Computing articles from June 2006

Computing archives from June 2006

Case study: The Open University.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Linda Moore case study The Open University z With its computer facilities threatening to overload and overheat, The Open University (OU) decided that after 30 years it was time to invest in building a new, purpose-built...

Content management cuts the paper.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Mark Dye z Content management is an important management task for IT director Andrew Powell as Brodies looks to slim down the impact that dealing with reams of paper has on its network and associated systems. Content control is...

Backbytes.
June 1, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips Perfect 10 z We might accidentally have called for a metric week. In which case, we did the right thing. 'A 10-day week is a small price to pay for a 10-week year. And with 10 minutes in an hour and 10 hours...

Advantage.
June 8, 2006... Free consultancy site visit will help you stay in control z Are you in control of your IT infrastructure? Can you manage your servers, including power from a single, and/or remote location? DSI, in association with Raritan, is offering...

Case study: Sussex Police.
June 8, 2006... Byline: Cath Everett case study Sussex Police z 'We used to be the old-fashioned hero, sometimes providing a good service and sometimes not. But the idea behind introducing IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) was that if you run an...

Mainstream businesses plot role for geographic information.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dan Rickman Mainstream businesses plot role for geographic information Organisations are starting to wake up to the benefits of GIS technology, says Dan Rickman z Geographic information systems have been around for more...

metrics.(Indian outsourcing market soars)(Firms prioritise security upgrades)(Low desktop replacement stifles growth)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick metrics Number of new IT roles intensifies 1Sixty per cent of IT jobs advertised in the third quarter of last year were for new posts, down from 70 per cent the previous quarter, according to sector skills...

financial world.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas financial world Detica z Consultancy Detica announced preliminary results for the year to 31 March, with revenue up 45 per cent to [pounds sterling]101.5m. Profit before tax grew 33 per cent to [pounds...

Detica revenues soar.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Detica revenues soar National security has fuelled gains in data intelligence, says Daniel Thomas z Strong demand from national security clients has brought impressive revenues and profits for data...

RFID tags gain momentum.(Company overview)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos RFID tags gain momentum Increased acceptance of RFID suggests it will soon be a mainstream technology, writes Dave Friedlos z The number of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is expected to soar over...

Experts squabble over next steps for NHS IT.(National Health Service)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Experts squabble over next steps for NHS IT Calls for an independent review meet mixed response. Sarah Arnott reports z The [pounds sterling]6bn National Programme for NHS IT (NPfIT) has been the focus of even...

Shifting sands.(UK Information technology services industry plans for outsourcing and globalisation of IT services)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Mark Kobayashi-Hillary Shifting sands Offshoring has changed the focus of IT. Mark Kobayashi-Hillary says we must rethink how we rise to the evolving challenges of UK IT Globalisation has created a network society, where...

DTI raises the security stakes with its knowledge network.(United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas DTI raises the security stakes with its knowledge network Industry, government and academic expertise will underpin think-tank, writes Daniel Thomas z Whitehall has started work on its [pounds sterling]12m IT...

Mobility adds to strain on staff.(Intel's John Johnson wary about the impact of mobile technology on staff)
June 15, 2006... Byline: James Brown Mobility adds to strain on staff Intel's John Johnson is wary about the impact of mobile technology on staff, reports James Brown z Mobile technology is going to change the way businesses operate by altering...

Hands-on management.(manufacturing and engineering sector less dynamic when it comes to information technology)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Hands-on management Manufacturing technologists must be forward-thinking, says Jim Mortleman The manufacturing and engineering sector has traditionally been seen as one of the less dynamic when it comes...

Business skills.(Manufacturing and engineering industries towards outsourcing IT and business functions for boosting the level of business skills)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortelman Business skills z The trends in manufacturing and engineering towards outsourcing IT and business functions, and transforming into distributed, collaborative firms, are boosting the level of business skills...

People skills.(manufacturing and engineering organisations emphasis for skilled worker Recruiting)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortelman People skills z As manufacturing and engineering organisations move to become more distributed, so their people skills requirements change. IT departments in the sector are putting far more emphasis on the...

The high cost of power-hungry IT.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Emma Nash The high cost of power-hungry IT With electricity supplies becoming increasingly squeezed, businesses must prepare to change the way they operate, writes Emma Nash z Setting up a data centre is a costly...

NHS must hold its nerve.(UK National Health Service)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott NHS must hold its nerve z The long-awaited National Audit Office (NAO) report on the [pounds sterling]6bn National Programme for NHS IT (NPfIT) is expected this week, and is likely to unleash another round of...

Backbytes.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips World Cup once a millennium z Our attempt to decimalise the year isn't getting any more practical, which surprises no one. 'The concept of the decimal year so far depends on using 10 as the multiplier for...

High-tech bingo hall wins full house.(Rank made bingo halls fully electronic, doubling the number of visitors and increasing the amount they spend)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos High-tech bingo hall wins full house Dave Friedlos z Leisure and gaming group Rank has made one of its bingo halls fully electronic, doubling the number of visitors and increasing the amount they spend. ...

Passengers get new way to pay the ferryman.(Azur Corp. contracts with Zebra Technologies for launched ticketing system)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lisa kelly Passengers get new way to pay the ferryman Lisa Kelly z Orkney Ferries has introduced a new ticketing system to improve efficiency and accept credit card payments. The company, which runs nine ferries in the...

Research data.(Supply chain efficiency tops IT priorities in Europe)(Data backup safety)(Information technology organisations under pressure)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... research data IT under pressure z IT organisations are under growing pressure to connect in-house and outsourced staff, data and processes more flexibly to enable business growth, while dealing with the accretion of 40 years of...

Conveyancer improves scalability.(Countrywide Property Lawyers contracts with LogicaCMG)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lisa kelly Conveyancer improves scalability lisa Kelly z Countrywide Property Lawyers (CPL) has installed case management and business process automation technology to replace systems installed under a now defunct...

bulletin.
June 15, 2006... bulletin A step forward for electronic planning z Development has started on a single electronic form for planning consent applications across the country. Since its launch in 2002, the Planning Portal has provided a central...

Windows selected for cluster project.(Southampton University is using Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 )(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Windows selected for cluster project University chooses Microsoft over Linux for aerodynamics research James Brown z Southampton University has opted for Windows over Linux to run a clustered computing project to investigate...

Threshers opts for till upgrade.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Threshers opts for till upgrade Dave Friedlos z Drinks retailer Threshers has replaced ageing electronic point of sale (Epos) hardware to counter falling sales and support its transformation to a franchised...

Boots stamps down on fraud.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Boots stamps down on fraud New till software has already saved millions of pounds Dave Friedlos z High-street retailer Boots is installing software to reduce errors, theft and fraud at tills in...

Scottish votes to be IT counted.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary reporter Scottish votes to be IT counted Electronic counting seen as a necessity to handle complex voting systems at next year's elections Parliamentary reporter z The Scots are switching to electronic...

Utility seeks to delete email.(British Energy PLC)
June 15, 2006... Byline: James Brown Utility seeks to delete email British Energy to test collaboration systems as part of IT overhaul James Brown z British Energy is to test online collaboration technology that could replace a significant...

Bank to replace key IT systems globally.(Standard Chartered Bank PLC contract with Atos Origin S.A. and Fujitsu Siemens Computers )
June 15, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Bank to replace key IT systems globally Standard Chartered to cut total cost of ownership of banking systems by half Daniel Thomas z Standard Chartered Bank has signed a deal with IT suppliers Atos...

IT contractors flock to City firms.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly IT contractors flock to City firms Lisa Kelly z The number of IT contractors employed in the public sector has fallen for the first time in three years, according to research published last week. Some 26...

Accounting changes hit NHS supplier's shares.(National Health Services, iSoft Inc.)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Accounting changes hit NHS supplier's shares Sarah Arnott z Health software supplier iSoft's share price dropped by almost half last week following the announcement that it is to change its accounting...

IT outsourcing deal takes flight.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams IT outsourcing deal takes flight Move will help Bristol Airport deal with rising passenger numbers Lara Williams z Bristol International Airport has outsourced its IT operations to cope with an...

System overhaul cheers Matalan.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos System overhaul cheers Matalan Dave Friedlos z Discount clothing and homewares retailer Matalan is enjoying unexpected productivity improvements following an overhaul of its merchandise management...

UK urged to act on EU plans.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott UK urged to act on EU plans New European taskforce on IT competitiveness depends on action from member states Sarah Arnott z A European Commission taskforce examining barriers to the IT sector's...

Finance firms slow to prepare for regulations.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Finance firms slow to prepare for regulations Lara Williams z Just two per cent of financial services firms are prepared for operational regulations that will be applied to the sector next year, says analyst...

Ageist ads are no laughing matter OThe latest IBM advertising campaign (Computing, 1 June) shows two technical staff wrestling with IT integration problems for their big-business employer. For some reason, the older man, Gil, always tries to use duct.
June 15, 2006... Ageist ads are no laughing matter OThe latest IBM advertising campaign (Computing, 1 June) shows two technical staff wrestling with IT integration problems for their big-business employer. For some reason, the older man,...

talking point.
June 15, 2006... talking point On public sector IT projects Patient records scheme delayed, 1 June z It is no surprise that the NHS electronic records scheme has been delayed by at least two years. What is worrying is that at a time when the...

Career opportunities.(for information technology workers)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood Career opportunities Sally Flood looks at the changing skills levels required for the IT industry, from new recruits and IT managers up to chief information officers Over the next five years, the UK's...

Case study: Andrew Deacon.(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood case study Andrew Deacon z Andrew Deacon is one example of an IT professional who chose not to take the conventional approach to entering the technology industry. He started an undergraduate course in...

Case study: Denise Plumpton.(about information technology workers)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood case study Denise Plumpton z Denise Plumpton is one of the country's leading IT directors -- as head of IS with the Highways Agency and chairwoman of the high-profile user organisation the Infrastructure Forum...

Case study: Rorie Devine.(Chief information officers)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood case study Rorie Devine z The single most important quality for a CIO is not technical awareness, communication or even commercial savvy, according to Rorie Devine -- it is leadership. 'It's incredibly...

Elearning sets sail.(Royal Navy using online education for training)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Elearning sets sail Lara Williams reports on the Navy's hopes for electronic training as it pipes aboard a learning content platform The Royal Navy is synonymous with highly specialised workers, trained to...

Grey matter.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Robert Chapman Grey matter Robert Chapman looks at the significance of older workers' technology expertise to the UK's knowledge-based economy The UK has an ageing population. Because our standard of living is...

The feminine touch.(to attract more women into information technology)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Sandra Smith The feminine touch Attracting more women to IT is a challenge the industry must resolve, says Sandra Smith Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant decline in the number of women in the IT...

Any portal in a storm.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Laurie Sullivan Any portal in a storm Space agency Nasa has upgraded its intranet to provide bad-weather alerts for employees. Laurie Sullivan reports Leading-edge technology is essential for the National Aeronautics...

Advice for the smaller business.(to implement information technology)(Discussion)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Advice for the smaller business A Computing roundtable offers guidance on how small firms can better implement IT. Bryan Glick reports Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are realising that technology is...

Fun and games.(Nike Inc. contracts with AKQA)
June 15, 2006... Byline: William Knight Fun and games Interactivity is the name of the game with today's internet, but data must be up to the job, says William Knight At last year's Nike Run event in London, runners could view themselves...

RFID... in 30 seconds.(radio frequency identification)(Brief article)
June 15, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos RFID ... in 30 seconds z RFID has emerged over the past five years. Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Proctor and Gamble have been early adopters in the US, and Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Asda in the UK. z...

The offshoring trend.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Mark Kobayashi-Hillary The offshoring trend z We live in the era of global sourcing. Companies can transfer professional activities around the world -- and IT services has become a worldwide industry. In 2004, the BCS...

DTI knowledge transfer networks.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas DTI knowledge transfer networks z The DTI has already set up 18 different knowledge transfer networks (KTNs), focusing on areas ranging from bioscience, global positioning systems, grid computing and cyber...

Online learning facts and figures.
June 15, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Online learning facts and figures z Worldwide spending on elearning software will grow at 15.6 per cent annually between 2004 and 2009, according to analyst Gartner. z A 2004 survey by the Observatory on...

A simple matter of complexity.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott A simple matter of complexity Services struggle to keep everyone happy, but they stand a better chance if administered by people rather than IT, writes Sarah Arnott z It is a misunderstanding to think that...

metrics.(survey on outsourcing contracts)(wireless telephone providing internet access)(customer relationship management software sales)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick metrics Tech trouble tops outsourcing problems 1Technical issues are the major cause of problems in outsourcing contracts, according to research by LogicaCMG and IDC. But possible contractual issues, such as...

financial world.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick financial world QinetiQ z QinetiQ, the former government defence research agency turned technology supplier, reported revenue of [pounds sterling]1.05bn for the year ended 31 March, an increase of 22.9 per...

Cash injection boosts web research projects.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Cash injection boosts web research projects Web services funding aims to boost innovation in UK IT, says Sarah Arnott z Real-time, tailored environmental forecasting could be available within five years if a...

Co-op users back pay-by-touch.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Co-op users back pay-by-touch But a lack of commercial support poses a barrier to further implementation, says Dave Friedlos z Supermarket chain Midcounties Co-operative is extending trials of pay-by-touch...

Innovation revolution on the horizon.(International Business Machines Corp.'s Bill Zeitler interviewed)(Interview)
June 22, 2006... Byline: James Brown Innovation revolution on the horizon IBM's Bill Zeitler discusses innovation and collaboration with James Brown z Businesses around the world need to work more closely with their peers to keep abreast...

Oracle sees sales soar.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Oracle sees sales soar Acquisitions and licensing contribute to a successful year. Bryan Glick reports z Oracle says new software licence sales grew by 32 per cent during its latest financial period, twice the...

NHS IT needs balanced view.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick NHS IT needs balanced view z Last week's National Audit Office (NAO) report on the NHS National Programme for IT (NPfIT) should be praised for one thing above all else -- for achieving a balance that is too often...

Mobile data keeps retailer sweet.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Mobile data keeps retailer sweet Daniel Thomas z Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is equipping merchandising staff with mobile devices to improve stock management, ordering and sales processes. The confectioner...

Total cost of NHS IT programme will be [pounds sterling]12.4bn.(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Computing Staff Total cost of NHS IT programme will be [pounds sterling]12.4bn Computing staff z The cost of the 10-year National Programme for NHS IT is estimated at [pounds sterling]12.4bn, a National Audit Office (NAO)...

research data.(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... research data Thin-client sales soar z Global shipments of thin-client hardware grew 38 per cent in 2005 to more than 2.2 million units, according to Gartner. North America is the biggest market followed by Europe. Manufacturers Wyse,...

DIY chain catches up on chip-and-PIN use.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos DIY chain catches up on chip-and-PIN use Wickes set to achieve full compliance six months after deadline Dave Friedlos z DIY chain Wickes is poised to achieve chip-and-PIN compliance more than six months...

Building society bins paper to streamline processes.(Portman Building Society contract with Metastorm Inc.)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Building society bins paper to streamline processes Daniel Thomas z Portman Building Society plans to improve handling of customer correspondence and other paper documents using business process management...

Better service at Wimbledon.(All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club contract with Lenovo Group Ltd.)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Better service at Wimbledon Technology trials set to aid security and boost real-time stats facility Bryan Glick z Next week's Wimbledon tennis championships will trial tablet PC technology to improve its...

Hospitals trust upgrades network.(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Hospitals trust upgrades network James Brown z County Durham Hospitals NHS Trust is installing a new communications network to give doctors and nurses better access to patient records and data. Based on a virtual private network,...

bulletin.
June 22, 2006... bulletin Powergen insources customer services z Powergen is to shut its Indian call centres and move jobs back to the UK to improve customer services. The energy company, part of E.ON, intends to withdraw all inbound call handling from...

online.(Standard Bank London contract with Telstra Corporation Ltd.)(JJB Sports PLC using fraud detection software)(Waitrose Ltd. installed business software)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week Bank seals converged voice and data deal z Standard Bank has awarded telecoms firm Telstra a contract to manage its voice and data traffic around the world. ...

Scottish Executive signs data sharing contract.(with Anite Group PLC)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Scottish Executive signs data sharing contract Lisa Kelly z The Scottish Executive has signed its first national contract to improve information sharing across multiple agencies. Under the terms of the deal...

Electronic ordering to cut WHSmith's costs.
June 22, 2006... Electronic ordering to cut WHSmith's costs Retailer's newspaper branch pilots supply chain system to reduce paper flow Dave Friedlos z WHSmith News is piloting electronic ordering systems to reduce its paper flow and cut costs....

Blair admits to police IT complexity.(Tony Blair)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Parliamentary reporter Blair admits to police IT complexity Parliamentary reporter z Prime Minister Tony Blair has admitted it is proving 'difficult and complicated' to implement a national police information technology...

Bank to cut queues with RFID cards.(Royal Bank of Scotland PLC contract with MasterCard International Inc.)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Bank to cut queues with RFID cards Royal Bank of Scotland staff test low-value payment cards Daniel Thomas z The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has this week started testing RFID-equipped payment cards...

Thales puts IT on the grid.
June 22, 2006... Byline: James Brown Thales puts IT on the grid IT system consolidation lets employees share data and eases support James Brown z Defence systems contractor Thales UK is consolidating its IT systems and introducing a grid-based...

Fifa voices doubts on IT for 2010 World Cup.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas Fifa voices doubts on IT for 2010 World Cup Daniel Thomas in Munich z Fifa has started preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but has expressed concerns that the country's IT infrastructure...

EU issues warning on security.
June 22, 2006... Byline: Daniel Thomas EU issues warning on security Member states must do more to improve online safety or risk missing Lisbon Agenda targets Daniel Thomas z Governments and businesses must do more to improve IT security if...

Entertainment thrives on digital.(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Entertainment thrives on digital Lisa Kelly z Digital, mobile and broadband channels will fuel growth in the global entertainment and media market, says new research. The industry is expected to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2010, with...

How do you access yours?
June 22, 2006... Byline: Dale Vile How do you access yours? The choice of wireless links is rising, but each brings its own benefits, says Dale Vile IT managers planning to provide users with mobile access to the internet or to corporate...

The next generation.(Third generation wireless technology)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick The next generation A special Computing web seminar explored the business potential of 3G technology. Bryan Glick reports Third-generation (3G) mobile technology has been available in the UK for more than three...

Lights, camera, interaction.(information technology professionals in entertainment sector)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortelman Lights, camera, interaction Entertainment is a boom field for IT professionals, but new skills will need to be honed, writes Jim Mortleman As connectivity, convergence and interactivity transform the way...

Interpersonal creative skills in demand.(for information technology workers)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortelman Interpersonal creative skills in demand z One of the key universal requirements will be the ability to work productively with key individuals in the business. Gartner's Adam Daum says that because of the huge...

Tuned in to technology.(entertainment industry and technology)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Cath Everett Tuned in to technology Cath Everett reports on two organisations in the entertainment business that have simplified their IT to improve efficiency Many entertainment companies are starting to modernise and...

What the experts say.(streaming media)(Brief article)
June 22, 2006... Byline: Cath Everett What the experts say Using technology to simplify processes frees up people's time to do creative things. Being creative and innovative in what players do with music is where it's at, not about what they do with...