It's just about 5 PM, and here in New Jersey, the polls open at 6 AM tomorrow. So we have about 13 hours to go until we stop talking about this contentious election and get down to business.
I had thought about writing a screed about the importance of voting, about how every vote counts, about the brave men and women who have given their lives over the decades for this right. But then I realized that, as a reader of this blog, you're intelligent and perceptive enough to know all that.
Instead, I simply implore you to vote with your mind and your heart. Perhaps you've already voted by the time you read this. If not, take the time to go to the polls -- your community may offer transportation resources and host phone lines to answer questions. And exercise your rights assertively... don't take s*** from anyone!
Finally, to our international readers, thanks for bearing with us. Tomorrow, we in the U.S. hope to demonstrate democracy at its best.
Monday, November 1, 2004
Ruckus Turns Colleges Into Digital Communities
Colleges are now able to turn their campuses into digital communities, thanks to the Ruckus Network, a new startup that gives students an array of online tools.
Through Ruckus, students can download music legally, access official school content such as student newspapers and other publications, listen to the college radio station, access course materials, and listen to and watch sporting events. The appeal of Ruckus is that it gives students a "safe haven" for entertainment as well as academic content... lessening the chance that they will visit illegal file sharing sites and expose the campus network to liability as well as malware.
The systems costs colleges less than $10 per student per month. Ruckus plans to offer more features, such as online movies, blogs, and multi-player games.
Source: Distance-Educator.com
Through Ruckus, students can download music legally, access official school content such as student newspapers and other publications, listen to the college radio station, access course materials, and listen to and watch sporting events. The appeal of Ruckus is that it gives students a "safe haven" for entertainment as well as academic content... lessening the chance that they will visit illegal file sharing sites and expose the campus network to liability as well as malware.
The systems costs colleges less than $10 per student per month. Ruckus plans to offer more features, such as online movies, blogs, and multi-player games.
Source: Distance-Educator.com
NEC Adds TV to Cell Phone
Striking yet another blow for convergence, NEC has just announced its new N940 cell phone, which, among other things, features a television tuner. Although not compatible with U.S. TV bands, the unit suggests the potential of extra features added to cell phones. Qualcomm is upgrading its infrastructure to accommodate video streaming to cell phones, but whether or not there's a market for this remains to be seen.
A truly impressive bit of functionality would be combining a cell phone with satellite TV or radio, with the coup de grace being a miniaturized DVR for true "anytime, anywhere" TV viewing. Businesses might also be interested in enhanced video functionality for on-the-fly videoconferencing.
Source: Engadget
A truly impressive bit of functionality would be combining a cell phone with satellite TV or radio, with the coup de grace being a miniaturized DVR for true "anytime, anywhere" TV viewing. Businesses might also be interested in enhanced video functionality for on-the-fly videoconferencing.
Source: Engadget
Holiday Shopping to Start Earlier than Ever
Americans will begin -- and complete -- their holiday shopping earlier than ever before, according to a new survey by the Macerich Company. Nearly 70% of the survey's respondents said that they planned to begin "serious" holiday shopping either before Thanksgiving or on "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving. Twelve percent planned to shop before Halloween (so if they stuck to their plan, they're done already). Fewer than 3% planned to shop the week before Christmas.
(This survey confirms what we already know -- that Halloween has supplanted Thanksgiving as the unofficial kick-off of the "holiday season." Case in point: Last night, in lieu of more trick-or-treaters than I anticipated, I made an emergency candy run to my local Target. There, they had already broken down the Halloween decor and were rolling out the Christmas lights, ornaments and cards!)
The survey counters predictions of a modest holiday shopping season by projecting a 4% increase in spending over last year. Over 80% of those surveyed planned to spend the same or more on the holidays, versus 19% who planned to spend less. The average American household plans to spend $608.15 on holiday gifts this year.
Apparently, much of that spending will take place online. Online holiday sales are expected to hit nearly $17 billion in sales this holiday season... well more than the nearly $13 billion logged last year.
Source: eMarketer.com
(This survey confirms what we already know -- that Halloween has supplanted Thanksgiving as the unofficial kick-off of the "holiday season." Case in point: Last night, in lieu of more trick-or-treaters than I anticipated, I made an emergency candy run to my local Target. There, they had already broken down the Halloween decor and were rolling out the Christmas lights, ornaments and cards!)
The survey counters predictions of a modest holiday shopping season by projecting a 4% increase in spending over last year. Over 80% of those surveyed planned to spend the same or more on the holidays, versus 19% who planned to spend less. The average American household plans to spend $608.15 on holiday gifts this year.
Apparently, much of that spending will take place online. Online holiday sales are expected to hit nearly $17 billion in sales this holiday season... well more than the nearly $13 billion logged last year.
Source: eMarketer.com
Cell Phone Coverage Beefed Up in "Swing States"
Yet another curious factoid from this most curious of elections: Wireless carriers are working to ensure that their networks can handle the increased number of calls expected in so-called "swing states" before, during and after Election Day. Verizon and Cingular are both shoring up their networks in Florida, where they were put to the test during the recent spate of hurricanes.
This speaks to the expected record voter turnout, the amount of chaos anticipated after polls close tomorrow night, and to our growing dependence on mobile communication. Cell phones likely won't be the only technology facing pressure tomorrow; as more than half of all Americans rely on the Net for political news, many will surely be online from now through tomorrow night, hitting news websites and blogs, and e-mailing and instant-messaging their friends and colleagues.
Source: Techdirt
This speaks to the expected record voter turnout, the amount of chaos anticipated after polls close tomorrow night, and to our growing dependence on mobile communication. Cell phones likely won't be the only technology facing pressure tomorrow; as more than half of all Americans rely on the Net for political news, many will surely be online from now through tomorrow night, hitting news websites and blogs, and e-mailing and instant-messaging their friends and colleagues.
Source: Techdirt
Big Energy From a Small Source
Researchers believe that microbes are a potential source of renewable energy. By outputting hydrogen during photosynthesis, algae may be able to generate enough to create commerically viable amounts of hydrogen fuel.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania think that such methods of creating hydrogen could become practical within 10 years. They also see potential in the fact that some microbes generate minute amounts of electricity as they break down organic matter, leading to the possibility of "microbial fuel cells" that run on virtually any biodegradable material.
The present challenge appears to be getting enough yield out of the microbes. Researchers are experimenting with ways to make bacteria more efficient at generating energy, and to optimize the conditions for these bacteria.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania think that such methods of creating hydrogen could become practical within 10 years. They also see potential in the fact that some microbes generate minute amounts of electricity as they break down organic matter, leading to the possibility of "microbial fuel cells" that run on virtually any biodegradable material.
The present challenge appears to be getting enough yield out of the microbes. Researchers are experimenting with ways to make bacteria more efficient at generating energy, and to optimize the conditions for these bacteria.
When Electronics Cry Wolf
The New York Times has a provocative article today about electronic devices that inadvertently generate radio frequencies that can be confused with emergency alerts -- particularly the 121.5 MHz frequency that's reserved for international distress signals. Apparently, electrical devices ranging from TVs to garage door openers to baby monitors to Christmas lights are capable of generating confusing signals if they malfunction.
For those following the development of pervasive computing, the implications here are clear. How can we move forward with safe, secure pervasive environments if household gadgets can so easily issue erroneous signals? It would seem easy to jam or even hack a pervasive environment with items one has around the house.
Before an organization goes live with a pervasive environment, it will need to stress-test it with the help of security consultants who understand no only encryption and authentication, but how radio frequencies interact, and how seemingly innocent devices can generate interfering signals. This ought to be the next priority for the FCC... though whether the agency takes on the challenge without politicizing it remains to be seen.
For those following the development of pervasive computing, the implications here are clear. How can we move forward with safe, secure pervasive environments if household gadgets can so easily issue erroneous signals? It would seem easy to jam or even hack a pervasive environment with items one has around the house.
Before an organization goes live with a pervasive environment, it will need to stress-test it with the help of security consultants who understand no only encryption and authentication, but how radio frequencies interact, and how seemingly innocent devices can generate interfering signals. This ought to be the next priority for the FCC... though whether the agency takes on the challenge without politicizing it remains to be seen.
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