Working from home? Time for innovation

A lot of us are working from home these days. Whether it lasts or not is anyone’s guess yet I am sure we will settle at a level of homeworking that is higher than before the pandemic. The switch from analogue working to digital has been swift and a lot less painless than many would … Continue reading Working from home? Time for innovation

A world without work

My eldest daughter has been listening to a series of podcasts from the BBC called Beyond Today in which a topic from the news is explored in greater detail than can be covered in a short bulletin. She thought I would like one entitled ‘Could AI do your job?’ and so I gave it a … Continue reading A world without work

Cyber 101 boot camp #2

I said that I would get a few blogs out of the fantastic Cybere 101 boot camp that we held last month. Here is the second.  The format of the event was quite different to anything that I had been before, with a mixture of presentations and mentoring. It was a game of two halves, … Continue reading Cyber 101 boot camp #2

The 32 Hour week

‘Of all Labour’s stupidities, the four day week stands out’ at least according to David Smith in his economic outlook in The Times. OK, but how would he know? According to Kenneth Galbraith, Canadian-born economist, public official and diplomat, ‘The only purpose of economic forecasts is to give astrology a better image.’ Nobody can be … Continue reading The 32 Hour week

Not Equal

Capitalism doesn’t have a conscience. It is a system in which money flows to where it can make the most return. If somebody can make it faster cheaper and easier the system will determine that they are the winners. Thankfully people do have consciences and it is they that can provide the bulwark against the … Continue reading Not Equal

Taking the pledge

Technology is yin and yang. In most cases it is developed for good yet can give rise to the bad. There is a  continuous tension between technology and humanity in that innovation works to cover a need yet, as soon as it leaves the factory gates others have found an alternative use for it.  My … Continue reading Taking the pledge

Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

You thought #CyberFest was all over, didn’t you? Well at least for this year, yet I promised you eleven events and the eagle eyed among you will know that we only had ten events in September. The final event, which was originally supposed to be held during September, is a Cyber 101 Boot Camp. For … Continue reading Why I should go to the Cyber 101 Boot Camp

Noise cancelling

When you see someone wearing headphones and tapping away at a laptop it means that they don’t want to be disturbed. The wearers are trying to ignore the world and grab a bit of peace. Not everyone recognises the signs however and insist on trying to engage the person in conversation. If you are one … Continue reading Noise cancelling

Digital for Growth

Last week’s North East Local Enterprise Partnership launch of the digital strategy was a good event. The meeting space at Proto was packed, with standing room only for many of the great and good in the North East’s digital sector, that is if digital is a sector. As with many of these events there were … Continue reading Digital for Growth

On a bus

Now I don’t often get a bus, not that I have anything against them, they just tend not to be as convenient as other forms of transport. I use the train more. This week though I found myself on one. I had gone in to Newcastle by train only to find that a meeting had … Continue reading On a bus