Legacy of the Genetic Codebreakers

Apr 232013

The Wellcome Library has launched a major new digital resource which tells the story of genetics. ‘Codebreakers: Making of Modern Genetics’  contains the digitised archives of the most prominent individuals in this field, together with lots of supporting material.

To celebrate the launch of ‘Codebreakers’ we would like to show you a special selection of MediaHub resources which help illustrate the huge impact the work of these geneticists has had on society and how it has already changed our lives.

It is sixty years since’ Nature’ published  Watson and Crick’s  paper on the structure of DNA. This breakthrough is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the 20th Century. Since that time enormous progress has been made in the field of genetics and molecular biology.

Francis Crick : Nobel Prize-Winning Scientist
Getty (still images) : 23-04-1993

Legendary Geneticist : James Dewey Watson
Getty (still images) 23-04-1993

Genetic Fingerprinting

Alec Jeffreys discovered the technique of DNA fingerprinting by chance while carrying out research at the University of Leicester in 1984. It revolutionised the field of forensic science and police were now able to use DNA evidence to link  a suspect to the scene of a crime. A few years later the technique had been developed sufficiently to make it commercially available. Click on the following ITV news clip to hear how DNA fingerprinting is carried out and the impact it was to have on criminal investigation procedures.

Genetic Fingerprint Techniques
ITV News 13-11-1987

Jeffreys went on to refine the process further and developed DNA profiling, a technique which made it possible for DNA databases to be established. This has led to ethical questions about whose DNA should be stored and for how long.

However, the use of DNA evidence in court is not without its issues. In 2007 attempts to convict an individual for the Omagh bombings failed due to problems with ‘Low Copy’ DNA that ‘did not stand up to scrutiny’. Watch the ITN news clip below to find out more about the implications this has had for the Crown Prosecution Service.

DNA evidence to be reviewed after Omagh bomb trial verdict
ITN 21-12-2007

Sequencing and Mapping of the Human Genome

The Human Genome Project, established in 1989,  allowed geneticists to work collaboratively on sequencing  the entire human genome. This involved identifying every chemical  base pair within every gene of each human chromosome (around 3 billion base pairs).

Base pairs which make up the structure of a DNA double helix
Book of Life : Wellcome Film 2001

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, based in Cambridge, carried out nearly a third of the work; the rest was sequenced by institutions  in the USA .  The ‘Book of Life‘ was made by the Wellcome Trust and is a fascinating account of how the sequencing work was done and the immense potential this has released to understand how genes contribute to human disease. We now have the information to discover the genetic basis of  cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as many other illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. Find out more about how the work was done by clicking on the image below:

Publication of the entire human genome
Book of Life : Wellcome Film 2001

This immense task was completed to a high degree of accuracy by 2003;  timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of  the DNA double helix.

Frederick Sanger, the researcher after whom the Sanger Institute was named,  pioneered methods of  sequencing  DNA which would form the basis of the high-speed technologies in use today. In the interview below you can hear this modest man discuss his work and how the life of a research scientist is usually strewn with failures from which occasional breakthroughs are made.

Frederick Sanger
Sanger. Sequences [Dr F. Sanger Interviewed by Mr H. Judson, 13 November 1987] Biochemical Society

The process of DNA sequencing is constantly advancing and becoming cheaper. In 2007 it cost $10 million to sequence a human genome whereas in 2012 it could be done in one day for around $1,000. This is having a revolutionary effect on  scientists’ abilities  to defeat diseases which mutate quickly, such as HIV and malaria, as well as for a multitude of other applications.

Many more genomes of other species are now being unravelled, expanding our knowledge of genetics further. Accompanying these advances will be a host of new ethical issues surrounding the use to which this information is being put and whether it is being used for commercial gain.

Greenpeace activists protest against genetically modified maize crops grown by US company, Monsanto.
Getty (images) 03-05-2005

Giant biotechnology companies such as Monsanto have been accused of introducing genetically modified organisms to the detriment of indigenous species and the environmental health of the planet.

The Genome of Neanderthal Man

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology are trying to sequence the Neanderthal genome following the discovery of ancient DNA within well preserved Neanderthal bones . It will allow scientists to compare human and Neanderthal genomes and identify the changes which are unique to modern man. It is hoped this will give clues to how man evolved and why Neanderthals disappeared.  Watch this Channel 4 Newsclip below to find out why scientists think this work could also contribute to our understanding of human speech disorders.

Neanderthal Skull
Technology: Scientists close to mapping genetic code for Neanderthal man: Channel 4 News 15-11-2006

We now stand on the threshold of a new age in which biomedical technologies will be used diagnose and treat disease, design new drugs and provide us with solutions to help make vital resources more plentiful. This promises to improve all our lives but, as with the advent of all new technologies, we will have to confront previously unknown ethical dilemmas along the way.

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Tutankhamun

Mar 182013

The 16th February 2013 marked the 90th anniversary of Howard Carter’s historic unsealing of the royal burial chamber of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. He had been searching for the tomb for many years, with the financial backing of Lord Carnarvon, and its discovery was not only the greatest achievement of his career but also the greatest archaeological find of modern times.

Crowds gather around the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun
Lord Carnarvon: Gaumont Graphic Newsreel 05-03-1923

Howard Carter’s personal diary and journal (now held at the Griffith Institute, Oxford)  provide a fascinating account of how the tomb was finally discovered in November 1922.  On Sunday the 5th November, he sent the following telegram to Lord Carnarvon

At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley a magnificent tomb with seals intact recovered same for your arrival congratulations

It took several months to record the hundreds of wonderful objects stored in the antechamber before the team could proceed to investigate the sealed burial chamber. Lord Carnarvon  travelled from England to witness the event on 16th Feb 1923 and the world press descended.

The following clip from Gaumont Graphic Newsreel includes Howard Carter showing  Lord Carnarvon and others around the site in early March 1923. A month later, Lord Carnarvon died suddenly from blood poisoning which originated from a mosquito bite and rumours began to circulate about the curse of  Tutankhamun.

Howard Carter talks to Lord Carnarvon at the tomb of Tutankhamun
Lord Carnarvon: Gaumont Graphic Newsreel 05-03-1923

Tutankhamun ruled Egypt between 1336 and 1327 BC and was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Although his tomb was relatively small for an Egyptian Pharaoh it was of enormous significance because very little looting had occurred and the burial chamber was still sealed. HV Morton, the only journalist allowed into the tomb, wrote vividly of astonishing sights which included not only magnificent treasures but also stores of food, perfumed face creams and withered garlands of flowers. The King had been buried with everything he could conceivably need to sustain him in the afterlife.

Carter was famous for his systematic approach to recording archaeological artefacts, ensuring the context of an object was recorded in addition to information about the object itself. His team used Carter’s own card system to record the contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb and he employed Harry Burton to photograph the excavation as it progressed, providing an invaluable visual record of the tomb in situ.

Contents of the tomb are removed in wooden crates after they have been carefully recorded
Lord Carnarvon: Gaumont Graphic Newsreel 05-03-1923

The discovery of Tutankhamun captured the imagination of the public at a time when such exciting events could be watched on early newsreels as well as being reported in print. This was to have a big impact on archaeology and the way in which it was communicated to a new audience.  Brian Hope-Taylor talks about this in the following  film called ‘The Investigators’ and discusses how archaeologists are equally concerned with finding out about the lives of ordinary people as well as royal ones.

A statue of Anubis guards the tomb of Tutankhamun
Who were the British?: The Investigators: Anglia Television Library 1965

Egypt’s tourist industry boomed as the media fuelled public interest in Egyptology. Take your own tour of  Aswan, Luxor and the Valley of the Kings by watching this 1959 Roving Report presented by the famously combative George Ffitch.

George Ffitch is driven to the Valley of the Kings
The Grandeur of Egypt: Roving Report 29-04-1959

Until the 1960′s all artifacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb were housed in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. As a result of political change it was made possible for the major items to be exhibited throughout the world and they still continue to travel the globe .

‘The Treasures of Tutankhamun‘  came to the British Museum in 1972 and was their most successful ever exhibition attracting over 1.6 million people. Click on the image below to watch an ITV news clip broadcast on the eve of its opening.

Scarab Beetle from the ‘Necklace of the Sun in the Eastern Horizon’
Tutankhamun Exhibition Opened: ITV News 29-03-1972

Tutankhamun has drawn people to Egypt for decades. Click on the image below to watch ITN footage of the Princess of Wales visiting Cairo and the Valley of the Kings in 1992. She was lucky and did not have to queue in the heat to see all his splendours.

Princess of Wales looks at the Golden Mask of King Tutankhamun
Princess of Wales Egypt Visit: ITN 14-05-1992

We now know much information about the boy king as a result of modern technology. There have been many theories about  Tutankhamun’s early death at around 19 years of age and many believed he had been murdered (evidenced by a skull injury). In 2005 the king’s mummified remains were scanned and results indicate  it is much less likely that he was deliberately killed. DNA testing  in 2010 shows he probably suffered from malaria which would have resulted in a weakened constitution. Death most likely occurred as the result of a leg injury which failed to heal properly. You can follow this story and find out more about his parentage and physical condition by clicking on the image below:

The real face of Tutankhamun
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut: Getty (moving images) 2010

Recent work on the analysis of mummies has given us valuable information about our own health. This Lancet article shows that evidence of atherosclerosis existed in a third of the mummies which were examined, suggesting that modern lifestyle factors are not completely to blame for an individual’s predisposition to heart attack and strokes. Instead it’s possible atherosclerosis  may be linked more directly to the human ageing process.

The public face of the King – the Golden Mask of Tutankhamun
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut: Getty (moving images) 18-02-2010

Controversies continue to follow Tutankhamun. There are problems concerning the deterioration of the King’s remains following their removal from the protective atmosphere of his sealed burial chamber, as well as the condition of the tomb itself. In addition there are the ethics of displaying a dead body, stripped of all the objects with which it had been buried. Many will argue  this is preferable to the looting which would have taken place once the location of the tomb was known, though some believe mummies should not be disturbed.

The legend of Tutankhamun, who died over 3,000 years ago and was sent into the afterlife with treasures beyond imagining, continues to fascinate us and even now he still  holds on to many of  his secrets.

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Robert Burns - Man of the People

Jan 252013

The life of Robert Burns is celebrated every year on the 25th January; the date of his birth. Why did the Burns Night tradition start and how did this obscure Ayrshire farm lad, born in 1759,  turn into a literary phenomenon and national hero?

The Birth Certificate of Robert Burns held at the General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh: Getty (still images) 24-01-2007

The first Burns Night was held on the wrong date (29th January 1802) due to a mistake in a  newly written biography by Dr James Currie (one of many inaccuracies written about Burns’  life).  The poet had been dead less than  six years yet, such was the impact he had made on the Scottish people, there was a great wish to preserve his memory. And what better way than to celebrate in the manner he would have appreciated most: with good company, haggis, Scotch whisky and of course, poetry. If you are thinking of hosting your own Burn’s Night Supper it’s advisable to consult some reliable information on the running order of the event. Click on the image below to watch a newsclip about Burns’ 250th anniversary in 1996.

Delivering the Address to the Haggis
Scotland: Robert Burns: Channel 4 News 23-01-1996

 

Robert Burns was born into a poor Ayrshire farming family in 1759. It was a constant struggle to make a living off the land and Robert endured hard manual labour during much of his early life. Despite this, his father made sure Robert was given the basis of a classical education, although he spent little time attending school. Find out more about the area where Burns grew up by watching ‘ Ayr from the Auld Brig‘ made by Films of Scotland.

Burns Birthplace at Alloway: Ayr from the Auld Brig: Films of Scotland 1961

As a young man he read widely and began to write poetry inspired by his passion for nature,  revelling and the local girls. To say he had a complicated love life would be an understatement and his many amours (plus resulting progeny) deserve a blog post all of their own.

The Brig O’Doon from Burns’ famous Tam O’Shanter
Ayr from the Auld Brig: Films of Scotland 1961

After his father’s death,  life on the farm continued to be precarious. In a bid to secure a reliable job and escape the embarrassing fallout of a recent romance, he came up with the unlikely idea of emigrating to Jamaica. Unfortunately he did not have money for the ship’s passage so decided to publish some of his poems (by subscription) to try and raise the funds. Astonishingly his volume, written in Scots dialect, was a runaway success. He changed his plans and set off for Edinburgh, where he knew no-one, to seek his fortune.

A Legend is Made
Scotland: Robert Burns: Channel 4 News 1996

In the course of arranging a second edition of his poems, he found himself in demand by the leading figures of Edinburgh society who were eager to meet the  ’Heaven-taught Ploughman’ themselves. He charmed them all with his vivacity and wit and soon became a celebrity figure. Burns also had a strong interest in folk songs and he set many of his own poems to music. In 1787  he toured different parts of Scotland, in the course of which he collected many traditional songs which were in danger of disappearing. On his return he worked collaboratively with others to collect, publish and preserve this vital part of Scottish culture. Take your own Scottish tour  by watching Holiday Scotland which features most of the places Burns visited himself.

 

Burns travelled as far north as Inverness during his travels in 1787
Holiday Scotland: Films of Scotland 1966

Sadly,  Burns was never destined to make much money. He sold the copyright to his poetry early on and refused to take any payment for his work collecting folk songs, which he regarded as a patriotic service. He returned to Ayrshire to bring up his family and took up a post with the Excise in order to earn a regular income. Click the image below to find out more about how Burns is still remembered in the town of Ayr.

People of Ayr celebrate the June Rite of Burns by re-enacting the ride of Tam O’Shanter: A Town Called Ayr: Films of Scotland 1974

His outspoken radical views got him into a lot of trouble with the authorities and there were occasions when he nearly lost his job with the Excise as a result.  He desperately needed to support his growing family but hard times lay ahead and he became unwell. Many have said his illness was due to a dissolute lifestyle but we now know he was suffering from endocarditis which, in the days before antibiotics, would inevitably prove fatal. He died on 21st July 1796 at the age of 37. His wife, Jean Armour, gave birth to his 13th child on the day of his funeral. His popularity was so great that it was said  over 10,000 people watched his funeral procession.

Burns Celebrations: Gaumont Graphic Newsreel: 29-01-1920

What was Burn’s legacy to the Scottish nation? His works have been translated into 50 languages and songs such as ‘Auld Lang Syne’ are known globally. His poetry is remarkable for its simplicity and honesty,  expressing his zest for life and egalitarian ideals. He has become a conduit for spreading  Scottish culture throughout the world.

Burns’s poetry and ideas continue to be relevant to us today. When the new Scottish Parliament opened, one of  Burns’ most famous songs was chosen to mark the occasion.  ’A Man’s a Man for A”That’  is a declaration of equality and liberty.

For A’ that and a”that

It’s coming yet for a’that

That Man to Man, the world o’er

Shall brothers be for a’that

 

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London 2012 Paralympics

Sep 072012

As the London 2012 Paralympics draw to a close we can look back on a fortnight full of excitement and not a little controversy. Over 160 nations have taken part in a Games which have challenged current perceptions of what it means to be disabled. Indeed Channel 4, official broadcaster for the Games, has branded the Paralympians “Superhuman” in an advertising campaign that forces us to reassess our mindset on Paralympian sport.

The Paralympic Movement was born at Stoke Mandeville hospital where athletic events were held for British WW2 veterans following the London 1948 Olympics. Taking a look at an early news report from ITV shot at Stoke Mandeville in 1956 it is clear that it was already becoming an international event.

Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville 1956

Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville 1956: ITV News 28-07-1956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1984 the Games returned to Stoke Mandeville unexpectedly. The original American hosts (University of Illinois ) pulled out due to financial problems and Stoke Mandeville agreed to co-host the Games together with New York. They had only 4 months notice to organise the event.

World Wheelchair Games

Prince Charles opens the Seventh Paralympic Games held at Stoke Mandeville: ITV News 22-07-1984

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Britain has produced many inspirational paralympic athletes, of whom perhaps the most famous is Baroness Grey-Thompson; better known simply as ‘ Tanni’. During her careeer she won 16 Paralympic medals for wheelchair racing events, of which 11 were gold.

Britain’s paralympian Dame Tanni Grey Thompson holds up her gold medals on the day she announces her retirement from international sport: Getty (still images) 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will be making history as the second biggest multi-sport event ever held in the UK as well as being the largest and most commercially successful Paralympics held to date. Millions of spectators have enjoyed watching an event which previously received relatively little media coverage.  The Paralympics really have become ‘mainstream’ giving them the power to change social attitudes to disability, which must surely be to the benefit of us all.

 

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Explore by Place: A New Way to Browse JISC MediaHub Content

Sep 042012

Explore by Place is part of the Explore area of JISC MediaHub (http://jiscmediahub.ac.uk/explore) where you will find a number of different ways to browse and explore interesting images, video, and sound.

Image of the Explore By Place Function

A preview (click for a larger view) of the new JISC MediaHub Explore section. The Explore headings in purple are our newest additions: Explore by Place and the recently released Explore by NewsFilm.

How does Explore by Place work?

Explore uses geographic information, which we have for many but not all items in JISC MediaHub, to create a map of the world that connects the image, video or sound to the place it was shot or created. The first screen you will see is a map of the world centred on the UK and Northern Europe:

Image of the Explore by Place map

This is the first screen you will see when you choose to Explore by Place. It shows an interactive map of the world centred on the UK.

From this map you can zoom out to explore other areas of the globe or you can zoom in to explore content from the UK. The map works just like Google maps: you can use the scroll wheel of your mouse, or the + and – keys on your keyboard, to zoom in and out. If you want to move around the map just click and drag or slip the map around so that is focused where you want it to be.

At every zoom level you will see different icons. Circular pins with a number on them indicate the number of items in a large area. If you click on these circular pin you will be automatically zoomed in closer to see the locations of those items. The other icon you will see is a JISC MediaHub logo which indicates that you have reached the content in this geographic area. Click on the logo to see previews of all images at that location. You can page through multiple images using double arrows like those on the JISC MediaHub front page.

Zoomed in image of Explore by Places

When you zoom into the map you will see two different types of markers. The circles are clusters of located items, the JISC MediaHub icons indicate an exact location of image, video or sound content.

When you find an image, video, or sound clip you want to find out more about just click on the preview and you will be taken to the full record for that item where you can find out more and, if logged in, download it.

If you want to search around a particular location look for the nearest JISC MediaHub icon and, if there are too many images to browse through, click on “search on this location” to open up a search results page where you can filter the images in the usual way. This is particularly useful if there are a large number of images at one point on the map – for instance a collection from Wick in the Highlands has over 7,000 images at one location:

An image of Wick Search Results

Wick, in the Highlands of Scotland, is home to a large number of images so is a good example of where “Search at this location” may be useful.

 

 

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JISC MediaHub Embeddable Search Widget - Coming to your website soon!

Aug 302012

We are very pleased to announce a brand new embeddable JISC MediaHub Search Widget!

The widget lets you add a search box for the JISC MediaHub service to any website you wish. Which means you could include the search box  on your website, blog, on your institutional portal or VLE, etc.

What does it look like? 

It looks like the search box shown in the top right-hand corner of JISC MediaHub. There are two styles of widget: one has a white background (like JISC MediaHub itself), the other has a black background providing an alternative option to fit with your website design.  A working version is shown below:

What does it do?

The widget allows you to begin a search of JISC MediaHub. Type in your search terms, tick what format you would like the results to appear in, and hit “return”. A new tab or new window will open up with your search results shown – you can then access more detailed filtering of results. Clicking on the “advanced search” link in the widget also triggers a new window to open, taking you directly to our advanced search page.

Where Can I Use the JISC MediaHub Search Widget?

The widget can be used anywhere on the web. You will be prompted to log in from the search results page so this widget can appear on any public or internal institutional pages, virtual learning environments, library blogs, etc.

Where Can I Find the Widget’s Embed Code?

You can access the JISC MediaHub Search Widget embed code from the About page within the JISC MediaHub service here: http://jiscmediahub.ac.uk/about#widget.

How Do I Embed the Widget?

The widget uses a very compact iFrame embed code, so for most web pages you should just be able to paste this code into the HTML and it will just work.

For pages where iFrames have been disabled, we would recommend instead using a JISC MediaHub logo or text link to connect your readers with the service. Full guidelines and logos for linking to JISC MediaHub are available on the JISC MediaHub About Page.

How Can I Comment or Provide Feedback on the JISC MediaHub Search Widget?

Please either leave a comment here on the blog, email the helpdesk (edina@ed.ac.uk) or use the Contact Us page to send us your feedback.

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Explore Newsfilm

Aug 012012

To coincide with the ending of the predecessor “NewsFilm Online” service, which provided access to much of the same content, we have introduced an “Explore Newsfilm” section in JISC MediaHub which offers several additional ways to browse content:

* By date, including a timeline, “it happened today” and user-defined date ranges
* By subject category (IPTC)
* By newsfilm collection, including those formerly in NewsFilm Online, plus two collections available separately in JISC MediaHub: Associated Press and ITN
* ITN studio scripts, formerly available only in NewsFilm Online.

In addition, all searches in MediaHub can now be filtered for newsfilm.

We hope you find this a useful additional feature and welcome feedback on it or any other aspect of the service.

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London Olympics 2012

Jul 272012

Excitement mounts as the world awaits the opening of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London on 27 July 2012. This is the third time the Games will have taken place in London;  the first  being in 1908 when the White City Stadium was built at short notice to accommodate them.

Originally these Games were to have been held in Rome but, following the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906, funds were diverted for the rebuilding of Naples and so their location was changed to a non-volcanic London.

White City 1908 : Museum of London

White City 1908 : Exploring 20th Century London (via Culture Grid)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forty years later the 1948 Summer Olympics were also held in London. Post-war rationing was still in force although athletes were allowed over twice the calorific intake of an adult in order to give them enough energy to compete. Watch this clip of the stirring opening ceremony which must have raised the spirits of those living through such austere times.

Britain 1948 - The Olympic Games : Gaumont British News 02-08-1948

Britain 1948 - The Olympic Games : Gaumont British News 02-08-1948

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souvenir Guide Book 1948 Olympic Games: Museum of London

Souvenir Guide Book 1948 Olympic Games: Exploring 20th Century London (via Culture Grid)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sixty four years later, the Games are to revisit London. The intervening period has brought about great changes in the way the Games are run and how we view them. Since the Munich massacre in 1972 there has been increased concern the Games could be used to stage political acts of terrorism. Security will be a huge issue for the London 2012.

In the following clip from ‘News at Ten’ Mark Spitz talks about his own experience, as an athlete and potential hostage target, at the Munich Games during the hostage crisis.

Mark Spitz Interview: News at Ten 05-09-1972

Mark Spitz Interview: News at Ten 05-09-1972

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Political changes within Europe have also had a big impact on the Games. As the dominance of the Soviet bloc came to an end, so did their former powerful prescence at the Olympics. There would now be new national teams from each of the former Communist states. The following clip also looks at how the Communist regime trained potential athletes through a system of select schools for children showing  outstanding  abilitiy in sports.

Olympic team after break-up of the Soviet Union : AP Archive 17-07-1992

Olympic team after break-up of the Soviet Union : AP Archive 17-07-1992

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapid advances in information technology mean more people can watch the Olympics than ever before. A new satellite was ordered by China Satcom to provide live television coverage for the Bejing Games in 2008.

Satellite launched for Olympic TV broadcasts: Getty (still images) 9-06-2008

Satellite launched for Olympic TV broadcasts: Getty (still images) 9-06-2008

 

Growing television audiences provide new markets for branded products. The Olympic brand for London 2012 is being protected by tough legislation to restrict its use to official sponsors who have paid enormous sums for exclusive rights.

The following clip, which looks at how Olympic sponsors tapped into the growing consumer economy of China, explains ‘…..it’s not just the athletes who are taking home the gold’

Global brands make grab for Olympic gold : Getty (moving images) 19-03-2008

Global brands make grab for Olympic gold : Getty (moving images) 19-03-2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are also controversial new rules governing the use of social media during London 2012. This includes banning athletes from posting video clips from the Olympic village or tweeting ‘in the role of a journalist’.

Ticket holders may not broadcast video or sound recordings or post pictures to Facebook from any events they attend. Should the use of social media be policed  during the Games and whose interests are being protected? London 2012 may prove interesting for more than displays of athletic prowess alone.

Don’t forget to let us know what you think about any of these issues.

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JISC MediaHub Celebrates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

May 312012

As celebrations begin for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, why not take a look at some of the historic resources on JISC MediaHub  which date from the time of her coronation in 1953.

ER Emblem designed by James Gardner. University of Brighton Design Archives

ER Emblem designed by James Gardner. University of Brighton Design Archives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our University of  Brighton Design Archives Collection contain some of the original designs by James Gardner which were commissioned for the Queen’s Coronation . He designed the public decorations for the Royal Borough of Kensington including a magnificent canopy which stood near the gates of Kensington Palace.

Original watercolour sketch of Coronation canopy designed by James Gardner: UoB

Original watercolour sketch of Coronation canopy designed by James Gardner: UoB Design Archives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see below how the canopy  looked when it was built.

Coronation Canopy, Kensington Palace Gates, by James Gardner: UoB Design Archives

Coronation Canopy, Kensington Palace Gates, by James Gardner: UoB Design Archives

 

Gaumont British News produced a film showing the highlights of the Queen’s Coronation. The BBC provided live coverage of the event which encouraged many people to buy their first television set. This would start the gradual decline in the popularity of cinema newsreels.

 The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II : Gaumont British News

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II : Gaumont British News

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II : Gaumont British News

 

Take a closer look at the white satin gown worn by the Queen at her coronation in this news clip from Channel Five News, which reports on a special exhibition held at Buckingham Palace in the year of the Golden Jubilee. Alongside the floral emblems embroidered on the bodice was a unique four leaf clover which the designer, Norman Hartnell, had secretly included.

Buckingham Palace Opens Doors to Public: Channel Five News 01-08- 2003

Buckingham Palace Opens Doors to Public: Channel Five News 01-08- 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy all your celebrations on Jubilee Day -  but keep safe with this sage advice from the 1977 Silver Jubilee:

Jubilee Crime : ITV News 02-06-1977

Jubilee Crime : ITV News 02-06-1977

 

 Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad mounted a special ‘beat the pickpocket’ operation to keep the public safe from the expected influx of thieves from abroad.

 

 

 

 And watch out for all that dodgy Jubilee memorabilia!
Jubilee Rip Offs : ITV News 03-06-1977

Jubilee Rip Offs : ITV News 03-06-1977

 

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Posted by Catherine Fleming at 3:17 pm JISC MediaHub, JISC MediaHub Highlights, Other No Responses » Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

More features in JISC MediaHub

Oct 042011

As part of the ongoing development of JISC MediaHub, we have added some new features.

Personal preferences in My MediaHub

MediaHub has options for searching and displaying records.  You may prefer searches to be restricted to a particular media type, such as video only, or you may like to see only the records “inside MediaHub”;  when the records are displayed, you may prefer too see more (or fewer) on each page.

These options are now all available in My MediaHub.    We intend to add more options soon.

Combine and re-run previous searches in My MediaHub

The Search History section of My MediaHub lists the searches you have run, and allows you to re-run them.  Now you can also combine them.   For example, if you have already run a search for equine, and another for horse, you can now combine these to search for equine OR horse (which will give you the sum two previous searches), or alternatively for equine AND horse (which will give you the intersection of the previous two, i.e. just the records that occur in both of them).

This feature comes into its own when you have several complex searches, each of which has many search terms.

“Show all” similar and recently viewed items

Full records in MediaHub (the page which displays all the information about a record) include a list of the top five similar items, which can help you to find other records that cover related topics.   Now this list includes a show all link that will display all similar items that can be found in MediaHub.

The five records you have most recently viewed are also listed on the full record page.   This can be helpful if you are searching and browsing, and wish to return to something you were looking at a minute ago (without having to re-run a search and maybe page through lots of results to find it again).     This list also now has a show all link, which takes you to the full list of recently viewed records in My MediaHub.

Searches now match any one or more words

MediaHub will now include a record in your results if it matches any one or more words that you enter, rather than including only the records that match all of the words (in technical terms, we are now applying the Boolean operator OR instead of AND).

We have made this change because we think it matches our users’ expectations.    For example, if someone is interested in animal health, they may enter a search like veterinary animal medicine, since each of those words is relevant, and some useful records will be catalogued under  veterinary  medicine whilst others are under animal medicine.

This strategy is sensible, and works well in most search engines, but until now it would have given a poor result in MediaHub, which would have displayed only records that had all of the words.   A record catalogued as veterinary medicine would have been excluded in the results, because MediaHub required the word animal as well.

Now, MediaHub will return any record that contains veterinary, or animal, or medicine.

This means that result sets can be much larger, but MediaHub sorts records according to relevance, so records that match all (or most) of the words you type will appear first.    For expert users, total control of the operators used is possible on the Advanced Search page.

Help guides

Two help guides have been added:  MediaHub Essentials is a two-page reference to the most important features, and MediaHub Help which is a full guide to the service.   These are PDF files, suitable for printing as well as reading online.

These can be found using the Help link in the menu bar, or in the Support section if you are browsing the About pages.

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Posted by Tim at 5:43 pm JISC MediaHub, news No Responses »
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