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Internship allows business to explore touchscreen technology

A unique internship scheme has helped a marketing agency position itself at the forefront of cutting-edge touchscreen technology.

Gateshead-based Daykin & Storey employed James Leftley as a software developer as part of a Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) run by º£½ÇÖ±²¥. James spent 10 months developing new programmes and researching different ways to maximise touchscreen technology to help Daykin &Storey’s clients make the most of the emerging technology.

The internship has allowed the company to experiment with new forms of programming and has resulted in testing the concept for a 21st century restaurant ordering system using tabletop touchscreens.

KEIs are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and place a talented graduate in a company for between six and 12 months to help complete a specific project or bring new skills to the business.

The intern’s salary is subsidised and º£½ÇÖ±²¥ also offers academic support and mentoring throughout the length of the KEI.

Peter Daykin, Director at Daykin &Storey, said: 'Thanks to the internship we now have a basis of code that our developers can use to develop new programs for touchscreens.

'We also have a working prototype which we can take to our clients and together that forms a springboard to get into new markets.

'We will be working to put this concept out to market and will be talking to touchscreen manufacturers and restaurant owners about how they see value in it.'

James added: 'This was a fairly unique opportunity for me to work with this cutting edge technology – not many people have the chance to work in this field.

'The internship has also helped me to develop my project management and presentation skills and seeing the whole thing come together has been fantastic. “It has been a really positive experience.'

Academic supervisor Joao Ferreira from º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s School of Computing said the knowledge taken from this project will help inform and improve the University’s teaching, particularly in relation to touchscreen technologies.

He said: 'It was very interesting to work with this new technology and it was fascinating looking at different ways multitouch technology can be used.

'Hopefully, as a result of the internship, Daykin & Storey will be able to attract new customers and grow their business.'

Knowledge Exchange Internships are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

They aim to make a major contribution to the ambition of the ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 by increasing business productivity.

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