A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Microsoft launches 3 new products
Microsoft this week introduced three major new server and developer products which it says are the first in its "next generation of infrastructure and application platform products". Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 were unveiled by chief executive Steve Ballmer at an event in Los Angeles which had the theme "Heroes Happen Here", referring to the key role technology professionals play in keeping global commerce running. A launch will take place in Dublin on March 11th and in Belfast on April 8th with more than 2,500 people already registered for the two events.
Microsoft says the three new products are a significant milestone on its efforts to introduce "Dynamic IT", the strategy to make technology flexible and responsive to changing business needs.
Rehab game design course
Through its National Learning Network division, Rehab has launched a new Fetac-accredited computer programming and game design course at Roslyn Park College in Dublin. Supported by Fás, the flexible course can run for up to two years and is designed to give students the skills needed to work in the digital entertainment sector. Course modules include the theory and principles of computer programming, game design, website development, mathematics and enterprise development.
Intellectual property advice
Cruickshank, the patent and intellectual property lawyers, have introduced a free advice service for Irish companies called IP-Free60. Available to all Irish firms it is a one hour consultation with a Cruickshank expert which will provide advice on how the firm can profit from their IP.
Computer aid for students
Lero, the software engineering research centre at the University of Limerick, has just completed a six-week outreach programme with Castletroy College which allowed Transition Year students to create their own interactive stories, animations, games, music and art, and share their creations on the web. Using the learning tool Scratch developed at MIT, at the same time they were learning computational concepts and software design.
"The students became really engaged and while having a good time designing games, music, art and whatever, they learned computational concepts," said Clare McInerney, a knowledge transfer specialist with Lero.
Firms warned on licences
Directors of Irish firms who are not properly managing their software licences could have significant undeclared liabilities on their balance sheet, a scenario that under Irish law allows for criminal prosecution with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of €127,000, according to a new study from Version 1. The IT services and consultancy firm has warned that directors are liable even if they did not know their software was incorrectly licensed.
