IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 1 December
01-12-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Accenture to create new Irish jobs | Telegraph to charge for online news
The Irish Times reports on the launch of a new book that says learning to use maths is like becoming fluent in a language. Retired Trinity College maths lecturer Dr Sara McMurry has come up with a novel way to learn and also teach mathematics, saying that once you know the vocabulary and structure of the subject, you can start to express yourself. The book came about because Dr McMurry and her colleagues had noticed that incoming undergraduates were struggling to use any maths learned in secondary school. The book, 'Mathematics as a Language, Understanding and Using Maths', was launched at the Science Gallery at TCD on Tuesday.
The paper also reports that consulting firm Accenture is to create 100 jobs over the next four years at a new centre in Ireland dedicated to predictive analytics, the use of statistics to help businesses forecast future revenues. The new jobs will take Accenture's workforce in Ireland to 1,400. Brian McCarthy, executive director of Accenture Analytics, said the company had begun the recruitment process for the high-level research jobs, which will be filled by graduate to PhD-level candidates with a background in statistics, data management and related disciplines.
The paper also notes that EU regulators have started a formal antitrust inquiry into Google over allegations the search engine giant abused its dominant position. The in-depth investigation by European competition commissioner Joaquín Almunia, following complaints from rival search engine operators, comes after a 10-month preliminary inquiry. It relates to Google's operations throughout Europe and is likely to proceed for several months. The commission will investigate whether Google has abused a dominant market position by "allegedly lowering the ranking of unpaid search results of competing services which are specialised in providing users with specific online content such as price comparisons . . . and by according preferential placement to the results of its own . . . services," the EU executive said.
The Irish Independent notes that JP Morgan will give its investment bankers Apple iPads to use as a mobile tool. "We believe there are real benefits in our working environment that can be realised using this device," said two managing directors at JP Morgan.
According to the Financial Times, the Telegraph Media Group is to draw up plans to charge for some online news content next year. "The final decision has not been made, but it will not be an impregnable paywall like the Times. It will be a metered system or, less likely, micropayments," said a source. Another person closely concerned with the change in policy said it was not inconsistent with the Telegraph's past approach, adding: "We never said never to paying for content. It is a process of evolution." With regard to timing, the first person said the payment system was unlikely to be introduced before next summer, but said "it will be in 2011."
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is in talks to buy local deals site Groupon, according to sources. Groupon's board of directors will meet by conference call on Wednesday to decide how to proceed, according to one person familiar with the situation. The possible offer price "is a big number,'' this person said. Such a deal would put Google in the position of selling directly to internet users -- in this case, coupons for local retailers -- and boost its standing in the race for local business ad revenue, a market that is expected to grow rapidly.
In more news of Google, the paper says the internet giant is in the final stages of launching its long-awaited e-book retailing venture, Google Editions. The long-delayed venture has recently cleared several technical and legal hurdles, sources say. It is set to debut in the US by the end of the year and internationally in the first quarter of next year. Google Editions hopes to shake up the existing e-book market by offering an open, "read anywhere" model that is different from many competitors. Users will be able to buy books directly from Google or from multiple online retailers and add them to an online library tied to a Google account. They will be able to access their Google accounts on most devices with a web browser.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 