IT innovation, research and development

Department for Transport kicks off cloud transformation

A major system has been moved to Google Cloud Platform as part of a wider modernisation exercise Continue Reading

NatWest launches biometric card pilot

NatWest Bank is set to trial biometrics-based cards with 200 customers to verify contactless payment transactions over £30 Continue Reading

CW Europe: Robots deliver savings for Dutch postal service

In this issue we look at how Dutch delivery company PostNL is reaping huge efficiency savings by using robotic technology to automate time-consuming administrative tasks, Facebook’s opposition to the referral of questions about the legality of data transfers between Europe and the US to the European Court of Justice, and how Oslo is thriving from a unique combination of business agility, a cultural receptiveness to technology, and a social desire to do good. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Half of government IT jobs in 2023 do not exist today

Widespread digital transformation in the public sector means government CIO responsibilities will change rapidly in the next four years and many of those future roles do not yet exist, says Gartner Continue Reading

Ministry of Justice concludes prison biometrics pilots

Use of iris scanning and facial recognition software is part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking in UK jails Continue Reading

UK military robotics get multimillion-pound boost

A budget of £66m from the Ministry of Defence's Transformation Fund has been allocated to a project that will see mini-drones and autonomous vehicles deployed to the battlefield Continue Reading

Santander latest bank to tap Google experience

Spanish banking giant is tapping IT skills from Google through its latest senior tech appointment Continue Reading

Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 6

In this week’s episode of The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, the team talks about Mobile World Congress, Facebook’s latest data privacy row, the Ocado and M&S partnership, and how the technology industry can tackle unethical data use Continue Reading

Australia ramps up on 5G – telcos and banks among the first to benefit

Australia has been touted as a leader in 5G, although the promises of the technology supporting the use of autonomous vehicles will not be realised for now Continue Reading

London cyber security innovation centre issues open invitation

Government-backed cyber security innovation centre is calling for innovators to address key challenges facing the cyber security industry, offering a year of bespoke support to scale quickly Continue Reading

Volkswagen’s cloud-focused connected car collaboration with Microsoft gathers pace

Car maker has confirmed its Microsoft-based Automotive Cloud setup will be extended beyond Europe into other key markets to support its push to digitise more of the driving experience for its customers Continue Reading

Dutch companies lack knowledge of IoT’s benefits

Many organisations in the Netherlands are missing out on the benefits of the internet of things because they lack awareness of its potential Continue Reading

M&S and Ocado announce £750m food delivery joint venture

Deal will see M&S take a 50% share of Ocado’s UK retail business, with access to the Ocado Smart Platform Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Satya Nadella presents intelligent edge vision

Microsoft has unveiled a version of the Xbox Kinect device for business called the Azure Kinect, which sees and hears its environment Continue Reading

SAP Malaysia MD Duncan Williamson talks up the ‘experience economy’

In a world where consumer experience can make or break a business, companies need to continuously reinvent themselves to stay relevant Continue Reading

Facebook planned to spy on Android phone users, internal emails reveal

Facebook planned to use its Android app to track the location of its customers and to allow advertisers to send political advertising and invites to dating sites to ‘single’ people, confidential documents show Continue Reading

MWC 2019: O2 to launch 5G by Christmas

Ahead of Mobile World Congress, operator O2 has revealed further details of how it is planning for the advent of 5G Continue Reading

CW Nordics: Sweden to test e-krona and plans cashless society

Sweden’s vision of a cashless society has gained traction after the Riksbank (central bank) rolled out plans to test a digital currency, the e-krona. Also read how the Nordic region’s longer-established companies are playing a forceful role to advance digital transformation, and how Finland’s IT sector has rebounded strongly after Microsoft’s takeover of Nokia’s mobile phones and smart devices business units in 2014. Continue Reading

MWC 2019: 5G smartphones go live on Vodafone network

Vodafone has connected three 5G-enabled smartphones to a live network during trials in Spain Continue Reading

MWC 2019: Huawei claims massive lead on 5G readiness

At a pre-Mobile World Congress event in London, Huawei’s Ryan Ding shared details of the firm’s rapidly expanding 5G mobile portfolio, and laid into his competitors Continue Reading

IT professionals are getting ready for the onset of digital twins

While few businesses are running digital twins in production, Gartner expects two-thirds will implement the technology by 2022 Continue Reading

Bank of England to migrate from core system with a one-off big bang

The Bank of England will migrate from its current core settlement system with a 'big-bang' migration before the end of 2025 Continue Reading

MWC 2019: 5G in Europe driven by industrial automation, says Ericsson

As Mobile World Congress 2019 nears, Sweden’s Ericsson has been expanding, and expounding upon, its plans for 5G mobile networks Continue Reading

Central Saint Martins hosts Three’s 5G trial for London Fashion Week

Three’s trial 5G network will enable the world’s first augmented reality fashion show at Central Saint Martins, while consumers can test out a prototype network at its flagship store Continue Reading

Born to be wired

IBM is helping legendary US motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson to get its motor running with a cloud-based service for a new electric bike Continue Reading

Cisco CEO brushes off Brexit and other crises

Chuck Robbins has been speaking about the networking business’ resilience in the face of multiple geopolitical trends and crises, and says his customers just can’t stop spending Continue Reading

Chinese AI startup claims breakthrough in pediatric diagnosis

Yitu Healthcare claims over 90% accuracy when diagnosing a range of pediatric diseases using a natural language processing system Continue Reading

GE Digital addendum

The term “digital” is only referenced twice, in the 87 minutes of GE’s Q4 2018 earnings call that took place at the end of January. In a transcript of the call, posted on the Seeking Alpha ... Continue Reading

London and Helsinki digital partnership challenges big IT platforms

CDOs of London and Helsinki meet at London’s City Hall to sign a city-to-city digital declaration around AI, open data and digital innovation Continue Reading

Legacy systems holding banks back from meeting demand for instant accounts

Banks are struggling to meet customer demand to open accounts instantly because of legacy IT systems and processes Continue Reading

Deloitte will double Hyderabad workforce to support demand for technology services

Deloitte will add 40,000 staff at its operation in Hyderabad, with IT professionals accounting for a significant portion of employees Continue Reading

The Met Office storms ahead on data analytics

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how the Met Office takes 2TB of weather data every hour and turns it into useful business insight. We examine whether Amazon’s presence in the retail market is putting off other retailers from using its public cloud services. And we look at the new 802.11ax wireless networking standard and analyse the benefits for enterprise IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Digital project failure still off the menu

Eight years ago, YouTube head Susan Wojcick described eight pillars that Google uses to innovate – but IT pros are still failing to fail fast Continue Reading

AI and robotics to form part of curriculum for future medical students

For the NHS to capitalise on the digital future, new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics will have to be designed into the learning process for medical students Continue Reading

Businesses still figuring out digital transformation have already lost

Accenture is calling it a post-digital era, one where businesses are already looking beyond digitisation to capitalise on new tech-driven opportunities Continue Reading

Nordic region primed to pioneer 5G

The Nordic region could pioneer the commercial use of 5G, with Finland and Sweden hotbeds for the technology Continue Reading

CW Benelux: Google helps Dutch schools to teach computer skills

A programme in the Netherlands to help primary schools provide computational thinking and programming, developed with financial support from Google, is well on schedule. Also read about four Russians’ attempted hack into the networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, and how Dutch delivery company PostNL is making savings by using robotic technology to automate administrative tasks. Continue Reading

Self-driving cars get updated guidelines for trial safety and transparency

The Department for Transport has issued guidance on trial safety and transparency for self-driving cars, and is sticking by its pledge to have self-driving cars on Britain’s roads in the next two years Continue Reading

Virgin Media tests 8Gbps home broadband service

Fifty residents of Papworth, Cambridgeshire, are trialling an 8Gbps FTTP broadband service using existing fibre infrastructure Continue Reading

Coders and developers: The new heroes of the network?

Cisco is moving towards a software-based future. We chatted to Susie Wee, founder and leader of Cisco developer and innovation programme, DevNet, to find out how she is helping to enable this change Continue Reading

The nightmare driving test: How to make sure self-driving cars are safe

Simulating realistic environments using deep learning to enable self-driving cars to learn the rules of the road will prove more useful than any amount of real-world practice. We find out why, and meet the people doing something about it Continue Reading

Cambridge launches urban data IoT project

The city of Cambridge will use Telensa IoT sensors and a Microsoft Azure platform to better manage its urban data assets Continue Reading

Interview: The power of open source

Stefanie Chiras, who heads up RHEL at Red Hat, discusses how open source enables enterprises to benefit from tech innovations Continue Reading

Building Britain’s national digital twin

The tech sector and wider industry are coming together to create a “digital twin” of Britain to help improve the nation’s physical infrastructure – and you can help Continue Reading

How to create a great strategy in the digital age

What are the best ways for technology leaders to create a strategy that is fit for the digital age? Computer Weekly asks the experts Continue Reading

A datacentre in a church: Welcome to the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre

A chapel wouldn't be top of the list of locations for a supercomputer, but it’s the location for the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre Continue Reading

Government launches data trust programme

Digital secretary Jeremy Wright sets out plans for scheme using data sharing to tackle global challenges such as illegal wildlife trade and food waste Continue Reading

No-deal Brexit would undermine digital economy, BCS warns

Skills, funding and the free flow of data are all at risk, says the chartered institute for IT Continue Reading

IT leaders grapple with workforce skills gap as they deploy AI and digital technology

Organisations will have to find new ways of reskilling their workforce as they get to grips with artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. CIOs also need to keep their skills updated if they are to succeed Continue Reading

Tech Nation announces fourth cohort for Upscale programme

Startups will receive six months of coaching and take part in workshops, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities with the programme’s alumni Continue Reading

Lloyds Bank to migrate hundreds of thousands of customers to Google-inspired fintech

Following its announcement that it was exploring the use of a fintech platform, Lloyds Bank has been quick to plan customer migration Continue Reading

Will AI replace lawyers? Assessing the potential of artificial intelligence in legal services

You may not be surprised to learn that lawyers don't expect AI to replace them, but the potential for the technology in law and other professional services must not be underestimated Continue Reading

NHS England launches public roll-out of NHS App

The all singing and dancing NHS App is now being rolled out publicly across England following a private beta phase with more than 3,000 patients Continue Reading

IT leaders must address integration to support business ecosystem

New survey finds that for most businesses, digitisation initiatives are hampered by legacy IT and integration issues Continue Reading

Singapore releases Asia’s first AI governance framework

The model framework will help businesses in Singapore tackle the ethical and governance challenges of AI implementations Continue Reading

Digital Catapult explores LPWAN and IoT for industry

A Connected Factory Demonstrator managed by the Digital Catapult is seeking input from LPWAN and internet of things specialists Continue Reading

Dowden announces five new successful GovTech Catalyst challenges

Five public sector projects will receive funding as part of the third round of the £20m GovTech Catalyst programme, says implementation minister Continue Reading

Davos 2019: Why data sharing is key to AI in Industry 4.0

Machines can learn from humans, but no one does the same job in the same way, so it makes sense to identify best practices Continue Reading

Thailand pushes for Industry 4.0 in ASEAN

Nearly half of the kingdom’s deliverables as chair of ASEAN will be focused on spurring Industry 4.0 developments across the region Continue Reading

HPE opens Geneva IoT innovation lab to capitalise on edge data

Datacentre equipment provider sees an opportunity on the edge to provide data processing for the internet of things Continue Reading

Leading IT: Lessons from the front line

As a CIO, whatever challenges you face in terms of budget, mandates or timetable, you may already have the right people to carry out incredible IT feats. Here are four ways to lead your organisation to unprecedented success Continue Reading

CW ASEAN: Dive into microservices

Microservices has become a buzzword linked with digital transformation, but it is no magic bullet for development woes. In this edition of CW ASEAN, we uncover the state of adoption of microservices in ASEAN and what needs to be in place for enterprises to get the most out of the technology. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Vodafone and IBM prep user clouds for future network tech

Companies expand existing collaboration to enable enterprise customers to prepare for the impact of advanced networking technologies Continue Reading

Where next for AI? Understanding business use cases

IT leaders share their views on artificial intelligence and how to take advantage of the technology to benefit their businesses Continue Reading

Swedish state and industry back autonomous vehicle testing facility

AstaZero facility will “road-test” next-generation 5G and digital innovations to support the development of self-driving cars and other vehicles Continue Reading

Let’s take back control, unless we have to get up

Mobile phone recycling comparison site Recyclezone has put together the findings of a survey that asked which household tasks Brits were most keen to palm off on smart technology, and you don’t ... Continue Reading

Davos: World leaders need to grasp future technological risks

Technological advancement is both a benefit and risk to society, but often the risks are not identified until they are exploited Continue Reading

UK financial services regulator to link top banker bonuses to IT performance

FCA head tells Commons Treasury committee: “We expect banks’ policies on variable remuneration to reflect operational resilience. They have to – if they don’t, we will act.” Continue Reading

Digital transformation is real, say ASEAN CIOs

ASEAN CIOs are embracing digital transformation but face barriers in getting employees to adopt an agile mindset Continue Reading

A very digital plan for the NHS

The NHS Long Term Plan aims to empower people through the use of technology and create a digital-first NHS, offering virtual outpatient appointments, digital GP consultations and improved cyber security. But how and when will the government achieve this? Continue Reading

CIO interview: Darren Curry, CDO, NHS Business Services Authority

NHS Business Services Authority chief digital officer Darren Curry talks about using technology to change people’s lives, developing accessible services and transforming the health service Continue Reading

Microsoft takes community approach to artificial intelligence in Sweden

Microsoft is making increasing use of artificial intelligence in Sweden as it shares experiences with the development community Continue Reading

RSC and Science Museum to lead future audience AR/VR demos

Organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum will take part in a series of government-backed demonstrators creating immersive experiences for audiences of the future Continue Reading

UK firms say £6.6bn annual security testing cost too high

Avord launches platform to reduce the multibillion-pound annual cyber security testing cost that most UK firms say is too high Continue Reading

Enterprises are increasing the human workforce while deploying AI

Artificial intelligence is creating more jobs than it replaces, according to a study of businesses using the technology Continue Reading

CW Middle East: Bahrain aims to be fintech hub

Bahrain’s government wants to make the country the go-to place in the Middle East for financial technology companies. It hopes to capitalise on its banking know-how to establish an ambitious fintech “ecosystem”. Also read about Dubai’s plans for the Smart Data platform and the UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature, and how Shell is using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce. Continue Reading

No way, Osé

This year’s CES organisers have succeeded in preserving every male tech nerd stereotype by crumbling over a small reminder that real vaginas exist. The Osé personal massager’s upcoming innovation ... Continue Reading

Banking apps overtake online banking

Mobile apps are the most popular channel for banking as consumers swap online platforms for smartphone software Continue Reading

Second Lorca cohort to focus on supply chain security

The second cohort of companies to benefit from the new London cyber innovation centre will focus on user-centric security and securing supply chains Continue Reading

A very digital plan for the NHS

The NHS Long Term Plan aims to empower people through the use of technology and create a digital-first NHS, offering virtual outpatient appointments, digital GP consultations and improved cyber security. But how and when will the government achieve this? Continue Reading

Exxon joins IBM’s quantum committee as Q System One goes commercial

The Q System One is said to be the world’s first commercial quantum computer. ExxonMobil and CERN hope to exploit IBM’s latest tech Continue Reading

CES 2019: Here plugs Alexa into in-car navigation service

Here, the former Nokia mapping unit now owned by a consortium of German carmakers, is to integrate Amazon Alexa with its navigation and location services Continue Reading

Technology innovation in music

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we visit the first hackathon at Abbey Road Studios, once home to The Beatles, to find out how tech startups hope to revolutionise music creation. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the technologies and benefits of perimeterless network security. And we look ahead to the key CIO skills and jobs trends for 2019. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

First 5G smartphones may have massive price premium

Android smartphone brands are already preparing to launch their first 5G handsets, but new technical requirements means they won’t be cheap to build, according to analysts at TrendForce Continue Reading

NHS Long-Term Plan to bring health service into the digital age

The long-term plan to transform the NHS by using Theresa May’s £20.5bn-a-year birthday present promises use of artificial intelligence, genomic testing and digital GP appointments for all Continue Reading

Huawei debuts Arm-based chip, eyes broader server market

Huawei’s Kunpeng 920 processor is geared towards big data and infrastructure applications, marking its foray into Arm-based servers that are set to change the dynamics of the datacentre market Continue Reading

JP Morgan looks for someone to lead its blockchain developments

Bank seeks executive to take on blockchain role, with responsibility for creating technology to solve business challenges Continue Reading

Hancock promises GP IT overhaul

New £450m framework will “shake up” primary care IT by getting rid of old systems, using new standards and exploring moving patient data to the cloud, says health secretary Continue Reading

Guide dogs not fazed by self-driving robots

Robotics startup Starship Technologies and charity Guide Dogs are collaborating on a series of tests exploring how service animals interact with robots Continue Reading

Nordic digital transformation driven by traditional businesses

More traditional Nordic businesses are fuelling the region's digital transformation, finds report Continue Reading

Can we live without passwords?

Can you imagine a future in which we can be secure online without having to remember an unwieldly list of passwords? Solutions are emerging that could make passwords redundant, but there will be other security problems to resolve Continue Reading

Top 10 mobile stories of 2018

As 5G moves from theory to practical reality, we look back at Computer Weekly’s biggest mobile stories from the past 12 months Continue Reading

Top 10 HR technology stories of 2018

Companies are turning to artificial intelligence, robotic automation and chatbots to take the drudgery out of human resource management Continue Reading

Top 10 Middle East stories of 2018

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 Middle East enterprise IT stories of 2018 Continue Reading

Top 10 public sector IT stories of 2018

In the year the UK government couldn’t decide if Brexit really meant Brexit, departments continued to struggle with the workload of EU exit technology projects, the chancellor’s budget promised lots of money for tech, and ministers played musical chairs Continue Reading

Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2018

In 2018, the NHS celebrated its 70th birthday, NHS Digital began a huge restructure, Matt Hancock swooped in as new health secretary and the health service launched its all-singing, all-dancing app Continue Reading

Top 10 Benelux IT stories of 2018

From cyber security planning to smart city initiatives, here is a selection of articles about IT developments in the Benelux countries Continue Reading

Ancient Britain comes to life at Bath’s 5G testbed

The West of England Combined Authority is running a 5G Smart Tourism project at Bath’s world-famous Roman spa Continue Reading

Vodafone spreads Christmas cheer with a 4G drone

Vodafone has conducted a test flight of the UK’s first drone delivery controlled over its 4G network Continue Reading

Mobile security needs a rethink for the 5G era

A report released through the government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme has recommended the UK rethink its mobile security strategy Continue Reading