Mark Glanville

Having worked for four years in a few video-related roles, I went to the University of Surrey to study for a BSc in Physics with Satellite Technology. My degree course included a year in industry, testing computer vision for CCTV at the Home Office Scientific Development Branch. That rekindled my interest in video technology but I knew I'd need training and support to get back into it as a career. A traineeship with BBC R&D was the perfect opportunity so I applied, and within a week of my last exam I was working in our central London lab, just over the road from Broadcasting House. I began my career at R&D as an Industrial Trainee and have now progressed to the Trainee Research Technologist scheme.

So far I’ve worked in three different sections of the department, on a range of projects. I started in Internet Research and Future Services, where I worked on RadioDNS, which is a system for combining broadcast radio with Internet content. I also developed an audio fingerprinting system for synchronising multiple devices.

After about eight months I moved to Centre House - our West London lab - where I developed tools to automatically generate metadata for video as it's recorded. I combined my knowledge of computer vision and understanding of video signals to warn production teams if the quality of their footage has dropped. I had to learn some C++, which I'd been meaning to do for years so it was great to finally have a project to apply it to.

For my first placement as a Trainee Research Technologist I’ve been researching ways that an Internet-connected TV or set top box might implement the HTML5 video element. I’ve furthered my understanding of C++ and learnt about cross-compiling for embedded systems.

BBC R&D is an eclectic mix of people working across an enormous range of topics. There's the more obvious hardware design, software development and signal processing, but I also get to work with people who know about interface design, user experience or human sensory perception. The combination of world-class experts with years of experience and young trainees full of new ideas and enthusiasm, makes for a great working environment. There's always someone ready to help solve a problem, because they're either working on something similar or in some cases they're the definitive authority on some aspect of it! There’s also a wealth of more formal training on offer, covering everything from broadcast engineering and software development to report writing and presentation skills.

It sounds a bit cheesy, but I really am proud to work for the BBC. In one way or another it's a part of the daily lives of most people in the UK, and millions more around the world. R&D is able to work right across all parts of the BBC and is truly influential in the global broadcasting industry. There aren't many employers that can offer such diversity and dynamism.

My time so far at BBC R&D has been fascinating. I’ve learnt new things, met wonderful people and used my existing skills, gained from my degree or elsewhere, to do interesting, useful work. I’m looking forward to the rest of my traineeship, particularly working in Media City UK for one of my placements.