Computing articles from January 2007

Computing archives from January 2007

Tube updates voice systems.(London Underground International)
January 3, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Tube updates voice systems Underground staff will be able to react more quickly in an emergency Dave Friedlos z London Underground (LU) has improved emergency response times by upgrading the...

Dial-a-Ride calls on mobile.(devices will enable drivers to receive automatic bookings)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Dial-a-Ride calls on mobile Devices will enable drivers to receive automatic bookings Dave Friedlos z Transport for London (TfL) is planning to issue mobile devices to its Dial-a-Ride (DaR) drivers...

Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
January 4, 2007... feedback A different way to practise ageism OI have applied for a number of jobs online. Until the introduction of anti-ageism laws on 1 November, adverts always asked for my date of birth -- something I always felt dubious about since...

Domino's tastes real-time data.(Domino's Pizza Group Ltd. insatalling sales analysis software intended to speed up pizza delivery)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Domino's tastes real-time data Sales analysis software intended to speed up pizza delivery Dave Friedlos z Fast food firm Domino's Pizza has implemented real-time statistical analysis software to measure...

Virus analysts fight growing deluge.(Speed is of the essence in challenging the ever-increasing threat of malware from across the world)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Virus analysts fight growing deluge Speed is of the essence in challenging the ever-increasing threat of malware from across the world. Tom Young reports from Moscow z Malware is no longer the preserve of...

Five big issues for government IT.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Five big issues for government IT A new prime minister Tony Blair may have famously admitted he does not know how to use a computer, but he has placed technology at the heart of government like no prime...

Five technologies to watch.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Five technologies to watch Web 2.0 Web 2.0 is an awful buzzword, but it represents a major shift in the technology world. The new internet is no longer static, but interactive. Web sites can deliver...

Five key themes for IT directors.(information technology management)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Five key themes for IT directors Green computing Our Green Computing campaign, launched last August, shows that the environment is increasingly important for IT -- certainly if you judge by the huge response we...

The key technology items on the.(business enterprises information technology issues)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick The key technology items on the agenda for 2007 IT has never been as central to your firm's future. Bryan Glick looks at the issues on the agenda in 2007 z Did you think 2006 was hectic and busy? Well, 2007...

Advantage programme.(Computer Aid International's fund raising events to provide Kenyan schools with refurbished computers)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Advantage programme Help us to help others in the developing world z A team from Computing is taking part in a unique IT industry cycle challenge from Mount Kenya to Lake Victoria on 2-11 February next year -- and this is your chance...

What the experts say.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick What the experts say z Picture archiving (Pacs) and electronic prescriptions will be rolled out to the benefit of millions of patients. CSC, Fujitsu and BT will start to roll out patient administration systems in...

Innovative resolutions.(IT managers should adopt emerging technologies)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Computing Innovative resolutions z If there is one New Year's resolution that IT managers should adopt for 2007 it is this: this year, I will use IT to do something different. More than ever, innovation is the big theme in...

Cancer Research frees up internet data jam.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Cancer Research frees up internet data jam Tom Young z Cancer Research UK's internet traffic regulation project is speeding up internal communications without needing to increase the network bandwidth. The...

State-of-the-art IT at the Dome.(Millennium Dome partnership with Anschutz Entertainment Group and NEC (UK) Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos State-of-the-art IT at the Dome Dave Friedlos z The owners of the Millennium Dome have signed a three-year, multimillion-pound partnership deal to develop new technologies at the entertainment venue. ...

Bulletin.(Ofcom head guns on telecoms providers for poor service levels)(Tesco increases trial of electronic labelling)(Elearning programme launched for UK National Health Service staff)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... bulletin Helpdesks in demand for identity issues z Forty per cent of helpdesk calls originate from an identity management problem, according to research by consultant DNS. On average, 24 per cent of helpdesk calls relate to...

Firms unaware of WEEE responsibility.(Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Firms unaware of WEEE responsibility Tom Young z Nearly three-quarters of internal IT staff still have either no idea of their obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, or...

Iris use dropped in ID card plans.(UK Home Office's national identity card scheme)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Iris use dropped in ID card plans sarah arnott z Plans to use iris biometrics for the government's national identity card scheme have been shelved because of cost and technical uncertainties. The...

Online.(UK Department for Education and Skills contracts with Zanzibar)(More BlackBerrys for North Wales Police)(increase in spam offering cut-price Microsoft Windows Vista)(Brief article)
January 4, 2007... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week DfES signs up to online procurement portal z The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has signed up to the e-procurement portal Zanzibar, named after the...

Co-op to extend outsourcing deal to build business.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Co-op to extend outsourcing deal to build business Lara Williams z Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is in the final stages of negotiating an extension to an outsourcing deal that will double the number...

Public login plan under fire.(government plans for a single authentication system for citizens accessing public services online)
January 4, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Public login plan under fire Procurement processes for Whitehall online authentication criticised Sarah arnott z Government plans for a single authentication system for citizens accessing public...

Backbytes.
January 4, 2007... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes FYI: an ETA for an ETLA, needed PDQ z The debate still rages into what might be this year's big technology story: how to extend the TLA. 'What is the problem?' you ask. Allow Sue Flower at...

Tough year for Atos Origin.
January 8, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Tough year for Atos Origin Services firm now looks to transformation programme, reports Dave Friedlos z IT services company Atos Origin has announced annual sales of A[currency]5.4bn ([pounds sterling]3.6bn)...

Upwardly mobile.(investment in wireless communications)
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Upwardly mobile Investment in mobile technology is growing, but what will firms be spending their money on? John Malachy reports Mobile technology has come on in leaps and bounds in the 15 years since GSM...

Case study.(Glasgow Celtic Football Club to install a T-Mobile WiFi hotspot within the stadium)
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Case study Celtic FC z Glasgow Celtic FC is a Scottish institution, regularly packing its 61,000 seat stadium to capacity. But because of its sheer size, staff moving around Celtic Park and further afield as...

What the experts say.(email and voice over ip usage)
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy What the experts say z Email is definitely the killer mobile application, but there is other horizontal software that can be rolled out easily across different function areas within the enterprise, such as SMS...

One voice.
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy One voice Firms moving to internet telephony face a whole new set of security challenges. John Malachy looks at how to minimise the problems The migration from analogue telephone systems to converged voice and...

Tips for securing VoIP.
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Tips for securing VoIP z Apply strict network authentication and password policies to all VoIP users. z Encrypt all VoIP traffic and transmit it over a virtual private network where possible. z Configure...

The file impact.(file area networks)(Column)
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy The file impact John Malachy looks at the potential of the file area network concept to improve data storage The idea of the file area network (Fan), a type of storage area network (San) where data management...

Business case.(regulatory compliance needed for organisations to store and manage business information more efficiently)(intelligent storage management)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: John Malachy Business case z The need for regulatory compliance is pushing organisations to store and manage business information more efficiently, while a variety of storage resources are often distributed, spread across...

Criminals, hackers and IT security professionals beware.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Richard Nicholas Criminals, hackers and IT security professionals beware Organisations need to stay abreast of amendments to the Computer Misuse Act, writes Richard Nicholas z If you work on IT systems belonging to a third...

Sales boost for Accenture.(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Sales boost for Accenture Consulting giant enjoys double-digit growth, reports Dave Friedlos z Consulting firm Accenture has reported increased first-quarter sales of 14 per cent to $4.75bn ([pounds...

financial world.(Accenture Ltd., Apple Inc. and Red Hat Inc.'s sales)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Accenture z Consultancy Accenture has posted record first-quarter results with total sales rising 14 per cent to $4.75bn ([pounds sterling]2.4bn) and orders rising slightly to $5.5bn...

Metrics.(Government favours IBM contracts)(Security still leads IT priority list)(Revival in new broadband connections)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Tom Young metrics Cost containing still concerns executives 1In the next six to 12 months IT executives will continue to be almost as worried about reducing or containing cost as they are about improving IT performance and...

Backbytes.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes Just name it and we'll fix it z Our bulging email sack confirms what most people involved in the IT business have long-suspected: we might not always be great at solving a problem but we are right...

Domino's topping up IT plan.(Domino's Pizza Inc. to prepare for growing its online business)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Domino's topping up IT plan Fast food firm prepares online technology for ordering revolution. Dave Friedlos reports z Domino's Pizza is to invest in a range of new technologies this year to prepare for...

Domino's IT ingredients Domino's Pizza is investing in new technologies to improve customer service and performance in the traditionally competitive fast food industry.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Domino's IT ingredients Domino's Pizza is investing in new technologies to improve customer service and performance in the traditionally competitive fast food industry. 1Online pizza orders have grown 40...

Co-op IT overhaul to spur on growth plans.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Co-op IT overhaul to spur on growth plans Customer rewards scheme at the forefront of changes, writes Lara Williams z The Co-operative Group is implementing a number of technology-driven initiatives to...

Changing competition threatens vendors.(information technology services)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Emma Nash Changing competition threatens vendors A major shift in the IT ecosystem could mean a less predictable future for firms as the market becomes more demanding, says Emma Nash z The IT industry has been through a...

Content system to help property firm develop better sites.(Land Securities Group PLC contracts with Percussion Software Inc.)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Content system to help property firm develop better sites Lara Williams z Property firm Land Securities has installed a web content management system to improve the quality of its 44 web sites and make them...

Council takes outsourcing route.
January 11, 2007... Byline: James Brown Council takes outsourcing route James Brown z Sandwell Borough Council is to sign a [pounds sterling]300m outsourcing contract with a BT/Liberata partnership to overhaul its IT. The 15-year deal will be...

Advantage programme.
January 11, 2007... Advantage programme Free access to B2B white papers and analyst reports z KnowledgeStorm.co.uk, in partnership with Computing, is offering Computing readers free registration and complete access to the UK's best B2B technology library....

Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
January 11, 2007... feedback Lack of patience creates Catch 22 OClient firms have only themselves to blame if recently trained consultants are gaining experience at their expense (Letters, 14 December). In the 1980s it was common for...

Clarks takes a step forward.(upgrading its in-store IT infrastructure, contracts with Getronics and BT Expedite)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Clarks takes a step forward Software changes will take less time with a new upgraded system Dave Friedlos z Shoe retailer Clarks is upgrading its in-store IT infrastructure to allow systems to be tailored...

Council modernises security systems.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Council modernises security systems Tom Young z Hampshire County Council has introduced new security systems to improve collaboration with other local agencies such as the NHS, police and schools. The...

IT recruitment reaches its peak.
January 11, 2007... Byline: James Brown IT recruitment reaches its peak James Brown z The boom in IT recruitment in local authorities is over, as budgets stabilise following five years of investment in egovernment, according to new research. ...

Skills review is a vital step.(information technology skills)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Skills review is a vital step z Every six months or so, Computing carries a story about the UK's IT skills gap. And every six months, interested parties bemoan the lack of suitable training, the industry's...

Talking point.(Letter to the editor)
January 11, 2007... talking point On inexperienced consultants Letters, 14 December z Dave Jackson wants to expose the scandal of IT training courses. The real scandal is when consultancies hide their lack of experience from unsuspecting clients....

Firms fail to realise IT benefits.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Firms fail to realise IT benefits CIOs must find ways to contribute to business growth, says Gartner Lara Williams z Only a minority of companies are successfully using IT to achieve competitive business...

Transport body plans streetworks register.(Transport for London regulations for electronic fund transfer systems used by organizations)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Transport body plans streetworks register Dave Friedlos z Transport for London (TfL) is to implement a streetworks register to manage roads maintenance and comply with forthcoming Traffic Management Act...

IT skills gap worsens to match 2004 levels.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly IT skills gap worsens to match 2004 levels Concern mounts as shortcomings in IT skills continue to grow Lisa Kelly and Lara Williams z The IT skills gap is at its highest level since 2004 and is...

Staff scheduling to boost service.(E.on UK)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: James Brown Staff scheduling to boost service James Brown z E.on UK has implemented a service management scheduling system to increase the efficiency of its 1,300 field engineers. The gas and electricity firm wants the...

Plan for news to travel faster.(Transport Direct looks to IT upgrade to provide speedier delivery of live traffic information)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Plan for news to travel faster Transport Direct looks to IT upgrade to provide speedier delivery of live traffic information Dave Friedlos z Transport Direct is upgrading the technology behind its live...

IT initiative to support new diploma.(National Assessment Agency is implementing an IT infrastructure to introduced of Specialised Diploma for schoolchildren)(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams IT initiative to support new diploma Lara Williams z Education body the National Assessment Agency (NAA) is implementing an IT infrastructure to support the introduction of a new Specialised Diploma for...

Writ points to e-buying risks.(Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency sued Computacenter Ltd. and Electronic Data Systems Corp.)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Writ points to e-buying risks DVLA sues over storage system's failure to meet requirements Sarah Arnott z The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is suing suppliers EDS and Computacenter over...

Identity cards pave way for Whitehall IT sharing.(Brief article)
January 11, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Identity cards pave way for Whitehall IT sharing Sarah Arnott z Plans for the identity card scheme to be built using existing government databases will be a trailblazer for shared services, according to...

Innovation a low priority for small firms' IT.
January 11, 2007... Byline: Anna Winston Innovation a low priority for small firms' IT Anna Winston z IT budgets for small businesses are expected to increase by more than 12 per cent this year, but innovation is being pushed to the side, according...

What women want.(women information technology professionals)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams What women want Despite many initiatives to attract more women into IT, numbers continue on a downward trend. Lara Williams reports The latest research by independent IT trade association Intellect reveals a...

CASE STUDY.(Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd.'s Catherine Doran management techniques)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams CASE STUDY Catherine Doran, Network Rail z One of the UK's most high-profile female technologists, Catherine Doran, recounts her spectacular ascent to chief information officer for Network Rail as if it were...

Case study.(Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council providing flexible work hours oppurtunity for its employees)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett Case study Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council z Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's IT department has introduced flexible working practices for its remote support worker team to boost motivation, but...

Case study.(Swansea University imformation management)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett Case study Swansea University Health Informatics team z 'Flexible working, like all of these things, is about change management,' says Barry Goldberg, head of the Health Informatics team at Swansea University....

Balancing act.(information technology workers work life balance)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Cath Everett Balancing act Cath Everett reports on how organisations can implement the increased demand for flexible and remote working Although the terms work-life balance and flexible working did not enter our...

Firms must tap into consumer knowhow.(high technology industries and consumer preferences)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Bryan Glick Firms must tap into consumer knowhow Companies can learn from today's consumer technology market, where the latest products could benefit IT strategies, says Bryan Glick z If you are into gadgets, last week was...

Services firm on track.(Computacenter PLC forecasting its sales)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Services firm on track Patchy performance stifles Computacenter total profits. Dave Friedlos reports z IT services firm Computacenter expects its profits to meet market expectations despite experiencing poor...

financial world.(Computacenter PLC, Infosys Technologies Ltd., Mediasurface PLC and Research in Motion Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Computacenter z IT services firm Computacenter expects to meet pre-tax profit expectations of [pounds sterling]38.2m for 2006. Cash generation is expected to be [pounds sterling]25m excluding...

Advantage programme.
January 18, 2007... Advantage programme Getting on our bikes to help the developing world z There are only two weeks to go before a team from Computing get on their bikes to take part in a unique fundraising challenge -- but there is still plenty of time...

metrics.(AMR Research survey on spending on information technology)(Experian Information Solutions Inc. acquired more technology companies)(research and development investments)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Tom Young metrics Hardware budget allocations rise 1Software maintenance and hardware costs both rose by about three per cent in IT budget allocations in 2006, according to figures from AMR Research. Spending on software...

Calls grow for crackdown on data thieves.(192.com Ltd.'s services for managing personal data)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Calls grow for crackdown on data thieves Penalties fail to outweigh the ease with which information can be obtained, reports Tom Young z The latest advertising campaign by directory service 192.com offers to find...

Utility maps data improvements.(Scottish Power PLC using geographical information systems)
January 18, 2007... Byline: James Brown Utility maps data improvements Scottish Power is using handheld devices to speed up infrastructure checks, writes James Brown z Scottish Power is using a geographical information system (GIS) to improve the...

Intelligent working Utilities are increasingly turning to handheld computers to aid engineers manage complex processes and regulations.(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: James Brown Intelligent working Utilities are increasingly turning to handheld computers to aid engineers manage complex processes and regulations. Time An engineer's day can be automatically scheduled and jobs ...

Commitment crucial for public sector IT.
January 18, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Commitment crucial for public sector IT Next 12 months will be critical for government strategy, writes Sarah Arnott z The first annual report on the Transformational Government (TG) technology strategy...

Carphone Warehouse speeds internal links.(improving its services for better growth)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Anna Winston Carphone Warehouse speeds internal links Anna Winston z Carphone Warehouse is overhauling its IT infrastructure to cope with rapid expansion and meet future demand from business partners and customers. ...

Channel 4 tunes IT infrastructure.(Channel 4 Television Co. introducing video on demand service)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Channel 4 tunes IT infrastructure Tom Young z Channel 4 Television has extended its IT infrastructure to support its new video-on-demand (VOD) service, 4oD. The channel is deploying a BEA WebLogic Server...

Mobile data ... in 30 seconds z Wales & West Utilities went live with a new IT infrastructure last year, as part of the takeover of the gas network in Wales and south-west England from National Grid. It integrates asset management and scheduling softwar.
January 18, 2007... Byline: James Brown Mobile data ... in 30 seconds z Wales & West Utilities went live with a new IT infrastructure last year, as part of the takeover of the gas network in Wales and south-west England from National Grid. It...

Firms misread key business drivers.(business intelligence)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lisa Kelly Firms misread key business drivers Lisa Kelly z Most organisations are failing to understand what drives their business and financial performance despite placing great importance on business intelligence (BI),...

Research data.(Wiki use to accelerate)(world market for point-of-sale (POS) systems increases)(IDC identifies the top 10 IT initiatives)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams research data Wiki use to accelerate z Use of wiki online collaboration tools will accelerate rapidly over the next 12 to 18 months according to Forrester Research. The analyst says wikis are not suitable for...

feedback.(Letter to the editor)
January 18, 2007... feedback Education at the expense of career OI am a disabled computing graduate (IT skills gaps widens to 2004 levels, 11 January). Since graduating last September, despite applying for countless jobs I have only had a...

BAA taps real-time queue data.
January 18, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos BAA taps real-time queue data Proposed technology will improve customer service and efficiency Dave Friedlos z Airport operator BAA is planning to install real-time information systems to reduce...

Open door to tighter security.(Institute of Information Security Professionals)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Sarah Arnott Open door to tighter security z The appetite for nationally recognised accreditation can be in no doubt -- in its first six months, the Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP) has received five times...

Field staff to update assets via handhelds.(IT asset management software)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Dave Friedlos Field staff to update assets via handhelds Dave Friedlos z Property services firm Connaught is using handhelds linked to asset management software to meet government targets on improved efficiency. The...

Wireless links enable bedside X-ray checks.(National Health Service using tablet and notebook computers)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams Wireless links enable bedside X-ray checks NHS trust to use system for mobile consultations Lara Williams z Salisbury NHS Trust is implementing a wireless network to enable bedside X-ray viewing and...

Onus lies on firms to go green.(report says firms must familiarise staff with environmental policies)
January 18, 2007... Byline: Tom Young Onus lies on firms to go green Report says firms must familiarise staff with environmental policies Tom Young z Employees need more environmental leadership if businesses are to reduce power consumption...

Talking point.(Firms improve IT failure plans)(Firms unaware of WEEE responsibility)(control of print costs)
January 18, 2007... talking point On business continuity Firms improve IT failure plans, 7 December z The Buncefield explosion showed that IT system failure plans stood up, but the critical factor was employee performance. How staff respond to a...

Online.(Telecoms carriers at risk from IP revolution)(LogicaCMG contracts with oil and gas industry for Emissions Monitoring System)(Schools urged not to install Windows Vista)(Brief article)
January 18, 2007... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week Telecoms carriers at risk from IP revolution z More than half of leading telecoms carriers will not survive the IP revolution, says analyst Gartner. Mobile...

CIOs blame failures on poor monitoring.
January 18, 2007... Byline: Lara Williams CIOs blame failures on poor monitoring Lara Williams z More than 90 per cent of chief information officers (CIOs) believe IT projects are not being properly monitored by the business, and failing systems are...