February 9, 2010

Industry calls for user choice over pay per click advertising

I was immensely heartened to read the Outlaw.Com note "Europe should adopt US behavioural advertising icon - and quick" . I do not always agree with what I receive from Outlaw.com but it is an immensely valuable service and this proposal seems far more sensible that most of the alternatives under discussion.   

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 9, 2010 11:02 AM |
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February 8, 2010

Yes to the cut-price passport - alias young persons ID card

A light has switched on in the Home Office. The IPS press release for the availablity of the Young Persons ID Card in London points out that it can be used as a passport across Europe. At £30 instead of £77.50 for an adult passport, of £49 for a child that is a saving worth having for those who do not wish to travel further afield    

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 8, 2010 1:29 PM |
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February 5, 2010

Information Security Breaches Survey - who tells the truth?

I have just completed the Information Security Breaches Survey 2010  . I was particularly annoyed with Question 36 which did not allow me to enter "none". I had to claim that security was included in the ISP contract of the organisation for which I was responding or drop out of the survey. I have no more read that heap of gobbledeygook than any of your managers or staff have read that of your organisation.  

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 5, 2010 12:45 PM |
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February 4, 2010

Cloud computing is a nebulous concept

The definition of Cloud computing depends on who you talk to. Most definitions cover services which were being supplied over the Internet by players like EDS and IBM to the US Department of Defence over a decade ago. Today these services underpin much of defence and financial services infrastructure of the West and are routinely used by customers who say they would never consider transitioning to something as untested as Cloud computing.

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 4, 2010 10:50 AM |
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February 2, 2010

Is poor service forcing consumers off-line?

Virgin, Tesco and Metro are all planning to open branch-based banking operations and the Post Office is planning, once again, to re-open its banking services. Why? The Financial Services Club Blog carries an interesting analysis but misses the point. There is serious money to be made by using new technology to slash the cost of "traditional" over-the-counter services - provided you have access to an existing branch network - especially one that is self-funding.  

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 2, 2010 6:55 PM |
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February 1, 2010

Miss Marple monitoring the St Mary Mead CCTV

What are the applications that would get the silver surfers on-line? Last week I attended the All Party Group on Rural Services broadband breakfast and have just taken a look at my doodles. I compared these with the points made in an e-mail asking me to comment on a submission to the BIS consultation on uses for the new Broadband fund. I was struck by the paucity of imagination of those discussing the bandwidth their customers might want.  

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Posted by Philip Virgo on February 1, 2010 8:11 PM |
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January 28, 2010

G-Cloud or G-String : turning aspiration into reality

Do read the Government IT Strategy. Much has changed from previous drafts. The big issue ia, however, to turn aspiration into reality. The claimed savings look like those in the Gershon report: impossible to achieve without a change of culture but pedestrian compared to those achievable  once that change has been achieved. 

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Posted by Philip Virgo on January 28, 2010 9:36 AM |
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January 24, 2010

How many active silver surfers are there?

 The on-line petition on the Number 10 Website to save the London Freedom Pass for those over 60 has under 14,000 signatures - yet the over 60s are more likely to vote. Interestingly I had not heard of this petition until I received an e-mail ten minutes ago. Is this symptomatic of a disconnect between the concerns of the blogogracy and those of real people? Or does it mean that Londoners are ready for savage public spending cuts - even if they directly affect them and their parents?

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Posted by Philip Virgo on January 24, 2010 3:27 PM |
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January 23, 2010

BBC asks Ofcom for permission to lead the way into 1984

In George Orwell's 1984 the TV screen in the corner also watches you. The PC or mobile that is the "extension to your mind" and your "window into world" is also the world's window into your mind, available for rent to any those will pay or who the government deems should have uncharged access. Surveys indicate that about a third of population is deeply suspicious - but not yet in a state of open revolt. The rest think "so what's new"?  

 

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Posted by Philip Virgo on January 23, 2010 11:06 AM |
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January 21, 2010

Drowning in Data Slurry as the "pipes" clog and burst

The HMG actions to put more of its information on-line at data.gov.uk are surprisingly modest compared to today's hype. They are right to be so. THere are major issues to do with the accuracy of much of the data on their files, The Audit Commission and the Information Society Alliance (EURIM) are organising a round table on February 22nd on the quality of public sector information and the actions needed to ensure that much more of it is "fit for purpose".    

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Posted by Philip Virgo on January 21, 2010 8:35 AM |
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