Monday, December 15, 2003
Camera Cellphones
In one year, camera cellphones have become popular, with over six million users in the United States alone. But capturing pictures in public spaces has become a privacy issue that has been in court rooms. In Chicago, public restrooms, showers and locker rooms are now prohibiting the use of camera cellphones. But because distinguishing between a camera phone and a regular phone has become a problem with police authorities, all phone are being confiscated. Privacy is indeed an issue when tiny cameras can capture candid photos, but trying to protect privacy is also a problem. Places that should have privacy (i.e. restrooms, locker rooms, and showers) should not allow photos taken by camera phones. But to ban all phones in these areas is hard for people who forget to leave their phones in their cars, people who have to make/receive phone calls, or people who need their phones at all times. Other cities and states may begin adopting similar regulations.
The issue is very delicate, and to be very strict is as big a problem as being too lenient. Yes, there should be privacy, but who's to say that camera phones cannot be allowed? With digital cameras, products that are very small, pictures can be captured with better quality than those of camera phones, and they can also be sent via the Internet for anyone to see. What about people who take pictures on the streets and decide to upload the photos on the Internet? These photos were taken without permission and may even be making the webmaster money.
Password Crackers, Inc.
Ever conjur up some clever password that no one would ever think of, only to forget it yourself? Enter Password Crackers, Inc., a company that offers services for lost passwords and insecure encrypted files. Many companies are vulnerable to hackers who can easily penetrate their computer databases. With Password Crackers, the companies can secure their computer system to prevent anyone from breaking and entering. Customers', boards of directors, owners, and employees' personal information can be protected. Not only able to lock files or replace security chips, Password Crackers is most beneficial in discovering holes, vulnerable/weak spots, in a company's computer system. They can then help solve the problem to patch the hole. Password Crackers can be used for the individual, business, or corporation. With online registration becoming more popular for meeting planners, it is important for planners to secure their registrants' personal information. Using Password Crackers' services or software, the meeting planner and registrants can be more comfortable in knowing that personal information is secured.
Another similar company is @stake.com, a company that offers consultation services and products in digital security protection. Some of their clients include Macromedia, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Tivo, Inc.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Is Your House Smarter Than You Are?
Imagine calling your house as you are leaving your work about turning on the lights, adjusting the temperature controls, having a dinner recipe ready and opening the garage door. But you are not calling a spouse, your child, or your roommate. You are, literally, calling your house and giving it these commands. The house of the future has arrived, and the reality of the Smart House becoming as common as the Internet is not too far off in the future. CISCO and Sears have teamed up to form the Internet Home Alliance, a collaboration of 14 different electronic companies, to advance the home technology market. Products to be installed in a Smart House may include Electrolux, a screenfridge that is a refridgerator with a computer built on the door. But this computer doesn't just show nutrition facts; it can digitally record video for family members to send messages to one another, it can send and receive e-mail, surf the Web, watch television, be a security camera, provide recipes according to diet, check the fridge for foods necessary for a particular recipe, and order food that will be needed as well! Another product that may be installed is HAL (Home Automated Living), a software that can control all systems in the house by voice from anywhere in the world.
All systems in the house would be able to communicate to one another and to the inhabitants of the house as well. Examples would include the television telling the stereo to turn off or lower its volume, the lights turning on and off depending on where an inhabitant is walking, or the toilet seat adjusting itself after someone leaves his/her bed. The house would not need much upgrading because it works using radio wave frequency and the Internet.
A Smart House sounds very complicated, and perhaps it is because technology always has faults and is pretty tempermental. One user says he can no longer touch the lights because when he does, the whole lighting system shuts down and leaves him in the dark. And of course, what happens when there is a power shortage? Would the people in the house be forced to sit still and not do anything, or be locked inside their homes because leaving it would set off the security system? But despite all the doubts and speculations, a Smart House will become a common item some time in the future. And once it does, it would not be long before all business and academic buildings begin building a Smart Office or Smart Convention Center. Integrating every attendee with the system would be tedious and probably crash a computer server. But by that time, computers should be stronger and run much better, allowing attendees to let exhibitors know they are coming to the booth with such and such questions, or checking to see which restrooms have no line, the nearest exit, stairwell, or snack bar; or for a conference planner to know which equipment is located where, to be able to adjust the lighting, to direct traffic with people, shuttles, buses, doors, to control what is being shown on the large plasma screen, or to adjust the volume of music and/or sound.
Monday, November 10, 2003
Grid Computing
Grid computing allows communication worldwide by virtualizing distributed computing, data, and resources. Similar to intranet but on a much larger scale, grid computing provides access to everything on a large, central, virtual computer. But unlike intranet, each user has privacy of what he/she is accessing that no other user can know. Grid computing allows different businesses in different locations to collaborate towards a common goal, file sharing, resource sharing, and virtualization for different Internet technology resources. The integration of resources brings collaboration, productivity, networking, power, and flexibility. Information is distributed globablly and the infrastructure of the grids makes the system resilient to recovery from failures.
The use of grid computing can allow meeting planners worldwide to collaborate with different businesses with more efficiency and productivity. Working together can produce fantastic results, ameliorating events. Planners do not have to be limited by their resources because with grid computing, practically everything is available and disposable. Imagine accessing information from a European botanic gardens facility to learn more information on the gardens for an event, or speaking with a representative for a major city convention center to discuss the logistics of a future event, all happening from the United States, on the Internet, and in real-time. Time and money can be saved, events coordinated with more flow, and more ease of mind to the planner.
Sunday, November 02, 2003
CATT-Acoustic
NY Times article
Problems with figuring out sound quality in an empty room? Welcome auralization- real-time process of stimulating the acoustics of a room or building to forehear how a filled room would sound like. One software that uses auralization is created by CATT-Acoustic. The software determines the shape of the room, the characteristics of the room, wind and air elements, and an approximation of sounds that would be produced once the room is finished, all based on a 3D CAD design. The process involves digital signal processing and Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs).
However, auralization is not perfect and cannot predict all acoustics. It is mostly used to predict how sound can and will change, but it cannot predict how much. Using auralization can help the meeting planner play with the sounds of the room, to see how sounds will change as more people enter a room, as more equipment, items and glasses are brought in, etc. This way, the planner can adjust and plan around unnecessary echos and reverberation.
Sunday, October 26, 2003
Treo for Life
The Treo 600 replaces your mobile phone, Palm OS organizer, web browser, and digital camera. At 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches and 6.2 ounces, it is for the all-time, super-busy person, making it's applications a no-fuss. It even has an easy-to-use QUERTY keyboard. All of Treo 600's applications are fully integrated, allowing the user to multi-task, talk on the phone while checking the day's plans, writing an e-mail, and/or checking the contact lists. The Palm OS allows the user to download other applications, like MP3 players, saving yet another space in your bag/suitcase/pocket. The camera is a VGA digital camera and allows you to e-mail photos or use MMS/photo messaging to send to others. Blazer is the web browser used, allowing you to view almost all websites, not just ones for mobile devices. Checking e-mails can even be made easier using the built-in Microsoft Outlook. Other features include infrared communication, touch-screen, speakerphone, and external volume controls.
Sunday, October 12, 2003
Skype
Skype is a software that allows users to make free phone calls via the Internet. All that is required is a broadband connection and a headset. It is written by the people who made Kazaa, focusing on peer-to-peer sharing without a central server. It is based on a voice-over protocol, VoIP, it's free, and so far, very legal. Sounds get broken into pieces of information and are sent to the other user, similar to that of e-mails. Once the pieces, or information packets, reach the receiver, they are reassembled into sounds that the receiver can understand. Calls can be made worldwide, there is nothing to configure, all calls are encrypted, a Friends List will show you people who are online (similar to a how a buddy list works), and there are no annoying ads!
This is great for companies to talk online with real voices and not just text like Instant Messages. The most enticing part is that it's free and easy to use. Many companies are using VoIP, such as AT&T and Bell. They are offering VoIPs for businesses, which arre not free, but they are still cheaper than regular calling plans. New additions that are in development include the ability to call real phone lines and voicemail. Those will come at a price, but still cheaper than regular phone bills.
Monday, October 06, 2003
Messaging Worms?
The craze, worry and fear of receiving a worm or virus via online is catching and growing. A research conducted by researchers of Symantec, an anti-virus company, has determined how fast an instant messaging worm could spread=500,000 machines can be infected in 30 seconds! But worries can be set aside for now, as a messaging worm has yet to be introduced to the IM using-community. But that is not to say that one will not arrive soon. It is only a matter of time. There are, however, several ways that IM networks are designed to defend themselves against worms. For example, sending worms through chat rooms, networkers with a central server, will create traffic and cause the sent information to crash and stop the worms from spreading. The central systems are also created to patch vulnerabilities. Another assurance is that a software bug that can allow worms to spread at the 500,000 affected in 30 seconds rate has not been developed. The only way for users to receive the worms is by accepting file downloads.
Even though worms and virus override patches and firewalls, there will always be new improvements and upgraded systems in the future of Instant Messaging. Newer versions of IMs can protect against older attacks, and the cycle will continue as it does for current computers, e-mails, software, etc. The trick is to continuously update computers, programs and anti-virus software and to be aware of the risks and dangers out there on the world wide web. Companies and businesses that use IM systems will have to find ways to protect themselves from future attacks. On the brighter side of things, at least now, people are aware of online-based attacks and take precautions. They set up firewalls, use anti-virus software, and if worse comes to worse, have all their files backed up if they do become infected.
