1) What was your first encounter with IT?
My first actual experience of IT was while I was working as a research assistant at Queen’s University. A major survey was carried out and using Hollerith Punchcards we had to input all data into a mainframe computer. An analysis was then carried out on a mainframe, which itself is less powerful than an ordinary PC today.
2) Are you fond of technology or do you find it a necessary evil?
I think it is hard to be fond of technology, how can you be fond of a machine? Having said that I couldn’t live without white technology, especially the hoover and dishwasher! Technology can save a lot of time; however, if it isn’t managed properly it can actually create more work. It is also important to realise that it can never replace
human contact between individuals. It is through relationships based on trust that companies can generate more business, but there is no reason why these relationships can’t exist alongside technology.
3) Is there any particular technology that you find indispensable in your working life?
Nowadays, I would say that my laptop is the most indispensable piece of technology in my working life. I know that in my own field of economic research the PC has revolutionalised the way we work because of the speed at which data can be analysed.
4) Have Irish companies been slow to embrace IT?
I don’t think we can say that Irish companies have been slow to embrace IT, as it would be wrong to generalise. The most successful Irish companies across all sectors are the ones that use technology to drive new revenue streams. AONA, Bic systems and Kainos are all software companies on this island which have made outstanding
technological developments. Meanwhile in textiles and the food and drink industry, there are many Irish companies that have been to the fore with developing technological processes.
5) Is ebusiness the way forward?
E-business alone is not the way forward but it is one of those areas that Irish companies will need to become familiar with and proficient in, in order not to miss out on new opportunities. Increasingly companies are responding to tenders online. In nearly all sectors where a company is tendering for business with a multi-national, e-
business skills are essential. E-business is the way things are going and it will be essential in future that companies are prepared to do business over the web.
InterTradeIreland offers practical advice and workshops on tendering in the €13 billion public sector on this island through
www.go-source.com and the Supplier Education Programme.
6) What are the main hindrances to conducting business online?
One of the main hindrances to conducting business online is that it is impersonal. Face-to-face contact is still important in business and can be demonstrated in the increasing business traffic on airflights in the US, despite tele-conferencing and webcam technology. Companies may also query how they can make money from online business. With the boom and bust of the dot com years, a lot of companies switched off from online business. Other problems have been that companies don’t have enough time or expertise to develop e-business.
7) Will broadband change the way we conduct business in the future?
Broadband will undoubtedly change the way we conduct business in future. It will speed everything up and open up opportunities. Those who are not connected will be left behind. InterTradeIreland welcomes the great advances being made in broadband provision, both North and South. In particular, in Northern Ireland where government strategy to achieve 100 per cent broadband coverage by 2005 is on-target.
8) What do you think will be the ‘next big thing’?
In my view, the next big thing will be wireless communications. We have already seen the start of this with mobile telephony, but this really is the tip of the iceberg. When the next generation of mobile devices that take full advantage of 3G technology become available, we really are going to join the ‘connected world’.
There will be no more looking for holes in the wall to plug laptops into. Every airport, train station and library will have hotspots and no one will have any worries about whether to take their mobile, digital camera, PDA, games machine, or laptop with them — they’ll just take a ‘do-it-all, always-connected, always-up-to-date gadget’ which is all of these things in their back pocket.
Going forward, I think too that voice over IP (VoIP) and mobile communications replacing land lines will have major impact in the whole technology sphere.
9) What are your favourite websites?
Expertiseireland.com (www.expertiseireland.com) is one of my favourite websites. It is the gateway to the island’s knowledge base — the most advanced on-line portal of its kind in Europe. The website brings together innovators and those at the forefront of developing the knowledge economy, be they from a business or academic background. It is creating enhanced consultancy, collaboration and funding opportunities, and is helping the business community tap into the world-class intellectual property available on the island. In addition to this, the site will showcase local expertise to the world. On a personal level, I log onto www.regnumchristi.org
regularly to download prayers and meditations.
10) What do you think are the main benefits of technology for SMEs?
For continued competitive success in the knowledge-based economy, it is indispensable that SMEs keep up to date with technology and continually improve technological processes and products.For all companies large and small the benefits of technology are that it can drive down processing costs, save time and open up new market opportunities by helping to develop new products and processes. However, the process of technological
advancement has to be handled very carefully, keeping a close eye on costs and planning resources set against it.
23/08/04
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