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Latest news from the Western Islands
Ecologists have developed a new "tool" that could in future help prevent costly and acrimonious environmental conflicts such as campaigns against culling problem populations of charismatic animals and arguments over genetically modified organisms. The tool, published online this week in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology, involves a novel use of computer-aided content analysis and is based on the recent environmental conflict surrounding hedgehog culling on the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. The findings indicate that hedgehog defenders with no need for political correctness appealed to the media by speaking in ordinary language. The bird defenders alas, fell back on heavy, correct science statements which lacks any emotive appeal at all.
Telephone priorities over broadband for Barra
Broadband around the UK could be improved by following the strategy implemented in Scotland, says enterprise minister Jim Mather. His claims, reported in Computer Weekly, is based in the collaborative efforts between regional development agencies and local government bodies to provide high-speed broadband throughout Scotland.
Email assists Hebridean art
A top Scottish sculptor, Steven Dilworth, has sent a 2ft high model to stoneworks in Xiamen, in south-east Fujian province, made by him at his home in the Outer Hebrides. After communicating by phone and email how he wanted the job done, Chinese stonemasons have had created a 10ft high masterpiece out of solid black granite. The cost and scale of creating the 20-ton Venus Stone has involved a team working flat out over the past three months to create what Dilworth says is among his finest work.
Lochaber, Nairn, Wick, Keith and Fortrose bright lights win through
In the Young Innovators shortlist, for ICT Young Challenge 2008, teams from Lochaber, Nairn, Wick, Keith and two from Fortrose and were chosen from sixteen teams. These six have been chosen to go on a week-long 'Hot House' at the Fairburn Activity Centre in Maryburgh, Ross-shire on 23-27 June. There, they will face specialists from a consortium of organisations including BT, Microsoft, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UHI Millennium Institute and HIE.
Youth Challenge 2008: Highland & Islands search for the best
The search to find the best young innovators in the Highlands and Islands takes a step closer on today when sixteen teams gather at the Strathpeffer Pavilion to battle it out in the ICT Youth Challenge 2008, pitching their ideas for the future to a panel of judges. Previous challenge winner Andrew Fraser who set up Highland Web Services based in Kiltarlity has been commissioned on behalf of the competition to develop a Facebook site where young people can keep up to date with news and events.
Nintendo brain training to trial in four area schools
A scheme involving student playing Nintendo DS for 20 minutes before school is now be widened to 16 schools in the Western Isles, Dundee, East Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, where students will take part in another 10 week trial, observed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education and researchers at the University of Dundee.
Orkney and the Western Isles set the record for worker hospitality
The Western Isles has followed in the footsteps of the Orkney Islands by building a special website for local migrant workers. In Orkney, an office cleaner worker Malgorzata Walter at Voluntary Action Orkney undertook the text translation into Polish. In the Outer Hebrides, Russian Ludmila Macleod who lives in Achmore recently establish a consultancy business Europlan Britain, after being involved voluntarily in assisting the growing number of Eastern Europeans adjust to their new environment in the Outer Hebrides.
MoD allays Uist firing range concerns, but computer sounds old
In July 1994, it was agreed that, while the military presence at the range was to be reduced, the facility would be retained with civilian contractors. A computer upgrade was completed before the sites were handed over to the MoD's research agency, DEERA, later privatised to become QinetiQ.
From John O' Groats to Lands End MOT computerisation is a winner
Vehicle & Operator Services Agency: MOT Computerisation was a winner in the e-Government National Awards 2007 in the category Central e-Government excellence: takeup and usage growth, with a pat on the back to Siemens. which was sponsored by Atos Origin.
The advent of Eiggtricity in 2008
A new, very, very niche market for computers could emerge on the Hebridean isle of Eigg. The 87 islanders (37 houses and 10 businesses) are not only celebrating a decade of independence, since they purchased their home from its former German owner in a £1.5m landmark community buy-out in 1997, but will now be connected to a mains electricity system for the first time.
On line planning system from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Members of the public and agents can now access planning application details on the web via the Planning Information Public Access System, part of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s response to Government moves to modernise the planning system and make it more efficient, inclusive and accessible.
Shawbost and Carloway Harris tweed mills get funds for growth
HIE Innse Gall announced financial support for not just one but two Harris Tweed mills.
Stornoway company develops Google plug-in
Greenspace Research Ltd, a Stornoway-based spinout company from Scotland’s UHI Millennium Institute, and Green Building Studio, Inc offered previews of a new green building energy analysis plug-in for Google SketchUp at this week's Greenbuild 2007 conference in Chicago.
Monroe classroom connects with Islay students
For 26 minutes, a Banks Stephens Middle School class from Monroe County, New York, interviewed teenagers living on Islay, Scotland and about what it's like living on an island three hours from the mainland, and attending school 400 yards from a round church, built so the devil could not hide in the corners
Atomic movement in glass and simulations awarded
The physical description of how the dynamics of atoms at low temperatures remained a mystery, until a clue dawned on Professor Jain during a boat ride he took to the Isle of Skye, of Scotland’s west coast. Watching the hundreds of jellyfish in the Sea of the Hebrides, he noted that they were not swimming, but rather wiggling without moving very far.
Laphroaig and the web - live virtual whisky event
Wednesday 21st November at 20:00 GMT.
I know most of you will not t have tried the Laphroaig 27 year old so we are going to have a competition for one lucky winner to receive a special limited edition Friends of Laphroaig 27 year old worth £500. This bottle will be hand signed by myself (John Campbell Distillery Manager) and Robert Hicks (our master blender) and will also come accompanied with a certificate signed by all the distillery staff.
Lots of limits to reaching the skies
BT is said to have been frustrated with lack of interest in the communications future, to the extent that Bob Downes, head of BT Openreach in Scotland, recently criticised government for not taking a stand on ultra-fast broadband. BT is scheduled to start building its 21st-Century Network (21CN) next year. Disquiet over whether its 24MB/s maximum broadband speeds will be fast enough has ensured that Westminster is holding an industry summit later this month.
Shawbost mill reopens on Lewis
The Harris Tweed industry is boosted by the re-opening of a mill at Shawbost on the Isle of Lewis by a new Scottish-owned company, Harris Tweed Hebrides. Closed for the past year - the mill is to resume production and has been greeted with relief and enthusiasm on the island where concerns have been mounting about the future of the industry.
Survey needed for Minch deep water route
Highland and Western Isles Councils have re-established an inter-authority group to press for increased safety measures in the Minch following dissatisfaction with Government action on monitoring and regulating shipping in the channel, which both authorities claim has not gone far enough.
Laphroaig holds first on-line whisky tasting
Gaberlunzie is delighted to see that the beautiful Laphroaig is going to hold a live online whisky tasting. But you'd think that the marketing instincts of such a characterful distillery would have at least done a bit of sly encouragement for participants to rush out and find a bottle, in order to bring to the web session recall of the one of the sensory experiences that beats the virtual into a cocked hat!
Slainthe Laphroaig reality!!
Website : beachshore