Grant

Creating an auto-answer, wireless intercom using Arduino and a SIM900 GSM shield

I was recently commissioned to build a custom intercom system for a friend’s interactive installation. The plan was for it to use professional mics to relay voice signals over a long distance – potentially anything from a few meters to a few miles. The long-range requirement made radio mics a poor choice. Long range two-wayContinue reading “Creating an auto-answer, wireless intercom using Arduino and a SIM900 GSM shield”

My first opinion column in The Herald

For around four years, alongside my design, technical and project management role at Herald & Times, I did a fair bit of writing for the papers. All of my columns were about gadgets or software: I wrote around 200 gadget reviews and occasionally did some comment pieces around product launches like the iPhone and iPad.Continue reading “My first opinion column in The Herald”

Paywall success: HeraldScotland breaks through 10,000 subscribers

In Jan 2013 I took over responsibility for design, technology and subscriptions on Herald Scotland and our other news and magazine sites. In that first year we did a lot to improve the subscription experience, technology and security – a focus that continues today. Yesterday we announced a milestone event, with HeraldScotland passing 10,000 payingContinue reading “Paywall success: HeraldScotland breaks through 10,000 subscribers”

Using Excel as a web CMS

I was recently tasked with developing a CMS for quizzes and personality tests. On the face of it the requirement was pretty straightforward: a bunch of web forms that would allow users to create and host their own online quizzes and tests. I’d already completed the ‘front end’ part of the task with my JSFiddle-basedContinue reading “Using Excel as a web CMS”

HeraldScotland wins commendation at the UK Online Media Awards

The annual Online Media Awards, organised by The Drum, took place in London on Wednesday night. We received a commendation in the Best Commercial Innovation category, a recognition of the class-leading steps we’ve taken to build a metered paywall that is both secure and easy to access for search engines and aggregators. The changes weContinue reading “HeraldScotland wins commendation at the UK Online Media Awards”

Clap-o-meter (applause meter) free download for PC and Mac

Last weekend Prof Richard Wiseman tweeted that he was looking for a software-based clap-o-meter (otherwise known as an applause meter) that would work on a Mac. Does anyone know of, or could make me, a clap-o-meter (fun applause meter), that works on a mac? Richard Wiseman (@RichardWiseman) June 1, 2014 I had a quickContinue reading “Clap-o-meter (applause meter) free download for PC and Mac”

Slippery: One-click, read-only, burner mailboxes

A few weeks ago I was playing with Glen Maddern’s site Dumb Domains, a site that suggests ridiculous domain names based on the new batch of gTLDs recently released. There were some funny ones in there – penis.coffee and lady.farm were two of the few printable ones – but after a couple of hundred aimlessContinue reading “Slippery: One-click, read-only, burner mailboxes”

Choosing a Dynamic DNS service

For the past 10 years or so I’ve been hosting my site from home on a custom Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP (WAMP) server. As well as the usual firewall rules and port forwarding required to host a server from a domestic cable connection, it’s necessary to run Dynamic DNS so that your URL can ‘followContinue reading “Choosing a Dynamic DNS service”

Slap Nigel Farage… virtually (2 million and counting)

Last week I had an idea for a wee online game/feature: the idea that we could (unscientifically) poll readers for/against Ukip by asking them to either slap Nigel Farage in the face or pat him on the back. Surprisingly, the idea was approved and I got to make the widget. Here it is… The widgetContinue reading “Slap Nigel Farage… virtually (2 million and counting)”

A busy week: Three new product launches in four days

This week my small dev team of three released three new products. Each of them have been weeks or months in development and it’s great to finally get them all out in the wild. The all-new HeraldScotland app This cross-platform app, based on Sencha Touch, is a huge leap forward for us both in performanceContinue reading “A busy week: Three new product launches in four days”