Hot Tin Roof

Job vacancies up but skills crisis threatens growth of Scotland’s booming digital technologies

Chris — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:48:51 +0000

ScotlandIS, Scotland’s trade body for the IT and digital sector, published highlights of its

eighth annual members’ survey today. Against a background of strong and sustained industry

growth, the demand for jobs in digital technologies remains a critical barrier as companies

report increasingly hard to fill vacancies and specific skills shortages.

These are the latest findings from the Scottish technology industry’s annual ‘barometer’ that

shows that almost 70% of respondents are planning to take on more staff

10% on 2012 figures.(1)

Employing over 100,000 people, the IT and digital industry in Scotland is now growing faster

than any other sector, with 45,000 new professionals needed in the next five years.(2) This

view is echoed by last month’s Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs, which shows that demand

for permanent jobs in IT and computing continues to lead all other sectors in Scotland.(3)

Polly Purvis, Executive Director of ScotlandIS, says: “Today’s survey results and industry

findings reinforce the message that comes back again and again from our members. They

are going for growth and there is significant pent up demand for skilled people in the digital

technologies industry.

“There’s an increasing buzz about the industry as business and government transform their

operations through the smart application of technology. We’re seeing growing confidence

across the industry, from startups to the growing number of Scottish digital technology

businesses carving out export markets around the world.”

Software and web development skills are in the greatest demand (66%), closely followed by

commercial and business skills (53%) and project management skills (49%).

Good news also for graduates who are now one of the categories of staff most in demand at

58% – neck and neck with operatives roles at 60%. However, the lack of local talent is forcing

employers further afield when looking for staff with half (52%) of all respondents reporting

they will need to recruit people from outside Scotland.

Steven Drost, CEO of Stipso comments: “Startups like ours are having a challenging

time finding qualified software developers. Startups need to focus on a lean development

environment so we can prototype cheaply and get to market fast. The skills needed in the

lean development environment such as Ruby coding are in particularly short supply.”

As headcount is set to rise in this sector, so too are sales. The survey showed that 80%

of respondents expect their sales to increase this year.

export markets, it’s good to see that over half (53.3%) of respondents report they are selling

overseas with another 13% looking to export.

Wendy McDougall of 9-20 recruitment said: “It’s good to see continued demand for both

skilled operatives and graduates – that’s very encouraging for those students qualifying this

summer. The challenge is keeping the talent coming through the pipeline from universities

and colleges to keep up with the demand for skilled workers in the digital technology

industries”.

Alastair O’Brien, Public Sector Director of Amor Group and Deputy Chair of ScotlandIS,

added: “The ScotlandIS annual survey confirms what Amor has said in the past, namely,

the software industry in Scotland is crying out for suitably qualified graduates, growth in our

industry is being restricted, and Scotland is losing out to other countries. It is unacceptable

in the midst of a world-wide digital revolution that Scotland doesn’t have enough talented

graduates to exploit fantastic global opportunities. In order to be successful, Scotland needs

more qualified graduates, we need to encourage and provide the opportunities for the next

generation of students to be part of such a successful industry”.

The IT and Telecoms industry contributes £4 billion (5%) of Scotland’s economy annually.

The technology sector creates thousands of new jobs each year and its growth boosts the

Scottish economy by more than £30m annually. Scotland could add £12bn to its economy,

create 20,000 additional high value jobs and create 1,000 new businesses over the next five

years by enabling digital technologies.

Chris — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:30:07 +0000

The trade body for the information and communications technologies (ICT) industry, ScotlandIS represents around 200 software, telecomms, IT and creative technologies businesses throughout Scotland.

Growth in IT sector held back by skills shortages, Herald Scotland, 3 April 2013

Scotts IT firms recruit abroad in ’skills crisis’, Scotsman, 3 April 2013

Warning over skills gap in computing, BBC News, 3 April 2013

Scottish IT and digital businesses look elsewhere due to skills shortage, Computer Weekly.com, 3 April 2013

Scotland short of IT skills, Techradar.com, 3April 2013

Science fiction holograms become a reality with new 3D holographic technology

Chris — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:02:15 +0000

Holoxica to unveil sci-fi style interactive holograph technology on TV’s The Gadget Show

Interactive 3D holographic displays, as featured in sci-fi films such as Star Wars, Minority Report and the upcoming Iron Man 3, have finally become a reality.

A new prototype technology created by Edinburgh-based firm Holoxica is to be unveiled on the Gadget Show, produced by North One Television for Channel 5 tonight. The show’s host, Jason Bradbury, describes Holoxica’s new display technology as “extraordinary” and says: “It’s not a movie; it’s not a comic book; the image is actually in thin air right in front of my face.”

Javid Khan Founder and Managing Director of Holoxica, says: “Our second-generation display prototype produces 3D images floating in mid-air that can be altered in real time and viewed without glasses. We added some interactivity via a Kinect motion interface, which allows people to ‘touch’ icons in space and to do things like draw in mid-air. We have written about ten simple apps for it so far, including a sketch pad, a pong game, a clock, a keypad and so on. The commercial potential of the technology is enormous.”

Holoxica is currently seeking further investment to improve the display by making a larger holographic screen to increase the image size, viewing angle and brightness. They want to make the holographic display available to developers who can write their own apps for it.

While the holographic technology has countless potential applications for Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) in the automotive, aerospace, construction, tourism, hospitality, arts and medical sectors, the technology’s creators realise that their breakthrough is likely to create a loud buzz among the world’s gaming community.

Khan continues : “Ever since Chewbacca played R2-D2 at holographic chess in the original Star Wars, gamers have longed for holographic 3D games to become a reality. Holoxica’s new display technology could well be the answer to their prayers.”

Holoxica will be showcasing the technology to the public at The Gadget Show Live! Event between 2-7th April 2013 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Chris — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:13:02 +0000

Holoxica was formed in 2008. We are a high-tech startup with two lines of business: 3D holograms and holographic displays.

Our core business is a pioneering 3D holographic display system that suspends dynamic images (alphanumeric datafeeds, animations, advertisements and short 3D video sequences) in mid-air, creating a naturalistic 3D space where a variety of content providers can present games, entertainment, advertisements and information.

We complement our activities by making and selling 3D holograms that reinforce how holograms enable naturalistic viewing of images without requiring the need for eyewear, headsets or optical tricks, avoiding discomfort (headaches, nausea) associated with other technologies.

Holoxica targets £1m funding for hologram venture, The Scotsman, 25th March 2013

Top ten gadgets of the future, The Independent, 24th March 2013

Interactive 3D holographic apps written for new display, 3D Focus, 18th March 2013

RMD Power & Cooling appoints Gavin Maxwell as Managing Director

Chris — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:05:10 +0000

Demand for datacentre power and cooling products expected to rise steadily over next few

years

RMD Power & Cooling has appointed Gavin Maxwell as its new Managing Director.

With more than 14 years experience with the company in a variety of roles including sales

manager, office manager and operations director, Maxwell has played a key role in the

development of RMD from a small electrical distributor to the UK’s leading independent

supplier of integrated power and cooling solutions for datacentres.

Maxwell takes over from outgoing MD and owner of RMD Power and Cooling, John

Smykala, who will continue to play a key leadership role in the company as Business

Development Director. As the market continues to expand, Smykala will now focus on

opening up new business opportunities for the rapidly growing company.

Gavin Maxwell says: “Thanks to John’s vision and hard work, I’m taking over a company

that’s in great shape with a bright future. Demand for our core products – power and cooling

systems – has increased steadily in recent years and all the indications suggest that this will

continue throughout the rest of this decade.

“Power outages and fluctuations are expected to increase in frequency over the next few

years so many more organisations and businesses of all sizes are looking at installing or

upgrading their own UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). Likewise, we expect the cooling

side of our business to grow even further as companies continue to upgrade, consolidate or

merge their aging datacentre operations.

Maxwell continues: “I’ve gained an indepth overview of our business and our customers

over the past 14 years so feel confident taking on the role of MD. My aim is to keep the ship

steady, continue with the same vision that has brought us success to date and to keep up-

to-date with new technologies and solutions that can bring value to our customers. I enjoy

being customer-facing so I’ll be maintaining personal contact with our client base to ensure

that our products and services remain closely in tune with their business needs.”

RMD Power & Cooling is based in Alloa, Scotland.

Chris — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:39:29 +0000

sensewhere emerged a result of pioneering technology developed by a team of researchers at the University of Edinburgh. The team was later joined by commercial experts from leading technology companies, such as CSR, in order to found sensewhere in 2005. sensewhere’s pure software technology enables precise location information, with no additional infrastructure, in areas where there is no or inaccurate GPS satellite data such as indoors or in tight urban areas.

Facebook can still win the mobile ad war, Marketing Lounge, 4 November 2012

Data centre power efficiency critical to Scotland’s economic future

Chris — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:00:52 +0000

Half-day seminar in Edinburgh will focus on ‘future-proofing’ Scottish data centres against risingenergy costs and power outages.

Rising energy costs and the increasing prospect of regular power outages pose major threats to thehealth of Scotland’s data centres, including those of critical public sector organisations, according tothe organisers of Data Centre Scotland 2013.

A half-day seminar in Edinburgh on 6 March, the event will draw together Scotland’s data centreprofessionals for a series of keynote presentations and breakout sessions focused on providingstrategic insight and practical advice on how to make data centres of all sizes energy efficient.

Hosted by RMD Power and Cooling in partnership with ScotlandIS and APC by Schneider Electric, theseminar will provide expertise on how to create a 21st century data centre that is legally compliant,cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Gavin Maxwell, MD, RMD Power and Cooling, says: “As modern life becomes ever more dependenton data centres, energy consumption has become an increasingly important economic, social andpolitical issue for data centre professionals.”
“Powering the data centre has also become an environmental and corporate responsibility issue: Inrecent months alone, Microsoft has committed to go carbon neutral at its data centres, Facebookhas announced that it will only use renewable energy when building new data centres and Googlehas also pledged to move away from coal powered data centres.”

“Set against a backdrop of rising energy prices and the increasing prospect of regular power outagesin the future, it’s clear that those managing data centres in Scotland are facing a number of majorbusiness challenges. This event explores practical ways to reduce your carbon footprint whiledecreasing operating costs and securing your business critical systems.”

Keynote speakers include Chris Ingle of IDC, who’ll outline winning strategies for the data centre in2013 and beyond, and Phil Worms of Iomart, who’ll offer his first-hand perspective on the realityof data centres ‘going green’. Other speakers include Adeel Amin of RMD Power and Cooling,who’ll offer advice on optimising availability, capacity and energy efficiency through infrastructuremanagement, and Dushyantha Goonawardhane of APC by Schneider Electric, who’ll present on howto maximise data centre efficiency through the use of indirect evaporative cooling.

Data Centre Scotland 2013 takes place at the Apex Hotel, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, on Wednesday6th March 2013 (1:30pm – 7:00pm). Tickets cost £20 plus VAT for ScotlandIS members and £30 plusVAT for non members.

The seminar’s organisers and attendees will tweet about the event using the hashtag#DCScotland2013.

Sofant Technologies launch ultra low power RF MEMS evaluation kit at Mobile World Congress

Chris — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:45:12 +0000

Smart micro antenna company, Sofant Technologies, will launch a new evaluation kit at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this month. The kit will allow mobile, RF component and chipset manufacturers to test Sofant’s sixth generation RF MEMS switch, technology that unlocks the true potential of mobile devices.

A key challenge for manufacturers is that antenna technology has not kept pace with the constantly increasing demands of mobile devices. In a booming global market, mobile and tablet users battle with short battery life and weak connections every day.

Sofant have developed three core technologies to combat this issue. Together they provide a steerable and focussed miniaturised SmartAntenna that dramatically improves wireless connectivity and doubles the battery life of mobile devices.

This means that smartphones will work as they were intended. Performing to the level manufacturers want, SmartAntenna will end a cycle of weak signals, dropped calls and short battery life for the consumer.

It is the first time miniaturised smart antenna technology has been used in mobile devices. Sofant’s ground-breaking technology has been greeted with intense industry interest following their debut at CES in Las Vegas last month.

The unique RF MEMS switch, based on Sofant’s patented SUMTM technology, is an integral part of SmartAntenna and the AvtoRF product range.

Ultra low power, high performance and greater reliability, the RF MEMS switch already outperforms the best MEMS components on the market. It saves battery life and boosts antenna performance by enabling the SmartAntenna solution.

Sofant’s COO, Ahmed El-Rayis, said: “The recent demand for MEMS technology has been driven by smartphones because it increases their functionality. We believe advances in RF MEMS will create the same market effect. Our RF MEMS switch enables a smart antenna that provides superior wireless connectivity and battery life. It will transform user experience.”

The new evaluation kit comprises a board and two integrated Sofant RF MEMS devices which are connected through a USB cable to a PC, controlled through Sofant’s proprietary software. The user connects the board to a Network Analyzer through an SMA connector where it monitors the performance of the RF MEMS devices and the effects of capacitance on the RF signals. The connector can be used with other RF devices to test their performance and tunability with Sofant’s sixth generation RF MEMS.

Ahmed El-Rayis added: “Smartphone providers such as power amplifier and filters manufacturers will benefit from our MEMS technology, enabling tunability for products which will support next generation wireless devices”

Each of Sofant’s technologies can be licensed together or as a single smart micro antenna system. The RF MEMS switch evaluation kit will be available to mobile, RF component and chipset manufacturers.

miiCard’s marvellous winter warmer

Chris — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:59:18 +0000

Can’t say a big enough thank you to miiCard on two counts!

Been sitting here with headache, dehydrated…. it’s that time of year. Knock at the door, stressed out postman (it’s that time of year…) hands over a cute little package with my name on it.

Open box and the whiff of Christmas explodes into the air. It’s time to smile. Packaging hay – nativity – I can feel a Christmas glow coming on. Tea and biscuits. But this is not just any old tea and biscuits. This is miiCard tea and biscuits. Oozing spicy nutmeg and cinnamon. My day just got a whole lot better and one giant step closer to Christmas cheer.

The second thank you? Only miiCard could verify the real Santa …

Real identity verified by miiCard

Sofant in the news

Chris — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:43:27 +0000

Based in Scotland, Sofant is a fabless antenna and RF solutions provider designing and licensing smart antenna technologies for leading manufacturers of smart phones and tablets. The company specialises in highly compact, reliable, low power and innovative antenna and RF micro-electro-mechanical systems (RF-MEMS) solutions.

Is that a truncheon in your trousers, officer, or … an antenna, you say?, The Register, 15 November 2012.

Sofant to develop satellite tracking, Scotsman.com, 14 November, 2012.

EU to develop a smart antenna that will work as a ‘human black box’, British APCO Journal, 14 November 2012.

Sofant’s miniature ’smart antenna’ promises to end dropped calls, Bloomberg, 8 October 2012.

Scottish brainiacs erect wee super antenna, The Register, 5 October 2012.

Behold the world’s smallest smartphone antenna, Phone Arena, 5 October 2012.

Edinburgh firm develops miniature antenna to boost mobile reception, TechWorld, 4 October 2012.

Scottish scientists develop ‘world’s smallest smart antenna’, Wall Street Journal, 4 October 2012.

Scottish scientists develop world’s smallest antenna, TechWeekEurope, 3 October 2012.

Edinburgh technology firm unveils new ’smart antenna’, BBC News, 3 October 2012.