In this issue:

• Quadrant 1 at Quicksilva
• Robot arm used in heart surgery first in Leicester
• Think-tank calls for self-service NHS
• Skype on iPhone OS 4: Incoming Calls, But Mysteriously 3G Lags
• Hewlett Packard outlines computer memory of the future
• Digital Economy Act likely to increase households targeted for piracy

What comes around goes around...

The merry-go-round of life is constantly turning... no matter how slow it seems to be it hasn't actually stopped. The one in the picture above is from my wedding a couple of weeks ago and was enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks to everyone for their good wishes.

I find it's the cycles in life that mark time and make the speed of its passing seem faster or slower...like the election that is nearly upon us... it doesn't seem long to me since the last time. Government stops for an election and as nearly all our customers are public sector related, the merry-go-round has slowed for a few weeks in preparation for its next flurry of activity when we all know who and what we will have to work with.

Another cycle that I always find fascinating is the centralisation/de-centralisation of large organisations... it's almost like breathing.... the drawing in to the middle, before the turning point where operations and expenditure start to get passed out again to the regions... and I'm sure this particular cycle is speeding up?

Maybe it just the horse I've chosen to ride...

Gayna

Robot arm used in heart surgery first in Leicester

From BBC News

World-leading heart surgery has been carried out at a Leicester hospital by surgeons using a remote-controlled robot arm.

Quicksilva thoughts...

The use of robotic technology is becoming more and more advanced, and now having the ability to use this to save lives is extraordinary. The precision that is required to undertake surgery especially on the heart must be extremely nerve-racking for the surgeon. The thought that the smallest wrong movement could mean life or death for the patient is something I surely would not be able to cope with.

The robotic system is able to work remotely; removing the exposure of radiation away from the surgeons but also enabling more accurate procedures.

One small step for robotics, one giant leap for mankind...

Think-tank calls for self-service NHS

From E-Health Insider

A think tank has called for people to be given the option to register with the NHS nationally rather than with a GP in order to speed up the adoption of online services.

Quicksilva thoughts...

This article suggests that government organisations, like the NHS, using technologies from Microsoft and RSA should be in a position to offer the public open access to NHS services necessitating very high levels of security due to the recommended individual and personalised internet home pages. This would be a major shift from the existing processes in place since the public would have to contact the NHS on-line first and only if necessary a contracted GP. The thought behind this change is that internal resources would be set free and available to help the disadvantaged and those without Internet access.

The question arises whether all patients would be happy with such an impersonal way of dealing with their health issues. This new way would require completely different planning practices and funding.

There is neither a question nor a doubt that technology can be used to achieve this goal. However, what about the ability of the central government and, for example, the NHS to reorganise itself within short timescales and in such a manner to be able to provide security around access and content? Providing individual home pages with a 100% correct content is an enormous task which clearly benefits the listed technology providers. Who organises, designs, monitors, controls, and administers the systems, security and data?

This “new idea” would require a new mix of security and scrutiny measures including the vetting of companies and employees which has not yet been considered. Funding would need to be drastically reorganised to allow each trust, unit and/or group to offer their services independently using a new secure network connecting to the Internet. It is easy to write about and may even be a good idea, but is it implementable and what would happen to the NHS core services?

Skype on iPhone OS 4: Incoming Calls, But Mysteriously 3G Lags

From Wired

The tantalizing combination of full-throttled Skype on the iPhone moved a giant leap forward Thursday with Apple's announcement that the handset’s next operating-system upgrade will support multitasking for third-party apps.

Quicksilva thoughts...

Earlier this year Apple dropped the 3G restriction on VOIP calls using the iPhone – this is great news for anyone who uses VOIP a lot as it means that theoretically a call can be made anywhere that has 3G reception, rather than having to search for a WiFi network. For those with an unlimited data plan included in their contract, this means that it is possible to make very cheap voice calls indeed.

This month, Apple announced a firmware update to enable background processes (only on iPhone 3GS models). This means that the VOIP software can run in the background and provide the other side of mobile telephony: receiving calls whilst on the move.

Unfortunately, the bad news for Skype users is that for the moment, Skype are not enabling the 3G option. Maybe this is to do with concerns about the quality of service over 3G? Maybe this is due to exclusivity contracts with certain networks? It will be interesting to see how networks change their business models as this technology evolves (exercise: work out how much they enjoy earning with SMS, byte by byte, compared to your ISP)... in the meantime, be careful to read the fair usage policy of your mobile data plan!

Hewlett Packard outlines computer memory of the future

From BBC News

The fundamental building blocks of all computing devices could be about to undergo a dramatic change that would allow faster, more efficient machines.

Quicksilva thoughts...

Just when it looked like Moore's Law ("The number of transistors it is possible to squeeze in to a chip for a fixed cost doubles every two years", or, in layman's terms, "Computers today are twice as fast as two years ago, for the equivalent price") was starting to be a thing of the past, HP surprised the world. Memristors, sometimes referred to as "transistors with memory", were first introduced in 1971 but production method proved elusive. That is, until HP Labs took a fresh look at the problem and realised that, as it often happens, there was an easier way to solve it.

Potentially, memristors could be the answer to several computing problems. Not only will they allow for smaller and faster gadgets but also for more energy efficient devices: since they are capable of storing and processing information, there is no need to move data between storage and processor. This also eliminates the cap on processing speed imposed by the limitations of data transmission.

They are still in their early stages but do definitely look promising!

Digital Economy Act likely to increase households targeted for piracy

From Guardian.co.uk

Fears increase that law firms may home in on innocent web users who don't illegally download

Quicksilva thoughts...

This is a law which will introduce powers that could see households or coffee shops disconnected from the web on accusations of file-sharing and internet service providers forced to block access to websites that are deemed likely to infringe copyright.

The bill is all well and good if it deters people from illegally downloading and sharing copyright files but I suspect that the vast majority of the households that are persecuted will be wholly innocent. The real pirates - the criminals - will be clever enough to know how to get away with it, covering their tracks. One law firm plans to send out 50,000 – 60,000 demands for payment next year with the threat of disconnection for non payees, on the assumption that a sizeable percentage will just pay up – the majority being innocent but fearing the repercussions of not complying. The law seems a bit unbalanced here, favoring commercial predators who irresponsibly attack citizens. Perhaps a financial penalty on law firms who send out threatening letters to people who can prove they are innocent should be introduced. This might motivate them to look into whether someone is guilty of copyright violation before making an accusation.

If someone lends you a book, it is normally considered an act of kindness but actually they’ve committed an offence, an infringement of copyright; we’ve all done it. Is sharing an mp3 with a friend any different? Allowing them to try before they buy...the former is probably more morally dubious as it's far more likely to prevent a sale for the distributer...just food for thought.

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." - Andrew Carnegie

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