Workplaces come in all kinds of shapes, sizes… and atmospheres. There are a variety of features which people consider essential to their daily professional exsistence – and, of course, several wishful thinking items which some companies have made a reality. Location How people feel about the physical setting of their workplace often comes down to whether or not it is internally well-equipped...

Research by car insurer Aviva has suggested that ‘normal’ patterns in family car ownership have begun to change, with the man of the house becoming less likely to be in charge of the larger vehicle. The stereotype – and, indeed, the reality – has long been that the father figure drives a large saloon, often a company car, while his lady uses a little runabout. These days, however, more...

Telecommunications giant BT has announced that its total number of wireless internet hotspots has reached 3.5m – a statistic which makes it hard to remember the days when an awkward dial-up connection was such a unique and valuable lifeline. It isn’t just dial-up that it surpasses, however, but also the options available to anyone whose usual internet connection is disrupted. It wasn’t...

BlackBerry has taken to the media this week in a bid to prove things aren’t going as badly as everyone thinks, pointing out that during 2011, its handsets outsold all others for the second year in a row. This may come as a surprise to people aware of the tumultuous year experienced by manufacturer RIM (Research In Motion), including internal criticism, redundancies, service outages and even partial...

The Mazda 5 is a seven-seat people carrier which is perfect for family use but also attractive and enjoyable to drive, making it a very popular choice for those who want to combine practicality with style. Ergonomic design The Mazda 5 is a very versatile vehicle, with multiple seating modes and a seat storage compartment. It also has sliding doors, which mean that access when parked in a difficult...

If you’ve ever had to drive a long way by car, you’ll know that your choice of vehicle makes a huge difference as to whether you have the trip of a lifetime or endure a slog never to be repeated. Of course, not everyone has the luxury of choice – sometimes the car you’ve got is the one you’re stuck with – but if you need to rent one for a particular trip abroad or within...

With the London 2012 Olympics looming, organisers have announced a set of social media restrictions for volunteers, telling them not to publicise any details about backstage goings-on. The move means that those working on the event for love instead of money – dubbed Games Makers – are not permitted to post social media updates about celebrities, or discuss their roles in local newspapers. Using...

It’s 2012 next… but what about 2013? Or even 2016? Multinational technology company IBM has come up with a list of five futuristic ideas it thinks may become realities in the next five years. This is a practice that IBM has engaged in every year since 2006, as it measures which innovations come true within the time frame specified – which is always five years. Its five predictions for...

International market research organisation YouGov has released its latest technology poll results in anticipation of 2012, which indicate that smartphones will continue to be a growth industry, while smart televisions, digital radio and print mediums will fare less well. The study showed that around 40 per cent of UK people presently own a smartphone such as an iPhone – and this will climb to 68...

Only a fifth of car owners put their vehicles away in a garage each night, according to research by the RAC Foundation – despite around two fifths having access to one. The study revealed that 25 per cent are parked on the street, while 53 per cent reside on driveways and 3 per cent are left in other locations. Only 19 per cent are locked up in the accommodation designed to house them. It is believed...