December 23 2003 -
Caution over 'computerized world'
- By Alfred Hermida, BBC News Online technology
correspondent, A future where everyday objects have computer chips in
them will have a dramatic effect on our lives. But we should know about
the potential risks from technology, say researchers. The team in
Switzerland looked at the health, social and environmental implications
of what is called pervasive computing. "We should reflect on how we use
technology," said Swiss professor of computer science, Lorenz Hilty,
"and society is not reflecting enough."
Smart paint
The idea behind pervasive computing is that everything around us
contains some sort of electronic device. In their report, the Swiss team
talk about a future where computer chips, remote sensors or radio
transponders are scaled down to microscopic size and built into just
about anything. You could have a pint glass that sends a signal for a
refill when it is empty. Or even have paint that contains electronic
dust particles that could control a room's temperature or turn a wall
into a big screen.
"The idea of pervasive computing is that you are no longer aware of
the electronics," explained Dr Hilty, Professor of Computer Science at
the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, EMPA.
In 10 years' time, predict the researchers, a trillion objects all
linked electronically could be available to a billion people. But before
we get there, we should consider the risks of blindly stumbling into a
technological advanced future, they say...
December 15 2003 -
Google's Florida Update: One Month Later - By Gord Hotchkiss,
Searchengineguide.com, It's been almost one month since Google
started rolling out the Florida update and millions of listings were
dropped from the results. In that time, hundreds of search engine
marketers and thousands of website owners have dealt with the loss with
all the classic signs of bereavement: at first, denial, then anger,
gradually changing to acceptance and finally, healing. We're moving on,
understanding that we're just part of the never ending circle of
Google...
December 22 2003 -
Mayo Clinic Amasses Mounds of Data
- By David Snow, WiredNews, The
Mayo Clinic and IBM Life Sciences are
close to activating an advanced database
that doctors believe will help improve the
accuracy and speed of diagnoses. The
database, called the Mayo Clinic Life
Sciences System, will be used for research
beginning in January by a limited number
of doctors. It groups 4.4 million patients
according to factors they have in common
and includes both historical data and
comprehensive information on
Mayo Clinic patients dating back
to 1997...
December 26 2003 -
CIA gadget
museum showcases spy secrets - Robot fish, tiger dropping
microphone among gadgets on display, Ted Bridis / AP, The CIA's
Directorate of Science and Technology is celebrating its 40th
anniversary by revealing some secrets like the robot catfish ‘Charlie’,
built in 2000, seen here on display at the museum in Langley, Va. The
Associated Press, Updated: 2:53 p.m. ET Dec. 26, 2003 McLEAN, Va. -
When the CIA’s secret gadget-makers invented a listening device for the
Asian jungles, they disguised it so the enemy wouldn’t pick it up and
examine it: The device looked like tiger droppings...
December 19 2003 -
Fewer
teenagers use drugs, cigarettes - Alcohol consumption holding
steady, survey finds, Dec. 19, 2003, MSNBC, WASHINGTON - American
teenagers are cutting back on their use of illicit drugs and cigarettes,
but alcohol consumption is holding steady, the government says. An
annual survey of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders done for the Department
of Health and Human Services, found declines in many kinds of drugs for
high school students, especially for Ecstasy and LSD...
December 23 2003 -
The Internet Is a Very Sick Place
- WiredNews, By Michelle Delio - The year 2003 has been deemed
the worst in computer-virus history by security experts, despite the
fact that worm and virus writers displayed no significant technological
progress in the code of their newest nasty little creations. But why
bother to develop new tricks when the old ones work so well? This year
computer worms managed to shut down ATMs, slow airline and train travel
by infecting reservation and signaling systems, clog emergency phone
services, and crash networks controlling critical systems at hospitals
and at least one nuclear power plant...
December 23 2003 -
Gamer wins back virtual booty in court battle -
NewScientist.com news service, A court in China has ordered an
online computer games company to return virtual belongings to a player
whose account was hacked and looted. The Chaoyang District People's
Court in Beijing ruled last Thursday that the company must return the
player's virtual stash because it had allowed the theft to take place in
the first place. Li Hongchen, 24, spent two years and more than 10,000
yuan ($1,210), amassing a cache of virtual money and weapons in the
online game "Hongyue", or "Red Moon". In February, however, Hongchen
found his belongings had been pilfered by a hacker who gained access
through the game's central servers. The software firm behind the game,
Beijing Arctic Ice Technology Development, responded that his
possessions had no real world value and represented only "piles of
data". Hongchen took the company to court requesting 10,000 yuan in
compensation...
December 27 2003 -
New try to
pick up Europe’s Mars Lander fails - No signals detected for
a third day, heightening mystery., Stefan Rousseau / AP, Professor Colin
Pillinger, lead scientist for the Beagle 2 mission, updates journalists
at a London news conference on Friday. The Associated Press, LONDON
- Scientists again failed Saturday to pick up a signal that would
confirm Europe’s first Mars lander arrived safely on the Red Planet. A
third attempt by NASA’s orbiting Mars Odyssey — at about 1:15 a.m. EST —
made no contact with the Beagle 2, which was supposed to have landed at
9:45 p.m. EST Wednesday...
