Newcastle University

Introduction

David is a motion-capture, digital video, animation and digital technology specialist at Culture Lab and provides comprehensive support to all Culture Lab users.

His background in film and audio technology is complemented by wide-ranging interests including photography, apiculture, art and biomechanics. David has previously worked in a number of professional media production environments where he has applied specialisms in graphic design, video postproduction and advanced digital video editing to subjects as diverse as anatomical demonstration, stem cell research, interactive and performance technology and digital jewellery.

Roles and Responsibilities

David has played key roles in several high-profile research projects across the University. David co-wrote, directed and produced (with NESCI) a short film entitled 'The Miracle of Life.. Twice'. The film was designed (in seperate linear and interactive versions) to present the many benefits of umbilical cord blood research to pregnant women and the wider community to encourage public engagement with, and promotion of, Newcastle University's research in this area.

David also collaborated with Patrick Olivier's Cultural Technologies research student Jon Hook to create a research film project called 'A Short Film about VJs'. This film sought to explore the creative practice of VJs by engaging them in the editing process of a film about their work. It has been included in the CHI 2009 video showcase and an early version of the film can be viewed here.

As technical coordinator on the AHRC funded Devolving Diasporas project, David designed and developed the website www.devolvingdiasporas.com, supervised the collation of video and audio materials from across the world and collaborated with Netskills to create an accessible online database of diasporic texts.

David also specialises in motion capture and has been developing Culture Lab's motion capture studio. More details about this can be found on the website at culturelab.ncl.ac.uk/mocap In 2009, he will be presenting the system to various University schools and institutes.