Tonight on BBC 1 at Midnight (great time for pupils to watch... NOT!) the best TV show in the world is back. Forget grumpy Alan Sugar and his UK version.
The Apprentice with Donald Trump is the original and best show! We're finally getting to see Season Four after a lengthy gap of two years.
So what makes Trump's version so good?
Well it is actually pretty educational and of course it is entertaining. The characters on the show make some of the craziest decisions known to man!
I normally don't get excited about TV but this is my favourite show of recent years. Some of the reasons for people getting fired are incredible! Remember Brian who was going to sort everyone out in the Board Room?
TRUMP: "Who should I fire, Brian?"
BRIAN: "You should fire me me."
TRUMP:"I should fire you?"
BRIAN: "Yes, Mr Trump."
TRUMP:"Okay Brian, you're fired. That was the quickest Board Room ever!"
TV gold!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Friday, 23 October 2009
Nokia take on Apple
TWhen you have been No. 1 in any industry, the only was is down. This happened to Nokia, the Finnish mobile phone giant.
Nokia makes beautiful phones, but they needed to offer extra funtcions to keep up with Apple. To create a smartphone!
The iPhone has become the gold standard by which all other mobiles are measured.
Nokia has lost substantial ground in the North American cell phone market.
Apple, according to Nokia, has gotten a free ride since the iPhone launched—a very fast ride. Apple commands 22% of the smartphone market in the US, and globally, it holds 12% of the market, more than doubling its share from last year.
Meanwhile, despite its best efforts, Nokia has steadily lost ground. It holds 40% of the market, down from 43% last year, according to IDC. And in the competitive North American market, Nokia is barely holding its own with just 3%.
Nokia is now ringing the changes to create a range of smartphones able to match Apple's iPhone. But will it have it's rival's 'cool' factor?
Source: Fortune
Nokia makes beautiful phones, but they needed to offer extra funtcions to keep up with Apple. To create a smartphone!
The iPhone has become the gold standard by which all other mobiles are measured.
Nokia has lost substantial ground in the North American cell phone market.
Apple, according to Nokia, has gotten a free ride since the iPhone launched—a very fast ride. Apple commands 22% of the smartphone market in the US, and globally, it holds 12% of the market, more than doubling its share from last year.
Meanwhile, despite its best efforts, Nokia has steadily lost ground. It holds 40% of the market, down from 43% last year, according to IDC. And in the competitive North American market, Nokia is barely holding its own with just 3%.
Nokia is now ringing the changes to create a range of smartphones able to match Apple's iPhone. But will it have it's rival's 'cool' factor?
Source: Fortune
Question Time and Free Speech
I normally do not wade into politics, but tonight on Question Time the leader of a rather nasty party appeared. I do not wish to even name the person, who is an MEP(!) but it is important that in our modern and democratic society that everyone has a right to be heard.
What I would point out is that any sensible person would distance themselves from the ideals of such a party based on hate and division. The MEP's party stands for subject matter that is distasteful in the extreme.
I have often wondered when we as a people, as a species (ONE species I hasten to add!) are going to mature and grow up? We often say this to students and we are so proud when we see the maturing and self-realisation of what life is about among the young! When they realise they can have fun and excitement learning and celebrating diversity. Life is such a short experience that we should make the best of it and try and help people, not hinder them.
Imagine if the world all worked together in peace? How incredible would that be? Would it be like the world of Star Trek? Where we could explore the universe? Or would it be a world were we didn't have to spend money on weapons and armies and instead devote ourselves to feeding the hungry, helping the poor and curing disease?
Well we can live in hope. And hopefully the great job that educators around the world do to sharpen young inquiring minds will make a difference to the future.
What I would point out is that any sensible person would distance themselves from the ideals of such a party based on hate and division. The MEP's party stands for subject matter that is distasteful in the extreme.
I have often wondered when we as a people, as a species (ONE species I hasten to add!) are going to mature and grow up? We often say this to students and we are so proud when we see the maturing and self-realisation of what life is about among the young! When they realise they can have fun and excitement learning and celebrating diversity. Life is such a short experience that we should make the best of it and try and help people, not hinder them.
Imagine if the world all worked together in peace? How incredible would that be? Would it be like the world of Star Trek? Where we could explore the universe? Or would it be a world were we didn't have to spend money on weapons and armies and instead devote ourselves to feeding the hungry, helping the poor and curing disease?
Well we can live in hope. And hopefully the great job that educators around the world do to sharpen young inquiring minds will make a difference to the future.
Curriculum for Excellence - Scratch Programming
This week I attended a CPD course on Scratch Programming which is a fun way to introduce pupils to programming - a topic many students dread!
The excellent course was run by Frank Frame, the Advisor for Computing, and it was very hands on. We got to create some programs from scratch (no pun intended) as well as following the excellent resources.
Scratch is obviously going to fit in well with the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. An interesting piece of news was that apparently the uptake for Computing courses in Higher and Further Education is not as high as it once was, and there are many concerns about this. Scratch is one such reaction to this, by trying to remove the 'nerdy' or 'geeky' image of Computing and trying to make it more interesting to pupils.
I have found this pretty interesting since Business subject degrees (in all their many forms such as Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Human Resources, Operations, Logistics etc) are among the highest uptake in Higher and Further Education Institutions. Yet the experiences of pupils in schools differ from school to school. If Business is so popular at University and College then surely with our new Curriculum for Excellence there should be MORE Business courses available for pupils from 3-18 rather than less? I am sure this was at the forefront of the inclusion of Business outcomes and experiences in the Social Subjects document.
Business subjects offer students the chance to learn hard and soft skills which are vital in the workplace. Indeed, Business subjects are uniquely positioned to help pupils gain insight into industry which is after all where we hope our young people will eventually end up and contributing to society as a whole!
The excellent course was run by Frank Frame, the Advisor for Computing, and it was very hands on. We got to create some programs from scratch (no pun intended) as well as following the excellent resources.
Scratch is obviously going to fit in well with the aims of Curriculum for Excellence. An interesting piece of news was that apparently the uptake for Computing courses in Higher and Further Education is not as high as it once was, and there are many concerns about this. Scratch is one such reaction to this, by trying to remove the 'nerdy' or 'geeky' image of Computing and trying to make it more interesting to pupils.
I have found this pretty interesting since Business subject degrees (in all their many forms such as Economics, Marketing, Accounting, Management, Human Resources, Operations, Logistics etc) are among the highest uptake in Higher and Further Education Institutions. Yet the experiences of pupils in schools differ from school to school. If Business is so popular at University and College then surely with our new Curriculum for Excellence there should be MORE Business courses available for pupils from 3-18 rather than less? I am sure this was at the forefront of the inclusion of Business outcomes and experiences in the Social Subjects document.
Business subjects offer students the chance to learn hard and soft skills which are vital in the workplace. Indeed, Business subjects are uniquely positioned to help pupils gain insight into industry which is after all where we hope our young people will eventually end up and contributing to society as a whole!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
In the News...
CHINESE ELECTRIC CAR
Chinese firm BYD says that its new E6 electric car due out before the end of the year will do 250 miles (400km) on a single charge.
This is a very big number. The Tesla electric sports car does almost as much, but has little room for anything else in the car but the battery.
The E6 is roomy with space for five passengers and a good-sized boot. The battery tucks under the back seat.
It needs 7-8 hours with a domestic plug to charge the car but BYD - it stands for Build Your Dreams - says a specially developed fast charging point with a lead the diameter of a fire hose will fill up the car in just one hour. You can get half a charge in only 10 minutes.
If these claims are accurate and if BYD can persuade either the Chinese government or a Chinese city to install a network of the fast chargers, then this large hatchback could be the vehicle that makes the breakthrough for electric cars.
VW TO BUY 50% OF PORSCHE
Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has said it is to buy 49.9% of sports car maker Porsche by the end of 2009 for about 3.9bn euros (£3.54bn;$5.8bn).
In August VW and Porsche agreed the details by which VW will merge with its German compatriot by 2011.
VW had initially been set to buy a 42% stake in Porsche by the end of this year for 3.3bn euros.
The deal will end months of acrimony between the two firms, and would end Porsche's failed efforts to buy VW.
APPLE PROFITS UP
Apple has shrugged off the recession with profits surging on demand for its iPhones, laptops and desktop computers.
The technology giant made a net profit of $1.67bn (£1bn) in the three months to 26 September, up 47% on a year earlier. Sales rose 25% to $9.87bn.
Computer sales grew 17%, and iPhone sales climbed 7%, though there was an 8% drop in the number of iPods sold.
The results come ahead of rival Microsoft launching its new Windows 7 operating system later this week.
Shares in California-based Apple closed at $189.86 on the Nasdaq index, but rose to above $200 in extended trading on the results, which were well ahead of what analysts had forecast.
Source: BBC News
Chinese firm BYD says that its new E6 electric car due out before the end of the year will do 250 miles (400km) on a single charge.
This is a very big number. The Tesla electric sports car does almost as much, but has little room for anything else in the car but the battery.
The E6 is roomy with space for five passengers and a good-sized boot. The battery tucks under the back seat.
It needs 7-8 hours with a domestic plug to charge the car but BYD - it stands for Build Your Dreams - says a specially developed fast charging point with a lead the diameter of a fire hose will fill up the car in just one hour. You can get half a charge in only 10 minutes.
If these claims are accurate and if BYD can persuade either the Chinese government or a Chinese city to install a network of the fast chargers, then this large hatchback could be the vehicle that makes the breakthrough for electric cars.
VW TO BUY 50% OF PORSCHE
Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has said it is to buy 49.9% of sports car maker Porsche by the end of 2009 for about 3.9bn euros (£3.54bn;$5.8bn).
In August VW and Porsche agreed the details by which VW will merge with its German compatriot by 2011.
VW had initially been set to buy a 42% stake in Porsche by the end of this year for 3.3bn euros.
The deal will end months of acrimony between the two firms, and would end Porsche's failed efforts to buy VW.
APPLE PROFITS UP
Apple has shrugged off the recession with profits surging on demand for its iPhones, laptops and desktop computers.
The technology giant made a net profit of $1.67bn (£1bn) in the three months to 26 September, up 47% on a year earlier. Sales rose 25% to $9.87bn.
Computer sales grew 17%, and iPhone sales climbed 7%, though there was an 8% drop in the number of iPods sold.
The results come ahead of rival Microsoft launching its new Windows 7 operating system later this week.
Shares in California-based Apple closed at $189.86 on the Nasdaq index, but rose to above $200 in extended trading on the results, which were well ahead of what analysts had forecast.
Source: BBC News
V for Victory! 80s TV Nostalgia!
Childhood in the 1980s was so different to that of the modern schoolkids of the new millennium. Not only did we not have mobile phones, but all we had was the very basic Atari video game console and having to live with the very real threat of thermonuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
However, there were some iconic TV moments that affected kids all over the world. I have already mentioned in a previous post the brilliance of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, but another TV event that was just simply earth shattering was a 1983 sci-fi mini series called V.
V was the story of the arrival of 50 alien motherships over the major cities of Earth. The Visitors, as the aliens became known, looked like us and promised to cure disease in return for some much needed gases to help their own world.
But as everyone knows what made this sci-fi programme that little bit different was the real intentions of the aliens and the obvious parallels with the Nazis in the 1930s. The Visitors were not benign. They rounded up scientists and people who did not cooperate to either put them to work or make them disappear just like Hitler and Stalin did.
There was one true ace card that V had that would be hard to replicate now. The shock factor of their true appearance! The Visitors did not look like us at all. Instead they were reptiles and they fed on mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats... you name it. Indeed the two scenes ("Mousey, Mousey... and Steven and Diana's feast) with food were replicated on many playgrounds. Also the Visitors were not here for gases, but for our water and to stockpile humans for food!
The heroic resistance fought against the Visitors and while Mike Donovan - a TV cameraman come action hero was a poor man's Han Solo - the real star of the show was the alien's chief science officer, the afore mentioned Diana. Diana became the breakout character of the show and its sequel and subsequent series. She was cool, efficient and rather nasty! But she was easily the most popular character in the show.
Which leads me to the new reimagining by US TV. The new V is being premiered on November the 3rd but rather than the 1930s parallels it will be more relevant to the post-9/11 world. But in this new series the leader of the Visitors is called Anna. It seems Diana has been left alone, which is good in one sense (because who else could play Diana other than Jane Badler?) and bad because she was such a fun character.
There is a very poignant scene in V at the end of the very first episode. Kids are spray painting a poster of the Visitors but it is just like graffiti. An old Holocaust survivor, Abraham, shouts at them and tells them to "do it right!" Abraham sprays the titular 'V' on the poster and in a truly uplifting moment tells them: "V. For victory!"
However, there were some iconic TV moments that affected kids all over the world. I have already mentioned in a previous post the brilliance of Carl Sagan's Cosmos, but another TV event that was just simply earth shattering was a 1983 sci-fi mini series called V.
V was the story of the arrival of 50 alien motherships over the major cities of Earth. The Visitors, as the aliens became known, looked like us and promised to cure disease in return for some much needed gases to help their own world.
But as everyone knows what made this sci-fi programme that little bit different was the real intentions of the aliens and the obvious parallels with the Nazis in the 1930s. The Visitors were not benign. They rounded up scientists and people who did not cooperate to either put them to work or make them disappear just like Hitler and Stalin did.
There was one true ace card that V had that would be hard to replicate now. The shock factor of their true appearance! The Visitors did not look like us at all. Instead they were reptiles and they fed on mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats... you name it. Indeed the two scenes ("Mousey, Mousey... and Steven and Diana's feast) with food were replicated on many playgrounds. Also the Visitors were not here for gases, but for our water and to stockpile humans for food!
The heroic resistance fought against the Visitors and while Mike Donovan - a TV cameraman come action hero was a poor man's Han Solo - the real star of the show was the alien's chief science officer, the afore mentioned Diana. Diana became the breakout character of the show and its sequel and subsequent series. She was cool, efficient and rather nasty! But she was easily the most popular character in the show.
Which leads me to the new reimagining by US TV. The new V is being premiered on November the 3rd but rather than the 1930s parallels it will be more relevant to the post-9/11 world. But in this new series the leader of the Visitors is called Anna. It seems Diana has been left alone, which is good in one sense (because who else could play Diana other than Jane Badler?) and bad because she was such a fun character.
There is a very poignant scene in V at the end of the very first episode. Kids are spray painting a poster of the Visitors but it is just like graffiti. An old Holocaust survivor, Abraham, shouts at them and tells them to "do it right!" Abraham sprays the titular 'V' on the poster and in a truly uplifting moment tells them: "V. For victory!"
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Higher Administration Study Guide
Pupils in Higher Administration this year have been set the task of creating an e-book on the Theory elements of the course.
We were inspired by the Higher Still Revision Notes created by pupils some years ago. I have been wanting to do it for quite some time, but this year we have 6 periods and I think we can donate 1 a week to this revision task.
I also think changing the order of the course is working. Moving Spreadsheet and Database skills up to the start of the course and moving Word Processing back is a good move. Plus doing ITFM first and leaving Administrative Services until now is also a good idea.
So the Higher Administration eBook Team are already underway creating the ITFM element of their ebook. Everything must be original and this will include images, diagrams and photographs. A big challenge, but worthwhile all the same.
We were inspired by the Higher Still Revision Notes created by pupils some years ago. I have been wanting to do it for quite some time, but this year we have 6 periods and I think we can donate 1 a week to this revision task.
I also think changing the order of the course is working. Moving Spreadsheet and Database skills up to the start of the course and moving Word Processing back is a good move. Plus doing ITFM first and leaving Administrative Services until now is also a good idea.
So the Higher Administration eBook Team are already underway creating the ITFM element of their ebook. Everything must be original and this will include images, diagrams and photographs. A big challenge, but worthwhile all the same.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
James Cameron's Avatar
With Hamilton Grammar School working on our greenscreen it is quite appropriate that the next step in motion picture evolution is being pioneered at the same time by legendary Oscar winning director James Cameron. His movie Avatar is shot in 3-D and almost everything is computer generated.
The heroes of the movie, the Na'vi are ten foot tall blue aliens who are not cartoons but an ever better generation of CGI from Gollum.
The film is about the human colonisation and exploitation of a small planet called Pandora. And the planet is so hostile that humans use clones of the Na'vi to roam the planet... the avatars of the title. The avatars are created but have a human mind implanted into it. For the hero of the movie, Jake Sully - a crippled war veteran - it offers him a new life.
Using CGI and greenscren technology really fires the imagination, so hopefully we can come up with some great projects of our own!
For more information about this movie go to:
http://www2.avatarmovie.com/
The heroes of the movie, the Na'vi are ten foot tall blue aliens who are not cartoons but an ever better generation of CGI from Gollum.
The film is about the human colonisation and exploitation of a small planet called Pandora. And the planet is so hostile that humans use clones of the Na'vi to roam the planet... the avatars of the title. The avatars are created but have a human mind implanted into it. For the hero of the movie, Jake Sully - a crippled war veteran - it offers him a new life.
Using CGI and greenscren technology really fires the imagination, so hopefully we can come up with some great projects of our own!
For more information about this movie go to:
http://www2.avatarmovie.com/
Monday, 5 October 2009
Divided States of America?
It seems that not everyone is being nice to each other during this time of recession. In the United States the 50 States are all competing hard against each other for new businesses to locate in their state and also the good old tourist dollar.
One state in particular, Indiana, seems to be poaching more than its fair share of custom! Indiana is relying on negative advertising, slagging off some other States and an aggressive sales visit task force to nearby states such as Ohio and Michigan.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8273664.stm
Tourism is in the Service Sector, the Tertiary Sector. As Developed nations become less industrialised services such as Tourism, Retail and Banking are becoming more and more important. We have also witnessed this in Dubai with their attempts to move away from their oil rich past and present. They are preparing for an oil-lite future!
One state in particular, Indiana, seems to be poaching more than its fair share of custom! Indiana is relying on negative advertising, slagging off some other States and an aggressive sales visit task force to nearby states such as Ohio and Michigan.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8273664.stm
Tourism is in the Service Sector, the Tertiary Sector. As Developed nations become less industrialised services such as Tourism, Retail and Banking are becoming more and more important. We have also witnessed this in Dubai with their attempts to move away from their oil rich past and present. They are preparing for an oil-lite future!
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Michael Palin - A Salute!
Who is my favourite Travel writer/presenter? Some go for the comedians such as Billy Connolly, Paul Merton or Griff Rhys Jones; others for the flamboyant Italian Francesco Da Mosta, while QI egghead Stephen Fry is gaining more fans by the minute with his very interesting series America and his Last Chance to See programmes.
But... "I didn't want to be a Business Teacher. Oh no. I wanted to be ... a LUMBERJACK!"
No I haven't lost it. Michael Palin is not only one sixth of Monty Python, but he is the most genial and interesting travel guide anyone could have. Palin roughs it whether in the burning Sahara or the high peaks of the Himalayas. He converses with the locals with skill few can match. He genuinely likes people and can laugh with people of different ethnicities and religions, as well as learn from them and also teach them bits of our own culture. I think part of Michael Palin's wanderlust has rubbed off on me as I have a lot of places that I want to visit. Many are not very touristy and some are downright dangerous!
There was a scene on the Volta Ferry in Ghana when an incredible amount of people spilled off a tiny boat (resembling the Western Ferry) and cars and trucks went past in a puff of black smoke. Mr Bowen commented: "It's like a Michael Palin travelogue!" Too true!
From his original Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days, to his Pole to Pole adventure and then to my personal favourite Full Circle, where he circumnavigated the Pacific Rim, Michael Palin gets you excited about travel.
Travel broadens the mind and perhaps that's why I am so interested in what happens in other cities, countries and cultures. I love looking at what is similar and different among peoples and nations. Diversity is what makes life worthwhile. How boring it would be if we were all the same!
My experience in Ghana means that South America is the only continent I have not yet travelled to, but I aim to go sometime within the next 2 years. Brazil and Peru are high up my list. Brazil even more so with Rio de Janeiro being announced as the host city for the Olympics in 2016!
To any students past or present reading this I would encourage you to travel the world either before or after university as it is something I do regret. But hey, I have plenty of interesting places to visit before I retire!
But... "I didn't want to be a Business Teacher. Oh no. I wanted to be ... a LUMBERJACK!"
No I haven't lost it. Michael Palin is not only one sixth of Monty Python, but he is the most genial and interesting travel guide anyone could have. Palin roughs it whether in the burning Sahara or the high peaks of the Himalayas. He converses with the locals with skill few can match. He genuinely likes people and can laugh with people of different ethnicities and religions, as well as learn from them and also teach them bits of our own culture. I think part of Michael Palin's wanderlust has rubbed off on me as I have a lot of places that I want to visit. Many are not very touristy and some are downright dangerous!
There was a scene on the Volta Ferry in Ghana when an incredible amount of people spilled off a tiny boat (resembling the Western Ferry) and cars and trucks went past in a puff of black smoke. Mr Bowen commented: "It's like a Michael Palin travelogue!" Too true!
From his original Jules Verne Around the World in 80 Days, to his Pole to Pole adventure and then to my personal favourite Full Circle, where he circumnavigated the Pacific Rim, Michael Palin gets you excited about travel.
Travel broadens the mind and perhaps that's why I am so interested in what happens in other cities, countries and cultures. I love looking at what is similar and different among peoples and nations. Diversity is what makes life worthwhile. How boring it would be if we were all the same!
My experience in Ghana means that South America is the only continent I have not yet travelled to, but I aim to go sometime within the next 2 years. Brazil and Peru are high up my list. Brazil even more so with Rio de Janeiro being announced as the host city for the Olympics in 2016!
To any students past or present reading this I would encourage you to travel the world either before or after university as it is something I do regret. But hey, I have plenty of interesting places to visit before I retire!
Rio is the winner!
Yesterday it was announced that the 2016 Olympics will be going to South America for the very first time.
I read that Rio had bid before in 1936, 2004 and 2012, and failed on all three previous occassions. I did predict Rio to win for many reasons, but I do feel that for the Olympics to be truly international every part of the world deserves a turn. So South America this time and perhaps somewhere in Africa in 2020?
What will the Olympics bring to Rio and to Brazil?
Not only will there be an upsurge in Tourism, it will lead to better infrastructure within the city and the region. Also the sports stadia that will be built for the games will be a lasting legacy for the young people of Brazil to aspire to perform in.
The economic cost is great but a good games actually makes money... or does it? That is something I want my students to investigate as you do read contrary reports.
The one good thing for Brazil is that Rio is now a focal point again for the world... starting now and for the next seven or so years. Mind you they do have the small matter of the FIFA World Cup to worry about in 2014! So interesting times ahead for Brazil.
I read that Rio had bid before in 1936, 2004 and 2012, and failed on all three previous occassions. I did predict Rio to win for many reasons, but I do feel that for the Olympics to be truly international every part of the world deserves a turn. So South America this time and perhaps somewhere in Africa in 2020?
What will the Olympics bring to Rio and to Brazil?
Not only will there be an upsurge in Tourism, it will lead to better infrastructure within the city and the region. Also the sports stadia that will be built for the games will be a lasting legacy for the young people of Brazil to aspire to perform in.
The economic cost is great but a good games actually makes money... or does it? That is something I want my students to investigate as you do read contrary reports.
The one good thing for Brazil is that Rio is now a focal point again for the world... starting now and for the next seven or so years. Mind you they do have the small matter of the FIFA World Cup to worry about in 2014! So interesting times ahead for Brazil.
Friday, 2 October 2009
G20
The leaders of the Group of 20, or G20, of the world's most powerful countries met in the US city of Pittsburgh, to discuss how to tackle the economic crisis which threatens the world!
On the BBC website there are details of each of the countries problems and responses to the crisis.
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
European Union
Linked to the business and economic problems faced by these nations, it is also important to recognise that many of the current Governments in these countries will face elections, which may end up with the existing leaders ousted and replaced with new Presidents or Premiers... assuming they are democracies!
Angela Merkel recently held onto power in Germany. But will Gordon Brown be able to win over the voters when the General Election occurs in the UK in 2009-2010?
Higher Administration: Workflow and ICT
One question that seems to be giving candidates a problem is the one about the impact ICT has on workflow in an organisation.
Workflow is the way information is recived, processed and delivered by an organisation.
Input, Process and Output
INPUT
email can be used to recieve information from customers instantly. This can also come from internal or external sources.
Data capture forms can also be used to collect information from external sources.
Online registration/order forms can collect information from customers, such as orders, quantity, products bought and the customer's contact/delivery details
PROCESS
Spreadsheets, Word Processing and Databses packages are used to process information.
Spreadsheets can be used to calculate and create charts;
Word Processing can be used to create letters, memos and reports;
Databases can be used to create customer and/or employee records.
OUTPUT
For effective and efficient communication, transmission and presentation of information, PowerPoint, the Internet, e-Diaries can be used.
Workflow is the way information is recived, processed and delivered by an organisation.
Input, Process and Output
INPUT
email can be used to recieve information from customers instantly. This can also come from internal or external sources.
Data capture forms can also be used to collect information from external sources.
Online registration/order forms can collect information from customers, such as orders, quantity, products bought and the customer's contact/delivery details
PROCESS
Spreadsheets, Word Processing and Databses packages are used to process information.
Spreadsheets can be used to calculate and create charts;
Word Processing can be used to create letters, memos and reports;
Databases can be used to create customer and/or employee records.
OUTPUT
For effective and efficient communication, transmission and presentation of information, PowerPoint, the Internet, e-Diaries can be used.
Olympics 2016 City to be announced
Today the host city for the 2016 Olympics is due to be announced.
The candidate cities are:
Chicago, USA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Madrid, Spain
Tokyo, Japan
Each city has its own unique benefits and disadvantages.
CHICAGO - the hometown of President Obama and a great location on the shores of Lake Michigan. However the USA have held the Olympics a few times before and it may be that someone else deserves a turn. The favourite with the bookies and a city I have visited and was very impressed with. But I have a feeling it won't be The Windy City's turn.
RIO DE JANEIRO - the most 'friendly' South American City which could lead to a massive party if successful. Already has tourism doing well, but there are issues over construction, national debt, and crime rates in this most famous Latin American metropolis. South America has never hosted the Olympics, yet they have hosted several FIFA World Cups, so perhaps they are overdue one. My personal tip for the Olympics 2016.
MADRID - the Spanish capital, and Europe's highest capital city. Madrid is a fine city but could it outdo their bitter rivals Barcelona - the 1992 host city? Possibly not. Europe has held the Olympics the most of any continent and with London hosting in 2012 I doubt the Spaniards will get the nod.
TOKYO - hosts of the 1964 Olympics, and the dark horse in this race. The infrastructure of Tokyo and the whole cultural experience would be incredible. But Beijing hosted in 2008 and perhaps going back to Asia too soon counts against such a fabulous and modern city.
Which one do you think you would like to see becoming the host city for 2016?
Please vote in the poll and leave comments here why you voted!
In the News...
INTERNET ADS BEAT TV!
Online advertising spending in the UK has overtaken television expenditure for the first time, a report has said.
Online spending grew 4.6% to £1.752bn in the first half of 2009, while TV spending shrank 16.1% to £1.639bn.
Overall advertising fell 16% compared with the same period in 2008, said the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
E-mail campaigns, classified adverts, display ads and search marketing are all classed as online advertising.
JAPAN UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN
Japan's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.5% in August from July's record high of 5.7%, official figures showed.
But the number of people unemployed hit a six-year high of 3.61 million in August, a figure which was up 32.7% on the same month of 2008.
Official figures also showed that household spending rose 2.6% in August from a year earlier.
The markets will also be focusing on unemployment figures from the US, which are due out later on Friday.
Analysts had been expecting the Japanese jobless rate to rise again in August.
UK HOUSE PRICES BACK TO 2008?
UK house prices have now recovered to the same level as a year ago, according to the latest Nationwide figures.
The average price of a home last month rose by 0.9% to £161,816, almost identical to September 2008.
The building society said house prices had now risen for the fifth month in a row.
However, the nation's homeowners continued to pay off more of their mortgages between April and June, according to the Bank of England.
A further £7bn was added to people's equity in the country's housing stock, as homeowners accelerated the repayment of their home loans, or put down bigger deposits when taking out a new mortgage.
EU INVESTIGATES AIRLINE MONOPOLIES
The European Commission's competition authorities have raised concerns about the transatlantic plans of British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia.
The Oneworld alliance members want to operate as a joint business on flights between the EU and North America.
If they are to go ahead they will also need approval from US regulators.
The Commission has sent its Statement of Objections to the airlines, and they now have the chance to respond before a competition decision is reached.
The Commission confirmed that it was still looking into similar plans for co-operation by Star Alliance members Lufthansa, Continental, United and Air Canada and between Skyteam members Air France/KLM and Delta/Northwest.
Source: BBC News
Online advertising spending in the UK has overtaken television expenditure for the first time, a report has said.
Online spending grew 4.6% to £1.752bn in the first half of 2009, while TV spending shrank 16.1% to £1.639bn.
Overall advertising fell 16% compared with the same period in 2008, said the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
E-mail campaigns, classified adverts, display ads and search marketing are all classed as online advertising.
JAPAN UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN
Japan's jobless rate unexpectedly fell to 5.5% in August from July's record high of 5.7%, official figures showed.
But the number of people unemployed hit a six-year high of 3.61 million in August, a figure which was up 32.7% on the same month of 2008.
Official figures also showed that household spending rose 2.6% in August from a year earlier.
The markets will also be focusing on unemployment figures from the US, which are due out later on Friday.
Analysts had been expecting the Japanese jobless rate to rise again in August.
UK HOUSE PRICES BACK TO 2008?
UK house prices have now recovered to the same level as a year ago, according to the latest Nationwide figures.
The average price of a home last month rose by 0.9% to £161,816, almost identical to September 2008.
The building society said house prices had now risen for the fifth month in a row.
However, the nation's homeowners continued to pay off more of their mortgages between April and June, according to the Bank of England.
A further £7bn was added to people's equity in the country's housing stock, as homeowners accelerated the repayment of their home loans, or put down bigger deposits when taking out a new mortgage.
EU INVESTIGATES AIRLINE MONOPOLIES
The European Commission's competition authorities have raised concerns about the transatlantic plans of British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia.
The Oneworld alliance members want to operate as a joint business on flights between the EU and North America.
If they are to go ahead they will also need approval from US regulators.
The Commission has sent its Statement of Objections to the airlines, and they now have the chance to respond before a competition decision is reached.
The Commission confirmed that it was still looking into similar plans for co-operation by Star Alliance members Lufthansa, Continental, United and Air Canada and between Skyteam members Air France/KLM and Delta/Northwest.
Source: BBC News
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