Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 50
November 19, 2014
Let there be light!
It's Road Safety Week. Timely. I've just this minute come back from the school run and this morning counted three separate occasions when we (on our bicycle made for three) were in danger of being unseated. (And we're not the only ones. Two in five children report a near-miss or worse on roads according to a survey by road-safety charity, Brake. Shocking!)
Our first encounter was a car, desperate to get to school before us, cutting so close as it passed on the corner we could smell the driver's breakfast (or at least, hear the belch!). I apologise if you're still eating yours.
Next - and the one after that and the most commonly dangerous element of our journey - a driver not checking before opening his (or her) door. I leave plenty of clearance, believe me, when passing parked cars. But driver's doors seem to be growing.
As if that wasn't enough, once we arrive there's the dreaded school-gate parking. I'm sure most people must think those pretty yellow zig-zags are there for them to park all over. Well, I say 'park' but that's to distinguish what more often looks like the random abandonment of vehicles.
And I hope no members of staff were later than usual for work this morning. Because this parent was certainly making it difficult for them to get into the staff car park.
And it's not just an occasional occurrence. Every morning we seem to be confronted with parking like you wouldn't think possible, driving that would be more appropriate to a racing circuit and the dreaded game of guess if the car door's opening.
But the pièce de résistance last week was a driver exiting the school car park ...whilst texting. Yes, texting. As we were waiting on the pavement for him to pull out onto the road we had a perfect view. His phone was in his hand. There were kids everywhere, cars kamikaze parking (see above) and he was texting.
Quite honestly it'll take more than a Road Safety week or a Be Bright campaign to remedy matters. We non-drivers: pedestrians, cyclists, scooter-riders, dog walkers or whatever ought to be fitted with sirens and a flashing light.
Except, no. On second thoughts, that'd probably just make things worse. Because then the burden would be placed even more firmly on the innocent non-motorist to make those behind the wheel do what they should be doing anyway - driving carefully.
So come on folks. Do the decent thing. Don't text, don't park on those zig zag lines. Don't open your door without looking and don't speed up as you pass us - slow down.
Better still, get on your bikes. Because - thanks to scenes like this - we still get there before you!
Our first encounter was a car, desperate to get to school before us, cutting so close as it passed on the corner we could smell the driver's breakfast (or at least, hear the belch!). I apologise if you're still eating yours.
Next - and the one after that and the most commonly dangerous element of our journey - a driver not checking before opening his (or her) door. I leave plenty of clearance, believe me, when passing parked cars. But driver's doors seem to be growing.
As if that wasn't enough, once we arrive there's the dreaded school-gate parking. I'm sure most people must think those pretty yellow zig-zags are there for them to park all over. Well, I say 'park' but that's to distinguish what more often looks like the random abandonment of vehicles.
And I hope no members of staff were later than usual for work this morning. Because this parent was certainly making it difficult for them to get into the staff car park.
And it's not just an occasional occurrence. Every morning we seem to be confronted with parking like you wouldn't think possible, driving that would be more appropriate to a racing circuit and the dreaded game of guess if the car door's opening.
But the pièce de résistance last week was a driver exiting the school car park ...whilst texting. Yes, texting. As we were waiting on the pavement for him to pull out onto the road we had a perfect view. His phone was in his hand. There were kids everywhere, cars kamikaze parking (see above) and he was texting.
Quite honestly it'll take more than a Road Safety week or a Be Bright campaign to remedy matters. We non-drivers: pedestrians, cyclists, scooter-riders, dog walkers or whatever ought to be fitted with sirens and a flashing light.
Except, no. On second thoughts, that'd probably just make things worse. Because then the burden would be placed even more firmly on the innocent non-motorist to make those behind the wheel do what they should be doing anyway - driving carefully.
So come on folks. Do the decent thing. Don't text, don't park on those zig zag lines. Don't open your door without looking and don't speed up as you pass us - slow down.
Better still, get on your bikes. Because - thanks to scenes like this - we still get there before you!
November 14, 2014
Properly Addressed
Moving house isn't to be taken lightly. After all, it's reckoned to be among the most stressful life events. But once the mortgage is arranged, the removals van's gone, the kettle has been found and the beds have been made your trouble's only just beginning.
Because then, dear reader, you've got to notify people of your change of address.
I thought that'd be easy. My dream scenario involved logging on, entering my password, maybe answering an obscure security question or three and then, down to business.
But no.
I logged in. I entered my password. I answered security question after security question. I phoned the helpline. I waited, stood on one leg, drew the entrails of a frog and donated virgin's blood but STILL they couldn't 'compete my request at this time...' Perhaps there's an 'r' in the month or the moon's on the wane or the blood isn't pure enough.
Dear God!
Here, in no particular order, and so that you may be duly prepared should you ever be fool enough to relocate, is a catalogue of just some - some - of our woes.
First, the bank. On the face of it, this was simple. My wife went into the branch, spoke face-to-face to the cashier, and all was (apparently) well. Until a week or so later when I went in to the branch on a different matter and found MY details were unchanged.
'Your wife can't change your details for you sir,' the cashier said. 'You have to do that for yourself.'
'But it's a joint account,' I said. 'Look - here's my name on the statement you've just sent to us.'
'I'm afraid each account holder has to request the change in person...'
Well, I suppose you can never be too careful.
In the meantime, our change of address notification was grinding it's way through the labyrinthine world of... the M&S storecard.
We thought we'd got that sorted. Phone call, change of details, Bob's your uncle and the credit card statement arrives on the mat. But the vouchers don't. They go to the old address and are re-directed.
'Hello? You clearly have our new address as we've got our statement...'
'Yes, sorry. But the voucher mailing is prepared three months in advance.'
Deep breath.
I decide to shop on Amazon instead. What can possibly go wrong? I log in to Amazon. Click mouse. Click order... then realise, of course, I need to update the delivery address. No problem. Click 'pay'. Hit problem.
The address on your chosen billing method does not match the delivery address.
Ok, update everything. Click.
Your order has been placed.
Hoorah!
Except it hasn't. Because in spite of updating everything from the colour of my socks to the status of my sex life Amazon subsequently cancels the order on the grounds that the 'chosen payment method is invalid'. It helpfully supplies me with a button I can click to change the payment method but that just takes me to a customer helpline which takes me to a recorded message which tells me to click the button I've just clicked to be told to ring the helpline.
Hair is now at the point of being ripped from head.
Calm... calm.
Surely the good ol' Post Office can sort it out. After all that's what they do isn't it, addresses?
We have a Post Office credit card simply to use abroad as it charges no fee. I might as well have moved abroad - and to some ISIS-ridden war-torn hotspot - for all the trouble it has taken appraising the privatised Post Office of our new address.
'You need your magic number,' we were told. 'No magic number? We can send you a new one - to the old address.'
Ok, ok... just Do it!
Magic number letter comes, is redirected. Isn't magic number letter. No magic number, no reference to magic number. Just a letter telling us how to update our address.
Goes into garden and SCREAMS!
Phone number on non-magic-number letter. 'Have you got your magic number?'
Er...
AAAARRGGGGHHHH!
'Ok, you don't need it anyway. But I'm afraid we'll have to send the form you've got to fill in with your new address to your old address for security reasons...'
JUST... DO.... IT.
'Ok, that's sent. Is there anything else I can help you with today?'
At this point, dear reader, I exercise the utmost, the uttermost, the ultimate self-restraint and refrain from telling the girl on the phone in what other myriad ways she might indeed be able to help me. It takes hereculean effort. But I manage.
And then the next day, the promised letter is delivered.
To our new address.
Because then, dear reader, you've got to notify people of your change of address.
I thought that'd be easy. My dream scenario involved logging on, entering my password, maybe answering an obscure security question or three and then, down to business.
But no.
I logged in. I entered my password. I answered security question after security question. I phoned the helpline. I waited, stood on one leg, drew the entrails of a frog and donated virgin's blood but STILL they couldn't 'compete my request at this time...' Perhaps there's an 'r' in the month or the moon's on the wane or the blood isn't pure enough.
Dear God!
Here, in no particular order, and so that you may be duly prepared should you ever be fool enough to relocate, is a catalogue of just some - some - of our woes.
First, the bank. On the face of it, this was simple. My wife went into the branch, spoke face-to-face to the cashier, and all was (apparently) well. Until a week or so later when I went in to the branch on a different matter and found MY details were unchanged.
'Your wife can't change your details for you sir,' the cashier said. 'You have to do that for yourself.'
'But it's a joint account,' I said. 'Look - here's my name on the statement you've just sent to us.'
'I'm afraid each account holder has to request the change in person...'
Well, I suppose you can never be too careful.
In the meantime, our change of address notification was grinding it's way through the labyrinthine world of... the M&S storecard.
We thought we'd got that sorted. Phone call, change of details, Bob's your uncle and the credit card statement arrives on the mat. But the vouchers don't. They go to the old address and are re-directed.
'Hello? You clearly have our new address as we've got our statement...'
'Yes, sorry. But the voucher mailing is prepared three months in advance.'
Deep breath.
I decide to shop on Amazon instead. What can possibly go wrong? I log in to Amazon. Click mouse. Click order... then realise, of course, I need to update the delivery address. No problem. Click 'pay'. Hit problem.
The address on your chosen billing method does not match the delivery address.
Ok, update everything. Click.
Your order has been placed.
Hoorah!
Except it hasn't. Because in spite of updating everything from the colour of my socks to the status of my sex life Amazon subsequently cancels the order on the grounds that the 'chosen payment method is invalid'. It helpfully supplies me with a button I can click to change the payment method but that just takes me to a customer helpline which takes me to a recorded message which tells me to click the button I've just clicked to be told to ring the helpline.
Hair is now at the point of being ripped from head.
Calm... calm.
Surely the good ol' Post Office can sort it out. After all that's what they do isn't it, addresses?
We have a Post Office credit card simply to use abroad as it charges no fee. I might as well have moved abroad - and to some ISIS-ridden war-torn hotspot - for all the trouble it has taken appraising the privatised Post Office of our new address.
'You need your magic number,' we were told. 'No magic number? We can send you a new one - to the old address.'
Ok, ok... just Do it!
Magic number letter comes, is redirected. Isn't magic number letter. No magic number, no reference to magic number. Just a letter telling us how to update our address.
Goes into garden and SCREAMS!
Phone number on non-magic-number letter. 'Have you got your magic number?'
Er...
AAAARRGGGGHHHH!
'Ok, you don't need it anyway. But I'm afraid we'll have to send the form you've got to fill in with your new address to your old address for security reasons...'
JUST... DO.... IT.
'Ok, that's sent. Is there anything else I can help you with today?'
At this point, dear reader, I exercise the utmost, the uttermost, the ultimate self-restraint and refrain from telling the girl on the phone in what other myriad ways she might indeed be able to help me. It takes hereculean effort. But I manage.
And then the next day, the promised letter is delivered.
To our new address.
November 11, 2014
November 8, 2014
Out to Lunch
Packed lunches, by which I mean school packed lunches, by which I mean the ones lovingly prepared hastily thrown together whilst simultaneously munching a bowl of breakfast cereal, answering the phone, signing for some post, getting the kids dressed, getting them fed, getting them fed without rendering it necessary to get them dressed all over again and all while frantically watching the clock and desperately trying to keep to the morning schedule that would have been so much more relaxed but for that extra five minutes you spent in bed with the alarm on snooze...
It'll probably never be a pleasure - a relaxed, unalloyed joy - but making the kids' school lunches can be a whole lot easier. We've been asked this month to try out new brac Cherry Tree Farm's range of cooked meats, available nationwide at Co-op stores. The range includes stalwarts like wafer-thin ham and roast chicken breast, but adds some American-inspired flavours like hickory-smoked turkey and fried chicken too.
Created for busy mums and dads who want quick and easy meals, the Cherry Tree Farm range is 100% British low-fat, ready-to-eat cooked meats and is perfect for sandwich fillings or just for snacking.
All you need then is a cool lunch box to put 'em in, like this Lego movie lunch box (with water bottle) courtesy of storage and organisational retailer STORE:
And when the kids come home from school and you can't be bothered cooking? (Let's face it, inspiration as well as energy can be lacking!). How about something from this - the Little Dish for Bigger Kids range?
This newly-launched range is perfectly nutritionally balanced for 3 to 6 year olds, with bigger portions and chunkier textures. There are 4 delicious new recipes – Chunky Chicken Pot Roast, Mild Beef Chilli and Rice, Mediterranean Cod & Tomato Casserole and Seven Veg Lasagne - all available in Waitrose but soon to be launched in other major retailers.
It'll probably never be a pleasure - a relaxed, unalloyed joy - but making the kids' school lunches can be a whole lot easier. We've been asked this month to try out new brac Cherry Tree Farm's range of cooked meats, available nationwide at Co-op stores. The range includes stalwarts like wafer-thin ham and roast chicken breast, but adds some American-inspired flavours like hickory-smoked turkey and fried chicken too.
Created for busy mums and dads who want quick and easy meals, the Cherry Tree Farm range is 100% British low-fat, ready-to-eat cooked meats and is perfect for sandwich fillings or just for snacking.
All you need then is a cool lunch box to put 'em in, like this Lego movie lunch box (with water bottle) courtesy of storage and organisational retailer STORE:
And when the kids come home from school and you can't be bothered cooking? (Let's face it, inspiration as well as energy can be lacking!). How about something from this - the Little Dish for Bigger Kids range?
This newly-launched range is perfectly nutritionally balanced for 3 to 6 year olds, with bigger portions and chunkier textures. There are 4 delicious new recipes – Chunky Chicken Pot Roast, Mild Beef Chilli and Rice, Mediterranean Cod & Tomato Casserole and Seven Veg Lasagne - all available in Waitrose but soon to be launched in other major retailers.
November 3, 2014
Acker Bilk 1929-2014
Sad news yesterday, announcing the death of Acker Bilk.
I was a big fan of Acker. In my teens, when I should have been wasting my time and ruining my ears listening to eighties pop I often used to play my dad's old trad. jazz records instead, which included a goodly number of discs cut by the late, great Acker Bilk. (Such eccentric taste earned me the nickname 'Acko' Bilk at school for a while...)
There's another rather tenuous personal connection with Acker - or at least, with his Paramount Jazz Band. My father (of the jazz record collection) used to work with Ernie Price, who was Acker's first double-bass player back in the '50s.
He (Price) was a solicitor by the time by father knew him. They once went on a course in Leeds together. Ernie went by car; my father caught the train and was therefore surprised on the journey home that evening to find Price travelling back on the same train.
'Where's the car?' my father asked.
'Don't know,' Price replied. 'Parked it somewhere in Leeds and can't for the life of me remember where.'
Thankfully, dear reader, it was a two-day course and I believe Ernie and his car were happily reunited at the end of day two.
In fact, that reminds me, as an erstwhile double-bass player myself, Ernie once said to my dad that if I ever wanted the odd lesson, he'd be only too happy. I had better things to do back then like watching the effing television or writing god-awful poetry, so I never quite got round to it, much to my regret.
And Ernie Price is dead now, too. So with Acker's passing yesterday there are at least two members of the legendary band booked for the celestial reunion tour of eternity.
After four: a-one, a-two, a-one-two-three-four...
I was a big fan of Acker. In my teens, when I should have been wasting my time and ruining my ears listening to eighties pop I often used to play my dad's old trad. jazz records instead, which included a goodly number of discs cut by the late, great Acker Bilk. (Such eccentric taste earned me the nickname 'Acko' Bilk at school for a while...)
There's another rather tenuous personal connection with Acker - or at least, with his Paramount Jazz Band. My father (of the jazz record collection) used to work with Ernie Price, who was Acker's first double-bass player back in the '50s.
He (Price) was a solicitor by the time by father knew him. They once went on a course in Leeds together. Ernie went by car; my father caught the train and was therefore surprised on the journey home that evening to find Price travelling back on the same train.
'Where's the car?' my father asked.
'Don't know,' Price replied. 'Parked it somewhere in Leeds and can't for the life of me remember where.'
Thankfully, dear reader, it was a two-day course and I believe Ernie and his car were happily reunited at the end of day two.
In fact, that reminds me, as an erstwhile double-bass player myself, Ernie once said to my dad that if I ever wanted the odd lesson, he'd be only too happy. I had better things to do back then like watching the effing television or writing god-awful poetry, so I never quite got round to it, much to my regret.
And Ernie Price is dead now, too. So with Acker's passing yesterday there are at least two members of the legendary band booked for the celestial reunion tour of eternity.
After four: a-one, a-two, a-one-two-three-four...
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween with HP!
We've been spooked this Halloween, spooked by the ghost of something remarkably, unnaturally and amazingly versatile, efficient and entertaining - namely, the HP Pavilion x360.
x360? I can only assume that's because this tablet/laptop hybrid twists and turns though 360 degrees to transform itself from mild-mannered (but wonderfully wizardry) laptop by day to touch-screen tablet or even 'tent' or presentation made device by night.
Enough of the Halloween theme, already. Although, combining the x360 with the HP Envy 5640 Wifi printer means those spooky snaps or those devilish decorations are no longer a problem, either. In fact, there's little the x360/printer combination can't do.
We've only had it for a day, but here are a few of the highlights, as tweeted with the #HPTrickorTreat hashtag during the eve of All Hallows.
First thing this morning, and Halloween starts early with the Halloween Soundboard, scarily sonic and audibly alarming thanks to the in built Beats Audio speakers...
When the toys join in the fun, there's plenty of scope to capture the action with the x360 and then add to the fun with the HP Photo Creations software...
Want to bake some spooky cakes? An online recipe is no problem with the x360 in tent or presentation mode...
... that's right, measure it all out carefully!
And finally, what better way to while away the time before the cakes are ready than by using the amazing versatility of the x360 Beat Audio sound card to do the mash... the Monster Mash:
x360? I can only assume that's because this tablet/laptop hybrid twists and turns though 360 degrees to transform itself from mild-mannered (but wonderfully wizardry) laptop by day to touch-screen tablet or even 'tent' or presentation made device by night.
Enough of the Halloween theme, already. Although, combining the x360 with the HP Envy 5640 Wifi printer means those spooky snaps or those devilish decorations are no longer a problem, either. In fact, there's little the x360/printer combination can't do.
We've only had it for a day, but here are a few of the highlights, as tweeted with the #HPTrickorTreat hashtag during the eve of All Hallows.
First thing this morning, and Halloween starts early with the Halloween Soundboard, scarily sonic and audibly alarming thanks to the in built Beats Audio speakers...
When the toys join in the fun, there's plenty of scope to capture the action with the x360 and then add to the fun with the HP Photo Creations software...
Want to bake some spooky cakes? An online recipe is no problem with the x360 in tent or presentation mode...
... that's right, measure it all out carefully!
And finally, what better way to while away the time before the cakes are ready than by using the amazing versatility of the x360 Beat Audio sound card to do the mash... the Monster Mash:
October 28, 2014
Have I Got News For You
How do kids think TV works?
My dad was on the telly once, being interviewed about something like road works (he was a traffic engineer). I was probably slightly younger than Charlie at the time and had all sorts of strange notions of him (my dad, that is) being pushed inside the TV set (they were big things, back then!). More 'in' than 'on' TV.
Charlie clearly has a more sophisticated understanding of the whole thing; nevertheless the concept of live broadcasting left him struggling.
Let me explain. Robbie Williams has had a baby. (No, not literally... oh do keep up!) The BBC called to ask me to say something about it - or rather, his 'live tweet' of the event. Now, I'm nowhere near the nearest TV studio, it was getting late and we'd just got back from a few days holiday in Yorkshire.
So the Beeb decides to do the interview on Skype which means I'm sitting in front of the computer like an idiot and Charlie is in the other room watching the TV when I suddenly appear.
'Look mummy, daddy's on television!' he exclaims. He did know beforehand what was about to happen, but excitement had suddenly got the better of him.
'Where are you going?' asks mummy as he leaps up off the sofa in a single bound and bolts from the room.
'To tell daddy he's on telly,' says Charlie, 'so he can come and watch it with us.'
Thus, dear reader, did Charlie very nearly make his live TV debut this evening, photobombing my appearance on the BBC News Channel. That would have been interesting. A tad more interesting, perhaps, than his old man's performance.
You can judge for yourself. As for me... *oh my gad* I'd like to thank my agent, the producer, the director, my mom and my dad, my lovely wife, my beautiful, beautiful children, the dog, the cat, the hamster and most of all *oh-my-gad-I'm-gonna-cry*... most of all *sniff*...
Robbie Williams...
My dad was on the telly once, being interviewed about something like road works (he was a traffic engineer). I was probably slightly younger than Charlie at the time and had all sorts of strange notions of him (my dad, that is) being pushed inside the TV set (they were big things, back then!). More 'in' than 'on' TV.
Charlie clearly has a more sophisticated understanding of the whole thing; nevertheless the concept of live broadcasting left him struggling.
Let me explain. Robbie Williams has had a baby. (No, not literally... oh do keep up!) The BBC called to ask me to say something about it - or rather, his 'live tweet' of the event. Now, I'm nowhere near the nearest TV studio, it was getting late and we'd just got back from a few days holiday in Yorkshire.
So the Beeb decides to do the interview on Skype which means I'm sitting in front of the computer like an idiot and Charlie is in the other room watching the TV when I suddenly appear.
'Look mummy, daddy's on television!' he exclaims. He did know beforehand what was about to happen, but excitement had suddenly got the better of him.
'Where are you going?' asks mummy as he leaps up off the sofa in a single bound and bolts from the room.
'To tell daddy he's on telly,' says Charlie, 'so he can come and watch it with us.'
Thus, dear reader, did Charlie very nearly make his live TV debut this evening, photobombing my appearance on the BBC News Channel. That would have been interesting. A tad more interesting, perhaps, than his old man's performance.
You can judge for yourself. As for me... *oh my gad* I'd like to thank my agent, the producer, the director, my mom and my dad, my lovely wife, my beautiful, beautiful children, the dog, the cat, the hamster and most of all *oh-my-gad-I'm-gonna-cry*... most of all *sniff*...
Robbie Williams...
October 23, 2014
All About That Bass
It's a little-known fact that I once played the double-bass. (It's called the 'upright' bass in this video which is bizarre, but there you go.) I am, therefore, interested in all things 'bass' and stumbled across this track in the line of just such enquiries recently.
And... wow! Just, wow!
Well, not just 'wow' but mainly, wow. Because this girl can sing AND play. I'd never heard of her before. Late to the party as usual, I know. But in case you're like me and haven't yet made the auditory acquaintance of Kate Davis, have a listen to this.
And, wow!
And... wow! Just, wow!
Well, not just 'wow' but mainly, wow. Because this girl can sing AND play. I'd never heard of her before. Late to the party as usual, I know. But in case you're like me and haven't yet made the auditory acquaintance of Kate Davis, have a listen to this.
And, wow!
October 19, 2014
You... Will... Learn... Code! You... Will... Learn... Code!
This is brilliant!
I've been wondering for a while what to do about a six-year-old who already seems dangerously close to computer-game addiction (currently in cold turkey thanks to the Wii-U not yet having been unpacked) and who has recently expressed an urgent need to watch Dr Who (way past his bedtime!).
I'd vaguely thought of trying to get him coding - he's immensely creative (aren't all six-year-olds?) and often invents games and draws the characters and writes the story-lines. It seemed but a short step from there to start him off writing his own code. But an admittedly less-than-exhaustive search had found nothing remotely suitable. Until now.
This online browser game from the BBC introduces a friendly Dalek and takes kids from age six upwards through a series of steps to get them coding. The various levels are also linked to different curriculum outcomes too so it's s triple whammy - he gets to play, learns to code and gets help with schoolwork.
This might literally have made our half-term. (It launches, via the CBBC website, this coming Wednesday.)
And they say the licence fee ain't worth the money...
(Here, for those of you wanting the official BBC lowdown, is the full text of their press release:)
Players join the action as the TARDIS materialises amidst a deadly pursuit through space – a Dalek Saucer bearing down on a Cyber-ship. But from that Cyber-ship emanates a distress call – from a Dalek! On freeing the battered Dalek from his Cybermen captors, the Doctor finds himself taking his new unlikely ally on a mission to save all of creation from destruction at the hands of his greatest enemies.
But why would a Dalek turn to its mortal foe for help? To find out, join the Doctor and the Dalek in a new adventure spanning the Sontar homeworld and its vile Clone Chambers, which have never been shown on-screen before, as well as reintroducing the icy Cyber-tombs of Telos – last seen in classic Doctor Who episodes.
The Doctor said: "Oi! Short and not-very-old one! I need your help - I’ve got a Dalek and we’ve got a mission to save the universe. So get on over to the CBBC website, and play The Doctor and the Dalek while there’s still a universe left! Come on! Chop chop! Make it Digital on the BBC."
Introducing computing skills
A range of puzzles are featured throughout the game, where players must take control of the Dalek and program it to “power up” its ability to perform a range of tasks, such as flying. Each puzzle unlocks an achievement that helps the Doctor build the Dalek back to full strength, ensuring it can take on increasingly difficult challenges as the game progresses.
The puzzles are linked to the new computing curriculum and are designed to allow children across the UK to pick up core programming principles as they play. Several key stage 2 and 3 curriculum points – such as combining instructions to accomplish a given goal, using variables to alter behaviour, repetition and loops, and logical reasoning – are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay and, most importantly for children, are intuitive and fun.
Resources accompanying the game will be available from BBC Learning at bbc.co.uk/schoolscomputing for teachers and parents to help children get the most out of the game. These will provide links to other resources available from across the BBC and third parties, enabling children and teachers to take their learning journeys further.
Danny Cohen, BBC Director of Television, said: “The Doctor and the Dalek is a brand new Doctor Who story and a fantastic game, voiced by the wonderful Peter Capaldi. It’s an excellent example of how a hugely popular BBC show can give fans something extra, whilst also introducing wider audiences to increasingly important skills, such as coding and programming.”
Sinéad Rocks, Head of BBC Learning, said: “We’re really excited about the launch of The Doctor and the Dalek as not only is it a really entertaining platform game for kids to play but it’s also a great introduction to some key principles of computer programming. Every puzzle has a strong link to the KS2 or KS3 computing curriculum. So we think it’s going to be a really valuable tool for students, parents and teachers.”
The Doctor and the Dalek was commissioned by BBC Learning, developed and produced by BBC Wales and Somethin’ Else in association with BBC Future Media.
I've been wondering for a while what to do about a six-year-old who already seems dangerously close to computer-game addiction (currently in cold turkey thanks to the Wii-U not yet having been unpacked) and who has recently expressed an urgent need to watch Dr Who (way past his bedtime!).
I'd vaguely thought of trying to get him coding - he's immensely creative (aren't all six-year-olds?) and often invents games and draws the characters and writes the story-lines. It seemed but a short step from there to start him off writing his own code. But an admittedly less-than-exhaustive search had found nothing remotely suitable. Until now.
This online browser game from the BBC introduces a friendly Dalek and takes kids from age six upwards through a series of steps to get them coding. The various levels are also linked to different curriculum outcomes too so it's s triple whammy - he gets to play, learns to code and gets help with schoolwork.
This might literally have made our half-term. (It launches, via the CBBC website, this coming Wednesday.)
And they say the licence fee ain't worth the money...
(Here, for those of you wanting the official BBC lowdown, is the full text of their press release:)
Players join the action as the TARDIS materialises amidst a deadly pursuit through space – a Dalek Saucer bearing down on a Cyber-ship. But from that Cyber-ship emanates a distress call – from a Dalek! On freeing the battered Dalek from his Cybermen captors, the Doctor finds himself taking his new unlikely ally on a mission to save all of creation from destruction at the hands of his greatest enemies.
But why would a Dalek turn to its mortal foe for help? To find out, join the Doctor and the Dalek in a new adventure spanning the Sontar homeworld and its vile Clone Chambers, which have never been shown on-screen before, as well as reintroducing the icy Cyber-tombs of Telos – last seen in classic Doctor Who episodes.
The Doctor said: "Oi! Short and not-very-old one! I need your help - I’ve got a Dalek and we’ve got a mission to save the universe. So get on over to the CBBC website, and play The Doctor and the Dalek while there’s still a universe left! Come on! Chop chop! Make it Digital on the BBC."
Introducing computing skills
A range of puzzles are featured throughout the game, where players must take control of the Dalek and program it to “power up” its ability to perform a range of tasks, such as flying. Each puzzle unlocks an achievement that helps the Doctor build the Dalek back to full strength, ensuring it can take on increasingly difficult challenges as the game progresses.
The puzzles are linked to the new computing curriculum and are designed to allow children across the UK to pick up core programming principles as they play. Several key stage 2 and 3 curriculum points – such as combining instructions to accomplish a given goal, using variables to alter behaviour, repetition and loops, and logical reasoning – are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay and, most importantly for children, are intuitive and fun.
Resources accompanying the game will be available from BBC Learning at bbc.co.uk/schoolscomputing for teachers and parents to help children get the most out of the game. These will provide links to other resources available from across the BBC and third parties, enabling children and teachers to take their learning journeys further.
Danny Cohen, BBC Director of Television, said: “The Doctor and the Dalek is a brand new Doctor Who story and a fantastic game, voiced by the wonderful Peter Capaldi. It’s an excellent example of how a hugely popular BBC show can give fans something extra, whilst also introducing wider audiences to increasingly important skills, such as coding and programming.”
Sinéad Rocks, Head of BBC Learning, said: “We’re really excited about the launch of The Doctor and the Dalek as not only is it a really entertaining platform game for kids to play but it’s also a great introduction to some key principles of computer programming. Every puzzle has a strong link to the KS2 or KS3 computing curriculum. So we think it’s going to be a really valuable tool for students, parents and teachers.”
The Doctor and the Dalek was commissioned by BBC Learning, developed and produced by BBC Wales and Somethin’ Else in association with BBC Future Media.
You... Will... Learn... Coding! You... Will...
This is brilliant!
I've been wondering for a while what to do about a six-year-old who already seems dangerously close to computer-game addiction (currently in cold turkey thanks to the Wii-U not yet having been unpacked) and who has recently expressed an urgent need to watch Dr Who (way past his bedtime!).
I'd vaguely thought of trying to get him coding - he's immensely creative (aren't all six-year-olds?) and often invents games and draws the characters and writes the story-lines. It seemed but a short step from there to start him off writing his own code. But an admittedly less-than-exhaustive search had found nothing remotely suitable. Until now.
This online browser game from the BBC introduces a friendly Dalek and takes kids from age six upwards through a series of steps to get them coding. The various levels are also linked to different curriculum outcomes too so it's s triple whammy - he gets to play, learns to code and gets help with schoolwork.
This might literally have made our half-term. (It launches, via the CBBC website, this coming Wednesday.)
And they say the licence fee ain't worth the money...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29645991?ocid=socialflow_twitter
I've been wondering for a while what to do about a six-year-old who already seems dangerously close to computer-game addiction (currently in cold turkey thanks to the Wii-U not yet having been unpacked) and who has recently expressed an urgent need to watch Dr Who (way past his bedtime!).
I'd vaguely thought of trying to get him coding - he's immensely creative (aren't all six-year-olds?) and often invents games and draws the characters and writes the story-lines. It seemed but a short step from there to start him off writing his own code. But an admittedly less-than-exhaustive search had found nothing remotely suitable. Until now.
This online browser game from the BBC introduces a friendly Dalek and takes kids from age six upwards through a series of steps to get them coding. The various levels are also linked to different curriculum outcomes too so it's s triple whammy - he gets to play, learns to code and gets help with schoolwork.
This might literally have made our half-term. (It launches, via the CBBC website, this coming Wednesday.)
And they say the licence fee ain't worth the money...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29645991?ocid=socialflow_twitter
