http://www.taplabs.com/

Mark decided it was time to update the existing site with something which represented his growing portfolio a little better, and which allows for regular updates that keep it fresh and exciting. The result was a fully content managed site containing various information pages, portfolio pages (which can display static and moving images) and, of course, a shop! Ultimately we created two sites in one to reflect the different sides of Mark’s work.

This is another project where we’ve been working with Ben from Radio Design, who once again provided some excellent page designs.

We’ve managed to create an application that will do real-time (and accelerated) playback of a journey displaying the vehicle g-forces en-route. For the first time we’ve developed the application using the Castle Monorail framework. Extremely useful for rapid application development, as in this case where the project start to finish was around 3 weeks.

Hopefully this will lead to the development of a full-blown and marketable application, though I am aware that the licensing options for Google Maps are still under discussion.

For this we will be providing an ASP.NET web application with a SQL Server database. This will allow the entire department to access the details quickly and easily, as well as allowing for simple updates and expansions to the application at a later date. It is hoped that the entire office will eventually be using the application. Following that there is the possibility of making it accessible out of the office to really speed up the current processes. Obviously security is of prime importance.

It already seems to be doing the right job. I had no idea that Adrian created the recent Robinson’s advertisements for example!

Which is exactly what you want to keep the traffic coming in to the site. It gives Adrian a great way to promote what he does and gives interested parties every chance to see the latest work. The store also gives a much needed outlet for the work and uses the PayPal API to process payments securely. On a technical note the site is completely CSS compliant meaning search engines like Google couldn’t wish for an easier site to index. On the first weekend alone we saw site traffic rocket.

This is an application we have been working on for a couple of months for conservatory manufacturer S&J Link Ltd. The requirement was for a zero install application which could take the place of their current, paper-based job tracking system.

That requirement soon expanded to cover additional tasks like importing customer details from the existing Sage accounting system, search and delivery run features. The result is a browser based application that the sales, production and delivery staff all use to ensure jobs are completed and delivered to site on time. Now that everyone is working from one central information resource errors and omissions are much reduced. By carefully identifying the proper procedures and processes which should currently be applied at Link we have also ensured that jobs cannnot be progressed without all of the relevant information.

Technically the application is written in ASP.NET 2.0 and uses a SQL Server database. As a slight aside, this is the first time we have ever been involved in a project that really does give even more productivity in widescreen!

Already the layout is shaping up very nicely. Ben has done a sterling job creating a site which gives a lovely portfolio feel to the presented artworks. We’re all quite excited about this one. It’s just one of those jobs you really want to get your teeth in to because you know people are going to love it at the end!

And so far it’s been very interesting. Minorplanet produce vehicle tracking systems and the software to go with it. It can all seem very big brother at times, but it’s fascinating when you are sat there watching a vehicle move about on the map in real-time! I’ll be developing one of the system administration applications. The small band of developers here seem pretty good and I’m happy to be working with them.

Obviously this all makes me quite busy at the moment. Sometimes I’d like the time to work on one of the many other ideas I have or the many things I really should get done (wouldn’t we all), but there’s just no chance at the moment with this and other small jobs coming in.

The site was developed using PHP and provides several content management areas which can be self-maintained, including a news and events page. The site also provides a photo gallery for each of the club sections.