The sad death of Alex Ruff

No one at Telemedia Towers is their usual ebullient selves following the sad passing last weekend of Alex Ruff. Our lead story this week is naturally a very fitting tribute to Alex, by one of his oldest friends Telemedia-news publisher Jarvis Todd.

We are going to put together a special tribute to the great man in the next issue of telemedia-month – out at the end of February/early March – and we need your help: any fond memories you have of Alex, any photos, stories or just thoughts and messages would be greatly received so that we can see him off in style. Send them to paulskeldon@me.com by 28 February.

The world of media and telemedia that Alex leaves behind is almost unrecognisable from the one he started out in many moons ago. It used to be all about the telephone, the beast that sat on a table with a coiled wire and a plug in the wall. These days it is all about not just voice engagement, but digital interaction – the computer has won out. But, as the latest figures from comScore show, the world of computers is now also the world of telephones.

Smartphones – and increasingly tablets too – are increasingly becoming the way in which consumers interact with the world. The PC is on its way out, the computer is now a portable device, which opens up a whole new level of interaction with the world around us. It also opens up huge opportunities for business.

The next stage of development is already underway: the tie up between these devices, the internet and TV – something that Alex worked on tirelessly and with great vision over the past few years.

The world he leaves behind is much changed and one that offers huge benefits to us all. I hope that his legacy can be the continuation of growth and development of our industry into these new areas.