Computing articles from March 2008

Computing archives from March 2008

Face value or face ache?
March 6, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Face value or face ache? Some businesses embrace social networking while others approach with caution, writes Martin Courtney Few technologies have divided popular opinion like social networking....

Communication becomes mobile for Red Cross.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Communication becomes mobile for Red Cross Neon Kelly z The British Red Cross is building a [pounds sterling]100,000 bus to act as a mobile communications centre for the charity's activities around the UK....

Five companies that could change personal computing.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Linda More Five companies that could change personal computing Light Blue Optics (LBO) z LBO is a UK-based company that has developed and patented holographic laser projection technology. Creating large, full-colour and...

Personal computing: facts and figures.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Byline: Linda More Personal computing: facts and figures z PC sales in western Europe reached 17.9 million units in the fourth quarter of 2007, but shipments underperformed compared with the year's overall 12 per cent growth, ...

Keeping in touch.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Linda More Keeping in touch In the first of our four-part weekly guide to personal computing, Linda More looks at how mobile IT is changing the way we work z Personal computing has become part of everyday life, with our...

Five personal computing technologies to look out for.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Linda More Five personal computing technologies to look out for Flexible screen technology for portable devices z Commercially viable flexible displays A- suitable for use in portable devices such as phones, PDAs and...

Three-strikes rule for illegal downloaders.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Jude Umeh Three-strikes rule for illegal downloaders View from BCS: the latest proposal to combat online piracy will encounter several hurdles, says Jude Umeh z On 12 February, The Times reported that a draft consultation...

McDonald s visual order system drives up sales.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari McDonald s visual order system drives up sales Angelica Mari z Display-based remote ordering systems have helped boost McDonald's drive-thru sales by 26 per cent in the past four months as part of a wider...

IT and disability.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Carrie Saint Freedman IT and disability z There are about 10 million disabled adults in the UK who are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. (Source: Family Resource Survey 2003 to 2003). z More than 6.8...

Enabling IT for all.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Carrie Saint Freedman Enabling IT for all Carrie Saint Freedman explains how IT firms can address the issue of accessible technology Experience tells us that accessible technology is neither difficult nor...

Google dives into underwater investment.(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Google dives into underwater investment Search firm will help find undersea cable to keep up with online demands of Asia-Pacific Computing staff z Google is helping to fund a $300m ([pounds...

Citizens must realise value of private data.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Citizens must realise value of private data Security experts urge tighter controls on who can access information Tom Young z Technological function creep has created a surveillance society in the UK,...

Reading matches go cash free.(Reading Football Club)
March 6, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Reading matches go cash free Membership cards can be used to buy food and drink in the stadium Angelica Mari z Reading Football Club's cash-free environment will go live next month as part of a major IT...

Hysteria clouds database debate.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Computing staff Hysteria clouds database debate z The data debate is becoming confused. First, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lost 25 million people's details in the post. Then agencies as varied as the DVLA and the...

Help others while saving the planet.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels Help others while saving the planet For ten years Computer Aid has provided PCs to the developing world and it has now set its most ambitious target yet, says Mark Samuels z In a business world driven by a...

Gateway reviews must look at privacy, says ICO.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Gateway reviews must look at privacy, says ICO Tom Young z The government is in talks with the personal information watchdog over plans to assess the privacy implications of public sector IT projects before they...

Web shoppers want security.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Web shoppers want security Most people who shop online want their data to be more secure Angelica Mari z More than half of online consumers think that not enough is being done to protect their personal...

Investment in people pays off.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Investment in people pays off Staff retraining was crucial to Nottingham Building Society scheme Angelica Mari z Nottingham Building Society has successfully completed a [pounds sterling]10m...

Microsoft plays to operating strengths.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Microsoft plays to operating strengths Chief executive of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, talks exclusively to Computing Martin Courtney z After five years in the making, Microsoft last week launched its...

Rail trials go on despite blips.(Network Rail)(Brief article)
March 6, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Rail trials go on despite blips Angelica Mari z Network Rail's much-delayed [pounds sterling]1.7bn technology trial of the GSM-R unified communications system is at the half-way point. Pilots began in...

Energy firms concerned about 21CN.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies Energy firms concerned about 21CN Janie Davies z Energy companies are concerned that transition to the UK's next-generation communications infrastructure could put their command and control systems at risk....

The key to a successful project.
March 6, 2008... Byline: Hugh Buckley The key to a successful project Clarity, clear goals and effective communication are vital to a successful project rollout, says Hugh Buckley z So many technology projects fail to deliver the required business...

Power to the people.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Power to the people In the second of our four-part weekly guide to personal computing, Lisa Kelly looks at how IT managers combine innovation and security z Jem Eskenazi,...

Key business process.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Key business process z When it comes to ensuring security for personal computing, Jem Eskenazi, chief information officer at Groupama, says it is important to give access to users A- and to establish clear rules. ...

Case study: Kudos Records.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Lisa Kelly Case study: Kudos Records z Music distributor Kudos Records tested Google Apps after problems with ISP-hosted email resulted in the loss of information in spring 2006. Danny Ryan, managing director of Kudos...

The future does not look bright for IT.(Information technology)
March 13, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels The future does not look bright for IT Big changes are afoot if the IT industry is to survive and develop in the next few years, but how best to go about it, asks Mark Samuels z Business technology is...

Councils still need better web sites.(Website overview)
March 13, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies Councils still need better web sites Usability is a big weakness, but some online services can match the private sector Janie Davies z Many council web sites are now providing as good a service as their...

Flexible ticket pricing system gets on track.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Flexible ticket pricing system gets on track Angelica Mari z Train operators are following in the footsteps of the airline industry to implement flexible ticket pricing systems, but the process is proving to...

E-crime takes political stage.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Tom Young E-crime takes political stage Labour forced to defend policy as Tories launch green paper Tom Young z E-crime has started to shoot up the political agenda as the Labour and Tory parties increasingly see the...

Specsavers revamps CRM system.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Specsavers revamps CRM system Angelica Mari z Specsavers has completed the implementation of a customer relationship management (CRM) system as part of a wider ecommerce redevelopment project. The latest...

Government fails to sell ID concept.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Computing Government fails to sell ID concept z It would be easy to be cynical and suggest the government engaged in a bit of press control with the timing of the publication of Sir James Crosby's report on UK identity...

Staff at T5 equipped to use new IT system.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Staff at T5 equipped to use new IT system Employees put new IT systems to the test in development process Angelica Mari z In setting up the most technologically advanced airport terminal in the world, the...

Experts wary over ID card plan.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Experts wary over ID card plan Home Office slows ID card rollout as independent Treasury study recommends fast implementation Tom Young z The government's failure to take on board the recommendations of...

Terminal Five is tried, tested and ready to go.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Terminal Five is tried, tested and ready to go Angelica Mari z British Airways (BA) and airport operator BAA are two weeks away from the opening of Heathrow's Terminal Five (T5) after completing 260 IT...

Soca to rethink e-crime fight.(talk with Sharon Lemon of United Kingdom. Serious Organised Crime Agency)(Interview)
March 13, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Soca to rethink e-crime fight Crime agency renews links with private sector to share information Tom Young z The Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has signalled its intent to renew contacts with the...

backbytes.
March 13, 2008... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes The writing is on the toilet wall z "I am completing a specification for an intranet today and the following is included in the specifications list," says Joe, who does not want us to reveal his last...

Securing freedom.
March 20, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman Securing freedom In the third part of our guide to personal computing, James Mortleman investigates the key skills for IT professionals z Until a few years ago, personal computing in business meant...

The CIO perspective.
March 20, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman The CIO perspective z CIOs generally have loftier concerns than thinking about their organisation's personal computing management and support challenges. Such tasks have traditionally been delegated to more...

The most in-demand personal computing skills.
March 20, 2008... Byline: James Mortleman The most in-demand personal computing skills Hand-held device knowledge z Mobile devices continue to proliferate and will become more functional over the next few years. As organisations move to more...

Learning to change through systems innovation.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Sheila Bullas Learning to change through systems innovation BCS view: IT can transform the NHS for the better, but it has to learn from previous mistakes, says Sheila Bullas z We all have an interest in the NHS: as a...

Easyriders lead by example.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Stephen Nolan Easyriders lead by example Many companies could learn a thing or two about customer loyalty from Harley-Davidson, says Stephen Nolan z The motorcycle company Harley-Davidson knows its customers. As the firm's...

To divide and conquer.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney To divide and conquer BT is embarking on a process of transformation, changing its structure, strategy and attitude in a bid to be more customer focused. Martin Courtney reports As the UK's...

What the experts say.(Brief article)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney What the experts say z BT is already number one for customer service, and we think our differentiation comes from the quality of our customer service. There will be cases where customers get the BT...

BT chief information officer Al-Noor Ramji.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney BT chief information officer Al-Noor Ramji What is the biggest change you have seen in the telecommunications industry recently? The whole telecommunications industry clearly has a vision that the customer...

The head spinning world of Web 2.0.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Mark Samuels The head spinning world of Web 2.0 Social software has still not shown its business benefits and firms should try to keep up with the constant changes, says Mark Samuels z I am leading what seems like a...

A charitable concern.(Discussion)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Bryan Glick A charitable concern A Computing roundtable debate discussed the challenges for IT managers in the not-for-profit sector Have you ever felt like getting out of the rat race and using your valuable...

Microsoft reveals latest innovations.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Microsoft reveals latest innovations Smart devices feature heavily at Microsoft's annual TechFest event Neon Kelly in Redmond z Microsoft spent $7.5bn ([pounds sterling]3.7bn) on research and development...

What the experts say.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly What the experts say z "Data exposure will continue to be a risk A- that is to say the whole issue of malware that makes the internet a potentially unfriendly place. We have been working on trying to get back to the...

backbytes.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes Like English A- but not at all z We are always keen to learn new languages, and Andy Bayley at Dawsons seems to have found one while looking for a copy of Opera to download. "I clicked...

Data storage burden on IT is set to increase.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Data storage burden on IT is set to increase With the volume of global data growing yearly, IT departments are feeling the pressure of security Martin Courtney z IT departments are struggling to...

British Airways cuts call traffic.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari British Airways cuts call traffic Angelica Mari z British Airways (BA) has cut 300,000 calls from its contact centre by adding a function on its web site to inform customers of travel restrictions. The...

21CN services to be rolled out from April.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly 21CN services to be rolled out from April BT launches high-speed broadband for ISPs as part of [pounds sterling]10bn project Neon Kelly z The first services on BT's 21st century network (21CN) will launch...

False online advertising is outlawed.(Brief article)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Tom Young False online advertising is outlawed Tom Young z The government is to implement laws that prevent companies advertising falsely on the internet from next month. The anonymity that the web provides has allowed...

IT skills gap is boosting pay.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies IT skills gap is boosting pay High demand for IT expertise will continue to grow for some time Janie Davies z High demand and a shortage of SAP, Oracle and Microsoft skills are pushing up IT salaries. ...

Norton Rose cuts contractors to ensure skills continuity.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Norton Rose cuts contractors to ensure skills continuity Angelica Mari z Law firm Norton Rose is looking to avoid potential skills shortages by reducing the use of contractors and introducing flexible use of...

IT must respond to consumer needs.
March 20, 2008... Byline: computing IT must respond to consumer needs z The rise of consumer technology and its impact on business has become a growing theme for IT managers. The increasingly tech-savvy population has different expectations of...

Student loans technology overhaul.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Student loans technology overhaul Angelica Mari The Student Loans Company (SLC) has implemented an IT service management system as a starting point for a major tidy-up of the data supporting student loan...

Free smartcard travel arrives.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Free smartcard travel arrives But bus operators do not yet have equipment needed to read cards Angelica Mari z The first nationwide smartcard-based travel scheme launches next month, but the majority of...

Shared services scheme set to go live in October.(United Kingdom. Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Shared services scheme set to go live in October Tom Young z The government project for sharing IT infrastructure between Whitehall departments will go live on 1 October this year. The Cabinet Office and the...

Nationwide invests in IT change.
March 20, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Nationwide invests in IT change [pounds sterling]300m programme to transform business is enabled by technology Angelica Mari z Nationwide Building Society is investing [pounds sterling]300m over the next...

New approach to ID card scheme.(Interview)
March 20, 2008... Byline: Tom Young New approach to ID card scheme Technology is just one issue in the government's overhaul of controversial identity plan Tom Young z James Hall is the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service A-...

Never settle for second best.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Dominic Knight Never settle for second best Firms may see IT as a commodity, but they must not do the same to staff, says Dominic Knight Organisations have increasingly started to treat IT like a commodity that can be used...

Desktops still have a purpose.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Jon Collins Desktops still have a purpose Although the growth of mobile devices is undeniable, businesses should not disregard desktops, writes Jon Collins Desktop computing is where the rubber hits the road, as far as...

Long arm of the law.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Dino Wilkinson Long arm of the law The popularity of remote working has given rise to legal pitfalls for firms that do not protect data. Dino Wilkinson investigates z With increasing numbers of workers using mobile devices,...

Desperately seeking answers.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Desperately seeking answers The search engines of the future will be intuitive enough to decipher ambiguous search terms, says Neon Kelly z "As the circle of my knowledge grows, so grows the circumference of the...

Time to focus on the good in databases.
March 27, 2008... Byline: p14 Mark Samuels Time to focus on the good in databases The media breeds a lack of confidence in databases, but good management shows the more positive possibilities, says Mark Samuels z It can take a great deal of...

User demand is key to green IT uptake.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Tom Young User demand is key to green IT uptake Tom Young z The pressure of market forces is not yet strong enough to drive widespread adoption of green technology and services, say UK IT leaders. A survey of members...

Intel to announce latest processor plans.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Intel to announce latest processor plans Chip giant to introduce major development in virtualisation technology, writes Martin Courtney z Next week's Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai will see the...

Publisher turns to open source for speedy site.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Martin Courtney Publisher turns to open source for speedy site Web tools allow Scholastic UK to cut costs and development time of online book club Martin Courtney z Scholastic UK, the subsidiary of the world's largest...

Bernard Matthews plans to consolidate processes.(Brief article)
March 27, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Bernard Matthews plans to consolidate processes Angelica Mari z Food company Bernard Matthews is introducing an integrated product development system to help keep up with constant updates in food regulations....

Police employ secure data-sharing method.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Police employ secure data-sharing method Tom Young z City of London Police is using a new system to secure sensitive information carried outside its network. The force needs to keep track of where data is...

CIOs urged to adopt IP networking.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly CIOs urged to adopt IP networking Neon Kelly z Chief information officers (CIOs) must change their attitude to communications spending if they are to make the most of their investments, according to research...

Innovation gets risk assessment.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Neon Kelly Innovation gets risk assessment Neon Kelly z The National Audit Office is to examine the risks associated with government promotion of innovation in the public sector. The study will build on a similar...

CV: Dave Lynch.(Brief biography)(Brief article)
March 27, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari CV: Dave Lynch Since 2004: Group technology director, Go-Ahead Group After four years working with Go-Ahead as a contractor, Lynch and his small team of specialists joined the transport group on a...

Buses and trains receive green light on driver monitor system.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari Buses and trains receive green light on driver monitor system Angelica Mari z Go-Ahead Group is trialling the use of a driver behaviour recognition system that allows measurement and control of the energy...

Prison Service cuts costs with shared IT systems.(Brief article)
March 27, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Prison Service cuts costs with shared IT systems Tom Young z HM Prison Service is nearing the end of a shared services programme that will help save more than [pounds sterling]95m. The [pounds sterling]40m...

Cyber attack threat is ignored.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Tom Young Cyber attack threat is ignored Government comes under fire for not funding vital unit to help protect critical national infrastructure Tom Young z Companies that form key elements of the UK's critical...

Is green technology losing its colour?
March 27, 2008... Byline: Computing Is green technology losing its colour? z The progress of green computing is in danger of becoming a classic technological chicken and egg. After two years of bold intentions from vendors and IT managers alike,...

IT given Go-Ahead for growth plans.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Angelica Mari IT given Go-Ahead for growth plans Transport group's technology director has plenty of challenges to consider during his weekly travels Angelica Mari z Dave Lynch does not have a fixed office location...

Child welfare IT hit by delays.
March 27, 2008... Byline: Janie Davies Child welfare IT hit by delays More than 30 councils could miss deadline as software is late Janie Davies z At least one in five local authorities in England will miss a vital deadline for the...