BLOGSPOT: BEING LOCATED in Singapore didn't prevent Robin Blandford picking up the Best Technology Blog category at the recent Irish Blog Awards, writes John Collins.

ByteSurgerywww.bytesurgery.com/blog/

Although he wasn't able to make the ceremony in person, his mother had been nominated for her personal blog, A Biopsy Report, and stepped in to collect the gong.

Blandford has proven a popular choice with his fellow bloggers. Possibly because he's been based in London and Singapore for much of his blogging career - he is on a technical graduate employment scheme with Reuters - Blandford stands at a remove from the local blogging scene.

As a result, he can bring a fresh viewpoint to issues that often are the subject of a cosy consensus at home.

Lately, he's been talking about how micro-blogging platforms such as Twitter and Jaiku, which allow you to give your friends constant quick updates of what you are doing and thinking, will lead to information overload (although, in true geek style, Blandford seems to relish the prospect).

He has also suggested that the current social network sites such as Facebook and My Space were way too similar and that someone needs to come up with something fresh.

Add to that coverage of technology events in Asia such as the Facebook Developers' Garage in Singapore earlier this month and Blandford's posts are well worth monitoring.

Blandford also makes an effort with the appearance of his blog rather than relying on one of the minimal templates that have become de rigeur. He illustrates posts with pictures from his travels in southeast Asia and also recently overhauled the design of his blog with quirky headings and graphics.

As if his day job and ByteSurgery wasn't enough to keep him occupied, Blandford also edits TeamGearedUp.com, a group blog covering outdoor adventure topics.