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Robin Broad

Welcome to my website! I am a web programmer, writer, artist and musician based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Here is a summary of some of things I've included on this website:

Programming

During my Masters at Newcastle University, I programmed in Java to an advanced level. Java, C#, C++, and C are all closely related object-oriented programming languages, and as such it is relatively straight forward to transfer skills learned in one OOP language to another. I have included on the programming page basic examples of code, or references to code, that I have now written in 16 different languages.

MSc Dissertation

Learning Through Performance Feedback from Computer Simulation

Robin Broad MSc Computing Science Newcastle University August 2008

Abstract: This dissertation details the work carried out by Robin Broad during June, July and August 2008 on a project to build a simulation game based upon a search and rescue scenario with an emphasis placed on the processing of free text input and the feeding back of useful comments on the trainee’s performance at the end of the simulation.

Starbird Digital

Starbird Digital is a web software business based in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of the UK using fast, reliable data centers in the USA. We have created our own economical content management system, The Easy SDCMS, and we also write custom computer code. We use a range of new web technologies to power modern, advanced websites. We have now created over a million web pages.

Automated Teaching Machines

I develop web applications using PHP in a GNU/Linux environment. I am interested in the application of The Internet, AI and software to provide learning tools and applications.

iTutor

The iTutor is called Akilah (meaning - intelligent one who reasons). She is a software robot that has evolved from our work using the NASA CLIPS expert system tool.
She is automating the following tasks usually carried out by teachers:

1. Processes student responses in a reasonably 'intelligent' (AI*) way
2. Responds with a realistic 'emotional' (AI) response
3. 'Knows' (AI) about her subject
4. Remembers what the student doesn't know
5. Returns to help with the areas of misunderstanding
6. Keeps a record of student progress
7. Can report on student progress

Our system helps you to:

• build confidence
• improve grades
• and pass exams!

The Free Science Revision Guide

The Free Science Revision Guide was written to support the intermediate science section of the Automated Teaching Machines website. The topics are aimed at 14 - 16 year old high school students, but may be of interest to readers of any age. This work has been written to be freely available over the Internet, so it is a general purpose document which can be used in any country and with any exam board that covers these subjects.

The content is written to be accessible to young people, to be concise and to avoid repetition. The information given is intended to create an outline of the key facts and ideas for each topic, to establish a foundation that can be built upon by the student where time permits.

The Free C++ Advanced Concepts Guide

This book was written to help students to understand some of the advanced concepts of object orientated programming in C++. This book does not start with the details of getting started in C++, or the basics of controlling program flow. Rather, it starts off with the advanced concepts of classes and objects, inheritance, polymorphism, arrays and pointers. The advanced concepts are all demonstrated using working C++ programs. The programs have been heavily commented to give students a step by step explanation for every line of code and every new concept. The code has been formatted using an easy to follow colour scheme specially designed for C++ code listings. Importantly, all of the programs have been released as free software under the GNU GPL and can be downloaded from:https://www.robinbroad.co.uk/C++Tutorial.php

Create your own Website using the easy SDCMS - Starbird Digital Content Management System

This guide was written to help you to put your own website online and be able to manage yourself, without needing have any expert knowledge. It describes how to use the easy SDCMS - Starbird Digital Content Management System to manage your own web pages. This free website guide was written by Robin Broad, a computer scientist and teacher from Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK. Robin achieved a distinction in his masters degree in computing science (MSc), which he studied at Newcastle University, in England from 2007 to 2008.The decision to publish this book as a free advanced concepts guide under the GNU General Public License was inspired by the example of the American computer scientist Richard Stallman.

C++ Tutorial - Learn C++

This page was written to help students to understand some of the advanced concepts of object orientated programming in C++. It does not start with the details of getting started in C++, or the basics of controlling program flow. Rather, it starts off with the advanced concepts of classes and objects, inheritance, polymorphism, arrays and pointers.
The advanced concepts are all demonstrated using working C++ programs. The programs have been heavily commented to give students a step by step explanation for every line of code and every new concept. The code has been formatted using an easy to follow colour scheme specially designed for C++ code listings.
Importantly, all of the programs have been released as free software under the GNU GPL.

Creative Writing

I've written a few short stories just for fun. Some examples have been included on this page.
Music
Song Writing
Songs of Love and Technology
A sythpop album by The Cybertones - All words and music © Robin Broad and Alan Carson 2006:

Art

Street Artist .UK
Original artworks, prints and framed prints by Robin Broad, artist, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

I am an artist based in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK.

I studied A-Level technical drawing at school, and went on to study physics, electronics and computer science. I worked, for a while, as an electronics engineer at the BBC in London. During this time, I learned about colour vision and the representation of colour and luminance in electronic television signals. I later taught myself how to use photographic manipulation software and the meaning of HSV colour values in images. I suppose then, that my approach to art comes from quite a scientific and technical perspective.

I have always loved portraits and enjoyed visiting a range of art galleries, including The National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery and The Tate Modern in London, The Scottish National Gallery and The Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, and The Baltic, Laing and Hatton galleries in Newcastle upon Tyne.

I have always liked painting and I’m inspired by the work of Andy Warhol, Van Gough, Picasso, David Hockney, Nicolas Poussin, Kandinsky, Mark Rothko, Fabian Perez and Voka.

I love portraits, especially abstract portraits of iconic people; that is why I have taught myself to paint them. I especially like the loose free style of painting, adopted by Fabian Perez and Voka, and the abstraction of Warhol and Hockney. I guess that my journey in art has found it’s place in this area.

Wild Camping

Wild Camping These wild camping images were taken along the Northumberland Coast Path. The Raja Yoga meditation is taught by the Brahma Kumaris.

Climbing

Climbing Slideshow
These climbing techniques were taught at the Eldon Leisure Centre climbing facility and inspired by the YouTube videos of The Boulderaner and in particular, his Solo Climbing with a Self Belay - Selfbelayed Toprope - Via Ferrata Style video.

UK Weather

UK, Europe - Long Range Weather Forecast; 16-day forecast

European pressure maps are provided daily by the United States Department of Commerce scientific agency, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) in Boulder, Colorado, United States of America. They are being used here with their permission.

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