Yearly Archives: 2014

Christmas 2014 – Family Get-togethers

December 24, 2014Catch-up, Family RootsAmy Shearer, Andrew Glen, Christmas, Ed Shearer, Evelio, Fred Shearer, London, Lori Shearer, Rumbie Mushangi, Russel Shearer, Susan Glendening, Virginia Shearer, Wendy Shearer, WoodfordMatt Shearer

Great gathering this year – Amy, Evelio, Russel, Susan, Alexander are all over in London for Christmas,… plus Virginia & Glenny, Ed & Rumbie, Lori & Fred, and Wendy & I; lots of plans and lots of celebration.

Night at Spivs on Christmas Eve Eve

December 23, 2014Catch-upEd Shearer, Fred Shearer, Ian Guest, Jack Magnus, James Magnus, JimAndIan, London Pubs, Rumbie Mushangi, Russel Shearer, Susan Glendening, Travellers Friend, WoodfordMatt Shearer

A few of us met up at Spivs, including Jim & Ian.

#newsHACK III – Language Technologies Hack – Tower Bridge

December 17, 2014Achievements, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News Organisations, Rapid Prototyping, Stage Appearences#newsHACK, Catherine Boggan, Chris Ambrose, Deutsche Welle, Dmitry Shishkin, Hackathon, Innovation, James Montgomery, Journalism, Journalism as Data, Language Technologies, Laura Harrison, London, Mark Flashman, Rainmaking Loft, Robin Cramp, Susanne Weber, Tower BridgeMatt Shearer

#newsHACK III – Language Technology was a 2 day hack event in London focussed on “Multilingual Automated News Services of the Future”.

BBC News Labs – Christmas Season Asynchronous Workshop 2014

December 9, 2014BBC News LabsAnthony Onumonu, Asynchronous Workshop, Barbara Zambrini, Basile Simon, Gill Bennett, Harry Robbins, Hugo Simmonds, Jeremy Tarling, Karl Sutt, London, London Pubs, Mark Flashman, Melanie Moeller, Paul Wilton, Rob Cochran, Rob Liddle, Silver Oliver, The Queens HeadMatt Shearer

This year, we held our News Labs’ Christmas/Festive Asynchronous Workshop at The Queens Head on Acton Street in London. We also had a Jazz Band playing.

Rumbie & Ed’s Lobola and Celebrations

December 7, 2014Family RootsEd Shearer, Kumbi, Lobola, Mushangi, Rumbie Mushangi, ZimbabweMatt Shearer

We’ve just come back from a brilliant party at my sister-in-law-to-be’s family home in Nottingham. I had the pleasure of being the Mukwasha to my brother the Mukwasha for a Zimbabwean “Lobola” ceremony.

Neurotech Rig Demo at Imperial College for DE2014.org

December 3, 2014BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Demo AppearencesBasile Simon, BBC Rewind, Data Science, Data Science Institute (DSI), Dr Chao Wu, Imperial College London, Jeremy Tarling, Knightsbridge, Lauren Moorhouse, London, News Archive, Peter Rippon, Simiao Yu, Tim Cowlishaw, Yi-ke GuoMatt Shearer

Today we demonstrated the “OPTIMAL MEMORY RIG” at the “Digital Economy 2014” conference at Imperial College London. This “Rig” uses BBC Archive clips to trigger an emotional reaction in users, and to measure their “fixation” on topics.

Catch up with the Essex Lads, in Hoxton

November 28, 2014Catch-upAdam Drake, Andy Matthews, DreamBags & JaguarShoes, Essex, Hoxton, Ian Guest, James Magnus, London, London Pubs, Old Street, Red Dog Saloon, Steve Andrews, The RelianceMatt Shearer

Nice night out with the chaps from Loughton (Adam Drake), Buckhurst Hill (Steve Andrews), Theydon (Andy Matthews), and those who used to be in Woodford (Jim, Ian and I).

SKY NEWS Labs Visits BBC NEWS Labs – Part II

November 21, 2014At BBC, BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News OrganisationsGeorge Richmond, Innovation, James Murphy, Laden Oksuzer, SKY, SKY NEWSMatt Shearer

Today James Murphy from SKY NEWS Labs visited us in the Central Lab again, and this time he brought along George and Laden along. The previous time James visited was almost exactly 1 year ago – 20th November 2013 – straight after we met at #newsHACK 2013. We shared our projects updates, talked about shared issues, … Continue reading SKY NEWS Labs Visits BBC NEWS Labs – Part II →

The Dees – New Album Strategy Evening – London

November 14, 2014Bands, Catch-upDan McCabe, David Walter, Dean Gardner, London, London Pubs, Niall Acott, Smithys, Tarkan Algin, The Dees, The Dees Album (2014-2015)Matt Shearer

We are officially part-way into our 11 tracks of a new album for The Dees. So it seemed right to meet up and discuss strategy.

BBC World Service YouTube Editors visit News Labs

November 14, 2014At BBC, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration WorkBBC World Service, Carol Olona Ferrer, Esra Dogramaci, Innovation, Maria Spiridonova, Marko ZoricMatt Shearer

BBC News is a large department, and so I am frequently meeting new teams. Today I met a great team from BBC World Service – the YouTube channel editors.

Drum Session at NJA.me.uk with Niall Acott – Tracks 6-11

November 13, 2014Bands, Music, Recording StudioDrums, Kent, Niall Acott, NJA.me.uk - NJA Audio, The Dees, The Dees Album (2014-2015)Matt Shearer

Another cracking drum session at NJA with Niall Acott – great drum sounds immediately, and this time I had the guide stems all ready – so no hanging around!!

Night out with Wendy

November 11, 2014Family RootsKings Cross, London, Wendy ShearerMatt Shearer

Sometimes it’s nice to pretend like it was 10 years ago, before the brood, before the busy busy. We had a great night out.

News Labs at MozFest 2014 Science Fair – look: BEARDS!!

October 24, 2014At BBC, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Demo AppearencesAlex Norton, Graham Lenton, Greenwich, Karl Sutt, London, Melody Kramer, MozFest, Ravensbourne, Rosario Rascuna, Susanne WeberMatt Shearer

Another amazing tiring, flat-out exhausting demo marathon at MozFest’s 2014 event “Science Fair”. And this year, slightly more bearded men than last year.

Melody Kramer from NPR visits News Labs

October 23, 2014At BBC, BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News OrganisationsJournalism, Melody Kramer, NPR (National Public Radio - USA)Matt Shearer

We had the pleasure of Melody Kramer popping into the Lab today.

Recording Drum Tracks at NJA for The Dees’ new Album

October 17, 2014Bands, Music, Recording StudioDrums, Kent, Niall Acott, NJA.me.uk - NJA Audio, The Dees, The Dees Album (2014-2015)Matt Shearer

Just spent a day laying down the Drums parts with Niall Acott at NJA Audio Productions for the first 6 tunes from The Dees‘ new album.

University College Dublin – Insight4News Visit News Labs

October 14, 2014BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration WorkGeorgiana Ifrim, Insight4News, Neil Hurley, University College DublinMatt Shearer

Happy Ada Lovelace day 2014! Today we had Neil Hurley and Georgiana visiting from University College Dublin to demonstrate Insight4News.

Meetup at Dreambags

October 9, 2014Catch-upB&W, DreamBags & JaguarShoes, Hoxton, Ian Guest, James Magnus, London, shoreditchMatt Shearer

Had a great night at Dreambags and in Hoxton. Was planning to meet with Andy Matthews too, but he got stuck at work.

News Labs & Imperial College get started on EEG Neurotech Feedback

October 8, 2014BBC News Labs, Collaboration WorkBBC R&D, Dr Chao Wu, EEG, Imperial College London, Innovation, Neurotechnology, Simiao YuMatt Shearer

Just had a great day today with Simiao Yu and Dr Chao Wu from Imperial College London. We’re getting started on some work around Neurotechnology feedback loops and media experiences.

Responsive Radio, “Unconventional Screens” & BBC Blue Room, Salford

October 7, 2014BBC News LabsAli Shah (BBC), BBC R&D, BBC R&D North Lab, BBC Worldwide Labs, Hannah Blake, SalfordMatt Shearer

Hannah Blake and I made a trip to Salford today to look at some developments in BBC R&D, and also at the shiny, new Blue Room in BBC Salford.

myBBC, News Team & News Labs Recommendations Workshop

October 6, 2014At BBC, BBC News, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Stage AppearencesInnovation, myBBC, Oliver BartlettMatt Shearer

Quite an intense workshop today, discussing personalisation, recommendations and how we are going to prioritise in more of the great plans around myBBC.