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Alexander Blanc

Alexander Blanc

I joined the lab in 1998 whilst studying for a BSc in Information System Design at Kingston University.

Whilst at Ultralab I have worked with leading public and private sector organisations including Orange, DfES, Oracle, QCA, Apple and Microsoft. My time is split between project management, consultancy, system analysis, and software exploration. A key role I fulfil within Ultralab is to research and provide guidance on new and emerging technologies and their application. Through this, I have a lot of experience and knowledge of user-centred, agile, iterative design methodologies.

Recently I led a development team for Every Object Tells A Story, a website where everyday objects can be submitted, explored and annotated by members of the public. This DCMS commissioned project was developed in conjunction with the Victoria & Albert Museum and Channel 4. The site has proved popular, and the educational resources have been a useful tool in classrooms.

The project has allowed us to reflect upon the role of the mobile phone in contribution and outreach work and to circumvent traditional barriers to online participation. We are particularly proud that it was chosen as one of only two online projects of 2005 to be archived by the British Library for future prosperity.


Some of my other (favourite) achievements
  • I provided a vision for and specified JellyOS, an online community platform. It is now fully open-sourced, and is actively developed by others. The platform is now being used by the Charity Gemin-i, and the BBC to support a project linking over 200 schools across the world.
  • Successfully specified, developed and delivered everyobject.net, a £3m Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funded project.
  • Was the technical director of the innovative and widely reported-on eviva.tv project, working with Orange and the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
  • Played a part in the development of think.com, Oracles secure online community and learning environment accessed by school children across the globe.
  • I was a judge for the BAFTA (2003) ‘Technical Innovation’ category.
The Rest
  • 2006 Technology Researcher, Design & Ingenuity (currently in development)
  • 2006 System Analyst, Digital Teacher Network (currently in development) exploring tools to support the bringing together of 200 of Europe's most creative teachers.
  • 2005 - 2006 Project Manager, Hotseat Corner (based on the QAPOW software platform)
  • 2002 - 2006 Technology Researcher, SMS stickies, recently used by Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC.
  • 2003 - 2006 Analyst / Team Leader, Every Object Tells A Story (EveryObject.net)
  • 2004 - 2005 Developer, Cogs (based on the Gearbox platform)
  • 2002 - 2004 Project Manager, JellyOS community platform (now open sourced as Gemin-i plus)
  • 2003 - 2004 Software and Consultancy, Ultraversity
  • 2000 - 2004 Technology Researcher, Web stickies
  • 2002 - 2004 Project Manager, Teachers for Teachers (TforT) http://zelda.ultralab.net/lab
  • 2002 - 2003 Director of Technology, Eviva.tv
  • 2001 - 2003 Technology Consultant, Lifeboats.tv
  • 1999 - 2001 Lead Information Architect, National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
  • 1999 - 2001 Technology Consultant Notschool.net
  • 2000 - 2001 Lead Developer, eMMunity
  • 1998 - 2000 Consultant, New Generation Audiences
  • 2000 User Interface Consultant, Think.com
  • 2000 CreditLink
  • 1999 Ultra learning lab
  • 1999 GFCE
  • 1999 MPowernet
  • 1999 eTui
  • 1998 - 1999 Spinalot (pdf)

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