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Office 2.0 unconference

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:15:25 +0100

Went to an unconference today. For those unfamiliar with the term, it's based on the assumption that the folks in the audience often know more than those on the platform. So why not invert the normal... [Read More...]

BCS to help data centre decision making

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:42:18 +0100

People around the world are tearing their hair out trying to get to grips with environmental issues. well, some of them are, anyway. Should they replace their car or run it into the ground? Should... [Read More...]

Putting email in its place

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:23:23 +0100

A very brave chap I know, called Luis Suarez, has dared to challenge his company's predilection for email. Email was used for everything. File sharing and editing, appointment bookings,... [Read More...]

National EPEATs needed now

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:37:36 +0100

It doesn't matter who you ask in the 'environmental IT' world, no-one can point to a single authoritative source of hard UK or EU information on IT purchases. I've rummaged all the reports about how... [Read More...]

Hacking through the green jungle

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:11:56 +0100

If you want to lead a guilt-laden and depressing life, get yourself a machete and try hacking your way through the environmental jungle. No sooner do you read a news report or a piece of research... [Read More...]

A desirable and practical digital book?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:26:51 +0100

Nothing is more satisfying, nor more wasteful of resources, than printing out some of the pdfs that land on my digital mat. Yet, if I'm to work on a train, I'll quite often set the printer going... [Read More...]

A breath of fresh air. Eventually.

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:06:47 +0100

Many companies have spoken to me of their ambitions to become carbon neutral by some date - usually long into the future. Others talk of cutting or offsetting their C02 emissions in a shorter... [Read More...]

Todd Stephens on Enterprise 2.0

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:43:43 +0100

Sometimes it's easy to be overwhelmed by new ways of working. Enterprise 2.0, for example, has crept up on us over the past few years. Those who've tracked it from the start have something of an... [Read More...]

Sustainability winner: SOAK

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:24:59 +0100

I'm not totally sold on the Microsoft environmental story (hint: lifecycle costs of replacing kit) but you have to take your hat off to the company for selecting the theme 'a world where technology... [Read More...]

How ICT can help broad environmental initiatives

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:02:22 +0100

For some time, I've been banging on about the opportunities for ICT to improve the environmental performance of organisations, even if it results in more energy use by the data centre. The whole... [Read More...]

Who controls your personal information?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:31:35 +0100

Doc Searls is a long time blogger, a deep thinker, a co-author of the seminal Cluetrain Manifesto, an open source wizard, and too many other things to mention. He is held in massively high regard by... [Read More...]

Will software gallop to our rescue?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:10:19 +0100

My first love, apart from my family and close friends, has always been software. I say 'always' but, in truth, it's only been since November 1965, when I got 100 percent in a programming aptitude... [Read More...]

FrEDI: Freeform's Environmental Discussion Image

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:38:55 +0100

We've just released a research report called Green Computing: The role of IT in the push towards environmental sustainability. While doing the research and validating the findings it rapidly... [Read More...]

HP green lab gets green light

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:47:27 +0100

Sometime today, as a consequence of its labs shake-up, HP will announce that its new Sustainability Lab has had its projects and staffing approved. But our tip-off goes on to say, As befitting a Lab,... [Read More...]

Decarb the supply chain

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:31:49 +0100

Seeing the pictures of lorries blocking a main route into London as their drivers get themselves bussed in to protest against fuel prices made me realise that these poor people are a link in an... [Read More...]

Microsoft and EEA's environmental early warning system

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:04:21 +0100

Confession time: I get a horrible sinking feeling when I hear terms like 'EU', 'human rights' or 'observatory'. When they come at me all at once, my usual temptation is to run away. But, this time I... [Read More...]

Be heard. Be seen. Be green.

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:48:00 +0100

The push for environmental sustainability must have been music to the ears of those involved in videoconferencing and its many derivatives. It provides another strong weapon in the vendors' sales... [Read More...]

Some reflections on Green IT 08 day 1

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:11:21 +0100

Today saw the start of Green IT 08 at the Design Centre, Islington. It's a combination mini-exhibition and conference. It was interesting to see a mix of customers, vendors and analysts sharing their... [Read More...]

A quick route to unified communications?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:01:53 +0100

A cheeky little outsider from Spain has been quietly snitching large unified communication (UC) deals from under the noses of major competitors. (Reminder: a major benefit of UC is the acceleration... [Read More...]

There's more to life (death?) than carbon

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:19:36 +0100

In another life, I experienced government targets at first hand. The government in question was the same one we in the UK have now. At the time, I found the targets a source of great impudence... [Read More...]

Don't put lipstick on the pig

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:37:05 +0100

Today's issue of PR influences covers 'greenwashing' - the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. It's... [Read More...]

IBM's Bluehouse: a human hub?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:46:21 +0100

Even after 42 years in IT, I still tend to forget that projects are always at their most attractive before they're implemented. A good idea captivates and it's easy to get carried away with... [Read More...]

You calling me a consultant?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:10:53 +0100

Adriana Lukas was the person who first opened my eyes to the potential business value of social computing. She starred in an Online Information conference a few years ago and, soon after, I trotted... [Read More...]

Tackling the CO2 issue

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:31:39 +0100

Here's a shock for all who know me: I say, Good on you Tony Blair. In one paragraph of a speech to the Gleneagles Dialogue on 15th March he gave a clear-eyed summary of the issues facing the world... [Read More...]

What's wrong with our world?

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:23:34 +0100

I make no apologies for introducing you to a short movie called The Story of Stuff. If you're still wondering why people like me bang on about sustainability, this 20-minute recording will give you a... [Read More...]

Green IT: We're getting there. Slowly.

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:19:30 +0100

One of the great things about working for Freeform Dynamics is that we get to find out what's actually going on inside organisations. How? Well, we are able to survey the readers of The Register; one... [Read More...]

Vendor Relationship Management UK-style

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:13:30 +0100

One of the most challenging, charming, intelligent and irritating people I've ever met is one Adriana Lukas. She was a leading blogger in 2001, long before most people had ever heard of blogging. She... [Read More...]

UC, you see

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:02:37 +0100

Avaya, BT and Cisco teamed up to explain the benefits of the IBM Unified Communications ecosystem. This is an ecosystem, like so many these days, in which the participants are both collaborators and... [Read More...]

ISPs and householders in the front line

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:30:05 +0100

Oh dear, oh dear. Seems like our government is continuing its sleepwalk towards another disaster. What do you mean, which one? Okay, you have a point. Two things in particular. One is that it has a... [Read More...]

Microsoft/Yahoo!

David Tebbutt, Freeform Dynamics — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:00:30 +0100

What a time to go on holiday. Half way through a most enjoyable away-from-it-all break, I caught the news that Microsoft's Mr Ballmer had dropped another bombshell by bidding for Yahoo! (The... [Read More...]