In Spring 2008, Robin Fisk wrote a series of five articles for Third Sector magazine's Technology column called ‘Greener IT. You can download all 5-in-1 from the link, below right

See how your organisation's IT could be 'greener'

In the second half of 2007, Robin Fisk wrote a series of articles for Third Sector magazine's Technology column called ‘Ten Technologies To Watch' . You can download this from the link, below right

"A career in IT, after a point, brings out the cynic in the best of us.  Every month fresh-faced entrepreneurs bring out the 'next big thing' in IT, some gain momentum and catch the imagination of the market, but most fade away to a chorus of 'told you so' from the IT veterans," says Robin Fisk. "It's true that some new things are just old things in new packaging, but occasionally they make the cut and we wonder how we managed before."  

This series looks at ten technologies at various stages of their development, and whose time may be about to come, and especially how they might be of use to charities.  Clearly, such predictions can look daft with the benefit of hindsight, these may be no exception, so do take advice before investing your lifesavings in them.

Robin Fisk discusses charity performance management and the role of the database in performance measurement. "You are about to buy a car. You have narrowed the choice down to two models which are identical except for one or two important details. One - the cheaper one - has no dashboard or rear-view mirror. No speedometer, no fuel guage, no rev counter, nothing...."

Robin Fisk askes "How many passwords do you have to remember? One for work, one for the home PC, another for your eBay account, another for Amazon or your Myspace account? 

Most websites depend upon user names and passwords for authentication (checking your credentials) but with more of our lives being conducted online it becomes harder to remember separate passwords..."

Robin Fisk looks at computer viruses past and present. "For a brief period in the 1990s there was a time when the internet was an exciting, open environment where information could be freely and innocently exchanged. Viruses were confined to humans, and Worms to your garden or perhaps your domestic pet...."

Writing in Third Sector magazine, Robin Fisk says "An IT manager once had a dream - that he could install one single software application that would take care of everything: customer relationship management (CRM), fundraising, accounting, email, website and project management...."

Robin Fisk looks at how Internet access continues to rise exponentially, with access via mobile handsets accounting for larger numbers than ever before.

There are many high profile IT projects that go spectacularly over budget - but what makes this happen? Robin Fisk says what he thinks.

Robin Fisk recalls that "Before the Windows and Mac interfaces became popular, personal computers relied on keyboard-driven commands.  Older readers will remember - sometimes fondly - those old DOS applications that were character-based, not graphical...." 

Robin Fisk offers some advice on avoiding Spam - "The months of September and October 2006 saw an unprecedented rise in spam - 59% more spam was sent in those months, to the point where a staggering 91% of all email is spam..."