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Her Majesty's Online Courts 19th February 2015 9:23 AM

From a completely non legal layman perspective, and from someone that spends a lot of time working with local authority and non profit organisations, I'm for anything that breathes efficiency using technology and making services more accessible.

So on paper or as a headline it sounds great. I've no doubt there are a million and one legal implications and questions which will properly keep the next generation of legal brains in work for years 

But from a technology point of view, large projects like this have a habit of being overly complex, poorly managed and unrealistically costed from the outset. This then leads to delayed launches, cost over runs, unresolved glitches due to increased pressure, and a negative image before it's even had a chance to bed in.

Any government project has the media breathing all over it every step of the way looking for anything that be squeezed into a headline or sensationalised from an out of context comment. 

Hopefully this will be well thought through, planned and managed. Assuming the legal arguments can be resolved, I think it's an obvious evolution of the legal system and a welcome overhaul bringing it into the 21st century.

I'm not so sure of references and pundit claims comparing it to paypal or ebay disputes are going to carry much favour, personally that will do more harm than good.

What does anyone else think?

Google Glass - now a shattered dream 18th February 2015 4:15 PM

Do I get a job a Sun headline writer?

The Google project which was called Glass was predicted by many to be the future of the internet, with the web projected in front you of via some techno goggles.

The concept was pretty good, look at an object and you can get more information, albeit text, web links, video, even augmented reality. Plus the ability to video on the fly.

But feedback from users was that the eyeware was buggy, problems with blue tooth and a major consideration, fashion! People just looked odd.

Then there was continual controversy of privacy issues as you walked around with the ability to film everyone and every thing, albeit with a terminator style blinking red light. 

So the Glass adventure has ended for now, you can no longer buy the $1500 glasses which must have stung a few people who shelled out, but this was always a high risk new technology venture.

The official Google Glass page is now just a static splash screen:

 

But it did what Google does best, which is push boundaries and technology. No doubt lots of lessons learned will be incorporated into future projects, and the expected growth in popularity of wearable technology, starting with phones may make this more viable and mainstream in the future.

There were some very impressive imagery generated by peoples headsets, no doubt this will be absorbed in to Googles map products.

Did anyone have a dabble with Glass? Did you think it was a good or bad idea?

Hows this for innovation?

According to marketing week, McDonalds is looking at click and collect as a way of embracing technology and winning back hearts and minds from a smart phone customer base.

What a great idea! Works for Tescos and other retailers, why not fast food? Click and collect burgers, maybe we'll soon see pizzas, off licences? 

As we become ever more dependant on our smart phones, I suppose we are about to move into a click and collect app generation, as opposed to us older folk that had Dominoes Pizza on speed dial. Or was that just me? 

No doubt we will shortly have new super sites/apps designed purely for smart phones allowing you to click and collect whatever you want, from any supplier, with outlets available 24/7 feeding the impulse and on demand generation. 

Be interesting to see if the likes of just-eat.co.uk embrace this change as they are well positioned. Further food for thought (ahem) if you needed it that the digital world is shrinking and your website needs to be accessible and fully usable on a smart phone.

Could you utilise click and collect for your business? Does anyone think this is just a passing fad?

Looking at Getting a Virtual PA Service 17th February 2015 11:43 PM
I was of the opinion you are not supposed to write down card details at all in the first place?”
 
I think you can, (although I'm rusty on the war in peace PCI declaration) my understanding is that as long as they are used immediately and cross shredded. You are not allowed to store or hold card details and have taken all reasonable security precautions blah blah.
 
But I'll put money on it (see what I did there?) that plenty of people will write a number down and process it, rather than process it while the caller is on the phone, especially in the comfort in their own home and using a virtual terminal. Having remote workers potentially do that would terrify me.
 
Clive will know when he gets back off his hols, he loves all that stuff 

 

PanCake Day With Mel From GM-Fitness 17th February 2015 11:24 PM

Healthy option? 4 eggs? Or was that meant for more than 1 person?? whoops..  

Looking at Getting a Virtual PA Service 17th February 2015 11:15 PM

We've used a few virtual office and call handling firms over the years. Never had a bad experience and the last we used www.moneypenny.com I thought were superb. Very slick, nice handy app on the phone, and if the need arose I'd certainly use them again, albeit we only used them for overflow call handling.

But I'm not sure about having a VA/remote PA having the ability to take card transactions. It could open up a lot of possible security issues, PCI compliance maybe? Will the PA dispose of any manually written down credit card transaction slips by cross shredding them or let little Johnny use them for colouring in?

I like having people in the office where process and procedure can be controlled and instilled with the flexibility of allowing home working, but if that's not viable then it could work well if you can find that reliable person who is a home based PA. I guess I'd be comfortable with everything apart from card payments which would scare the life out of me having that done remotely 

Here's the wording the IPO used in their response to me:

The test of a series is NOT simply whether the marks in the series would be regarded as confusingly similar to each other if used by unrelated undertakings. Any variation in the non-distinctive features in the marks must leave the visual, aural and conceptual identity of each of the trade marks substantially the same.”

 

Sounds like a prime candidate for the Plain English campaign imho 

£20 Marks and Sparks meal deal including a bottle of vino, kids in bed, Feet up and slushy movie on the goggle box, Valentine's Day middle age stylie! 

Commercial con? Only if you let it. Just a bit of harmless fun, but no doubt We'll have years of tears with our 2 girls Further down the road.... 

Time for some Friday Fun! 13th February 2015 2:31 PM

Life has been a bit hectic over recent weeks, and our man Jan the cartoon man is pretty busy as well so we've been missing some Friday fun.

But came across this on Twitter and made me smile 

Don't know about a pensioner setting a password, sounds more like me 

 

Steve, I appologise in advance for using the forum for self interest and I will not be offended if this link is removed. 

I don't stand for the greens or any other party for that matter, I do however stand by my friends.

good luck Andy...”

 

Nowt to apologise for. Very impressive, hob nobbing and brushing shoulders with MP's (even green ones )