On this day 141 years ago, an article published in the Portobello Advertiser revealed the writer’s consternation at a new-fangled invention which had recently made its way into the consciousness of citizens of the United Kingdom. “If the use of the machine becomes general, handwriting will be as completely superseded as handsewing and the value of our present elementary teaching will be much modified,” the columnist warned.
Category: United Kingdom
Sandford Fleming: 5 facts you need to know about him
Hailed as the ‘Father of Standard Time’, Canadian engineer and inventor Sanford Fleming, is remembered for the invention of present system of time zones, which is still being followed all around the globe. Born on January 7, 1827 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Fleming emigrated to Canada in 1847.
Google Doodle honours inventor of worldwide standard time
New Delhi, Jan 7 – Google has honoured Sandford Fleming, a Canadian inventor and engineer of Scottish birth known for his invention of worldwide standard time, with a Doodle. Today’s Doodle reflects Fleming’s legacy on this, the 190th anniversary of his birth, Google said in a statement on Saturday.
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Launches Science-as-a-Service and…
This has enabled the Institute to offer and more effectively manage scientific computing at scale, or “Science-as-a-Service,” to their own researchers and to biosciences start-ups co-located at a newly-opened research facility on the Wellcome Genome Campus. Based in Cambridge, England, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a global center of excellence for genomic discovery, and collaborates with start-ups, pharmaceutical enterprises, governments and other research centers.
NI’s year in pictures – October to December 2016
October: Loyalists dismantle their protest camp at Twaddell Avenue after the three Ligoniel Orange Order lodges marched past the Ardoyne shops. It was set up in July 2013 after the Parades Commission ruled that Orangemen could not walk along the route.
The Wheel: Inventions and Reinventions – Book Review
Anyone who enjoys reading about history should appreciate this book, “The Wheel: Inventions and Reinventions.” Myself, I like going back to the origins of things.
Rats and cockroaches among thousands of pests found in NHS hospitals
Thousands of pests including cockroaches and rats have been found in NHS hospitals in each of the last five years as the cost of tackling them has spiralled, new figures show. Data obtained by the Press Association under Freedom of Information laws shows there were nearly 5,000 pest control call-outs by NHS trusts to hospitals in England in 2015/16 – equivalent to around 13 a day.
Smart Fitness Apps Will Transform How You Work Out in 2017
We’ve been going to gyms for a very long time to get fit, slim, and trim. But in the short time that smartphones have been around, people have started embracing fitness apps to take their well-being into their own hands.
Who was Charles Macintosh and did he really invent the raincoat?
The scientist is well known for patenting a fabric that was waterproof, due to having a section of liquid rubber in between two cloth layers. After experimenting with various chemicals, Macintosh discovered that naptha, a by-product of tar, could dissolve India rubber, a substance found in trees.
Scotland’s papers: Jobs lost to robots and religion in classrooms
A report warns a robot revolution will place millions of British jobs under threat from automation, according to the Herald and the Scotsman which both lead on the story. The Times claims a poll for their paper shows majority of Scots believe that rules should be changed to ensure that children are not made to take part in religious observance at school.
High speed fibre broadband to reach 5,000 more homes in Wiltshire
Wiltshire Council and BT have confirmed that more than 5,000 additional homes and businesses across the county are to benefit from access to fibre broadband. The news will be welcomed by Malmesbury residents, many of whom struggle with internet speeds far below the national average.
George Lucas Inspecting the Death Star and 12 More Rare Behind-the-Scenes Images of Famous Movies
Although details, such as the superlaser’s location, shifted between different concept models during production of Star Wars, the notion of the Death Star being a large, spherical space station over 100 kilometers in diameter was consistent in all of them. The Death Star model was created by John Stears.
Redditch MP Karen Lumley’s letter from Westminster
LAST Friday I was interviewed by a journalist from BBC Hereford and Worcester, writes Redditch MP Karen Lumley in her diary from Westminster. They are running a campaign to get official national recognition for the work done by Britain’s munitions workers during WW1 and WW2.
Redditch MP Karen Lumley’s letter from Westminster
LAST Friday I was interviewed by a journalist from BBC Hereford and Worcester, writes Redditch MP Karen Lumley in her diary from Westminster. They are running a campaign to get official national recognition for the work done by Britain’s munitions workers during WW1 and WW2.
Glasgow English teacher takes technology trail to business success
As people start thinking about making career moves in 2017 we hear from a teacher who discovered she had unrecognised entrepreneurial talents. We developed the first fully digital SQA course for non-native speakers of English that can be accessed on smartphones, tablets and laptops.