The European Court of Justice recently ruled that US firms signed up to what is called a “Safe Harbour scheme” with European companies could no longer be automatically considered to provide “adequate protection” to personal data they had received from the EU. The “Safe Harbour scheme” was put in place to allow European companies to store data… Read more »
Monthly Archives: October 2015
Consumer 3D printer used to create human tissue
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the US, have adapted a low cost MakerBot 3D printer to print with biological materials. The team hope their work could one day lead to a world in which transplants are no longer necessary to repair damaged organs. Source: BBC News Date: October 27, 2015 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34505242 Discussion 1) The video talks… Read more »
Could Russian submarines disrupt the Internet?
Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near the vital undersea cables that carry almost all global Internet communications, raising concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict. Source: New York Times Date: October 27th, 2015 Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/world/europe/russian-presence-near-undersea-cables-concerns-us.html Discussion 1) Assume… Read more »
Apple refuses to unlock an iPhone seized by the U.S. Government
Ordering Apple to access data against its will would be akin to making a reluctant drug company carry out a lethal injection, a US judge has said. Judge James Orenstein was hearing a US government request to make Apple retrieve information from a locked iPhone seized by law enforcement officers. The judge expressed doubt that he… Read more »
Here’s the other way Uber makes money
The ride company doesn’t only exemplify the on-demand economy—it’s also setting the pace for a new generation of brand marketing. Source: Fortune Date: October 22nd, 2015 Link: http://fortune.com/2015/10/22/uber-teams-with-brands/ Discussion 1) The article notes that “Since Uber is a software based platform that combines real-time, mobile, and social, it’s a catalyst for a new model for collaboration.” At the… Read more »
Wikileaks publishes CIA chief’s personal information
“WikiLeaks on Wednesday published personal information of CIA Director John Brennan after a brazen hack attack of the top spy’s personal email account.” says CNN Source: CNN Date: October 21st, 2015 Link: http://us.cnn.com/2015/10/21/politics/john-brennan-hacked-cia-director/index.html Discussion 1) The CIA is saying that the hacking of the Director of the CIA’s e-mail “is something that could happen to anyone”. Do you… Read more »
Would you tell Apple when you’ve had sex?
When Apple released its iOS9 mobile operating system it included a new feature – the ability for women to log their sexual activity alongside details of their menstrual cycles. An earlier version of its HealthKit software – which tracks everything from electrodermal activity to chromium intake – had lacked the facility. Other apps existed… Read more »
US court backs Google book-scanning project
Google can continue to scan millions of books for an online library without violating copyright laws, the US court of appeal ruled recently. Source: BBC Business Date: October 19th, 2015 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34555412 Discussion 1) The critical part of this ruling in favor of Google and against the authors/publishers is: “Google’s division of the page into tiny snippets… Read more »
Solu: A flawed attempt to reinvent the PC
Source: BBC News Date: October 15th, 2015 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34549042 Discussion 1) The article says “Solu’s main selling point is its software. It looks nothing like any computer you’ve ever used before. Running on a heavily-modified version of Google’s Android operating system, the Solu software does away with many of the conventions we’re used to in home computing.” Can… Read more »
How Facebook knows who you might be dating online
Users of dating apps have expressed concerns about their privacy after their matches appeared as “suggested friends” on Facebook. It’s happened on apps like Tinder and Grindr and people have called it “creepy”. “There are people whose name might just show up as ‘looking’, and then suddenly you see them on Facebook.” Source: BBC News Date: October… Read more »
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