Here is my selection of articles that were not commented here — except if I missed them.
The Year of Living Wirelessly
Boston is on the brink of a revolution-a wireless world where people in parks and on sidewalks, on subways and in restaurants, everywhere and anywhere, are plugged in to the Internet. Are we ready for a Wi-Fi city?
Source: Greg Lalas, The Boston Globe, April 24, 2005
Research grid passes crucial network test
One of the world’s largest grid projects passed a major test by juggling enough data to fill a couple of desktop hard drives every second for 10 days.
Source: Michael Kanellos, CNET News.com, April 25, 2005
Netscape pioneers launch free content network
Netscape pioneers Mike Homer and Marc Andreessen are back on the start-up scene, launching a TiVo-like online network for distributing and viewing public TV, radio and grassroots media.
Source: John Borland, CNET News.com, April 25, 2005
E-voting: The people’s choice
E-voting pilots have shown that SMS and e-voting are popular with electors, so how soon can we expect to see these alternatives to traditional ballots being widely used?
Source: Sally Flood, ComputerWeekly.com, April 25, 2005
Researchers merge game theory with wireless networks, create ’smarter’ garments
Using economic theory to improve wireless communications networks and designing garments that can sense their own shapes are among the goals of two National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award projects recently funded at Virginia Tech.
Source: Liz Crumbley, Virginia Tech News, April 25, 2005
A plan to offshore… just 3 miles out
Roger Green is a software entrepreneur. David Cook was once a supertanker skipper who spent 15 years hauling crude oil through the world’s sea lanes. Now the two men have announced a remarkable venture called SeaCode, a company that plans to hire 600 superb software designers from every corner of the world and house them in a luxury cruise ship just out of reach of US immigration law — but close enough to bid on multimillion-dollar US software contracts.
Source: Hiawatha Bray, The Boston Globe, April 25, 2005
Aerial taxis preparing for takeoff
A plan to shuttle commuters from city to city aboard five- and six-seater aerial taxis could be off the ground by next year.
Source: Michael Kanellos, CNET News.com, April 25, 2005
Feds Rethinking RFID Passport
Following criticism from computer security professionals and civil libertarians about the privacy risks posed by new RFID passports the government plans to begin issuing, a State Department official said his office is reconsidering a privacy solution it rejected earlier that would help protect passport holders’ data.
Source: Kim Zetter, Wired News, April 26, 2005
Grids get down to business
Two initiatives in the coming weeks will seek to make computing grids, where far-flung computers act as a single machine, more widespread in the business world.
Source: Martin LaMonica, CNET News.com, April 27, 2005
California bill would ban tracking chips in IDs
California lawmakers are joining the national debate on the merit of incorporating electronic identification devices in driver’s licenses, student IDs and passports.
Source: Alorie Gilbert, CNET News.com, April 28, 2005
Dream teams thrive on mix of old and new blood
Northwestern University researchers looked at different types of teams — creative teams in the arts and sciences — to determine a team’s recipe for success. They discovered that the composition of a great team is the same whether you are working on Broadway or in economics. You need to mix new and old blood.
Source: Northwestern University news release, April 28, 2005
Idealist.org can help you arrange for a vacation from apathy
For some socially conscious travelers, vacations are best spent contributing time and energies to nonprofit projects that benefit humanity. But matching volunteer opportunities with skills and interests can be a challenge.
Source: James Gilden, The Internet Traveler, for the Los Angeles Times, May 1, 2005 (Free registration needed)
See you next week…
