Kent Academic Repository Full text document (pdf) Citation for published version Hatton, Leslie (2000) Software failure: living with a wobbly technology. University of Kent. DOI Link to record in KAR https://kar.kent.ac.uk/22005/ Document Version UNSPECIFIED Copyright & reuse Content in the Kent Academic Repository is made available for research purposes. Unless otherwise stated all content is protected by copyright and in the absence of an open licence (eg Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher, author or other copyright holder. Versions of research The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record. Enquiries For any further enquiries regarding the licence status of this document, please contact: [email protected] If you believe this document infringes copyright then please contact the KAR admin team with the take-down information provided at http://kar.kent.ac.uk/contact.html Kent Bulletin University of Kent at Canterbury • Number 35 Autumn 2000 The Canterbury Tales Alumni letters To: [email protected] I studied Drama & Computing at Kent, a degree that has attracted much attention over the years. I first joined this list over 5 years ago when I worked for Adobe Systems in the US. I left Adobe to work as Director of IT for a print company in Dublin. It was fun for a while, lots to do and every day was different. But the pressure was never ending and I wasn’t happy. So in November 1999, I resigned, and on 1 January struck out on my own. I wanted to get back to ‘basics’, whatever they are. I decided to work at home and spend more time on my lighting sculptures (http://www.sculptlight.com) and dancing Salsa. My commute is now 10 seconds down to my computer in the sun-filled sitting room. I earn cash from contract programming, and when not program- ming I am either working on lighting sculptures or teach- ing Salsa dancing. I danced From Daniel Gibbin R97 Jive at Re: Seeds for Africa UKC and My years at UKC were always action then packed. From Students’ Union activities learned and demos to walking in the Brecon From the British Council ballroom Beacons, life was never dull and I will in Saudi Arabia in the US. always remember it. However possibly the Our three offices in Jeddah, Riyadh When I most fulfilling contribution I made was and Damman are building databases of came over through the work of ‘Seeds for Africa’, the Saudi alumni of UK universities, and to Dublin, fantastic UKC charity started by Ruther- we have established an association of Salsa was ford porters Albert Bullock and Ron alumni with various benefits, including the craze. Taylor in 1998. Many of you already know discounts on travel with British Airways. So if you about the charity. While studying for my Members are regularly invited to special are in the Dublin area, please feel free to degree, I spent a large amount of time events, such as dinner with the drop me a line. fundraising. From the infamous bean Ambassador or other visiting speakers, From: [email protected] slide to being Father Christmas at the ball; education fairs and receptions with Ivan Markovic R87 from writing begging letters - not just to visiting dignitaries. Through a range of http://www.sculptlight.com my bank - to answering enquiries about activities, we are trying to build upon the charity’s fundraising activities, which the experience that Saudi alumni have included skydiving, white-water rafting, had of the UK so that more students are even bungee jumping. encouraged to study in the UK. Please contact the British Council, West Saudi To subscribe to: The charity’s aim is very basic - to Arabia, 4th Floor, the Middle East [email protected], send a mes- provide vegetable seeds to needy families Centre, Falasteen Street, PO Box 3424, sage to [email protected] and in Africa, allowing real sustainable devel- Jeddah 21471 Saudi Arabia or in the body of the message say sub- opment. It receives no government fund- [email protected], scribe [email protected] ing and has no paid staff - yet it has made such an impact, both on those of us who if you would like to get involved. The Majordomo software will take your have been involved with helping, and on ‘from’ address and subscribe you many farmers in Africa. accordingly. Kent-grads is an open list, Seeds for Africa is currently supporting 23 From Tara Emery R94 for UKC alumni to discuss relevant projects in 12 African countries. The charity (SU President 97-98) subjects - favourite (or worst!) particularly wishes to support small-scale I am running the New York Marathon memories of Kent, to track down old backyard gardening, community gardens and in November to raise money for the friends, or to announce job possibilities, school or orphanage projects. A £10 donation Trinity Hospice, where I work, and I get-togethers or other appropriate will purchase 50kg of good-quality vegetable was wondering if you could please tell matters. We use it from time to time seeds. The Patron is Alan Titchmarsh MBE. alumni in the autumn Bulletin. If people to seek your views and advice. To get involved, write Seeds for Africa, would like to sponsor me, please contact Please subscribe! University of Kent, PO Box 581, Canterbury me at: [email protected] CT2 7SW. www.seedsforafrica.org 2 Kent Bulletin 35 Autumn 2000 Contents Cover: Tableau showing The wife of Bath’s Tale at The Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction Cartoons, pages 16-17, from UKC’s Centre for the Study Page 10 Entente cordiale? of Cartoon and Caricature. Page 16; Mel Calman, Sunday Times 12.4.81; page 17, both by Bill McArthur in The Glasgow Herald, 27.1.99; and page 17 above, ‘Hullo, Ground control... I think we’ve a bug in the computer.’ 19.8.97. Design: The Wells Partnership Tel: 01622 831661 Page 16 Software failure! Page 23 Inside story Printer: Broglia Press Tel: 01202 632631 Special thanks to Chris Features News and Views Lancaster and Lesley Farr in the University Print Unit, and to the University 8 Chaucer in Canterbury 2 Alumni letters Photographic Unit Peter Brown 4 University News Editor: Killara Burn Kent Bulletin 10 Entente cordiale? Communications and Michel Rocard 7 The Development Programme Development Office University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NZ 14 Poet in place: 12 Partnerships around the world Tel: 01227 823263 Fred D’Aguiar Fax: 01227 764464 15 Transferring skills: the student Email: [email protected] 16 Software failure! Living with a development unit wobbly technology Kent Bulletin is published Les Hatton 18 Letter from Düsseldorf in spring and autumn every year for alumni and friends of the University of Kent at 19 Alumni life: the press officer 20 Who’s What Where Canterbury. It is sent to all Louise Richards alumni world-wide who keep us up to date with their 23 Inside story: Jenny Keaveney current whereabouts. 3 UKC reaches out to By this time next year, local businesses the University will have A grant of more than half a University passed a number of land- million pounds has been marks. The first round of awarded to the University to external subject reviews, or help develop its work with teaching assessments, will be businesses in the local region. complete, and the higher The grant from the Higher NEWSeducation sector will be Education Reach-out to adjusting to a new Teaching Business and the Community Quality Assessment system. Fund (HEROBAC), means We shall be keenly awaiting Kent is now able to build on the outcome of our submis- its already impressive track NEW DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNICATIONS sion to the next Research record and make it even easier AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. SUE SHEPHERD, Assessment Exercise - which for local business to gain WITH VICE-CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR ROBIN the VC believes we can look access to UKC’s high-quality SIBSON AT THE LONDON ALUMNI RECEPTION. forward to with justified research, consultancy and confidence. education services. 1994 it was for a seven-year Recent outstanding term of office, with the possi- achievements for UKC will bility of a further three-year also have had an impact on Vice-Chancellor extension’, he said. ‘I have the shape of the University to step down now informed the Pro-Chan- by then - in particular our in August 2001 cellor that I have decided not success in winning consider- The Vice-Chancellor, Profes- to seek any extension, and I able student numbers for sor Robin Sibson, has shall accordingly complete my ‘widening participation’; the announced his decision to period of appointment at the important regional partner- retire from his post next year. end of August 2001.’ Professor ships we are entering into; ‘When I took up the post in Sibson will then be 57. and the Prime Minister’s High Flyers TO CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION IN JULY, STEPHEN SUCH (EA:97), CHRIS HINES (DA:97) AND RESPECTIVELY, JOINED THEM FOR SOME FORMATION SKY DIVING. THEY JUMPED FROM THE AIRCRAFT ROBIN DAY (RA:97), ALL THEN MEMBERS OF UKC’S PARACHUTE CLUB AND GRADUATES IN AT 10,000 FT. STEPHEN SAID ‘IT WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE. IT WAS A PERFECT DAY AND YOU COMPUTER SCIENCE, DECIDED TO PARACHUTE JUMP ONTO THE UNIVERSITY PLAYING FIELDS. EMILY COULD SEE ALL THE WAY TO FRANCE.’ THE KENT PARACHUTE CLUB IS THE FOURTH-RATED HORWICH (KH:99) AND CHRIS PILLINGS (EA:97), WHO WILL GRADUATE IN 2003 AND 2002 UNIVERSITY SQUAD IN THE COUNTRY.