get on with the real work – making cool things!

When: 9.30am Saturday 7 May – 6.00pm Sunday 8 May 2016
Where: St James Hatcham, St James, New Cross, London SE14 6AH
Who: Any enrolled UK undergraduate or postgraduate student, or graduate less than a year out of university. Students will be required to show their student ID on arrival.
Tickets and info: anvil.hacksmiths.club // Register now

Hacker Ethic #5: “You can create art and beauty on a computer”
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

Inspiration, MA/MFA Computational Art, News, Students, Women in Computing

Aspen Art Award shortlists three Goldsmiths graduates

Three MA/MFA Computational Arts graduates have been shortlisted for the prestigious Aspen Online Arts Award 2016.

Angie Fang, Lior Ben Gai and Matilda Skelton Mace all graduated from Goldsmiths in 2015, following their degree show exhibition EXCEPT/0N.

angieAngie Fang is a UK-based Chinese digital artist who works in digital media, audio visual performance and interactive installations. Her online video work is created entirely in C++, making use of complex 3D OpenGL and digital signal processing techniques entirely of her own devising.

Her work focuses on the tension between sound, space and visual elements, and also the subtle experience between the technology synthesized and the reality. Her works, Nito , L-Pattern, Bud and Organic Flow were exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum; and the immersive installation Under the Water installed in Hotel Elephant gallery. Outside of her academic research, she also gained experience working for Studio XO and United Visual Artists. bongbongsquare.com

liorLior Ben Gai is an Israeli digital artist, working in various digital mediums since 2008. His work explores potential intersections between artificial life and synthetic biology, examining notions of ‘lab aesthetics’ whilst creating experiences that rely on his strong visual sense.

As an independent artist, Lior explores generative strategies and computational creativity to produce expressive software, animation and sound. He is emotionally drawn to computer generated graphics, strongly believes in project based learning and enjoys thinking about things he never thought about before. His commercial works include museum installations and exhibits, mobile games, web applications and custom interactive software. soogbet.net

matildaMatilda Skelton Mace is a London-based artist and designer, working with the building blocks of reality, space, light, and geometric form. She creates her own interactive systems in C, C++, Processing, Java and HTML5.

Her work features strong use of projection and materials to transform physical space, creating sculptural interactive digital artworks. She is interested in the ‘in between’, exploring ideas of implied, imagined and virtual space, the dissonance that can arise between real and virtual and the way we perceive it. This year she was shortlisted for the HIX Award 2015 and has exhibited at galleries, nightclubs and festivals. belikeotherpeople.co.uk

BSc Digital Arts Computing, Events, News, Students, Women in Computing

28-29 April: SYMBIOSIS Digital Arts Computing exhibition

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Please join us for the opening night party for Goldsmiths’ BSc Digital Arts Computing exhibition 2016.

Featuring work by 22 artists, the exhibition explores the symbiotic (and sometimes dysfunctional) relationship between technology and art.

The artworks – interactive installations, photography, painting and sculpture – investigate surveillance, antisocial networks, tattoos, cyber feminism, big data and the intimacy of human eye contact.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Opening night party: 5.30pm – 9.30pm Thursday 28 April 2016
Where: Hatcham St James (The Church), St James, London SE14 6AD
Exhibition continues: 10am – 7pm Friday 29 April 2016