Stanford University set Local University Challenge

A team of students from the University of Glamorgan are taking part in a most unusual global competition: in just eight days they have created innovative solutions to a mystery challenge using very limited resources, and put their results in a short video posted to YouTube

Called the Global Innovation Tournament, the competition is organised by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) at Stanford University.

The team from University of Glamorgan will now go forward to be judged amongst a select number of UK entries and winners will become semi-finalists in the global round of judging at Stanford.

An official activity of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the competition encourages students to work in teams, challenge assumptions, seize opportunities and be creative. Most of all, it gives them a taste of what it’s like to be entrepreneurial: students must have an impact while working with tight constraints, such as limited time and resources. Great ideas are not enough – they actually need to implement their ideas and deliver results. Local and then global judges will determine who has had the biggest impact during the eight days.

Past versions of this competition involved giving students a common object, such as Post-It Notes®, rubber bands, or water bottles, and challenging them to create as much value as possible from these objects in a few days. Teams invented products, raised and donated money, composed music, entertained, helped the disabled, made political statements, educated children, and much more.

Hundreds of institutions in dozens of countries have participated in the competition since its inception in 2007. The University of Glamorgan is among the more than 100 local organizers conducting the competition this year in their respective areas. The local winners in most locations will be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 16–22, and global winners will be announced online on Thursday, Dec. 3, on www.unleashingideas.org.

“The University of Glamorgan is renowned across Europe for its enterprise education, and this competition gives a chance for our students to build on what they learn in classes.” said Dr. Gary Packham (Director of Center for Enterprise). “This competition challenges students to create something from nothing, and the team at Glamorgan will be competing at the highest level with renowned universities across the world in this fast-paced entrepreneurship immersion experience.”

“This is the fourth time we’ve run this competition, and the results are always astounding,” said Tina Seelig, executive director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program and creator of the competition. “An event like this demonstrates just how much entrepreneurial potential there is among our young people and how much they are capable of achieving when given permission to do so.”

This competition is only the beginning of thousands of celebrations that will mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, which was co-founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in the United States and Make Your Mark campaign in the United Kingdom. More than 75 countries are preparing a variety of innovative activities and challenges.

To help improve the Glamorgan team’s chances of winning view their entry Money Globe on YouTube

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Do you know a community or charitable organisation that is looking for IT equipment and wants to get online?

If so, they can apply for a BT Community Connections award today.

Groups can apply for a laptop and a year’s free broadband connection.

In brief, any organisation, working in any field of community benefit, located anywhere within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland can apply. In the past voluntary projects, silver-surfers, conservation organisations, family support groups, sports teams and youth groups have been successful.

To find out more and see case studies from past winners simply visit www.btcommunityconnections.com. Remember the deadline to apply falls on 7 January 2010.

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Get to grips with gadgets

Anyone who needs a helping hand to get to grips with the latest technology are being invited to take part in a skills share workshop in Ammanford.

The workshop is being organised by Pantyffynnon Communities First, a Welsh Assembly funded initiative being led by Carmarthenshire County Council.

Young volunteers will be on hand to help older people learn how to send text and picture messages, upload pictures from a camera to a computer, or simply stay in touch with friends and family online.

The workshop is being held at Ammanford Library’s ICT Suite on Thursday, November 26, from 5.30pm-7pm, with light refreshments provided.

Emma Martin-Jewell, Pantyffynnon Communities First development officer, said:

“This will be a good workshop for anyone who is lacking confidence with new technology, but also for those who would like to use mobile phones and computers to stay in touch with friends and family.

“Places are limited, so early booking is essential.”

Pantyffynnon Communities First, based in New Road, Ammanford, is committed to promoting the skills of local people as part of its aim in regenerating the area through improving living conditions and prospects for people in the ward.

Cllr Kevin Madge, deputy council leader and executive board member with responsibility for community wellbeing, said: “Keeping in touch with friends is so important, and in this day and age it is so easy to socialise through the use of technology – but only if you know how.

“It is fantastic to see young people getting involved in this way, and passing on their skills to the older generation. It creates a fantastic bond between young and old in the town, and helps break down social barriers. They really are to be commended.”

To book a place on the workshop, or for further information, call Pantyffynnon Communities First on 01269 590255.

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Adam helps digital switchover

Ahead of Wales' clash against Samoa, Wales prop Adam Jones took time out of his injury rehab to highlight the help available for older and disabled people to make the switch to digital - and safeguard their Friday night rugby viewing.

As switchover approaches in south Wales, the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme engaged the services of Jones to help spread the message about the practical support that is available for people to convert to digital TV.

The 56-times capped tight head prop, who is currently recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the British and Irish Lions’ second Test against South Africa in the summer, visited the home of Help Scheme customer and life-long rugby supporter Howard Holland, from Treforest, Pontypridd.

Mr Holland recently took up the standard offer of help to make the change to digital on one of his TV sets with a Freeview digital box. He said: “When the Help Scheme information pack arrived in the post it was a big relief as I had been quite worried about what I needed to do and didn’t know who to ask.

“When I called the Help Scheme they were very patient and explained everything to me and didn’t seem to mind when I asked lots of questions.

“In no time at all my new Freeview box was being installed and ever since I’ve been able to watch lots of new programmes, but best of all, I don’t have to miss out on the rugby!”

Adam Jones agreed to be an ambassador for the Help Scheme because he knows that older and disabled people might need a little help with this change. He said:

“Digital switchover is coming, and if someone is not ready on the 3 March next year, they will wake up to a blank TV screen.

“It’s important that we all spread the message to our friends, family and neighbours that there is help available for people like Howard to switch to digital with the Help Scheme.

“I’m sure a lot people wouldn’t want to miss out on their Friday night rugby! We can all make sure this doesn’t happen, and I’m delighted to be able to do my bit to tell people about this practical support.”

People living in parts of Cardiff, Newport and South East Wales served by the Wenvoe transmitter will begin to switch on 3 March 2010.

In the run-up to Switchover, eligible people in south Wales are being sent a Help Scheme information pack which clearly explains the help that is available for them to convert to digital with the Scheme.

Details about how to apply, an explanation of all of the available options and their prices, are clearly set out in the information pack that eligible people receive in the post. People need to respond to get the help.

People are eligible for the Help Scheme if:

• They are aged 75 or over; or
• They have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
• They get (or could get) disability living allowance, or attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement; or
• They are registered blind or partially sighted.

Most eligible people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard offer of help which in Wales is Freeview. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance, it’s free.

Completed information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme, but to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can call the Help Scheme free on 0800 408 7654 or 0800 40 85 905 if they need help in Welsh.

In addition, any eligible person who needs help to apply can nominate someone else to complete their form for them.

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government and has been specially designed around the needs of older and disabled people. Equipment has been specifically chosen for ease of use and the Help Scheme contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people. All installers have undertaken Criminal Records Bureau checks, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.

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Keep Safe on the Town

An innovative campaign aimed at keeping people safe while on a night out on the town was launched this week.

The Dignity campaign will give revellers in Pembrokeshire advice and information on a range of issues via Bluetooth on their mobile phones.

It's the first time a campaign using such up-to-date technology has been run in this way in Wales.

"This campaign is unique and very much to be welcomed" said Pembrokeshire County Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jamie Adams.

"We're very much aware that people - particularly younger people - can find themselves in a situation when they are out on the town where they may need advice.

"This campaign enables them to receive that information quickly and in an easily accessible and often light-hearted way that can not only help keep them safe but also make them more aware."

The campaign has been jointly launched by Safer Pembrokeshire, Health Challenge Pembrokeshire and the Children and Young Peoples Partnership, along with Gencia Advertising.

Following its launch in Haverfordwest on Wednesday, it will 'go live' in Tenby on Saturday evening.

The first issue to be tackled will focus on safer drinking with further campaigns on personal safety and sexual health in the pipeline.

For more details about the campaign contact Rhys Sinnett, National Public Health Service for Wales on 07970 845966

Photograph: Councillor Jamie Adams is pictured at the Dignity launch along with (L-R) Pam Owen, Health, Social Care and Well-being Manager; Alison Rogers, Community Safety Co-ordinator and Geraldine Murphy, Children and Young People's Partnership Manager.

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Don’t miss the e-Crime Wales Summit - book one of the last remaining places

Hundreds of small businesses like yours have already signed up for the e-Crime Wales Summit 2009, Llandudno, 21st October, to find out how to protect themselves against growing threats from online attackers.

This Welsh Assembly Government-backed event is free and it’s packed with information and expert guidance you can’t afford to miss.

e-Crime is real, it’s damaging and costly, it keeps changing and you are a potential target, regardless of your size.


Attend the Summit and hear from these world leading experts:

• Ex-FBI agent Ed Gibson, who is Chief Security Adviser for Microsoft in the UK will tell you how a well-structured information security strategy can safeguard your business.
• PayPal’s Head of Risk Management, Garreth Griffith will outline the risks and solutions from a payment provider’s viewpoint.
• Ethical Hacker, Jason Hart of CRYPTOCard will be explaining the latest e-Crime risks to Welsh businesses in a highly interactive session.
• Professor Andrew Blyth from the University of Glamorgan, on the nature and frequency of online attacks on small businesses in Wales
• 7Safe’s Dan Haagman, an internationally-respected computer forensics expert will explain the importance of small businesses proving they are safe to trade online.
• Richard Cox of specialist consultants Spamhaus who will explain how you can rid your inbox of the rising tide of spam and if you don’t how spam can be malicious.

Learn about simple low cost or free steps you can take to protect yourself. Be at the e-Crime Wales Summit on 21st October 2009 in Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

For more information visit http://www.ecrimewales.com/server.php?show=nav.9220

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Let's get digital!

A new Digital Inclusion project for residents aged 50+ is to be launched at Blackwood Library on Thursday 22nd October between 4.00pm and 7.00pm.

The event will be a 'one-stop-shop' involving a number of information providers such as Gwent Association for the Blind, Abilitynet and Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations. The representatives from each agency will be explaining how they can help people of all abilities to access online information either at home or in their local library.

For those eager to take part there will be the opportunity to have a basic IT taster session on the PCs with a Community Education tutor and the option to sign up for a longer 3 week course if this is required. There will also be refreshments available at the library for everyone who comes along.

To find out more go along on the day or contact Blackwood Library on 01495 233000.

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Cardiff Council on Twitter

Now, we know you all want minute by minute updates of what your beloved local council is up to. Well, don't you?

If you live in Cardiff, you now have that option as the council has signed up to microblogging site Twitter, where millions follow the every tweet - the 140 character posts - of celebrities like Stephen Fry (king of the twitterers) and many more.

The council promises a flow of useful updates on travel advice, road closures, event details and much more.You'll need a Twitter account, then search for Cardiff Council or go straight to twitter.com/cardiffcouncil

Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Rodney Berman, said: "It's important that Council services are easily accessible for the residents of Cardiff, with more and more people using social networking sites to find and share information having a Twitter page will help us keep people up to date with what is going on in Cardiff. I hope users who choose to follow us will find the service useful and informative."

Picture: http://www.gnu.org/fry/i/ Creative Commons 3.0

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New Mobile Phone Selling Rules

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards Service has welcomed stricter new rules governing the sale of mobile phone contracts.

Government watchdog Ofcom is introducing a new General Condition on sales and marketing practices that will apply to all mobile service providers from September 16.

The move aims to tackle the problem of mis-selling of contracts. Mis-selling covers a range of sales and marketing activities including the omission of relevant or the provision of false and/or misleading information, for example about tariffs, savings or promising offers which do not materialise.

It also covers applying unacceptable pressure to change providers, such as using intimidating behaviour or refusing to leave until the customer signs a new contract; and slamming, an extreme form of mis-selling, where customers find themselves with a service from a new company without their knowledge and consent.

Forms of slamming can include, passing off, where representatives claim to represent a different company, customers being told they are merely signing up for information rather than entering into a new contract, or the forging of customers’ signatures on contracts without the customer being aware.

The new General Condition on sales and marketing practices includes requiring mobile service providers not to engage in dishonest, misleading or deceptive conduct, to make sure the customer is authorised to, and intends to, enter into a contract; to make sure customers get the information they need when they buy the product; and to carry out checks in respect of their retailers.

Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “We welcome these new rules which cover mobile service providers and will assist us when investigating mis-selling by them, particularly where cash back offers are promised but not delivered, though it should be noted this does not regulate retailers.

Executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “Ofcom’s new rules will help them and Trading Standards combat companies that are prone to mis-selling. We welcome the assistance it will provide.”

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Help translate Mabinogion game into Welsh

IF you're looking for a Welsh language project, maybe for a school or project, then why not help translate a game sourced from the Mabinogion?

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches has been translated into German, French and Russian, but Ceredigion-based producers Arberth Studios, say it's not commercially viable to produce the Welsh language version the game demands.

It's no small project, with 30,000 English words to work on, but Arberth say a compensation deal might be sorted out - the £16,500 costs aren't commercially justified.

Arberth's Noel Bruton told BBC Wales: "We have to try and translate this game into Welsh, but there's just not enough Welsh speakers in the gaming market to justify the translation costs."

"Sources suggest there are around 600,000 Welsh speakers overall. A lesser number would be gamers, and only around one in 20 gamers might be interested in an adventure game."

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Welsh Txt Talk

FOLLOWING our recent story about mobile phones now having the option of spell-checking in Welsh, our friends at Right Mobile Phone the leading mobile phone comparison site have come up with this handy English-Welsh Text Speak Guide.

1. LoL (Laugh Out Loud) = CYU (Chwerthin yn uchel)
2. BrB (Be Right Back) = YOYYM (Yn ôl yn y man)
3. M8 (Mate) = 'mêt'
4. WTF (What The f**K) = BD (Be ddiawl)
5. OMG (Oh My God) = OFN (O fy nuw)
6. LMAO (Laugh My Ass Off) = CFHYN (Chwerthin fy hun yn wirion)
7. TVM (Thanks Very Much) = DYFI (Diolch yn fawr iawn)
8. TMI (Too Much Information) = GOW (Diolch yn fawr iawn)
9. BFF (Best Friends For Ever) = FGAB (Ffrindiau gorau am byth)
10. BYOB (Bring Your Own Beer) = TACDH (Tyrd â chwrw dy hun)

To compare mobile phone prices and features visit their site at http://www.rightmobilephone.co.uk/

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How broad was my broadband?

HOW did this page load? Having trouble with all the videos or are you listening to an internet radio station and watching the i-player at the same time? There's been some concern recently that very few British customers are reaching the up in the 'up to' speeds their providers are selling them and The Welsh Affairs Committee is piping up for better Broadband in Wales.

The Westminster committee has just reported on broadband and while admitting digital exclusion is no worse in Wales than England or Scotland, it's worried that may not stay the case.

The report says: "Some of those challenges are particularly acute in Wales, and there is a need for the findings of Digital Britain to be focused into a plan for 'Digital Wales in a Digital Britain'. We call on the Secretary of State for Wales to ensure that the next stage of Digital Britain fully reflects the needs of Wales, that Welsh MPs are fully informed about the stages of implementation and that there is a joined up approach, which involves the Welsh Assembly and the private and third sectors."

Low population density and our famous landscape are challenges to even meet the minimum rate - everyone should be able to watch the i-player is the measure. The first priority is to remove so called notspots. In particular, it welcomed the proposal to create an independent Next Generation Fund to subsidise work in less commercially viable areas.

"Digital inclusion is not an issue which can be delivered by any single government department or agency; progress can only be made if there is effective participation from many different organisations and if these contributions are effectively coordinated. Good coordination between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government is also essential, given that many, but not all, of the most relevant policy areas are devolved," the report concluded.

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Txt Cmrg with first Welsh language mobile phone

THE world’s first Welsh language phone has been unveiled at the Eisteddfod by Samsung and Orange.

The phone features a 44,000 word Welsh dictionary to run its menus and predictive texts.

Alun Ffred Jones, the Welsh Assembly Government's heritage minsiter said: "It’s important to be able to have services and technology available in the language so that people can live their lives through the medium of Welsh."
Chair of the Welsh Language Board, Meri Huws, saw the phone as a, 'big step forward for Welsh and for mobile phones'. Menna Machreth of Cymdeithas yr Iaith wants to see other manufacturers following suit.

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