GOOGLE Presentation

Excuse the shouting I published a dodgy powerpoint of bad shots of Apple touch etc and Apple store in Glasgow on Google docs this morning I was surprised that I could. I then mention the to my fellow e enthusiast Rob Englebright and discovered they only launched it today been back a realise you can also create presentations in google docs and export them as zipped html to play locally !!! WOW WOW!!

Dont get me wrong its far from fully functioing powerpoint but with integration with google docs still quite cool!!!! Excuse the dodgy first attempt !!!

http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dc7bzghg_49ds2w8h&fs=true

shots of Apples Products in Glasgow

The pictures of Apple Iphone and Apple touch and photos of touch on sale now in Glasgow Apple stir more deliveries today!!

view my dodgy photos of the devices on a powerpoint on google docs at http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dc7bzghg_413xdc74&fs=true

EPICT conference future trends in learning

Mobile Learning and Online Communication

ajb1962@gmail.com

The normal caveat my view of what’s happening and its probably wrong. This is many way showcases excellent work that others are going to talk about

Plus if you want to keep up to date watch technology blogs my blog is www.andysblackhole.blogspot.com

Also subscribe to

Becta Technews
Becta Content developers news subscribe to both at http://industry.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=1672
RSS feeds of BCC technology pages

1Power

1.1 Switch IT off

1.1.1http://www.pcpro.co.uk/html/switch_it_off/

PC pro ran a campaign this year investigating the amountof cash wasted through PC's being left on overnight.

It was quite suprising,

if you leave a pc on overnight it will quickly consume 1kWh of energy, meaning you are needlessly spending more than £35 per year. And do not think that putting it into standby will help: we found one PC that consumed 78W in this mode, only reducing the wastage to about £25.

If your college has 100 pc's that's possibly £3500/year

AS well as saving cash, the scheme is approved by the carbon trust, as helping to reduce CO2 emmisions.

1.2Batteries

1.2.1 Battery powered printer

Flexibility in delivery and assessment.

The advent of online testing for keyskills, and various other assessments can make a difference. The city and guilds online testing facility allows the test to be downloaded and put on a laptop and carried out to the workplace taking the test to the user. A portable printer powered by Lion battery pack means provisional results can be given instantly.

1.2.2 Battery projection device

you don't believe me ???

1.2.3 Fuel Cells

Forget the miniature vodka shots you will be carrying alcohol to top up your laptop. Fuel cells are going to be appearring very soon . The much vaunted $100 laptop using wind up technology will have spin offs elsewhere .Intel are also talking of parrallel product educational $100 device

2Devices

2.1 Tablets

New software that is ink enabled turning up all the time Reg Microsoft one note, Agile Go binder, Blackboard backpack. see Becta tablet PC evaluation http://www.becta.org.uk/research/research.cfm?section=1&id=3357

Power toys from Microsoft for tablet:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/tabletpc.mspx

Trend

1) slate

2) laptop plus keyboard . The days of tablet being less powerful than laptop are long gone

2.2UMPC

UltraMobile PC 's heres two I made earlier

http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,1856508,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=20

Q1 by samsung with added USB Keyboard (theyre tablets to)

UMPC 650 by Remtech

2.3Handheld device

As with UMPC couple of places to stay in touch if you know the future let me know

Is it Portable Digital Assistnat PDA or Education Digital assistant EDA

or is it an phoneww.handheldlearning.co.uk

Join PDA in education jiscmail list

PDA-EDU@JISCMAIL.AC.UK

I have seen the future and its Apple !!

2.4Memory Sticks

wireless usb memory is coming

2.5Games machines

2.5.1PSP

2 million devices in the UK by Christmas 5 million by Easter !!

with WiFI ability to run flash and browser capability

2.5.2Nintendo DS

2.5.3WII

2.6MP3 Players

IPOD released 2001 by September 2007 110 million world wide !!

stuff seen Glasgow yesterday link here

2.7Wireless projectors

3Connectivity

3.1Wi FI

8011b

8011g

8011n

Spanish firm Fon could change the model very Wi Fi 2.0

3.23 G

It isn't cheap but neither is paying for one off wireless hotspots. In major centre works well and most provincial towns have coverage

3.3Wi Max

WiMax will cover most of the UK witih two to three year . Intel trialling with University. Several city wide trials of wimax and mesh wireless technology being talked off

3.4GSM Edge

See document: happy-birthday-gsm-network.html

3.5Bluetooth

Bluetooth 1 10Metres

Bluetooth 2 100metres

4social software

4.1Blogs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogs

http://edublogs.org

blogger

http://www.blogger.com

4.2Wiki

A shared resource of web page allowing multiple users to edit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

PBwiki

http://pbwiki.com

Wiki spaces

http://www.wikispaces.com

4.3Subtopic

4.4RSS

RSS = Really Simple Syndication

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format) (20th May 2006)

Web feeds

a push technology linked with stuff like

you can read feeds in live book marks in Firefox, www.bloglines.com , RSS reader in Google.

my bloglines are public www.blogslines.com/public/ajb1962

4.5Podcasting

Downloads of MP3 was definitely the emerging technology in education of 2004/2005 Podcasting was the emerging technology of 2005/2006

4.5.1 St Johns Podcast

Downloads of MP3 was definitely the emerging technology in education of 2005 Podcasting is the emerging technology of 2006 . Saint Johns Ambulance have even done simple First Aid advice as podcasts http://www.sja.org.uk/firstaid/info/default.asp . Look out for More and The Ferl website at becta is going to be doing a trial podcast in the new year

4.6Photosharing

Flickr

http://www.flickr.com

my photo's

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andysblackhole/

Picasa

http://picasa.google.co.uk

http://picasaweb.google.com/home

4.7Face book

www.facebook.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook

the UK now has 5.2m Facebook users

4.8MySpace

http://www.myspace.com

MySpace has cracked the 10 million user mark in the UK, meaning more people have put a profile up than drink bitter, according to the social networking website.

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2122397,00.html

4.9Youtube/teachertube

See document: get_video.flv

5SMS phenomena

UK 4.5 billion text messages sent in March !!!

The majority of the now 2.5+ billion mobile subscribers are located in developing countries. This is a stunning new kind of event for our planet: the dominance of leading edge technology is emerging from marginalises places. That has not happened before, particularly on the enormous scale of the mobiles.

Pupils at a school in Buckinghamshire have been getting extra help with GCSE revision by texting their teachers. Far from banning mobile phones, Cottesloe School in Wing has decided to turn modern technology to its advantage in an attempt to improve results. Since Easter, Year 11 pupils have been able to message teachers from home with revision queries and get a text answer. The school said “text mentoring” had also seen teachers messaging pupils with revision prompts and exam tips.

c

OK eat my hat or is it eat my apple !!!

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW.

Well I have seen the promised land today courtesy of colleagues at Steljes and Apple . Steljes showed me the iPOD touch the wifi enabled ipod on steroids . Its lovely seamless the problem of using a finger as a stylus isnt one !! The zoom function the ability for device change page orientation if you just turn it through 90,180 degree. The browser experience the WiFI. Yep its a nice device .

Then the apple guys showed me an eye ok its not 3G yet it will come !!!! Its going to fly out the shops and issues relating to connectivity costs will slow its flight but not much !!

The touch I love the iphone looks good . The battery life also seems amazing on both !!!

Apple have just lobbed a hand-grenade in the device market watch other manufacturers come back at them.

To coin a phrase "Incoming" and FJR (flack jacket required) it going to exciting. As I predicted at the start of the year this is the year mobile learning goes mainstream and Apple have just injected a wave of Tsunami type proportions !!!

In the wild three the aftermath

Ok at the Scottish learning festival free WiFi yippee !! reflecting on in the wild and its colocation with Teachmeet two events full of people that get it.
In the wild organised by Steve Moore of policy unplugged

http://www.policyunplugged.net/steve_moore
the speakers were thought provoking and to be honest improved as the event went through . Matt Locke really made me think his experience of Digital media across the spectrum and his gaming experience in particular and user interaction and generating content really pushed my thinking.

Steve Moore also made me think with extensive use of facebook as a network tool and event organising/marketing tool Steve you are going to write me a case study piece for my blog on this !!!!!

In the wild maybe just really wild !!!

TeachMeet07 and Bett teachMeet08 ?????????

What an event what an afternoon in the wild then this :

http://wiki.scotedublogs.org.uk/index.php/TeachMeet07

great event great rapid fire presentations check the site now for blog links and neat work teachers and learners are doing in Scotland .

Yes also hear it here first I think TeachMeet is coming to BETT08 !!! Going to be great and a blast of fresh air to BETT. Ewan and colleagues great event great work thanks for the invite.

In the wild two Matt Locke Commissioning Editor, New Media Channel 4

The session on looking at transfering media into new spaces

• secret spaces
• group spaces
• publishing spaces
• performing spaces
• participation marches meeting and markets 3 M's
  
• watching spaces
  

The idea that blurring publishing space that is provate that what is public
The idea of sharing who you think you are and how you think you know.
Rehearsing identities Used the idea of community radio a few years ago that was limited time slot that you can do now on the internet all the time.
sharing their skills
feeling being part of a crowd and publishing that feeling onlne via video sound text common crowd experiences

This session Matt Locke talked of the new kind of content that channel 4 are looking to commission he showed this as an example of kind of stuff they are looking at though this isnt there work www.worldwithoutoil.org basically a scenario around a world that has had an oil crash and the approach people joined up and wrote about the effect on them and their life . users did things like design tool of an itterative quest a mission . For example have
a)party that people get to on foot or by public transport
b)cooking a m al using only local ingredients

If channel 4 are going down this route its going to be really one to watch

He gave the idea of relaxing and giving things away
Messy is good that isnt the new way
Make your audience your heroes audiences don't have to have winners
Immerse yourself interesting views on second life but looking in now and again to see if its evolved .

greats session poorly blogged will clean it up later . Thanks Matt

In the wild blogging on speed Ewan Mc Intosh snacking on media !!

Ewan Mcintosh

session on snacking on media as always good value with some old favourites but with the usual creativity . The world has changed and suggesting whats wrong with snacking.

The cup stacking video as always excellent value and he figures of 300,000 views for the video , cup stacking will never catch on !!!!

the vision of kids trying failing and retrying the task to get better is there a metaphor for motivation . Failure being a driver to try harder rather than giving up . Can digital media user generated content and user generated comments 8000 comments to a you tube video how many learners get that degree of comment on there academic work.
Ewans example from colleagues who took a school trip to the battlefields of France and the learners didnt use the specially set up blog but used there existing space on Bebo and my space .
With really deep comments on the enormity that is the battlefield experience from some learners .

His thought is we shouldn't invade there space:
using there medium to communicate with people that matter there peers
Using tools to collaborate and produce product there proud of . Often with extreme effort and getting on with people they dont get on with .
also stressed the fact that blogging and gaming is spreading across all phases of education .

great to see Ewan show the work of Andy Pulman working with HE students link here improving numeracy using packages on nintendo DS contrasting with Derek Robertson similar work with primary schools ( two outfits connected by Andy).

Ewans parting shot of learning from their space their space being widgetised not webtised .

organised chaos
Life is a list
Stretching time spending longer online than at school

you can snack on media and still get a wholesome diet

Man discovered things by revealing a pattern in nature .

poor blogging on my part going to edit this out later .

Toshiba working with Education community

I think this is nearly an exclusive !!!!

Toshiba working with Education community .

The news is the G900 smartphone which is gaining ground/cache with business community is being re worked by suppliers after trialling with educational sector. The reason for this re working is unclear but rumours abound of a clamshell G910 version with yet more bells and whistles.

The existing G900 device looks really nice and supports lovely features

• Connectivity Wi-Fi ,GSM , 3G , HSDPA and bluetooth technologies
• Security - built in fingerprint sensor and fingerprint launcher. Keeps the product secure and lets you launch applications at the swipe of finger.
  
• Display super bright 800x480 screen . On most webpages, you can see full width. The teleport function allows you to see what's on your G900 on your PC .
  
• Keyboard/Input . the one on screen is really responsive and the slide out keyboard is compact but great and usb and WiFi allow differing input devices to be connected .
• Mobile goodies the Usual
• Browser Choice Opera as well IE as a browse
  

I haven't run specialist Apps.

Some companies forget what a hard time learners give devices running high end content in challenging conditions and just supply often there low end devices. Nice to see someone trialling devices before widespread release.

The fact Tosh is listening to and working with developers in the
education area is really interesting and some other manufacturers
hoping to penetrate the education space could take note.

Looking forward to seeing what those boffins at Toshiba come up with !!!

TeachMeet007, Scottish learning festival and EPICT conference

Lucky enough to be going on a bit of a Scottish Fest over next few days:-

First of All In the wild arranged on behalf of Channel 4 by Steve Moore of policy unplugged on Wednesday afternoon .
http://inthewild2channel4.eventbrite.com/

Secondly Swiftly followed on by TeachMeet07 early evening thanks to Ewan Mactintosh and Merlin for suggesting this. I am doing a 7 minute presentation called Andy Black unplugged I will be showing a range of ultra mobile device s other gadgets and a range of approaches http://wiki.scotedublogs.org.uk/index.php/TeachMeet07#Seven_minute_micropresentations

Thirdly a busmans holiday of a day at the Scottish learning Festival. http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/sett/

Last and not least a workshop at the Epict conference on Mobile Learning and Online Communication http://www.epict.co.uk/conference.php

No sleep till friday !!!!! Bring it on !!!!! Oh yes and of course I will blog it !!!!

Mobile Education article in the Guardian

Major piece by guardian on mobile learning . Amazingly my quote is viewed as a dissenting voice.

But of course there are one or two dissenting voices. Andy Black, mobile technologies adviser for the government ICT in education agency, Becta, warns: "We are seeing a divide between schools and further and higher education in the use of mobile technology. Schools follow the Stevens report for the Department of Health in 2005 - Mobile Phones and Health - that recommends use of mobiles for children should be minimised." But he says FE and HE take a more pragmatic view: "They realise the penetration of mobiles among young people is enormous. There is an emerging body of evidence that mobile learning technology is highly motivational."

Regular readers will know my passion for the use of mobile technology with learners. Really interesting read available online but I am off to buy a hard copy. Huge plug for Hand Held Learning conference.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/link/story/0,,2170987,00.html

"e-learning - making it work" - a one day national conference

Now I am at Handheld learning but if your not Mr Mobile like me and are interested in real people in FE showing real work this event is for you .

If its half as good as the recent ALT-C conference its got to be worth a day out .


"e-learning - making it work" - a one day national conference
on 11/10/2007 for practitioners and managers in FE, ACL, and
work-based learning
-------------------------------------------------------------

The full programme for this conference is now available on the ALT web
site at:

http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/oct11programme.pdf

The event, which has been organised by QIA and ALT with the support of
JISC, Becta, CEL, and LSN, will take place at the excellently equipped
and very congenial National College for School Leadership in Nottingham
on 11 October 2007.

The programme provides "bullet point" summaries of the wide range of 20
facilitated workshop sessions that will be available during the day.

Sessions are organised so that each delegate will be able to attend 4 of
the 20 workshops, thereby ensuring that all delegates can choose a mix
of sessions that are relevant to them. Summary handouts for all sessions
will be provided.

There will be a closing keynote from Margaret Bennett, QIA Director of
Partnerships and Communications.

There is also a descriptive flyer for the day at:

http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/oct11flyer.pdf

Online booking for the event will close on 28/9/2007. There is a link to
the booking form from http://www.alt.ac.uk/.

Please draw the event to the attention of people in your organisation
whom you think will benefit from attending.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Teachers TV School Matters - Mobile Phones, Mobile Minds

Mobile going mainstream I predicted back in January well its more speed to the the current. Thanks to Graham for pointing this out. I suspect but don't know that teachers TV will be around at Handheld Learning conference in early October .School Matters - Mobile Phones, Mobile Mindsclass="MsoNormal">Teachers TV more mobile

http://www.teachers.tv/video/21433

Next showing on TV: Fri 14th Sep 09:00, Fri 14th Sep 12:00, Fri 14th Sep 16:30

SYNOPSIS

A look at the world of young people with mobile phones, and the impact on schools and education.

Owning a mobile is becoming an indispensable element of young people's lives, for both teenagers and increasingly primary age children, all around the world.

Are mobile phones a force for good, or an example of technology gone awry? Is it sensible to ban their use in schools or should this device be given a place in lessons and learning?

Havent had a chance to watch it yet but looks good.

less than a month to go and counting to Handheld Learning Conference

Well I am excited and I am pleased to be facilitating at the conference yes Graham persuaded me again. I am doing the breakout on "Reflections on Pedagogy"

cant wait but loads of stuff to do before then .

See the current programme at http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/hhl2007/hhl07_programme.pdf

Its going to be great and yet again it will take me weeks to recover and sustain my enthusiasm through the dark winter months "BRING IT ON !!!!

Director of Research of Google at the ALT C Conference interview

Thanks to My Becta colleague Moritz Bilagher for sending this my way .

The article Sarah Lewthwaite on custom PC http://www.custompc.co.uk/features/601291/an-interview-with-googles-head-of-research.html

Article makes an interesting read and yes google people however important they are wear colourful verging on loud shirts !!!

Keep watching this blog for my own musings of spending 40 minutes chatting to peter at the conference dinner. I can totally dismiss rumours that my blogs sucess was viewed seriously by Google ;-))))))

Thanks to Frank Rennie for taking the photo.

Special ALTC post for Will Stewart of Bradford Uni

A little slide show to show yes you can publish photos from a camera phone direct to flickr using shozu mentioned in recent post .



Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Mobile phone projectors all in one device

well nearly
Thanks for industry contacts for yes a mobile phone projection device holiday snaps on the pub wall is getting closer eek !!!


http://www.phonesreview.co.uk/2007/04/11/mobile-with-dvd-quality-on-the-pico-dlp-projector-phone/

web slides converting bookmarks to slideshow

This is from diigo . A way of collecting web content . Ive registered it but havent tried it yet but looks interesting !!! It could have an educational use !!

register and see what you think I will report back


http://slides.diigo.com/

I dont believe !!

Just realised I haven't got links to Handheld 2007 in my sidebar going to put it in now and also the forum !! Cor must be loosing it !!! Just over a month to go and the buzz is getting louder over HHL2007 going to be a good one !!

Motorola DynaTAC 8000X t (1983) to Iphone (2007)

Found this piece at http://www.our-picks.com/archives/2007/01/13/mobile-phones-from-the-motorola-dynatac-8000x-to-the-iphone/#more-858
the quote not miss is the cost comparison

The Motorola DynaTAC cost about $4,000, in 1983. Now, the most expensive iPhone goes for $600.

The first phone call made from a mobile device took place back in 1973, when Dr. Martin Cooper, inventor of the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X tested his prototype in the streets of New York. Ten years later, in 1983, the first ever mobile phone was available to everybody. The weight and size of the phone (0.8 kilograms and 25.4 centimeters) made it close to impossible to carry the phone around, so it was mainly used in cars.


That was almost 25 years ago. Now, the hottest thing that everybody is talking about is the iPhone. If on the first phone ever you could just speak, the iPhone does far more than that. It is the first ever cellphone with a multi-touch touchscreen. It runs on a small OS X, and it’s got a great variety of applications. Another cool thing it has is another battery, apart from the phone one (which grants you up to 5 hours of video watching, talking or browsing), which allows you to listen up to 16 hours of music, on the integrated iPod.


Another major difference is the price. The Motorola DynaTAC cost about $4,000, in 1983. Now, the most expensive iPhone goes for $600.

The iPhone isn’t the best phone out there, but it surely is the most advanced and filled with technology, no matter what people say. As the Motorola was in its own time, the iPhone is groundbreaking.

Happy Birthday GSM Network

The GSM agreement and resulting network is 20 years old tomorrow !! Just think how far the mobile has come in twenty year see my piece on the handheld learning forum homepage and maybe you should reserve your place a handheld 2007 while your there http://www.handheldlearning.co.uk/content/view/37/2/

Huge Thanks to Mike Short of 02 who is chairman of the mobile data association for the tip !!! http://www.themda.org/

Phone app Shozu

Cool app that allows you to post to flickr, blogger etc . Photo of Becta colleague Mick James taken with my Nokia and uploaded and tagged via Shozu have a look at http://www.shozu.com/



see photo at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andysblackhole/1323571274/

Mobile Data Association news containing report on flexible mobile working

MDA report on Mobile and Flexible working in Local Government
This report isnt new but I have just been made aware by a contact Mike short of O2.



http://www.themda.org/MDNews/MDA_News_December_2006.pdf

ALT C reflection on programme by fellow blogger . See you there maybe ???

Huge heads up to Steve wheeler for this bit of content analysis about ALT C whereI am most of the week. He's done a Bob Harrison style word search and look mobile is way up there !! hang on folks the mainstream is picking up speed

e-Learning 31
Web 2.0 Social Software 25
VLEs 24
Blogs 20
Mobile learning 19
Social networking 18
Wikis 16

http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com/2007/08/top-7-topics-at-this-years-alt-c.html

Who else is going to ALT C and if you are blog about it !!

Holiday over !

well what a holiday ! but with some interesting reflections of the mobile kind never mind spotting Dolphins red kites and glorious surfing and of course biking !

One site of unusual e-interet was was the national woollen Museum http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/wool/ had the interesting fact was Charles Babbage (inventor some say of the computer) was inspired by Jacquards loom http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_loom
which was a woolen loom controlled by punched cards a lateral but interesting connection

Blogging while mobile

On my mobile via gmail posting to my blog . Hardly elegant but
relatively easy. On hols till end of august. Will post occasionally if
I see anything of note.

--
Andy Black

"Where Technology and Pragmatism Meet"
blog http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com
"refero est network ( humanus vel electronic ) iam quis question."
The answer is the network (human or electronic) now what's the question?

Techshare Expo 2007 4-5 October

Techshare Expo 2007
- The biggest ever European exhibition on access to the information
society by people with disabilities
- Free entry for all, pre-registration now open
- Runs 4-5 October 2007 at award-winning London venue
- Please promote to your public networks
http://www.techshare-expo.com/

British rail passengers to get free Wi-Fi ride

Rail passengers on the London-to-Scotland east coast main line will get free Wi-Fi as part of National Express' 1.4 billion-pound ($2.8 billion) winning bid to run the franchise.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6202446.html

great news for rail travellers now the rest of the train companies how about it !!!

ICT Conference -The Essential Skills for the 21st Century

If your interested in the area of ICT as a skill for life this event maybe of interest.
Organised by NIACE
Wednesday 7 November 2007

Venue: East Midlands Conference Centre, University Park, Nottingham
NG7 2RJ


Background

In order to successfully participate in 21st century society requires individuals to be competent and confident users of information and communication technology (ICT). ICT has changed the way we work, learn and live our lives. Over 90% of all new jobs require ICT skills and the growth in government and commercial online services means that people who are unable to use them are increasingly at a disadvantage.

Employers require employees with ever improving levels of ICT skills and knowledge therefore 20 million employees will need to continuously enhance their skills. Almost 17 million adults do not use the Internet and are at risk of serious social and economic disadvantage.

At the moment there are many new initiatives and developments underway that make it important to be aware of the main trends in assisting people to develop their ICT skills. Some of the new developments are:

* ICT as a Skill for Life
* ICT Functional Skills
* ICT Diploma
* the relationship between ICT and other skills for life
* vendor standards
* ITQ.

The main aims of the event are to:

* understand the ICT needs of the country
* gain an understanding of the main developments within ICT users
skills
* gain an understanding of the relationships between the different
developments.


Objectives of the event

Participants will gain an understanding of:

* the new ICT User Skills developments (e.g. MyGuide - how to
reach the millions of people who do not use the Internet)
* the relationship between initiatives such as ICT Skills for
Life, ICT Functional Skills and ICT Diploma
* the relationship between ICT and the other skills for life.

This event will be of particular interest to:

* ICT teachers, tutors and trainers
* Managers with responsibility for ICT User Skills delivery.
* Arrival and registration is at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 4:00pm.

For further details and to reserve a place, look up:

http://www.niace.org.uk/conferences/Conferences.htm

Enquiries to Gurjit Kaur on 0116 204 2833; e-mail:
gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

A Beginner's Guide to Web 2.0 Tools for Business

What an interesting title ofr an artilce web 2.00 for business. Maybe the world is on the move. A bit of subversion in the business secotr whats next !!

http://www.bnet.com/2403-13241_23-66096.html

Sustainable Schools:Are we building schools for the future?

No view expressed but regular readers may like to read digest and form your own view.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmeduski/140/140.pdf

New research report on 1:1 access to mobile learning devices

More of emerging evidence Re Mobile devices in Education in the formal sector

New research report on 1:1 access to mobile learning devices

The University of Bristol is conducting research into the impact of 1:1 access to mobile learning devices at KS2 and KS4. Five schools, which are part of the Learning2Go or Hand-e-Learning projects, are being investigated.

This Development and Research project is using mixed methods to evaluate impact in terms of learners’ learning skills, attendance, behaviour and attainment. It will also review the success of the implementation and sustainability of the schools’ PDA initiatives and provide examples of emerging good pedagogic practice.

The final reports from the project will be available in Winter 2008.

The Summer 2007 Interim Report is available at: http://partners.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=rh&catcode=_re_rp_02&rid=14204. Emerging recommendations include:

Implementation – policy

• The initial implementation of mobile projects is logistically challenging.
• The open negotiation of contracts of acceptable and responsible use with learners and parents can be very useful in clarifying issues and building mutual trust.
• Then learners expect devices to be used, they are more likely to bring them to school every day and keep them charged. When all pupils in a class have their devices with them, the learning benefits are optimised.
• Teachers need to play an integral role in choosing software and content to ensure that it is relevant to learners’ needs. They are then more likely use the devices.
• Where possible, all relevant staff – especially teaching assistants, ICT co-ordinators and teachers – should be provided with mobile devices.
  

Implementation – technical

• It is beneficial to ensure reliable wireless connectivity.
• It is useful to consider systems for dealing with breakages and temporary loss of use of devices. This may involve planning for temporary loan stock.
• Systems for storage of and access to work need to be developed. Teachers and learners need to access digital work to provide and receive feedback.
• Consideration can usefully be given to possible software solutions to teachers’ issues around observing process, tracking progress and formative assessment.
  

Professional development of teachers

• Teachers benefit from having time to explore what the devices can do before integrating their use into planned learning.
• Using mobile devices is likely to increase learner autonomy. Teachers need to ensure that learners are able to evaluate resources, think critically and reflect.
• It is important to consider the ways in which mobile devices are integrated with other (ICT and traditional) tools in learning at home and at school.

Mac news Andy to buy Mac Mini!!

Now I learnt computing on an apple IIe 25 years ago. But am this close to buying on of the new revamped Mac Mini's http://www.apple.com/macmini/

theyve made it duo core ,faster , four usb ports firewire,wireless. I bet also it will seamless sync with Iphone in near future!!!

Andy

Mlearn melbourne 2007 ;Making the connection

OK I cant go but youve got to follow this sign up for the newsletter updates at least http://www.mlearn2007.org/newsletter.php#mobile_learning

I wish Caryl Oliver conference chair and colleagues a good one !! Caryl has done some great stuff with FE type learners. Great also to see a UK company doing the sms
side of the conference.

I love Five Quick Strategies to ease into using mobiles for learning

• Think of mobiles as mini-computers: call them by a new name!
• Think of mobiles as tools to share, not just for individuals
• Think of learning, as well as social applications
• Focus on creation, rather than consumption
• Develop etiquette for mobiles with students

so go one register for the newsletter better still get there. Sell the Mac, the pet or whatever but get there !

First Iphone now the gphone or is it goophone !!!

Now is this start of a war of devices and approaches and if so will Microsoft follow with a hardware tie in.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6929537.stm

Reports suggest that the web giant is developing a series of"GPhones", centred on its mobile services, such as search, e-mail and maps.

In a statement, Google said it was working with carriers, phone makers and content providers to "bring its services to users everywhere".

I use google mail on my phone and google mobile search would I buy a gphone I might but lets see what's the offer .

Is this hardware software tie in by the likes of Apple and possibly google a new stage in development and a revolution or just a temporary blip !!

Whats your view .

BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft tries free office suite

BBC NEWS | Technology | Microsoft tries free office suite: "Microsoft tries free office suite"

now who would have imagined this under pressure from google docs,Zoho,open office interestingly not web based so installed locally with ads appearing. how long before online office !!!!

Designing human centred technologies for the developing world

Interesting area of work technology in the developing or the forgotten world !!! so if your out there got any work to showcase get that submission in because the deadlines been extended. Is developed world thinking technology transferable and is it sustainable any help to the vast bulk of the population ????

link at
http://hct4d.blogspot.com/
Workshop: Designing human centered technologies for the
developing world: HCI but not as we know it. Tue, 4 Sept. 2007 at the
HCI 2007 conference, Lancaster, UK

With
huge investments being made in ICT for development (ICT4D) and
education (e.g. "$100 laptop," UN programmes etc.) and high
expectations being raised, it is critical to ensure that ICT
developments are in fact usable, useful, appropriate and well adapted
to the communities and contexts in which they are intended to be used.
This requires well designed solutions, which in turn requires
appropriate human-centred design methods. However, it is unclear that
methods largely developed for and with users in the developed world
will prove appropriate in the developing world. This workshop aims to
bring together interested parties and strengthen the User-centred
design for development (UCS4D) community, as well as contribute to the
body of knowledge about designing for and with communities in the
developing world.

GOALS OF THE WORKSHOP

• Share experiences of Human Centred Design in the developing world;
• Identify key issues and patterns;
• Explore new, alternative and modified methods for human centred and participatory design of Development Technologies;
• Develop new partnerships - particularly international partnerships;
• Disseminate learning from this workshop through online and and offline publication; and
• Strengthen the HCI in Development Technology community.

Its part of the main HCI 2007 conference link to that is here http://www.bcs-hci.org.uk/hci2007

Technology robust and fit for purpose

Hi

As you know I did the Dunwich Dynamo at the weekend and thought long and hard which technology to take to record it.

My Canon EOS 500 digital camera got rejected (too heavy)

so I took the following:

1. Apple nano (my wifes) with a belkin voice recorder attached for a podcast recorder.
2. Sony cybershot 3.2MP digtal camera
3. Nokia 6234 phone

so I used the

nano once at the start.
Camera at the start outside a pub (15 miles in) at the mid point (64 odd miles) got three shots in before condensation of the village hall fogged it up.
The phone to ring my wife fifteen miles and an hour from the end . plus 4 or 5 texts along the way .

so why didn't I use it more "The weather it poured down" The camera didn't work well because I didn't take a case and it got cold and was a focus point for condensation when I got it out at the mid point. The nano wasn't robust enough in the wet and I could be bothered .

The phone work but wasn't ideal to use in the dark.

so one device to all those jobs would I have used it more would a ruggedised version of devices made it more useful. I don't know but it does suggest technology wont get used if its not easy and reliable

Point-to-point Wi-Fi brings internet to all

Point-to-point Wi-Fi brings internet to all

thanks to Seb Schmoller and his hugely influential fortnightly mailing list for this . Link in my sidebar go on subscribe !!!

I have been interested in this area for a while and was heartened to see the reference to mesh technology see my earlier blog post http://andysblackhole.blogspot.com/2007/05/mesh-technology-to-geeky-for-some-but.html

this article is refreshing because it talks of communities taking control and wifi mesh technology coming of age.

Link to Seb's posting
http://fm.schmoller.net/2007/07/point-to-point-.html

Link to text of new scientist article

http://fm.schmoller.net/files/20070623_point_to_point_wifi.txt

I disagree it will happen at least in europe and the North American in a lot less than 10 years.

another article re mesh technology can be found here
http://www.azaleanet.com/news/view.asp?id=247

Dunwich Dynamo something for the weekend ! Plus update

Well when your all asleep in your beds Saturday I am doing the Dunwich Dynamo again !
Its 200km bike ride through the night from London to Dunwich . It isnt for the faint hearted it is for the slightly mad !

http://www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk/dunwich.html

a quote that describes it thought not from me

"Somewhere during the night you will hear a voice say, "Why am I doing this? I am never doing this again!" Look forward to this voice. Welcome it. Laugh at it. Embrace it. Look forward to hearing it again next year. Just know that it will come and that you will ride past it and be stronger when it fades into the shadows."

-- Chris Tirpak,


I have heard the voice I have laughed at it and I am back for the 5th time and weather forecast is for rain in the early hours.

"No sleep till the coast"

Dunwich Dynamo 2007 survivor

116 miles in the rain for all but the last hour and what rain ! 9hrs 12 minutes on the bike 12.86 miles an hour . Good pace 12.8 for first 64 then a bit faster but under 13.00 for last 52. The food non stop well I did 5 cups of tea coffee with sugar to aviod the hypothermia setting ( no I am not kidding).

See the photostream

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Great to arrive at the Suffolk coast in proper sunshine. Trainee dynamo rider Linden aged 8 did last two miles . followed by a breakfast ( full English of course ) and a swim .

The most challenging yet ? Will I be back ?




I heard those voices mentioned at the earlier quote I laughed at them as the true imposters they are !!

BTW did the ride on my only bike a Dawes discovery 301 steel framed workhorse which I love. Should I go for a new bike next year or should I keep with tradition !

Answer to both questions YES ! See you at the dynamo 18th July 2008

The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning outnow

The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning is recently published with some interesting stuff from old Mlearning crew and those up and coming new faces great stuff.Can be viewed downloaded at http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/issue/view/29

Oxford Internet Survey 2007 now published

The Oxford Internet Survey (OxIS) found that with two-thirds of Britons online, the poor, the old and the less educated are still losing out.

this yearly report is worth looking at and seeing the trends as the world wide web after its birth in the early 90's heads towards its late teen's. Download report at http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/oxis/OxIS2007_Report.pdf
download 2005 report at http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/oxis/OxIS2007_Report.pdf
interesting to contrast the two.
read about the background to Oxford internet surveys http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/microsites/oxis/

Future Lab event Why Don’t You…? Supporting innovative approaches in education

30th 31st October Immrasat in London

http://www.futurelab.org.uk/events/listing/why_dont_you

If we are to move towards a more personalised education system, then we need to support a wide range of innovators in education. This event will explore the conditions, tools and strategies that support innovation, focusing on teacher practice and the design and development of digital learning resources that support new approaches to learning and teaching.

Through a mix of inspirational presentations and hands-on activities, it has been designed to more specifically address issues such as:

• What tools are available to enable teachers to move towards more personalised approaches to teaching and learning?
• How can we innovate to respond to the changing needs of learners in a digital society?
• What examples of innovative practice are there in the UK?
• How can we encourage teachers to apply more innovative and creative uses of digital learning resources in UK schools that are suitable to learners' needs?
• How can we foster a culture of innovation in education?
• At policy level, how can we facilitate and encourage these innovative practices in order to create a climate which actively fosters this shift?

I am running a session called

BLOG OFF: these Web 2.0 tools will never make it into the learner experience
This workshop involves a tour of some Web 2.0 tools that are used by learners, and issues such as barriers to teaching staff deploying these tools to support learning will be examined. The workshop will be themed between rapid delivery sessions and a chance for participants to create artefacts.

see my bio at
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/events/listing/why_dont_you/speakers

but whats more scary are the other speakers:

Donald Clark
Shaa Wasmund
Lizbeth Goodman, SMARTLab
Andy Black, Becta
Trevor Baylis OBE
Eric Rosenbaum, MIT
Mark Pearce
Natalie Jeremijenko

really grown up stuff .

32GB USB memory stick

Toshiba expands TransMemory lineup and readies 32GB Limited Edition

Now is this the start of mature phase of the revolution started in the early 90's by USB flash drives. It also allows ready boost a odd vista trick to boost vista performance by using some the memory of a high speed flash drive to run Vista faster. Worth a look. Not in the UK yet but coming!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/toshiba-expands-transmemory-lineup-readies-32gb-limited-edition/

The times they are a changing

The debate of PDA (EDA) is getting more difficult. The rise of truly smart phones Nokia95 Toshiba g900 and meaningful UMPC like the UMPC 650 nice photo eh !! is really making the term a bit historic in my humble opinion. Samsung blazed the way with the Q1 and more recently remtech have hit the ground running with the very sleek and practical UMPC650 . The UMPC650 is here its not just a proof of concept box as to price let you know !

Now smart phone UMPCwhat's your weapon of choice or are they both part of the business offer armoury . In education use it strikes me the umpc might be the logical choice but watch the space going to be exciting . But remember its noty about the device its how you use it !!!

Intel Toshiba samsung are all working hard in this area. Looking forward to BETT2008 already

Intel and $100 laptop join forces

Intel and One Laptop per Child project join up. No comment either way but huge heads up to both organisations for helping drive the agenda on. Both the organisations and hopefully the worlds children will benefit. So good on you both !! see my earlier posts on olpc by searching using my tag cloud,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6897950.stm

old skills meet hi tec in interest of conservation

Now this is an odd story but worth a look plus the software is free

African researchers have developed a software for PDAs that turns the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert into digital wildlife trackers. Most of the Bushmen cannot read or write, but they can see what is alive in front of them — and the icons on their PDAs. The screen displays more than 40 animal species, subspecies and plants. The icons also cover activities such as drinking, feeding, running, fighting, mating and sleeping. Pressing an icon records a sighting or other indications, which is sent wirelessly to a computer server by satellite. Of course, this free software can be used for other purposes than nature conservation. It can be applied around the world to social surveys, organic farming, integrated pest management and disaster relief


http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=633

TXT 4 HELP WITH UR KIDS Government launches new plan to help parents by text messages and social networks

you may not like this but further evidence of mobile world impacting on everyday life a worthwhile development Goverment announce innitiative press release found at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2007_0124

TXT 4 HELP WITH UR KIDS Government launches new plan to help parents by text messages and social networks

Parents will be able to receive text and instant messages to help them with their children, thanks to a £34m new initiative launched today by Children’s and Families Minister Kevin Brennan.

Using phone helplines and the internet, ‘Parent Know-How’ will signpost parents to information and support services. It will be targeted at people who may struggle to find the help they need – such as the parents of disabled children, fathers and those from disadvantaged communities. Kevin Brennan, Children’s and Families Minister said: “We want to support those parents who seek help with bringing up their children. By improving phone line support and setting up text messages, instant messages and social networks, we will provide help for parents when it suits them best.”

Interesting approach or waste of time leave decision up to you

its not about the device stupid

Be at the molenet project launch today had pleasure of working with a range of the top people in mlearning in the education sector in the UK .

Geoff Stead
Bob Harrison
Dave Whyley
Lillian Soon
David Sugden

havent given links but go on waste a few minutes on googling them or even better search my blog. The event was part of the Molenet project launch www.molenet.org.uk
at University of Aston in Birmingham a great day

Geoff came out with 3 stages in his involvement in m-learning

phase 1 outreach
phase 2 targeted learning on specific devices (device specific)
phase 3 collabortive learning and projects with camera's,phones,PDA & PC's (device agnostic)

great stuff good progression model of engagement Geoff.
Great day check out website later for presentations.

Five stages and ten top tips for busting barriers - e-Teams

A great piece from epic on virtual team working I recognise a lot of the issues here working in a virtual team myself . The stages of

1. forming
2. storming
3. norming
4. performing
5. sustaining

I can identify in my experiences.
Ten top tips: "Five stages and ten top tips for busting barriers - e-Teams"

UMPC650 the new generation of UMPC

This has come to my attention seems like a really useful bit of kit.



http://www.remtech.com/product_detail.php?category_id_send=30&subcategory_id_send=79&product_id_send=258

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | BBC's Johnston describes relief

I dont usually blog this sort of thing but did you sign the online call for Alan to be released? Good news in a increasingly turbulent world.BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | BBC's Johnston describes relief

ChangeDetection(tm) - Monitor any web page for changes even those without RSS

Thanks to Seb Schmoller a e-learning legend of a commentator for pointing out this simple service for getting updates on web pages without RSS feeds.ChangeDetection(tm) - Monitor any web page for changes

Also going to add Seb influential and widely read fortnightly mailing in my links sidebar thanks Seb .

SKYPE TO MAKE INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS ON TOSHIBA NOTEBOOKS EVEN EASIER - About Skype

Skype pre loaded onto certain Toshiba laptops in the US interesting development is skype going head to head with existing telecoms .SKYPE TO MAKE INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS ON TOSHIBA NOTEBOOKS EVEN EASIER - About Skype

Gartner: Businesses should be wary of iPhone | Tech News on ZDNet

Now this is Gartner spoiling the iphone party . No comment of course but worth a read.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-6193856.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=zdnn

The plastic ducks are coming !!!!

Plastic duck armada is heading for Britain after 15-year global voyage - Times Online

Many of my regular blog readers will know my interest in the environment and GIS . this story I have heard of before its one way to track ocean currents by accident. 30,000 plastic ducks were released in the pacific 15 years ago when we had a Tory Government (that long ago). The story is about a guy who has been tracking them a serious scientific study with a humorous edge !!! Plastic duck armada is heading for Britain after 15-year global voyage - Times Online: "Plastic duck armada is heading for Britain after 15-year global voyage"

Pageflakes - igoogle

Pageflakes - Get it Together Pages flakes forgot to blog about this and was reminded by Margaret Wallace its like personalised google home page or Igoogle sort of ! These service allowing viewing of your favourites,web gadgets etc is a real aid to mobile busy people and to be honest useful to learners. This is only the start of the personalised web

http://www.pageflakes.com/

Googles toolbar ability to embed your igoogle favourites in the browser bar is getting a lot of use me in my preferred browser firefox and i gather it works with IE to

Strap in its going to be a web 2.0 roller coaster ride

Official Google Blog: More organizing tools

More signs of google getting serious some really useful additions to google docs folders interesting. google office ??????? Official Google Blog: More organizing tools

Google Mobile suite picassa is added to the list

Now I already use the gmail application on my phone and its great for reading mail on a nokia 6234 . Its OK for sending short replies . But they've done it again and added picassa googles digital image manipulator and storage offer to their range of phone apps going to give it a go. It also looks like a linkage between Picasa and google maps has been made proto geotagging possibly !! Google Mobile

Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for Students

Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for Students

This is a really cool review of web apps that might be useful to students several I didnt know about worth a look.

Does blogging help your creatvity or articulation of your thoughts.

Thanks to paul Shoesmith a colleague of mine at Becta for invoking this thought. I used ananlogy of exocets refering to 25 anniversary of the Falklands war in a staff meeting this morning . Paul afterwards why is it you bloggers think of such good analogy's is he right does blogging improve your articulation of thoughts I think he is.

I have always thought of myself as non writing person and my spelling grammar is dreadful but blogging has made me think more !!

what do you think.

Major opportunity for mobile going mainstream

Watch this website if your interested in mobile learning http://www.molenet.org.uk/index.aspx

the real detail is at http://www.molenet.org.uk/getinvolved/

If your in the Learning & Skills sector and interested in mobile learning I suggested you have a look.

Kinyo DS-350 speakers play music off your USB stick - Engadget

I think this is a real step forward simple but USB sticks are almost ubiquitous any hotel should set these up any other manufacturer doing anything similar.

From engadget.
Kinyo DS-350 speakers play music off your USB stick - Engadget: "Kinyo DS-350 speakers play music off your USB stick"

BrainAcademy: The Search for Creative Compute-Ability Talent Continues

Note a reality TV show something much more useful have a look.

BrainAcademy is back for 2007. The computer science competition offering university bursaries and career boost prizes continues its search to find the cream of computing talent; this year’s theme is Computer Science, Creativity and Going Green.

A Computer Science education gives a strong foundation in innovation and enterprise. With its basis in computational thinking skills, the subject provides the training needed to be creative in the 21st century as well as providing a playing field that is open to new ideas: in the virtual world, anything goes. Finding new ways to use technology that reduce our use of resources and finding ways to turn existing technologies green are both vital areas with a need for innovative Computer Scientists. Computer Science has deep links to many different subjects; from the social sciences to engineering, from maths to the performing arts. Mix them with Computer Science and whole new subjects emerge: from Bioinformatics to Digital Performance all ripe for creative people with the right skills to exploit.

BrainAcademy organizer, Dr Paul Curzon of Queen Mary’s Department of Computer Science explains why this year’s BrainAcademy is aiming to innovate:
“The Computer Science industries urgently need lots of new talent. The jobs are there. So are the opportunities for innovation. The need for a green revolution also presents lots of new challenges. What is needed are people with the creative skills to take up those challenges. BrainAcademy is a fun way both to encourage the most talented students and give them a head start not only with the life-changing opportunity of a university education, but also to push them to the front of the queue for great career options.”

"An important part of the function of science is to face the challenges for society", said David Evans, of the British Computer Society. “As well as highlighting the need for talent in computing, this competition highlights the need for professional and social responsibility in the way computer science is applied."

Last year the prizes went unclaimed: no one was up to the challenge, surviving all three rounds. The search therefore goes on. Do you have the dedication to go all the way? Young or old, male or female: the prizes could be yours for the taking…if you have what it takes.

• BrainAcademy: postgraduate is open to overseas postgraduate students, with cash prizes to help the winners study for one of Queen Mary’s innovative MScs, and a chance to kick-start a career with sponsors ARM by offering winners an interview with the industry-leading company.

BrainAcademy: undergraduate is looking for UK talent to win prizes including a tuition fees paid place at university and a fast track to a career with sponsors Microsoft. As well as summer work experience opportunities such as with ZDNet.co.uk there are also other prizes on offer such as free membership of the BCS and book tokens.

• BrainAcademy: the next generation, sponsored by ARM® and Soda Creative is looking for future talents in UK schools. Prizes on offer include iPod Nanos donated by ARM, book tokens donated by Intel and the chance to spend an afternoon in Queen Mary’s state-of-the-art Augmented Human Interaction Research Laboratory.

William Hohl, University Relations Manager, ARM said: "Most people don't realise how ubiquitous embedded microprocessors have become - in their cars, cell phones, portable media players, televisions, cameras – they are everywhere! With this pervasive technology comes a demand for new computer science graduates, and ARM enthusiastically supports programmes like BrainAcademy to encourage the next generation of great minds in this growing field."

Andrew Sithers, Academic Manager, Microsoft Ltd added: "Microsoft is delighted to be again working with Queen Mary, University of London and supporting its annual computer science bursary competition. Encouraging and enabling young technology enthusiasts and students to realise their full potential with technology is a common goal that both Microsoft and Queen Mary share."

The BrainAcademy 2007 opens on 8th June 2007 and closes on 14 September 2007. The challenging competition involves an online research quiz to qualify for the Computer Science creativity challenge, followed by a tough interview for the finalists competing for the University places. BrainAcademy is open to people of all ages whether school students, university students, or those in the workplace wanting to advance their career. Winners will be announced in December 2007.



Visit www.brainacademy.qmul.ac.uk for more information.

Tokyo, Living Lab of Possible Futures

This brief article is interesting morphing of design changing culture that technology is allowing or is it forcing on us you decide its your future. Never been to Japan but sure sounds interesting . Tokyo, Living Lab of Possible Futures

Architect Steven Holls Combines Geeky Aesthetic, Environmental Elements

Architect Steven Holls Combines Geeky Aesthetic, Environmental Elements: "Architect Steven Holls Combines Geeky Aesthetic, Environmental Elements"

This is really interesting design rather than just functional building really interesting. Can we have a few schools colleges like this please.

London WiFi hotspot idea from a blog reader for further functionality . Plus excellent link for open source GPS software

Thanks to Adrian Higginbotham for this comment
The london free hotspots thing is good - now it just needs GPS refrences so we can use handheld GPS such as the opensource LoadStone GPS www.loadstone-gps.com to navigate to the nearest free hotspot. Thanks for the load stone link looks well worth a look.

Free WiFi in London mapped

This is something I have been looking for a while for when I transit or stay in London . Its WiFi that's free to use and doesn't involve so called stealing connectivity from unsecured networks.



This is the one for free Wifi .http://www.londonist.com/archives/2007/05/free_wifi_in_lo.php



its got a related blog so one to watch.

Do you want to green your school

Interesting article from Guardian about how money from the DTI for greening schools isn't being claimed . read Article at http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2089804,00.html



the DTI website reveals its not only schools who can apply http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/

Back from Banff and my brothers famous !!

Well heh what a great week in Banff and Buchan. High point scenery the friendly people and the company. It also has coastal runs to die for. Even at before 7.00am

My brother the much cleverer version of me who is



Arnold Black

Network Director

The Resource Efficiency Knowledge Transfer Network

c/o C-Tech Innovation Ltd

Capenhurst Technology Park



Has been sharing his thoughts on personal responsibility way to go brother read his thoughts at



http://www.urbanmines.org.uk/



 





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