My Web Daily

.@MyWebDaily NEWS: @KateRussell talks about the evil of infographics @PodDelusion 3rd birthday bash

I know it's been ages since I wrote anything here but there will be more news very soon on continued posting and what's going on with my book, Working the Cloud, which you can now pre-order HERE.

I wanted to post this quickly though today as it's the first time I have attempted a talk like this.. I was invited to speak at the Pod Delusion 3rd birthday bash (my favourite skeptical podcast you should listen to if you're into interesting stuff). I hope you enjoy it! Please do let me know what you think in the comments below :)

(It does contain boobs a couple of swears, sorry if you're offended!)

.@MyWebDaily reviews: First Orbit

Celebrating the 50^th anniversary of human space flight this year a documentary was published on Youtube, recreating Yuri Gagarin's first spaceflight using cameras and astronauts on the ISS. Check out firstorbit.org for more information, or just sit back and watch the embedded movie here (it's going to be good for my traffic stats if you do!)

I’m not sure that the offered Android & iPhone smartphone apps bring enough to the party to make them worth paying for unless you want to share the film on the move, but I certainly don’t begrudge the documentary makers for trying to make a bit of money out of the venture either.

.@MyWebDaily reviews: O2 Learn

To round off the week of Teacher Resources (which you can review if you check all the posts under EDUCATION on this site) I'd like to show you another resource I came across while at the Sunday Times Education Festival last weekend. O2 Learn is a place where teachers & students can post films of their favourite lessons for others to use in the classroom. There are prizes & awards as outlined in the video above, and as I write this I am awaiting confirmation that a new app, allowing contributors to create videos very easily with an iPhone, is about to be released for free download.

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Numberphile

The Internet is full!! This is just one of mind-blowing videos you'll find on Numberphile. This Youtube channel is crammed with really interesting short films explaining, in their own words, numbers & stuff. My favourite is the one about the Googleplex:

It’s the simplicity with which these subjects are tackled that makes the videos so effective – all explained & illustrated by enthusiastic experts. It’s a really great way of supporting your students learning with fun & engaging content that's completely free.

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Periodic Videos

When I was at achool the periodic table was one of those cumbersome things that you just had to learn if you wanted to do well at science. But how can one get enthusiastic about a bunch of nonsensical letters laid out in a grid? Take a look at periodicvideos.com. The crazy academics at the University of Nottingham have put this site together. There's a video explanation including cool scientific experiments, for each of the chemical elements in the periodic table. Far from being boring and nonsensical, these guys make learning about science look fun – and more than a little dangerous! 

DON'T try this at home!

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Action Movie FX

You know what it's like - you're standing at the train station minding your own business when a family saloon car falls out of the sky on you... This is the work of an amazing free iphone app, Action Movie FX, that lets you destroy your surroundings with just a few simple steps, then share with your social networks to delight and amaze them. Make sure you share your creations here!!

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Khan Academy

They say you don’t get something for nothing, but in the case of non-profit website, khanacademy.org they are wrong, because here you’ll find a wealth of knowledge parcelled up in easily digestible videos & exercises completely free of charge. The library has over 2,600 videos covering everything from algebra to venture capital, plus more than 200 practise exercises to help it sink in. As well as the videos there are practise exercises and resources for educators to help them inspire their students. You’ll need to log in with either a Google or Facebook account, and then you can save and track any progress made as well. You can watch the videos without logging in, but students who do can also save their completed activities and post questions & comments against the articles. Most of the content is aimed at middle or upper school students, with a spattering of subjects, such as adding and subtracting, geared towards younger children too.

.@MyWebDaily reviews: TV Ark Interactive

@Andy34 on Twitter reminded me of this site the other week so I thought I'd post it here for all to enjoy: TV Ark Interactive is a trip through time to enjoy (or cringe at) the way TV has developed over the decades. That is all... 

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Brandon Generator

Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead Director Edgar Wright and Lucas film and Marvel Comic book artist Tommy Lee Edwards have got together to create an interactive comic book in 4 parts, The Random Adventures of Brandon Generator. The story is about a struggling writer who passes out in a caffeine high & when he wakes up all sorts of notes & ideas have been left for him to find.

So far there is a trailer & episode one online, where Brandon loses consciousness and (you) the mysterious spirits infest his communications devices to fill them with random thoughts, characters & ideas. Leave voice messages on his Dictaphone, type into his laptop or scribble on his legal pad & who knows, when episode 2 comes out later this month you might find your ideas have been woven into the new storyline? I should also mention the site has been built to showcase html5 in IE9 - and whatever you think of Microsoft's browser, it does a pretty damn fine job of it.

.@MyWebDaily reviews: Mars Curiosity

The Mars Curiosity, which took off from NASA’s launch pad in November 2011, is the biggest vehicle ever to attempt landing on anything other than earth. If you want to keep an eye on its progress it is tweeting as it travels, so make sure you follow @MarsCuriosity. And there are more details, including launch videos, technical information & a countdown timer to it's arrival on Mars available on the NASA mission website.