In a poll which seems strangely out of date, it is revealed that desktop computers and laptops are overtaking fax machines and printers as desk equipment viewed as most stylish. The poll of 450 European home and office workers commissioned by toner cartridge maker Lexmark found that 72 percent considered their computer to be the […]
A cat has been caught phoning the emergency services in the middle of the night. Police officers woke retired lecturer Howard Moss at his house at 2.30am and told him that they were answering a 999 call made from his house. When Moss told them he had been asleep for hours yet computer checks traced […]
Clinical psychologists have identified two separate checks that the brain uses against errors when typing. Typists check their work visually by looking at the output of their typing. But it seems fingers also “recognise” when a typo has been made. Gordon Logan and Matthew Crump of Vanderbilt University, Nashville carried out tests on proficient […]
The Secret Life of the Office, Part 2 She may be a little short on personality, but she is darned efficient. The question is, why did Betty resit the new ideas? It is an interesting documentary but I am fearful that the answer to this burning question will not be revealed in the next instalment. […]
The Secret Life of Machines was a great late ‘80s, early ‘90s Channel 4 series which basically told the story of everyday household and office machines like hoovers, electric lights and fax machines. The programme used a mix of Open University-style demonstration (though less staid) and animated narrative. Over the next few weeks we’ll be […]
T-Mobile has put its hands up regarding recent news that a mobile phone company had been selling personal data about thousands of customers to competitors. Millions of records were sold to third-party brokers who then cold-called customers who were near the end of their contracts. The story broke following complaints about these calls. According to […]
Almost 50 percent of UK workers and managers do not have the appropriate IT equipment to do their job, according to a poll commissioned by Plantronics, the lightweight communications headset products company. Although 64 percent of those polled use technology such as conference call facilities, 68 percent of managers don’t have access to the right […]
The average office worker wastes 52 minutes a day in “pointless” meetings where they don’t speak, aren’t listened to or are just making up the numbers, according to research by You Brand, a communication coaching programme. “Many people feel isolated and cut out of meetings, with the biggest complaint being shouted down by louder members […]
Data insecurity Samsung claims from a poll of 4,500 European office workers an alarming lack of security awareness among UK workers when printing documents. Just under half of all employees are regularly exposed to sensitive data, such as salary details and CVs, abandoned on a printer. Workers in UK organisations such as banks and financial […]
The expenses scandal continues to amuse. Here we concentrate on the office supplies side of things. Some of the excellent uses of public money to buy stationery, office machines and furniture include: Labour backbencher Sir Stuart Bell bought four Paper shredders in two years, including an office equipment promotion – a buy-one-get-one-free deal with free […]
How to plan the office Christmas party Whether you count down the days, or desperately scrabble around for an excuse not to go, the office Christmas party is an event on almost every company’s calendar. So, how do you plan a party that everyone will enjoy? It’s a tricky balance to get Bob from Accounts […]
Top tips to improve your time management skills Despite what people say, time is not a commodity. It cannot be traded, expanded or reduced. It is fixed. Our perception of time, however, is another concept. How often do you think at 4pm “Where has the day gone?” and go into panic mode to try to […]
Planning in business is essential Everything from the monthly sales drive to a new product launch or project needs planning. It promotes joined-up thinking and good decision-making throughout the whole organisation. “A goal without a plan is just a wish”, observed the famous writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery, summing up a key business principle. Each business […]
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