John David Taylor Index Page

John Taylor's Stuff

Work & Geeky stuff

Currently taking a "career break". Previously a JavaGeek for Xansa.

Before all this I worked for Edinburgh Petroleum Services, devising new software to help the world extract even more oil from the ground that we shouldn't be burning. More info and details of my PhD work on numerical methods for fluid flows in pipelines can be found here.

Things I'm working on...

Apart my paid work I'm interested in writing vaguely scientific software, particularly to do with maths and fluid dynamics. This page has some examples: a java applet to draw the fractal Sierpinsky triangle, and a C++ program to solve the advection equation in 2D etc. My current favourite is an n-body simulator called JOrrery. This work was inspired by contacts with Herbert Sauro of Future Skills Software. Check them out for Delphi components, education software, scientific software especially biotech stuff.

Play

Delusions of being Indiana Jones on the Inca Trail near Machu Picchu

Our most recent rocket launch.

Travel

Thanks to rash decision made after returning from Peru last year, I’m also the proud owner of three American Green Tree frogs called Herbert, Rana and Brian. Don’t even ask.Postscript: make that 2 green tree frogs. Brian did a houdini act during the summer and sadly proved unable to deal with the rigours of the Scottish climate.Err...and then there was one. Rana has gone to that great lilly pond in the sky.

I'm also working on the website for Laurel Hanna's Picaflor research station in Tambopata, Peru. This is the current website, and this is the "in progress" website.

Campaigning

I'm a cycle nut and an environmental fanatic, so naturally I'm a passionate campaigner for better cycling conditions.