Away from the academic world, my interests are quite varied.

• Technology

  A word that takes in so much. Generally, I like gadgets but I'm too sensible (for want of a better word) to actually buy too many; it doesn't matter how much I want something, I won't buy it unless I can think of a practical use for it.

  An current example is the iPad. It looks great and is probably a joy to use...but I can't think of a single thing I'd use it for, so my cash will be staying in my wallet. I did cave in and get an iPhone, however, but its portability combined with a swathe of features made that considerably easier to justify.

• Home entertainment

  I couldn't think of a better expression for this. My interest in home entertainment isn't about massive TVs and speakers that individually cost more than a house, but more about the content itself and the way it's delivered. My ultimate aim is to have every DVD and CD owned ripped onto central storage and playable anywhere.

  A 2TB NAS device means I've made the first steps towards this goal, but still a long way to go!

• Politics

  I'm one of those lost souls who actually quite likes politics. I can't quite put my finger on what it is exactly, but I just find the whole mechanics fascinating, especially in Westminster.