more about me

I’ve been working with online media since discovering the internet while studying Computer Science at Birmingham University, first as a hobby then latterly professionally.

I spent nearly four years working for the BBC – as technical co-ordinator of the Public Space at BBC Birmingham, where I’ designed and built large scale interactive exhibits , permanent and themed interactive displays and film – by originating ideas and producing or commissioning material in a variety of media.

I’ve worked as a technical editor, commissioning editor, and author on multimedia design books – including titles on Flash, Director, QuickTime and Final Cut – and I’ve also written for the press on topics such as music and culture in Birmingham. I currently write a blog for the Birmingham Post newspaper.

When building a system it’s my philosophy that the owners of the content should also own their own internet presence, and be able to control it as easily as possible — the internet is fast moving and you should be able to react without waiting for others. Training users on the proposed solution is always part of the plan.

At /blog you’ll find my thoughts and things I’ve found useful or interesting by way of “how people use the internet”.

There is another blog on this site, /ramblings, which is full of the random stuff that pollutes both my brain and the web (and sometimes one as the result of the other), expect nothing serious here.

I live in Birmingham – a city that historically has had a poor image, but I enjoy trying to change that. My blogging and general Birmingham noise-making led me to be listed as the “14th most influential person in the West Midlands” in this year’s Power 50 list.