Five things you need to know today

Pedestrians on Princes Street – More Technology – Banff Mountain Film Festival – Volunteering for the Commonwealth Games 2014 – House Concerts continue @42

Pedestrians on Princes Street seem to be ignoring advice that an important crossing point is closed and using the pedestrian crossing anyway, dodging between taxis, buses and the tram tracks. Read more in our article here.

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Yesterday we told you how to download the Aurasma Lite App and subscribe to the Edinburgh Reporter channel. So moving on at the speed of new technology, today we have news for you of another Aura which we have set up in the city. It is in Wester Hailes at the front door of the Library there. You need to hold your phone up to the sign which is photographed left. You actually need to be in Wester Hailes to do this…..

But there is another aura which will be triggered by the image on the right, no matter where you are. It will show you more about the new augmented reality technology we are playing with, and perhaps highlight for you some of the good work being done out there in Wester Hailes.

First of all, the image will take you to a ‘fly-through’ video of the new Healthy Living Centre being built there, but secondly the photograph is the front page of a booklet designed to take you out and about in the area and learn about the social history of Wester Hailes, partly of course to assist you in your quest to keep fit! You can get copies of the booklet at the library.

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The Banff Mountain Film Festival is taking place at The Queen’s Hall on 1 February 2013. Booking details here.

Following sold out shows across the UK in 2012, the world’s most prestigious mountain film festival returns to The Queen’s Hall with a new selection of even more extraordinary short films from the world’s leading adventure film makers.

Exhilarating and thought provoking, this is a must-see for mountain enthusiasts and anyone with a spirit of adventure! Through the big screen be transported to the world’s last great wild places, visit remote cultures and experience amazing footage of adrenaline packed action sports such as climbing, kayaking, skiing and mountain biking.

Websitewww.banff-uk.com 
Twitter@UKBanffFilmFest

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Thinking of volunteering for the Commonwealth Games but worried that you can’t afford to do so? Then this might be of interest to you.

A £500k funding programme to help people who want to volunteer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has been launched by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) and the Scottish Government.

The Legacy 2014 Volunteer Support Programme has £500k to offer financial assistance to volunteers who might otherwise not apply when the search launches on Monday, January 14, to recruit up to 15,000 friendly people who will play a crucial role in the success of the Games.

Volunteers will be expected to fulfil a number of specialist and non-specialist roles including welcoming athletes at the airport or Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village, helping behind the scenes or directing people at venues. Volunteers need to be over 16 to apply and be eligible to work in the UK. They need to be available for at least eight days during the Games themselves between July 23 and August 3 in 2014 as well as up to six days for interviews in Glasgow, as well as training and uniform collection ahead of the Games. They also need to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.

Recognising that not everyone can afford to do this, the Legacy 2014 Volunteer Support Programme will offer financial assistance to help those people facing practical and financial barriers which might otherwise stop them from volunteering. The fund will help with costs such as respite for carers, childcare, accommodation and subsistence, travel from outside Glasgow and additional travel / support for those who are disabled.

The Legacy 2014 Volunteer Support Programme should be available for applications around September 2013, when volunteers will start being notified if they have been successful. More information on the Legacy 2014 website.