July 2020 Newsletter

“I’ve got it, yes it’s so clear now. It was just when you said…….”

Watercooler based on image from publicdomainvectors.org
Water-cooler

What we might call a water-cooler moment – a discussion with a colleague, sometimes about something completely unrelated, gives that neural spark.  An idea for a new project, a way to solve the current conundrum,  these interactions are often the start of a new path forward.
Aside from the fact, here up North in England, we call a ‘Water cooler’ the ‘Tap’, because that’s where water comes from. No fancy machine with a bottle atop!   With many people isolated in spare rooms and on dining tables some of these interactions will inevitably be lost. Arranging a video call is much more formalised and sterile compared to the often relaxed off the cuff old brew table.

How is your business ensuring ideas keep flowing? Are you back at work attempting to hold conversations 2m apart, or speaking muffled through a mask, or still working remotely? Zoom, Skype / Teams, GoToMeeting etc. may have seen a surge in use, but can they truly replace the water cooler interaction?

We think it is important to maintain social interaction as well as formal meetings. Some ideas you could try:

  • Set up a Skype Group Chat amongst the office staff, called “Morning” and ask everyone to type “Hello”/”Morning”/”Yo!” when they ‘arrive’ at work, mimicking arriving at the office. You’ll inevitably get a few other light hearted text conversations which can help the team stay in touch.
  • Choose to make an audio call to a colleague rather than a text or email. If you would normally have wandered over to a colleague’s desk to chat about an issue, then make the call. It is often easier to judge reaction by tone of voice than tone of text in an email ping-pong. Follow up with a summary email for traceability if applicable.
  • Consider a virtual lunch. If you use video conferencing, once a week opt to have an open meeting. Make it clear this is definitely NOT a working lunch and just use it to mimic the break we should all be taking to replenish. However, if you want to discuss last night’s telly, or what Susannah has in her sandwiches today that’s perfectly fine.
  • Play lists, if you are working from home the usual restriction of a music licence for the work premises would not apply, why not suggest your top 10 work-a-long  songs?
  • Suggest your own social-customer@threesl.com
 

Discussions

Remember to use #Cradle discussions
Remember – Discussions

We often leave notes for colleagues, whether as a sticky yellow square, or a text or social media message. Whilst these are very useful to record thoughts and reminders, they lack context. Cradle Discussions allows you to add thoughts and point to note database items. Whether it an action to complete, a question about the colour of a part or a lightweight review and approval mechanism, you’ll find them more comprehensive than a simple sticky.

Training

Public Requirements Management Course coming in October, and Document Publisher in November – For this year’s calendar see Public Training Courses 2020 Of course if you would like your own bespoke training, we can arrange it, please contact support@threesl.com

Twitter

Synchroness tweeted a story about reception of Voyager I signal
Syncroness / popsci.com Tweet

We were reminded we have been tweeting about #3SL, #Cradle and general engineering for 11 years!  Why not choose you favourite engineering Tweet and copy us in @threesl using the #LoveEngineering

We marvelled at the ability to receive a signal 0.1 ­billion-billionth of a watt from Voyager I.

…and Finally.

Did you know Friday 17th July is World Emoji Day?  😉

 

3SL recognise trade marks of Zoom - Zoom Video Communications Inc, Skype - Microsoft and GoToMeeting LogMeIn Inc. No association is either made or implied.

June 2020 Newsletter

It’s June Already

 Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS from Pexels
Beard

Life is certainly different since the last Newsletter. We’ve been locked away in bedrooms and dining rooms ensuring 3SL can continue to develop the upcoming 7.6 release and provide email support and webinars. A good thing about not having a webcam on your work computer, is that we can get away with t-shirt and shorts rather than normal office attire! Some staff are looking a little different, beards down to their knees, as they feel no need to shave, and that’s just the women……. We hope you too are coping with the changes.

 

Coming Soon……

Risk RAM and TER Test Execution & Recording
Cradle 7.6 Teaser

As mentioned above Cradle 7.6 is lining up for release. We can’t wait to show you some great new facilities in Risk Management and Test Execution & Recording. Keep an eye out for release notifications.

A Word from 3SL

3SL Cradle - From Concept to Creation
3SL Cradle

As lock-down eases, you’ll be getting to grips with the ‘new normal’, and making choices about the future of your business.

We just wanted to let you know we are right by your side, to help you navigate what’s next, with experience, support and technology to help. From remote access to a SaaS solution, to building new processes or designing new products in Cradle.

We have a range of online training courses. With a Document Publisher opportunity in June.

However, if there’s more we can be doing to support you, please let us know here. Let’s face the next steps together.

Spam Safe

based on image by Torsten Dettlaff from Pexels
Got Mail

We have recently updated authentication of our emails. Your mail systems should find communications from 3SL (threesl.com) make use of  DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)  which adds PKI signature verification and  DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) – which combines SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM together. This should reduce the likelihood of 3SL communications mistakenly being marked as spam.

Social Media

Twitter

LG Motion Tweet May 2020
Making tools to build your product

We noted the birth of the first electromechanical programmable computer, and how things have moved on.

We noted that engineering is not just about making the product it is also about making the machines to help assemble it.

 

And Finally

Did you know June 23rd is Typewriter day? (The anniversary of the granting of the U.S. patent to Christopher Latham Sholes in 186).  Do you clatter away on a responsive full travel 101/102 or 104/105 Key layout or a 78-80 key light travel laptop key or a flat touch haptic button. Are you a single finger prodder, a one hand and one finger keyer, or a fully trained typer? Why not have a go at uniqcode.com/typewriter/

Public Online Training Course – Document Publisher June 2020

Document Publisher 17th-18th June 2020

3SL are pleased to announce the dates for this year’s second training course – Document Publisher June 2020  “Once you have managed your requirements and development, producing a comprehensive report automatically based directly on the project data, provides an essential deliverable”

Public Online Trainig Course
Online Course

Businesses that have Cradle for their Requirements Management or Systems Engineering process can benefit from additional Cradle tools.

Document Publisher is a Windows® bases publishing tool that allows professional documentation to be produced directly from the data within you project’s database.   Fully understanding how to configure templates and data manipulation will offer the best output for you to provide to your stakeholders and customers, regulators and other interested parties.

Public Document Publisher Course June 2020

Often the document production task is run by an individual or a very small team. This public online course will offer a cost effective way of providing training. You’ll benefit from all the normal learning, but will have the chance to network and share with other virtual attendees from other industries. However if you have a larger team courses can be tailored and held at your premises or online at a date and time to suit  See here.

Details:

DateSubjectVenueCostPre-RequisitesProvision
17th-18th June 2020Document PublisherOnline learning tutored course.£475+VATPC/Laptop – internet browser & Cradle installed **Soft copy course materials, and printed certificate

If you would like to be kept in touch with the details for this Training Course – Document Publisher June 2020, please send an email to salesdetails@threesl.com

 

Buy Now

All courses are available for direct purchase online.

Other Dates and Courses:

For details of other courses on offer this year please see our training calendar. Continue reading “Public Online Training Course – Document Publisher June 2020”

VE Day 75 – May 2020

8 May Victory in Europe Day

VE Day 75 logoThis day celebrates the formal acceptance, by the World War II Allies,  of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces in, 1945.

2020 marks the 75th year since this historic agreement was reached, ending years of battle of an unprecedented  scale. However, it was a further three months before fighting ceased in Japan.

There are many fewer people these days with personal memories of the conflict and the final resolution. These special days help us remember the sacrifices made by so many on behalf of the countries for which they fought. Hopefully we learn from the problems of the past and use it to guide us to a peaceful future.

Today VE Day 2020 – 75 Years

Today, of course, we have a different solider, the care worker, battling a different kind of enemy. So please make your celebrations of VE day known, but do so safely #StayHomeSaveLives. In memory of all those who, fought and died 3SL salutes you.

Celebration Timetable (UK)

There are many ways to celebrate  and a number of websites with details.

Scone based on john-tecuceanu-UdHh5w-1a44-unsplashWhether you intend to mark respect with silence. Hold a tea party at home in place of the street party that should have been, or clear your throat to sing “We’ll meet again”. Here is the UK timetable.

11am: A two-minute silence  to honour the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation and reflect on the impact of coronavirus across the world.

11.15am – britishlegion.org.uk:

3pm: National toast to the heroes of World War Two.

3.45pm – BBC Two: Scotland’s VE Day:

7pm – BBC One: A one hour special of the One Show dedicated to VE Day.

8pm – BBC One: Musical celebration.

8.30pm – ITV1: Documentary Captain Tom’s War

9pm – BBC One: Address by the Queen, broadcast at the same time her father, King George VI, gave a his radio address on May 8, 1945.

9.10pm – BBC One: Nation is invited to join a rendition of Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again“.

 

What is Earth Day 2020?

An Earth Day Like No Other

Based on 3SL logo and Photo by ATC Comm Photo from PexelsIt’s 50 years since the launch of Earth Day, and now nearly 200 countries coordinate a celebration of our fabulous home, with an important message that we need to look after it.

We may be the current custodians of this planet, but we share it with many. To them and ourselves, we have a duty of care. This year more than ever has demonstrated our own fragility. It’s demonstrated how we’re maybe not as invincible as we like to believe. Nature can be a strange beast. Whilst we may not be able to control nature, we can do our bit to care for what we have and ensure we don’t damage it.

As designers,  manufacturers and producers we need to consider how and whether what we engineer is beneficial and as non damaging to the environment as possible.

Whether you decide to; pick up that bit of litter on your exercise walk; choose a lower carbon or no meat meal; print double sided paper; leave the light off and the curtains open longer we can all make a difference. If the project you are working on uses resources, make sure you build environment requirements into your design. Make sure they assess and where possible lower the impact of the solution you choose.

 

Tutor Font – Lip-Flaoor

A Tutor’s New Best Friend

Lip-Flaoor keyboard font
Tutor using Lip-Flaoor on Keyboard

Whilst during lock-down,  it is not the most opportune time to be thinking about face to face training, we were interested to spot this little training aid. It should make classrooms and training seminars a lot easier for the tutor and teacher.

About-Face

Cradle on a computer based on unsplash.com image
Computer

When a teacher or tutor approaches a student, they are often faced with their keyboard and screen upside down. This makes it very difficult to type and aid the student. However, with the release of the new open-source font Lip-Flaoor, the tutor is  able to use the keyboard as if it is the right way round and the right characters will appear to the student. It is available from most good font factories.

Review

  • ✅The font face looks very like Arial on the screen, so if perfectly readable.
  • ✅The student does not have to type any differently as they do not hold the <ctrl> key, so their experience is no different.
  • ✅If the tutor can type well, the dual mapping works wonderfully, they say it is like using any standard QWERY layout the right way up.
  • ❌The tutor, if not a competent typist may struggle as their fingers may not hit the “right” keys
  • ❌The need to hold the <ctrl> key while typing to enable the switch can be a bit awkward.

National Pencil Day

National Pencil Day March 30th

The humble mark of a human. We’ve moved a long way from chipping runes in stones, scratching Roman wax tablets, one significant find was that of a special form of carbon. Borrowdale is well known for its beautiful scenery and scrummy tea bread especially served with cheese. However, in around 1565 a ‘lead like’ substance was discovered that could be used to make a clean defined mark. This was ultimately the birth of the pencil, and an industry in Keswick. If you visit there really is a museum for all things pencil.

Random Pencils
Surprising how many pencils are in my desk tidy

Pencil day seeks to reconnect us with the humble pencil. The tool used by artists, designers and writers for hundreds of years. Why not take a picture of the chewed, blunt, or exquisite drawing tools and post them (#PencilDay).

Whilst we would definitely advocate Cradle as a preferred design tool, allowing cross references and traceability, not something you get on paper**. The humble sketch is still a goto design tool. And we should remember that.

Take a 5 minute coffee break; Sketch what your product does or your company makes, with a pencil and paper and then post it! (#PencilDay).

Pencil sketch of what Cradle does
Cradle Operations

We found some handy suggestions of other ways to celebrate here at pens.com.  Go on, celebrate pencil day and sketch away!

**Updating manual cross references between your sketches and text is possible with pencil and eraser, but easier if the database looks after it!

March 2020 Newsletter

The World has Turned Upside Down!

globe in petri dish based on images from Anna Shvets & Polina Zimmerman on Pexels.com
World Virus

This undoubtedly, is one of the craziest peace times we have lived through. Our hearts and thoughts go out to any families who are affected by the terrible Covid-19 infection. A great big shout-out, to the healthcare professionals and critical service workers who are doing their best to keep our countries running. #WeAreInThisTogether

A Letter from our Managing Director

As the pace of the Coronavirus quickens and presents challenges to the way we work and deal with everyday situations, we wanted to reassure you that we are taking the safety and well-being of our customers and employees very seriously. We’re monitoring the situation to ensure we can continue to provide the level of support and service you need. Following government guidelines, we have taken the decision to modify our ways of working. This means a number of our employees will be transitioning to working from home where appropriate. Therefore as a temporary measure, we would prefer you to contact us via email. For support queries email support@threesl.com. For sales queries contact salesdetails@threesl.com. We wish all our customers and suppliers well, and hope you are all able to cope with the current situation.

Kind regards

Mark Walker (MD) and the 3SL team

Training

Public Online Trainig CourseMany companies have found that a tailored training course can help drive the most beneficial implementation of Cradle in their organisation. However, we are aware that sometimes this is not suitable. When you only have a couple of new people joining the team, a very small team, or you’d just like to get up to speed for an extended evaluation, a customer on-site course may be difficult to justify.

3SL are pleased to announce that they will be holding a number of public training courses. These will be tutor led and either online or in a common venue. There will be candidates from all companies wishing to take part. The first course is Requirements Management and is an online course in May, so can be followed at home during lock-down as long as you have an internet connection, a browser and Cradle. Your tutor will lead you through the course requirements, provide  exercises for completion and be available through the two days to answer questions and give guidance.

Twitter

Hardie Polymers tweet March 2020
Where is Wear?

We looked at where wear might be! With this tweet from Hardie Polymers.

We reminded our readers how they can re-create Microsoft® Word cross references in Cradle.

And wondered if M C Escher had been at work with some stair design.

…and Finally.

circus tent - based on unsplash.com photo
Circus

Last month 3SL supported Circus Starr “The Circus with a Purpose” Founded in 1987 it is a touring circus that boasts world-class, professional artists from around the globe. It provides free seats for thousands of disadvantaged, disabled or vulnerable children, and helps raise much needed funds for local charities. It’s nice to put a smile onto someone’s face.

Cradle Public Training Courses 2020

Training Course Dates for 2020

3SL are offering a number of Cradle public training courses in 2020.

Meeting Room based on image from Christina Morillo · Pexels.com
Course

These are subject to change and additional courses may be added as required. Booking will become available through the website shop for  credit/debit card transactions prior to each course. For purchase orders and transfer payments please contact 3SL.

Details:

DateSubjectVenueCostDetails
20th-21st May 2020Requirements ManagementOnline learning tutored course.£475+VATrequirements-management-may-2020
17th-18th June 2020Document PublisherOnline learning tutored course.£475+VATdocument-publisher-june-2020
21st-22nd October 2020Requirements ManagementOnline learning tutored course£475+VATrequirements-management-october-2020
11th-12th November 2020Document PublisherOnline learning tutored course£475+VATdocument-publisher-november-2020

If you would like to be kept in touch with the details for Cradle public training courses 2020, please send an email to salesdetails@threesl.com.

Buy Now

All courses are available for direct purchase online. Continue reading “Cradle Public Training Courses 2020”

Public Online Training Course – Requirements Management May 2020

Requirements Management 20th – 21st May 2020

3SL are pleased to announce the dates for this year’s first training course – Requirements Management May 2020

“A great opportunity for small teams, or a couple of new team members to get started with RM and Cradle”

Public Online Trainig Course
Online Course

Businesses that are introducing Cradle and full Requirements Management processes into their operations, can book training for all aspects of the roll-out, from the basics through to specialist administration courses – See here.  These courses are tailored and held at your premises and are ideal for getting a team up and running.

Public Requirements Management Training Course May 2020

If, however, you have one or two people new to a project or only have a very small team, this may not be a viable solution. With 3SL’s public online courses, you’ll benefit from all the normal learning, but will have the chance to network and share with other virtual attendees from other industries. This can be a cost effective solution to get you up to speed with Cradle and Requirements Management.

Details:

DateSubjectVenueCostPre-RequisitesProvision
20th-21st May 2020Requirements ManagementOnline learning tutored course.£475+VATPC/Laptop – internet browser & Cradle installed **Soft copy course materials, and printed certificate

If you would like to be kept in touch with the details for this Training Course – Requirements Management May 2020, please send an email to salesdetails@threesl.com

Buy Now

All courses are available for direct purchase online.

Other Dates and Courses:

For details of other courses on offer this year please see our training calendar.

Continue reading “Public Online Training Course – Requirements Management May 2020”