IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 9 April
09-04-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Engineers call for maths-teaching change | MAXroam is first to sell iPad SIMs
The Irish Times reports that the Data Protection Commissioner has said people should be allowed to refuse direct text messages, e-mails or phone calls from election candidates. The Commissioner's office received "a large number" of complaints about unsolicited messages in the run-up to the local elections last June but was unable to investigate them because they are exempt under the law. Under the Data Protection Acts, the definition of 'direct marketing' is "direct mailing other than direct mailing carried out in the course of political activities by a political party or its members, or a body established by or under statute, or a candidate for election to, or a holder of, elective political office".
The paper also says that scientists need to become better at emphasising the downsides of technological development, according to Robert Winston, professor of science and society and emeritus professor of fertility studies at Imperial College, London. Prof Winston told an audience at the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin that there were downsides to any technology that are never recognised when it is first introduced. He also noted that while science does not have a credibility problem, scientists do need to get better at communicating ideas.
The paper also notes that Engineers Ireland has welcomed the Minister for Education's support for bonus CAO points for honours maths, but says the method of teaching the subject must also change. John Power, director general of Engineers Ireland, said the problems around maths were complex and required fundamental changes to curriculum and teaching methodologies. There should be a requirement for teachers to have specific education qualifications in maths and the sciences to teach the subjects, as well as tax breaks for teacher retraining, and greater resources should be put into the Project Maths initiative, he said.
The same paper says that interactive barcodes that link to additional content when photographed by a smartphone are to be launched in Ireland by ad firm Digital Reach Group (DRG) next week. The technology, provided by US company ScanBuy, will be used first by freesheet Metro Herald to offer readers links to more information on its articles and adverts.
The paper also reports that Irish firms are at a disadvantage when making decisions because managers are relying on 'gut feeling' instead of employing analytical skills, according to new research by Accenture. The study said senior managers have limited access to enterprise-wide data and analytical talent, hindering their ability to make decisions and preventing them from gaining insight that could deliver better results. Siloed data, outdated technology and a lack of skilled staff are contributing to the problem, with 45 percent saying data is kept in isolated parts of their organisation, and 52 percent confirming it is kept separate from staff with the skills to analyse it.
The paper also notes that mobile operator Meteor has introduced limited free internet access for pre-pay customers. Customers on its new 'Smart Plans' can get 250MB of free browsing a month. The offer is available for pre-pay customers until 31 July. To avail of it, customers must ensure they top up their account by at least EUR20 every month.
The Irish Independent says that Irish telco MAXroam has become the first company in the world to sell the special SIM cards required for Apple's new iPad. MAXroam trumped giants such as Vodafone and O2 by announcing on Thursday that it will make the SIMs and data plans available globally when the 3G iPad goes on sale later this month. Buyers of the new 3G iPad, which is not locked to any network, will need a new micro-sized SIM, which is not yet available.
The Financial Times says that Apple has launched a war with Google over mobile advertising as it announced its own iAd network for the iPhone. Apple chief Steve Jobs said Google's search-based ads were not the future for mobile devices because users tend to spend their time inside apps rather than browsing the web. Apple will launch its iAd network on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad later this year. Under the new ad network, Apple would host ads within apps and pass on 60 percent of the revenues to the app's developers.
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