UPS is in the middle of doing some revolutionary things when it comes to tracking technology. They have installed a system called information acquisition device. This system give each driver a hand held device which has a gps system in it, that allows UPS to follow your packages and give you up to the minute information as to where you package is. This technology fuels most of its information system technology today. For example they have a policy called delivery intercept which allows you to change the destination of the package online up to delivery time. They also have something called quantum view notify which send you and email to confirm that your package has been sent and when it has be finally delivered. Lastly the have installed an electronic customs form which make shipping between New York and China just as easy as shipping from New York to maine. With systems in place such as this UPS will continue to be on top of the delivery service game for the foreseeable future.
www.UPS.com/tracking
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Virtual world, real emotions: Relationships in Second Life
There is a new trend in the Second Life virtual world, real relationships. Many new couples are forming and even getting married once meeting originally on Second Life. Second Life is a virtual world were people have their own property, gather at social functions, have relationships, get married - you name it, you can do it on Second Life. More recently, more and more couples are meeting on Second Life, getting into virtual relationships, and sometime after are actually meeting in real life. Nina Allam and Sean Barbary are perfect examples of a relationship sparked from Second Life. They first met on Second Life and got married in June in the virtual world. Just recently they met for the first time in person; they both hit it off in real life. There are many more couples named in this article and numerous more unmentioned, who have found "true" love in and outside of the virtual world.
This idea of meeting in a virtual world and then trying to develop a relationship is not all that new to our time. Think of a website such as e-harmony; people meet virtually with the intention to meet in real life if they think that they will be compatible with each other. The idea is not that bad. The only thing which I find odd is the idea of virtual world and how people can get in relationships or even get married. Are the feelings between two people actually real if they were created through a virtual world? There is a lot to consider before partaking in this Second Life movement. I know one thing, I will not partake in a Second Life relationship or marriage; most likely not in Second Life at all.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/12/second.life.relationship.irpt/index.html
This idea of meeting in a virtual world and then trying to develop a relationship is not all that new to our time. Think of a website such as e-harmony; people meet virtually with the intention to meet in real life if they think that they will be compatible with each other. The idea is not that bad. The only thing which I find odd is the idea of virtual world and how people can get in relationships or even get married. Are the feelings between two people actually real if they were created through a virtual world? There is a lot to consider before partaking in this Second Life movement. I know one thing, I will not partake in a Second Life relationship or marriage; most likely not in Second Life at all.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/12/second.life.relationship.irpt/index.html
Friday, December 12, 2008
Spotfire Holiday Gift Finder
Spotfire, a division of the software maker Tibco, is using statistics to come up with a tool for sorting potential presents. With the Spotfire Holiday Gift Finder, you can churn through thousands of products, including apparel, electronics, jewelry and tools. The software lets people narrow down their choices based on price and reviews and then points to the appropriate spot on Amazon.com where the product can be purchased. With the holidays right around the corner this would be the perfect thing to use in making all your decisions easier and faster. You would be able to buy all the presents you want in half the time you used to be able to.
The statistical analysis used is similar to ones used for fantasy football and other ranking systems. With this system you wont have to get gift cards anymore because you will have a much better idea of what the person will want.
The statistical analysis used is similar to ones used for fantasy football and other ranking systems. With this system you wont have to get gift cards anymore because you will have a much better idea of what the person will want.
Postal Services Crash Online
My article discusses problems that came about this past week for the Postal Service online applications. The Postal Service offers various services online that were affected including it's rate estimator, zip-code locator, and it's package pick-up service. The most important service online that was affected was the Click-N-Ship program on their webpage. This application allows users to print shipping labels and pay for them online, saving everyone a lot of time and effort. Last year Click-N-Ship printed off over 34 million shipping labels, so one can tell how popular it is. This crash for the shipping caused many problems around the nation and the USPS was very apologetic for it. They sent out over 900,000 e-mails apologizing for the issues and even placed several personal phone calls to their biggest customers.
This article expresses the importance of maintenance on any IT software. Those 7 processes of setting up an IT software, the one that costs the most money and takes the most time is maintenance because it is continious. As long as an IT software is in service than it needs to be maintenanced from just simple wear and tear. If the USPS had properly maintenanced their software and found the glitch before it happened, then they would have saved a lot of money in revenue and a lot of embarassment. Maintenance is an important aspect of IT software and time and money must be put into it to ensure the operation of important equipment and software.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10121982-38.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
This article expresses the importance of maintenance on any IT software. Those 7 processes of setting up an IT software, the one that costs the most money and takes the most time is maintenance because it is continious. As long as an IT software is in service than it needs to be maintenanced from just simple wear and tear. If the USPS had properly maintenanced their software and found the glitch before it happened, then they would have saved a lot of money in revenue and a lot of embarassment. Maintenance is an important aspect of IT software and time and money must be put into it to ensure the operation of important equipment and software.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10121982-38.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Microsoft Joins Free Security Push
Two years ago, Microsoft debuted its first security software called the One-Care security program. It included a $50 per year charge to keep you PC free from viruses. They will debut in the coming days a program code-named Morro. It is a free security system that aims to prevent the invasion of viruses and Trojans on a PC. They aim to provide security for 60% of computer users who do not already have security software.
In recent months, there has been an uprising of free security systems for PCs. They are scaled down from full anti-virus software such as Symantec, but it does not slow down computer performance. This is an effort put forth to combat viruses spread through social networks such as Facebook and Myspace. Security software providers' main goal by producing these free programs is to provide users with adequate security without slowing down computer performance. Likewise, Microsoft's Morro is a scaled down version of One-Care.
In recent months, there has been an uprising of free security systems for PCs. They are scaled down from full anti-virus software such as Symantec, but it does not slow down computer performance. This is an effort put forth to combat viruses spread through social networks such as Facebook and Myspace. Security software providers' main goal by producing these free programs is to provide users with adequate security without slowing down computer performance. Likewise, Microsoft's Morro is a scaled down version of One-Care.
Monday, December 8, 2008
AC blog 2
Blog #2: Panel Offers Ways to Bolster Cyberspace Security
A recent article from the New York Times, titled “Panel Offers to Bolster Cyberspace Security,” comments on the important issue of legal regulation with regards to cyber-space security. A government and technology industry panel has called for a serious change in the way that the federal government enforces this security. The panel believes that a simple use of passwords when trying to protect confidential information is a serious security breach. They suggest that the government switch to “strong authentication,” which could prevent hackers from tapping into their systems. Such a transition would most likely require all government computer users to use a physical device instead of simply typing in a password. Although this may be more expensive and maybe a hassle for the users, it may be necessary in order to keep our government’s information secure. Nobody ever said internet security would come easy.
One of the members of the panel, stated that, “we need to move away from passwords,” because in reality “the laissez-faire approach to cyber-security has failed.” This new policy for cyber-space security could eventually be adapted by the Obama administration in an attempt to make the internet safer for the future. The significance of the security breaches in our cyber-systems cannot be overlooked. There is an infinite amount of confidential information throughout the internet that can be used maliciously if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, not only the government should be worried, but especially private industries whose financial information of the company and clients can be accessed with sufficient hacking skills.
In the past year, the Department of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and Commerce, NASA, and the National Defense University, were among the important agencies in our country that “suffered major intrusions by unknown foreign entities.” For example, the Secretary of State’s email was hacked into, and “terabytes” of data magically went missing from the State Department. The fact that people are able to gain access to such important information is definitely unsettling. The panel suggests that information technology officers and CIO’s are no longer enough to ensure the best cyber-security and that cyber-security is one of the most significant national security threats. If people are able to hack into the systems that carry information which our country operates and defends itself on, then it is only a matter of time before it comes back to haunt us. We need to take the necessary measures in order to secure our cyberspace. New laws and regulations have been proposed in order to govern cyberspace and I believe that if used correctly, these will help to prevent future intrusions on our government systems. Cyberspace is a dangerous place and without some sort of regulation, confidentiality may no longer exist there.
A recent article from the New York Times, titled “Panel Offers to Bolster Cyberspace Security,” comments on the important issue of legal regulation with regards to cyber-space security. A government and technology industry panel has called for a serious change in the way that the federal government enforces this security. The panel believes that a simple use of passwords when trying to protect confidential information is a serious security breach. They suggest that the government switch to “strong authentication,” which could prevent hackers from tapping into their systems. Such a transition would most likely require all government computer users to use a physical device instead of simply typing in a password. Although this may be more expensive and maybe a hassle for the users, it may be necessary in order to keep our government’s information secure. Nobody ever said internet security would come easy.
One of the members of the panel, stated that, “we need to move away from passwords,” because in reality “the laissez-faire approach to cyber-security has failed.” This new policy for cyber-space security could eventually be adapted by the Obama administration in an attempt to make the internet safer for the future. The significance of the security breaches in our cyber-systems cannot be overlooked. There is an infinite amount of confidential information throughout the internet that can be used maliciously if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, not only the government should be worried, but especially private industries whose financial information of the company and clients can be accessed with sufficient hacking skills.
In the past year, the Department of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and Commerce, NASA, and the National Defense University, were among the important agencies in our country that “suffered major intrusions by unknown foreign entities.” For example, the Secretary of State’s email was hacked into, and “terabytes” of data magically went missing from the State Department. The fact that people are able to gain access to such important information is definitely unsettling. The panel suggests that information technology officers and CIO’s are no longer enough to ensure the best cyber-security and that cyber-security is one of the most significant national security threats. If people are able to hack into the systems that carry information which our country operates and defends itself on, then it is only a matter of time before it comes back to haunt us. We need to take the necessary measures in order to secure our cyberspace. New laws and regulations have been proposed in order to govern cyberspace and I believe that if used correctly, these will help to prevent future intrusions on our government systems. Cyberspace is a dangerous place and without some sort of regulation, confidentiality may no longer exist there.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Segregation of Duties in Information Technology
Ever since the Sarbanes-Oxley act, generally accepted account rules (GAAP) has required businesses to segregate duties within a company. Segregation of duties entails having more than one person accomplishing a task. In the political sense, it is known as separation of powers. The reason behind this is to minimize risks associated with giving one person too much power enabling the temptation for fraud, money laundering, stealing, etc.
The Information Technology age has made getting information much easier and faster. However, with this technology brings more risk to businesses. Therefore, separation of duties is a must have when it comes to developing software and other entities within the business environment. For example, users who create data should not have access to process their data, and developers should not have permission to work with client's personal accounts. The process of developing to testing to upkeep is a methodical process and no person or department should have complete access to all the information, including the project manager.
From an article entitled: " Defining Segregation of Duties" (November 3, 2006, Processor.com), Ashley Owen, director of product marketing for enterprise application life cycle management solutions at Serena Software quotes:“The essence of separation of duties is one that seeks to reduce risk, increase quality, and lower the costs associated with corrective action within an organization’s internal controls. Midsized organizations should evaluate their present processes, whether documented or automated, and assess the level of risk or exposure to the business of noncompliance.” In essence, she states that along with the risks associated with enabling someone to a dangerous extent, it is also profitable for a company to spread out the workload of a project.
How you ask? The answer is proper management along with tools to help the management. A tool known as "change management software" helps coordinate the overall process of a project. It also is important if production has unexpected changes including participation from multiple business units.
In conclusion, segregation of powers is and has always been important in virtually every aspect of a business from small to global corporations. Today, with technology at its greatest, separation of duties is imperative to minimize costs, increase efficiency, and minimize risks.
The Information Technology age has made getting information much easier and faster. However, with this technology brings more risk to businesses. Therefore, separation of duties is a must have when it comes to developing software and other entities within the business environment. For example, users who create data should not have access to process their data, and developers should not have permission to work with client's personal accounts. The process of developing to testing to upkeep is a methodical process and no person or department should have complete access to all the information, including the project manager.
From an article entitled: " Defining Segregation of Duties" (November 3, 2006, Processor.com), Ashley Owen, director of product marketing for enterprise application life cycle management solutions at Serena Software quotes:“The essence of separation of duties is one that seeks to reduce risk, increase quality, and lower the costs associated with corrective action within an organization’s internal controls. Midsized organizations should evaluate their present processes, whether documented or automated, and assess the level of risk or exposure to the business of noncompliance.” In essence, she states that along with the risks associated with enabling someone to a dangerous extent, it is also profitable for a company to spread out the workload of a project.
How you ask? The answer is proper management along with tools to help the management. A tool known as "change management software" helps coordinate the overall process of a project. It also is important if production has unexpected changes including participation from multiple business units.
In conclusion, segregation of powers is and has always been important in virtually every aspect of a business from small to global corporations. Today, with technology at its greatest, separation of duties is imperative to minimize costs, increase efficiency, and minimize risks.
Be Careful Choosing Your Web Browser
In recent years there have been many new browsers introduced to the public and it seems as though every person has a different preference to use on their personal computer. I myself just recently strayed from Internet Explorer, the most commonly used browser, and began using Google Chrome. The article I read is regarding Mozilla Firefox, which debuted about 4 years ago and has been rapidly spreading for its convenience, user-friendly setup, and its security.
Recently, a new type of malicious software (malware) was discovered by researchers at BitDefender that collects passwords for banking and financial sites from users and sends them to a server in Russia. The catch is that this software solely targets users for the Firefox search engine. The malware downloads and remains in the "add-ons" folder in Firefox and begins to run whenever Firefox begins running. The malware then uses JavaScript in order to identify financial sites, ranging anywhere from PayPal to Bank of America, and then starts collecting usernames and passwords. It took long to detect because when its downloaded into Firefox, it saves under the name "Greasemonkey," which is a well-known collection of scripts that normally adds functionality to web sites visited through Firefox and wouldn't be detected by normal anti-virus software.
I recently had my debit card number and security code stolen by a taxi driver in Florida while attending a Student Leadership Conference and there were a couple of fraudulent charges made with my numbers and turned out to be a huge hassle. After that I decided to be much more careful with my personal info. Reading articles like this reminds me that nothing is ever safe, especially when on the internet. Its scary to think how easy it is for some people to retrieve your username and password for sites that manage your money through malicious codes like this.
Despite Firefox being known for its good security and advanced protection against spyware, there are still ways hackers manage to do their job. I hope this article helps some people realize they should always be careful with their passwords and whatnot. Also, I have never used Firefox and after reading and posting about this article I dont think I ever will. For those of you using Firefox I recommend going back to Internet Explorer or give Google Chrome a shot if you havent tried it its awesome.
"FACEBOOK EFFECT"
So speaking of IT and Technology that companies are using them to help them in the 21st century, well the time has come when a company is faced with the question of raising profit, they now turn to facebook. Thats right, they turn to an online social network.
"The challenge was taking a mainframe culture into the 21st century" says 40 year-old, Jeremy Burton, a CEO of a private-equity software. Usually when CEO's are faced with the question of how to raise profits, and update there company, they turn to a highly qualified staff for answers. Well in this case, he turned to Tom. Tom was the founder of Facebook, and well i don't think he would have ever imagined that one day his social network would ever help update million dollar companies.
The CEO announced, "I told all the employees its Ok on friday for everybody to goof off and spend an hour or two on facebook. You wouldn't think this would help, but apparently the CEO does. Burton explains, " In Facebook, they can see what the people who are in the next generation of workers are using already. Every single software company has to go through this software as a service transition. But it's not only how you build your software. It's how your people think. The people issue is much harder. Facebook gets people thinking along a new axis."
This is a great idea on his part, because using a #1 software program, "Facebook", as a model to gain information and insight into what works with the entire world is not a bad idea. This is because of how successful Facebook is, and taking a closer look Burton has found how this is possible, and his analysis is right on point. By developing a software that gets the people thinking a different way then they usually would really is the software that will dominate the market and the people.
Now 800 of the companies 900 employes have Facebook accounts, and use it actively. By allowing his employees use Facebook, they are immersed in a software that dominates the world, and something that had started as a mere social network, now is helping them update their company with thing that get the people thinking differently, and as quoted in the article as "The Facebook Effect".
Reprogramming Amazon
Amazon is quickly becoming the go to resource for many companies around the world. They know exactly their customer’s wants, needs, and even suggest things that they think their customers would want. Amazon is clearly on the rise and uses their information technology wisely. However, Amazon is being reprogrammed to better fit the needs of the company and their customers. It seems that it will only add to the success that Amazon already has.
Indeed, some analysts say it's possible that in a few years so many other retailers will be using Amazon's tech expertise to sell on its site that they could account for more than half the products sold on Amazon.com. Amazon Services could be the most important business.
Jeffrey A. Wilke, a senior vice-president who runs Amazon's worldwide operations and customer service, and an engineering team were trying out a test version of new software they wrote. When the buying automation program is ready for prime time, Amazon's merchandise buyers will be able to chuck reams of spreadsheets for graphics-rich applications that crunch data for them, so they can more quickly and accurately forecast product demand, find the best suppliers, and more. The effort is one of scores of technology projects under way at Amazon that ultimately may change the entire experience of shopping online -- and Amazon itself. Amazon is becoming a technology company just like Microsoft!
Already, Amazon's technological efforts have helped it reduce costs and boost sales so much that revenues are expected to surge 32% this year, to $5.2 billion. As a result, by the time the year ends, Amazon may well reach a milestone some never thought it could with its full-year profit. No wonder its stock has rocketed 152% this year, to $49.34 a share.
But all that is just the start. Building on a raft of tech initiatives, from an ever-richer Web site to new search technology, the Amazon team aims to reprogram the company into something even more potent. The notion is to create a technology-driven software for e-commerce that's as pervasive and powerful as Microsoft's Windows operating software is in computing. Amazon wants to be the next Microsoft.
Some may say this a little crazy for them, but necessarily. After all, the Amazon.com Web site is already essentially a giant application that people simply use over the Web rather than in their personal computers. And bit-by-bit, Amazon is building software on which thousands or millions of others can build businesses that in turn will bolster the platform in a self-reinforcing cycle.
Many people feel this is a risk for Amazon to take on, but in actuality other companies have the same dream they do. EBay, the Web's largest marketplace, is building its own e-commerce platform. Already, it boasts several million sellers, at least 37 million active buyers, and more than $20 billion in gross sales -- quadruple Amazon's and is far more profitable because eBay doesn't handle goods. Increasingly, merchants of all stripes view the two companies as key channels to online customers. And eBay isn't the only contender. Search engine Google Inc. and even Microsoft, each with its own Web services initiatives, also aim to be hubs for connecting both shoppers and merchants.
Technologies like that, in which Amazon is reaching out beyond its own site, offer the most intriguing new opportunities -- and challenges. With the current market and competition, I believe Amazon can succeed. Why cant there be another Microsoft? I believe Amazon would be great. They already have a huge customer base, and offer a wide variety of things to their customers. They know each and everyone of their millions of customers and provide the best service they can. Why not add to their successful brand and continue to make money. Their use of information technology has proven to be successful thus far why stop there? With the way the market is right now, technology seems to be the only thing that is continuing to grow. I believe adding new benefits to an already successful company would be good for Amazon now and in the long run.
(www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_51/b3863115_mz063.htm)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Amazon Pirates
Two Dutch students from the Piet Zwart Institute in the Netherlands created a great deal of controversy earlier this week over a plug in that they released for the Mozilla Firefox web browser. This software allowed people all around the globe to download books, music and movies that were listed on amazon.com for free through an illegal bit torrent website called thepiratebay.org. Amazon, obviously outraged by the software, was quick to react by serving the student's internet service provider with a take down notice, at which point the students removed the plugin.
For whatever reason, the students are now claiming that their project was a "parody of any kind of media consumerism" and also an "experiment on interface design, information access, and currently debated issues in media culture." They claim that their project aimed to compare the seemingly opposite Amazon and Pirate Bay sites through practical application. Because the students called their plugin a parody, they receive some legal protection under United States copyright law, however many fail to see the humor in the parody and instead consider the project a scam to rip off one of America's largest firms.
Fortunately for the students, Florian Cramer, the media art course director at Piet Zwart, spoke out on the students' behalf, saying that the student's plugin was legal since the tool only provided rudimentary links between the two websites. He also stated that the internet community was reacting too harshly to the students and that the community as a whole was failing to understand the "artistic nature" of the project. Cramer believes that his students were preemptively censored and that this retribution from Amazon as well as the internet community will scare students from pursuing their art.
Although the design of computer programs can certainly be considered a form of art, I feel as though art has its limits. Designing complex or innovative programs that push the industry's envelope and help to further technology as a whole are obviously acceptable forms of this art and the student's program in question can be considered art as well, although it is far less acceptable. Amazon's issue with the program was never whether or not it was art, it was whether or not it was legal. The fact of the matter is that these two students with their art effectively robbed Amazon of millions of dollars by providing people with free access to Amazon's products. Not only does this hurt Amazon, it is also detrimental to all of the artists, writers, directors and actors whose intellectual property is being stolen through the free download of these movies books and music.
If a person downloads an artist's music for free through the use of bit torrent websites or through peer to peer networks, they can be prosecuted and punished for piracy of intellectual material. In this case, Amazon and the Pirate Bay are both just intermediaries that make this situation more indirect but still piracy no less. The fact of the matter is that because of the plugin that these students created, people all over the world are able to get something for nothing which, when dealing with art and intellectual property, is illegal.
Source: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/pirates-of-the-amazon-abandon-ship/
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Are the video Glitches that are occurring with Apple and Netflix related?
Netflix and Apple have similar video players that are set up on top of tvs and enable users to watch online videos on their home tvs. In the past few weeks, both companies have been receiving complaints about the slow nature of the downloading process and the inconvenience that it is causing current users. It was almost simultaneously that both of these companies began receiving complaints. Roku, the maker of the Netflix video streamer, began receiving complaints the day before Apple TV did, on November 14, 2008.
Because it is extremely ironic and unlikely that these two events occurred without any parallel involvement or similarities, investigations into the two companies have been made to see what could have happened to both. After speaking to Roku, sources stated that the problems with streaming began occurring when Netflix was changing their content distribution network. Netflix uses many services such as Akamai for their content distribution network, which in-coincidentally so does Apple TV. Netflix does not blame the company though, and a spokesperson said that they have things that they need to work out within the company. As the article states, it is easy for these companies to blame their content distribution networks, but most commonly these problems are the result of a company’s own problematic servers or the disturbances in the back-end infrastructure.
I think that there really is some connection between these two mishaps in these video streamings because it is too ironic for these two large companies to have such similar problems within just days of each other. I think more investigation should go into this case in order to identify more similarities in the companies and what exactly could have caused these problems at the same time. I think there must be something deep within the core of these companies and their streaming processes that will give a better clue to why this has happened.
It is important to go further in depth into this problem because there are some very unsatisfied customers who are looking for the type of progress that they originally had when trying to watch their videos that they no longer have. It is extremely important for the companies too, so that they can keep their approval ratings high. Without high ratings, their companies will take a big hit. Apple TV and Netflix need to fix this problem, and maybe it would be good for them to collaborate and try to get to the bottom of this problem.
I found this article and its information at: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10112759-93.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Because it is extremely ironic and unlikely that these two events occurred without any parallel involvement or similarities, investigations into the two companies have been made to see what could have happened to both. After speaking to Roku, sources stated that the problems with streaming began occurring when Netflix was changing their content distribution network. Netflix uses many services such as Akamai for their content distribution network, which in-coincidentally so does Apple TV. Netflix does not blame the company though, and a spokesperson said that they have things that they need to work out within the company. As the article states, it is easy for these companies to blame their content distribution networks, but most commonly these problems are the result of a company’s own problematic servers or the disturbances in the back-end infrastructure.
I think that there really is some connection between these two mishaps in these video streamings because it is too ironic for these two large companies to have such similar problems within just days of each other. I think more investigation should go into this case in order to identify more similarities in the companies and what exactly could have caused these problems at the same time. I think there must be something deep within the core of these companies and their streaming processes that will give a better clue to why this has happened.
It is important to go further in depth into this problem because there are some very unsatisfied customers who are looking for the type of progress that they originally had when trying to watch their videos that they no longer have. It is extremely important for the companies too, so that they can keep their approval ratings high. Without high ratings, their companies will take a big hit. Apple TV and Netflix need to fix this problem, and maybe it would be good for them to collaborate and try to get to the bottom of this problem.
I found this article and its information at: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10112759-93.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Watching Football in 3D
On any given Sunday, you can watch your favorite team; mine the New York Giants, in the most spectacular camera angles. Now a day, the common fan is brought so close to the action of a game through the use of high definition TVs or the use of cameras with precision clarity. How can anyone expect the experience of watching a football game, or any other sporting event for that matter, to increase over the next decade or two? The answer to that question can now be answered with the use of two symbols, 3-D.
The idea of watching TV three dimensionally is something that most cannot recognize as something that technologically, is right around the corner. This form of technology has already been implemented on a very small scale already in the realm of sports. The National Football League and the National Basketball Association both have experimented with this form of broadcasting. The NFL is showing a game for the first time, when it broadcasts the game between the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders. They will use special cameras and this game will be shown in 3-d in three cities; Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. The NBA has also already tested this form of technology when it broadcasted the 2008 All-Star game in Las Vegas in 3-d. As well as, Mark Cuban, owner of the basketball franchise the Dallas Mavericks, has personally broadcasted in a closed setting a game of his team in 3-d in a closed theatre.
The use of 3-d technology in TV, especially for sporting events, is possibly one of the most exciting things I have heard for the future of broadcasting. Sporting events will now be brought into the home, in a way not seen today. The use of High Definition technology, today, is already a huge advancement in the way we view sports, but the use of 3-d technology will revolutionize how sports are viewed for generations to come. The average sports fan will be so involved in the action that they will be able to how this pass was made or why this referee just blew the biggest game of the year. I do wonder how this technology would work within the home. Will you have a bunch of three dimensional figures that are just floating around the room, while you just gaze in wonderment of 320 line man around you? Will you have 7 foot behemoths driving around you looking to score? In many situations, new technologies seem to have drawbacks in their design that will be questioned by consumers, yet in the use of 3-d technology seems to be the quintessential modicum of broadcasting. Athletes and the fan will be brought together through the use of this technology. I would have to wonder if the actual size of the athletes will be broadcasted through the screen, or will it just be a scale model of the athlete within the framework of the game. The thing I want to see is to be watching up close a thunderous alley-oop to LeBron James or the pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree in the Super Bowl in three dimensions. I think it’s going to be the best experience of watching a game, well at least till the next big thing.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/65373.html
The idea of watching TV three dimensionally is something that most cannot recognize as something that technologically, is right around the corner. This form of technology has already been implemented on a very small scale already in the realm of sports. The National Football League and the National Basketball Association both have experimented with this form of broadcasting. The NFL is showing a game for the first time, when it broadcasts the game between the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders. They will use special cameras and this game will be shown in 3-d in three cities; Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. The NBA has also already tested this form of technology when it broadcasted the 2008 All-Star game in Las Vegas in 3-d. As well as, Mark Cuban, owner of the basketball franchise the Dallas Mavericks, has personally broadcasted in a closed setting a game of his team in 3-d in a closed theatre.
The use of 3-d technology in TV, especially for sporting events, is possibly one of the most exciting things I have heard for the future of broadcasting. Sporting events will now be brought into the home, in a way not seen today. The use of High Definition technology, today, is already a huge advancement in the way we view sports, but the use of 3-d technology will revolutionize how sports are viewed for generations to come. The average sports fan will be so involved in the action that they will be able to how this pass was made or why this referee just blew the biggest game of the year. I do wonder how this technology would work within the home. Will you have a bunch of three dimensional figures that are just floating around the room, while you just gaze in wonderment of 320 line man around you? Will you have 7 foot behemoths driving around you looking to score? In many situations, new technologies seem to have drawbacks in their design that will be questioned by consumers, yet in the use of 3-d technology seems to be the quintessential modicum of broadcasting. Athletes and the fan will be brought together through the use of this technology. I would have to wonder if the actual size of the athletes will be broadcasted through the screen, or will it just be a scale model of the athlete within the framework of the game. The thing I want to see is to be watching up close a thunderous alley-oop to LeBron James or the pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree in the Super Bowl in three dimensions. I think it’s going to be the best experience of watching a game, well at least till the next big thing.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/65373.html
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Making Computers Based on the Human Brain
This particular article deals with the advancement of computer design and suggest designing computers based on the human brain. Although some may think, how can computers become any more technologically savvy others push the envelope to question and develop new ways for computers to process information. As the article states, at this moment in time computers are just really advanced, fast computing devices. Computers do not process information with the same intellectual pattern that us humans do. This idea, very similar to artificial intelligence, will allow computers to process “complex strings of information” the way we do which is by the chemical communication that turns sensations into actions.
I feel this is an innovated idea because it will change the way human’s use and view computers. It is really the second generation of computer technology. If successful computers will be able to do just about anything humans do. We will be able to essentially use computers in every aspect of our lives. Because of these advancements not only will computers aide us, they will replace us. If a computer can think and process information the way we do, why would we do it at all? While this is a very stimulating idea it is also scary. Growing technology that replaces humans and tasks we do has a handful of effects on our culture. Unfortunately these effects can be negative or positive. In a positive way computers that think like humans can help save people’s lives. Computers will now be able to detect a patient in distress and perform a task that will save them by thinking as a human. The army can use these new computers to detect threats and warn troops. People will interact way less than they already do because they just won’t have to. People will become lazy and think less because computers will be able to substitute them. Men and women will loose jobs that we thought computers will never be able to fulfill. Again, while this idea is very innovative, if not used properly the effects can be negative.
I feel this is an innovated idea because it will change the way human’s use and view computers. It is really the second generation of computer technology. If successful computers will be able to do just about anything humans do. We will be able to essentially use computers in every aspect of our lives. Because of these advancements not only will computers aide us, they will replace us. If a computer can think and process information the way we do, why would we do it at all? While this is a very stimulating idea it is also scary. Growing technology that replaces humans and tasks we do has a handful of effects on our culture. Unfortunately these effects can be negative or positive. In a positive way computers that think like humans can help save people’s lives. Computers will now be able to detect a patient in distress and perform a task that will save them by thinking as a human. The army can use these new computers to detect threats and warn troops. People will interact way less than they already do because they just won’t have to. People will become lazy and think less because computers will be able to substitute them. Men and women will loose jobs that we thought computers will never be able to fulfill. Again, while this idea is very innovative, if not used properly the effects can be negative.
Facebook Aims to Extend Its Reach Across the Web
The largest social network on the Internet, Facebook, is trying to allow users to be able to travel the web with their friends. The company is adding a new feature to its website called Facebook Connect, which allows its members to log onto other websites using their Facebook identification, and see what their friends have been doing on those different websites. This means that in the near future, you will be able to log into a website such as the Discovery Channel, and you will be able to see what your friends have recently done on that website. Along with being able to see the actions of your friends on these websites, members will also have the opportunity to share what they have been doing on these websites, right on their Facebook page.
The chief operating officer of Facebook say that everyone is looking for ways to make their websites more social, she really means that everyone is looking for ways to make their websites more profitable. The only real way to generate revenue on a website like Facebook is through advertising, but social networks are a very hard place to do this. In the past year, only 57 percent of users of social networks clicked on an advertisement on their website, and only 11 percent of those curious clicks actually led to a purchase from some website. One of the main reasons why everyone is so interested in Facebook Connect, is because they believe it could help a lot in terms of advertising. One of the major perks about advertising on Facebook, is that Facebook has detailed information about all of its users. Advertisers would be able to create more personalized ads, with information they had pulled off of their own websites, or those websites could tell Facebook which sites its users are visiting, so they can make their ads more targeted.
“It’s becoming very clear that advertisers don’t know how to advertise on Facebook,” said Charlene Li, an independent consultant and social media analyst. “But if you take a group of Facebook friends and put them on a travel site where they are spending more time and generating more ad dollars in a focused area like travel, that is an opportunity ripe for getting revenues back and sharing it.” Although there is a great opportunity for Facebook to create revenue, it is sort of scary to think that websites are watching your every move, and keeping track of what you are doing. These websites not only keep your information, but they also relay it to other websites, so they will be able to advertise as best as they can.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/technology/internet/01facebook.html?ref=technology
The chief operating officer of Facebook say that everyone is looking for ways to make their websites more social, she really means that everyone is looking for ways to make their websites more profitable. The only real way to generate revenue on a website like Facebook is through advertising, but social networks are a very hard place to do this. In the past year, only 57 percent of users of social networks clicked on an advertisement on their website, and only 11 percent of those curious clicks actually led to a purchase from some website. One of the main reasons why everyone is so interested in Facebook Connect, is because they believe it could help a lot in terms of advertising. One of the major perks about advertising on Facebook, is that Facebook has detailed information about all of its users. Advertisers would be able to create more personalized ads, with information they had pulled off of their own websites, or those websites could tell Facebook which sites its users are visiting, so they can make their ads more targeted.
“It’s becoming very clear that advertisers don’t know how to advertise on Facebook,” said Charlene Li, an independent consultant and social media analyst. “But if you take a group of Facebook friends and put them on a travel site where they are spending more time and generating more ad dollars in a focused area like travel, that is an opportunity ripe for getting revenues back and sharing it.” Although there is a great opportunity for Facebook to create revenue, it is sort of scary to think that websites are watching your every move, and keeping track of what you are doing. These websites not only keep your information, but they also relay it to other websites, so they will be able to advertise as best as they can.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/technology/internet/01facebook.html?ref=technology
Danny Granatell Wal Mart IT to Improve Healthcare
Danny Granatell
Info Systems
11/23/2008
Wal-Mart Leading Team to Improve Health Care IT
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina several major companies in the United States began to see the need for a better health care information system. The devastating affects Katrina caused the loss of entire medical family histories in New Orleans and other areas of the country. As noted by Vice Chairman John Menzer, "Medical records, property records, court records were lost. Entire family histories -- medical, cultural, and otherwise -- were gone in an instant, and the entire region is still recovering from this massive loss of information." In response, Wal Mart pledged $1 million dollars over the next five years to develop an information system that could store medical records using information technology accessible through the Internet. The leading company, Wal Mart, is working closely with the University of Arkansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield to develop a fully functional database that will store medical records with real time access at any part of the country. This will allow for more efficient and better medical care, as doctors and pharmacists will be able to look up the medical history of a patient via the Internet instead of paper files. The designers also hope that the system will enable them to track the procurement and distribution process to significantly reduce costs and “streamline” operations. They also hope that the system reduces the likelihood of shipping errors that bring unexpected costs. As a result of the reduction in costs, the companies plan to lower the prices of generic prescriptions and drugs for the benefit of the consumer. The system will not only grant people easy access to their medical histories for personal use, but also reduce the costs of medicine enabling less wealthy people more access to these drugs.
In my view the development of such an information system would greatly reduce the inefficiencies that occur in medical practice. Imagine if your medical history was accessible through a database over the Internet. Doctors would have easy access to medical records that would allow them to make quicker and more efficient diagnoses. It would diminish the need for traditional file records, as medical histories could be stored through an online database. The system would also help out college students. I can remember the hassle it was as an incoming freshmen to track down documentation of medical records that were scattered over many hospitals and states. If the system were enabled then I easily could have downloaded my file online and sent it to the health center on campus. In other instances a health care information system would also be useful in the case of serious accidents in which little information is known about the patient. A patient knocked on conscious cannot provide doctors with information regarding what they are allergic to. The new healthcare information system would allow doctors to look up the patient’s medical file and provide the proper medical treatment. The system not only makes medical practice more efficient, but also limits mistakes and errors that could be costly.
Info Systems
11/23/2008
Wal-Mart Leading Team to Improve Health Care IT
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina several major companies in the United States began to see the need for a better health care information system. The devastating affects Katrina caused the loss of entire medical family histories in New Orleans and other areas of the country. As noted by Vice Chairman John Menzer, "Medical records, property records, court records were lost. Entire family histories -- medical, cultural, and otherwise -- were gone in an instant, and the entire region is still recovering from this massive loss of information." In response, Wal Mart pledged $1 million dollars over the next five years to develop an information system that could store medical records using information technology accessible through the Internet. The leading company, Wal Mart, is working closely with the University of Arkansas and Blue Cross Blue Shield to develop a fully functional database that will store medical records with real time access at any part of the country. This will allow for more efficient and better medical care, as doctors and pharmacists will be able to look up the medical history of a patient via the Internet instead of paper files. The designers also hope that the system will enable them to track the procurement and distribution process to significantly reduce costs and “streamline” operations. They also hope that the system reduces the likelihood of shipping errors that bring unexpected costs. As a result of the reduction in costs, the companies plan to lower the prices of generic prescriptions and drugs for the benefit of the consumer. The system will not only grant people easy access to their medical histories for personal use, but also reduce the costs of medicine enabling less wealthy people more access to these drugs.
In my view the development of such an information system would greatly reduce the inefficiencies that occur in medical practice. Imagine if your medical history was accessible through a database over the Internet. Doctors would have easy access to medical records that would allow them to make quicker and more efficient diagnoses. It would diminish the need for traditional file records, as medical histories could be stored through an online database. The system would also help out college students. I can remember the hassle it was as an incoming freshmen to track down documentation of medical records that were scattered over many hospitals and states. If the system were enabled then I easily could have downloaded my file online and sent it to the health center on campus. In other instances a health care information system would also be useful in the case of serious accidents in which little information is known about the patient. A patient knocked on conscious cannot provide doctors with information regarding what they are allergic to. The new healthcare information system would allow doctors to look up the patient’s medical file and provide the proper medical treatment. The system not only makes medical practice more efficient, but also limits mistakes and errors that could be costly.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Blog 2: Doctors Feel Vulnerable, Less Efficient Without Technology
The article explains that medical students from
Sources- http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/news/releases.php?release=361
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