Epicentre testing and support assures |
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issue number: 2
Welcome to the Epicentre newsletter
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Welcome to the second edition of the Epicentre newsletter, bringing you the latest news and roundups from the world of software testing and IT developments. Many thanks for all your comments about our first newsletter back in November 2007. In this edition you can read our roundup from BETT 2008, the world’s largest educational technology event. We also bring you our list of top ten testing disasters to illustrate the priority companies should be placing on testing when releasing new hardware or software. We also have an article on the challenges involved in designing for digital vs paper-based media from leading educational developers Vivid Interactive. We're keen for this newsletter to be of value to you so we've selected some relevant industry news and we welcome any feedback you have. If you are interested in any of the topics or would like further information, please contact me. Best regards, Lucy Fisher |
New releases & updatesThe long awaited Windows Vista SP1 is now available...read more. Also coming soon: Ensure the compatibility of your products, contact Epicentre today. |
Industry newsEpicentre's support now goes so far as helping you keep up to date with important industry news. Read the full stories and keep up with the latest IT news by visiting our website... XP Service Pack 3, is there still life in the market dominant OS? Whiteboards, is this the standardisation schools have been waiting for? |
Epicentre — how our work helps you
In the last quarter Epicentre has provided a range of software testing services to Clients as diverse as religious publishers and universities. Adding to this the proven value of our dedicated telephone support on the Epic Service Desk team, we are proud to share with you some of our recent Client successes. You may have a similar requirement, so read on and give us a call to discuss.
Epic Service Desk supports launch of new product with tailored technical responses.
Close working relationship streamlines route to market for learning CD-ROM›s.
Bespoke component testing praised after successful launch of moodle based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Epicentre invites Vivid Interactive's thoughts on Print vs Digital
In the first of such articles from Epic's associates Vivid Interactive look at the threat to traditional publishers who do not embrace the digital channel face - they could get left behind. For those that are realising this and making the transition it can be a pretty painful experience because it involves more than just tweaking a few processes. It involves very real and significant change. There are high level strategic decisions to be taken, like what digital publishing platforms should be addressed, what distribution mechanisms should be employed, now and in the future and where does publishing sit within the organisation in relation to brand, marketing and markets.
Get it right and you can look towards a positive future and ideally, increased revenues. Get it wrong and you could waste time and money that leaves you chasing your competition. Read Vivid Interactive's in-depth article on the subject here.
10 top IT failures — the cost of not testing
In a 2007 survey of 250 mid-sized IT organisations, three quarters (77%) claim that testing is an essential investment for new products, yet more than half (55%) admit to not having a consistent approach to software testing. And over half (60%) reported that over the last two years, a lack of testing had cost the company significant money. So to look at how lack of planning can impact a project and highlight the need for thorough testing, here’s some examples of 10 top IT disasters...
10) Faulty Soviet Early-Warning System, 1983
In 1983, the Soviet early-warning satellite report system indicated that the United States had launched five ballistic missiles. Fortunately the duty officer on charge reported a “funny feeling in my gut” and reasoned that if the U.S. was really attacking, they would launch more than five missiles so he reported the apparent attack as a false alarm, thereby narrowly averting World War III. It transpired that a bug in the Soviet software failed to filter out false missile detections caused by sunlight reflecting off cloud-tops.
You can read the rest here.
These are obviously the more extreme examples of what can happen when testing isn’t suitably planned for but they do highlight the need for comprehensive planning and resourcing during pre-launch development. Contact us for more information on how we can help ensure your product is 100% ready for a successful launch.
Show report - BETT 2008
BETT (British Education & Training Technology) is an annual show that highlights the latest developments in educational technology for teaching and learning. With 700 educational suppliers exhibiting over four days, it attracts nearly 30,000 visitors each year with a growing international audience of over 5,000.
Lucy Fisher gives us her take on this year’s event at Olympia, London:
"BETT was a fantastic opportunity to gain a thorough insight into the world of education and give me a heads-up on the latest developments in educational technology."