Gordon Davies
Programme co-leader MA Design for Interactive Media
Gordon Davies read Modern and Mediaeval Languages at Cambridge University. He has been a lecturer at Middlesex since 1987 and was in 1992 designer and course leader of the first Masters course to address Interactive Media in the University and indeed in the UK. He was subsequently co-designer of the MA in Design for Interactive Media and is joint leader of that programme and of the MA in Electronic Arts. He has been a member of the Lansdown Centre since its inception.
Before joining Middlesex he had a varied career encompassing mathematics teaching, modern language teaching, computer programming and classical music. In the latter capacity he was for some years a professional clarinettist and continues to work as an arranger, conductor and coach to amateur ensembles and youth orchestras. His arrangements for woodwind ensemble are published by Schott and Emerson Edition and he has received commissions from - among others - Nicholas Daniel, the Fairer Sax, Nigel Kennedy and the Albion Ensemble, for whom he also worked as music-producer on one of the first Ambisonic quadraphonic records in the world. His work has frequently been broadcast in the UK and abroad and currently available commercial recordings include those by Selandia and the Quintetto Avant Garde. He also worked intermittently as a freelance writer and translator and was the author of the original Bluffer's Guide to Computing, now sadly remaindered. Immediately before joining Middlesex he worked in the Department of Music Technology at City University, London.
Research Interests
His research interests include algorithmic approaches - especially novel forms and applications of Markov Chain Analysis - to music and text for interactive media, and computing for education.
Recent Work
He has worked for a number of years as an external consultant in Interactive Media, including the first electronic version of Creative Review and work with Collins Educational. Among the currently available educational products from the latter company to which he had a significant input, including interaction design, sound design and programming, are the CD-ROM series Letterland, Steps, Rapid Maths and Spotlight on Fact.
He has also undertaken consultancy on education and on-line communities for Pearson Educational. He is currently external examiner for the Masters courses in Sound Design for the Screen and Composing for the Screen at Bournemouth University.
