Here is my weekly collection of articles that were not commented here — except if I missed them.

American’s maintenance crew goes wireless
maintenance workers at American Airlines now know what to do 30 minutes before the airplane lands. Why?
They’re using new wireless technology developed by the airline’s information technology and maintenance engineering teams that will notify them when an inbound plane needs service — be it oil service or replacing a burned-out cockpit indicator light.
Source: Bea Garcia, The Miami Herald, September 20, 2004


Phones Pick Up Language
Cell phones and wireless PDAs have one perennial problem: either no keyboard or a very small one. That makes typing anything more than a phone number a tedious, fumbling task. But a solution is on the way: mobile devices that are adept at recognizing spoken language.
Source: Mara E. Vatz, MIT Technology Review, October 2004


CMU project envisions computers even the poorest Third World farmer could use
A professor at Carnegie Mellon University wants to build PC-TV-telephones for the developing countries for about $250. Read more about the PCtvt project at CMU.
Source: Byron Spice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 20, 2004


Social networks seek financial friends
A year after Silicon Valley entrepreneurs launched a slew of faddish social-networking companies — Web sites like Friendster, Tribe Networks and LinkedIn — reality is beginning to bite.
Most of these sites are still seeing large numbers of active users sign up for what they offer, which is essentially an online network of contacts with friends or business partners, and their friends. But with all the buzz came a lot of me-too companies hoping to crash the party, making it difficult for any of them — even the leaders — to make users pay.
Source: Matt Marshall, San Jose Mercury News, September 19, 2004


Test Set for RFID-Enabled Phones
Royal Philips Electronics has teamed up with U.S. RFID payment specialist ViVOtech to develop, test and promote contactless payment applications. The applications will allow U.S. consumers to make cashless purchases from handsets enabled with near field communication (NFC) RFID technology.
Source: Jonathan Collins, RFID Journal, September 20, 2004


Fine Wine, Amour, And Mobile Games
France is a force in the latest wireless craze: Video games for phones.
Source: Andy Reinhardt, BusinessWeek Magazine, September 27, 2004 Issue


Digital friends make sure you’re on time - 22/09/2004
Mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) could make sure you’re never late for another appointment, say U.S. and Australian scientists.
The system would work by combining GPS, or Global Positioning System, with your digital calendar of appointments.
The device would then estimate the time it takes to get from A to B and tell you when it’s time to set off.
Source: Heather Catchpole, ABC Science Online, September 22, 2004


London boozers offer beer via SMS
[The subject says it all, doesn'it? Your friends will buy you a drink and you will be notified by SMS. When these guys are coming to Paris?]
Source: Lester Haines, The Register, September 14, 2004

See you next week…