About Me
I am a web developer working in a small agency in the UK, and in my spare time I like to learn things about technology. Usually this involves improving the configuration of my linux machines, thinking up new ideas for software, finding novel uses for networkable hardware and designing circuits that I one day hope to produce. I’m not anti-Microsoft (any more), nor am I pro-Windows – I prefer to take a balanced view of things based upon the capabilities and usability of systems. Windows runs on my primary machine at the moment, with it’s strongest point being game support. Linux runs on my servers and of course a few embedded devices, where the emphasis is on flexibility and variety of features.
For a couple of years I worked on some projects around the house, all interlinked. They focus around implementing a very much DIY home automation/entertainment system, with parts such as amplifiers and cables bought as stand-alone components which are tied together through my implementations of hardware and software. These projects are:
- Free-standing, reasonably good looking 19″ rack cabinet
- 24 RJ45 ports around the house connected by Cat5
- A MythTV-based PVR system
- A whole house audio system, created without resorting to expensive retail solutions
I have an unrelated software project (codename: Project Victoria) under way at the moment, and occaisionally come up with ideas for others. Those are all secrets though until they are released. There are no more hardware projects planned for the moment – they are too expensive, plus I can’t cram much more equipment into this house!
My music tastes are fairly broad, although I wouldn’t say that they encompass everything. So that I don’t have to explain what this means, you might as well just go look at my music collection (courtesy of Media Man and a cheap USB barcode scanner off of eBay).
My movie tastes are not quite as broad – sci-fi, action, drama, comedy. I’m putting my postal DVD rental subscription to good use broadening my movie knowledge.