COMPUTERS in PRACTICE
IT Support and Servicing
Ebbw Vale Retail Centre
Architects:
Willdig-Lammie Partnership - CAD management support by
Computers in Practice
Willdig-lammie.co.uk
NEWS APRIL 2009
Second Generation IP Phone System 3CX
The
next generation of computer-based telephone exchanges is here. Using the same
cables and server as the computer network, internet protocol or IP phones save
on installation costs, and are easily extended both inside and outside the
office without costly hardware purchases.
Now
there is an elegant system from 3CX to run on Windows systems, giving all the
PABX features, and more, without the need for specialist skills in learning to
develop first generation Linux or Asterisk systems.
The
biggest advantage in use is the call cost, it’s much lower. But close
second comes the added facilities on offer, from video calling and conference
calls, to branch and home office extensions.
We’re
now supporting three large computerised PABX systems, each of which can be
monitored remotely, and reconfigured via our normal computer network tools.
New Web Site
We’ve
decided to simplify our website. As they say, Less is More.
Since
the early 1990s, when we produced our first site, there have been several fashions
in web design, but in these austere times it’s just the time to go for
something rather simple. That way we can update it rather more often.
It’s
a way to test out simple programs for generating web pages. In this case it was
Microsoft Word, something that most
people are familiar with. It’s just a matter of formatting slightly
differently, and adding in some Hyperlinks to join one page to another.
It
does take a little trial and error to match what you see on Word to what it
looks like in a web browser like Internet Explorer, especially when it comes to
font height. And a little testing is required to ensure that it all links
properly, doesn’t take an age to download, and work with all the common
combinations of browser and computer.
So a small
website, and small setup costs, it took a couple of hours.
NEWS MARCH 2009
Skype for Business
Skype,
the worlds largest telecoms company in terms of registered users (405 million) are
making changes that make it easier to use Skype in offices. They have started
testing SIP systems that link in with office networks, with a view to going
live later this year.
So
far Skype has been a closed system that gives good call quality, but doesn’t
have the usual switchboard facilities.
Because
Skype is free to use between one Skype user and another, however distant,
businesses are likely to be attracted to the service, especially for
international calls.
New Client News
Thursday 26th March 2009
Computers
in Practice are pleased to announce that they have signed a contract to support
and maintain ITC equipment for design specialists DisplayOne.
With
clients ranging from Anne Summers to Wallis, the services of DisplayOne require the use of advanced 3D computer
modelling to produce displays and shop fitting equipment. With manufacturing
and design in the UK and overseas, communication is
vital. Computers in Practice is developing the IT network for greater capacity,
and the telephone systems to allow voice and video conferencing between offices
and design team members.
SOM install CATIA
Wednesday 25th March 2009
Thanks to a recent installation of Catia,
Skidmore Owens and Merril
(SOM) report a new scientific accuracy in their design process, something that
has allowed them to develop genuinely new patterns shapes and forms.
Catia, the Dassault Systémes software more normally used in the
design of racing cars, Boeing and Airbus aircraft and ships, has been
championed by Gehry Technologies under the name Digital Project.
Frank Gehry, who developed the system for use in architecture in
his office, has supplied over 100 workstations to SOM for use worldwide.
Zaha Hadid
Partner, Patrik Schumaker,
another user of Digital Project recently emphasised the imperative for its use
when he said. “ Productivity, creativity and elegance… are
available from Digital Project and the Dassault Systémes software.”
DP Agents - www.dte.co.uk/
Skidmore Owens Merril - www.som.com/
Digital Project - www.gehrytechnologies.com
Zaha Hadid
Architects - http://www.zaha-hadid.com/
KWL Architects Use Render-Farm
Tuesday 24th March 2009
We have
been commissioned to upgrade the servers at KWLArchitects to cope with
larger drawing databases for new projects. Designing downtime will be kept to a
minimum by weekend work and reinstallation is timed to finish before the
restarts on Monday morning.
Amongst new software tools able to use the extra
capacity at KWLArchitects
is Maya from AutoDesk. Its in effective use to better
describe and present projects to clients. Coupled with a render-farm, a grouo of computers linked to provide extra power, the
software is able to produce high-resolution visualisations of schemes overnight
from 3D models developed during the working day.
http://www.kwlarchitects.co.uk/
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