Adrian Bridgwater

Canonical is said to be preparing the forthcoming release of the Ubuntu Linux open source operating system with a new type of interface that will provide a means of executing application functions from a command-line interface or by voice command. The new HUD (Head-Up Display) will ultimately replace menus in 'Unity' applications says Canonical -- and the functionality is expected to feature in the Ubuntu 12.04 Long Term release, due in April. NOTE: Unity is Ubuntu's standard desktop 'shell' or desktop interface that a user starts from in any session. Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth has said that this work has grown out of observations of both 'new and more sophisticated' users making extensive use of the broader set of capabilities in their applications. "We noticed that both groups of users spent a lot of time, relatively speaking, navigating the menus of thei... (more)

Linux to rule the world then, basically

If the Linux Foundation releases a survey suggesting that open source is poised for growth, is that hard to get excited about? Well, they would say that, wouldn't they? If the Ovum Research team releases a study suggesting that Android is soon to become the top developer platform, is that hard to get excited about? Well, they have, haven't they? The Linux Foundation sees open source technology set for its grandest age yet based on low total cost of ownership, technical features and security. Comments are based upon a new survey entitled "Linux Adoption Trends 2012: A Survey of ... (more)

Enterprise Security and Gaining Insightful Insight into “Insight”

Security specialists are fond of using expressions like "robust protection" and "multi-layered defenses" when it comes to setting out their stall and telling us exactly how they are able to protect our data and applications. Looking closer at enterprise security, we see that lower down the buzzword pecking order for some reason is the word "insight" in its various forms. It seems insight means more than one thing in information technology these days, but perhaps it's no coincidence that every meaning or interpretation of the term essentially falls somewhere under the umbrella of e... (more)

Steadying ‘Information Optimization’ on a Moving Walkway

Ask any technology evangelist worth their salt roughly when the ‘next big thing' is likely to arrive and they will typically say about five-years from now. It's a safe bet; so-called ‘paradigm shifts' in technology tend to occur roughly every half decade - or at least they have for the last quarter century or so. The pressure that results from constantly evolving technology shifts has a direct impact upon us as users and, very crucially, the data we consume, manipulate and interact with beneath the innovation curve. Although innovation is great and we all enjoy product developmen... (more)

Scalpel? Check. Swabs? Check. Open source robotic surgeon? Pardon?

Robotic surgery specialists at the University of Washington, in Seattle, are scrubbing up a new team of mechanical medics in the shape of the new "Raven" machines. With wing-like arms, the Raven handles many of the same extreme precision movements that the more expensive da Vinci Surgical System has been used for, but at a much lower price i.e. somewhere around US $250,000 for Raven as opposed to US $1.8 million for da Vinci. Why do we need robotic surgeons? Because tiny incisions cause less tissue damage and so patient recovery is faster. Raven is also the first surgical robot... (more)