InfoTextX

Welcome to the June issue of InfoTextX – the e-newsletter from the Knowledge Business Centre at InfoLab21, keeping you informed about developments inside InfoLab21 and other news which we hope will be of interest to you. To subscribe or contribute news items to InfoTextX and our website, please contact the editor – Sarah Maginness.

Join IT! New Associate Company Profiles

Here are the latest companies to submit their profile online to our Associate Company Scheme section of the website and take advantage of the eMarketing benefits of having a weblink from the InfoLab21 site:

Astarte Web Design

A small company based in Burton-in-Kendal, with several years' experience in creating websites for sole traders and small businesses. Hosting and Domain services also available.

Burton Tech Support

A computer repair business based in Burton-in-Kendal which was started in August 2002.

Sails and Summits Ltd

Sails and Summits, based in Lancaster, offer a complete sailing holiday experience exploring the west coast of Scotland, the islands of the Hebrides, and further afield to St Kilda.

Thelwell Consultants Ltd

Thelwell Consultants are a creative graphic design agency specialising in corporate identity design, brochure and corporate literature design, website design and bespoke exhibition solutions.

Double Big Chip Win for InfoLab21 Resident Company EduNation

InfoLab21 resident company EduNation Ltd have won Best E-Business and Best in Lancashire at the 2008 Big Chip Awards for their website, First Tutors. First Tutors is EduNation Ltd's first consumer website and is the UK's leading tutor-matching service. It is listed in The Good Schools Guide to parents as a recommended place to find a private tutor.

Big Chip Award For InfoLab21 Associate eBusiness UK

Associate Company of InfoLab21 eBusiness UK Ltd won a Big Chip award for the Best Use of Search for their work for the firm RU Comfy. Managing Director Kam Kothia said: "To be recognised by your peers is a big boost for our staff and we're delighted. The advice and support we've got from the University has made a definite improvement, especially from a team of high calibre MBA students who came in and made recommendations on how we could improve some aspects of our delivery processes."

InfoLab21 Students Scoop Vodafone & Nokia Competition

InfoLab21 students have taken first and third place in an international mobile web technology competition. Initiated by Vodafone Betavine and sponsored by Forum Nokia, the WidSets Challenge 2008 was open to students from all universities, polytechnics and colleges across the world. It aims to encourage student innovation in mobile Web 2.0 technologies by providing a showcase for their ideas and working models.

Lancashire Investment Panel 'Excellent'

InfoLab21 Associate Company, Charter Solutions launched its first Lancashire Investment Panel last week to help growing companies access the right kind of finance. InfoLab21 resident Mark Robinson said "Some excellent advice came out of this on future routes to market and the panel put it all very succinctly. They looked from the outside in which was great." Following its success the organisers are now looking forward to the next Lancashire Investment Panel session, lined up for 4th September.

Upcoming ICT Cluster Meetings

Kendal: Tuesday 22nd July 2008, 1800-1930, Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria

Blackpool & Fylde: Wednesday 6th August 2008, 1730-1900, Digital and Creative Business Centre, Blackpool

Communicating With The Next Generation

Dr. Paul Coulton from the Communication Systems Department at InfoLab21 spoke at Nokia’s S60 Summit ’08 in Barcelona, last month about how young people are using technology differently from the rest of us and what this could mean for developers and business in the future.

Universities Join The Fight To Protect Children Online

Computer experts are now harnessing new developments in language analysis to identify paedophiles posing as children in online chat rooms, to pick up on their vocabulary choices and trail them as they move around the internet. Computing experts at Lancaster, Swansea and Middlesex Universities have joined forces with specialist UK law enforcement to develop tools to identify paedophiles masquerading as children in online chat rooms.

InfoLab21 Schools Interaction

Science and Technology Taster Day

Wednesday 2nd July 2008, 0945-1500, Lancaster University

The Departments of Computing and Communication Systems at InfoLab21 will be taking part in the Faculty of Science and Technology's annual summer Taster Day. The day will give year 12 students an idea of University life and what it's like to study science and technology subjects.

Teachers' Day: Computer Animation & Effect

Monday 23rd June 2008, InfoLab21

Due to the success of the events in January & October 07 we are pleased to be able to repeat this opportunity. The aim of the full-day workshop is to introduce teachers to how ICT is perceived and taught in the Department of Communication Systems at Lancaster University's InfoLab21.

InfoLab21 Researchers Feature In International Media

Following this year's NFC Forum Competition in Monaco, research conducted by the Computing Department's Multitag project featured in a video on the Euronews Channel. It featured a 30 second prototype of their project. Their research on Touch Technology was also featured on 'Click', a BBC technology programme in a recent feature on NFC.

Training Courses Coming Up At ICT Focus

MS3938: Updating Your Skills from Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 /2003 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 (about)
7th-9th July 2008, £450.00

MS2261/62: Microsoft Certified Support Technician (MCDST) (about)
28th July 2008 - 1 August 2008, £750.00
This is the last time we will be running this version of the course, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

ICT Focus's course fees are VAT exempt . Discounts are available to InfoLab21 Associate Companies. For further details, please call 01524 510425/7 or go to our website:

Innovation in SMEs

Tuesday 24th June 2008, Lancaster University Management School

This session from Lancaster University Management School will look at innovation from the perspective of an SME and will examine innovation in process, product, and positioning. Speakers Professor Mary Rose and Mike Parsons will draw on your experiences to illustrate how these can promote growth and will introduce techniques you can apply to your business.

Queen's Awards For Enterprise

Thursday 26th June 2008, 1730-1930, Daresbury Science And Innovation Centre

A chance to meet staff and seek advice about entering next year's prestigious Queen's Awards. Previous NorthWest winners will also be available to talk about the benefits the Award has brought them.

Sizzle: Marketing For Creative Businesses

19th June 2008, 6.30-9pm, Revolution Bar, Lancaster
This month, Sizzle presents an evening with Mike Rowe, Managing Director of 1000 Heads, experts in Word of Mouth marketing. The company provides brand intelligence and marketing services to a wide range of clients including STA Travel, 3 Mobile, Porsche, Tesco, and Nokia. Mike is followed by Joe Yates from JP74. Joe will lead a practical session and present case studies on how to use the internet to engage and respond to both current and potential clients and increase your fan base.

Digital Communications For Intelligent Transport Systems

Thursday 3rd July 2008, 0900-1600, BERR Conference Centre, London

The Intelligent Transport Services and Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) have joined forces to organise a workshop to facilitate the exchange of knowledge between their respective communities. The aim of this workshop is to bring together industry, academic and government representatives from both communities to explore Digital Communications technologies and networks in the context of emerging ITS applications.