Libre Graphics meeting in April and links back to OhmyNews

I am still getting ready for IPEX and looking back on some stories I did for OhmyNews. More later on the ones about IPEX but first three about Libre Graphics. This is a conference about free and open source software. I found out about this when I mentioned that Adobe worked with open source sometimes. OhmyNews continues as a site in Korean and there is a blog about Citizen Journalism. More about that later as well. These reports were based only on other content online, blogs and photos etc. The next meeting is in Liepzig so I will probably still be thinking about IPEX then, Most of the issues from ExCel will turn up, just a bit easier to access.

2007

2008

2009

Yes I am moving backwards a bit, but the print industry moves very slowly.

BBC Radio 4, MOOCs, continental Europe

Last night the discussion around online education seemed well balanced from a UK point of view. there was an hour following two half hours on schools and universities. The case against the MOOC was made and it is still the case that Oxford and Cambridge are holding out for more traditional methods. But the balance seemed more or less in favour of trying things out.

The main problem I had was that there was nothing about universities or education on the continent of Europe. Technology appears to have suddenly arrived from Silicon Valley in another craze. Nothing reported about sustained research funding from the EU. I think one reason for this is that the BBC gets guidance from UK universities and they seem to think they are world class on the basis of English language journals.

I put some raves on my Medium blog where there is less linking offered. In one I noticed the lack of UK reporting for the eMOOCs event. Below is a YouTube clip for a talk on policy from the European Commission. 

Will Radio 4 send a reporter to Paris or Brussels? Not as far away as San Jose.

FUN-MOOC : Scientific Humanities by fr-universite-numerique

Guardian UK, what is going on?

Earlier today I paid £1.60 for the print version of the Guardian. Today is media day with what is now only two pages. Mostly about the BBC and how they need to face up to strategic issues around moving online as in BBC3. Then when I check my email I find a news item from InPublishing that tells me of all sorts of changes at the Guardian. Senior editor moves suggest a priority for editors who already know the audience in the USA and Australia, a move of comment to online ( fewer pages in print but don't hold your breath for lower prices ) and another try at video. So I expect more articles about how the BBC might like to think about not competing in the video area and soforth.

As mentioned previously I no longer buy the Guardian every day. Monday and Tuesday is now out of interest in what little they include. ( Nothing on MOOCs tomorrow, my guess, they are promoting King's Cross as a campus for the London locals ) .

The people who buy the UK print are maybe seen as a cash cow while the rising stars of global online move into place. I don't think the Monday to Friday print will last very long. there must be a limit to higher prices and fewer pages. But some of the same people will be part of whtever online turns out to be. The print version should at least include some explanation realted to the online leaks we happen to discover.

Meanwhile I think the BBC is more or less sensible and explains policy quite well.

Update on IPEX Japan and #Deming20

Previously I posted about my impression that the IPEX in East London is likely to be seen as mostly about Japan. I also wondered about Edwards Deming. What did he learn in Japan? For sustained direction in manufacturing it is at least worth looking at Japan as well as the USA.

IPEX Japan in East London

#Deming20 and IPEX Japan in East London

Having seen the floor plans it is still the case that companies from Japan will be fairly visible. Konica Minolta has a large space next to the Cross Media Production area. Although this micro show is not there on all the days of IPEX, I expect it to influence much of the discussion. There is a stand for Fuji in the South hall near the World Print Summit and for Screen in the North hall so inkjet for B2 will be mentioned. Also near the Summit is the Komori Eco Zone. So litho has not completely vanished from IPEX. There may be information on how Konica Minolta  is working with Komori on digital for larger sheet sizes.

Of course IPEX is just as interesting for what is not there. One theory is that litho continues as the default for print and most people will be content to visit drupa every four years. My guess is that events such as Cross Media will gain influence over time as digital moves quite fast, but this cannot be assessed for a while. The digital companies from the USA may be staying away also for good reasons. Trade shows may be on the way out. The move online may be more obvious to some. Xerox seems to be moving to a services based strategy. HP may be interested in 3D printing but is not quite ready yet.

Assuming that some trade shows can still make an impression that leads to future investment and activity there could still be a role for digital printing. If so it looks as if Japanese companies will play a large role in this.

Even more into speculation I am still trying to better understand Edwards Deming and how the ideas associated with him work out in practice. One approach is to see them as remarkably consistent over time and to be based on earlier work by Walter Shewhart and practice in USA manufacturing. But why did Deming ideas seem to work best in Japan? How much was really tried in the USA in the '80s? What did Deming make of all this? Is there anything new in his later work? What is happening with USA manufacturing at this time? Or in the UK for that matter?

Possibly something for much later. This sort of discussion may get lost as IPEX continues. But there is something in background that you notice over time.

Dates towards the end of March

Quite possibly I will not post much from IPEX during the event. There may be too much going on. So my idea is to put as much draft material on this blog as possible. You may link it yourself from other bits of news or you may be at IPEX anyway.

My week usually revolves around the Wild Show on a Thursday morning. I do try to prepare for this and also work out which are the good bits that can be loaded online as clips. This week I am in London tomorrow for a meeting based on Edwards Deming. There will be an open event in June. On the 20th there is a special on Phonic FM about the Green Man who is likely to visit Exeter around this time. So we will build up to this on the 13th. Also there is an event in early April at Cafe 55 about 1955 when SENSE started so we will feature some of the music.

The Analogue to Digital event is at the Phoenix on the 22nd. This covers music and I will try to follow the links to video and mobile devices. Then the first three days of IPEX and the Wild Show on Thursday. TEDx Exeter is on the Friday.

As IPEX is also about Cross Media Production I will try to reference the media around the other events. There is some RISO equipment in the Phoenix basement. TEDx Exeter sold all the tickets without needing to print any promotion but I understand that although social media is a priority there is a print option in the background.

April could be more restful, but also a chance to see where this fits together.