News and Events from InfoLab21
News and Events from InfoLab21
December 2006
Season's Greetings and welcome to the December issue of InfoTextX – the e-newsletter from the Knowledge Business Centre at InfoLab21, aimed at keeping you informed about developments inside InfoLab21 and other news which we hope will be of interest to you.
If you would like to contribute news items to future editions of InfoTextX and our website, or know someone else who would like to receive this InfoTextX please contact the editor – Amanda Ross - at a.ross@lancaster.ac.uk
The research and development activities of InfoLab21 have been captured in a series of short films, now available online, as part of the InfoLab21 Demonstrator Project. There are films on four InfoLab21 research topics - virtual personality engineering, ubiquitous computing, mobile gaming and evolvable intelligence in robots and two films which provide an Introduction to InfoLab21 and an overview of the KBC. To support the InfoLab21 School program, there are youth versions of the films.
The InfoLab21 Demonstrator films were produced with the kind cooperation of InfoLab21 staff and by InfoLab21 Associate Companies Quay Creative and Knowledge Partners
More and more regional ICT related companies are becoming official Associates of InfoLab21. You can find an overview of the benefits in the Associate Company Scheme section of the InfoLab21 website, view profiles of some of the Associate Companies, or send us your own company profile to add.
Quay Creative is a friendly, professional communications agency, offering a range of services that bring business to life and promote a powerful, successful image for any organisation. The company specialises in business communication, producing cost-effective solutions in print, on the internet and through DVD and video production.
ICT Northwest is an IT Consultancy company based in Preston which provides Network Installations, IT Support, Strategic Consultancy and Website Development. Their main area of expertise aligning business strategy with ICT strategy ensuring their clients are as successful as they possibly can be.
The traditional means by which service users and service providers engage each other (i.e. classified newspaper and directory advertising) leaves much to be desired, often failing to produce a match. Ahoythere.com provides an alternative engagement model: rather than one party chasing the other, one of whom may not be interested, two interested parties meet in the middle.
View Full Profile
A new cluster group for ICT companies in Blackpool and Fylde has been formed, supported by InfoLab21, Business Link Lancashire, local Chambers of Commerce, Lancashire Economic Partnership and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. The Blackpool and Fylde ICT New Media Entrepreneurs' Club brings together the expertise and creativity of ICT businesses from across the Blackpool and Fylde region and provides a forum for the free and open exchange of knowledge and information and the sharing of business opportunities.
InfoLab21 also hosts and supports the Lancaster ICT Cluster Group and a number of ICT and Digital Cluster Groups throughout the region. If you would like to find out more about the clusters and how you can engage with them please contact:
KBC Business Development Team
Nick King
tel: +44 (0)1524 510447
m: +44 (0)7772 175777
n.king@lancaster.ac.uk
Colin McLaughlin
tel: +44 (0)01524 510443
m: +44 (0)7810 768265
c.i.mclaughlin@lancaster.ac.uk
InfoLab21 has recruited a new Technical Officer, Edward Lockett, to expand its free business support services. Ed has extensive experience managing technology and communications needs for a group of companies involved in printing and marketing, based in Lancashire. He studied at the University of Central Lancashire and has since become Microsoft certified. Ed specialises in networking, security, mobile and wireless technology, and has a background in programming, focusing on the area of web applications. His experiences have given him a great insight into the way SMEs operate and how technology can be applied in this environment.
To take advantage of Ed’s skills and find out more about the free ICT assistance available from InfoLab21, contact the KBC Business Development Team.
The MSc in E-Business & Innovation (EBIN) is a multidisciplinary programme focusing on business and technology aspects of innovations in information technology (IT) and information and communication technologies (ICT). We are seeking proposals for dissertation projects that can be undertaken by a student team during summer 2007.
Past Project Example
ERP systems for mobile phone retail sector - research and specify a new hosted business enterprise information system for the mobile phone retail sector. Sponsored by Business 1st.
Lord Sainsbury visited InfoLab21 this month to look at the links between the University and Businesses as part of a government review. The former science minister toured both the Lancaster Environment Centre and InfoLab21, where he visited the Graduate Academy, ICT Focus and met some of the companies housed in the Knowledge Business Centre. Lord Sainsbury is leading a nine-month Treasury review into how the development and exploitation of scientific research can be improved.
View Lord Sainsbury's Profile
The mobile phone giant Nokia has rewarded outstanding work by four postgraduates on Lancaster University courses which are tailor-made for industry.
Nokia’s senior specialist for Research and Development, Eric Jones, said students from these courses had an advantage in the job market. He said: “When we get job applications from Lancaster students who’ve been on courses run in partnership with Nokia, we plan to fast track them. They get through the first stage of the application process quicker via an internal reference from me.”
If you would like to tap into the expertise of students like these, InfoLab21 is currently looking for businesses with projects for its MSC Communications students. Contact the Editor for more information.
A scientist from Lancaster University has shadowed his local MP at the House of Commons in order to gain an insight into the political process.
A sociologist at Lancaster University has won a Microsoft European Research Fellowship worth a quarter of a million Euros for work which could influence the design of new technology.
View Full Story
by AhoyThere
There are typically three ways of finding a service provider (e.g. plumber, accountant, home help etc): asking someone we know for a recommendation; responding to an advertisement or choosing from a directory listing. The first option is generally preferred but is not always viable – hence the reason why service providers advertise. Choosing a service provider from a directory or an advertisement may seem like a straightforward exercise but in reality can involve a considerable amount of guesswork and ringing around.
Associate Company Folly has launched a new website and podcasts. Visit the new website www.whatsCookingGrandma.net to see the films and grandmas contributed by upstanding members of the public – like Nannie Webb and her delicious Apple and Blackberry Crumble.
MS2543 Core Web Application Technologies with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 29 - 31st January 2006 £450.00
The three-day workshop focuses on user interfaces, website structure and functionality, and implementation details and is aimed at corporate/ISV application developers who have a desire to learn more about specific technology areas in Web application development.
Certificate in Cisco Networking Technologies - £925.00
This course is aimed at people who wish to deepen their knowledge of the way that modern networks operate and is aligned with the Cisco Network Academy Programme Curriculum Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) curriculum.
Delivery of the course is based on a comprehensive e-learning program, delivering Web-based content, online assessment, student performance tracking, hands-on labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry-standard certifications.
Dates and course outline can be found at www.lancs.ac.uk/ictfocus
Blogging is having a growing impact on mainstream media. The blogging phenomenon is set to peak in 2007, according to technology predictions by analysts Gartner.