Information Technology

Canadian firm D-Wave Systems has calculated its way through a ‘topological phase transition’ using its 2,048-qubit ‘annealing quantum computer’. Several huge organisations have bought D-Wave computers – including Google and NASA (Lockheed-Martin even up-graded its D-Wave system) – but, in a world where folk are having trouble quantum-coupling a handful of qubits, there remain questions over whether D-Wave’s are ‘proper’ ...

One of the world’s first commercial computers has been registered as technology with essential historical significance by Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science. Manufactured by Fujitsu in 1959, the FACOM128 was the first relay-type commercial computer made in Japan, and was instrumental in the development of Japan’s computer industry. The original computer featured the then advanced capabilities of a ...

Five ethical principles at the heart of artificial intelligence development and use will be the best way for the UK to benefit from AI, concludes a report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. According to the report, ‘AI in the UK: Ready, Willing and Able?’, done ethically, the UK is in a strong position to be a world ...

The IoT Security Foundation (IoTSF) creates a professional membership category for developers and IT staff

Tesco has appointed Guus Dekkers as chief technology officer. Dekkers joins the supermarket giant from Airbus and he succeeds Edmond Mesrobian who is retiring. The role of CTO at Tesco has developed greatly as the supermarket firm translates rapidly evolving technological and digital capabilities into its retail operations. Dave Lewis, Tesco Group CEO, writes: “Guus brings extremely strong expertise in ...

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement has allocated the first wave of funding for improving broadband optical fibre communications across the country. Around £95m will come out of the Government’s £190m Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) budget for 13 areas across the UK. This represents the government’s attempt to address the disappointing level of access to gigabit-capable data communications across the country. ...

Theresa May’s decision to take the UK out of the EU’s Digital Single Market (DSM) has sent a shockwave through the country’s digital community. The fear is that the technology sector will faces a prolonged period of commerial and trading uncertainty. The head of one the UK’s larger internet hosting firms UKFast believes leaving the DSM is unnecessary and creates ...

Airbus has signed a three-year contract to maintain the operations of Beijing’s public safety Tetra network. The contract with Chinese operator Justtop until 2020 covers on-site support, maintenance services and a 24/7 emergency support with trouble shooting competences. The Beijing Government shared network serves various government authorities, including the municipal government, the emergency response office, armed police, traffic police, fire ...

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 9.c is to increase access to ICT (information and communication technologies) and a report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is encouraging. It states that least developed countries (LDCs) are on track to achieve the goal of universal and affordable Internet access by 2020. The report, ICTs, LDCs and the SDGs: Achieving universal ...

At Davos, the UN Broadband Commission set global broadband targets to bring the 3.8 billion people online.