Technology

The BBC's technology boss, John Linwood, has given an interesting interview to Silicon.com about his vision for the years ahead.  He thinks the BBC cannot yet go with external providers for cloud computing, but is launching an "internal cloud".  He's moving basic PC provision to Windows 7 and Microsoft 2010.  And he's refreshing the stock of PCs - he says he's done a deal for staff to get Macs for the same price, and that he expects 10,000 staff to move to new devices - laptops etc, leaving 10,000 with upgraded PCs.

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Linwood says staff in journalism are increasingly using Microsoft Sharepoint to move information around (with the much more ambitious Journalism Production Tools project in deep-freeze).  Smaller vehicles for newsgathering are promised - all capable of delivering audio and video.   Local wireless networks around the vehicles should eliminate the need for extensive cabling and rigging.

One project aims to reduce the equipment needed in local radio studios to just headphones, microphones and a control interface.  All the other "stuff" would virtual.  The ambition would be to equip three or four studios for the cost of one.  (This assumes there'll still be a requirement for local radio studios after the Delivering Quality First process).   All worth a read.