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Foreign travel advice Indonesia
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Indonesia.
Foreign travel advice Romania
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 24 April 2024 Updated: 23 April 2024 Latest update: Information related to drug offences and Romanian music festivals (under 'Laws and cultural differences' subheading on the 'Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice The Gambia
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Ferry services between Banjul and Barra have been suspended until further notice; The Islamic Summit of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will be held in Banjul on 4-5 May; road closures and delays at Banjul International Airport ('Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice China
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Updated information on flooding (‘Safety and security’ page).
Guidance Living in South Korea
Information for British citizens moving to or living in South Korea, including guidance on residency, healthcare, driving and more.
Let the Machines Do the Work
2014 is being hotly tipped as the year that the Internet of Things – or the Thingternent as it has become colloquially known – will finally make a meaningful impact on our everyday lives.
A number of high profile reports relating to Google, Samsung and other tech-giants have recently been splashed across major media channels suggesting that this new technology will be entering our homes and businesses sooner rather than later.
For anyone still unsure as to exactly what this means then take a look at Deutsche Telekom's M2M marketplace to see the range of devices that are currently available. Pretty soon your business or start-up could be streamlined and cost effective in ways that were previously unimaginable – all down to the simple idea of enabling electronic devices to communicate with each other.
Benefits for Businesses
In the world of business there are a tremendous amount of applications where this technology will excel. On the very simplest level, M2M communication could have your office printer ordering new toner as and when it needs it – without the potential memory lapse of human intervention. The same goes for any other piece of electronic office equipment; right down to the fridge that keeps employees refreshed throughout the day. Just make sure you are putting the much maligned, processed meat in the fridge, rather than the fridge sending it out.
However, on a more advanced level, the world of M2M communications is still very much unexplored territory. High-end monitoring systems are of course already in the making but start-ups the world over are beginning to make headway into the next generation of M2M technologies. These technologies take many forms and it seems that an evolutionary struggle is about to take place, with many of these ideas falling by the wayside and only a handful of the most useful and adaptable lasting the course.
Whatever your feelings regarding our electronically connected world, the signs are all pointing to its continued expansion into our everyday lives. IT companies are growing larger everyday, with more and more start-ups based entirely in the digital realm. However, as the digital world and the real world run along increasingly convergent parallels, it is clear that M2M communications will very quickly become the standard. Ensure your business or start-up is up-to-date with the latest developments that are likely to benefit you in a multitude of ways.