Derry-based 360 Production Hits the Beeb

360 Production’s series Digging for Britain starts BBC2 this Thursday.

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Cast Your Vote in the Digital Circle Elections

If you’re a member of Digital Circle PLEASE make sure to cast your vote in the steering group elections.

The candidates include:

• Alan Anderson, Blue Tube Design and Creative Boom Belfast
  
• Ryan Adams, Future Media Delivery Team, BBC Online, Northern Ireland
  
• Caroline Connor, Business Development Manager @ Culture Northern Ireland
  
• Martin Gilchrist, Referalot Ltd, Gilchrist & Co (NI) LLP
  
• Mary McKenna, Learning Pool
  
• Ian Sayers, Giant Associates
  
• Matthew Scott, Digital Director, Ten Alps Vision, Ten Alps PLC

And as I’m sure you’ve noticed, there’s even one from the NW!

Derry Gets Its First Digital Champion

After a packed day of interviews on Tuesday, the Digital Derry project have appointed the city’s first Digital Champion – me.

There were some pretty cool people in for it so I’m kinda chuffed and looking forward to getting stuck in. Things don’t kick off officially for another week or so but it’s fair to say that there’s a helluva lot on the agenda.

First off, I’ll need to buy a costume and cape to go with the job title (underpants on the outside is apparently optional). After that, I’ll be sitting down with members of the digital action team (which includes some great local businesses alongside UU, NWRC, DCC, ILEX, LCC and any other acronym you can think of) to start planning what we’re going to do.

What I’m really interested in though is making the entire process as open and inclusive as possible.

As you might expect, I’ll be blogging just about everything as we go (with a new website to come) but I’m also keen to meet with absolutely anyone who’s interested in digital content in Derry and the NW. In short, we’re open for business and open to ideas.

I’ll put together a proper post soon – to fill you in a little on what the broad plans are for Digital Derry – but in the mean time, feel free to give me a shout anytime on Twitter, Facebook or by email.

Mark Nagurski

(NB: Any suggestions for a better job title will be warmly appreciated)

SHOWCASE: A free tech conference for the NW

Event: SHOWCASE
Website: www.showcaseconf.com
Date: September 16th, 2010
Venue: MF Building, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Derry
Time: Doors open 9am
Cost: FREE

What is it?

SHOWCASE is a free one-day conference showcasing fresh ideas in cloud, mobile and web-based apps taking place at the University of Ulster, Magee campus on September 16th.

The event features project demonstrations and product launches from twenty of the most exciting developers, startups and growing companies from across the region, alongside industry workshops from Microsoft, Ubuntu and others.

To learn more or to book your free place, visit www.showcaseconf.com

You can also apply to demo at SHOWCASE, to learn more go here

Deadline for VC Forum Applications

NISP CONNECT PRESENTS:

“VC FORUM”

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 30TH JULY, 2010

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Are you seeking funding for a high potential product or service? You have the opportunity to be connected with a number of active venture capital investors from the UK and Ireland.

NISP CONNECT is seeking up to 8 qualified applicants for the upcoming VC Forum, showcasing local entrepreneurs in the areas of Hitech, Biotech, CleanTech and Digital Media & Software to an exclusive audience of capital providers, from within and outside of the region.

Applications to present at VC Forum will be accepted from 15th June through 30th July 2010.

To submit an application for the VC Forum, Apply Here

(via SyncNI)

Volunteers Needed for Digital Derry Exhibition at City of Culture Event

Derry City Council have asked us to put together another small Digital Derry exhibition (like the one we did at Foyle Days) to take place at the Guildhall next Thurs + Fri around the announcement of the City of Culture winner.

Thurs 6-8:30pm in the Guildhall itself
Friday 11-5pm in outside marquee in Guildhall Sq

We need ideas and volunteers for both or either day:

• artists and illustrators who can work live (using for example a tablet and laptop) and have it displayed on a big plasma screen as they work – see the stuff Angela McBride did at Foyle Days for a good example
• games developers who want to showcase their stuff
• video people who can do some live video / vox pops interviews
• anything else even vaguely digital that you can think of …

Drop me a line to mark[at]ownbrandmedia.com if you would like to help out – and please pass it on.

A Fab Lab for Derry?

A group from MIT will be in Derry this week in search of a possible location for a ‘fab lab’ research centre.

If you’re wondering what a Fab Lab (short for fabrication laboratory) is you can find more info here and here – but as far as I can tell it’s a small workshop kitted out with the kinds of tools you’d normally only associate with mass production operations. So like a kick-ass shed that just happens to have laser cutters, 3D printers and such.

The idea is that access to these tools at the grassroots level can “empower individuals to create smart devices for themselves” and that “ordinary people [can] not just learn about science and engineering but actually design machines and make measurements that are relevant to improving the quality of their lives.”

Let’s hope they find a home for one here.

We’re on Facebook

If you’d like to keep up-to-date with digital happenings across the Summer, a quick trip to Facebook should do the trick.

Join the Digital Derry Facebook Group

New GPS travel services for Donegal unveiled this week

Local entrepreneur John Ward will be demoing his GPS travel service, navigatour™ at Harry’s Bar and Restaurant from 4-8pm on Wednesday 7th July.

Customers will receive a FREE download of the innovative service onto any sat nav device – Garmin, TomTom or PDA that is Windows Mobile enabled.

navigatour™ offers information (and sat nav enabled directions of course) on activities, attractions and accommodation in County Donegal as well as the hidden gems and the off-beat.

If you’ve got an MP3 enabled device, you can bring it along and get the upgraded audio tour, racontour™, featuring over 75 stories and anecdotes about Inishowen that kick in as you drive along. John will also be previewing the iPhone application for this service.

How to Raise Equity Workshop

Start-up companies across the island are being offered the opportunity to learn more about how to cash in on a €280,000 prize fund in the InterTradeIreland All-island Seedcorn Business Competition 2010.

InterTradeIreland’s equity advisers will talk about the benefits of entering the competition and how to prepare a business plan to attract potential investors during a series of free workshops.

In addition, a previous winner will talk about their own personal experience of the competition.

The Derry workshop takes place at 6pm on July 21st at Magee. The session lasts around an hour and refreshments will be provided. To register your interest, email sarah.sneddon@intertradeireland.com or tel 028 3083 4138.