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ATRC Podcast
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 Podcast
for October 6, 2006 - Episode 35
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Play time 71 minutes - Program Notes
"...realistically by
2050 we would expect to be able to download your mind
into a machine, so when you die it's not a major career
problem."
~David Smith
Tech news: Fujitsu and Hitachi join the battery recall
parade, and Toshiba ups the number, while HP continues to deny the need;
the OED comes to Palomar; CCC
fees drop and more financial aid is available;
Google is giving away free gadgets for your web
site; Google also announced a new literacy portal
this week; IE 7 has the best anti-phishing
technology; UC teams up with Google to present some
questionable videos; @ONE announces a new online
community; high school students question the
legality TurnItIn; Microsoft announces strong anti-piracy
measures in Windows Vista, which, by the way appears
to be on schedule for release to businesses in
November and consumers in January. We also
have news of training opportunities at Palomar and
beyond; a Teaching with Technology segment titled
"The Collaborative Tools in Blackboard: What Are
They and Should I Use Them"; a Blackboard Feature of the Week titled
"Thinking Outside the (Digital Drop) Box;" (clever
Dave) delivered on location from Denver; a Tech Talk
Topic that deals with the future of the Internet,
and a speed demon gizmo.
Palomar Tech and Download News
-
We led off last week with the
IBM/Lenovo battery recall story, this week it's
the Fujitsu recall. They have recalled
287,000 laptop batteries.
Click here for the story, here for the
Fujitsu web site,
here for our
battery recall roundup links. That was
on Tuesday. On Thursday
Hitachi also announced a recall of 16,000
laptop batteries, sold mostly in Japan.
Then on Friday,
Toshiba upped the number of recalled
batteries to 830,000. They had previously
recalled a much smaller number. Sharp and
Acer are reportedly preparing their own recalls. We are
now at over 8 million and counting. HP, are
you familiar with this story?
HP continues to deny the need for a recall.
And, oh yeah, what about the Sony Vaio?
Sony's own tight-lipped official statement on
the fiasco can be found
here.
-
 The
Library has obtained a subscription to the
Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Online.
OED Online
is
a digital edition of the print publication.
You can access it from any computer logged into
the Palomar College campus network, or
off-campus using passwords.
Passwords may be obtained in person or by
telephone (x2612 or x8113) from the Library
Circulation Desks, or by registering online at
http://www.palomar.edu/library/forms/dbregistration.htm.
-
The Chancellor's Office of the California
Community Colleges has announced a fee redcution
from $26 per unit to $20 per unit effective
January 1, 2007. The reduction was
"Signed by Governor Schwarzenegger with
bipartisan legislative support in AB 1802, the
education trailer bill implementing the 2006-07
State Budget." Even though $20 is far
better than $26, it still may be too much.
The CCC system wants you to know that financial
aid is available. Go to
www.icanaffordcollege.com for information
of getting aid, or call the toll-free helpline,
1-800-987-ICAN (4226).
-
Google announced this week the free availability
of many universal gadgets that users can place
on their own web pages, not just their Google
home pages. Bring the gadget to you,
rather than you going to the gadget, as it were.
A list of free gadgets can be found
here. For example:
Google also is sponsoring a student gadget
writing challenge. Click here for details.
-
 Also
from Google, from the Frankfurt book fair, going
on this week, they have announced the Google-Litcam
Literacy Project. Google has
constructed a literacy portal, tying together
all the world's literacy resources for teachers
and activists, who can use it to search books,
download those out of copyright, search for
scholarly articles, view related video and find
literacy organizations on Google Earth, and
carry on community activities through
blogger.com and Google groups. "Jessica
Powell, European corporate communications
manager at Google, said: "Our objective at
Google is to organise the world's information
and to make it accessible to everyone." (BBC)
-
The University of California announced a
partnership with Google video to offer
selected UC courses free. A
quote from the UC news service says, "In
another innovative move to share its
intellectual treasures with the public, the
University of California, Berkeley, announced
today ... that it is delivering educational
content, including course lectures and symposia,
free of charge through Google Video."
Click here for the offering. If this
is their idea of treasures, God help us with the
trash. There are six courses there
currently. The production value is about
as low as possible, one of my colleagues had to
wade through videos on mens' restroom etiquette
and other absurd topics just to find them.
I previewed several episodes of Electrical
Engineering 213 having to do with soft X-rays
and ultravioliet radiation. In my play
list (on the right of the Google video screen) I
found a video titled "Turbohotties2."
While it was far more interesting (and
watch-able) than the lectures on soft X-rays, I
do not think this is what UC had in mind. This
whole presentation is rather
embarrassing.
-
Gone Phishing: Evaluating Anti-Phishing Tools
for Windows, a study recently
conducted by 3Sharp LLC, has found Internet
Explorer 7 the most effective anti-phishing tool
available. Compared were "...anti-phishing
toolbars or technology built in to browsers from
eBay, EarthLink, GeoTrust, Google [using
Firefox], Netcraft, McAfee Site Advisor, and
Netscape." Read the report [PDF]
here.
-
Netflix announced this week a one million dollar
prize for software that can better predict movie
preferences of, and therefore recommend movies
to, its customers. To win the prize "...a
software program must improve the accuracy of
Netflix's current movie recommendation system by
at least 10 percent." Read more
here.
-
 The @ONE system of the California Community
Colleges announced this week the creation of an
online community for faculty interested in
teaching online. It is called C.A.R.O.T.:
"Collaboration And Resources for Online
Teaching." According to their web site,
"...Collaboration And Resources for Online
Teaching."
Click here for more.
-
High school students at McLean HS in Virginia
are
challenging the legality of
TurnItIn retaining copies of their works in
its databases. TurnItIn is the world's
largest anti-plagiarism service. The HS had a
program requiring freshmen and sophomores to
submit papers to TurnItIn to check for
plagiarism, a common practice in the majority of
colleges and universities. When they
attempted to extend the program to juniors and
seniors the students objected. Their claim
is that the retention of their papers by
TurnItIn is a violation of their intellectual
property rights. TurnItIn responded by
saying their service is completely legal.
It looks like it may be headed for court, which
would be a good thing. In actuality it
sounds like the teenagers are saying 'Don't you
trust me?' and the adults saying, 'It's not a
matter of trust, we just want to teach you about
unaccredited borrowing. We only have your
best interests at heart.' They said, we
said...
-
Microsoft announced this week that Windows Vista
(due for business release next month) will
contain anti-piracy measures. The strategy
is to cripple the computers running a pirated
(or what Microsoft believes to be a pirated)
copy of Vista, but not disable it entirely.
They have also pledged that even for pirated
copies, they will continue to deliver critical
security updates. Steps such as issueing a
nag that a legitimate copy must be purchased,
preventing access to the GUI, limiting web
browsing time to 1 hour per session, preventing
Outlook from launching, suppress the ability to
open documents from the desktop, and other
measures.
 Yahoo news reports that, "The crackdown shows
how much more seriously Microsoft has started
taking Windows piracy, which for years has been
extremely widespread in areas such as Russia and
China. The Business Software Alliance, a
software industry group, estimates that 35
percent of software installed on PCs worldwide
is pirated."
Read the entire article
here, and engadget's take
here.
So, do I have this right? Microsoft is
going to keep your pirated
bitTorrent copy of
Vista safe by issuing security patches, but
their going to cripple it so badly that you
won't want to use it. Ok.
-
On that same front,
Microsoft announced that next Tuesday
(October 10, Patch Tuesday) they will be
releasing 6 patches for Windows (some critical)
four for Office, and some other miscellaneous
tools, like the malicious software removal tool
and the Windows defender signatures. Get
ready for a big one.
Training Opportunities
- Academic Technology Training
- We will continue
conducting our "Copyright
Essentials" workshop online. You must register
through the PD office. We will cover copyright law,
in-class rights to perform and display
copyrighted works, online rights for the same,
fair use, guidelines for copying printed
materials for educational use, and other related
topics. The online workshop will be
conducted by Terry Gray and Haydn Davis.
We opened the class to those registered last
Monday (October 2) and will keep it open to
others who are interested.
- On Monday, Oct. 9, Chris Norcross will
present "Photoshop
1: Working with Photos," in room LL-109
from 2-4pm.
- On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Terry Gray will
present "Placing
Document Content in Blackboard," from
2-4pm in room LL-109.
- On Wednesday, Oct. 11, Haydn Davis will
present "Using
the Blackboard Collaboration Tools,"
from 2-4pm in room LL-111. This
workshop is limited to 10 participants.
- On Friday, Oct. 13, Terry Gray was going
tp
present "Using
Personal RF Polling Devices (Clickers),"
from 1-3pm in room LL-109 but the workshop
has been canceled.
Register for all Academic Technology workshops
through the
Professional Development web site.
Click here to access our entire training
schedule,
here to access the new "competencies"
approach to our workshops, and other training
information.
- The @ONE system is continuing with their
Lunch 'n' Learn series of online desktop
seminars throughout October. Registration
must occur no later than the Wednesday prior to
the seminar. The offering for October
includes:
- Microsoft webcasts of interest coming up
next week:
- Adobe is offering several Acrobat 8 webinars
coming up in September and October.
Click here to register.
Blackboard Feature of the Week - David Gray
Thinking Outside the (Digital Drop) Box
From the wilds of Colorado David reports on using
the Blackboard Assignment feature as opposed to
using the digital drop box. He has created a
vodcast of this episode which shows the screen
activity as he narrates. To see that, rather
than this audio only version,
click here.
Listen to this segment only [mp3 - play time =
12:39]
See
the index of Dave's previous "Blackboard Feature
of the Week" segments.
Note: To get to David's vodcast site,
click here.
Teaching with Technology - Dr. Haydn Davis
Haydn's topic this week reflects on the value
of online collaboration tools for teaching.
It is titled, "The Collaborative Tools in
Blackboard: What Are They and Should I Use
Them."
Reference
http://www.clt.odu.edu/oso/tutorials/virtual_classroom/
Listen to this segment only [mp3 - play time =
10:42]
See
an index of previous "Teaching with
Technology" segments.
Tech-Talk-Topic - Terry Gray
The Future of the Internet
- The Pew/Internet & American Life Project
last week reported on "The
Future of the Internet II." [My
own comments are enclosed in square brackets in
the quote below].
"A survey of internet
leaders, activists, and analysts shows that a
majority agree with predictions that by 2020:
- A low-cost global network will be
thriving and creating new opportunities in a
“flattening” world. [56% agreed - a
significant factor will be the role of
corporations and utilities in impeding data
flow for profit motives, a point made by
Peter Kim in the report (p. 8). Also
significant is the observation of Nicholas
Negroponte who points out that 35% of the
world does not have electricity (p. 12).
Very low power consumption computing
devices, development of world
infrastructure, and green, renewable power
generation will all have to develop for the
global network to truly be global.]
- Humans will remain in charge of
technology, even as more activity is
automated and “smart agents” proliferate.
[56% disagreed]. However, a significant 42% of survey
respondents were pessimistic about humans’
ability to control the technology in the
future. This significant majority agreed
that dangers and dependencies will grow
beyond our ability to stay in charge of
technology. This was one of the major
surprises in the survey.
[Systems of surveillance, security and
tracking were cited in the study, and a
reason given was "We will be on a 'J-curve'
of continued acceleration of change."
Relatives of the innocent Pakistani
villagers recently killed by a US predator
drone were not consulted.]
- Virtual reality will be compelling
enough to enhance worker productivity and
also spawn new addiction problems.
[The surprising thing is that only 56%
agreed that virtual realities will engender
addiction problems. Virtual reality
addictions will just be another of real
reality's addictions. How can it be
otherwise? An interesting speculation
on this topic is by Daniel Wang, who
speculates that "...cyberpsychiatry will
proliferate." (p. 45)]
- Tech “refuseniks” will emerge as a
cultural group characterized by their choice
to live off the network. Some will do this
as a benign way to limit information
overload, while others will commit acts of
violence and terror against
technology-inspired change. [It sounds
like the authors are thinking of either a
Unabomber, which I find plausible, or a "The
Village" scenario via
M. Night Shyamalan, of organized
resistance, but organization itself seems
impossible without embracing communication
technology. Organized resistance seems
self contradictory. On this topic a
prescient warning from Martin Kwapinski is
included: "Random acts of senseless violence
and destruction will continue and expand due
to a feeling of 21st century anomie, and an
increasing sense of lack of individual
control." Can you say
Clockwork Orange? It is easy to
see activists using technology to commit
terrorist acts, this goes on today, but not
so easy seeing those who do not use the
technology attacking technology itself.]
- People will wittingly and unwittingly
disclose more about themselves, gaining some
benefits in the process even as they lose
some privacy. [It is already too late
on this one, but to fight against the forces
of info-capture, join the
Electronic Freedom Foundation. As
Hal Varian has said, "Privacy is a thing of
the past." (p. v)].
- English will be a universal language of
global communications, but other languages
will not be displaced. Indeed, many felt
other languages such as Mandarin, would grow
in prominence." [A surprising 42%
agreed with this. Hal
Varian points out the obvious: "Mandarin is
a contender, but typewriter keyboards will
prevent it from really taking over from
English" (p. 15). What about audio
input technology, or translation technology?
No one has yet seriously addressed the
possibility of the Internet's role in
preserving and changing living languages,
and the role of physical input devices and
translation technology in the same.]
Another of the summaries not mentioned in
this quote from Pew is "The Internet opens
worldwide access to success." A
surprisingly low 52% agreed, but that is because
of the way the scenario was worded. It
posited the blurring of national boundaries and
the rise of corporate-based culture groups.
I too would disagree with that. The
scenario ignored the success ingredient, though,
which I think is true. Out currect help
desk software is subscribed and hosted by an
Indian company in the Punjab. The Internet
is still the best way to become the best in the
world at whatever your endeavor from your own
desktop, regardless of nationality.
Quality will continue to accelerate as
traditional authoritarian standards will
challenged by energetic and inspired individual
efforts.
Link to pdf version of the report.
Listen to this segment only [mp3 - play time =
12:11]
See
an index of previous "Tech
Talk Topics" segments.
Gizmo of the week
I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like moulten lead." ~King Lear,
IV, vii
 Feel
like you're part of the rat race? Lighten up with
the
USB Hamster wheel. "After the little guy's
software is loaded up and he's all plugged in, just
start typing to see his wee legs start to move. The
quicker you type, the quicker he scurries, and we
assume you don't even have to type actual words to
get that wheel a-spinnin'; if an alarming stream of
smoke begins to form, you can let the critter cool
off by just flipping the on / off switch" (enqadget).
I propose we use this as a staff typing proficiency
test. Forget accuracy, speed is what counts. Those
who get the wheel turning in a blur get to work in
an academic department, those who get it to smoke,
get to work in student services, those who achieve
flames get to work in the IS department, those who
cause the plastic to melt and run all over the desk
get to work in Academic Technology, those who get
the wheel to go airborne and rise above the
atmosphere are old Cobol programmers and we don't
want them to work anywhere around here.
The device is NOT buss powered, and requires 2 AA
(non-Sony) batteries. It goes for about 30£, or $45
American.
Halon fire suppression system not included.
(Source: I
want one of those,
UberReview and
Engadget)
Music
 The
music for today's show was provided by
Magnatune.com,
and is used through their Creative Commons license
for podcasts. Today's album was
"Thrill
Hype" from
The Napoleon Blownaparts.
From the band's web page at Magnatune:
"America's baddest rock n' roll band. THE NAPOLEON
BLOWNAPARTS are known as one of the most explosive
live acts touring today!
Founder and front man of "The Blownaparts" Mr. Ajax
displays angst, Anger and rage as he punches
testosterone fueled rock music into the hearts and
bedrooms of teenagers everywhere."
We used tracks 10: "Do you like my haircut;" 4:
"Sonny;' 5: "I got it bad;" 8: "Nowhere to go;" 14:
"Higher education;" 11: "She wants to bop;" 12: "Poppin
pills; 3: "Unlucky star."
Visit
magnatune and reward them for their generosity,
and if you like this album, buy it. Magnatune is not evil!
"It is
impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one
has plenty of work to do." ~ Jerome
K. Jerome
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