July Newsletter: Local Media Appearances and AI-Powered Games
Jul 31, 2024
Welcome to the July newsletter! This month, I’ve been busy with some engaging media appearances and a fun project utilizing AI to create a unique twist on a classic game. Here’s a summary of what I’ve been working on:
Promoting Huntee on BBC Local Radio
About five years ago, I launched Huntee, a website and application offering free digital treasure trails around North Yorkshire, County Durham and the North East. Huntee combines traditional scavenger hunts with a Q&A gamified interface, enriched by local history videos and photos. What started as a small project for my niece has grown into a platform with over 50 trails.
Recently, I had the pleasure of discussing Huntee on BBC local radio with presenter Gary Phillips. This was my second appearance on his show, and it was exciting to share the platform’s growth and impact on local exploration. The discussion covered the origins of Huntee, its development over the years, and its benefits for local families and visitors.
You can read more about this appearance and listen to the full interview here.
Small Business Networking and Talks
Sue, the organizer of the “Thursday, Thursday” networking event in North Yorkshire, invited me to present Huntee to the local small business community. This event, which has been running for over a decade, provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase Huntee and discuss the broader applications of web apps for small businesses.
My talk covered the development and benefits of Huntee, followed by a session on the potential of web apps to enhance audience engagement and creativity for SMEs. The feedback was positive, and it was a rewarding experience to connect with local entrepreneurs and share insights on leveraging digital tools for business growth.
Tutorial: Creating an AI-Powered ‘Noughts and Crosses’ Game
In this month’s tutorial, I demonstrated how to use AI to quickly create a simple yet fun variant of the classic noughts and crosses game. Using ChatGPT, I developed a 4×4 grid game where the players are represented by images of Trump and Harris, adding a humorous twist to the traditional game.
The tutorial walked through the steps of:
Generating game instructions and a playable prototype using ChatGPT.
Converting the prototype into an HTML, CSS, and JavaScript web game.
Enhancing the game with AI for a computer-controlled opponent.
Adding themed player images for a unique visual experience.
This project exemplifies how AI can be used to create quick prototypes and entertaining applications. You can find the detailed tutorial and try out the game here.
Upcoming Plans
Next month, I’ll be focusing on more SME-centric projects, particularly around WordPress maintenance and enhancements. This will include a deeper dive into how small businesses can optimize their websites for better performance and user engagement.
I hope you find these updates and tutorials helpful. As always, your feedback is invaluable, so please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions. Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I look forward to sharing more insights next month!
If you missed the previous newsletter, you can view it here.