This is my story about coming to university

When I came to an open day at the University I saw one of the lecturers presenting some of the great games that final year students had created. When I saw them I thought, “I’d love to make something like that.” Four years later I was running my own software development company and winning countless awards.

After graduation I was very busy. I won the Submerge Award with three other students for creating an online game and, together, we worked really hard to build HMC Interactive, an award winning software development company. HMC Interactive creates interactive multimedia products for a wide range of industries from education to entertainment and beyond, turning fantasy into reality. It’s great fun building theme parks and attractions all over the world. It’s never boring and I love it!

For one of our American clients we created audio-reactive disability rooms for children with autism and cerebral palsy. It uses high-powered hidden microphones to turn children’s sounds into a world of colours and light. We worked with leading American speech therapists to create it and we are hoping to bring it to the UK soon.

Currently, I am working on the Space Gallery at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, making huge digital rooms full of interactive starscapes from the Hubble telescope. We are also designing new interactive playspaces for the Cadbury World theme park in Birmingham. “Purple Planet” is a realm of mirrors, wall-sized screens, hidden cameras, motion detectors and interactive projections that react when you touch them or move your body. They form a series of mind-stretching virtual exhibits including such features as chocolate rain falling from the sky and a photo booth that moulds people into cyber chocolate sculptures.

“It’s great fun building theme parks and attractions all over the world. I love it!”

A Devon inventor has come up with a revolutionary device to help people who are colour blind to identify colours.

Reporter Greg Wade has been to see the device in action.

Imagine a world where you couldn’t see any colour, and where oranges were grey and red peppers were an even darker grey.

Well for many who are colour blind – whether partially or fully – that is their reality.

But that is about to change, thanks to a new invention from a Plymouth inventor.

Adam Montandon has used computer technology to produce a device called an Eye-Borg, which enables people to hear the sound of a colour.

For example, blue creates a high sound, while red creates a low sound.

Neil Harbisson, an art student from Spain who is based in Dartington, South Devon, is the first person in the country to be equipped with the device.

He suffers from total colour blindness, so for him the device is especially useful. Being an artist and a musician, visuals and sounds are very important to Neil.

When he first got the device he often spent an hour in the fruit or flower section of a supermarket – just so he could experience for the first time the sound of the vibrant colours.

The Eye-Borg consists of a digital camera and a backpack which contains the computer and headset for Neil to listen to colours.

Neil said: “It has completely changed the way I see the world and the way I perceive things. Everything has an extra layer.

“I can go out and buy red peppers now, which I couldn’t do before – I had to ask.”

Eventually, Adam hopes to produce a miniature version, maybe shrinking it to the size of a mobile phone or eye glasses.

The device has all sorts of uses – from the electrician who is colour blind, to the artist who wants to explore a new and exciting world of colour and sound.

Between Adam and Neil, they both hope to improve and advance the Eye-Borg so it is more accurate and sophisticated.

A Plymouth-based company has completed a series of interactive experiences for the visitor centre at Torquay’s Living Coasts.

The zoo’s new Discovery Zone will feature a dynamic series of displays, created by HMC Interactive.

It will be launched in May and consists of three major exhibits: a website, an interactive floor and a “penguin training facility”.

“Children will love this exhibit as there will be an instant interaction as things can happen under their feet even when they are standing still,” said an HMC spokesman. “Visitors will be able to pull their ecological weight and have fun at the same time.”

The penguin trainer involves touch screens which allow visitors to choose their own penguin to nurture, grow and teach a survival skill to. Four games will be available and they will work together to create a penguin lifecycle of feeding, breeding and evading predators.

Cyber Seaside is a floor which invites visitors to stand on virtual litter to clean a beach and stomp around fishing nets to uncover trapped animals. It is controlled by a series of motion sensors that track the user’s movements and create a graphic illusion based on where people are situated.