ITEC 610 Blog

Cell phones, RFID and credit cards

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Two recent posts in the Technology section in the NYTimes addressing the merge of different technologies to make credit card purchases more convenient and possibly safe.

First the use of RFID stickers that can be place on your cell-phone and used to pay for purchases in a wireless mode:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/attacking-the-mobile-wallet-gap/

Then, instead of the sticker the use of credit cards embedded into cell-phones. (In this case, you will need a new phone, but you can have several credit cards in the same phone...)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/visa-introduces-a-credit-card-on-a-phone-sticker-free/

Sun's real story: the rise and fall

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:57:00 +0000

"The real Sun story, though, involving both its rise and its fall, was playing out in the background, sometimes in spite of what anyone at the company might have been doing."
[...] "The first half of Sun's history, its upward arc, began in a confluence of events in the mid-1980s." [...] "Sun's slogan during the late 1990s was, "We're the dot in dot-com." It was true; anyone with a serious Web site chose Sun..." and then came the dot.com bubble and competition... Read more here: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/18/sun-microsystems-internet-technology-enterprise-tech-sun-microsystems.html

And then a rival to the server empire...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:34:00 +0000

As we see the possibility of the merger of IBM and Sun, we also see new players in the server market. "Cisco Systems Inc. "plans to start selling servers in competition with old partners". The greatest focus of this new chunk of the market is "virtualization" technology. Cisco seems to be "moving from selling the switches that allow the computers to talk to each other to selling virtually entire data centers, in conjunction with its partners." Read more here.

The Server Empire?

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:29:00 +0000

The possible merger of IBM and Sun Microsystems would represented "a major consolidation in the market for server computers used in corporate data centers — and one that could prompt an antitrust challenge." Both companies have been always committed to R&D, with IBM spending roughly $6 billions in this area. This would be the largest deal in IBM's history. Read more here.

Google voice: a competitor to Skype and beyond

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:30:00 +0000

"Google stepped up its attack on the telecommunications industry on Thursday with a free service called Google Voice that, if successful, could chip away at the revenue of companies big and small, like eBay, which owns Skype, telephone companies and a string of technology start-up firms. [...] Google Voice is intended to simplify the way people handle phone calls, voice mail and text messages. [...] Google Voice allows users to route all their calls through a single number that can ring their home, work and mobile phones simultaneously. It also gives users a single and easy-to-manage voice mail system for multiple phone lines. And it lets users make calls, routed via the Internet, free in the United States and for a small fee internationally. Read more here.

More applications as part of browsers

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:29:00 +0000

"... designers and programmers have figured out ways to build sophisticated, interactive applications that run through the browser. Nowadays, these include Web-based word processors, photo-editing software, money-management tools, and much more.

The next generation of HTML, the markup language that is used to build most Web content, promises to make Web applications work even better. Some proposed features of this new standard--HTML 5--are already being built into several popular browsers, offering a glimpse of an application-enabled Web." Read more here...

Sharing data and still keeping privacy

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:25:00 +0000

A new protocol aims to protect privacy while allowing organizations to share valuable information. This is a result of a new cryptographic protocol that uses smart cards to solve the problem. Two databases from different organizations will use the protocol to determine where there are matches in the encryption, allowing the second party to identify where its data matches the ones saved within the first party's database.

Read more here...
http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/22238/page1/
This relates closely to sessions where we studied databases and also those relating to security (forthcoming).

best,
--Stella.

More checks on the validity of Wikipedia information

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:26:00 +0000

I found this article today in Tech Review. It is not related to any topics that we are currently studying, but it seems to serve really well all of us, who often to check Wikipedia for definitions, or as a first resource to start a research process. As we know, there is a lot of controversy, but we also know that Wikipedia can be very useful in many cases, despite the bad PR that is sometimes gets. I thought that a development that provides more reliability is always welcome. Check out yourself what has been added...
Technology Review: Who's Messing with Wikipedia?

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Google Health with sensors on your health

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:16:00 +0000

On the Google trend of presence is ALL sectors of our needs, Google is partnering with IBM in a new initiative. Users with Google haelth accounts will be able to store data coming from specific medical devices. Read more here...
Letting Google Take Your Pulse - Forbes.com

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Timely hardware news about Intel..

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:12:00 +0000

This is a timely article on Technology Review about the kind of SoC (system on a chip) being produced at Intel. "uture SoC hardware will be less power hungry and capable of doing graphics processing, complex wireless communication, and on-chip temperature sensing, as well as general number crunching and memory management." Read more here:
Technology Review: Intel's New Breed of Chips

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The back-end of the business of social networks

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:03:00 +0000

As we spoke about the business of social networking in a thread in the class, I found this article very interesting, since it shows a the back-end of the process, and the complicated relationship with third-party developers, which have become an important component of the growth achieve by social networks. Check it out below...

The Fragile Facebook Economy: Developers Struggle As Rules Change - CIO.com - Business Technology Leadership

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Another RFID application...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Researchers are exploring the use of RFID to monitor movements such as walking, and determine irregularities, which help the diagnosis of dementia. The USF researchers have developed an RFID system that allows walking patterns to be monitored in a natural setting.

Read more below...
Technology Review: Wireless Detectors for Dementia

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A bright case in the midst of darkness...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Differently than all other retailer online and offline, Amazon posted strong earnings. It's "net profit rose 9 percent, to $225 million, or 52 cents a share, in the quarter that ended on Dec. 31, up from $207 million, or 48 cents, in the same quarter a year earlier". Among other things, the Kindle demonstrated to be a great hit... Read more below.

Amazon Has Strong Quarter, Unlike Other Retailers - NYTimes.com

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Semantic e-mail addresses

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:00:00 +0000

A prototype e-mail system being tested at Stanford University later this year could radically change how users specify where their messages are supposed to be delivered. The new software is called SEAmail, for "semantic e-mail addressing," and it allows its users to direct a message to people who fulfill certain criteria without necessarily knowing recipients' e-mail addresses, or even their names. The rationale for this is that in fact we want to send "messages to people or roles, not to strings of characters". Read more clicking on the link below...

Technology Review: Semantic E-Mail Delivery

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Cheap laptops in difficult times

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:13:00 +0000

"The global credit crisis may have caused the decline in consumer and business spending that is assaulting the giants of high tech. But as the dominant technology companies try to emerge from this slump, they may find themselves blaming people like David Title just as much as they blame Wall Street...." Read more below.

$200 Laptops Break a Business Model - NYTimes.com

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UMUC IT Job Fair at the ICC, January 31

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:06:00 +0000

UMUC's Office of Information Technology is seeking to fill multiple positions and will be conducting on-site interviews at its IT Job Fair on Saturday, January 31, 2009, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., at the UMUC Inn and Conference Center in Adelphi, Maryland. Entry-level and experienced opportunities are available.

To view all available positions and to RSVP, visit http://www.umuc.edu/itjobfair.
EOE/F/MC/V. Women and minority applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Welcome to ITEC 610, Spring'09

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to ITEC 610 - Spring'09 -

Many of you have already visited our WebTycho classroom. If you haven't please do so at your earliest convenience. You will see information about the course, due dates, and major assignments.

This blog also carries several of the important documents to follow the class. Take a look at the side-bar...

For those that haven't yet received their books, you will find a pdf file inside the reserved readings with a copy of the first chapter of the Marakas textbook.

Please make note that there are replicated pages given that some of them came out a bit light, and when making them darker the pictures became too dark. So, if you decide to print, please do it page by page, because it might not be necessary to print all of them.

Let me know if you have any questions. The second chapter is forthcoming.

best,
--Stella.

Interfaces with typed tasks...: Ubiquity by Mozilla

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:31:00 +0000

This interesting article inside MIT Technology reveals the new beta version of Firefox, fresh from Mozilla's labs. It will allow users to type in commands (using natural non-prescribed form) for tasks that before might have been accomplished through several actions using your mouse. The new interface is called Ubiquity. Check the details here: Technology Review: Commanding Your Browser
A very different way of interacting with your browser that mimics the way we do searches through search engines, by typing keywords. now the keywords will serve as commands.

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Cuil (pronounced 'cool') wants to beat Google.. But, we'll have to wait and see...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:35:00 +0000

I had read about 'Cuil' some place and wasn't really aware of its ambitious goals... Eat a piece of the round big pie owned currently by Google in the search engine domain... That is an impressive goal. Technology review reports on initial problems...
Technology Review: A Google Killer Stumbles

I just tried it myself, and I have to say that it is NOT impressive at all. Tries to mimic a cleaner (or maybe 'cooler' or 'cuiler') page, but results are repeated throughout. It was pretty fast, and you get to see more results per page because of the formatting in several columns. But, there is probably a long way to run...

Have you tried it? What is your impression?

cheers,
--Stella.

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Internet criminals seem to be getting some help in their attacks...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:01:00 +0000

Here is an interesting article about two trends interrelated trends in the 'hacking business': hackers find out about security breaches through publicly available information on them, before there is an available patch, which increases the number of early on attacks; and now because of that there is a discussion of mow much information should be shared with the public before there is a solution to the security breach. Interesting and frightening issues. Read it all here: Technology Review: Online threats materializing faster, study shows

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Cloud computing a bit lost in the clouds?

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Technology review today came out with with an article reporting on recent problems face by Apple with its new MobileMe suite. The problem itself is somewhat surprising given Apple's image of reliability. But, more than that the article also serves as an alert that the "clouds" might still have some storms ahead for users... Check it out here: Technology Review: Lost in the Clouds

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Grades and feedback on Part 2 of Research paper

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:43:00 +0000

Hi! I have just posted the grade and feedback on Part 2 of the Research papers. Please look into the general feedback posted here: http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dp5xvng_66w2p4b3d8 If you have any questions, let me know.

best
--Stella.

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Another kind of security issue...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:51:00 +0000

For those of you who are on the go through several airports throughout the US and abroad, here is important information and alert. You might also want to share this with others in your company, or alert those that devise security measures within the company for mobile employees.

Lax Laptop Security at the Airport: How Not to Become a Statistic | Advice and Opinion

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Class announcement: midterm grades available

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:13:00 +0000

[July 9th, 2008]

Hi! I have completed reviewing all midterm exams and I have uploaded all grades. The feedback is provided in two parts: one is a general feedback, which I wrote based on all the midterms. It addresses expectations for all questions and general expectations for the exams. I highlight aspects that I found deficient in several exams. Meanwhile, I will be typing the specific individual feedback for each one, which will complement the general class feedback. I decided to post the grades before I had this specific feedback ready, knowing that you are possibly eager to learn about your grade. I will start typing the individual feedback tomorrow, among other pending tasks I still have on my to-do list. I should have everything ready for you any Saturday, and I will let you know when it is available for your viewing. So, please hold on to your questions until you see the individual feedback. After that, if you still have questions about your grade, I will be glad to respond to your questions (please be objective and precise when asking) via email.

You will find the general feedback inside our blog (side bar with links to important documents), or by visiting the course content area inside the Tycho classroom.

If you have questions about the general feedback, please use Stella's office to ask your questions.

best
--Stella.

Phising as never seen before...

noreply@blogger.com (SPorto) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:20:00 +0000

BBC NEWS | Technology | Fix found for net security flaw
An error in the workings of the DNS, discovered by accident, allowed criminal translation of valid web addresses into fake ones. Big companies, such as Microsoft, Sun and Cisco have been involved in the generation of the patch. Interesting and scary stuff...

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