Draft story on BETT : vanishing UK presence at global event
OhmyNews no longer has a live English language version. But there is a
blog about citizen journalism so maybe some of this can be connected. BETT is at Olympia next week, Wed 12th to Sat 15th . Starting with what will not be there, easiest to identify as online
only. Apple don't do shows. Covent Garden for the largest nearby
store. Is this the end for the desktop? Will we just have consumer
devices with all the servers on a pay-per-view site? Let us hope there
are some options. Last year there was a stand for Apple dealers who
did offer some support but I am not yet sure where it is. The BBC will not be there. This follows pressure from the Guardian and
other publishers who objected to the competition. I think this is a
real shame and a damage to the UK brand. The BBC do understand
technology. it is not just the licence fee that gives them an
advantage. By the way the Guardian stand seems smaller than previously
from the floorplan. In the case of local news they objected to the BBC
plans then cancelled their own. More later on UK institutions at BETT. I can't find the Open Source Village. Last year this was on the ground
floor but it may be back on the software gallery. Later posts on this
blog will link to any new info about this or related websites. They
usually display an official one laptop-per-child. This concept now
takes many forms. Moving on to what will be there, Moodle is well represented. Synergy
Learning on stand N2 had the most detail last year. Lancaster
University Network Services on stand P26 are mostly about the network
though Moodle and other open source is supported. Universities are part of the scene, this is a general education show.
The Institute of Education has a stand (W 46) for Technology Enhanced
Learning. First time they have had a stand, so should be interesting. The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is expected to introduce
several new mobile devices and TV screens with web links. Most of the
companies will have a stand at BETT so more on this as news arrives
from Vegas. Most of it may not actually appear in the shops in quite
the same way as promoted. This blog will also cover Exeter retail as
an example. BETT is the only UK occasion with a complete range of Adobe software.
Stand K40. (Also V47 in balcony, not sure why) I hope to get some help
with Premiere Elements. I am gradually I am getting used to the Flash
ideas. What is the use of a book without video? The question may be
asked sometime this month. There is no BECTA stand as BECTA has been closed down as part of UK
policy. It looks as if there is not much from other UK government. The
Houses of Parlaiment (J5) seems to be a general promotion rather that
having an idea about UK policy. The Norwegian Centre for ICT Education
is not far away and may have as much to contribute. The most interesting policy stand looks like being the Media
Development Authority of Singapore (D101) well away from what was once
thougt of as the policy area. But they seem to have ideas about
creative industry and a web future. Guess so far is that BETT will work well as a London show but not
feature much from UK government so the result will be that people
working in the UK will later be checking websites from other places.
Not sure if this will still be my view after an actual visit. Cannot
find the archives for example, BFI etc. The Cameron Clegg cuts are
having an effect.
