Andys Black Hole

Long Way Back

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 17:24:00 +0000

Its been a while but the blog is back . It may not stay on the same platform but Andysblackhole is definitely back .

The Tech will still be there as will

TechForGood
NotForProfits CIC
Accessibility
Environment
Outdoors.

watch this space

#DFN in ultra events aka #atleastyousteppedup

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 07:43:00 +0000

Two friends of mine in different Ultra event event have experienced the DFN (Did Not Finish) in the last week .
The two events the Lakeland 100 and the London-Edinburgh-London Cycling event . The former dropped out after 107km ( 60 miles ?) with bad feet and rubbish weather the latter at 400 miles plus with a knee injury .
Wells chaps bloody well done epic effort . Ultra's are just that "ultra's" no amount of training physical and mental can control what happens . They are by there very nature on the edge (of do'able or lunacy ). To be honest stuff happens . What you have done and tried (and no I wont say failed to do ) is extraordinary . The tiredness the effort that makes you verge on the edge of hallucination is a brave places to visit . In a ultra you visit that place in the bad patches and stay there . The analogy I use is put your your hand on a hot plate and keeping it there .
To call DFN failure is wrong is because the biggest challenge in a ultra is getting your head in the right place to get to the start line . The rest of humanity is #DNS (Did Not Start) .
I heard of the valiant efforts over the early part of the week and reflected on it and then amazing Mike Wesch of the ground breaking (machine is us/ing US)

posted the video on his youtube channel .reflections of students from his latest class the video especially the last moments explain about what you gain from going to dark places and then emerging in the sunshine . If youve never been in those places you never fully appreciate the sun on your back

So Both of you Live with decision not the regret , learn from it Regroup and start looking for the next challenge .

I will leave Words from the 24 hours of Moab dirt bike race in the USA describe whats its like ....

"Somewhere during the night you will hear a voice say, "Why am I doing this? I am never doing this again!" Look forward to this voice. Welcome it. Laugh at it. Embrace it. Look forward to hearing it again next year. Just know that it will come and that you will ride past it and be stronger when it fades into the shadows."

-- Chris Tirpak, 4x Sufferer of Canaan and Moab

Youve heard those voices and learnt to laugh oh so loud at them for the joy of being alive!!
Enjoy the sunshine !!

Great work

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 07:30:00 +0000

Yesterday my youngest while on work experience for a conservation organisation working in the urban area of ipswich had his securely locked up bike nicked . Secure in a locked garage padlocked with a quality lock to a work bench . The thieve broke down the door and sawed through substantial wooden bench to nick the bike .
Well whoever nicked it well done its an expensive bike you will get a £10 down the pub or on the street for .

Hope your proud nicking a bike a lad saved his cash for added Schwalbe Marathon plus tyres New Selle seat etc via our lovely friends at Elmys bike shop to make a touring/sportiv machine. Picture above of said bike on a recent epic C2C.

Well Ive got news for you take a long look at yourself and realise that lad has more spirit than youve ever had .

He will save for a new bike carry on helping other and just doing good . He has learnt the lesson that took me his dad 30 years plus to learn this little gem from a place mat at the cafe at Lower Horton on the C2C sums it up.

Theyve also inspired me to start blogging again on.

Tech for good

Outdoor Stuff

Challenge and Adventure

Virtuous square "quadblogging"

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:44:00 +0000

As a blogger with chequered history back to 2005 really interested how blogging in the educational context has taken off yet again and a project without doubt the biggest impact currently is The Quaddblogging concept developed by David Mitchell if you dont know what it is watch the video and visit the site at http://quadblogging.net/ and if you like it sign up to be involved.

If you need an explanation watch this great video produced by pupils in Mrs. Yollis’ class in Los Angeles, Mr. Salsich’s Class in Connecticut, Class B4 in New Zealand and Class 2KM and 2KJ Leopold School, Australia: all vetran quadbloggers

One small step for a profession a giant step for .................................

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:19:00 +0000

Has the world changed and are learners different as usual you decide but this report from the US has kicked off the debate and got me on the blog again. The report "Take a Giant step ; a blueprint for teaching the digital age has got me on the blog again http://joanganzcooneycenter.org/Reports-31.html . That @bobharrisonset has via his Stanford links brought this to mine and twitters attention . No comment from me but worth a read and maybe a reflection on your experience and practice . Thanks as always Bob for sharing and challenging the status quo

Glastonbury Breaks Mobile Data Records

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:37:00 +0000

Mobile data at Glastonbury its now an amplied augmented festival pardon the pun .

http://www.mobilemarketingmagazine.co.uk/content/glastonbury-breaks-mobile-data-records

CoSN Releases Horizon Report: 2011 K-12 Edition Toolkit

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:32:00 +0000

Interested in implementing strategies in education realiting to emerging technology and trends. From COSN New Media Consortium this is a good place to start

http://www.nmc.org/news/nmc/8562

follow up up to report of K12 released earlier in the year http://www.nmc.org/news/nmc/8540

Kogeto Dot, A Snap-On iPhone Lens That Shoots 360° Video | Co.Design

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:26:00 +0000

Kogeto Dot, A Snap-On iPhone Lens That Shoots 360° Video | Co.Design: "- very cool 360 degreee lenses set up IPhone 4 . Loads of educational sporting uses for this little device

watch the video the software is the really clever

Oyster used in cashless catering in Lewisham schools

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:19:00 +0000

Great story from Merlin Johns blog http://www.agent4change.net/innovation/innovation/977-oyster-on-menu-for-lewisham-cashless-school-dining-.html

about how Lewisham are using Oyster card technology in Schools for cashless catering . Great story and great use of widely avaiable technology the next step especially in many non oyster areas will be use of NFC enabled devices mobile phones etc. The idea of the wallet on the phone is more clever than that because you can sub divde your wallet . so for example some for spending on specific things and others for more general expenses . But well done to Tom and his team and a good story Merlin.

Principals Call for Mobile and Social Technologies in Schools

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 25 May 2011 05:57:00 +0000

Interesting article on call by National Association of Secondary School Principals for use of mobile and social media in schools http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/05/23/principals-call-for-mobile-and-social-technologies-in-schools.aspx as always you decide ?

List of museums on twitter

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 06:38:00 +0000

worth a look.
interested in museums ?

List of 1500 musseums on twitter this might be of interest.
worth a look.
interested in museums ?

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AmF108YbYqVUdEpiVmlBR2RGZ0pValpvMkNGVHBQUmc&hl=en

slow death of SMS or excessive profits from Data by Vodafone in Europe. Data revenue exceeds that from SMS.

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:47:00 +0000

At the launch of the HTC Sensation vodafone let slip that, for the first time, mobile internet revenue for the carrier has exceeded SMS revenues. The news marks a significant milestone in the European mobile segment, which has historically seen particularly strong SMS revenues.

Now is that the phenomenally popular SMS is on the decline or is the growth of data traffic through either smart phones or 3g enabled laptops and laptop dongles . Or dare I suggest ( you decide) that data is still unusually expensive.

Plymouth e-learning conference 2011 has the virtual and the real finally become blurred !

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Just reflecting on the inspring Plymouth e-learning conference . I was a active participant 3 planned session on looking at gadgets and Gizmo's and extra added one to fill a gap on day three .
the additional session was a chance to show the work @Geoffstead and I delivered last week at mobile conference in Bremen Mobile learning isn’t one flavour or one approach it’s a whole grocery store. It was a bit on the fly but participants seemed to get value from it.

Mobile learning isn’t one flavour or one approach it’s a whole grocery store <p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;div style='padding:5px 0 12px'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;View more &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href='http://www.slideshare.net/'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;presentations&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; from &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href='http://www.slideshare.net/andyjb'&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Andy Black&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; ?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/div&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

I also did a lovely panel with Shelley Terrell, John Davitt and Peter Yeoman . great event high points John Davitts and Stephen Heppell's keynote but also great work by the like of @simfin (aka Simon Finch).But what really struck the back channel was at times the front channel and vice a versa and this is the first event when I have seen this occur. Exceptional conference and exceptional networking be definitely back next year with the failure confessional slot care to join me

MobiMOOC

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:02:00 +0000

Really please to be invited by my fellow mobile learning protagonist Inge De Ward . To be one of the course team on Mobi Mooc Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) about mobile learning . Its a pretty impressive line up if you ignore my inclusion. The details are

Topics and facilitators?
Week 1: Saturday 2 April – 8 April 2011: Introduction to mLearning;
Facilitator: Inge ‘Ignatia’ de Waard

Week 2: Saturday 9 April – 15 April 2011: Planning an mLearning project;
Facilitator: Judy Brown

Week 3: Saturday 16 April – 22 April 2011: Mobile for development (m4D);
Facilitators: Niall Winters and Yishay Mor

Week 4: Saturday 23 – 29 April 2011: Leading edge innovations in mLearning;
Facilitator: David Metcalf

Week 5: Saturday 30 – 6 May 2011: Interaction between mobile learning and a mobile connected society;
Facilitator: John Traxler

Week 6: Saturday 7 – 13 May 2011: mLearning in k12;
Facilitator: Andy Black

What really cool is the MOOC concept Its a Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC.
I've got to say looking forward to it hugely . Great video from Dave Cormier ( his blogs worth a read to !) http://davecormier.com/edblog/2010/12/20/moocs-knowledge-and-the-digital-economy-a-research-project/

a website has recently appeared as well http://www.mooc.ca/index.html

Following in the steps of some serious pioneers Stephen Downes, George Siemens, Dave Cornier .

Dave Cormier has done a great video on success in MOOC

The whole thing is really challenging the way I think about learning and sharing and putting the message across or more importantly listening to the evolving conversation .

Come and help me out and join the conversation at MobiMooc join the Wiki and the Google group details on the wiki at http://mobimooc.wikispaces.com

Mole project surfaces

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:13:00 +0000

Just been made awre of the Mole Project now being visible http://www.mole-project.net/about-us

MoLE (Mobile Learning Environment) is about using a global cellular network and mobile devices to deliver and share learning between U.S. and multi-national partners.

Initially, the project will focus on the reconstruction of healthcare and associated services in areas of conflict or natural disaster (known as 'medical stability operations', or MSOs).

well worth a look interesting !

Also as a unexpected bonus great reports link page at http://www.mole-project.net/research

including What in the world are you doing with your mobile phone?

http://www.mole-project.net/images/documents/research/world_differences_in_the_use_of_mobile_phones.pdf

plus various GSMA and ITU reports.

ProSPER.NET-Scopus Young Scientist Award in ICT for Sustainable Development: Call for nominations and applications

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:10:00 +0000

Youth Scientist in sustainable development Award

The ProSPER.Net-Scopus Young Scientist Award (YSA) in Sustainable Development is given annually to young scientists, based in the Asia-Pacific region, who have made significant contributions in the area of Sustainable Development.

In line with its mission to further the development and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to address the pressing global challenges of sustainable development, UNU-IIST seeks ways promote research in this important new area. This year, therefore, the YSA includes a special category in ICT for Sustainable Development. The award in ICT for Sustainable Development is intended to spur research in this area by promoting the careers of outstanding young scientists and inspiring others through their example.

Nominations and applications are open starting 01 March 2011 and will close at midnight GMT on 30 April 2011. Late submissions and incomplete applications will not be accepted. As part of the judging process, the top three finalists in each category will be sponsored to present their work in a public symposium to be held the first week of July 2011 at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. For more details of the award and application process, follow this link

Create, Share, and Track QR Codes

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:34:00 +0000

Is it me or this brilliant qr code and URL shorteners that's sleek and lean. Thanks to Tom Barret John Davitt and numerous other for pointing it out

Create, Share, and Track QR Codes

02 Telefonica to support M2M market

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:35:00 +0000

Basically about sim enabled devices talking to each other . Be that smart meters (200000 sims in meters planned) . This is only the start exciting times ahead .
http://ht.ly/4aOvz this is the next branch of mobile ois it fixed smart !!

Online Educa Berlin 2010 post conference report

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:57:00 +0000

Nice to see the post conference report of Online Educa Berlin 2010 published my slot in the Online Educa Berlin debate as a late substitution due to a snow bound Donald Clark being unable to to make it . Interesting debate oh yes and my debating team won ! Photo of me on page seven with a 10 metre high projected image behind is scary. But other photo's in report are really good !

Report to download can be found at http://www.online-educa.com/pdf/post-conference-report/2010.pdf
Go on have look

Decade of storage falling cost of memory

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:24:00 +0000

Outlining the falling cost and change of technology in storage over the last decade well worth a look .

The humble USB is over 10 years old !!

Online Storage

Tribal Labs

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:32:00 +0000

As a solo blooger I always admire those that get a collective presence together. I also like people working for commercial companies who are encouraged to blog. So I was delighted to come across tribal labs with a impressive list of contributors who all happen to work for Tribal

Geoff Stead
Ben Smith
Chris Ballard
Gustavo Hartmann

With Themes of

Business intelligence
Knowledge Management
Learning technologies
Mobile Technology

With initial posts on HTML5 (yep its going to be big), Market share on a global scale in mobile all seems useful to me.

Tribal labs can be found at http://www.triballabs.net/

So it seems one to follow so your in my rss reader .

Nice one !

Mobile presentation at Connnecting Online 2011 web conference

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:09:00 +0000

This evening had pleasure at presenting Mobile presentation at Connecting Online 2011 web conference organised by http://integrating-technology.org/; Thanks to Geoff Stead for loaning me one or two slides !

Near and far contemplating (nfc)

View more presentations from andyjb.

Interesting United Nations report on E-goverment

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Interesting report on lots of levels the interesting is how certain nations are leap frogging up the table using mobile technologies. Also highlighting gains in this area when governments invest in it !

Read full report at http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan038851.pdf or summary web page http://govinthelab.com/the-2010-united-nations-e-government-survey/

So the change begins

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:29:00 +0000

O2 redefines Wi-Fi landscape with launch of O2 Wifi

So its not the biggest thing since ***** whatever but it is a huge leap forward. O2 need to be congratulated for this brave step it will build there consumer base i believe as an unexpected consequence .

But anybody giving us more free wifi anywhere is worth giving a round of applause . I choose where I drink my coffee by if its got good coffee and Wifi I might do the same for shopping .

Part of press release says
"O2 is aiming to create a scaled Wi-Fi platform that will be at least
double the number of premium hotspots currently offered by BT Openzone
and The Cloud combined by 2013. It will begin rollout immediately by
replacing its existing 450 Cloud hotspots in its retail and office
estate. It will continue to extend the reach and scale of O2 Wifi
through partnerships with strategic venues, to include shops,
restaurants, retail outlets and outdoor and indoor locations across the
UK. "

read more at http://news.o2.co.uk/Home-Page-Body-Announcement/O2-redefines-Wi-Fi-landscape-with-launch-of-O2-Wifi-2e9.aspx

100 $ smartphone huaewei IDEOS launched in Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (andy black) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:57:00 +0000

well its only $100 its got 3.2 mega pixel camera wireless (n) , 512mb ram memory 4gb of rom memory , running android 2.2 touch screen and by the way its a phone and at $100 an amazing prize . have read about its launch in Kenya at

http://www.kachwanya.com/2011/01/huawei-ideos-the-worlds-first-affordable-smartphone-launched-in-kenya/
what is more amazing is about a year ago there were 3 million internet users in Kenya and that increased to about 7.5 million users now !