econsultancy.com reports that Tesco has today launched its first augmented reality programme that will allow customers to view 3D images of more than 40 products from the electronics and entertainment sections both instore or online.

Powered by augmented reality firm Kishino, people can use computer terminals now located in seven Tesco stores across the UK to scan a product code or Tesco Direct catalogue.

Tesco has said that it hopes the use of augmented reality on customers’ home desktops will reduce the number of returns, as people can get an idea of the size of the product before ordering online.

Tesco is ...

In some policing areas in the UK English is very much the second language and the variety of languages spoken is overwhelming. This poses real problems for all aspects of policing, as essentially, policing is about people and people are about effective communication. No communication = ineffective policing.

Just to add to the problem, online social communication within and between individuals, groups and communities has seen explosive growth and is only just getting started. So, with budgets being more tightly constrained than ever and translation costs at an all time high, how can local police communicate with non english speaking communities? Well, fortunately, ...

After much thought I have decided that the Open Eye Blog needs a new direction.

Over the last few years the blog creation process was essentially about something noteworthy catching my eye, me digesting it, coming to a view and writing about it. In short an old fashioned creative process that took a lot of time and only really allowed me to focus on a few key things.

However, the communications world and the technology that supports it, has changed considerably over the last couple of years and a faster, more nimble, more eclectic approach to publishing is now ...

I have added the following reports to the Open Eye Communications website. Hope you find them interesting.

Queensland Police: Disaster management and social media case study

Home Office Report: Tackling organised crime through a partnership approach at the local level

Local to Global: reducing the risk from Organised Crime (Home Office Organised Crime strategy)

Baroness Newlove: ‘Safe and active communities’ progress report update

HMIC Report – ‘Adapting to Austerity’

They can all be found here

Qik is an interesting bit of technology that enables you, at no cost, to instantly stream video from your phone to the internet and to share it on facebook, twitter, youtube etc. No wait, no edit, no fuss. Instant (free) upload and storage (both public and private).

As with most mobile media and social networking things these days, it has interesting implications for policing, particularly in public order policing. Instant scrutiny coming to a demo and a street near you.

Activists have been quick to see it’s benefits. This post highlights the advantages of having your ...

Seems like tax on pensions is the main topic of conversation kicking around at the moment. I’m grateful therefore to the colleague who has kindly drawn my attention to the following useful explanatory information on the Thames Valley Police Federation website.

‘The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), has just released a new set of commutation factors for the Police Pension Scheme (PPS) 1987. The new factors will apply to any member who retires on or after 20 April 2011.

The factors for all ages have been increased, which means that the value of the commutation for all individuals will ...