Digital Planet

Facebook ad blocker Facebook has blocked parts of plug ins used by research groups who are analysing political adverts. Some of these organisations claim it’s now harder to see how ads are being targeted, Facebook argues its restrictions are about privacy of data of its users. Which is it? Melbourne Conservatorium goes digital The first music degree to be awarded in Australia was in 1879 by the University of Melbourne. Now the University's music school - the Conservatorium - in going interactive. Kenny McAlpine starts a new job there this week as its first ever Fellow in Interactive Composition. WIRED – learn about electricity through gaming Educational games are usually pretty basic – they just need to be slightly more fun than a normal lesson. Now researchers at Cambridge University have developed a platform game called WIRED that is available on gaming websites and can compete with commercial games. As well as being lots of fun it teaches teenagers about electricity – wiring circuits, creating energy by connecting fuel cells up and solving a whole host of other engineering problems VR at the National The Young Vic theatre in London was taken over by VR this week, with a performance of "Draw me Close" by award winning Canadian writer Jordan Tannahill. It tells the story of Jordan as he deals with his mother's terminal cancer diagnosis. Jordan’s mother is played by an actress whose movements are translated into the virtual world using motion capture while she engages with the audience member in the physical world. (Photo: Thumbs up and down. Credit: Getty) Producer: Ania Lichtarowicz