IT innovation, research and development

CW ASEAN: Dive into microservices

Microservices has become a buzzword linked with digital transformation, but it is no magic bullet for development woes. In this edition of CW ASEAN, we uncover the state of adoption of microservices in ASEAN and what needs to be in place for enterprises to get the most out of the technology. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Vodafone and IBM prep user clouds for future network tech

Companies expand existing collaboration to enable enterprise customers to prepare for the impact of advanced networking technologies Continue Reading

Where next for AI? Understanding business use cases

IT leaders share their views on artificial intelligence and how to take advantage of the technology to benefit their businesses Continue Reading

Swedish state and industry back autonomous vehicle testing facility

AstaZero facility will “road-test” next-generation 5G and digital innovations to support the development of self-driving cars and other vehicles Continue Reading

Let’s take back control, unless we have to get up

Mobile phone recycling comparison site Recyclezone has put together the findings of a survey that asked which household tasks Brits were most keen to palm off on smart technology, and you don’t ... Continue Reading

Davos: World leaders need to grasp future technological risks

Technological advancement is both a benefit and risk to society, but often the risks are not identified until they are exploited Continue Reading

UK financial services regulator to link top banker bonuses to IT performance

FCA head tells Commons Treasury committee: “We expect banks’ policies on variable remuneration to reflect operational resilience. They have to – if they don’t, we will act.” Continue Reading

Digital transformation is real, say ASEAN CIOs

ASEAN CIOs are embracing digital transformation but face barriers in getting employees to adopt an agile mindset Continue Reading

A very digital plan for the NHS

The NHS Long Term Plan aims to empower people through the use of technology and create a digital-first NHS, offering virtual outpatient appointments, digital GP consultations and improved cyber security. But how and when will the government achieve this? Continue Reading

CIO interview: Darren Curry, CDO, NHS Business Services Authority

NHS Business Services Authority chief digital officer Darren Curry talks about using technology to change people’s lives, developing accessible services and transforming the health service Continue Reading

Microsoft takes community approach to artificial intelligence in Sweden

Microsoft is making increasing use of artificial intelligence in Sweden as it shares experiences with the development community Continue Reading

RSC and Science Museum to lead future audience AR/VR demos

Organisations including the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum will take part in a series of government-backed demonstrators creating immersive experiences for audiences of the future Continue Reading

UK firms say £6.6bn annual security testing cost too high

Avord launches platform to reduce the multibillion-pound annual cyber security testing cost that most UK firms say is too high Continue Reading

Enterprises are increasing the human workforce while deploying AI

Artificial intelligence is creating more jobs than it replaces, according to a study of businesses using the technology Continue Reading

CW Middle East: Bahrain aims to be fintech hub

Bahrain’s government wants to make the country the go-to place in the Middle East for financial technology companies. It hopes to capitalise on its banking know-how to establish an ambitious fintech “ecosystem”. Also read about Dubai’s plans for the Smart Data platform and the UAE Pass, a digital ID and signature, and how Shell is using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce. Continue Reading

No way, Osé

This year’s CES organisers have succeeded in preserving every male tech nerd stereotype by crumbling over a small reminder that real vaginas exist. The Osé personal massager’s upcoming innovation ... Continue Reading

Banking apps overtake online banking

Mobile apps are the most popular channel for banking as consumers swap online platforms for smartphone software Continue Reading

Second Lorca cohort to focus on supply chain security

The second cohort of companies to benefit from the new London cyber innovation centre will focus on user-centric security and securing supply chains Continue Reading

A very digital plan for the NHS

The NHS Long Term Plan aims to empower people through the use of technology and create a digital-first NHS, offering virtual outpatient appointments, digital GP consultations and improved cyber security. But how and when will the government achieve this? Continue Reading

Exxon joins IBM’s quantum committee as Q System One goes commercial

The Q System One is said to be the world’s first commercial quantum computer. ExxonMobil and CERN hope to exploit IBM’s latest tech Continue Reading

CES 2019: Here plugs Alexa into in-car navigation service

Here, the former Nokia mapping unit now owned by a consortium of German carmakers, is to integrate Amazon Alexa with its navigation and location services Continue Reading

Technology innovation in music

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we visit the first hackathon at Abbey Road Studios, once home to The Beatles, to find out how tech startups hope to revolutionise music creation. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the technologies and benefits of perimeterless network security. And we look ahead to the key CIO skills and jobs trends for 2019. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

First 5G smartphones may have massive price premium

Android smartphone brands are already preparing to launch their first 5G handsets, but new technical requirements means they won’t be cheap to build, according to analysts at TrendForce Continue Reading

NHS Long-Term Plan to bring health service into the digital age

The long-term plan to transform the NHS by using Theresa May’s £20.5bn-a-year birthday present promises use of artificial intelligence, genomic testing and digital GP appointments for all Continue Reading

Huawei debuts Arm-based chip, eyes broader server market

Huawei’s Kunpeng 920 processor is geared towards big data and infrastructure applications, marking its foray into Arm-based servers that are set to change the dynamics of the datacentre market Continue Reading

JP Morgan looks for someone to lead its blockchain developments

Bank seeks executive to take on blockchain role, with responsibility for creating technology to solve business challenges Continue Reading

Hancock promises GP IT overhaul

New £450m framework will “shake up” primary care IT by getting rid of old systems, using new standards and exploring moving patient data to the cloud, says health secretary Continue Reading

Guide dogs not fazed by self-driving robots

Robotics startup Starship Technologies and charity Guide Dogs are collaborating on a series of tests exploring how service animals interact with robots Continue Reading

Nordic digital transformation driven by traditional businesses

More traditional Nordic businesses are fuelling the region's digital transformation, finds report Continue Reading

Can we live without passwords?

Can you imagine a future in which we can be secure online without having to remember an unwieldly list of passwords? Solutions are emerging that could make passwords redundant, but there will be other security problems to resolve Continue Reading

Top 10 mobile stories of 2018

As 5G moves from theory to practical reality, we look back at Computer Weekly’s biggest mobile stories from the past 12 months Continue Reading

Top 10 HR technology stories of 2018

Companies are turning to artificial intelligence, robotic automation and chatbots to take the drudgery out of human resource management Continue Reading

Top 10 Middle East stories of 2018

Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 Middle East enterprise IT stories of 2018 Continue Reading

Top 10 public sector IT stories of 2018

In the year the UK government couldn’t decide if Brexit really meant Brexit, departments continued to struggle with the workload of EU exit technology projects, the chancellor’s budget promised lots of money for tech, and ministers played musical chairs Continue Reading

Top 10 NHS IT stories of 2018

In 2018, the NHS celebrated its 70th birthday, NHS Digital began a huge restructure, Matt Hancock swooped in as new health secretary and the health service launched its all-singing, all-dancing app Continue Reading

Top 10 Benelux IT stories of 2018

From cyber security planning to smart city initiatives, here is a selection of articles about IT developments in the Benelux countries Continue Reading

Ancient Britain comes to life at Bath’s 5G testbed

The West of England Combined Authority is running a 5G Smart Tourism project at Bath’s world-famous Roman spa Continue Reading

Vodafone spreads Christmas cheer with a 4G drone

Vodafone has conducted a test flight of the UK’s first drone delivery controlled over its 4G network Continue Reading

Mobile security needs a rethink for the 5G era

A report released through the government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme has recommended the UK rethink its mobile security strategy Continue Reading

HSBC taking data analysis service to business customers

HSBC is upping its search for artificial intelligence expertise as it takes a data analytics service to its business customers Continue Reading

UKtech50 2018 – the most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly has announced the ninth annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK IT sector Continue Reading

The 50 most influential people in UK IT 2018

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we reveal our annual UKtech50 list of the most influential people in UK IT. We talk to this year’s winner, HM Revenue & Customs chief digital and information officer Jacky Wright, about the challenges of government IT during Brexit and the changing role of the CIO. And we examine the issues around upgrading SAP’s ERP system to S/4 Hana. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CIO trends for 2019

Harvey Nash’s CIO practice director shares her prediction on CIO trends for 2019, which include a growing demand for new technology skills, innovation and customer-focused initiatives Continue Reading

Autonomous submersible, Arggonauts, uses Dell for remote data processing

Getting data to the sea floor is near impossible in the deep sea because there is no GPS and no quick way to communicate with the surface Continue Reading

CIO interview: Mayank Prakash, CDIO, DWP

Outgoing DWP chief digital and information officer Mayank Prakash looks at challenges and accomplishments during his time at the department, and talks about finishing the roll out of Universal Credit Continue Reading

CW Europe: Russia banks on electronic payments

A recent study by Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-run lender, shows the country has experienced a cashless payment boom over the past decade. Also read about the attempt by four Russians to break into the networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, and why the Estonian government is directly targeting IT professionals in the UK. Continue Reading

Sberbank partners US accelerator for startup programme

Russian state-run bank links up with San Francisco-based accelerator 500 Startups to provide expert advice to startups in a variety of tech fields Continue Reading

UKtech50 2018 – the most influential people in UK IT

Computer Weekly has announced the ninth annual UKtech50 – our definitive list of the movers and shakers in the UK IT sector Continue Reading

UKtech50 2018: Women are making their mark

Women are making strong progress in the UK technology industry, with seven of the top 10 on Computer Weekly’s UKtech50 list being female Continue Reading

UKtech50 interview: Jacky Wright, CDIO, HMRC

The UKtech50’s most influential person in UK IT 2018, HM Revenue and Customs’ chief digital and information officer, Jacky Wright, on balancing priorities, leveraging new technologies and the changing role of the CIO Continue Reading

Finland’s IT sector recovers after break-up of Nokia

Finnish government plays vital role in helping IT sector recover from the shock of Microsoft taking over the country’s biggest company Continue Reading

Manchester’s evolution from rag trade to digital hub

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we visit Manchester to examine the city’s expanding digital and e-commerce industry and find out the key to tech sector growth in the former home of the UK rag trade. We look at the challenges of IT security in the quantum computing age. And we talk to Bloomberg’s CTO about tech innovation, machine learning and blockchain. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Councils awarded funding for digital innovation projects

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government digital innovation fund awarded to a range of projects, including chatbots, artificial intelligence and town planning transformation Continue Reading

Finnish government announces research and development ecosystem

Finland has launched an innovation ecosystem that will support IoT and AI developers amongst others Continue Reading

Douglas Engelbart, the forgotten hero of modern computing

Half a century ago, Douglas Engelbart demonstrated an experimental computer that laid the foundations for modern computing. His vision to use computing power to solve complex problems in all areas of human activity has become reality, but not in the way that he imagined Continue Reading

UK can do more to explore potential of quantum tech

The government has been urged to address use cases, security and skills, and proposed a series of new innovation centres, to enable the UK to fully capture the opportunity presented by quantum technology Continue Reading

Australia races towards commercial quantum computing

Universities make headway in the challenge of commercialising quantum computing Continue Reading

GovTech Catalyst Fund awards contracts to five SMEs to tackle rural isolation and loneliness

Five small tech companies have been awarded contracts through the GovTech Catalyst Fund to come up with innovative solutions to rural isolation and loneliness Continue Reading

Zopa gains banking licence and prepares launch

Peer-to-peer lending pioneer Zopa is turning its attention to retail banking in the UK, with plans to offer savings, credit and money management products Continue Reading

Lloyds to use core banking technology from Google-inspired UK fintech

Banking group explores cloud-based core banking technology as part of a major transformation programme Continue Reading

CIO interview: Theo Blackwell, London chief digital officer, Mayor of London’s Office

After more than a year in post, London’s chief digital officer reflects on changes, collaboration between boroughs and developing a smart city Continue Reading

UK cyber security strategy making ‘good progress’

The National Cyber Security Strategy is making good progress, but there is much left to be done, according to a Cabinet Office official Continue Reading

Danish government launches wide-ranging digital services project

Denmark's government has launched an ambitious project to digitise and automate public services Continue Reading

Health and care must prepare for a digital world, says Scotland’s digital director

Challenges include dealing with ethical questions, data and collaboration needs in a digital environment, says Scottish government’s Colin Cook Continue Reading

Scottish Government and Nesta launch health data challenge

Partnership between the Scottish Government and Nesta will see funding available for innovative projects driving the use of technology to give citizens access to data and help them live healthier lives Continue Reading

More effective digital transformation through the power of your own people

The old model of escalating decisions up and down the management chain does not work any more. Business leaders need to delegate responsibility for projects to business and technology specialists and eliminate the fear of failure Continue Reading

FCA deeply concerned as no end in sight for IT failures in banking

The FCA has reported a massive increase in the number of banking IT failures in the UK and admitted there is no end in sight Continue Reading

Nordic IT network attracting big brands as well as startups

Tech Nordic Advocates is now seen as the go-to place for access to the Nordic tech startup sector Continue Reading

China leapfrogs US in supercomputer deployments

China has more than twice the number of supercomputers than the US, and it is finding a ready market for its Lenovo supercomputers among US tech companies in Ireland, the latest top 500 supercomputer list reveals Continue Reading

Hamburg has ambitions to be a virtual reality hub

The German city of Hamburg is setting itself up as a potential hub for virtual reality startups Continue Reading

IKEA to focus on digitisation and convenience shopping

Swedish furniture brand IKEA will be cutting jobs and focusing on smaller stores and its digital pipeline in a bid to usher in a new era of business transformation Continue Reading

CW Nordics: Swedish IT sector advises on election security

The security measures assembled and implemented around the 2018 election in Sweden were devised in consultation with leading actors within the country’s private IT sector. Also read about how Denmark’s ambition to become a leading ocation for hyperscale datacentres is gaining momentum, and why Estonia wants to recruit IT professionals from the UK. Continue Reading

TechUK calls on Matt Hancock to fast-track NHS digitisation

The tech industry body’s ‘Manifesto for Matt’ calls on the health secretary to focus on empowering citizens, enabling a world-class workforce and making the UK the number one place for health tech innovation Continue Reading

IBM pushes boundaries of AI, but insists companies take an ethical approach

Researchers at IBM are pushing the boundaries of what artificial intelligence and machine learning can do, but remain wary of the ethical implications that accompany the proliferation of this technology Continue Reading

CIO interview: Graham Evans, CITO, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s chief information and technology officer talks about joining up health and care, the importance of keeping up to date with technology, and why trying to deliver perfection won’t work Continue Reading

How Singapore Airlines is flying the digital skies

Top Asian carrier Singapore Airlines has been building a digital foundation to fend off potential disruption, but it is not just the IT team that is leading the charge Continue Reading

CDO interview: Aidan Millar, DNB

Norwegian bank hires chief data officer to lead its data-driven transformation Continue Reading

Top IT predictions in APAC in 2019

Edge computing, data management and microservices will play a bigger role in the Asia-Pacific region in 2019 as enterprises reshape their technology architectures to become ‘digitally determined’ organisations Continue Reading

Post Office executives cross-examined in Horizon IT system trial

A High Court trial, where subpostmasters are suing the Post Office for damages caused by an allegedly faulty IT system, ended its second week. Continue Reading

An overview of deep learning tools

As AI and deep learning matures, we look at advanced tools that enable developers to start building sophisticated, intelligent applications Continue Reading

Challenger bank ready to get its banking licence back

CivilisedBank is reapplying for a banking licence after giving it up to focus on its technology Continue Reading

CIO interview: Barry Libenson, global CIO, Experian

Experian’s global CIO has worked to change the company’s IT set-up from a “free for all”, taking a standardised approach to development, infrastructure and platforms Continue Reading

Microsoft’s Xiaoice chatbot is now designing textile patterns

Software giant claims the design knowhow of its popular AI chatbot is a breakthrough in the field of image-based creation Continue Reading

Home Office to use smartphone ID for EU Exit scheme

The Home Office will use smartphone digital identity verification to support applications for the government’s EU Exit Settlement Scheme   Continue Reading

GCHQ offers help to embryonic Irish cyber security organisation

Ciaran Martin head of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, builds bridges with the Republic of Ireland's intelligence community during an official visit to Dublin Continue Reading

Businesses can no longer neglect IT if they want to remain competitive

Businesses lack IT leaders with the skills and resources needed to promote innovation and change in the context of technological upheaval Continue Reading

How Hive balances platform stability with innovation

The smart home thermostat division of British Gas has made developers fully responsible for supporting and monitoring the code they deploy Continue Reading

Welsh NHS IT programme is ‘outdated’ and could put patients at risk, report finds

Welsh Public Accounts Committee is concerned the country’s outdated NHS IT systems are putting patients at risk, and found the culture at NHS Wales Informatics Service is the ‘antithesis of open’ Continue Reading

M&S admits online remit “well behind” competitors

Food and clothing retailer Marks and Spencer has admitted its website and online fulfillment capabilities are behind that of its competitors, but it is seeing progress since implementing changes Continue Reading

Self-driving cars may have to break law, says Law Commission

Self-driving cars may have to break the rules of the road to operate safely, and the Law Commissions of England, Wales and Scotland are embarking on a consultation to seek input on how to manage this Continue Reading

CW Benelux: Bikes face scooter challenge in Netherlands

The concept of rental scooters is perfect for the Netherlands, where bicycles are already the most widely used method of transport. Scooter startups see the potential to apply the latest smart technologies to the concept, but regulations could be a barrier. Also in this issue, read how chatbots are taking off with Dutch organisations, with KLM's chatbot a pioneering example, and find out how Dutch bank ING is getting a financial boost from an employee performance management rethink. Continue Reading

Singapore’s SunMoon uses blockchain to trace apples

Fruit and vegetable distributor has implemented a blockchain platform that enables consumers and suppliers to trace the origin of Fuji apples – with other fruits to follow Continue Reading

DXC makes digital transformation push in Asia

IT services firm uses automation and AI to trim its portfolio and size as it helps customers on their digital transformation journey Continue Reading

Creativity will ensure humans won’t be left behind by tech, says Fujitsu president

Fujitsu’s president has claimed humans don’t need to be worried about automation because people and creativity will always be needed for innovation Continue Reading

Emerging govtech – a new opportunity for innovation in public service delivery?

The government has started to engage with the IT sector over how best to introduce emerging technologies in public service delivery – an initiative that, if successful, should be welcomed Continue Reading

CIO interview: Chris Barnicott, chief technology officer, SSE

Energy supplier’s CTO is driving innovation through AI, augmented reality and robotic process automation while still keeping the business running Continue Reading

BEIS to fund five healthcare AI innovation centres

Five healthcare innovation centres will receive a total of £50m in funding to use artificial intelligence to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases Continue Reading

Fujitsu powers forward with business restructure

Technology firm Fujitsu has announced a number of plans for restructuring its business, including the closing of its German manufacturing plant and a number of board resignations Continue Reading

Professor Brian Cox discusses aliens and the risks of tech advances

In an entertaining discussion at VMworld, Brian Cox raised questions over why technologically advanced societies don’t exist elsewhere in the universe Continue Reading

Introducing ‘focus and leverage’ – the value algorithm of the internet era

Anyone pitching a business idea or designing a new service needs to understand the economics of mature internet technology Continue Reading