Research and Development
Many policymakers and experts, including the United Nations, the World Economic Forum and the European Union, believe that humanity’s priorities must evolve to strike a balance between technological progress and environmental stewardship. Innovations such as autonomous vehicles and space exploration hold great promise, but their development should align with sustainable practices that safeguard our planet.
Autonomous vehicles could improve road safety and efficiency, but they carry environmental costs, from manufacturing to resource use. Powering their computing systems, for example, may generate hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO2 annually. However, advancements in quantum computing and specialised AI chips could help reduce these emissions before ecological thresholds are reached.
Similarly, space exploration offers unprecedented opportunities to expand scientific knowledge and tackle pressing global issues. It could unlock new resources and provide innovative solutions to some of Earth’s most pressing environmental concerns. However, space missions also come with environmental costs, including rocket emissions and the growing problem of space debris. Despite the potential benefits for the environment, the primary focus of autonomous vehicles and space exploration has largely been on commercial gain, with sustainability often taking a backseat.
The rise of digital platforms, from shopping carts and search engines to social media, has fuelled the growth of tech giants like Amazon, Google and Meta. These companies exert significant influence over consumer behaviour, often intensifying demand for products and services. As global populations grow and consumption increases, this amplified demand strains natural resources and accelerates environmental degradation.
In light of the challenges, it’s crucial to recognise the link between rising human demand and environmental impact. As technology continues to reshape our world, we must ensure that our innovations are designed with sustainability in mind. Only by prioritising both progress and environmental responsibility can we ensure a prosperous future without compromising the health of our planet.
Our company aims to harness the same transformative power of computer science that these companies have used to reshape boundaries and markets. But unlike those focusing on expanded consumption or commercial advantage, our research and development prioritises the efficient use of resources while actively addressing the challenges posed by human activity on the environment.
By proactively adapting to climate-driven disruptions, we aim to sustain consumption levels without compromising economic stability. Overlooking ecological resilience could lead to widespread economic consequences, including wildfires, floods, and power failures that disrupt supply chains and threaten long-term sustainability.
Reports from LA media suggest that the January 2025 wildfires sweeping across Southern California could cost between $250 billion and $275 billion – surpassing September 2024’s Hurricane Helene, which was estimated at $225 billion to $250 billion. To achieve our goals, we are exploring innovations such as maritime intelligence and precision agriculture, alongside forward-thinking solutions that promote product reuse. This includes a proposed speculative waste tracking system for consideration within our advanced digital practice framework.
Our organisation is dedicated to inspiring and empowering human ingenuity to thrive amid complex social, economic and environmental challenges. While the discussion above addresses environmental and economic aspects, the initiative below explores technology as a tool for societal improvement. By enhancing communication and cultural understanding, this project aims to tackle some of the root causes of human conflict, fostering greater harmony and connection.The African Language Music Translation System is a groundbreaking initiative that leverages technology to foster linguistic inclusivity, cultural preservation and digital connectivity across Africa. By integrating AI-driven translation, human verification and multimedia synchronisation, the system enables accurate and seamless translation of song lyrics into multiple African languages.
By leveraging technology to promote African music and languages, it contributes to a more interconnected world, where cultural, social and environmental issues can be addressed collectively. As digital platforms like this one expand, they can play a pivotal role in raising awareness and driving action towards environmental sustainability and conservation efforts.
Real-Time Marine Telemetry System (Prototype Testing Phase)
Sea4Us aims to discover new marine leads for developing treatments for diseases without a cure and collaborates with the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and the Universidade do Algarve to provide systematic authoritative information on the state of the Portuguese Atlantic Ocean.
Traditional marine monitoring is typically a resource-intensive process, involving a network of sampling stations where measurements are collected manually by divers or through discrete in situ water sampling at various depths in fixed locations. This approach is limited in scope, and the results of subsequent laboratory analysis can be delayed by weeks, months or even longer.
Emerging technologies and real-time data science were harnessed to create a network capable of immediate underwater data capture. This capability is crucial as it delivers near real-time insights based on comprehensive, up-to-date measurements, enabling prompt and informed decision-making.
Pilot
On May 31, 2024, at the Sea4Us Sagres headquarters, Mr. Sheridan presented his project findings to an audience of academics and marine biologists. His presentation highlighted transformative technologies and innovative advancements in marine and biotechnology research. Professor Pedro Lima, CEO of Sea4Us, remarked, “Great presentation. Thank you for your patience and time in explaining everything. I see significant potential in this work. Congratulations”. Following this event, funding was secured for our proof-of-concept phase of development, marking a key milestone in our project.
Proof-of-Concept
This proof-of-concept marine telemetry IoT system remotely monitors environmental data using a floating platform, an onshore platform and an observation center—all deployed under controlled laboratory conditions. The floating platform collects real-time data on temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) using various sensors. This data is then transmitted via LoRa (a long range wireless communication technology) to the onshore platform for processing and further analysis, facilitating informed decision-making and environmental monitoring.
Building on the successful proof-of-concept and positive outcomes from the floating platform field trials, our next phase will focus on identifying and mitigating harmful marine conditions, including potential pollution risks from the proposed desalination operation in the Algarve. However, deployment in the Atlantic Ocean is pending the approval of phase 3 development proposals for an operational prototype.
Facilitating economically viable, large-scale, strategic real-time marine data collection boosts AI’s effectiveness in maritime research. By enabling more detailed analyses, this approach improves predictive capabilities, helping to anticipate and mitigate risks, monitor ecosystems and support sustainable practices. For more information, please email our Systems Engineer at info@adt.vision.
CyberLotus: Urban Ecosystems (Proof of Concept Phase)
CyberLotus explores the use of technology to restore the balance between humans and nature. Its goal is to bring nature back into urban spaces, say, hotels, government offices and perhaps even police stations and hospitals, improving physical and mental well-being. The project transforms concrete and steel with green spaces where people can reconnect with nature, enhancing their health and happiness.
The focus isn’t just on reducing environmental harm but also on closing the gap between people and the natural world. As cities grow, they often lack nature, leaving spaces that can feel oppressive. CyberLotus addresses this by integrating nature into urban areas, creating environments that nurture life. The technology used, while responsible for much of the disconnect from nature, is now part of the solution, regenerating ecosystems in urban spaces. The system is adaptable, affordable and can support life in places where nature is scarce.
CyberLotus has the potential to extend beyond aesthetics by supporting food production and resource management, particularly through innovations like precision agriculture. By creating self-sustaining ecosystems CyberLotus can enhance overall well-being and quality of life. These installations don’t replace nature but complement it, demonstrating how technology can collaborate with environmental stewardship. In summary CyberLotus offers a practical step toward addressing environmental challenges. The project represents harmony between biodiversity, technology and design, aiming to reconnect people with the environment in a way that benefits both. The accompanying videos showcase the magnetic vortex mixer in operation, alongside a temporary tank setup, providing an insight into the innovative processes that power this vision. In this initial phase, the arrangement of tubes and wires is provisional, with the final configuration contingent on identifying and analysing all relevant variables. Once these factors are fully understood, the system will be refined into a more compact and optimised design, enhancing efficiency and alignment with project goals. Additional detailed information about all three phases of this program can be requested through the following link contact.
CyberRecycle: Waste Tracking System (Speculative Design Phase)
This waste ownership tracking and disposal system presents a groundbreaking, integrated approach to waste management, merging privacy options with financial incentives to promote accountability and responsible consumer behaviour. By harnessing real-time data, the system provides valuable insights to optimise waste collection, recycling and resource recovery, benefiting both municipalities and corporations. The result is an efficient, scalable and environmentally-friendly solution that encourages consumers to take ownership of their waste, while offering a more transparent and sustainable waste management framework.
The system is particularly well-suited for large-scale retail environments, where seamless integration with payment systems and POS terminals is achievable. It is especially effective for perishable goods, as it establishes a clear and logical connection between product lifecycle stages and waste disposal requirements. Through the use of identification tags, both the product and its packaging are linked within a unified database, tracking their journey from purchase to disposal. This connection ensures both the product and packaging are treated as part of a comprehensive lifecycle management system.
However, the system’s extension to products with longer-term lifecycles or variable use-by dates presents additional challenges. A more sophisticated mechanism to manage disposal timelines, along with reminders or notifications for non-perishable items, would be necessary. This complexity is heightened for products that may not have immediate waste disposal urgency or clear timelines, making it harder to ensure timely and accurate disposal without significant consumer engagement.
Looking toward the future, the mandatory implementation of such waste ownership tracking and disposal systems may become an essential element in combating global waste and pollution. By combining advanced technology, supportive legislation and consumer incentives, these systems could drive a paradigm shift toward sustainable consumption and responsible disposal practices. As governments, corporations and communities work together to create a cleaner, more sustainable world, these systems will play a pivotal role in fostering a circular economy, ensuring that waste is minimised, recycled and repurposed for future generations.
Ultimately, this system holds the potential to significantly impact how we manage and think about waste. With the right technological infrastructure and policy frameworks, we can create a world where waste is not just a problem to be disposed of but a valuable resource to be managed, reclaimed and reused; driving both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
1. Purchase Stage: Ownership Registration
- Product Barcode/RFID:
Every product purchased has a unique barcode or RFID tag linked to a central database. This allows for precise identification of the product and its owner. - Consumers register under one of three categories:
- Identified Purchaser (Default): Full product ownership tracking.
Eligible for waste reduction incentives like cashback, tax deductions or loyalty points. - Anonymous Purchaser: Privacy option with higher disposal fees or an upfront waste deposit.
The system does not link the product to the consumer’s identity but ensures accountability via waste deposit or higher fees. - Prepaid Waste Account: Consumers prepay disposal fees based on estimated waste levels (e.g., fixed monthly fee or annual prepayment).
- Identified Purchaser (Default): Full product ownership tracking.
- The Household Waste ID is linked to the consumer’s payment method (credit card, mobile payment or digital wallet). When making a purchase, the system automatically associates the product’s barcode with the Household Waste ID.
2. Disposal Stage: Waste Tracking & Identification
Objective: Ensure correct disposal, prevent illegal dumping and incentivise recycling while maintaining system efficiency.
- Smart Waste Bins & Bags:
- Consumers receive waste bags or bins equipped with a unique RFID or QR code linked to their Household Waste ID.
- Waste disposal occurs by simply scanning the waste ID at smart collection points (e.g., municipal bins, recycling stations or waste trucks).
- Waste Collection Verification:
- At designated drop-off points or during municipal collection, scanning verifies that the disposed item corresponds to the original purchaser or household.
- The waste item’s barcode/RFID and the Household Waste ID (from the bin/bag) are scanned together.
High-value items (e.g., electronics, hazardous waste) are scanned individually to ensure proper disposal.
3. Refund System for Anonymous Purchasers
Objective: Provide a mechanism to refund the waste deposit for properly disposed of items, ensuring compliance and incentivising responsible behaviour.
- Waste Deposit Collection:
- For anonymous purchasers, a waste deposit is charged upfront at the time of purchase.
- The deposit varies depending on the waste type (e.g., higher for non-recyclables or hazardous waste).
- Proper Disposal Validation:
- Upon proper disposal at a smart collection point or municipal waste facility, the system verifies the disposal based on barcode/RFID scanning and the Household Waste ID linked to the disposed item.
- Alternatively, retailer/brand take-back programs also allow for validation at specific locations.
Refund Processing:
- Refund Method:
- Once disposal is validated, the deposit is refunded to the original payment method (e.g., credit card, digital wallet) or through other incentives like loyalty points or tax credits.
- Preventing Fraud:
- Unique disposal IDs are used to prevent the system from issuing multiple refunds for the same item.
- Refunds are only processed if the waste has been properly disposed of, verified by system scanning.
4. Anti-Abuse Measures
Objective: Discourage fraudulent claims and ensure the system’s integrity.
- Upfront Waste Deposits:
- Consumers opting for anonymous purchases must pay a waste deposit, which is refunded only upon verified, proper disposal.
- Higher Disposal Fees:
- Anonymous purchasers face higher disposal fees to deter waste mismanagement.
- Unique Waste IDs:
- Every waste item linked to a Household Waste ID ensures that the system can track disposal behaviour. Unauthorised items (not linked to a Household Waste ID) will be flagged for review.
- Random Waste Audits:
- Municipalities or private waste collectors can periodically perform random checks to ensure compliance with disposal regulations and to detect potential fraud in waste claims.
5. Waste Incentives and Accountability
Objective: Encourage consumers to reduce waste and recycle properly.
- Waste Reduction Incentives:
- Consumers who dispose of recyclables properly can receive rewards like cashback, loyalty points or tax deductions.
- Prepaid Account Holders may receive discounts or rebates on future purchases or waste services for adhering to waste reduction goals.
- Waste Tracking Dashboards:
- Consumers can access online dashboards that show their waste output, disposal patterns and incentive eligibility.
- This transparency allows for setting personal waste reduction goals and tracking progress over time.
6. Integration with Municipal & Corporate Systems
Objective: Enable smooth integration with municipal waste management and corporate sustainability goals.
- Smart Waste Collection Systems:
- Municipalities use RFID or barcode scanning technology in waste collection trucks and smart bins to track real-time data on waste production and disposal patterns.
- Corporate Responsibility:
- Companies (especially manufacturers) can monitor the disposal behaviour of their products, use the data to optimise packaging for better recyclability, and ensure their products are responsibly managed at the end of life.
- Municipal Planning & Optimisation:
- The system provides data insights to optimise waste collection routes and policies based on actual consumption and disposal patterns.
7. Benefits of the System
Consumers
- Flexibility in Privacy:
- Choose between full tracking, anonymous purchases or prepaid accounts.
- Incentives for Recycling:
- Earn rewards for sustainable disposal practices.
- Transparent Billing:
- Pay only for the waste generated with an option for refundable deposits.
Municipalities
- Efficient Waste Management:
- Optimise routes and collection schedules using real-time data.
- Reduced Illegal Dumping:
- Properly tagged waste discourages improper disposal.
- Sustainability Goals:
- Supports tracking and reporting for environmental sustainability initiatives.
Corporations
- End-to-End Tracking:
- Monitor the lifecycle of products and improve sustainability
- Waste Reduction Goals:
- Align packaging and product design with sustainable disposal practices.
African Language Music Translation System (Model Demonstration Phase)
Project Overview
The African Language Music Translation system is designed to enhance cross-cultural listening and learning experiences by leveraging the deep connection between music and language processing. The system integrates human and AI-generated content to provide accurate and synchronised translations of song lyrics into various African languages, supporting verbal learning and communication.
By harnessing melody, harmony, rhythm, lyric translation, biographies and visualisation, this platform aims to improve verbal learning and communication across Africa. Designed to entertain, educate and address misunderstandings, this innovative format fosters deeper connections through music.
The platform translates lyrics into the user’s preferred African language, synchronises them with the original audio and creates video outputs displaying both original and translated lyrics in perfect sync with the music. This approach enriches the listening and learning experience, tapping into the timeless connection between music and language.
Service Development
Our prototype Interpreter is available for experimentation and feedback. Initially, our model supports translations in eight African languages and four prominent non-African languages, aiming to connect 520 million speakers across the continent with the global digital society.
The proof of concept will use YouTube’s technical architecture; however, options for a proprietary streaming service and a preloaded, internet-free service are also being considered.
System Architecture
The platform consists of four major modules (plus additional features):
1. Content Capture with Optimised User Experience (UX)
- Input Sources: Supports human and AI-generated content input.
- Data Types: Lyrics, artist biographies and videos.
- Translation & Verification: Automated language translation with human verification to ensure accuracy.
- Content Upload: Streamlined process for efficient storage and retrieval.
2. Video and Lyric Synchronisation
- Real-Time Alignment: Ensures translated lyrics are displayed in perfect sync with the original audio.
- Multi-Language Support: Displays both the original and translated lyrics.
- Output Generation: Creates visually enriched video outputs with synchronised lyrics.
3. Database Design and Management
- Entity Structure:
- Geographic location: A specific place on Earth, defined by coordinates, administrative boundaries or cultural regions.
- Music genre: A classification that groups songs based on shared characteristics such as style, rhythm, instrumentation and cultural origin.
- Language: a system of symbols used for communication, whether spoken, written or signed.
- Playlist: A collection of songs or media items organised for playback in a specific order or on shuffle.
- Song: A musical composition typically featuring lyrics and melody, intended to be sung or played.
- Musician: Someone who plays, composes or arranges music, typically using instruments or their voice to express ideas, emotions or concepts.
- Biography: A detailed account of a musician’s life, covering key events, achievements, challenges and personal experiences
- Content: Digital information typically a song, podcast, documentary, film, concert or report.
- Scalable Architecture: Supports seamless data expansion for additional languages and artists.
- Data Integrity: Ensures structured storage and retrieval for high-performance queries.
4. Presentation Layer
The bridge between the user and the underlying system, focusing on how information is displayed and how users interact with it.
- User Interface: Intuitive design for seamless user interaction.
- Customisable Experience: Allows users to select preferred languages and playback styles.
- Mobile & Web Accessibility: Ensures availability across multiple devices.
5. Additional Features
- Advanced Indexing: Improved content categorisation and retrieval.
- AI Integration: Enhanced machine learning models for better translation accuracy.
- Curated User Contributions: Community-driven enhancements for richer content.
- Language Expansion: Inclusion of more African languages for broader accessibility.
Project Benefits
- Enhanced Learning: Improves verbal comprehension through music-based language processing.
- Cultural Connectivity: Strengthens cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
- Entertainment & Education: Merges leisure with an educational approach to language learning.
- Innovative Format: Encourages deeper engagement with African music and linguistic heritage.
Conclusion
This system serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating the potential of music-driven language translation to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. By leveraging AI, structured databases and synchronised multimedia content, the African Language Music Translation platform aims to revolutionise the way people interact with and learn from music across Africa.
Following the completion of a proof of concept model (March 2025) research (if deemed approriate) will be undertaken to develop a fantastic project! We believe the concept for afroroots.app has the potential to make a significant impact on how African music and languages are shared, explored and enjoyed. The idea of allowing users to contribute song lyrics and have them synchronised with tracks could create a rich, engaging platform that celebrates cultural diversity and musical traditions.
Here are a more few ideas for expanding and improving afroroots.app as we progress towards the prototype and beyond:
1. Automated Lyrics and Translation Integration:
- Lyrics Capture: To automate the lyrics capture process, you could use speech-to-text technology for automatic transcription of lyrics from the music. Services like Google Speech-to-Text or Azure’s Speech API could be integrated into the platform.
- Translation AI: Consider using machine learning models for automatic translations to expand the number of languages your platform can support. This way, as users contribute content, it can be translated into various African and other languages without relying solely on manual translations.
2. Crowdsourcing Lyrics & Translations:
- Allow users to contribute lyrics directly by uploading tracks or syncing lyrics with YouTube videos. This could also be a part of a community-driven feature, where users submit and validate the accuracy of lyrics and translations.
- Gamification of Contributions: Encourage user engagement with a reward system (points, badges or even contributions to a song’s popularity) to encourage users to contribute song lyrics or translations, especially for languages less represented.
3. Lyrics Synchronisation with Music Tracks:
- You can use timestamping in song lyrics to create karaoke-style lyric displays that match the music. Integrating tools that allow for time-syncing lyrics automatically (using audio analysis) can take the platform to the next level.
- Tools like Aeneas or Gentle Whisper might help with automatic lyric alignment to the music’s rhythm and timing.
- Consider utilising AI-based algorithms to detect beats, pauses, and vocal lines to sync lyrics more seamlessly with the music.
4. Improving Multilingual Experience:
- Since we’re focusing on multiple languages, a dynamic language switcher can help with this. Allow users to select not only their language for the interface but also which language version of the song they’d like to hear or view lyrics in.
- Provide features that let users switch between multiple translations for songs (e.g., English, Swahili, Amharic, Yoruba, etc.), even allowing them to view lyrics in side-by-side language comparisons.
5. Music Discovery & User Engagement:
- Discoverability: Implement a powerful search and recommendation engine to help users discover music based on genre, language, artist or country. Recommendations can be based on user behavior or music tags.
- Community Feedback & Interaction: Add features for users to comment on songs, rate the translations or lyrics, and discuss cultural nuances of the music. This could increase engagement and make the platform feel more like a community hub.
6. Partnerships with Artists and Music Labels:
- Collaborations: Consider partnering with local artists and music labels to bring more music directly to the platform. This could help with content creation, ensuring high-quality translations and lyrics directly from the source.
- Exclusive Content: Provide users with access to exclusive or early releases of tracks and content through these partnerships.
7. API for External Contributions:
- Develop an API that allows other websites or platforms to interact with afroroots.app. For example, users from other platforms or websites could contribute song lyrics, translations, or recommend tracks through this API.
8. Mobile App for Easy Access:
- Mobile App Development: Building a mobile version of afroroots.app could significantly enhance the platform’s accessibility and engagement, making it easier for users to upload lyrics, sync them with tracks, and interact with other users.
Example User Flow for the Prototype:
Song Upload & Lyrics Contribution:
- Users upload a song from YouTube or provide a link to an existing track.
- They can input lyrics in their chosen language or contribute a translation.
- The system auto-synchronises lyrics to the track (or allows manual syncing).
Song Review & Feedback:
- Users can rate the accuracy of translations and contribute suggestions.
- Additional translations can be added by users proficient in other languages.
Song Playback with Synced Lyrics:
- Songs play with dynamic, time-synced lyrics shown in the user’s chosen language.
- Optionally, users can toggle between translations for a bilingual experience.
Crowdsourced Language Validation:
- The community can validate translations and suggest improvements, which are reviewed by a moderator or through a voting system.
Next Steps for Prototyping:
- Research Existing Solutions: Look into other music platforms that offer lyrics synchronization (e.g., Musixmatch) to understand what works and what can be improved.
- API Integration: Consider implementing YouTube’s API, Google Translate API, or Speech-to-Text APIs to facilitate song data gathering, translations and real-time sync with the platform.
- User Testing: As you prototype, involve your target audience in user testing to validate your ideas and refine the user interface, experience and functionality.
Once your afroroots.app is up and running, this kind of approach could serve as a prototype for a larger, more automated platform where songs from all over Africa are not only shared but accessed, understood, and appreciated in various languages globally.
Advanced Digital Transformation (Prototype Evaluation Phase)
Advanced Digital Transformation aligns with the principles of good governance, as defined by the United Nations, and is implemented through the systematic application of advanced information systems engineering.
The concept challenges biases in the status quo and critically assesses high-risk alternatives, uncovering flaws that, if ignored, can lead to project overruns, misalignment, cancellations and serious failures, as seen in the UK Post Office scandal, the CrowdStrike incident and many others.
By challenging conventional norms, the concept redefines computerised creative change by optimising the evaluation and management of digital transformations and innovation investments. It introduces an integrated control framework that delivers real-time insights, significantly improving critical decision-making.
Full Stack Foundation Course (Operational)
Software engineering is a primary skill needed to bring about systems innovation. It’s an effective way for us to make changes and improve the way people do things. Here, we explore web-based software engineering to provide insight and practical know-how, fostering innovation and creativity in a fun yet absorbing way.
The online course is available in English and Portuguese. It is representative of internet architecture and appropriate for beginners. Once assimilated, it makes it easier to choose the technical variations that best suit you.
Full Stack Foundation Course
See also AI for Beginners and the Interactive Guide to Human Resources
Search Engine WrapTool (Postponed)
Enter a mentorship with a Christ College, Cambridge Mathematician, and collaborate to create Wraptool, enabling a simple choice of multiple search engines categorised by discipline, industry or subject.
Registered users have more options, invaluable tools and personalisation accessed via different machines.
Consultancy Assignments
British Telecommunications
Undertake a leading role in engineering one of the world’s most advanced technical infrastructure performance assessment facilities. Part of a team of leading specialists rigorously testing the Spine infrastructure for two years under typical and extreme healthcare workloads. The co-author of BT Spine’s technical performance specification[1], defining and clarifying detailed success criteria, while also delineating the comprehensive scope of the associated test effort.
Spine handles up to 47 million electronic messages, between 28,000 IT systems across 21,000 care organisations daily. It provides access to 65 million summary care records and over 90 million demographic records. It securely sends 750,000 e-referral messages and 2 million electronic prescriptions per day and is used by 500,000 NHS health professionals with near 100% availability. Health and care IT systems that can integrate with Spine continue to be developed.
Thomson Reuters
Take on two groundbreaking assignments for Reuters. The first was to evaluate real-time financial intelligence at the Global Technology Centre in Geneva. This project modelled market trading and calibrated supporting technology performance under emulated load conditions. Having the most up-to-date information about the state of the global economy enabled Reuters to keep its clients ahead of the curve.
At their Media Centre, London, the second modelled worldwide journalist activity and incrementally re-engineered technical architectures to establish a global competitive advantage when breaking the latest worldwide news.
Tesco Bank and UK Government Home Office
1. Develop an innovative strategy to evaluate corporate system performance, scalability and reliability for Tesco Personal Finance. This pioneering solution was presented to development and executive staff in the Royal Bank of Scotland boardroom. The approach, later adopted throughout Tesco, earned Gartner-ranked world leaders in automated service assurance their most significant and most lucrative account in Europe. A Channel Alliance Partnership with this Silicon Valley corporation was awarded to Advanced Digital Transformation.
2. Introduce cutting-edge automated performance technology for the UK Government’s initiative for a modern, fairer, faster and firmer approach to immigration and asylum at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in Croydon, South London. Engineer a service evaluation assurance capability and develop its associated user training course.
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Calibrate the Search Administration Module of the company’s technical architecture hosted at Colorado, Tampa and London. The existing Global Alliance Portal content and applications were brought to the business-to-consumer portal space to create a single market-facing PC portal. Three levels of search are available through the Portal search facility. Essential is textual only; Advanced is a textual search that some critical field parameters can filter, and Enhanced is where the power of the more extensive tagging can be exploited.
The performance, scalability and reliability evaluation was conducted under emulated search patterns to identify and resolve technical performance issues, and this was achieved within the planned timescale.
Centrica British Gas
In anticipation of the deregulation of the supply industry, British Gas developed a tailored Electricity Billing System designed to handle up to 4 million customers. However, after the initial deployment for 1.5 million customers in 1998, Accenture began addressing outstanding issues and planning the volume upgrade. To ensure these changes were effectively implemented, British Gas commissioned a purpose-designed service assurance strategy. This strategy involved creating an advanced process for generating a comprehensive report that encompassed all application and platform changes, ensuring an objective assessment of operational readiness.
The £40 million,[2] 16-month upgrade, for the high-volume platform and associated business change requests was thoroughly audited between February and July 1999 under the newly developed procedure. Risks were identified and mitigated, leading to a recommendation to go live, which was presented to the implementation board. Our architect declared the volume upgrade platform[1] fit for purpose, with an ‘amber’ caution for the first month of operation. While the initial, 1998 rollout may have faced a few setbacks the 1999 rollout marked a year of progress and improvement.
DSS and Energy Supply Deregulation
1. Following a successful functional testing engagement at the DSS, our architect predicted that a reactive IT Services Agency (ITSA) approach to a complex integration test would probably fail. One of PA Consulting Group’s leading government consultants arranged for him to propose his suggested proactive methodology focused on efficiency and control.
His proposed structured testing method, developed in July 1996, used a relational database, which integrated seamlessly with progress reporting software. This ensured that the testing efforts remained under control and strategically aligned with the specified entry and exit criteria for each test component. The proposal, along with the associated software, was submitted for approval in August 1996.
Despite this and a fundamental project reset, the DSS ultimately chose to proceed with the original in-house ITSA method. However, in May 1999, it was announced that the entire DSS project would be cancelled due to persistent delays and contractual issues. The decision underscored a staggering level of bureaucratic incompetence and administrative negligence, deeply disappointing for a department entrusted with the public’s welfare.
2. Nevertheless, between September 1996 and July 1999, our architect successfully implemented his methodology, integrating business processes for energy supply deregulation at Yorkshire Electricity and ensuring service assurance for a £40 million[2] platform upgrade for Centrica British Gas.
Eurostar
Britain, France and Belgium set up an International Project Group to specify a train to provide an international high-speed passenger service through the tunnel.The required Eurostar booking system was based on an enhanced version of SABRE, a system developed to automate how American Airlines booked reservations. Our company collaborated with PwC and agreed on a strategy to re-align development and ensure timely delivery for the Eurostar Launch.
Advanced Digital Transformation took responsibility for the structured testing of software developed by British Rail in Nottingham and formally declared the completion of testing at a Quality Assurance sign-off.
GiroBank Santander
A project was commissioned to document Britain’s sixth-largest bank’s data assets. Advanced Digital Transformation’s Systems Architect was assigned to engineer and present the detailed data model for GiroBank’s £42 million[2] Retail Banking development. A model was created to represent and better understand the conceptual nature of the bank’s data flow by describing related entities, relationships and attributes. In turn, this was resolved against a physical data model.
A thorough analysis of Retail Banking data structures to define the associative tables that illustrate the relationships among entities and the primary and foreign keys used to maintain those relationships made this possible. Within a few months, the UK government announced plans for privatisation, and GiroBank was ultimately subsumed by Santander, one of the world’s top twenty-rated banks.
Berlin Fire Brigade and Scottish Home and Health Department
1. Assigned to the Berliner Feuerwehr Notdienst (Emergency Services) to troubleshoot and rectify root cause project non-conformance. Overcome serious communication issues at a board room meeting in Spandau. Instruct development staff in Nürnberg and Berlin and work as a team to design and develop detailed process and data models.
2. Undertake a strategic alignment exercise to assess how closely potential systems met Scotland’s breast screening requirements. Having reported to St Andrew’s House, the policy committee decided that a high-level design should be prepared. Advanced Digital Transformation’s architect designed the detailed process and data models and delivered the system specification, satisfying the Scottish Home and Health Department’s requirements.
Bankers' Automated Clearing Services and Kiwibank
1. Review, amend and endorse the project management consultant’s testing strategy for the NEFT (New Electronic Fund Transfer) system. Collaborate with technical engineers to evolve the operational environment needed to evaluate an innovative Client and Server architecture. Steer four test teams to prove cutting-edge, automatic money transfer without the direct intervention of bank staff. This work was conducted at the UK Bankers’ Automated Clearing Service research center in Dunstable during 1984 and 1985.
2. Facilitate KiwiBank’s acceptance testing of BANKMASTER at Auckland, New Zealand, a fully integrated accounting and management reporting system that reflects the need of all types of financial institutions. Articulate functionality gaps and assist in planning the additional activity needed to reconcile them.
