http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Maya

Autodesk Maya is a software application used for 3D animation, 3D modeling, simulation, visual effects, rendering, matchmoving, and compositing. It is developed in Toronto by Autodesk’s Media and Entertainment Division
Maya is used in the film and TV industry, as well as for computer and video games, architectural visualization and design.

To find out how you can get trained in Autodesk Maya, visit us at: http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=999

By Parul Solanki: Buzzle.com

We have all laughed at the antics of the ‘donkey’ in the movie Shrek or loved the character of ‘Woody’ in the Pixar movie, The Toy Story. However not many of us know the behind-the-curtains story of these animation movies. The use of computer generated imagery or CGI animation in movies, television and commercial media, has met with increasing success over the forty years of its development and usage. However, the resounding success of these animated graphics, has also raised some interesting questions related to its techniques, popularity and its significant limitations. But before we can venture into these unanswered territories, let us define CGI and answer the basic question as to what is CGI animation.

CGI Animation: Definition and Techniques

A subset of the broad field of animation, CGI or computer-generated imagery, can be defined as the use of computers for creating moving images. Using certain 3D animation software tools like Maya, 3ds Max or Blender, the first step of CGI animation, involves creating a ‘wire frame’ or a geometric model of the object. Now, the surface appearance of the object has to be determined. This involves providing color, texture, reflectivity and transparency to the objects in question, with the help of tools known as ’shaders’. The final step in the animation process, involves the computer rendering of the entire scene. This involves the calculation of the color of the pixels in the scene, which determines the shading, texture mapping, reflection, refraction and photo-realistic rendering. This may sound simple, but given the millions of pixels in a high definition scene, providing the realistic animal movements, skin, hair and fur, is still quite a complex task. Not to mention the problems areas of introducing features like liquids, gases and complex surfaces, like the texture of the face and the clothing.

A simpler method of adding movement to the objects, is by duplicating an image, displayed on the computer screen and repeatedly replacing this new image, that is similar to the previous image, but slightly advanced in the time domain. Thus, using persistence of vision, the illusion of smooth movement is provided by drawing the pictures at 12 fps (frames per second). In a computer generated image, this is achieved by changing the values of the segments of the skeletal model over time, making the character move from frame to frame. There are several methods for achieving that realistic motion, such as keyframing to motion capture.

Impact of CGI Animation:

Cheaper than most of the other animation methods, like construction of miniatures or the use of actors or other contributors to the project, CGI animation is increasingly being used for producing high quality visual effects and realistic images. The accessibility to the CGI software tools, in the recent years, has enabled individual artists and small production units to come up with content without the use of actors, expensive set pieces, or props. While 2D CGI was first used in 1973, in the movie Westworld, it has been increasingly used over the years, in popular movies like The Jurassic Park and the Star Wars series. It was in the year 1995, that the first fully computer-generated feature film, Toy Story was released.

The Future of CGI Animation:

Technological change is an inevitable part of life, and therein lies the uncertain future of CGI animation. Although people have increasingly taken to the animated bugs, monsters and animals, it is the creation of a photorealistic animation of humans, that remains out of reach for CGI animators. To replicate the complex human emotions and movements as a 3D animation, remains the goal for all animators. However, complete human realism, where there is no distinguishing between a particular movie sequence that is computer-generated or created using real actors in front of movie cameras, seems an unachievable dream. However with the rapid development of the personal computers, that has reduced their rendering time quite significantly, and the images having become more realistic, CGI animation is here to stay, it seems.

To find out how you can start a career in CGI Animation, give us a call at Techworks on 020 7448 7700 or visit us www.techworks-learning.com

By Mary Lennighan, Total Telecom
Wednesday 02 June 2010

Analyst firm releases new numbers on mobile applications and mobile browser markets in Europe and the U.S.
Social networking continues to top the U.S. mobile content charts, new research shows, with application-based access showing a phenomenal growth rate over the past 12 months.

14.52 million U.S. smartphone users used a social networking application in April 2010, up a sizeable 240% on the same month in 2009, according to new figures from comScore. The growth rate in Europe was almost identical at 239% (9.52 million users), the analyst firm revealed.

The popularity of social networking drove the application access market as a whole. In total 69.64 million U.S. smartphone users used an application (excluding native games) in April, up 28% from 54.51 million a year earlier.

Other application access categories recording 100%-plus growth over the year included news, which increased by 124%, sports information (113%), banking (113%), and weather (111%).

Despite significant increases in application usage, most Americans still prefer using their browsers, comScore noted. Close to 73 million mobile users accessed their browser in April, up 31% on-year; social networking was once again the fastest growing content segment accessed via mobile browsers, surging by 90% (29.84 million users), but in absolute terms, search (34.91 million users) ranked higher.

“Although growth in application usage on smartphones continues grab the spotlight in the mobile market, the audience using their mobile browser remains larger and is growing just as quickly,” said Mark Donovan, senior vice president of mobile at comScore, in a statement.
“Brands need to remember to take into account the user experience across both channels when building their mobile strategies,” he cautioned.

The situation is reversed in Europe though, where mobile users are showing a preference for applications over browser access. While 81.87 million users accessed applications in April 2010, a year-on-year growth rate of 13.4%, just 58.9 million used their browser. However, the browser category recorded stronger growth at 40.5%.

While social networking stole the application show in terms of growth rate, it was beaten by mapping services in terms of users, with 11.13 million people accessing maps thorough apps in April, up 131.3%.

To see how you can get involved in the Applications Development market, visit us at: http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=24

1. SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a database programming language that acts a means of communication between two other programs such as a website and a database.

2. SQL helps to structure and manage information in a database as well as carry out searches for information using structures. Some of these structures might include putting all the information about cars into tables comprising of makes, models, year of manufacture, and colour.

3. SQL makes an enquiry (or Query as the name suggests) to a database by sending a request. This request could come from a website such as Autotrader or a search engine.

4. SQL can perform all of these functions in a fraction of a second.

5. There are different developers of SQL, such as Oracle, Sybase, and Microsoft, however their SQL programs all fundamentally work the same way.

6. MySQL is an opensource version of SQL, meaning it is open to the public to upgrade through the internet and best of all… free. This makes it very popular with developers.

7. SQL falls into the middleware category of software. Middleware typically functions in between two other programs, such as a website (the front end) and a database (the backend) allowing them to communicate.

8. Three good examples of websites that use SQL in some capacity are Ebay, Autotrader, and Amazon.

9. The types of people that may use SQL include Applications Developers, Programmers, and Database Administrators (i.e. the people that look after large databases).

10. One type of commonly known database program that works well with SQL is ‘Microsoft Access’. This works with Microsoft’s own version of SQL (Microsoft SQL) which is typically stored on business servers (i.e. central computers). This type of set up allows thousands of employees to access data through their own PCs from the server. This data could be anything from financial information, customer details or retail goods that their company might sell.

To find out how you can get involved in the SQL industry, visit us as at http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=26

Source: Article Alley, 3rd March 2010

Job search engines can prove it… Yes, if you really want to know the rising demand for Java Programmers, then you should see the job results using any of the world’s most popular job search engines. Looking at the job trends for various programming languages, Java Programmers around the world occupy the top position. While all other programming languages have stayed fairly flat or declined in the job trends chart for February 2010, Java managed to get an increasing demand curve since July 2005. The main reason for the increase in job requirements is that today Java is being used in every major industry segment for various computing platforms ranging from mobile phones, embedded devices, enterprise servers on the lower end side and super computers on the higher end.

Today, Java is being used in more than 4.5 billion devices around the planet, including 2.1 billion cellular phones and other hand held devices (Source: Ovum), 850+ million personal computers, 3.5 billion smart cards, and various other instruments like car navigation systems, games, web cameras, set top boxes, printers, paid parking systems, medical and health care equipment, lottery terminals and many more.

So, just go online and click on any of the leading job search engines. You’ll see hundreds of thousands of job offerings in Java Script, Java, JSP, J2SE and J2ME from various companies ranging from small startups to famous fortune 500 companies across the globe. Today, Java can be easily touted as the largest and most actively used technology on the planet. It has been tested, extended and refined by more than any other technology.

People with flair and knowledge in Java technologies have a promising career in 2010 and [possibly] in the years to come. So far, more than 6.5 million programmers have managed to find a suitable job in any of the Java technology driven companies found on the job search engines.

To find out how you can become a Java Developer, visit us at: http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=26

May 6 2010 by Aled Blake, Western Mail

VICTIMS of cyber crime in Wales more than doubled in the past year and the problem cost businesses nearly £400m, says a report from online safety group e-Crime Wales.

It said the country witnessed a 67% increase in online security incidents such as the attempted hacking of passwords, data loss and the spreading of viruses over the past 12 months.

The cost to businesses, based on turnover in 2009, is estimated at £373m and e-Crime Wales said the average Welsh business is losing more than 3% of turnover – almost £2,000 as a result of e-Crime.

E-Crime Wales said its research proved businesses are becoming more aware of online risks and acting accordingly, with more than half increasing spending on IT security in the past year.

However, the same businesses are also becoming increasingly dependent on computer systems and the internet, with the growth of “cloud computing” – where data is saved online – also leaving businesses vulnerable to new types of cyber-crime.

In order to combat the threat of e-Crime, which costs the UK £10bn in total, Wales has taken a lead on prevention.

Wales is the only country in Europe to have dedicated e-Crime officers in each of its police forces, and e-Crime Wales holds an annual summit to promote online safety, and keep businesses informed on the latest threats.

Andrea Barnard, e-Crime Wales police manager, said: “The integration of technology has huge benefits for Welsh businesses, enabling growth, reducing costs, increasing competitiveness and enhancing profitability. This is why we’re committed to making Wales a safe place to do business online.

“But e-criminals are highly resourceful, and as they’re not bound by the same laws and regulations they’re forever one step ahead of the game, finding new ways to attack and compromise businesses.

“E-crime is always evolving so businesses need to stay vigilant to the latest solutions to ensure safe trading, and businesses in Wales have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the free of charge resources e-Crime Wales has to offer.”

The loss of confidential data was an area highlighted as a major concern to businesses in the survey, with almost half of businesses surveyed saying that their own staff has leaked or lost sensitive information.

Catering equipment supplier IMC in Wrexham is one recent victim of e-crime. The company received what purported to be an e-mail from a regular customer asking for five items of machinery. The machinery was dispatched, and the vendor billed – but the e-mails turned out to be fraudulent and IMC never received payment.

Tim Tindle, of IMC, said the incident had taught the firm a lesson in vigilance and it has since implemented procedures not to let it happen again.

He said: “I was absolutely amazed when I learned how large a problem this is across Wales. You already have internet security measures to stop viruses and phishing, you have burglar alarms to make sure you don’t get burgled – this is another area to have emerged.  “My advice is for firms to have a second system of checks in place so that you can stop anyone suspicious from taking advantage.”

This year’s e-Crime Wales Summit will be held at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport on July 15. Businesses can register their interest in the Summit or access further information about when e-Crime Wales officers will be in their area at www.ecrimewales.com

To find out how you can get involved in the IT Security industry, visit us at http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=27 or call us on 020 7448 7700 to make an appointment to speak with one of our consultants today.

Al Qaida is intent on using the internet to launch a cyber-warfare campaign against the UK, ministers have revealed.

Terrorist groups , which already use the internet for recruitment, propaganda and communication purposes, want to turn it into a dangerous weapon.

Security Minister Lord West issued the warning as he published the Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy aimed at heading off online threats.

As well as potential cyber-attacks from terrorists, the UK faces a real and growing threat from foreign governments such as China and Russia, and from organised criminal gangs, he said. Targets include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments.

As part of attempts to beef up defences, a new Office for Cyber Security will be set up to co-ordinate Government policy.

Another new development will see the creation of a “cyber-forensics” team based at GCHQ, the Government’s eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The Cyber Security Operations Centre will constantly monitor, analyse and counter cyber attacks as they happen.

Lord West said the terrorists’ capability to launch attacks was something that he believed “will develop” in future. “We know terrorists use the internet for radicalisation and things like that at the moment, but there is a fear they will move down that path (of cyber attacks). As their ability to use the web and the net grows, there will be more opportunity for these attacks.

He confirmed that the UK Government has already faced cyber attacks from foreign states such as Russia and China. But he denied that hackers had successfully broken into Government systems and stolen secret information.

He also said he could not deny that the Government has its own online attack capability, but he refused to say whether it had ever been used.

To find out how you can get involved in the IT Security industry, visit us at http://www.techworks-learning.com/course.php?id=27 or call us on 020 7448 7700 to make an appointment to speak with one of our consultants today.

As part of our ongoing customer commitment to keep up to date with current trends, Techworks are undergoing a huge upgrade of our course catalogue. Part of this upgrade will involve the introduction of new Techworks course packages and the addition of new modules into existing courses. As of March 2010, we will no longer be offering the following packages:

• Applications & Solutions Development;
• Cisco Network Engineering;
• Web Design;
• MCSE/MCSA Package; and
• IT Security

Customers who have purchased any of these courses prior to March 2010 will not be affected. Their course subscription will continue as per normal. This also applies to their access to the company’s recruitment services. Upon completion of your course, Techworks will endeavour to help find you employment on the condition this is part of your package.

The introduction of the new course packages and upgrades reflect a number of global changes such as employment trends, advancements in technology, and increased cyber crime. The new Techworks course packages will include:

• MCTS/MCITP Package;
• Programming;
• IT Support Package;
• IT Security with Forensics; and
• MCPD Package

The new course catalogue takes into consideration both ends of the spectrum, catering for novices wishing to gain entry into the IT field, and individuals already working as specialists but wanting to upgrade their skills or change to a new area.

If you have any questions regarding these upgrades, please feel free to drop us an email at enquiries@techworks-learning.com.

As far as technology goes, this is a very broad and not to mention difficult question to answer. Although we cannot accurately predict where technology will take us in the future, we can say with certainty that it will become easier to use based on trends for the last ten years. There is a growing consensus among consumers in particular to make technology more simplistic in function. This is nowhere more apparent than in IT. Take laptops for instance, these have become more simple to use with the development of operating systems such as Mac’s OS and Microsoft’s long line of Windows programs. Part of Microsoft’s new marketing strategy to help launch its latest operating system, Windows 7, is: “make it simple to use”… which indeed it is. Less than twenty years ago laptops were often looked upon as tools for high level professionals such as traders and scientists. Through the reduced cost in production and more importantly, the simplification in their functionality, laptops have become more accessible to the public leading to their widespread use. The uptake in the number of people using computers has inadvertently enhanced aspects of our lives such as socialising and information gathering.

There is however an ironic twist to all of this. Whilst technology has become more simple to use, the sophistication behind it has rapidly become more advanced requiring the development of a whole new workforce which exists today. This workforce has evolved to become a multilayered structure of men and women trained to oversee a number of objectives from the design, build and maintenance of these technology systems.

So where does Techworks fit into all of this? We are not only involved in the distribution of technology through our services, but the development of this workforce through our training programmes. We provide the necessary skills to allow men and women to undertake these objectives and subsequently help to make all of our lives better. We feel we play a very important role in this process, particularly at the early stage and will continue to offer these services due to the fact ‘skills development’ is always something that will be required.

If you’re interested in becoming part of this and would like advice on getting trained, please send us an email at enquiries@techworks-uk.com.

With the ever increasing spread of technology across the globe and its rising influence in our lives, the need for IT security infrastructures has never been greater. Although technology is making our lives easier and helping in the evolution of mankind, it is also being used against us by people with malicious or fraudulent intentions. This has spawned the creation of an entire industry based around fighting these threats which operate at private, government and military levels.

This new Techworks package covers a diverse range of IT Security specialisations from ethical hacking and information systems auditing to IT forensics investigation and security analysis. Most of the skills gained on this program will mirror those of the people you are seeking to combat and even convict. You will gain an understanding of how they operate to best implement protection measures and bring them to justice where and when necessary.

The types of organisations that hire IT Security professionals with these types of skills include investment banks, insurance brokers, government intelligence agencies, militaries, space agencies, aerospace companies, and many more. With the level of threats rising, the demand for IT security specialists is growing rapidly leading to the creation of more jobs in this field on a global level.

Most of the modules contained within this Techworks package are designed for individuals already working within the IT field or have pre-existing IT Security experience. Having said that, anyone is eligible to study the course material and gain the skills to work in a security capacity at a later date.

Areas of specialisation included in the Techworks package are:

• Ethical Hacking
• Information System Auditing
• Hacking Forensics Investigation
• Security Analysis combined with Licensed
Penetration Testing

Although the Techworks package can be purchased as a whole, the modules are designed to be purchased individually in order that a person can become a specialist in a particular area such as forensics investigation. The package would be beneficial when purchased as whole if an individual wished to learn certain aspects of each area however.

For more information on this up and coming Techworks package, please email us at enquiries@techworks-learning.com