I now live in a village near Hastings, East Sussex with my wife and three daughters.
I have a knowledge, interest, and passion for computers and design. The way a user interacts with a machine is all about design. All this hardware and software should work reliably and the way we want it to. The most important thing for me is making sure the technology works in a way that makes sense for you and looks good at the same time..

If you think I can help you in any way then feel free to get in touch.

PC hardware
BUILD- SUPPORT- MAINTENANCe- UPGRADE

With an ever increasing amount of hardware around the home, overloading of your electrical circuit can often cause
a variety of issues. Experience suggests you shouldnt overlook this as a source of many repeat hardware problems.

Hide TV, Monitor, PC and peripheral cables to improve the interior design of your home

If you are frustrated with your computer there are a variety of things you can do
without having to buy a new one.
The heart of your PC is the CPU (central processing unit) and the motherboard.
If your PC is struggling with demanding software these can be upgraded whilst you keep the rest of your PC.
07900 261332
matt@mattmoloney.net
Matthew Moloney
Summer Cottage
New Cut
Westfield
East Sussex
TN35 4RD
Previous
Next
Windows Live Mesh Windows Live Mesh

WINDOWS LIVE MESH 2011

If you find yourself working or updating the same files on two or more different computers then this is an unbelievable tool. You create a "sync" folder between your two (or more) machines and it automatically updates to all sync locations (internet needed). I no longer need to worry about transferring the latest files I am working on between two or more different machines. Live Mesh does it for me.

This is a free service at the moment with a sync capacity of 5GB. Its easy to use. This software only works with Windows Vista and above.

Windows 7

WINDOWS 7

You can upgrade to Windows 7 without the need to buy a whole new PC. Theres a variety of reasons why I think its a great step forward for most home users. Hardware and network connectivity being number one on the list. Check if you can upgrade with your current hardware here.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla is a web browser just like Internet Explorer. I like Mozilla firefox because it benefits from a great list of add ons and extensions, a bit like apps for the iphone. I still feel that even the latest Internet Explorer 8 is not as fast at loading the moving javascript for this page as Firefox. I have high hopes for IE9 which has a beta release so is not too far away.

Since more and more of our computer use is online its a good idea to view the alternatives if you are using Internet Explorer. Check out Google Chrome and Opera as well and see which you like best.

CCleaner

Piriform create software to make your computer faster, more secure and have greater privacy. Whether you're cleaning out files on your system with CCleaner, defragging your hard drive with Defraggler, analyzing your hardware with Speccy, or recovering deleted files with Recuva.

AVG ANTI-VIRUS FREE 2011

Im not convinced most home users need to pay for internet security. AVG offer a free home user option.

The best security tips i can offer are:

1/ Dont click on any email links you arent absolutely sure of (watch out for bank emails and amazon "lookalike" stuff etc).
2/ Dont purchase goods online from any company that does not list an address you can ID and a phone number you can actually call.
3/ You download ANYTHING from the internet at your own risk. Just like life before the internet, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

INDESIGN CS5
I think InDesign is fantastic. I use it to create brochures which can be exported as interactive pdf documents or sent direct for print. Heres an example of an interactive pdf. I also tend to start most of my design ideas in this program because I find the tools so intuitive to my way of working.
DREAMWEAVER

You can code a website using notepad but Dreamweaver and Fireworks are the tools I use for web design. Fireworks does all the image stuff and Dreamweaver helps with the CSS (cascading style sheets) and html.
The moving parts for this website are written with javascript (not by me). If you are interested in Dreamweaver and web design you might want to take a look at Project Seven.

COLDFUSION ASP.NET
JQUERY

Im in the process of learning these technologies (and its early days). Its this sort of stuff that makes amazon not have to hand code every single page of their website. The data feed is dynamic which means it updates automatically from some other source (normally a database of some sort).

Search Engine Optimisation

Its crucial when building a website that you give serious consideration to how you get it to rank well in the major search engines like Google. If you are looking to sell products or services nationwide then you need professional SEO input. I warn you now there are a lot of unprofessional people selling this service who can ultimately do you more harm than good. Do your research.
For a local small business there are some fundamentals you can follow which will serve you well and cost you nothing.

Show All

Hardware that advances the principles of Design
  • LG TV
    Have a good look at the side and back of your TV if you bought it in the last few years because there are probably a multitude of ports that arent being used. Im interested in helping people connect all hardware in their home so they can make the most of it. If you have a new flatscreen TV this is often the best place to start. Flatscreens can also be fitted to a wall (with cables hidden) so they become part of the room rather than dominating it.
  • Dual monitor setup
    If you are using your computer for many different tasks then this is without doubt number one on my list of things for you to do. Increase your productivity and enjoyment with your PC by adding a second monitor. In most cases this is easy to do and costs a lot less then buying a whole new PC. Check the back of your PC and look for the monitor cable leading from the screen. Is there an empty port that looks similar next to it? If not we can insert a graphics card (£50) on the motherboard that will accommodate 2 screens. All of the people I have done this for have been incredibly positive after just a week of using the setup.
  • Intel processors
    You dont need to buy a new PC to get a faster experience. A new motherboard and CPU will bring your computer right up to speed without the expense of buying a completely new one. This Core 2 Duo processor was top of the range kit about 3 years ago and is now very affordable. A dual core computer has two processors on the same chip which is a big step forward in processor speed.
  • CCTV is now affordable
    Design has to be functional and affordable to be widely accepted. This CCTV system hooks straight into your existing hardware which makes it affordable. If its connected to your broadband you can also view the camera footage from a web browser (via secure login) from anywhere in the world. The biggest issue here is the unsitely cabling which is something I know how to hide.
  • Iphone4
    I have used a lot of smartphones and this makes the list for one fundamental reason - The user interface is fantastic. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, better and more creative and the iphone does. Elegant and simple to use with a huge library of downloadable apps to suit your personal needs.
  • Ipad
    Often the best ideas are brilliantly simple. In a tech world obsessed with making gadgets smaller someone at Apple had the imagination to think that some people might like an iphone with a bigger screen. The rest is history. There are a ridiculous amount of imitations scheduled for release in 2011. Some will be good and a lot will be awful so be careful if you are thinking of buying one.
  • Wireless electricity is coming
    Its not quite with us yet but hopefully Nikola Tesla will be acknowledged if we ever manage to harness electricity that doesnt require cables and plugs.
  • The best monitor display
    I cant justify the expense but I would like one of these. For a much more inexpensive way of improving your computer and internet experience consider a dual monitor display.
  • Maglev train
    Heres a train that runs on magnets. Its operational in China at speeds of around 350 mph. With the use of vacuum technology it has the potential to run at jet aircraft speeds. Its lack of environmental footprint means it could also be a permanent answer to urban travel problems.
 

Show All

Hardware and Interior design
  • Wall mounted TV with hidden cables
    I think current TV design can be excellent so why have a bunch of cables destroying the overall design? If you mount a TV securely and hide all the wires it can enhance the look of your living room. In this example it gives the impression of a picture which has the added bonus of coming to life when you switch it on. The installation on this is not too problematic as long as care is taken with the cables. To get the complete finished look redecorating the back wall is required.
  • Ergonomic monitor arm
    If you want to find out why ergonomics is an important part of design look here. A monitor arm can alleviate any physical disomfort associated with computer use. Its also great for adjusting in a multi user environment (ie a childs ideal viewing angle will not be the same as an adults).
  • Wall mounted computer monitor
    Wall mount your computer monitor and hide the cables. This setup gives you more desk space and makes the screen part of the room design. Its also possible to hide your PC "inside" a piece of furniture. This will involve securing the PC with screws etc to the furniture piece. The biggest concern here will be ventilation to the hardware.
  • Why are radiators so boring?
    Radiators take up more wall space than pictures in my house. I love the functional element of radiators because they keep me warm. The aesthetic design of the last few decades has been pretty poor. Thats now changed and there are a variety of economical options to inspire you.
  • Glass radiators
    Easy to install and a different design. There are lots of different options now for radiators.
  • Universalprinicplesofdesign
    This book has inspired me to try and find ways to help people take control of the ever increasing amount of hardware and software around their home. People come first. Technology needs to be robust, installed correctly and be easy to use, to come anywhere close to achieving some sort of harmony between us and our machines.