InfoTextX

Welcome to the February issue of InfoTextX – the e-newsletter from the Knowledge Business Centre at InfoLab21, aimed at keeping you informed about developments inside InfoLab21 and other news which we hope will be of interest to you. If you would like to contribute news items to future editions of InfoTextX and our website, or know someone else who would like to receive this InfoTextX please contact the editor – Amanda Ross - at a.ross@lancaster.ac.uk

Technology Matters Event

Wednesday 7th March 2007, 0900-1200

In addition to the Graduate Academy, the next Technology Matters event will also feature the Accelerator Program (a joint initiative with Lancaster University Management Schools’ IEED which offers a unique opportunity for technology-led companies in eligible areas of Cumbria and Lancashire to access a range of specialist support to assist in their business’s development) and the Partner Program (aimed at developing a two way relationship between InfoLab21 and our partners to maximize support for business development in the region).

To register for the event contact Business Development Officers:

Nick King or Colin McLaughlin
01524 510447/3

Join IT! Associate Company Scheme

Take advantage of search engine optimisation benefits and become an official Associate of InfoLab21. You can find an overview of the benefits in the Associate Company Scheme section of the InfoLab21 website, view profiles of some of the Associate Companies, or send us your own company profile to add. Each new Associate profile will be featured in InfoTextX and on our website which will increase your search engine ranking. Associates can include their events and success stories in InfoTextX.

New Associate Company: Anim8 Films Ltd

This Award Winning company specialise in Corporate Film Production such as Health & Safety, Induction and Promotional films. Their areas of expertise include Film Production, 3D, 2D and Stop Motion Animation, Special FX, Interactive Multimedia, Graphic Design and Print.

New Associate Company: Connections Recruitment Ltd

With a wealth of experience Connections has developed into a company that provides a range of tailored recruitment services to meet the challenges of today's business and technology patterns.

New Associate Profile: Lunar

Lunar Multimedia Ltd, (aka John Hamlett) is based in the Lune Valley and has been specialising in media rich interactive projects since 1996 for clients all over the UK. Most of Lunar's clients are multimedia, design and marketing companies who contract Lunar for it's specialities: Multimedia Design & Development and Video Production & Motion Graphics.

Advance IT - Free Networking Support

The KBC has successfully secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund for the next 18 months in order to deliver a wide range of IT support. This now includes focussed networking advice ranging from disaster recovery to development of wireless and mobile solutions.

Experience IT Free Support for Businesses

InfoLab21 is seeking companies with potential IT projects for MSc graduates and final year undergraduates, for both the Computing and Communication Systems Departments.

Europe Looks To InfoLab21 For Best Practice

InfoLab21 has been included as a case study in Knowledge Society at the Best Practice IV Conference in Graz, Austria.

The case study is now available online along with other Best Practice projects and details about the conference.

British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference 2007

Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th April 2007, at the QEll Conference Centre, London SW1.

Bringing together senior representatives from British business, local Chambers of Commerce, business support agencies and government, this convention provides an ideal opportunity to engage with businesses of all sizes. Isues include how national Government policy is affecting local businesses and the role of business in local and regional development.

For further information or booking contact Natasha Wildman on 020 7324 4357 or e-mail info@chamberconference.com.

Are You A Photologger Or A Photolurker?

InfoLab21 researchers Haliyana Khalid and Professor Alan Dix are investigating the curious world of photolurking – a growing phenomenon thrown up by the boom in online photo albums. Photolurkers are silent, usually anonymous visitors on photologs who flick through online albums but choose not to leave any messages behind in the optional message boards.

Photolog websites have enabled people to post up their pictures for the world to see. Private images have become public property and it seems we are becoming a nation of snoopers.

Lancaster Hosts Blue-Chip Innovation Conference

Seventy-five business leaders from blue-chip firms have attended the “Business-University Partnerships: A Driving Force for Innovation” conference at Lancaster University. The conference was organised by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in partnership with QinetiQ, one of the world's leading defence technology and security companies.

Lancaster is one of 12 universities preferred by QinetiQ as a partner in collaborative programmes to apply new academic scientific and technological discoveries to defence, other areas of government and commercial sectors.

City Women Get Down To Business

Businesswomen in the Lancaster district now have their own forum for business and personal development, with the launch of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Network. More than 60 of Lancaster's leading business women gathered at Lancaster House Hotel last month for a lunchtime presentation by personal development trainer, Sarah Thurstan of Performance Link.

For more information about the network and to find out details of the next event, ring the chamber on 01524 389505.

Podcast Update

InfoLab21 podcasts have been updated to play even faster- if you haven’t yet seen them, go to:

Action Learning Sets For SMEs

The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development is running Action Learning Sets which bring six or seven business people together to share knowledge, experiences and ideas in a confidential and trusting group of like-minded people.
For more information contact Laurie Smith on 01524 510718 or l.d.smith@lancaster.ac.uk.

Is Your Website Breaking The Law?

The new Companies Act 2006 came into force on January 1 2007. It requires all companies to include their company registration number, place of registration and registered office address on its website. The information, which must be clearly legible, should also appear on order forms and in emails. To find out about how to get assistance with your website including information about making your website W3C compliant contact:

Nick King or Colin McLaughlin
01524 510447/3

Up to £25k Available For Northwest TV Companies

Funding is now available for northwest based television producers; companies operating in a multi or cross platform environment for whom broadcast television is a key part of their business; and joint ventures between established broadcast producers and games, new media or interactive companies. 

New Tools Make File-Sharing Easier

Microsoft has released tools that should make it much easier for users to share and save text-based files.
Working with three partners Microsoft has released a translation program that converts Word documents into more "open" formats.