Press Releases

The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS), the professional body of the ICT sector, today outlined some of the key presenters and thought leaders at the Society’s "50 Years of ICT Innovation" conference next month.

As a one-off conference to celebrate 50 years of ICT Innovation in New Zealand, the conference represents a significant gathering of thought leaders from throughout New Zealand and the world, hosted in Rotorua next month.

Conference Chairman Elizabeth Eastwood today said "With Minister of ICT Hon Steven Joyce opening, and opposition ICT spokesperson Clare Curran in attendance, along with a who’s who of the ICT sector presenting and participating, this will be an event like no other".

"The conference includes over 40 presentations covering a broad range of topics and interests within ICT, such as Nic Steenhout from AccessibilityNZ speaking about innovation within assistive technology, a presentation from Optimal Usability about user-centered design in relation to the Air New Zealand's new SkyCouch, Microsoft Asia Pacific's head of ICT Healthcare Gabe Rijpma, Perce Harpham, who founded Progeni Systems (New Zealand's first software company), plus legal experts speaking about legals aspects of Cloud Computing and Open Source, plus many other topics", Eastwood said.

The event also featured 8 high profile keynote speakers including:

• Craig Nevill-Manning, a brilliant example of a kiwi using ICT to innovate on a global scale. After graduating from Canterbury and Waikato Universities and a successful academic career at Rutgers and Stanford Universities, Craig went on to found Google’s first remote engineering centre in Manhattan New York, where he is currently the Engineering Director.


• Sam Morgan has become a household name in New Zealand since he founded Trade Me in 1999. Trade Me became New Zealand‘s largest Internet business, a title it still holds.


• Ian Taylor (Ngati Kahungunu) is recognised as one of New Zealand’s leading Maori innovators. After a successful TVNZ career, Ian shot to fame in 1992 by revolutionising real-time 3D graphics for the Americas Cup with Virtual Spectator, forming Taylormade Media and Animation Research Ltd (ARL).


• Sam Knowles, KiwiBank’s Founding CEO and well respected corporate entrepreneur.


• Ian McCrae, Founder of Orion Health, New Zealand’s largest software exporter.


• Rod Drury, Founder of Xero and creator of Aftermail and Glazier Systems, which later went on to become Intergen.


• Greg Lane, National Director of the Canadian Council of IT Professionals, and one of the original team to set up Clear Communications in New Zealand, Telecom’s first serious competitor.


• Nat Torkington, Web 2.0 and Open Government expert.

"This conference is about innovation, and it’s about mapping out where innovation will take ICT over the next 50 years. We’re privileged to have attendees and presenters from all corners of the sector, from 3D graphics to robots, open source to proprietary, industry and academia, our history and our future. There’s something for absolutely everyone", Eastwood said.

"As well as attendees from almost every continent on Earth, people are travelling from throughout New Zealand to join the conversation. This is a one-off opportunity to be part of a superb event with a lineup never seen before in New Zealand," Eastwood concluded.

"Those interested in attending need to register at www.innovation.org.nz before the end of this month".

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About the NZ Computer Society

NZCS is the professional body of ICT Professionals, and as a non-profit incorporated society works with industry, academia, Government and the wider community to achieve its mission of increasing the education, standards and professionalism of the New Zealand ICT profession, and the base-level computing skills and confidence of New Zealanders.

Founded in 1960, 2010 marks NZCS's 50th Anniversary, celebrated by a significant conference based in Rotorua on 15-18 September 2010. More info at www.innovation.org.nz

Following research showing New Zealand losing $1.7 Billion per year by not sufficiently tackling digital literacy, the NZ Computer Society (NZCS), a non-profit incorporated society focused on ICT education, today announced the immediate availability of a number of additional educational tools and initiatives to help improve core computing skills in New Zealand.

The tools, released as part of the Society’s KiwiSkills Programme designed to improve digital literacy, were released today to improve the awareness and availability of digital literacy benchmarking and training options and to help New Zealanders assess their core computing skills.

Rebecca Boyce, who oversees the NZCS KiwiSkills Programme, said today "What’s clear from recent research is that the first step in tackling digital literacy in a community is to improve the awareness of benchmarking standards and the availability of training and assessment programmes such as ICDL, the International Computer Driving Licence".

"The steps announced today are designed to do just that; make these tools more accessible and available than ever before and, combined with the over $300,000 of digital literacy training and assessment NZCS is providing to charities and communities in need at no cost, will make a real difference to New Zealand," Boyce said.

The initiatives announced today include:

• A free Skills Analyser on the www.kiwiskills.co.nz website, allowing New Zealanders to quickly gain an idea of their relative core computing skill level.


• An up-to-date listing of where to go to tackle digital literacy in New Zealand, with details of all KiwiSkills digital literacy training and assessment providers throughout the country listed on the KiwiSkills website.


• For those unable to get to a KiwiSkills Training Provider or wanting to undertake training at home, the ability to access low-cost ICDL training instantly from the KiwiSkills website.


• NZCS members, numbering thousands of IT Professionals throughout New Zealand, now able to access and provide discount digital literacy training for their clients, colleagues, friends and family to help address digital literacy in their own communities.

"NZCS is focused on promoting digital literacy education for the general public and these tools and initiatives will make a genuine difference to the future of thousands of New Zealanders currently left behind by the digital divide," Boyce said.

"ICDL is the world’s most widely accepted digital literacy standard. ICDL is the only United Nations UNESCO-endorsed programme and has assisted over 10 million individuals in 149 countries and 41 languages around the world," Boyce concluded.

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Background

Earlier this year the NZ Computer Society (NZCS) commissioned research looking at the impact of not addressing digital literacy in New Zealand.

The resultant research report, completed by research consultants KnowledgeWeaversNZ on behalf of the Society, analysed the findings of research conducted throughout the world then applied the result to New Zealand’s environment to find the expected outcome of implementing similar programmes en masse in New Zealand.

In terms of improved productivity, the report conservatively projects average savings per worker in New Zealand of $1820 per annum as a direct result of improved ICT skills and confidence after implementing a digital literacy standard such as ICDL. Projected across 70% of the country’s working population, this results in a net productivity improvement of $1.7 billion per year.

In response to the findings of the report, NZCS announced the KiwiSkills Programme, a resourced core project of the Society to help tackle digital literacy in New Zealand.

The research report is available here: http://bit.ly/diglit, and more information about the KiwiSkills Programme is available at www.kiwiskills.co.nz


About the NZ Computer Society

NZCS is the professional body of ICT Professionals, and as a non-profit incorporated society works with industry, academia, Government and the wider community to achieve its mission of increasing the education, standards and professionalism of the New Zealand ICT profession, and the base-level computing skills and confidence of New Zealanders.


About ICDL

The International Computer Driving Licence, or ICDL, is the leading global digital literacy certification programme, with over 10 million participants in 148 different countries.

ICDL is vendor-neutral and is made up of 7 modules including Concepts of ICT, Using the Computer and Managing Files, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Using Databases, Presentations, and Web Browsing and Communication.

ICDL is NZQA Accredited and endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and is overseen internationally by the not-for-profit ECDL Foundation and in New Zealand by the non-profit New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS).

The breadth of ITCP, New Zealand's professional accreditation in IT, has been highlighted by the Certification being awarded to an IT specialist lawyer, Rick Shera, a partner at Lowndes Jordan in Auckland.

Shera is the first IT lawyer to gain the well respected ITCP certification from the New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS) and joins hundreds of other ICT Professionals to be accredited with ITCP.

Paul Matthews, Chief Executive of NZCS today said "ITCP is a professional certification, much like that which exists in most other professions. It is one of several initiatives undertaken by NZCS and the industry to mature ICT into a true profession”.

“The take up of ITCP has been fantastic and has exceeded our expectations. It is now recognised as a must have qualification for senior practitioners in the New Zealand ICT space and, because it relies on internationally accepted standards, is also an excellent entrée into overseas markets", Matthews said.

Asked why he had decided to become certified Shera said “For me it’s a tangible recognition of the fact that ICT law is multidisciplinary. I could not practice in this area without a detailed knowledge of the internet, computing and telco industries themselves so it is good to have that recognised. The application process itself was thorough and makes me even more thrilled to have achieved what I see as a very valuable certification.”

“The accreditation of ‘periphery’ IT practitioners such as IT lawyers and others is certainly not a given,” Matthews continued. “Mr Shera received ITCP because he could demonstrate a thorough understanding of the concepts and knowledge that underpins ICT, the proven ability to apply that knowledge in his area with positive results, an appreciation of what it means to be an ICT Professional, and a willingness to practice in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct”.

“ITCP is an independent accreditation for those serious about practicing as a professional in the wider ICT sector”, Matthews concluded. “The definition of what makes an IT Professional is certainly broad, however the fundamental principles apply across the board. We’re delighted that Rick has worked through the comprehensive assessment process and emerged with ITCP”.

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The New Zealand Computer Society (NZCS), NZ’s independent professional body representing thousands of ICT professionals, today announced strong support for the Commerce Select Committee’s recommendation to remove patentability of software.

Following the Commerce Select Committee’s recommendation to the Government to remove software from the Patents Act, the Society polled its members (representing ICT professionals throughout New Zealand), and found that 81% of those that had a view supported the recommendation to remove Software from the Patents Act.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today that “This is a big issue for the ICT sector. And whilst not scientific, this poll clearly backs up previous consultation showing widespread support from the ICT sector for the removal of software patents”.

“There are a number of reasons for and against software patents, however on balance the Society, and indeed the majority of the ICT profession, believes they are harmful to the innovation of the ICT sector and New Zealand as a whole”, Matthews said.

The Society is constitutionally required to consider issues of importance to the sector and advise Government on areas of concern and hence has written to Commerce Minister Hon Simon Power outlining some of the reasons for supporting the Select Committee’s recommendations.

A copy of this letter is available here: http://tinyurl.com/nzcs-swp

“The Society strongly supports the concept of Intellectual Property and Copyright, and the right to protect property and gain commercial advantage from the creation and sale of software”, Matthews said. “However this has to be weighed against the significant damage software patents cause innovation and the far more appropriate protection provided under Copyright law”.

Conceptually, patents protect concepts or an idea whereas Copyright protects manifestation of an idea. Given the nature of software and the fact that it is built upon large layers of prior work, Patents have caused significant problems in the digital world and are unsuited to software.

“Protecting software is important” Matthews said, “in the same way that protecting movies, books and songs is important. However these all rely successfully on Copyright law, rather than Patent law, for protection. It would be ludicrous to allow patents in these areas, just as it’s illogical to allow software patents”.

“As pointed out by IP law firm Chapman Tripp recently in a release supporting patents, New Zealand is suffering from sustained and alarming Multi-Factor Productivity decline, a measure of technological innovation”, Matthews said. “However the Society sees this as actually another indication of the fact that allowing software to be patented hasn’t worked in New Zealand, hence a new approach is needed to address this issue”.

The Society also pointed out that it was not possible to run a patent system for some and an “opt-out” for others, as recently suggested, as all would be bound by the monopoly patents provided. “It’s like saying each villager can decide whether or not to pollute the village pond. Fact is, they all have to drink from it”.

“This is a complex issues, however the Society commends the Commerce Select Committee on giving serious consideration to this issue and making a recommendation based on the best interests of the New Zealand’s ICT sector and New Zealand as a whole”, Matthews concluded.

ENDS

A research report released today by the New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) found that tackling digital literacy and core computing skills formally, via en masse implementation of a digital literacy standard, would increase New Zealand’s productivity by $1.7 Billion per year.

The report, completed by research consultants KnowledgeWeaversNZ on behalf of the Society, analysed the findings of research conducted throughout the world then applied the result to New Zealand’s environment to find the expected outcome of implementing similar programmes en masse in New Zealand.

“The research analysed the findings of Digital Literacy-based research and case studies from around the world and found a number of common themes”, NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today. “The report focused on both the economic benefit to the country and companies of digital literacy via formal digital literacy standards, as well as the life-changing effect digital literacy has on disadvantaged and marginalised groups”.

“In terms of improved productivity, the report conservatively projects average savings per worker in New Zealand of $1820 per annum as a direct result of improved ICT skills and confidence after implementing a digital literacy standard. Projected across 70% of the country’s working population, this results in a net productivity improvement across New Zealand of $1.7 billion per year,” Matthews said.

“It was interesting to find that there was also a gain in productivity amongst those very familiar with the use of computers working through a formal programme such as the International Computer Driving License”, Matthews continued. “It’s a case of people not knowing what they don’t know – the gaps in knowledge and skills, large and small, making a clear difference to workplace and community productivity”.

“This research is groundbreaking”, Matthews said. “Not just because of the size of the productivity gap digital literacy can fill, but the clear line drawn between actual results achieved in various studies around the world and what is achievable in New Zealand. This isn’t pie in the sky stuff – this is real results and a real outcome to move New Zealand forward”.

The research also supported the Society’s view that the International Computer Driving License, or ICDL, was the most appropriate digital literacy standard for use en masse in New Zealand. “ICDL is used in 148 countries around the world and with over 9 million participants has helped more people than every other recognised international literacy standard programme combined”, Matthews said.

The Society, as a registered Charitable organisation, supports all digital literacy programmes and efforts but endorses and oversees the ICDL programme in New Zealand on behalf of the ECDL Foundation, a global non-profit organisation focusing on lifting digital skills around the world.

The report also investigated the effect of digital literacy on marginalised and disadvantaged groups and concluded that digital literacy is now an essential life skill and the right of every NZ citizen. The ability to utilise technology greatly increases marginalised groups’ ability to participate.

A copy of the full report can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/diglit

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The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today launched the long awaited ITCP professional certification programme for New Zealand IT Professionals.

The programme, named ITCP or Information Technology Certified Professional and developed in conjunction with the international IT community, is a formal professional certification programme assessing all aspects of the skills, competence, knowledge, responsibility and character of senior IT professionals in New Zealand.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today “This marks the most fundamental change to the ICT sector in New Zealand for 50 years, since computers were first introduced in this country. From today forward, ICT is a true profession.”

“The concept of professional certification is that the professional standards for a sector are set by an independent body which also considers matters such as misconduct”, Matthews said. Other examples of professional certification in other professions include Chartered Accountants, Chartered Professional Engineers, Certified Builders, Master Plumbers, and others.

“Kiwi IT professionals now have the same opportunity as their international counterparts to gain formal independent recognition of their professional skills and competence, while also helping raise the overall standards and recognition of ICT as a true profession”, Matthews said.

ITCP has received significant support from all corners of the ICT sector including the industry (with all industry associations firmly supporting it, as well as many of IT's largest and smallest companies), Government (with support at both the official level and Ministerial level), and academia (with many academic organisations and institutions lending their support).

Public Registry

“All independently accredited IT Professionals are listed on a publicly searchable register available on the ITCP website at www.itcp.co.nz”, Matthews continued. “This is searchable by name, company, assessed skills and geographic area, and we encourage the public and client companies to refer to it when making decisions about who to employ or contract for IT services”.

“As well as CEOs, CIOs, Directors and Founders of some of New Zealand's most well known IT companies, the list includes a huge range of consultants, advisors, analysts, programmers, those providing IT in other sectors, and people from almost every walk of IT life”, Matthews said. “There are professionals certified from all camps - open source and commercial, importers and exports, technical and managerial.”

While stressing that ITCP is a certification for individuals and not companies, Matthews noted “The public can also search the register by company and see the high calibre and commitment to professionalism of the key staff in many of New Zealand’s top IT firms. Well respected companies such as Simpl, Codec and Equinox have already certified a number of their senior staff”.

Independent

“One of the strengths of ITCP is that it is operated and governed by NZCS, the professional body of the IT sector for 49 years and a constitutionally independent incorporated Society”, Matthews said. “This means that all IT professionals are assessed objectively and without influence or favour”.

“Already we have around 400 IT professionals working their way through the process with 150 gaining ITCP at launch”, Matthews said.

Matthews concluded “This is a massive achievement for both New Zealand and NZCS. New Zealand has had an identified need for professional IT certification for many years, and NZCS is proud to have delivered on the promise we made 18 months ago when this project began.”

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The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today announced that current NZCS President Don Robertson has been elected to the global IFIP Board, regarded by many as the most senior Board in IT and representing over a million IT professionals around the world.

IFIP, or International Federation for Information Processing, is the global umbrella organisation of ICT professional bodies representing over 50 countries including all of New Zealand's major trading partners.

Robertson is now officially the Member Societies Representative on the IFIP Board after being elected during a vote of all Societies in attendance at the recent IFIP General Assembly.

“It’s a huge honour to be representing New Zealand on the IFIP Board, and an appointment I take extremely seriously”, Robertson said today. “I understand I’m the first kiwi to ever sit on the IFIP Board, and I intend to work hard to improve the recognition and standing of ICT across large and small countries throughout the world”.

Robertson also congratulated those from New Zealand who have contributed to IFIP and other bodies for many years, including through various Working Groups and Technical Committees. “New Zealand has a rich history of contributing on the world stage through NZCS, and it’s the commitment of many professionals over many years that has led to this appointment”, Robertson said.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today “This is obviously great news for NZCS, but also huge for New Zealand as a whole. As well as ensuring that New Zealand has a strong and powerful voice in the engine-room of the global ICT profession, this also shows the world that New Zealand is serious about international collaboration at all levels.”

The appointment is for a three year term and involves working with others to improve the standing, research and professionalism of ICT across the world.

“I also intend to use this appointment to raise the profile of New Zealand ICT sector on the world stage, which should result in a significant spinoff for New Zealand professionals and industry”, Robertson concluded.

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The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today welcomed the release of a new book linking New Zealand’s poor productivity with a lack of core computing skills and challenging New Zealand to do something about it.

The book, written by experienced trainer Pam Martin who has significant experience improving the productivity of New Zealand organisations, is entitled “Beneath the Knowledge Wave” and was released at the Small Business Summit today.

The book also points to international research showing that the implementation of a programme such as the International Computing Drivers License (ICDL) to lift core computing skills can increase productivity massively, adding up to 4 weeks of productive time per year for every employee across an organisation.

In the book Martin recounts many experiences and anecdotes to draw the conclusion that a fundamental reason for New Zealand’s disappointing business productivity statistics is a lack of focus on core computing skills, and asks the question “Is our productivity leaking out through the holes in our computer skills?”

NZCS Digital Literacy Division head Rebecca Boyce said today she was very happy to see the link between core computing skills and New Zealand’s productivity drawn so clearly in the book. “Pam has done an outstanding job of presenting anecdotal evidence and drawing the only conclusion possible – that productivity is intrinsically linked to computing skills”.

“The book also makes the strong point that computing skills are often self-taught, leaving huge gaps in knowledge”, Boyce said. “We don’t know what we don’t know, and this results in big, often unbeknown problems for many of those thought to be computer literate”.

NZCS brought the International Computing Drivers License (ICDL) to New Zealand several years ago in a bid to improve the digital literacy, and hence productivity, of New Zealanders. ICDL is the internationally recognised core computing standard used in around 150 countries around the world, and has been used to lift the digital literacy and core computing skills of over 9 million people worldwide.

“As an example of the international evidence of the huge link between computing skills and productivity, the UK National Health Service, with 1.2 million employees, found that implementing ICDL raised productivity by 38 minutes per person, per day”, Boyce said. “That’s massive. That’s the equivalent of an extra 4 weeks per year, per employee”.

The Society is about to launch a significant campaign to raise awareness of the link between productivity and computer skills, joining the challenge to see New Zealand get serious about tackling productivity.

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PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. (NZCS)
8 July 2009
For Immediate Release

The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today welcomed the widespread support and adoption of ITCP Certification, the independent ICT professional certification programme released last month.

ITCP, or Information Technology Certified Professional, is the new internationally-aligned certification programme for ICT professionals, independently governed and operated by NZCS, the professional body of ICT professionals.

ITCP formally launches at the start of August, however the Society today revealed that 353 had begun the “fast-track” pre-application process, with 140 full applications so far received in the first two weeks. The application process is intensive and takes some time to work through.

“This is a huge response”, NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews said today. “We did expect strong support, however given that ITCP hasn’t even launched yet and only a comparatively small number of individuals were eligible for the FastTrack process, this response is certainly further ahead than we expected, 3 weeks into accepting pre-applications”.

The purpose of ITCP is to help provide an education framework to lift the professional standards of ICT, and to recognise those operating at a professional level. This is part of a wider programme helping create career pathways and support for ICT professionals.

As part of the assessment process the Society today released the list of professionals who had applied for ITCP Certification. The list included representation from every area of ICT, both geographically and professionally.

“It’s great to see significant support from large corporations through to small single-person organisations, and everything in between”, Matthews said. “All corners of the ICT profession are covered including industry, academia and government.”

Matthews continued “Applications have been received from both commercial and open source leaders, developers, vendors, managers, senior technicians, those who provide ICT within organisations in other sectors, consultants, ICT teachers, academics, and pretty close to every other area of ICT imaginable”.

The comprehensive assessment process covers ICT skills and knowledge, professional knowledge, competency and responsibility, and character requirements. It differs from technical certifications in that it includes assessments of competence rather than just knowledge, as well as the legal, ethical and professional requirements of ICT professionals.

“The full list of initial first-stage applicants is available online at www.itcp.org.nz/applicants”, Matthews concluded.

ENDS

More information

ITCP Certification
NZ Computer Society (NZCS)

PRESS RELEASE – NZ Computer Society Inc. (NZCS)
3 July 2009
For Immediate Release

The New Zealand Computer Society Inc (NZCS) today welcomed the future direction of ICT education, signaled in the release of the DTEP Recommendations and Outcomes into ICT in Schools from the Ministry of Education.

NZCS Chief Executive Paul Matthews today noted that “This announcement signals the most significant and comprehensive change to ICT education in schools in 20 years.”

“NZCS are proud to have been one of the key catalysts to bringing about this change”, Matthews said.

In early 2008 NZCS released a significant critical evaluation of the current state of ICT-related Achievement Standards at secondary school level which raised a number of very serious concerns and concluded that none of the existing Technology standards were suitable for assessment of ICT.

The report made a number of recommendations regarding the future of ICT education and was a catalyst for a range of activities. After discussions between NZCS and the Ministry of Education the Digital Technology Expert Panel (DTEP) was formed, a group of experts brought together to provide recommendations for the future shape of secondary school ICT education.

“Today’s announcement signals adoption of most of the recommendations from the earlier NZCS report, also echoed in the recommendations from the wider DTEP group including NZCS, ICT teachers, principals, tertiary providers, industry, and others”, Matthews said.

“We are delighted that the Ministry has now agreed to adopt most of these recommendations and that NZCS and others were able to play such a pivotal role in bringing about the long overdue changes to ICT education in schools”.

Of significant importance is the commitment to the establishment of a recognised Senior Subject area, to be called “Digital Technologies”, complete with its own Body of Knowledge (effectively a Curriculum), Achievement Standards, Teaching and Learning Guides (the glue that puts it all together), and supporting material, all to a Ministry-agreed timeline.

“This change has impact well beyond the gates of schools”, Matthews said. “These changes will have a significant flow-on to the tertiary sector, ICT profession, industry, and New Zealand’s future ICT ability and hence the innovation levels of future New Zealanders as a whole”.

“Another key area provided in these changes is the formal recognition and provision for the aspects of ICT related to ICT careers, such as programming and computer science, infrastructure, networking, hardware, digital design and other areas that have been in many cases underdeveloped in the education system in recent years”, Matthews said.

“This also has a flow-on effect into the wider profession and NZCS’s professional programme, including career pathways for ICT professionals and ongoing education within the profession”, Matthews said.

“We would also like to recognise the goodwill and commitment from Ministry of Education officials”, Matthews concluded. “Whilst it can be argued these changes are long overdue, without the level of commitment we could never have achieved this result for New Zealand”.


ENDS


Further Information

Ministry of Education / DTEP Joint Release

DTEP Outcomes and Recommendations

NZCS report into Achievement Standards