In this special episode of Octal FM we're joined by two guests to talk about alternative approaches to getting into the technology industry and software development. Specifically, we discuss what the organisation Code First: Girls is doing to increase the number of women in tech.

• Code First: Girls is a not for profit social enterprise. Since 2013 they've delivered £4.2 million worth of free education to young women across the UK. Their purpose is to increase the number of women in tech.
• Amali de Alwis is CEO of Code First: Girls. You can find her on Twitter at @amali_d.
• Lizzie Cullen Davison is a full-stack developer at Pixie Labs and a volunteer Code First: Girls instructor. You can find her on Twitter at @emc_dav.

FYI Jalada also works at Pixie Labs. Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion

In this episode we discuss how (typically niche) video content creators are adapting to the thirst for consuming their (high quality) content, but have traditionally found it harder to earn money to do it. How is this affecting the consumer, the creator, and the platform? Further reading:

• YouTube: Mid-year Update on Our Five Creator Priorities for 2018
• Social impact of YouTube
• NYTimes: How the Internet Is Saving Culture, Not Killing It
• Wired: YouTube's Latest Shake-Up Is Bigger Than Just Ads

Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion

This episode takes more of a 'resource' form, as we share some tips & tricks for getting started building a PC for gaming. We cut through some of the aspects that we think are unimportant, and share some shortcuts for saving time and money. There's a lot of resources out there on the Internet, but we like:

• Scan - for buying components (and pre-builds) in the UK
• Toms Hardware - for reviews
• bit-tech.net - for reviews, especially peripherals and modifications
• Hexus - for their partnership with Scan (easy to find reviews)
• Anandtech - for their deep-dives into new product ranges
• The Wirecutter - for their 'just buy this one' approach to components and peripherals. Look under 'Electronics'.

In this episode of Octal FM we dive in to the state of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. We'll explain what it is, what it isn't, and why it seems to be such a big thing right now. There's lots of reading material out there if you want to learn more. Some intro articles

• Bluffer's guide to AI terminology
• Wired: What is Artificial Intelligence?
• So you think you know what is Artificial Intelligence?

Opinion pieces

• "Artificial Intelligence is whatever computers can't do yet"
• The Great AI Paradox
• The Seven Deadly Sins of AI Predictions

Intro/outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion

In this episode of Octal FM we're joined by Louise Swift, a software developer & fellow nerd who recently worked on a project using the Unity game engine.

• Louise works for No Mayo Digital
• Follow Louise on the interwebs:
  • Twitter
  • Medium
  • louiseswift.com

Intro & outro music: JACKS – Runaway Fashion