
Can AI negotiate contracts?
Luminance demonstrated its AI negotiating a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with no human intervention.
As a freelance journalist, I've written for a wide range of publications, including BBC News Online, The MagPi, Melody Maker, and Internet Magazine. Here are some of my favourite articles and blog posts, representing a cross-section of my work. Some articles are PDFs. If you need a more accessible format, please contact me. Looking for something in particular? Try the search or contact me.
Luminance demonstrated its AI negotiating a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with no human intervention.
Discover how apprenticeships, self-learning and start-ups are providing a way in to tech careers.
How can websites can cut their carbon emissions? Shortlisted for best feature in the Freelance Journalism Awards 2023.
Companies are shredding storage media to stop data leaks, but drives can be securely reused. See my BBC article.
I investigated the opportunities and risks of using ChatGPT to create computer code, for the BBC's Technology of Business.
Take your first steps using the affordable computer that is popular with students, hobbyists and inventors.
Be inspired by this round-up of outdoors projects for the Raspberry Pi including a weather station, a high-altitude balloon, and a motorised skateboard.
This 12-page feature from The MagPi introduces Scratch and shows you how to build a simple game, before moving on to Python and electronics.
ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion create illustrated stories to your specification on this Raspberry Pi project.
ArtEvolver creates digital art by blending slides of textures, shapes, and colours together. I developed the code and wrote the tutorial for this article.
My program Raspberry Radio creates a virtual DJ that introduces your MP3s before playing them, and reads out the news and weather. Written for The MagPi.
This project uses the Raspberry Pi to add a soundtrack to a visual artwork that depicts the cycle of life. It was created by Stewart Easton and Gawain Hewitt.
Musician Aphex Twin worked with Dave Griffiths to make a Raspberry Pi project that programs new sounds for the Yamaha DX7 synthesiser.
Tips for educators on fixing Scratch programs, from Hello World. Scratch is widely used in primary schools to teach programming.
This tutorial from micro:mag shows you how to create an audio game using the micro:bit and the text-to-speech feature in Scratch.
I've often covered technical conferences for publications. Here's a write-up of PyCon UK for The MagPi.
In 2019, Scratch Conference came to Cambridge, UK. Here's my round-up from a packed event schedule.
From 2014, a review of Google Glass from their London pop-up experience. See also developer guidelines.
Read my account of a remarkable summer as a volunteer performer in the spectacular Industrial Revolution sequence.
For this Internet Magazine article, I met Mike Oldfield inside his cooperative musical game Maestro.
3D modelling revealed some of the secrets of how Ironbridge was built.
Computer users helped search for alien life using Seti@home. I interviewed the scientist behind it.
There are many, many more articles and blog posts on my website. To dig deeper, see:
My Raspberry Pi tutorials hub
Including a short history of the Raspberry Pi, and code for downloading jokes and creating AI images.
My Scratch tutorials and resources centre
Including Press Play, a library of sound effects for your games, 10-block demos, and Shaun the Sheep football.
Web design resources
Including using CSS to make a 3D anaglyph effect, my Javascript Smart Marketing Toolkit and an introduction to web analytics.
My science and technology articles
Including how to send smells over the internet, a short history of the internet and an introduction to mass customisation.
My articles about journalism and writing
Including how to write a novel and how to write comedy for TV, radio or stage.
Music journalism
Including They Might Be Giants tell me they're dead serious, Colin Vearncombe (Black) reflects on Wonderful Life and Erasure pioneers customised MP3s.
Music promotion articles
Including how to start recording at home.
Photo credits: Hard drive by Benjamin Lehman at Unsplash, Starry sky by Greg Rakozy at Unsplash, students by Brett Jordan at Unsplash.
© Sean McManus. All rights reserved.
Visit www.sean.co.uk for free chapters from Sean's coding books (including Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps and Coder Academy) and more!
Web Design in Easy Steps, now in its 7th Edition, shows you how to make effective websites that work on any device.
Power up your Microsoft Excel skills with this powerful pocket-sized book of tips that will save you time and help you learn more from your spreadsheets.
This book, now fully updated for Scratch 3, will take you from the basics of the Scratch language into the depths of its more advanced features. A great way to start programming.
Code a space adventure game in this Python programming book published by No Starch Press.
Discover how to make 3D games, create mazes, build a drum machine, make a game with cartoon animals and more!
In this entertaining techno-thriller for adults, Sean McManus takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair.