Podcast

There is an audio interview about Processing with Casey Reas and Ben Fry for free download at Floss; this is a weekly podcast on open source projects. My thanks to Rob Spain for alerting me to this.

Progress-blogs and chunks

I have now received 7 chunks for the book, all range from very good to excellent. Could all of you have not created a blog do so and send me details. Also, if you could select a chunk by the end of Feb at the latest that will be really useful. Ira Greenberg is hoping to come down to the department for a day of computer art and we may be able to webcast him or at least do a YouTube video.

The run up to Christmas

I will be looking at the email this week two or three times. However, normal service will be reduced over the Christmas holiday (23rd Dec to 2nd Jan). During the holiday I will take quick glances at the email. If you want me to answer please mark the email as URGENT.

Could I wish you all a good holiday and a really enjoyable Christmas. Your participation on this project has made me feel really humble.

I'm away

I shall be away for four days from Monday and will answer any queries next weekend.

The second computer program

I have been asked about the second computer program (the free-standing one). This is is a program that illustrates the concepts that you have described in the chunk that you have volunteered for. The key thing here is to make it look really glitzy. Remember there will be a prize for the best three.

Draw on any tools that have been taught in previous chunks, but back reference them in the comments to the program. We do not want any text for this, just comment the program where you think necessary. Good luck.

Safari

The library has asked me to point out a few things about Safari.

How many sections can any user print before Safari considers this "unreasonable use"?
There is no page-number limit on printing. As long as no automated software is used to download entire books, users won’t be locked out. With that in mind, Safari is not intended to be a tool with which users can print entire chapters or books. A statement on usage is available within the site.

You can print page by page. Will Safari detect you if you print page after page after page (as I know it will if you used automatic software to download sections)?
No, there is no detection of pages printed, but users of Safari are expected to follow standard "fair use" definitions. More detail can be found at this link ; however there isn't a specific rule on number of pages that can be printed.

Is it possible to download and print all the chapters of books in Safari?
Safari is a reference service and is not intended to be a replacement for purchasing the book if someone wants to have it on the shelf. Furthermore, if someone does try to systematically download every page of a book the system will consider it abuse and shut down the abuser's session.

Another project

The department is in the initial stages of planning another mass collaboration project. This time we are trying to get students to write a major piece of music. Currently we hope that we would get students to write a string quartet piece, a mass and something modern like a five minute hip-hop extract. It's early days yet and we need to do some planning, but keep a look out on this site in the new year.