The Open University

OU joins new EU research to track radicalisation online

10 July 2017

The OU is among more than 20 partners across Europe launching a new research project to examine online radicalisation. The project, called Trivalent, will look at ways to protect citizens around the globe from being targeted, and potentially enticed into endorsing and propagating violent radical content. Comprehensive understanding The OU’s part in the project is led […]

OU research to improve welfare of working animals

29 June 2017

Researchers from the OU are developing technology that will improve the mental health, performance, and welfare of Mobility Assistance Dogs across the UK. Supporting dogs to support humans The OU Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) Lab, which is dedicated to researching and developing interactive technology to support animals, improve their welfare and foster positive human-animal relationships, is […]

OU brings ‘Internet of Everything’ to everyone with free online course

26 April 2017

There has been considerable interest in the Internet of Things (IoT) recently, and whether connecting data, people, processes, and things is beneficial or a risk to data protection. Either way, the IoT is here to stay and our society needs to develop the skills to process the vast amounts of data being generated. The OU […]

Computer hacker silhouette of hooded man with binary data and network security terms. Thinkstock

Privacy perspectives: dos, don’ts, and to-dos

27 January 2017

Every time you sign up for a new website, share your latest run with your friends, or scan your loyalty card at a supermarket, you leave a record of your activity which is permanent, attached to your identity, and increasingly linked with other information to build a more complete picture of who you are and […]

Why the solution to ‘fake news’ is education, not technology

11 January 2017

This opinion article has been published by Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at The Open University, Philip Seargeant Since the Trump victory, and the Brexit result before that, the issue of ‘fake news’ has barely been out of the real news. Social media companies, such as Facebook, have been criticised for their role in […]

OU research to STRETCH the boundaries of supported homecare for older adults

19 December 2016

Researchers at the OU have launched a million-pound research programme that will redefine homecare for older adults recovering from hospital treatment. STRETCH (Socio-Technical Resilience for Enhancing Targeted Community Healthcare) aims to coordinate ‘circles’ of support for older adults. These include carers and medical professionals, relatives and neighbours, and the voluntary sector, and would be co-ordinated […]

OU expands Cisco computing courses on OpenLearn

18 August 2016

Updating your smartphone is one thing, but getting to grips with how the Internet of Everything will change lives across the globe, is no longer something only computer programmers can worry about. With more data, people and processes coming online, the Internet of Everything (IoE) – the online, networked connection of devices and processes – […]

Are personal computers on their way out?

21 January 2016

As the media reports a record fall in sales of personal computers, Andrew Smith, Senior Lecturer in Networking at The Open University, writes about the changing needs and wants of consumers when it comes to tech… As global technology media lament the record decline in Personal Computer (PC) sales, I am sitting here in my […]

“A load of hot air? The carbon footprint of the Paris climate conference’s Twitter deluge”

18 December 2015

I am sure that it has not escaped you that there was a major climate change conference taking place in Paris recently. I won’t become embroiled in the climate debate, as everyone has an opinion. But I am interested in (or is it hot air) at events such as this — when they are shared […]

Opened Padlock on digital background. Image: Thinkstock

Cyber attack causes universities across the country to lose internet connection

8 December 2015

Universities across the country have been losing internet connections today because of a cyber attack. The publicly-funded academic computer network has been affected by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack causing many universities, including The Open University, to lose connections, preventing access to external websites. The network, known as Janet, is responsible for the […]

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Category: Computing