Sessions at BarCamp Media City UK with write-up

Saturday 17th September 2011

• Talk: Programming should be taught in schools - discuss

  by Adam D King

  At 4:00pm to 4:20pm, Saturday 17th September

  Coverage video write-up

• BBC Codelab

  by Alan O'Donohoe

  Alan described some history of computer programming in school and the current circumstances.

  He then shared a vision called 'BBC Codelab' except in a 'fake it until you make it' approach he described it as a reality.

  Later he revealed that it was a hoax.

  At 4:30pm to 4:50pm, Saturday 17th September

  Coverage write-up

• Voice Recognition on your Smartphone: with a live test among the participants

  I did an introduction to voice recognition / speech recognition and went on to differentiate between:

  a) speaker-independent speech recognition as you find it in automated Call Centres (IVRs that ask you to press buttons or speak your choice)

  and

  b) speaker-independent speech recognition as you find it on your smartphone.

  Call Centre apps have got limited vocabularies but recognition is quite good if you stay on the topic (and don't go on a tangent on the ills of Consumerism or something!).

  Smartphone apps have got huge vocabularies that cover the most common words in a language, but don't work very well because recognition is not context-dependent. You may indeed be talking about the ills of Consumerism or sending your beloved a kiss.

  A live test among the participants of this sessions showed that "Salford" cannot and will not ever be recognised - alas!

  At 5:00pm to 5:20pm, Saturday 17th September

  Coverage write-up write-up video video video

Sunday 18th September 2011

• Free Cocktails

  by Chris Garrett ♛

  An ad hoc presentation on how to mix tasty cocktails.

  At 1:30pm to 2:00pm, Sunday 18th September

  Coverage write-up