NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 18 November
18-11-2008
by Deirdre McArdle
Datalex thriving in tough conditions | HP beats expectations
Irish travel software firm Datalex has posted revenue for the four months to the end of October of USD11.3 million, compared to USD9.6 million in the year-ago period. Datalex said the strong dollar had a positive impact on its results and that it expected a further improvement in its performance next year. The firm is basing this expectation on the strong US dollar and the fall in oil prices, which was giving airlines 'breathing space' to invest in IT infrastructure.
Despite the tough economic conditions, PC giant Hewlett-Packard posted a solid set of results for its quarter ending 31 October. The firm recorded a 19 percent rise in revenue to USD33.6 billion (excluding HP's acquisition of Electronic Data Systems, the rise is 5 percent). Wall Street had been expecting revenue of USD33.09 billion. Earnings per share for the quarter (including USD0.19 per share in acquisition-related costs) increased from USD0.81 to USD0.84 per share. HP expects its positive results to continue; for the next quarter the PC giant expects per-share earnings excluding items of USD0.93 to USD0.95 on revenue of USD32 billion to USD32.5 billion. Analysts expected a prediction of USD0.93 earnings per share on revenue of USD33.73 billion.
Sixty percent of people surveyed by IBM in a global study said they use social networking, while 40 percent said they have subscribed to internet data plans with their mobile operator. The survey focused on consumer digital media and entertainment habits. Over three-quarters (76 percent) said they have watched videos on their PC, a huge jump from the 27 percent who said they watched online videos last year. Interestingly, for both PC and mobile video, over 70 percent of respondents said they would prefer advertising-supported models as opposed to consumer-paid models. IBM says this represents a "huge growth opportunity for industry". "Consumers have grown accustomed to accessing new forms of content through alternative sources, such as online video and video-on-demand, at no cost to them -- no fee, with very limited advertising shown," said Saul Berman, Global Lead Partner, Strategy & Change Consulting, IBM Global Business Services.
Sensor technology developed by Limerick-based EpiSensor will be used by the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in an Antarctic expedition. The expedition will be led by polar explorer Pat Falvey, a team of scientists and transition year students, who will conduct a wide-ranging research programme into aspects of Antarctic climate and wildlife. The team will use EpiSensor devices to take constant measurements of sea and air temperatures as well as water salinity. Among the equipment they are bringing with them are EpiSensor ZigBee temperature probes, which have been designed to operate in temperatures as low as -40 degrees C. The team aims to measure changes in climate by comparing the readings to previous readings taken by research stations in the Antarctic.
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has launched the final of the First Lego League (FLL) interactive robotics challenge for young people. The competition is designed to introduce children aged between 9 and 16 to the fun of solving real-world problems by applying maths, science and technology. Eighteen schools from across Northern Ireland are taking part in the challenge to design, build and programme a winning robot that must perform a series of set tasks linked to the theme of 'Climate Connections'. The winning team will take part in the UK and Republic of Ireland final and may proceed to the World Festival in the US.
The Health Informatics Society of Ireland (HISI) has announced that it will launch the first Irish register of health informatics professionals this week. Health informatics deals with the practical application of computing and communications technology in healthcare. Currently less than 1,000 dedicated ICT staff out of approximately 160,000 are working in healthcare in Ireland. HISI said this lack of skilled resources is a real barrier to the use of ICT. I-CHIP, the Irish Council for Health Informatics Professions, will provide a register and classification of health informatics professionals in Ireland. It aims to advance the application of informatics in the health sector, and to uphold and improve the standards of qualifications and competence in informatics.
Minister of State Sean Power has unveiled the upgraded Intel Computer Clubhouse Network facility in the Liberties area of Dublin. The Clubhouse is part of a network of community-based clubhouses around the world which provide thousands of young people with the resources and skills needed to improve their understanding and usage of technology. "We can all play a positive role -- whether it is showing someone how easy a computer is to use or explaining what can be done on the internet. I hope that the young people who are availing of the opportunities at the Computer Clubhouse will share their skills with others, thus spreading the benefits what they are learning here," said Minister Power.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 