There were interesting questions raised in response to my letter about Google’s use of data. (Stage of consent, Not looking good in profile, Letters blog, letters.computing.co.uk). The real threat is not that user data be collected and used for profiling and providing a better service, or even that this data is used to better monetize the service. After all, Visa and American Express have been doing that for years and people are ready to trade some of their privacy in exchange for this service. The real problem is when a single company gathers this kind of information about you on a series of seemingly harmless and independent services such as search engine, email, chat, calendar and payments, all with a single username and password. That this data is stored in a single place and is so easy to match is a real concern. The bottom line is: do not rely on a single provider for your entire digital life.

François Bourdoncle

I graduated eight years ago and in recent years have employed from our local pool of undergraduates and graduates (IT undergraduates have UK's highest dropout rate). I do not look for experience, I look for a passion and interest in computing. In an interview I ask what area of computing they are interested in and what have they done in that area, such as coding or building a home network. If they can explain their solution thoroughly then they get on to my shortlist. If a candidate is enthusiastic and able to find solutions on their own the chances are they could do anything for you.

Joel Mansford

The IT industry needs to rethink how it recruits people, (IT undergraduates have UK's highest dropout rate).

The industry has undergone a major image makeover and is now attracting people due to promises of a high income and less competition for job roles.

However, in the bid to shake off its 'anorak' image it has attracted a high percentage of people that don't have the appropriate skills.

If the UK is to compete globally in the IT sector, then places on IT courses at university need to be filled with students with a work ethic, attracted for reasons other than a high pay packet. The dropout and low intake rates speak for themselves. The IT industry has lost its way by creating a huge gap between image and reality - attracting no-one.

Martin Smith
Grayson Computer Services

A single smartcard for all uses will never, ever happen (A smartcard for smart users, Letters blog, letters.computing.co.uk). It's not a technology problem. Multi-application cards exist today. It's a business problem. First, there are the obvious security and liability issues around the issuing process. Secondly, the cards are crucial marketing devices - hence the fancy graphics and novelty shapes. How will issuers compete for the coveted 'front of wallet' position as co-hosted applications on a single card?

Jonathan Tuliani

I have suffered with searing headaches for years and can attribute them to wireless technologies ranging from the Wii games machine to wireless routers (Experts raise health concerns over Wi-Fi).

Wireless routers and associated network devices cause me great pain. My employer did some blind tests on me and I can pretty well predict when the radiation is switched on. I have been to the doctor who has referred me to a neurologist. But I am really concerned. What is discouraging is the way this condition is laughed off by so-called professionals. If I can sense wireless signals - what are they doing to our bodies?

David Williams

Of course IT students drop out early, and will continue to do so until the courses reflect what industry wants (IT Undergraduates have UK's highest dropout rate).

Any keen, talented student who goes on a computing-related course is likely to forget more than he or she learns about computing in the first year - how is that meant to encourage them?

Bringing everyone down to the same standard in year one may help establishments cope, and aid their timetabling, but I firmly believe that the next generation of experts who will lead our industry forward in years to come take one look at current courses, maybe start one, but then walk away and get a real job, earn some cash, and more importantly start learning and developing themselves, on the job.

As for poor image problems (The much smarter way to appreciate IT, Editor’s diary, editor.computing.co.uk), many see computing as a way to earn a good salary nowadays. I don't see why that is a poor image? True, computer science used to be considered an academic geek's thing, but nowadays, I suspect the real talent either leaves university with no degree (when they find out how slow and watered down the entire thing is), or never goes there at all.

Where is industry going to find the next generation of very quick, gifted programmers from? The guys with a sense of urgency, a talent for making things that work? If I were hiring, it wouldn't be the recent graduates list that I'd be scouring, but trying to engage those about to drop out.

Nigel Barker

Given the continued depredations of outsourcing on IT careers, perhaps the undergraduate drop-outs (IT Undergraduates have UK's highest dropout rate) saw the writing on the wall and opted not to waste their time studying for a career which would see them competing against lower-cost centres and lower-cost staff, aided by the British government's incomprehensible weakness in granting work permit visas on the grounds of alleged staff shortages when anyone over the age of 40 struggles to get a job interview.

Nigel S

In the letter from Ade Adeyemo (Business and IT skills but no job, letters.computing.co.uk), he answers his own question. He says he is in his early 40s so that is why he can’t find a better job. I am in my early 50s, so I am really on the scrap heap. I am now planning for death, that is all I have got to look forward to. When firms advertise for ‘recent graduates’ they don’t mean people taking mid-life degrees.

Death to ageism.

Alyn Scott

In response Ade Adeyemo’s letter (Business and IT skills but no job, letters.computing.co.uk), I have to say it is an age-related issue. I had a similar experience a few years ago; I was returning to full-time work following three years of full-time education gaining an IT degree.

I was then in my very late 30s and just like Ade I had past experience of the IT sector and found it extremely hard gaining that first role. At one point I was quizzed almost to the point of being antagonised by the recruitment agency on my abilities and references, which were all good. ‘They are actually looking for someone who is not so mature,’ I was told.

Getting employment is a process and part of this process is adopting a systematic approach. It may sound simplistic but getting a job in the current market is a question of very careful planning, especially when faced with younger opposition.

Lewis Kidd

So what’s the point of all this then? (HSBC plans a green future). Smoke and mirrors, a good example of green washing, corporate social responsibility? Maybe the bank should be looking more towards its investments and financial support of industry in China and India and other emerging global markets that are pumping billions of tonnes of toxic gas into the air. The damage through this causes so much more than a few corporate do-gooders trying to appeal to its Daily Mail-reading customer base. This is just a blatant and successful attempt at cashing in on the greedy Western guilt.

Jason Taylor, living in the mining districts of India

Is the threat actually the level of detail of users’ profile gathered by firms such as Google or the fact that information is monetized without our consent? (Not looking good in profile, Letters blog, letters.computing.co.uk). In other words, can we blame the Googlefolks to prepare the ground for innovative business habits? More importantly, François said in his last paragraph that in France companies are not allowed to manipulate/store private data – does this imply that government organisations are?

Cybarefoot

Many years ago when  I did my studying, it was on a day release basis, and I remember to this day the  comments from various employers at the time that they preferred to employ someone who had gained their qualifications that way rather than though full-time education, as they ‘slotted into the work’ far better than someone coming from pure education.

It seems that still rings true today, for without experience, companies don't want to know, as the writer confirms in his letter (Catch-22, Letters blog, letters computing.co.uk).

Back in my days at college, in the 1960s and 1970s, we had the problems of academia being out of touch with industry and from what the writers of your letters say today, it appears that no one has learned the lessons over the years.

If we are to move forward then maybe it's time employers and academia sat down together and resolved the issues. Remember, it's never too late to  learn.

Alan Wiseman

Of all the mechanisms to defeat fraudulent use of credit cards on the internet that were mentioned in this article (The new fraud squad), I am puzzled that one particular mechanism we use does not  seem to have caught on generally.

To sign on to some of our systems the user needs not only a password - subject to all the usual checks including use restricted to only one or a range of IP addresses - but also  the good old PIN code. So what's unusual about that? Well, the PIN code is dynamic and changes every time. The user is advised of the PIN code via an SMS  message to a mobile. OK, a fraudster could use an unidentifiable mobile phone, but  registered phones and land lines can be checked as registered against the user, and it's one more safeguard. So, why isn't it used more?

Reg Smith.

It is crucial to ensure that employees carry out their duties with in the law (Consumer data is not being protected). Breaches in the Data Protection Act are quickly becoming daily headline news. It is surprising that companies are still making such elementary mistakes, quite probably through poor staff education.

While it is not a requirement of the Data Protection Act to educate employees, education must be the first rule of data protection. Employees are on the frontline handling data; increasing staff awareness is essential to prevent breaches occurring. A survey that NETconsent conducted with the Federation Against Software Theft in June highlighted that more than 75 per cent of organisations do not have a process in place to test employee understanding of policies. By testing and monitoring employee understanding employers can benefit from identifying areas of weakness and address them before they create a problem.

For organisations that want to take this a step further, using regular reminders of key regulations to re-iterate important information refreshes employees' understanding and shifts it to the forefront of their minds. Employers must take note of the Information Commissioner's concerns as all organisations are at risk, not just those with publicised policy breaches. Organisations need to look at improving the processes now to avoid potentially costly pay-outs later.

Robin Saunders

As your article (ID card consultancy hits £50m) says, the notional structure of the ID cards scheme has radically changed; though since nothing in the way of specification has been issued, it may be more virtual change than real . Paradoxically this appears to have permitted the Home Office to side-step all the usual controls on government projects. Ought not the new structure to be subject to new Office of Government Commerce gateway project reviews to check that it makes sense? Doesn't a new way of doing it affect what was said in the Regulatory Impact Assessment and Race Equality Impact Assessment put forward in 2004? If not, why not?

Guy Herbert, general secretary, NO2ID

The case study in your 19 July issue on the government IT profession starts ‘With the advent of joined-up government…’

In the same issue, David Varney provides evidence that joined-up government has not arrived (Public sector must embrace IT innovation): ‘There are 63 different benefits entitlement forms, the majority of which require the same standard information to be provided. An average citizen will need to prove their identity to government at least 11 times per year.’

Joining up technology won’t join up government. History shows that IT enables change, but does not bring it about. For IT to be effective, there needs to be joined-up processes, unique data sources and, most importantly, motivated people. The billions poured into government IT will continue to be wasted until these pre-requisites are met.

Peter Bebb

Google is installing a huge solar array that is composed of many panels (Green initiatives just a PR exercise, Newsdesk blog, newsdesk.computing.co.uk).

Multiple solar cells go into a solar panel and multiple panels are connected in series to make a solar array.

Also, while it might be amusing to see a wind turbine at a gas station, every step a company takes in spreading renewable energy should be appreciated.

If you are so keen to point out any ‘ironies’ in BP’s company, look at BP Alternative Energy. BP Solar employs 2,200 people and is expanding its production capacity fourfold. BP is one of the first of the ‘big oil’ companies to change and become a ‘big energy’ company. This change should be welcomed and encouraged in the energy industry, even if it just moves forward in tiny steps at a time.

Carter Lavin

I recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in computer science. I have been working in the IT industry for three years just to make sure that I have the necessary experience and skills to get a job (IT skills crisis requires a joint effort, Newsdesk blog, newsdesk.computing.co.uk).

One of my concerns was the relevance of what we were being taught at university. While doing my placement in the third year I found I had acquired none of the skills necessary for providing IT support in the workplace.

Most of the skills learned during my computer science course will not be used in my career and I feel it is this realisation that will result in a drop in the number of candidates.

It is necessary to create modules within the course for learning the basics of the working environment and if we can somehow work out a way to have students working a couple of days a week with the rest devoted to study, everyone will benefit.

Ryan Brown

The IT skills gap is only happening because employers want nothing but experienced candidates (IT skills crisis requires a joint effort, Newsdesk blog, newsdesk.computing.co.uk).

I am an IT graduate and I am also disabled. I have applied for more than 200 jobs in the past year and had over a dozen interviews but Ican’t gain the experience because I can’t get a job in the first place. I am sick of hearing at the start of an interview: ‘So what experience do you have?’

There has to be some give and take. I wasn’t expecting to walk into a high-paid job straightaway, but now I wish I hadn’t wasted my hard-earned money and  effort.

At least give graduates a chance, give us some training and we will reward you with enthusiasm now and with the skills you need to fill the IT skills gap in the years ahead.

Kurt Dreslin

I don’t mind leaving an option for the old-fashioned dinosaurs that responded to my letter (Called to account; One card fits all, Letters blog, letters.computing.co.uk). You can still have different PINs for every account or even separate cards.

For us modern-thinking people, a highly-secured, centrally-managed biometric multicard would really help to make day-to-day life simpler and easier.

With the option of adding and removing applications to and from our card using a dedicated government-managed web site, we wouldn’t have to keep all our cards in separate places or struggle
to remember five or six different PINs. I have the same PIN on every card and have all of them in my wallet all the time.

If I had a million pounds, I would keep it on a separate account which would not be included on my multicard. Also, I don’t mind including my travelcard (such as Oyster), company ID card, gym, library and various store loyalty cards.

With centrally-managed security, giving access just for defined and verified organisations ­ for information needed for connection with this particular organisation ­ it would be identity secured and a safe solution.

Waldek Hiero

The growing range of services offered by Google and other search portals poses an increasing threat to privacy (Microsoft lays down privacy challenge to Google).

By offering a complete range of services from email and search to e-payment, it can easily build a complete profile of your digital life.

What is really worrying is the level of detail of your profile that can be built by correlating the data gathered on an entire suite of services that uses a single user name and password. The new thing here is the simplicity of correlating data, rather than the mere fact that this data exists.

It is fair for the EU to place boundaries on what a company may do with private data. In France we follow a strict privacy law that prevents us storing personal information that can be traced back to the individual.

Francois Bourdoncle

First we have outsourcing, then we have constantly shifting document object models (Web developers
in short supply).

Top off that with companies that don’t want to pay anything nor understand why things are so expensive, add a dash of Web 2.0, two dashes of apprenticeships and finish it up with arrogant kids with no business sense who will build a web page for nothing to obtain a professional credit. Shake with mandated yet worthless degree programmes, slave labour hours, no benefits, consultants who are used and discarded, incompatible development tools and constantly shifting standards and you have a recipe for disaster.

Why would anyone in their right mind enter this field in the first place?

Jennifer Wells

There is a shortage of trained web developers, and here in Canada too the schools aren’t helping to create skilled workers (Web developers in short supply).

Most of the computer programmers being turned out over here end up working in call centres because they don’t have the skills to do the higher-level work and companies don’t want to bother to train them.

Adam Greene

I fully agree that employers should pay for the job being performed and the experience being used, and they should ignore other factors such as gender, race, and so on (Women deserve equal pay, letters.computing.co.uk).

However, about four years ago I worked with a female colleague who lodged an equal pay grievance with
our employer, I presume citing me as the named comparator in the case.

In response to this, our employer chose to undertake a review of the work performed in our area.
The result was that he determined I was being overpaid for the job I was doing and he gave me a choice: have no pay increases until my colleagues’ pay caught up with mine or transfer to a different team and perform a different job.

Trevor Lucy

The West Yorkshire branch of the BCS is celebrating its golden jubilee this year. We are organising a gala celebration dinner in Leeds on 7 September, and would like to invite as many committee members as practicable who have been involved in the branch organisation over the past 50 years.
We would like to hear from former members or anyone who knows the whereabouts of former committee members who may not see this article. Please contact me on (01904) 721517 (work hours) or at margaret.moore@bcs.org.uk.

Margaret Moore