Friday Tech BBQ
Canterbury Software Inc is keen to promote the Friday Tech BBQ as a meeting point for the Christchurch tech community.
If it's been a while since you last checked out the BBQ scene, now could be the time. If you know of anyone who might be
interested in coming along, especially those new to the sector or new to Christchurch, forward this to them. The BBQ is
an informal social and networking event that takes place every Friday, 5.30pm to around 7.30pm. It gives members of the
tech community a chance to meet other similar people in a relaxed environment, talk shop, network and get to know each
other better.
MAY 16: Hosted by the multi-faceted, multi-talented ID Ltd, Level 2, 99 Victoria Street (just north of the clocktower).
From you hostess with the mostest Kim Ryan ( mailto:kim@id.co.nz): "We're planning to have a few demos on strategically placed monitors of various sorts of things and some funky old
Dracula movies playing (just for a bit of fun) plus we should have some streaming video demos which we tend to be
specialising in at the moment ... it'll be a good opportunity for CSI members to find out how they can be interviewed
and streamed off one of the busiest websites in NZ!" Please bring a contribution to the drinks and nibbles.
MAY 23: The venue for next week's Tech BBQ is LA's Bar and Cafe, 31 Dundas St, from 5.30pm. (There have been lots of
postive reports from last Friday's beta test of Marilyn's and the "stayers" reportedly continued for big night on the
town.)
For further information (and to see who got snapped by the CSI paparazzi at recent events) go to the Tech BBQ page at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/bbq.htm
###############
hyperLINK contents: Issue 2, May 15 2003
+ Ultralab comes to town + CSI tunes in to jobs network + Tech Newsbytes from all around + Incredibly useful website of
the week + What's happening at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz + Hot topics at the forum + Contact us, subscribe/unsubscribe etc
Coming next week in hyperLINK:
+ The glittering prizes
###############
*FEATURE STORY*
ULTRALAB COMES TO TOWN
By Carol Webb hyperLINK editor
Canterbury software developers have acquired a new neighbour with impressive global connections in the e-learning world.
Ultralab director Stephen Heppell says the newly opened inner-city centre is keen to work with local developers to help
get good products to market. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature1 ]
------------------------------
*FEATURE STORY*
CSI TUNES IN TO JOBS NETWORK
Canterbury Software Inc has struck a deal with Christchurch-based jobs networking website RealContacts.com that will
boost members’ chances of filling vacancies, while helping job-seekers find appropriate positions. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature2 ]
------------------------------
*EXPORT FOCUS*
Are You Ready To Export? Stepping out into the global marketplace with your company’s products for the first time is an
exciting and challenging venture. Here’s a checklist to ensure you get the basics right. [pdf here http://www.marketnewzealand.com/common/files/readytoexport-htg.pd f ]
>From a Trade New Zealand series of very useful How To guides for exporters. Next week's featured guide: Export Plan.
------------------------------
*NEWSBYTES*
CHCH CONNECTION: A Wellington-based public-private sector consortium, which counts Christchurch's HitLab among its
members, is one of two big winners of new funding by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. FRST has
announced first-year funding of $1m each for MediaLab South Pacific, based in Wellington, and Auckland University's ICT
Research Consortium of New Zealand. This could grow to up to $2.5 million a year over the seven-year life of the
co-funding arrangement. – InfoTech [more http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2448671a1896,00.html]
TOUCHSCREEN ADVANCE: NextWindow, Auckland-based designer of world leading optical imaging technology for touchscreens,
has won a Technology New Zealand grant for $560,000.to further develop the miniaturisation of touchscreen components to
'touch-enable' flat panel displays. The grant follows NextWindow's ground breaking advancement in optical imaging
technology which facilitates the cost-effective production of large scale touchscreens. – Technology NZ [more http://www.frst.govt.nz/news/2003/NextWindow-Apr03.cfm ]
PLAUDITS FOR PIONEER: Christchurch College of Computing ( http://www.ccc.school.nz), now in its second year, has paved the way for a new $1 million annual fund designed to encourage alliances between
schools, and to support innovative new ways of learning. The central city college, open to senior students from all
Christchurch secondary schools, won praise from Education Minister Trevor Mallard when he announced the new $1m national
Collaborative Innovations Fund. [more“ http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?DocumentID=16665 ]
FOLLOWING THE SUN: Auckland-based Marshal Software’s staff numbers have dropped from 57 to 40 since NetIQ's purchase of
Marshal in December. Support functions, previously carried out round the clock in New Zealand, are now dispersed as the
newly-named Marshal Content Security Solutions adopts a follow the sun approach, delivering support for eight hours from
NZ and Asia-Pacific, eight from the US, and eight from Europe. – ComputerWorld [more http://computerworld.co.nz/webhome.nsf/NL/EF4FCABEE364AFBFCC256D1F0074FA41 ]
BOOST FOR CLUSTER: Canterbury Electronics Group ( http://www.ceg.org.nz), a cluster bringing together Canterbury’ s electronics heavyweights, has won Industry New Zealand support of $50,000
to employ a fulltime coordinator. The CEG is contributing $85,000 from its own membership. [more http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?DocumentID=16689]
------------------------------
INCREDIBLY USEFUL WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
THE SOFTWARE MARKETING RESOURCE For developers, publishers and software authors. It has oodles of information about
software marketing, press releases, registration services, newsgroups, and other resources to help software developers.
New money-making and money-saving ideas are added daily. http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/about-us.html
+ Tell the editor (mailto:editor@canterburysoftware.org.nz) about any sites you’d like to share with hyperLINK’s
readers.
------------------------------
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CSI'S WEBSITE
JOBS ..JOBS … JOBS … Who said it’s hard to find out where the IT talent and IT jobs are in Christchurch? CSI provides
free listings on its website for job hunters and staff seekers and has joined with RealContacts to provide the ability
to find jobs or staff via word of mouth using extended social networks. Go to the Jobs page to join the CSI network on
RealContacts and to see jobs posted to the CSI website. You can see jobs posted to the CSI network by other RealContacts
members, as well as start building your own network to help the process of finding jobs or staff. http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/jobs.htm
+ Tell the editor (mailto:editor@canterburysoftware.org.nz) about any new features you’d like added to the CSI website.
------------------------------
MEANWHILE, AT THE FORUM
+ It's generally acknowledged that NZ's tech sector has never had it so good, with a plethora of government agencies and
other bodies offering grants and other forms of assistance to help companies succeed in the export game. Do you think
this is the right approach, or would you rather see tax rates cut and companies left to do their own thing? If funding
assistance is the way to go, do you think it is reaching the right companies for the right reasons?
Tell us what you think about these hot issues by posting your thoughts to Canterbury Software Inc's Email Forum.
The Forum is your online community, where you can: +air your problems and concerns about marketing your software
internationally +get rapid and effective suggestions from others like you, who've already done it +raise and discuss
subjects of general concern to members Go to http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/forum.htm
------------------------------
The html version of hyperLINK http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm
Go to the Canterbury Software website http://canterburysoftware.org.nz