http://www.codeworksconnect.net/forum CODEWORKS Connect is the trade association for digital businesses in the North East of England. en-GB ben.robinson@codeworks.net (Ben Robinson) ben.robinson@codeworks.net (Ben Robinson) March 15, 2007, 1:15 pm March 15, 2007, 1:15 pm 120 http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/templates/codeworks_connect/images/rss_feed.gif http://www.codeworksconnect.net/forum 41 44 http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=76540827519 A LEADING author and digital pioneer has attacked the latest phase of the internet - dubbed Web 2.0 - for having a `mob mentality.` Jaron Lanier, who popularised the virtual reality concept in the early 1980s, said that in rush to forge a new age of collectivism, we risk losing individual identities and dumbing down our understanding of the world. Speaking to BBC World Service's Culture Shock, he said his main problem is that in places like the blogosphere or online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, people no longer treat or respect each other as individuals. He said: "We have these designs on the internet where a whole bunch of people work together anonymously - a mob, in my opinion - in order to do something." Mr Lanier is among a small group leading a backlash against web 2.0 - the term coined to describe the latest internet era, in which collective ideas and participation take over from individual authorship. He singled out Wikipedia for particular criticism, saying that because those who participate do so anonymously, " you have no idea what knowledge any of them have." He also criticised particular news aggregator sites, in which millions anonymously review an online news article and rate it based on their opinion of how good an article it is. "The problem with that is that if you look at the result, you end up with trivial but amusing news stories as the headlines," he said. What do Connect members think of Mr Lainer's comments?Edited: 22nd February 2007, 02:33:00PMEdited: 22nd February 2007, 02:33:24PM Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:30:03 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=566030386 Does anybody have any recommendations for low cost (and successful) recruitment for experienced technical staff? We've been using reed.co.uk which is free but I wondered if anybody else had another proven method? Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:50:22 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=28453204082 What do members think of the current portfolio of member benefits - what do members want...?? Fri, 9 Feb 2007 9:27:46 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=49869652744 Hi,Can anybody recommend some good web sites that I can send PR and press releases to?We are looking for some regional exposure for a release that we will be making in early February. This will be relevant for North East business so we are looking for web sites that are focused at the region.Thanks,Ross Cooney Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:51:37 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=18278086744 As the voice of the digital industry in the North East we would be very interested in hearing your thoughts and concerns on public sector tendering. If you do have any concerns please post them on the forum and we will look to address them i.e. workshop / training...... Thu, 8 Feb 2007 12:26:57 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=14698410779 STEVE JOBS, the boss of Apple, has urged the world's largest record companies to begin selling music tracks online without copy protection software. In an open letter on the firm`s website, he said the abolition of copy protection software, known as digital rights management (DRM), would be good for consumers and music suppliers. The abolition of DRM would enable all MP3 users to access music from any online music store. Mr Jobs said that if DRM safeguards were dropped, Apple would be in a position to create a download system that could work with devices other than iPods, including Microsoft's recently launched Zune music player. And he called on the world's four biggest music labels - Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG Music and Warner Music - to begin selling their music catalogues without DRM restrictions. Shifting the blame? Apple, creator of the iPod, has been under pressure to make its iTunes music store compatible with other music players. Some EU member states, such as France, have already approved new laws that could force companies like Apple to share their digital technology with rivals. So is Mr Jobs simply pre-empting changes in the law by calling for DRM to be scrapped now? Some experts also argue that his statement is a convenient way of shifting the blame for using DRM from Apple onto the record companies. What do you think? What do you think of Mr Jobs` announcement? Do you think the scrapping of DRM is a good thing? Will it affect you personally? Professionally? Thu, 8 Feb 2007 11:44:38 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=40843283106 As Google has very recently made some alterations to its algorithm Codeworks Connect wondered if this has affected any of our members? Edited: 6th February 2007, 09:17:56AM Tue, 6 Feb 2007 9:17:28 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=16400226298 As a member of Codeworks Connect I would like to invite all of the other members to consider attending our next international technology and business partnering event - INTERTECH (Europe) 2007 - which will be held in The Netherlands (near Amsterdam) on the 21st and 22nd May.My company is helping to organise the event and has a great package to enable companies and businesses to participate in the event. Hopefully for under £500. We will organise for you 1 or 2 nights in Amsterdam, 1 or 2 nights in Lelystad, flights to Amsterdam from Newcastle and entry into the b2b cooperation event. You will be able to pre select (via the event website) upto 10 x face to face 30 minute appointments with the other event delegates. They have all registered because they are also looking for new international business contacts - customers and suppliers. So far there are 180 businesses from 18 countries pre registered to attend the event. 47 of them are in ICT.It gets better because for my fellow Codeworks members who are in the UKTI's 'Passport to Export' scheme you can also apply to get upto 50% of your costs of participating reimbursed. Check it out with your ITA or give me a call. You have very little to loose and much to gain. The event organisers are even offering a free trial period up to the 31st March where you can register your business profile and cooperation wishes on-line (a bit like a dating agency) and then see who takes a fancy to you and you can look at the other delegates and see if any of them may be interesting / useful to you and your business ! If you want to go on your own it will cost 95 euros to participate in the event (about £60)Please take a few minutes to check out the event by going to the website www.intertech2007.com and see for yourself who is registered to attend. So is anyone interested in a trip to Amsterdam in May ? Any suggestions of people I should talk to to make the event a success ?Any suggestions re good bars / restrurants in Amsterdam ?Phil Eadon Wed, 24 Jan 2007 18:17:27 GMT http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=9212922584 Connect is launching a mentoring scheme - do members have any strong ideas around the format or will be work?Edited: 30th November 2006, 01:15:42PM Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:23:21 BST http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=96427043993 Connect are now planning the members Xmas TAAD - suggestions around themes are welcome...... Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:20:06 BST http://crm.codeworksconnect.net/forum/viewtopic.php?do=output&id=60053077620 Do members want more TAAD's around a technical theme? Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:26:02 BST