Techno-News Blog

November 30, 2010

Jimmy Wales on why Wikileaks should be cautious

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by the BBC

Type a question into a search engine and the chances are one of the top results will be from Wikipedia – an online encyclopaedia created and maintained by everyone. Its founder, Jimmy Wales, acknowledges that having millions of contributors can lead to a few inaccuracies creeping in amongst the facts. But he believes his creation will continue expanding. Already 250 million people use Wikipedia every month.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9211077.stm

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Chip implant developed to help the paralysed exercise

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by the BBC

The electrodes close around spinal nerves like a book. A tiny, implantable chip that delivers electrical impulses to aid in exercising paralysed limbs has been unveiled by scientists. Similar attempts to promote muscle stimulation have been developed before, but have been too bulky to implant. Thanks to advances in the fabrication of small electronics, the new unit from University College London researchers is smaller than a fingernail. The implants have a number of other possible uses in muscle rehabilitation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11814554

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Opera 11 Beta Launches

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By: Darryl K. Taft, eWeek

Opera Software has released the beta version of its Opera 11 browser with new support for tab stacking. In a Nov. 23 announcement, Opera introduced tab stacking, a better way to organize your open tabs. Traditionally, tabs were opened side-by-side, but now Opera users can stack their tabs, grouping them by site or by theme. Tab stacking reduces clutter and makes it easier to identify and work with sets of open tabs, Opera officials said.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Application-Development/Opera-11-Beta-Launches-620159/

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November 29, 2010

Fake wi-fi ‘steals data and numbers from smartphones’

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by the BBC

A fake wi-fi hotspot run by criminals could allow them to steal passwords and log into social networking sites. Tom Beale from security firm Vigilante Bespoke shows the BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones how easily data can be stolen from a smartphone. Facebook has responded by saying it advises people to be careful with what data they give out to unknown networks, “in the same way we look to draw out cash from legitimate ATM (cashpoint) machines”. It also pointed out that it asks members whether they want to give Facebook access to contacts stored by email providers before downloading such information from other organisations. Apple has responded to the way that the latest iPhone is unlocked in this video, by saying that a recent update can be downloaded to prevent this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11817567

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Why the future of search is social

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By Mark Ward, BBC News

For a long time search has been about you and nothing but you. When you go to Google, Bing, Ask or any of the other search engines they only take into account what you, and you alone, are concerned with. Type in a keyword or two, or three and the results returned will be based pretty much on that scant amount of text. In some cases this can be enhanced by letting your past search results influence what you are looking for now, but the emphasis is largely on the individual. All that is about to change. Both Google and Bing are starting to develop ways to make your social context influence the results you are sent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11797840

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Future 911 system ‘may accept text and video messages’

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by the BBC

The 911 system does not currently support text, photo or video messages from mobile phones The US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) is considering updating the 911 emergency call system to accept photo, text and video messages. Roughly 70% of 911 calls are already being made from mobile telephones, said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski. But the 911 system does not currently “support the communication tools of tomorrow”, he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11824906

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November 28, 2010

Innovative math created in the classroom

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by Kim Williams, Lewisville Leader

An independent study by the U.S. Department of Education shows that interactive learning tools help students improve Algebra I test scores by 6 to 14 percent, and PISD is one of many districts in North Texas now presenting math in an interactive classroom, where teachers use technology to foster interaction with their students — less “chalk and talk” learning and more collaboration, which allows teachers to reach students on a deeper level and can lead to increased student participation and higher academic achievement.

http://www.lewisvilleleader.com/articles/2010/11/14/plano_star-courier/news/454.txt

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A new way to pay

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By CHRIS SERRES, Star Tribune

Big banks are in a high-stakes race to launch new mobile payment networks before consumers take their business elsewhere. Billions of dollars in transaction fees are at stake. Dominic Venturo strolled to the counter of an Office Depot store in downtown Minneapolis with a packet of No. 2 pencils he wanted to buy and his trusty iPhone. Venturo, chief innovation officer at U.S. Bancorp, gently waved the iPhone inches in front of an electronic card reader. Seconds later, a text message appeared: His $2.58 payment had gone through.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/yourmoney/106790813.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUdcOy_nc:DKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_2yc:a_ncyD_MDCiU

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New Bedford library relies on technology and open spaces

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By Terry Evans, Star-Telegram

Teenagers helped design Bedford’s new library, so it’s no surprise that the Teen Room is nowhere near the Children’s Area. Library Manager Maria Redburn said that 14 focus groups were responsible for coming up with a design for the former Food Lion grocery store at 2424 Forest Ridge Drive. When the pencils were put down, the teens’ layout was the obvious winner, Redburn said. Residents have been going on tours of the library, which is scheduled to open in early February.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/13/2629297/new-bedford-library-relies-on.html

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November 27, 2010

Now you can judge an e-book by its colour

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by Shane Hulgraine, Silicon Republic

E-readers could be set for a technological overhaul as the company mostly responsible for their display technology has announced new colour technology. E Ink’s new Triton Imaging Film technology will display colour in addition to 16 levels of grayscale and the new technology has been targeted at displaying maps, charts, comics and advertising. Traditionally, readers display content in black and white – namely Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook and the Sony Reader – which is a distinct disadvantage over tablet devices such as the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab that rule the market.

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/new-media/item/18893-now-you-can-judge-an-e-book/

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Interview: Andrew Rasiej on technology as a new ecology, not just a medium

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by Julia Friesel, Rebecca Robinson, Dowser

Andrew Rasiej is what many would call a “serial entrepreneur.” A jack of all trades, Rasiej founded a number of ventures before stumbling upon his current calling: founder of MOUSE (Making Opportunities for Upgrading Schools and Education), an organization that runs three tech-based programs to educate and inspire under-served students to pursue careers in the Web-driven information economy. The MOUSE Squad trains students to run their own IT help desks inside their schools, and MOUSE Corp provides professional internship and career workshop opportunities. The third arm, MOUSE TechSource, focuses on research and evaluation of MOUSE programs. To date, MOUSE runs in 269 schools across seven states, working with 3,000 students who then provide technical support to over 240,000 students. Rasiej sat down with Dowser to talk about going head-to-head with Giuliani, getting stuck on a ski lift with a senator, and other adventures on the road to MOUSE.

http://dowser.org/interview-andrew-rasiej-on-technology-as-a-new-ecology-not-just-a-medium/

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Technology for Transparency: Five New Cases, With More to Come!

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by Rebekah Heakock, Global Voices

The Technology for Transparency Network is thrilled to announce the start of the publication of our second phase of research. Beginning with five cases — Accountability Initiative in India, Amatora mu mahoro in Burundi, Democrator.ru in Russia, Excelências in Brazil, and Mam Prawo Wiedzieć in Poland — we will be posting approximately 30 new cases over the coming weeks. We’re also excited to announce a new feature on the Technology for Transparency site: over the summer, we’ve revised the way we categorize our case studies to make exploring the site and browsing the interviews more engaging. The projects we interviewed are complex and multifacted: for example, Dinero y Política (Money and Politics) in Argentina focuses on campaign finance; however, because of the type of technological tools it uses and its approach to financial data, it could also be considered an example of budget monitoring.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/11/11/technology-for-transparency-five-new-cases-with-more-to-come/

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November 26, 2010

National Education Technology Plan 2010

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by the US Dept of Education

NETP The National Education Technology Plan, Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology, calls for applying the advanced technologies used in our daily personal and professional lives to our entire education system to improve student learning, accelerate and scale up the adoption of effective practices, and use data and information for continuous improvement. It presents five goals with recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. Each goal addresses one of the five essential components of learning powered by technology: Learning, Assessment, Teaching, Infrastructure, and Productivity.

http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

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Colour display technology makes its debut, LG also get in on the game

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New colour E Ink screens made official

By MARK JONES, Re-think Wireless

As expected the new colour E Ink technology has been officially unveiled at the Flat Panel Display international show in Japan this week. The new screen technology from the company that produces the screens for Amazon’s Kindle is named Triton. Earlier this week it was revealed that Chinese e-reader manufacturer Hanvon has developed a device using the technology which will be available in China by March next year.

http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2010/11/10/new-colour-e-ink-screens-official.htm

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IBM: new chip technology huge boost to wireless devices and networks

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by Sylvie Barak, RCR Unplugged

A whopping six trillion text messages were sent by mobile users across the planet last year, but computing powerhouse IBM believes that’s small fry, having just developed chip technology which can purportedly pump out those six trillion text messages in just ten seconds. The new chip-making technology is called the Cu-32 Custom Logic and was designed by IBM Research — to dramatically increase the memory capacity and processing speeds of chips used in fiber-optic and wireless networks and in gear like routers and switches. “Teens will have to type faster to keep up with the advances that IBM’s new chip technology holds for service providers,” an IBM rep told RCR jokingly.

http://unplugged.rcrwireless.com/index.php/20101110/components/5076/ibm-new-chip-technology-huge-boost-to-wireless-devices-and-networks/

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November 25, 2010

Five Technology Trends to Consider

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By Michael C. Pelletier, Hartford Business

We can always avail ourselves of new technology solutions to tackle problems in new ways. Some are evolutionary, some are revolutionary and some are subversive. There are five technology trends that your organization can take the lead on, wait for a few first movers and then follow, or simply get out of the way and let the trend pass.

http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news15494.html

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Scientists contend display technology is closer to reality

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By MALCOLM RITTER, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Scientists say they have taken a big step toward displaying live video in three dimensions — a technology far beyond 3-D movies and more like the “Star Wars” scene in which a ghostly Princess Leia image pleads, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi.” In that classic movie, the audience sees her back before a new camera perspective shows her face. Such a wraparound view of a moving image was just movie-trick fantasy in the 1977 film, but now? “It is actually very, very close to reality. We have demonstrated the concept that it works. It’s no longer something that is science fiction,” said Nasser Peyghambarian of the University of Arizona.

http://www.freep.com/article/20101107/NEWS09/11070441/1011/News09/Scientists-contend-display-technology-is-closer-to-reality

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Kingston reveal new enhanced SSD technology

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By Georgina Enzer, ITP

The company’s new SSDNow V+100 is said to be 25% faster than older models. The Kingston SSDNow V+100 drive is said to be 25% faster than older models and comes in a new 96 GB size.  Kingston Digital Europe, manufacturer of memory products has launched a new solid state drive (SSD), the Kingston SSD Now V+100 drive, which extends the life of existing client systems through an enhanced garbage collection system. The system is designed to clean redundant data from the drive to stop performance degradation and maintain the drive. Since it operates independently from the operating system, it is designed to work with both modern TRIM-supporting systems such as Windows 7, as well as older systems such as Windows Vista and XP that do not support TRIM.

http://www.itp.net/582682-kingston-reveal-new-enhanced-ssd-technology

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November 24, 2010

Video-game Technology may Give an Impetus to New Drugs’ Development

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by Savitha.C.Muppala, MedIndia

A new technology employed in video games may assist in speeding up the development of new products and potentially life-saving drugs. C and EN Associate Editor Lauren K. Wolf notes that consumer demand for life-like avatars and interactive scenery has pushed computer firms to develop inexpensive yet sophisticated graphics hardware called graphics processing units, or GPUs.

http://www.medindia.net/news/Video-game-Technology-may-Give-an-Impetus-to-New-Drugs-Development-76368-1.htm

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New browser incorporates latest trends in Web technology

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By Troy Wolverton, Mercury News

Marc Andreessen helped bring the World Wide Web to the masses by developing the Mosaic browser. Now, more than 17 years later, a company he’s backing thinks it’s time to rethink the browsing experience. RockMelt, a Mountain View startup that Andreessen has invested in and advises, is releasing today a beta version of a new, eponymous Web browser built around some of the latest trends in Web technologies. It integrates social networking to a degree not found in mainstream browsers and saves user data to the “cloud,” allowing users to get the same browsing experience on their work and home computers. “We’re reinventing the browser for how people use the Web today,” said Eric Vishria, RockMelt’s co-founder and CEO.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_16527230?source=rss&nclick_check=1

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Upgrade software for iPad

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by Apple

The free iOS 4.2 Software Update brings all-new features to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.1 Just connect your device to your computer to download the update. It’s free. It’s easy. And it lets you do even more with the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. Adds multi-tasking, folders, WiFi printing and much mor!

http://www.apple.com/ios/

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