CONNECTED…Tom Elliott and his new tablet
TOM Elliott, along with all his MLA colleagues, are in the process of getting to grips with a new piece of hi-tech kit – a tablet computer issued to all MLAs by Stormont.
The tablets, which have a detachable keyboard, are being introduced in an effort to enable members to work more efficiently, and to reduce paperwork.
The tablets are reported to cost of £450 each and the Northern Ireland Assembly has ordered 170 of them, for MLAs and some senior staff.
Far from being a technophobe Tom Elliott is well up to speed with technology, and is a regular user of social media site ‘Twitter’.
But Mr Elliott said while he has a laptop he didn’t have a tablet but is now getting used to using his new piece of technology.
“They have been talking about making some of the committee’s paperless for a while.
“We get these reports for committee meeting and some of them could extend to literally hundreds of pages.
“If officials are preparing 20 packs a week for 12 committees and other standing committees you have an enormous amount of paper.”
Tom Elliott said they have been talking about going paperless but he feels this is a step in that direction.
“People are always scribbling on the side of their notes and with these tablets you can write notes on the side of the pages.”
Mr Elliott said he just got his tablet last week, and said they will only start using them for official business after the summer recess.
“Once they are up and running committee information will only be available electronically, and if a member wants a print-out they’ll have to do that themselves.”
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