Each week we chat about the tools of the trade with one outstanding creative to find out exactly how they do what they do. The questions are always the same, the answers, not so much. This week: Tom BeddardThe Creators Project: Who are you and what do you do?
Tom Beddard: My name is Tom Beddard and I'm an ex-laser physicist turned web developer. I currently work as a senior interactive developer at 55 Degrees in Glasgow, Scotland where we specialize in interactive software installations and video production. My personal interest is in mathematical and generative graphics where I'm currently obsessed with the new field of 3D fractals. There’s lots about 3D fractals on my site subblue.com and I've recently released a WebGL fractal explorer that lets you fly around and explore these structures in real-time. Try it with the latest Chrome or Firefox 4 browsers.What hardware do you use?
At home I use an iMac but my most productive coding is often done on a MacBook while commuting on the train each day. I also use my iPad a lot for reading PDFs and eBooks.What software do you use?
Most of my projects I code using Textmate in mainly Javascript, Actionscript, Pixel Bender, and GLSL. I also use Quartz Composer and Structure Synth and play around with Processing and Cinder. Cinder really excites me as it is such a nicely thought out and designed framework, I just need more time to get my teeth stuck into it.“Swimming in the Mandelbulb reef.”If money were no object, how would you change your current setup?
I'd have a big interactive workshop where on one wall I'd have vast touch screens, 3D printers, robots, and lasers. Another wall would be set up for music creation with racks of music gear. The third wall would be for painting, drawing, and model making. The final wall would be covered with bookshelves!What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A true artificial mind.Is there a piece of technology that changed your life or inspired you?
Unsurprisingly, it has to be the computer. Ever since I wrote my first BASIC script on the BBC Micros at school, and then playing around with STOS on the Atari ST, I've been fascinated by how you can take an idea and explore it on the computer.What’s your favorite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
I have a toy robot arm that has 6 degrees of freedom I used to love. My two young boys now have it and have great fun getting it to pick stuff up and move things around just like I did.
Tom Beddard: My name is Tom Beddard and I'm an ex-laser physicist turned web developer. I currently work as a senior interactive developer at 55 Degrees in Glasgow, Scotland where we specialize in interactive software installations and video production. My personal interest is in mathematical and generative graphics where I'm currently obsessed with the new field of 3D fractals. There’s lots about 3D fractals on my site subblue.com and I've recently released a WebGL fractal explorer that lets you fly around and explore these structures in real-time. Try it with the latest Chrome or Firefox 4 browsers.
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At home I use an iMac but my most productive coding is often done on a MacBook while commuting on the train each day. I also use my iPad a lot for reading PDFs and eBooks.What software do you use?
Most of my projects I code using Textmate in mainly Javascript, Actionscript, Pixel Bender, and GLSL. I also use Quartz Composer and Structure Synth and play around with Processing and Cinder. Cinder really excites me as it is such a nicely thought out and designed framework, I just need more time to get my teeth stuck into it.“Swimming in the Mandelbulb reef.”If money were no object, how would you change your current setup?
I'd have a big interactive workshop where on one wall I'd have vast touch screens, 3D printers, robots, and lasers. Another wall would be set up for music creation with racks of music gear. The third wall would be for painting, drawing, and model making. The final wall would be covered with bookshelves!What fantasy piece of technology would you like to see invented?
A true artificial mind.Is there a piece of technology that changed your life or inspired you?
Unsurprisingly, it has to be the computer. Ever since I wrote my first BASIC script on the BBC Micros at school, and then playing around with STOS on the Atari ST, I've been fascinated by how you can take an idea and explore it on the computer.What’s your favorite relic piece of technology from your childhood?
I have a toy robot arm that has 6 degrees of freedom I used to love. My two young boys now have it and have great fun getting it to pick stuff up and move things around just like I did.