Publishing platform for charity debuts

Publishing platform Blurb is introducing Blurb for Good, a service aimed at 'citizen philanthropists' and non-profit organisations, says The Next Web.

Blurb for Good essentially combines a JustGiving-style donation platform with the usual Blurb publishing tools. Authors can set up a unique page in the Blurb Bookstore to help promote their cause. Blurb will feature their books in a dedicated section of the Bookstore reserved for cause-related publications.

Charities have been increasingly using self-published books as a way of raising awareness and funds for their causes.

Air New Zealand has unveiled a kiosk check-in system for passengers flying to Australia, writes Aviation Business.

With the new system, passengers scan their machine-readable passports at a kiosk, and are then issued with a boarding pass, and bag tags if they are checking in bags. Customers then take their bags to the 'bag drop' area, where Air New Zealand staff will scan the bag and check the passenger's ID.

There are 18 new self-service kiosks in the economy check-in area, and six new kiosks in the premium check-in area.

BECU (Boeing Employees' Credit Union), has deployed NCR's Aptra Vision, the company's latest enterprise software solution for self-service system management, according to Market Watch.

NCR Aptra Vision provides BECU with a comprehensive view of its ATM network, by analysing operational information, business performance and consumer experience, states BECU initiated the first phase of NCR Aptra Vision deployment in May 2009.

With more than 600 000 members, BECU has more than 175 ATMs collecting and transmitting data that must be monitored and analysed efficiently.