technology

There's no doubt a career in technology is one that provides opportunity, growth, a lot of variety and a stimulating and fast-moving environment. The fact there's generally a skills shortage puts many people in a good position when it comes to getting their first job or advancing their career - but how do you get involved in the first place?

What tech area to move into?

With so many branches of 'tech' the decision is: what area should I go into? Maybe you know already: perhaps the world of artificial intelligence (AI) fascinates and you'd love to be part of it - or maybe web development appeals?

Perhaps developing software and helping people to run their business finances and generally make their lives easier through innovative packages and apps is your thing? Some of what you enjoy now about tech will likely be pointing you in the right direction so don't ignore that 'gut feeling'.

Making the right moves

One concern you may have in moving into a tech career is in making the wrong choice of what field to enter; you may worry about running the risk of taking time consuming and possibly expensive training only to realize it's not right for you.

Technology is all around us. In recent years, unprecedented advancements in technology have resulted in numerous changes in every facet of our lives. Businesses have also been positively affected by the surge in technology. Here are four ways that technology has helped to improve business.

As a foreign student in the UK, the question of mobile phones is always one to ponder. I heard good things about one month rolling contracts, so I tried one out for a month with a cheap SIM free phone.

Phone: Nokia Lumia 530

The Nokia Lumia 530 is well in the ‘bargain' bracket of smart phones. After a quick look online at the time of writing, you can get it for a ridiculously cheap £50. So, what do you get for your money?

The phone fits nicely into your hand and although the case feels a little plasticy, the bright green of my handset certainly makes it stand out from the crowd. At first, I struggled to get the back off to get to the battery and sim slots, but that may just be me.

It uses the Windows operating system, and as with any new platform, it can take a little time to get used to, but actually the customisable tile layout is pretty easy to master. For a cheap phone it actually handled my day to day usage pretty well. I could, for example, have several apps open and be using the web and there would rarely be any noticeable slow down.

Football fans may remember the under-21 European Championship qualification match between Italy and Slovakia. The Scottish referee deprived the young Slovaks of a penalty and later sent off two of their players for soft tackles. For similar reasons, the Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura made headlines on the first day of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. By coincidence, both matches ended 3-1 to the home team. However, if the referees could have consulted video replays, the results could have been very different.

Football federations promised to review the issue of video replays after mistakes by referees have caused several controversies over the last few years. However, those who are looking forward to enjoying every detail of the European Championship 2016 in front of the TV might be disappointed. Even viewers will have to do without video replays of questionable offside decisions on TV, as, under the threat of financial penalties, TV broadcasters cannot draw lines on the screen to show the position of players in the decisive moment. It is the result of the latest UEFA ruling that will deprive onlookers from knowing the truth.