Business at risk from mountains of unstructured data

Now this is where I say my point has been kind of proven in one of my earlier blog posts on storing information in a structured way. 

The article below explains what happens with information which is held in a number of places and it also touches on business processes which need to be understood (and as I keep saying ‘communicated’) to all – ‘spend some time getting a handle on who has access to your file data, which users are actually using it, who owns it, and how to ensure that access is based on a business need-to-know.’

Click on the link to read the article - Business at risk from mountains of unstructured data

When looking to enhance or design new systems, as part of the Green IT Strategy, it is very important to ensure the current infrastructure is regularly maintained in an efficient way. Structure is very important, otherwise it will cause problems. This would affect both the regular storing and retrieval of information required, either manually or using automated processes. Time is valuable!

DATE: 19/08/2010

Tripta Prashar

www.givingtimeandsolutions.com

Hazardous wastes and their disposal to poor countries….A Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in Ghana (RoHS)

Following on from my previous blog post on knowing ‘what items can be recycled and reducing waste ‘, Rien Dijkstra shared some information with me on what could possibly happen to equipment which people want donated to charities.  Rien is one of the authors of the Greening IT book – so a big thanks for helping to raise more Green IT awareness Rien!

‘The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, agreed to in 1989 and now adopted by a majority of nations, was meant to stop the dumping of toxic waste in poor countries. But rules get complicated when the waste arrives as a gift. ‘

Click here to view the pictures on the website link sent to me – ‘A global graveyard for dead computers in Ghana’.

One of the slides shown on Greenpeace’s findings, list a number of toxic substances found in the computers. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) restricts the use of six hazardhous materials in the manufacture of electrical equipment. These are lead, cadium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ether.   A few possible symptons which affect human health for each are listed below. This is why it is very important to make sure equipment no longer needed is recycled or reused, and to also ensure it is disposed of legally….. the right way.

1. Lead -  anemia, slow development in children

2. Cadmium -  kidney problems,  general weakness

3. Mercury – brain damage, chest pain

4. Hexavalent chromium – asthma attacks, liver damage

5. Polybrominated biphenyls – skin problems, liver problems

6. Polybrominated diphenyl – abdominal pain, thyroid disruption

DATE: 19/08/2010

Tripta Prashar

www.givingtimeandsolutions.com