Issue 27 - Sept 2011 - Scots College

SCOBA
SCOB Craig Anslow
(1989-1997 MacKenzie)
“When I was at Scots there was no
Facebook or Google, and even mobile
phones were rare amongst my peers.
After leaving Scots I did a Gap Year in
Scotland and travelled throughout Europe.
International travel exposed me to the
impact that computer technology was
having on everything we do, from booking
flights to getting money out of the bank.
Computers were everywhere, so it seemed
like a good time to learn about them.
I am the first to admit that at first I found
university study very challenging. This all
changed at the end of my first trimester. I
had to make a stick figure walk across the
screen by giving it a set of instructions.
Initially I was not very good at it but I was
so excited that I had made it work.
Having completed a BSc(Hons) in
Computer Science at VUW, I then worked
in various IT roles in Wellington. My
Honours year exposed me to computer
science research which encouraged me
to complete a MSc in Computer Science,
after which I got the opportunity to work
for SAP research in Palo Alto, California,
USA. This experience convinced me that
doing research was the most exciting part
of Computer Science.
I have now embarked upon a PhD
at VUW which has involved building “an
iPad on steroids”. I built a multi-touch
Craig Anslow with his multi-touch table.
table from scratch which has a 48-inch
screen that allows a host of people to
interact with the touch screen at any one
time. Two people could play air hockey,
a family could complete a jigsaw puzzle
together, or it could be used by a team of
software developers. Beneath the screen,
an infrared camera detects when someone
is touching the screen and sends the
information to the computer that drives
the technology.
While there are many visual effects
such as seemingly making water ripple on
a table’s surface or displaying interactive
maps to zoom in on, it’s the business use
of the technology that excites me. I’m
interested in how software developers
can use something like this to analyse
and understand software. The ability of
the touch table to support multiple users
makes it ideal for software developers who
typically work in teams.
The software I am building allows
people to interact with visualisations of
how existing software is structured and
has evolved over time. If, for example, you
identify in the visualisations that one part
of the software is considerably bigger than
others, perhaps you could design that part
better. The sheer size of most modern
software makes this sort of analysis a
challenge, but that’s where I think touch
table technology comes in.”
Craig has tested his software with
groups of computer science students,
recording on video how they interact with
the touch table and work together on a set
of software maintenance tasks. He plans to
conduct further studies with professional
software developers. “The user studies
have given us insight into how effective
this technology could be in the work place
and how it can help software developers
create even better touch table software.”
He has built his table with financial
assistance from TelstraClear, the Ministry
of Science and Innovation, and a strategic
research grant from the School of
Engineering and Computer Science at
Victoria University, where he’s based.
More information: http://homepages.
ecs.vuw.ac.nz/~craig
New apparel for Old Boys
The Old Boys’ Association has available a range of products so Old Boys can keep alive
their association with their old school and wear the Old Boys’ crest with pride.
Navy Blue Tie
Red Tie
Black Tie
Ties, cufflinks, umbrellas, bags, hats, polo
shirts and merino zip tops are available
for on-line ordering through the SCOBA
website (http://www.scotscollege.school.
nz/scoba).
New items will be made available from
time to time as the Old Boys’ Association
secures lines of quality products which will
be great mementoes for Old Boys while at
the same time providing an opportunity
for fund-raising for key projects.
Scots College Old Boys’ Visits
An increasing number of Old Boys are reconnecting with their old College. They come for many reasons – some
to view the impressive building projects scheduled to be open soon, some to revisit happy school day memories.
Many have not been back since they left school. This year our SCOB visitors included…
SCOB Rev Michael [John]
Holland [1958 – 1962]
currently Chaplain, St Mark’s
School in Wellington visited
the College in May. Michael
attended the College as a
Day Boy in Glasgow House.
He played Soccer (his 1962
team was undefeated all season!) and he remembers fondly his
participation in the drama production ‘Murder in the Cathedral’.
Bruce Leiataua [1980 – 1990] visited in June, and who is currently
living and working in American Samoa. Bruce visits New Zealand
twice a year and is looking to enrol his 10 year old son at Scots for
his secondary education.
Senior SCOB Phillip [Phil] Nissen Bustin [1937 – 1949]
Phil made his first visit to his old College in June since 2001.
Accompanied by his daughter, Ruth Gould, and his two grandsons,
David and Leonard Gould, he was brought over from Melbourne
specifically to see Scots again and to revisit special places of his
early life in Wellington including his family home.
Phil entered as a boarder in 1940 when his older brother Cyril
Nissen Bustin was leaving Scots. There was no-one to take him
home after school so he became a boarder! During his visit Phil
commented on his gratitude to the Matron of the day who went
out of her way to ensure her young boarding charges were happy.
Phil was a Prefect; 1 st XV 1948, 1949; Runner-Up Senior Athletic
Champ. 1949; Middleweight Boxing Champ. 1949; Flight Sgt ATC;
University Entrance 1949; last form VI.
Following Scots, Phil commenced at Otago Medical School
and stayed until his course involved ‘cutting up bodies’ and
then switched to science. On arrival in Australia he worked for
ICI – Imperial Chemical Industries. Following that, he was self
employed for the remainder of his working life.
Phil Bustin with his daughter Ruth Gould, and grandsons David and
Leonard Gould.
Brothers Adrian and Julian
Sutherland [1979 – 1985]
made a surprise visit in August
together with their mother and
Adrian’s wife and son. Adrian
and Julian were boarders for
a number of years while their father was in the Foreign Service
– Julian excelled in sport and Adrian enjoyed the Pipe Band.
Currently Adrian is based in Wellington while Julian lives in
Queensland, is involved in real estate and has four daughters.
Also in August, Alasdair Shaw [1958 –
1960] who lives in Havelock North visited
the College to pick up artwork he had
purchased at the College’s highly successful
Art Auction, and took the opportunity
to update himself on what is currently
happening at Scots. He was accompanied by his daughter, Libby
Joel. Alasdair’s brother, Richard was also a boarder, and attended
Scots 1953 – 1957, as did his brother-in-law K I [Ian] Struthers of
Gisborne [1958 – 1962].
St Andrew’s Seats
The College has had a semi-circle of eight St Andrews Seats
erected on the Prefects’ Lawn, in the front of Aitken Building.
These hardwood seats enhance the front lawn of the College –
and we are inviting members of the Scots community to donate
$4,000 per bench.
There are four seats remaining. A seat can be personalised
by the attachment of a permanent commemorative plaque.
Those who have already donated regard this as being a special
way of recording their personal involvement with the College,
whether it be as an Old Boy or a member of the Scots Family.
Each donation qualifies for a tax incentive.
If you are interesting in discussing this opportunity further,
please contact Ann Walker, Development Officer, DDI (04) 803
0590 or walkera@scotscollege.school.nz
24 THE QUAD | SEPTEMBER 2011 – ISSUE 27 THE QUAD | SEPTEMBER 2011 – ISSUE 27 25