Computing futures – while you fly

This is a really good idea for those of us who are just too busy to watch documentaries or learn stuff in your day job.  We’ve teamed up with British Airways and have created a 30 minute documentary on the future of computing. 

Starting in June, British Airways will air a documentary style video (under their TV and factual category)on Microsoft Research (MSR) in Cambridge.  This will appear in their in-flight video on demand systems.   In this video, the MSR team lead by Andrew Herbert discusses 20th century computer systems assumptions that are no longer true in the 21st century (things like the single processor systems and the single threaded program, low level programming languages, screens on desks, hierarchical file systems, virtual memory, etc.)  A number of MSR innovations are showcased and the video is illustrated with MSR archive video footage, interviews and demos (some from partners).  The end result is quite easy and inspiring to watch. You can see a streaming version of this (30 min film) here. 

 

so I don’t just have to put up with any old stuff on my screen when I fly – I can actually learn something too… 

Preventing a virus

It’s amazing how many people don’t bother to follow all the steps to protect their PC.  I get calls from my mother in law wondering why her PC has rebooted and the lights are “flashing”.  Aah, that’s because Windows Update has asked for a reboot AND YOU IGNORED IT!.  Step 4 also catches lots of people out. 

4. Never open an e-mail attachment from someone you don’t know.

Why do people open email attachments from people they don’t know?  New friends perhaps?  Don’t they feel that they get enough emails already?  I must admit, I’m tempted sometimes.  The titles are really catchy, and I should actually know better.  I remember when I was trying to do damage limitation when the “I love you” virus had hit, at the amount of people who had opened the attachment.  Sometimes something wonderful like “I love you” can hide something not so nice: 

5 steps to help prevent computer viruses

… (shouldn’t it be virii?)

So go and tell all of the mother in laws out there and save you some support time when things go awry…