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SIDEBAND

About Sideband

A different perspective. A practical result.

Sideband is a Canadian applied technology company bringing together technology strategy, software development and applied research. We help organizations decide what to build, connect what they have and put new capabilities to work.

Meet Ian Millar, our founder

The next chapter of Switch On.

Sideband Applied Technology is the operating name of Switch On Internet Solutions Inc.. It brings our technology strategy, software development and applied research work together under an identity built for the next stage of the business.

Our work spans client engagements and our own initiatives. That includes healthcare technology, specialized software and learning systems, and developing products such as EchoTrace.

Not every technology problem needs more technology. Sometimes the answer is connecting systems you already have or removing a manual step. Sometimes it means building something new. We start by understanding which approach will serve the work best.

Founder profile

Portrait of Ian Millar, Founder and Principal of Sideband Applied Technology

Ian Millar

Founder & PrincipalApplied AI & Technology

Technology architecture. Applied AI. Rapid product development.

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Ian brings together domain expertise, technology architecture and applied AI to turn operational problems into working software, learning platforms and new technology products.

Experience grounded in the work.

His experience includes healthcare technology work with Health Futures and specialist knowledge of mobile devices, telecommunications records and digital evidence. Across these areas, his focus is on connecting technical understanding with the needs of the people using the systems and information.

Through Switch On, now operating as Sideband Applied Technology, that work is expanding into software, learning systems and in-house product development. Sideband brings those disciplines together: understand the operating problem, design the approach and build something that can be put to use.

Applied AI. Architecture first.

Ian’s current focus is AI-assisted development: using AI in technical research, architecture exploration, prototyping and software development. The aim is to shorten the cycle from an operational question to a working version that people can examine, challenge and test.

Architecture gives that process direction. It defines how the system fits together, what information it needs and how it will be used. AI helps develop and explore the implementation; it does not replace domain knowledge or technical judgement.

Rapid prototyping makes ideas tangible early. Moving beyond a prototype still calls for validation, security review, documentation and a practical plan for operating the system.

Building products in house.

EchoTrace Academy puts this approach into practice. Developed in house through Sideband, it is an online, self-serve learning platform in development for law enforcement and investigators working with mobile phone, carrier, cloud and app evidence. The work connects learning-platform architecture, software development and structured, case-based technical education.

Ian’s broader EchoTrace work explores software, sensing concepts and the interpretation of specialized technical data. These initiatives remain in research and development. Together with Sideband’s client work, they reflect a hands-on approach to applied technology: use domain expertise to identify a need, then research, design and develop the systems to address it.

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How we work.

Technical expertise, knowledge of the operating environment and a practical plan for delivery guide each engagement.

  1. 01

    Understand before prescribing

    Start with the work, the users and the constraints. Agree on the problem and the intended result before choosing the technology.

  2. 02

    Connect expertise to context

    Design for the workflows, existing systems and people who will use and maintain the result.

  3. 03

    Test assumptions early

    Use focused experiments and prototypes to answer uncertain questions before committing to a larger build.

  4. 04

    Build for practical use

    Treat deployment, documentation, training and handover as part of delivery, with responsibilities agreed from the start.

The name

Sideband takes its name from communications engineering. For us, it represents a broader idea: looking beyond the obvious to find a better approach.

A different perspective can reveal an unnecessary step, a useful connection or an opportunity to build something better. That is the thinking behind our name and our work.

Where we are

Based in Canada, we work with Canadian organizations and welcome enquiries from elsewhere. Our experience in healthcare, investigations and telecommunications informs our approach without limiting the sectors we can support.

Next step

Let’s talk about what you’re building.

Bring us your goals, questions or an existing system that needs to work better. We’ll help define a useful next step.

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