Nick Umney
Nick Umney, technical strategist.
What got you into IT? Mentioning it at an interview! I worked for the Post Office for more years than I care to remember. At an interview for a new job there, I just happened to mention that I was interested in IT - and low and behold found myself moved into an IT post!
I started in PC support, but very quickly moved into software development and then into solutions architecture. I worked on e-business solutions; for example, the post-codes online service.
And Microsoft? I joined Microsoft about five years ago, but I've only just joined the healthcare team (from education).
Sum up your current job: I'm one of the technical people on the team and I cover all of the products and services Microsoft offers in the health sector. My role is to help people get the most out of the technologies they get from Microsoft, to alleviate any technical concerns they may have and to come up with innovative customer solutions.
What's the best thing about it? Firstly, getting out and meeting people. Secondly, seeing how technology can change their environment - we can positively impact the way people work and how they spend their leisure time!
And the biggest irritation? Not having enough time in the day.
What is the next big thing in IT? I think unified communications will be the next big thing; linking email and voice and so on.
How will that affect the health sector? At the moment, people often feel constrained by the buildings or departments they work in, but that is going to change as we can communicate with people almost anywhere in the world. That will have big implications for healthcare creating new services and new ways of working within a flexible environment.
What other innovations would benefit healthcare? One of the key areas is the advent of ultra-small PCs weighing only a few pounds. I can imagine these being carried around by clinicians, so they will be able to have all the applications and information they currently store on their office-based PCs, at their fingertips.
Is there a piece of technology you couldn't live without? At home, I use my Media Centre and my MP3 player all the time. At work, it would be email.
And one you wish had never been invented? I'd probably say the pager. I used to work in out of hours support, so I know what it is like to have a pager bleeping you awake at 4am.
What was the last thing you played on your MP3? The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium.
What would you do if your favourite pieces of technology were taken away for a day? I can't imagine how I'd work without email. I suppose I could go and have a holiday.