In the backthe furore  in the UK over "Big Brother" watching over every walk of life due to CCTV surveillance, here is an interesting development that promises to alter the face of public surveillance and how security will be ensured. Of course... most of us involved with writing and reading this blog may not be around to see this materialize, for the development is indeed futuristic.

Here's the bit: move over surveillance cameras and police; "crime fighting robots could be patrolling UK streets by 2084", says a new report prepared by Professor Noel Sharkey of the University of Sheffield. Reading what could happen in the next 75 years pretty much seems like science fiction, but given how quickly technology is impacting daily life, fiction may well turn into reality much sooner than expected.

Whether the future appeals you or you love a dash of science fiction, take a look here. Surveillance product manufacturers should also consider the implications!

Market research from Inclarity estimates that companies in the UK could be losing even upto £14,000 due to disruptions in the phone systems that may be caused by various factors. The findings are based on a survey of 2500 people by YouGov. In fact, according to an executive at the market research firm, the above-mentioned financial impact could be an underestimation.

One of the key reasons for this is the lack of preparedness among companies to unforeseen circumstances, particularly natural disasters. If companies were to replace a traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) telephone system with a modern VoIP phone system, business could carry on as usual by diverting all calls off-site in case of such an eventuality. Companies also have the option to keep their existing PBX and connect a hosted VoIP solution. As a result, business calls can be  diverted to home phones, mobiles or other offices – giving the company the ability to continue functioning from a different location.

According to a news report on the the HellMail website, the Signed For post now includes postcode verification. However, it seems that there is a view that using a franking machine might be a better alternative, in terms of significant savings in time, for somebody who does this regularly. At least that is the impression given by a trader quoted in the news item, who reportedly franks his letters instead of queuing up in the post office.

Meanwhile separate news report on the same website mentions the growth in the online business of Spanish postal service operator, Correos. What is interesting is that its postal franking grew an impressive 21.7% in 200.

Looks like there is still quite a demand for franking... and consequently, franking machines!