Funki Porcini discussed the design and engineering behind his 800-laser Laserium rig in advance of the full one-hour immersive shows, joined by Andy Payne, who assisted with its engineering, and Nicky Cure from Mechanismo. Together, they explored the intersections of lasers, robotics, and design, including the creation of the Crawley Bots. Lasers and Robots Talk < Back 28 January 2024 Funki Porcini discussed the design and engineering behind his 800-laser Laserium rig in advance of the full one-hour immersive shows, joined by Andy Payne, who assisted with its engineering, and Nicky Cure from Mechanismo. Together, they explored the intersections of lasers, robotics, and design, including the creation of the Crawley Bots. Previous Next The Fourth Portal hosted a post-Gravesham Light Festival talk featuring the creators of the Laserium laser rig and the Crawly Bots. Prior to his immersive evening performances, Ninja Tune legend Funki Porcini (James Braddell) discussed the development of his 800-laser rig, alongside engineer Andy Payne and artist Nicky Cure, the minds behind the Crawly Bots. These robots, bridging the gap between remote-controlled cars and fully autonomous machines, roamed both the Fourth Portal and the LV21 Lightship throughout the weekend, engaging visitors of all ages. The discussion delved into design processes and audience perceptions of both the Laserium and the Crawly Bots. At the conclusion of the page, a video elucidates the differences between viewable lasers, as showcased in the Laserium, and those capable of cutting materials. Inspirational and Innovative While walking the Thames Path, Elvin, Head of Data Analytics for a FinTech company, and his companion encountered the Crawly Bots. After interacting with them briefly, Elvin encapsulated the essence of the talk and the Fourth Portal in a 50-second video, highlighting the connections between play, robotics, learning, and knowledge exchange. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2fcede_c33a97f88c6048e7b6f0dd07602057fc/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 3D Printed Light Reader Software Engineer Graham Klyne introduced the developing Monotype Compositions Tape Reader at the event. Led by artist Dawn Cole, Monotype Compositions is an ongoing collaboration with Graham and the Fourth Portal to develop an audio reader for a punched spool from a Monotype printing machine. This spool was used in printing the diary of Dawn's Great Aunt, Clarice Spratling, a WWI VAD nurse. The discussion highlighted the distinctions between light readers and lasers. The Lasers and Robots talk was free to attend. About Mechanismo Mechanismo is a creative technology initiative based in Warwick, UK, specialising in playful, creative technology and joyful robotics. Their projects include various robotic creations, such as the Crawly Bots, which exemplify their commitment to engaging and innovative design. Lasers and Robots were free to attend. This event has ended. Visit Event Page MORE ON THIS EVENT BELOW Previous Next Event Documentation Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Steve Noble Drums Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Flimflam 28 May 2025 Boat-Ting Sep18 3 September 2018 Boat-Ting 16th Anniversary 2018 http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Freland Green Recordings & Talk Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs ImproVox #09 19 May 2025 ImproVox #05 10 December 2024 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Phil Marks Drums Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Boat-Ting Nov24 4 November 2024 Boat-Ting Oct 2025 http://Website or social media email or phone number

< Back ChatGPT Canvas Feature The Canvas feature in ChatGPT streamlines the creation, editing, and management of long-form content across formats like text and code, offering a focused workspace for detailed projects. This text and the text that follows, about Canvas was mostly generated by ChatGPT about ChatGPT. ChatGPT 4o 30 Dec 2024 OpenAI 30 Dec 2024 What is OpenAI Canvas? The Canvas feature in ChatGPT enables efficient creation, editing, and management of long-form content within a focused workspace. It supports a range of formats, including text documents and various programming languages, making it suitable for detailed projects. Key Features: Creation: Provides a streamlined interface for drafting reports, articles, or code. Ideal for structured and organised content development. Editing: Simplifies adjustments and revisions. Facilitates collaboration by allowing contributors to refine shared documents while maintaining content integrity. Integration: Accessible directly within the ChatGPT environment, ensuring smooth transitions between assistance and content development. Applications: Perfect for academic writing, technical documentation, software development, and detailed project drafts. The Canvas feature enhances productivity and precision across diverse use cases. Read more... Originally posted by ChatGPT November 2024 https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9930697-what-is-the-canvas-feature-in-chatgpt-and-how-do-i-use-it For more: AI, Algorithm, Neural Network Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Matt Scott Accordion Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs ImproVox #03 30 September 2024 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Rory Hildick Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #4 19 July 2016 SKRONK #5 9 August 2016 SKRONK #1 31 May 2016 SKRONK #2 21 June 2016 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Colin Somervell Bass Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs FlimFlam 29 October 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

< Back The UKRI funded Responsible AI UK (RAI UK) Announces First Round Impact Acceleration Projects Partners: Universities of Oxford (lead), Nottingham and Warwick, Fourth Portal, Albino Mosquito, Computational Foundry, Swansea University), The National Archives, UK, EvoMUSART 24, Horizon Digital Economy Research UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) Hub. University of Nottingham 27 Nov 2023 Academics from the University of Nottingham have received funding to research how to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) is safe to use, in a new project alongside the Universities of Oxford and Warwick. The UKRI funded Responsible AI UK (RAI UK) has announced its first round of Impact Acceleration projects, investing £1.8M to ensure AI is safe, and that it will be responsible to the needs of society, addressing topics such as Generative AI in teaching and learning. Dr Alan Chamberlain, in the School of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, said: “Starting to examine how people understand and apply responsible AI in their work is important. It will help us to approach the design of responsible systems together. Involving the public is fundamental, its vitally important to enable people to participate and have input into research. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/responsible-ai-funding For more: Algorithm, AI, Security, Design Previous Next

Gravesend Innovation Showcase 2024 events, locations, talks, speakers and times. < Back Enhancing Student Engagement Start Time 11:00 Running Time 20 Minutes Location 9. Gravesend Library Event Type Talk About the Event Introduction COVID-19 forced a shift from conventional to virtual learning environments across higher education, prompting educators to adopt new technology-based strategies. This talk examines global perspectives on students' acceptance of eLearning technologies and provides insights and recommendations for enhancing engagement and adapting educational practices in a post-pandemic world. More on the event lead Senior Lecturer/Programme Manager (MSc International Business Management) I am currently a Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager in the business faculty, teaching postgraduate students at the University of Sunderland in London. I attended the Institute for Hospitality Management (IPAS) in Rome and graduated in 1986 from West London University. In 2015, I attained an L7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership at Bromley College HE. In 2017, I earned an MBA with distinction under the tutelage of Dr Thorben Hanel-Muhs. I am also a fellow member of the Institute of Hospitality (IoH), a Chartered Manager, and a fellow member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). I am also a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). My career started in hotels after graduation, and I have worked with global organisations in a variety of senior and executive management roles such as Food and Beverage Director, Front of House Director, and Regional Account Director. Although I have predominantly worked in the UK and Italy, I have also held posts with corporations in France and Switzerland. While in Switzerland, between 1984 and 1986, I was in charge of managing all hospitality services for the Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) center of excellence in Zurich and the European Head Office in London. While in Italy, from 1993 to 2001, I was a member of the board of Directors for Princess Pallavicini in Rome, managing two of the Princess organisations. In 2001, I began working with Compass Group Plc, initially as a General Manager and then moved to other roles, reaching the height of my career with the company as Regional Account Director. In this role, I was able to extend my knowledge to strategically support the division with a multimillion-pound business. The role engaged with client retention, sales, and achieving the company’s strategic vision and advantage. In 2019, I left the industry and entered Academia as an Associate Lecturer, predominantly specialising in Business Strategy, Strategic Leadership and Management, and International Human Resource Management. As a Senior Manager in the industry, I have been exposed to a significant variety of subordinate challenges, from pay-related issues to the lack of professional pathways, from financial to non-financial benefits. I have felt compelled to research the issue and present to the industry a possible solution to deliver not only a better-prepared workforce but, more so, a more inclusive and diverse mix and a much more motivated workforce, which would deliver quality of service and product with a professional approach, enhancing the longevity of allegiance between employee and employer. Event Information This event is free. Suitable for aged 15+ The session would be valuable for anyone exploring the future of education technology adoption, particularly in developing strategies for learner engagement in virtual environments. The session will be attractive to educators, academic researchers, higher education administrators, instructional designers, and those involved in education technology. It's also suitable for policymakers, corporate trainers, and business professionals interested in understanding how digital tools can enhance learning engagement and student retention in post-pandemic educational settings. ___ Even more information ___ COVID-19 caused institutions across the sector to transition from conventional teaching and learning environments into virtual settings. Amidst this paradigm shift, academics have adopted a range of technology-based strategies to support online learners. However, low attendance, engagement, and participation continue to challenge the execution of eLearning across the higher education (HE) sector. Within this context, there has been growing interest in understanding the acceptance and adoption of technologies in education from the learners’ perspective. This has led to an increased focus on technology acceptance models as a theoretical lens to examine attitudes and beliefs relating to eLearning. Motivated by these environmental shifts, this study aims to capture themes and perspectives in educational literature worldwide, presenting future considerations for students and practitioners as we emerge from the pandemic. By systematically reviewing global educational literature, the study provides valuable insights and considerations for both students and practitioners as the HE sector transitions out of the pandemic. The study is guided by the central question: What influences learners’ acceptance and continued use of educational technologies during forced emergency conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic? Based on these findings, we share recommendations for education technology adoption in the HE sector. Previous Next

Textiles, Garb and the Thames explored the clothing of those working on the Thames - past, present, and future - through textiles, poetry, song, storytelling, and workshops. From the Watermen to the evolving attire of Gravesend Riverside workers, the event examined how clothing reflects labour, identity, and cultural change along the river. Textiles, Garb and the Thames < Back 1 February 2024 Textiles, Garb and the Thames explored the clothing of those working on the Thames - past, present, and future - through textiles, poetry, song, storytelling, and workshops. From the Watermen to the evolving attire of Gravesend Riverside workers, the event examined how clothing reflects labour, identity, and cultural change along the river. Previous Next Textiles, Garb, and the Thames delved into the history of clothing along the Thames through textiles, poetry, song, storytelling, and workshops. The opening day featured poetry performances, notably works by Henry T. Bradford, a 94-year-old local resident with extensive experience working on various docks and tugs along the Thames. Former Mayor Michael Weban delivered a talk comparing historical uniforms to contemporary Thames-based attire, discussing materials, functionality, and evolving regulations, including personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. The exhibition showcased photos of dockland workers, tugboats, RNLI clothing, maritime garb, and other nautical-themed images. Within this space, tech pack designs for a maritime clothing collection were presented, inspired by the displayed photos. LV21, the red ship docked next to Fourth Portal, loaned clothing and uniforms from Trinity House and other maritime collections, allowing attendees to observe ceremonial dress uniforms used on the Thames. Knowledge Exchange Curator Matthew Davies reflected on the intergenerational exchange of knowledge and understanding. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2fcede_0979e1f0bf0243ba8b86e09f3d1c7ec3/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Knowledge Diffusion The Fourth Portal emphasised creating an environment where knowledge can be exchanged and focused on how knowledge is diffused. A local teenager visited the exhibition with her mother for inspiration for her A-level textile thesis. She later messaged: "Visited for references for my Textiles A-Level and found some amazing historical work for inspiration in my project! Going off to study for a degree in Costume so this was very valuable!! :)" Knowledge Demonstration A former teacher from a local grammar school demonstrated threading a Singer sewing machine. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2fcede_3f36bdcd9858435db95cd315d144e032/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Knowledge Sharing RNLI volunteers provided an overview of their survival kit and materials. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2fcede_8d2ae5fa27dd409384e35c97591a673f/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 This exhibition has ended... ** Henry Bradford reading his poem, I Am Just A Common Working Man https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2fcede_bf514fa7bdc8493a9791b30fc7577fe9/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Visit Event Page MORE ON THIS EVENT BELOW Previous Next Event Documentation Previous Next

INNOVATION SHOWCASE AT A GLANCE BY EVENT