Yahoo CEO out after resume scandal – reports
May 15, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under Career, IT Standards
CEO Scott Thompson reportedly will leave Yahoo
Discussion: In the last several days, it has been brought to the public’s attention that the CEO of Yahoo padded his resume. He has since resigned from his post as CEO. Scott Thompson added three untruthful words, “and computer science”, to the phrase, “graduated with his B.S. in accounting and computer science.” The sticking point is that he signed Yahoo’s financial statements that stated the erroneous fact, thus personally certifying that the statement was correct, when in fact it was not. Since Sarbanes Oxley, CEO’s are required to sign off on the company’s financial statements. This fabrication of facts on his resume and on Yahoo’s financial statements caused him to step down from his post as CEO of Yahoo.
Source: CNN News
Date: May 13, 2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/13/technology/yahoo-ceo-out-rumor/index.htm
Discussion Questions:
- Why is Thompson’s false statement such a big deal?
- Why are CEO’s required to sign off on their company’s financial statements?
US town’s police ban pedestrians texting and walking
May 15, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under App Economy, IT Trends, Mobile Computing
Police in the US town of Fort Lee, New Jersey, have started a battle against texters who aren't looking where they're going.
Discussion: A town in New Jersey has recently instituted a ban on walking and texting at the same time. In the town, there have been more than 20 accidents since the beginning of 2012 caused by pedestrians not watching where they were walking, and in just six weeks they have fined 117 texters. Those that choose to text and walk will be fined as if they had been jaywalking. Currently, there are apps to help people who walk and text at the same time, but the citizens of Fort Peck, New Jersey, won’t be needing them unless they plan on breaking the law.
Source: BBC News
Date: May 14, 2012
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/18056565
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think this new law will prevent accidents from occurring?
- Can you think of any other solutions to this problem?
London to test ‘smart city’ operating system
May 8, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under Green Technologies, IT Infrastructure, IT Investment, IT Planning, IT Projects, IT Trends
One of Greenwich peninsula's biggest landmarks is the O2 building
Discussion: In a neighborhood in London, there is an operating system being tested that will connect utilities and services with citizens. The ‘smart city’, located in the Greenwich peninsula, is testing an operating systems that aims to connect services such as water, transport, and energy with the people who live in the area. Smart lamp posts will monitor traffic and become brighter when they recognize a car coming their way and smart heating systems will regulate internal temperatures in buildings to save energy. As 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050, this new technology is critical to help regenerate urban spaces to make them more efficient and sustainable in the future.
Source: BBC News
Date: May 4, 2012
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17940797
Discussion Questions:
- Why is this new operating system superior to the traditional system in place today?
- With this operating system in place, what would happen if connectivity between elements fails?
Intel wants to plug a smartphone into your brain
May 8, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under App Economy, IT Trends, Mobile Computing, Wireless
Intel wants to plug a smartphone into your brain
Discussion: Intel recently released a paper on mobile computing that stated that connected devices, such as smartphones, will inevitably begin to interface with the human brain. Before this can happen, there are a few technological advancements that need to be made. The first is a lag-free operating system that anyone can use intuitively to preform any computing task. The second is a more robust capability to interface with the human body, and the third is advancements in security so that devices can recognize their owners. Plugging your smartphone into your brain seems to be a reality of the future.
Source: CNN News
Date: May 3, 2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/03/technology/smartphone-in-your-brain/index.htm
Discussion Questions:
- Why does security need to advance in order for this idea to come to fruition?
- What are some of the drawbacks of using this technology?
Itsy-bitsy teeny cell towers are coming
May 1, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under IT Infrastructure, IT Investment, IT Planning, IT Trends, Mobile Computing, Wi-Fi, Wireless
Can you see the cell tower in this photo? Hint: It's on the facade.
Discussion: As smart phone and tablet usage soars, the capacity of cell towers is being overloaded. In order to remedy this problem, cell phone companies have come up with mini-cell towers placed in more frequent locations. The small cells are much more efficient at utilizing the diminishing wireless spectrum. The tiny towers can cut down on interference, increase indoor reception, and decrease the amount of traffic to overloaded large cell towers, and may change how we look at our mobile infrastructures.
Source: CNN News
Date: April 30, 2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/30/technology/small-cells/index.htm
Discussion Questions:
- Why are large cell towers being overloaded with traffic?
- Why do too many large cell towers in one area cause increased intereference?
Descriptive camera developed by student Matt Richardson
May 1, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under IT Trends, Print
Matt Richardson's camera has been developed as part of his course at New York University
Discussion: A student at New York University developed a “camera” that prints a verbal discription of a photo, instead of a picture. Though the full technology might not currently exist, the idea is to have the camera recognize what it is taking a picture of and to print out a detailed description. The printouts can then become cataloged searchable, thus making the data more relavant and useful in the future.
Source: BBC News
Date: April 26, 2012
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17853523
Discussion Questions:
- Besides cataloging photos, how else might this technology be used?
- Why would having the large amounts of data contained in photographs become standardized and searchable be useful?
A 3-D printer created this shoe
April 24, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under 3D, Print
Discussion: 3D printers, now available for use in your home, can print real objects just like regular printers print documents. The CEO of 3D Systems Corp states that, “if you dream it, if you think it, you can print it.” The printers print objects one layer at a time, fusing the layers together as it prints. The printers are extremely efficient because there is no waste, and now they are also accessible to the consumer population, costing about $1300 each.
Source: CNN News
Date: Added March 31, 2012
Link: http://us.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t3#/video/tech/2012/03/31/nr-kaye-3d-printer.cnn
Discussion Questions:
- Could 3D printing eventually replace the mass manufacturing of goods?
- How might 3D printing change the fashion world?
Cybersecurity bills aim to prevent ‘digital Pearl Harbor’
April 24, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under Cyber Security, Electronic Surveillance, IT Governance, IT Infrastructure
Analysts at the National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center keep tabs on America's digital infrastructure.
Discussion: Foreign spies and organized criminals have access to virtually every companies’ network, which makes the issue of cyber security a national security issue. Analysts agree that cyber criminals or terrorists have the capabilities to shut down the country’s financial, energy or communications infrastructure. Much of our countries’ infrastructure is privately owned, making prevention and surveillance a logistical nightmare. The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Prevention Act, and bills like it, are trying to remedy the problem, and are currently up for debate in Congress.
Source: CNN News
Date: April 23, 2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/23/technology/cybersecurity-bills/index.htm
Discussion Questions:
- Why would shutting down one of the countries’ critical infrastructures result in a ‘Digital Pearl Harbor’?
- How are recent bills proposed in Congress designed to prevent such a catastrophic event?
HP PCs outpace Mac’s gains
April 17, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under IT Standards, IT Strategy, IT Trends
HP was the first quarter's surprise PC shipments winner.
Discussion: HP had a higher percentage of PC growth in the first quarter of 2011 than Mac, which does not happen very often. HP’s PC sales in the US grew by 7%. Industry analysts noted two reasons why HP was more successful than its competitors. HP did a better job of securing hard drives after Thailand’s floods in 2011, which caused significant hard drive shortages. It also appears as if HP’s CEO and leadership issues have been resolved, which has benefited the company as a whole.
Source: CNN News
Date: April 12, 2012
Link: http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/12/technology/pc-sales/index.htm
Discussion Questions:
- Why is the PC market forecasting such low growth?
- How did HP avoid shortage issues caused by the floods in Thailand?
Google fined in Street View probe
April 17, 2012 Edited by David Firth
Filed under Cyber Security, IT Security, IT Trends, Wi-Fi, Wireless
Data gathered by Street View cars in more than 30 countries included passwords, emails and other data
Discussion: The FCC fined Google $25,000 for intentionally impeding and delaying an investigation into Street View, Google’s street mapping system. Street view cars in 30 countries logged private information, such as passwords and email addresses, from unsecured Wi-Fi networks. The FCC has significant questions about the Street View project, and have subpoenaed the Google engineer who developed the software code. Google stated that they do not believe that they have violated any laws.
Source: BBC News
Date: April 16, 2012
Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17737528
Discussion Questions:
- If Google’s Street View cars had access to, and captured, information from unsecured wireless networks, what other information could they have recorded?
- How could this have been avoided?
