Backblog

Summer is rarely a time of heated broadcast policy battles, but the proposed Bell - Astral merger has generated considerable public attention and fostered a growing war of words between Bell and groups that have banded together under the "Say No to Bell" banner.

With the start of the school year less than two weeks away, the Canadian education community is increasingly thinking about copyright and the implications of Bill C-11 and the Supreme Court of Canada's five copyright decisions. While Access Copyright argues that little has changed (in recent correspondence to the Copyright Board it even objected to a six-month delay in formulating a school survey on copying practices to fully account for Bill C-11 and the decisions), most recognize that the law has undergone a dramatic change that confirms significant flexibilities for educational uses.

Earlier this year, I wrote a column and post about proposed governance changes to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority in which I expressed concern that the plans would remove the ability for CIRA members to nominate their own candidates to the board.

As EidoSearch begins to take advantage of its prize winnings from the Alpha Exchange Innovation Campaign this spring, the company has some important decisions to make around technology.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada has launched a new online complaint form that will allow Canadians to file privacy complaints via the Internet.

Andy Abramson's VoIP Watch blog has long been one of the best out there, and we've been helping each other as long as I've been an analyst. He's got both wide and deep perspectives, and is as well connected as anyone I know in this space. You can - and should - also follow Andy on Twitter: @andyabramson

Choosing an ERP consultant to help select and implement your ERP system can be one of the most significant decisions that a CIO or CFO makes in their careers. However, since executives only conduct this type of search a handful of times  at the most (if they’re doing their job right), they are typically flying blind when making this important decision.

It’s that time again! And you thought the Olympics were over... Time to start giving out some ‘medals’ in the world of IT.

Or: how to delight your users, appease Google and stop fearing each new update. For years now marketers have been using a combination of content, code, metrics and hearsay to nurture search engine traffic. It was like the Wild West, with SEO experts trying this or that new technique to game the search engines and rank better… until each next Google update.

Embedded below is a graphical look at what a Bell-Astral combined entity might look like in the United States (courtesy of Telus).

One of the key components of our ERP software selection methodology is contract negotiation with ERP vendors. As a result of our unique blend of independence, focus on ERP consulting and extensive knowledge of the ERP software industry, we are able to provide our clients with a negotiation experience that delivers desired results, quantifiable benefits and a very strong return on investment on our consulting fees.

An interesting article in Technology for Doctors explores the question of Apps as prescribed treatment options for patients who have specific clinical conditions such as Diabetes or Depression. Canada Health Infoway has been funding a number of projects through the ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge including a smart phone Apps challenge focusing on consumer health apps.

While researching locative media and Toronto history and urban planning, I have frequently come across the work of Shawn Micallef. I first encountered his work through his locative media installation, [murmur] co-created with James Roussel and Gabe Sawhney.

The last few years have proven to be a time of evolution and change for ERP systems. Cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), mobile technologies, social media and business intelligence are just a few examples of the trends affecting the ERP software marketplace. This changing landscape makes for an exciting — if potentially confusing — time to purchase ERP software.

The growth in the use of social media tools over the past 2 years has been astounding. There is nothing like an olympic games to highlight the benefits (and the risks) of social communication.

It’s been a busy two weeks for EidoSearch since completing its participation in the annual FinTech Innovation Lab, especially since the company has begun raising a new round of funding.

As public concern over Internet privacy has grown in recent years, one of the first responses is invariably to focus on the need for improved disclosure through easily accessible website privacy policies. The policies provide information on how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed to third parties.

Last week [July 16-22], the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced that it is terminating the Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF). The fund, which was established in 2008, funneled over $300 million to broadcasters to support the creation of local programming. The decision caught the industry by surprise with the CBC calling it "astonishing" and Bell Media saying it is a "major concern."

What does the future hold for small and solo GP and specialist practices in Canada? Are solo practices slowly moving towards extinction or is there a future for this traditional form of care?