Computing articles from September 2006

Computing archives from September 2006

Finding favour.(Transport for London plans to integrated technology platform support travellers service)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Finding favour An integrated technology platform is key to TfL's plans to get information to passengers efficiently, reports Lisa Kelly Picture the scene: it is 10.30pm and a woman travelling on the London...

Forward planning.(Transport for London's Ian Henderson)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Forward planning z Ian Henderson, head of customer services at Transport for London (TfL), says implementing projects at the transport organisation requires intense forward planning. 'In the public sector you...

Monitoring the network in real-time.(Yorkshire Water departments plans )(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Mark Dye Monitoring the network in real-time z Like most successful organisations, Yorkshire Water is attempting to adopt a proactive not reactive approach. And it is putting a number of processes in place to ensure this...

What the experts say.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Gary Flood What the experts say z Understand your company's culture before you start mouthing off. When you start breaking the rules, you'd better know you are breaking the rules. Robert Scoble, the world's best known...

Robert Scoble.(Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Gary Flood Robert Scoble z The story of Robert Scoble and his blogging exploits at Microsoft provides an illustration of what can go right and what can go wrong with this form of informal corporate communications. ...

Corporate web sites get personal.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Gary Flood Corporate web sites get personal Companies are discovering that informal information delivered by employees' blogs can be used for business advantage, writes Gary Flood Blogging -- publishing on the...

a,[logical not]200 off entry to Europe's leading security conference z Register by 22 September and save a,[logical not]200 on entry to RSA Conference Europe 2006 -- Europe's leading information security conference and exhibition. At the conference, in Nice on 23-25 October, you can.
September 7, 2006... A[currency]200 off entry to Europe's leading security conference z Register by 22 September and save A[currency]200 on entry to RSA Conference Europe 2006 -- Europe's leading information security conference and exhibition. At the...

Take proper measurements to ensure the best security fit.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Luther Martin Take proper measurements to ensure the best security fit Using a careful cost-benefit analysis could help you make better decisions, writes Luther Martin z In Lord Dunsany's story Jorkens' Revenge, the...

Inflight mobiles will be a plane nuisance.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Emma Nash Inflight mobiles will be a plane nuisance Just because we have the ability to create new technologies does not necessarily mean we should introduce them, says Emma Nash z The transport sector is in a period of...

Mass market 3G is two years away.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Mass market 3G is two years away O2 UK chief executive admits 3G has been a disappointment so far. Bryan Glick reports z Most IT directors would agree that 3G mobile technology has so far been a...

Shares slump rocks Dell.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Shares slump rocks Dell Decline coincides with recall of laptop batteries, writes Dave Friedlos z Dell has attributed disappointing second-quarter results to a decline in desktop PC sales. While revenue...

financial world.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world Dell Dell reported revenue of $14.1bn ([pounds sterling]7.5bn) for the second quarter, an increase of five per cent year on year but down one per cent quarter on quarter. Operating income was...

Troubled NHS supplier rocked by major losses.(National Health service)(iSoft major losses and plans to extend the governement contract )
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Troubled NHS supplier rocked by major losses Buffeted iSoft is not yet out of the woods, writes Sarah Arnott z NHS software supplier iSoft's announcement last week that it has made a loss of [pounds...

DTI pledges [pounds sterling]20m to Galileo.(Department of Trade and Industry giving grant to European Space Agency)
September 7, 2006... Byline: James Brown DTI pledges [pounds sterling]20m to Galileo European satellite project promises to be a boon for UK businesses. James Brown reports z The government is giving a grant of A[currency]31m ([pounds sterling]20m) to...

Constraints prompt firms to track IT energy consumption.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Constraints prompt firms to track IT energy consumption Businesses warned to act to lower the environmental impact of their power use, writes Tom Young z Rising electricity costs and a spate of power cuts are...

IT offshoring set to grow.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams IT offshoring set to grow lara williams z UK companies will double offshore IT services staff numbers by 2008, according to analyst Ovum. Offshore headcount is set to rise to 130,000 over the next three...

York to offer text message parking service.(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos York to offer text message parking service Dave Friedlos z Visitors to the city of York could soon pay for parking by text message following the successful implementation of mobile phone payments. ...

RSC raises curtain on HR revamp.(Royal Shakespeare Company contracts with MidlandHR)(human resources and payroll system)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly RSC raises curtain on HR revamp Lisa Kelly z The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has installed an integrated human resources and payroll system and centralised all employee information to enable improved...

Council builds child database.
September 7, 2006... Byline: James Brown Council builds child database Somerset installs database to protect vulnerable children to meet government welfare policy James Brown z Somerset County Council is introducing a database as part of a...

Action needed on spammers.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Action needed on spammers z The EU's anti-spam directive became UK law in 2003, but there has yet to be a single prosecution. Last year the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) -- the state agency...

Research data.(Human resources outsourcing to rise)(Demand grows for RFID)(European Internet Protocol spend high)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... research data HR outsourcing to rise z Outsourcing of human resources (HR) processes is set to grow by 4.7 per cent worldwide by the end of 2006, according to analyst Gartner. The company predicts that HR business process outsourcing...

online.(Teachers want internet used more in classroom)(Chinese broadband to lead world by 2007)(Spar convenience stores contracts with Epson IR)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week Intelligent tills offer added convenience z Retailer Tates is implementing touchscreen intelligent registers to improve efficiency and save counter space. The retailer, which...

Bulletin.(Virus levels double)(Ryanair announces onboard mobile service)(NHS IT under review)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... bulletin NHS IT under review z The National Audit Office (NAO) is to undertake another review of the [pounds sterling]6bn National Programme for NHS IT. An earlier report published in June painted a largely positive picture of...

Allied consolidates shop servers.(Allied Carpets Group PLC)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Allied consolidates shop servers Carpet retailer reduces its servers from 222 to just three to lower costs and in-store support Dave Friedlos z Retailer Allied Carpets has installed thin-client...

Oil rig network installs IP to cut costs.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Oil rig network installs IP to cut costs Stena Drilling gains flexibility and savings with IP infrastructure Lisa Kelly z Drilling contractor Stena Drilling is installing an IP communications system to its...

Energy supplier develops mobile quote system.(EDF Energy)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: James Brown Energy supplier develops mobile quote system James Brown z EDF Energy is to install a quotation system to allow technicians to produce on-site price estimates when they visit customers. The aim is to cut...

School entry available online.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott School entry available online Parents can submit applications for next year electronically Sarah Arnott z Applications for primary and secondary school places can now be made online in all England's...

Localised attacks add to phishing increase.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Localised attacks add to phishing increase More targets also contribute to rise in malware Tom Young z Phishing attacks now account for almost a third of all malware threats, according to figures...

Met Office tailors forecasting.
September 7, 2006... Byline: James Brown Met Office tailors forecasting Weather agency targets new business sectors using application lifecycle management systems James Brown z The Met Office is using an application lifecycle management system to...

DWP cancels IT processing system.(Department for Work and Pensions cancel contracts with International Business Machines Corp.)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott DWP cancels IT processing system Sarah Arnott z The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has cancelled a [pounds sterling]139m benefits processing system to accommodate changes to benefits structures. ...

Royal Mail adds online post tool.(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Royal Mail adds online post tool Dave Friedlos z Royal Mail has redeveloped an automated web-based pricing calculator to assist customers with its new Pricing in Proportion (PiP) payment structure. PiP...

Momentum builds behind our green campaign.(HSBC and Standard Life contracts to join the Green Computing Charter campaign)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Momentum builds behind our green campaign Lara Williams z Dozens of firms have signed up to our Green Computing Charter, unveiled two weeks ago as the core of a campaign to improve IT users' environmental...

Milton Keynes ready for WiMax broadband trial.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Milton Keynes ready for WiMax broadband trial Sarah Arnott z Milton Keynes will become the first UK city to use WiMax broadband technology when trials begin in December. The system uses specific bands of...

RFID plane tickets to track travellers.(radio frequency identification tags)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: James Brown RFID plane tickets to track travellers James Brown z Scientists at University College London (UCL) are developing a system that combines radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and high-definition CCTV...

Spam laws fail to measure up.(Microsoft's civil case highlights shortcomings of anti-spam legislation)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Spam laws fail to measure up Microsoft's civil case highlights shortcomings of anti-spam legislation Tom Young z Microsoft has bypassed criminal anti-spam laws and reached an out-of-court settlement with a...

Online gaming firm bets on SOA.(service-oriented architecture)(Brief article)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Online gaming firm bets on SOA Tom Young z Talarius, owner of the UK's largest chain of gaming centres, has installed a service-oriented architecture (SOA) as the core infrastructure for its Cyberslotz virtual...

Calmer waters.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Mark Dye Calmer waters A customer management system helped Yorkshire Water overcome a bad reputation and become a success, writes Mark Dye Back in 1995, Yorkshire Water was suffering from intractable problems. Dry...

Blogging case study: Cadbury Schwepps.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Sally Flood case study Cadbury Schweppes SaLLY FLOOD z Finding out what people think about you is not always easy, particularly if the results are not what you want to hear. Last summer, Cadbury Schweppes surveyed...

Metrics.(briefs)
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Metrics Outsourcing effects on staff handled well 1Many companies involved in outsourcing deals are satisfied with the way the transfer of employees is handled. Forrester Research questioned 21 companies about...

Backbytes.
September 7, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips Warm thoughts for a cold winter z A few weeks ago Alistair Maclean suggested saving on heating bills by employing small, fat people. If you're about to seize on this idea, Graeme Leggett has a warning: this only...

Top five recruitment trends.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Top five recruitment trends Business savvy z To be successful, council IT departments must run as a business. At all levels, IT staff with good business skills and experience -- including project management,...

Recruitment strategy.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Recruitment strategy z Jos Creese, head of IT at Hampshire County Council, explains how he finds and keeps hold of the right IT staff. 'We look for people with the potential to do the job, and set a lot of store...

A personal career path to CIO.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams A personal career path to CIO z Rorie Devine became chief technology officer this year, having previously been information systems director. But he has not taken a strict technology or business route to become the...

Customer is king.(information technology services industry)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Customer is king Credit checking firm's IT chief John Finch says web services have created greater flexibility. Lisa Kelly reports Reacting with agility and speed to customer demands is crucial for credit...

metrics.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Tom Young metrics Database archiving shows potential 1Database archiving represents a very small but growing proportion of the archiving market, according to analyst Gartner. Only four vendors, representing 98 per cent of...

Computing Awards for Excellence: the contenders.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick Computing Awards for Excellence: the contenders Project awards Private Sector Project of the Year Alliance & Leicester Internet banking security BP Turnaround tracking London Stock Exchange...

The names in the awards frame.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Bryan Glick The names in the awards frame WE ARE pleased to announce the shortlists for the Computing Awards for Excellence 2006. There has been a record number of entries this year, more than 25 per cent up on the...

EDF Energy's email solution.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: James Brown EDF Energy's email solution Benoit Laclau, managing director of business improvement and technology at EDF Energy, one of the biggest power companies in the UK, says his company is looking very hard at how to solve...

Last post for email.
September 14, 2006... Last post for email Has email reached the end of its useful business life? James Brown investigates How many emails do you get in a day, and how much time do you spend dealing with them? Ask the typical chief information officer (CIO)...

Room at the top.(information technology services industry)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Room at the top IT directors are still not obtaining the representation they deserve at board level. But practical steps can help them secure recognition, as Lara Williams reports More often than not, IT...

Core processes.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Core processes z 'Historically, systems development was a highly governed, rigorous process as we delivered mission-critical systems to customers,' says John Finch, director of development and delivery at Experian's...

Advantage programme.(information technology services industry)(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Advantage programme Win free tickets to attend premier data conference z Computing is offering readers the chance to win a complementary conference delegate pass worth [pounds sterling]1,595 to the seventh annual Data Management and...

Welcome to a world of man and machine.
September 14, 2006... Byline: mark samuels Welcome to a world of man and machine Japan may be leading the way with robots that perform business tasks, but they are unlikely to replace us just yet, says Mark Samuels z Bored with the programmer who...

financial world.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos financial world LogicaCMG z Services giant LogicaCMG has announced first-half results that saw revenue rise to [pounds sterling]1.2bn, up 39 per cent compared with last year. Operating costs, including...

Logica branches out.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Logica branches out Finance and telecoms sectors boost LogicaCMG revenue, reports Dave Friedlos z Outsourcer LogicaCMG saw revenue rise 39 per cent to [pounds sterling]1.2bn in the first half of this year,...

Get switched on about switching off.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Tom Young and Lara Williams Get switched on about switching off Tom Young examines some simple measures that could significantly cut energy consumption z Office equipment is the fastest-growing area of energy consumption...

IT to secure airport check-in.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos IT to secure airport check-in A wave of new technologies aims to bolster security and speed up boarding. Dave Friedlos reports z Recent increases in security measures at UK airports have brought passenger...

The airport of the future.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos The airport of the future Technology is set to play an increasingly prominent role at airports as airlines look for ways to increase security and make travelling through terminals more straightforward. ...

Culture holds key to pensions IT change.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Culture holds key to pensions IT change Implementation is on time and to budget so far, writes Sarah Arnott z In contrast to the long list of poorly implemented government technology programmes, the [pounds...

Doctors hold virtual team meetings.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Doctors hold virtual team meetings Lisa Kelly z Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust is to install software to allow doctors to work virtually, to speed up patient care, improve responsiveness and boost productivity....

Practical ways to cut energy use.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Tom Young and Lara Williams Practical ways to cut energy use Our Green Computing campaign is intended to make the IT industry more environmentally aware, while reducing costs and improving efficiency. The second point of...

IBM set to build fastest computer.(International Business Machines Corp.)(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: James Brown IBM set to build fastest computer James Brown z IBM is to build the world's fastest supercomputer for the US Department of Energy (DoE). The machine, codenamed Roadrunner, will be used by the DoE's National...

Kellogg's trims invoicing flab.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Kellogg's trims invoicing flab Cost-per-transaction system to cut paper costs and simplify accounting processes Dave Friedlos z Cereal manufacturer Kellogg's aims to eliminate 80 per cent of paper...

Virgin Megastores uses CRM for personal touch.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Virgin Megastores uses CRM for personal touch Lisa Kelly z Virgin Megastores has installed customer relationship management (CRM) software to provide more targeted communication to build loyalty and profits. ...

New maturity for joined-up ID.(identification number)(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott New maturity for joined-up ID z Joined-up government is a term that has been bandied about by Whitehall policy idealists for so long, and has remained so far from reality, that the phrase is now largely accompanied...

Publisher takes the digital route to boost revenue.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lisa Kelly Publisher takes the digital route to boost revenue Lisa Kelly z Publisher Dorling Kindersley (DK) is preparing its content for multi-platform publishing as part of a digital drive intended to increase...

Olympics planning system on the starting blocks.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Olympics planning system on the starting blocks Lara Williams z The London 2012 Olympic Games Organising Committee is to integrate back office systems and services to underpin the planning of the games. ...

backbytes.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Tim Phillips backbytes May the G force not be with you z We have been covering in great detail the exact G force that a hard drive falling off your desk would experience to answer the question of whether this exceeds...

Severn Trent to update asset control software.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: James Brown Severn Trent to update asset control software Utility wants to link sensor network into a master control system James Brown z Severn Trent Water is to upgrade control software to cope with a major growth in...

bulletin.
September 14, 2006... bulletin Bar's interactive table yields record sales z A trial of interactive computers that allow customers to order drinks from their seats has generated record revenue at Westminster University's student bar Intermission....

online.
September 14, 2006... online Computing.co.uk's most popular stories this week Virgin Atlantic targets online growth z Virgin Atlantic has enhanced its web site, installing an upgraded booking engine, as it seeks to meet aggressive annual growth targets...

Firms must take internal threats more seriously.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Tom Young Firms must take internal threats more seriously Tom Young z Internal data breaches are costing businesses an average of [pounds sterling]1.8m a year, according to research published this week. The...

Pension Service transforms IT.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott Pension Service transforms IT Latest phase of transformation programme nears completion with streamlined applications Sarah Arnott z Pensioners entitled to multiple state benefits will be able to...

HSBC switches to green computing.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams HSBC switches to green computing Lara Williams z Financial services giant HSBC is to install software on all desktops across its international operations that will enable systematic switch-off of machines at...

Airlines look at mobile phone boarding passes.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos Airlines look at mobile phone boarding passes DavE Friedlos z By 2010 UK airline passengers could be checking in and boarding flights using an electronic barcode transmitted to their mobile phone,...

Police scheme widens scope.
September 14, 2006... Byline: James Brown Police scheme widens scope Computer purchasing initiative extended to other justice bodies James Brown z A scheme that has reduced desktop hardware costs for police and emergency services by 10 per cent is...

Mifid plans may put pressure on IT.(Markets in Financial Instruments Directive)(information technology)(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Mifid plans may put pressure on IT Lara Williams z Financial services firms face substantial data management challenges if Financial Services Authority (FSA) benchmarking proposals relating to the forthcoming...

Visa to test contactless payment.(Brief article)
September 14, 2006... Byline: Lara Williams Visa to test contactless payment Lara Williams z Visa is to trial contactless debit cards in London this autumn to allow shoppers to pay for low-value goods by passing their card over an electronic reader....

ID card scheme changes tack.
September 14, 2006... Byline: Sarah Arnott ID card scheme changes tack Whitehall shifts from original concept of a single massive project Sarah Arnott z The government is taking the first steps to creating the national identity card project...

GNER till system on track to save [pounds sterling]1m.(Great North Eastern Railway )
September 14, 2006... Byline: Dave Friedlos GNER till system on track to save [pounds sterling]1m Train operator opts for electronic payment system Dave Friedlos z Train operator GNER has signed a [pounds sterling]2m agreement to install electronic...

Essential qualities.
September 21, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Essential qualities Organisations today are seeking a broader mix of skills from their security professionals. James Mortleman reports The information security profession is transforming and maturing. It has...

Interpersonal skills.(Brief article)
September 21, 2006... Byline: Jim Mortleman Interpersonal skills z Good people skills are another essential requirement for the modern security professional. Failure to communicate effectively with managers, colleagues and staff can have potentially...

The changing face of protection.
September 21, 2006... Byline: Cath Everett The changing face of protection Every employee now has a responsibility towards security, as companies move away from buying traditional security products, reports Cath Everett Generally, the market...

What the experts say.
September 21, 2006... Byline: Cath Everett What the experts say Security budgets are going into two main areas. The first is the development of specific strategic roles, such as dedicated security and risk managers, and on staff development and security...