Research

Oliver is an composer and educator using creative digital technologies. His works are inspired by the characteristic qualities of Natural forms: variability, self-similarity, organized behaviour, automatic regulation.

His works explore chaotic behaviour in dynamic systems, and he has developed the concept of systems in the musical domain, that is: dynamic systems which have sonic entities as primitives, and aurally perceptible interactions as rules.

His current research interests include the potential range and practical implementation of human interaction with such systems. He creates live algorithms communicating purely by audio, as well as repurposed interface devices and custom-built circuits. His most recent work uses 3D printing to create Digital Musical Instruments.

He is also investigating play-based, constructionist approaches to teaching Max/MSP and Pure Data software; and digital learning games for Music Theory and Aural Skills.

He founded LOLCoM (Laptop Orchestra of Leeds College of Music) and Banks Peninsula Music, a project for online learning games, sound toys and eLearning resources with a focus on sound and music. He has recently been teaching at NMIT and MAINZ, Christchurch.