Digital TV
NTIA: Digital Television Committee Meets Today
NYT: Intel Shows Software to Run High-Definition TV on PC's
Internet Commerce
WSJ: IBM Planning To Research Internet Trade
Universal Service
WSJ: Clinton Approves Bill Extending Universal Service Eligibility
Education Technology
NYT: Teaching Conference
Merger
WSJ: Technology by Microsoft To Be Included in Network
**Digital TV**
Title: Digital Television Committee Meets Today
Source: NTIA
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/pubint.htm
Issue: Digital TV
Description: The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be on Friday,
December 5, 1997 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the Lounge of the
Export-Import Bank of the United States, 11th Floor, 811 Vermont Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20571. The preliminary agenda has been released and
additional information about the meeting is in the Federal Register notice
and press release http://www.ntia.doc.gov/pubintadvcom/decmtg/index.html.
Also, yesterday Mr. Jose Luis Ruiz, of Los Angeles, California, Executive
Director of the National Latino Communications Center (NLCC) was appointed
to the committee. NLCC is a non-profit media arts resource center that
serves as an institutional force for developing and presenting high quality
films and television programs about the Latino experience. See
http://www.nlcc.com for more information.
Title: Intel Shows Software to Run High-Definition TV on PC's
Source: New York Times (C8)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/120597intel.html
Author: Joel Brinkley
Issue: Digital TV
Description: The Intel Corporation demonstrated new software yesterday that
will enable personal computers to receive digital, high-definition
television signals. Intel's product, developed by Hitachi America Ltd., can
receive any of the 18 formats, including HDTV signals, and can convert that
format for display on computer monitors and TVs. This software could bring
a possible end to a format war that the computer industry has been fighting
against the consumer electronics and broadcasting industries. "Out
objective is to remove barriers between us and the broadcasters," said Ron
Whittier, a senior vice president for Intel. "The format issue was an
unfortunate discussion that sidetracked us from making investments and
getting on with implementation." This Intel-Hitachi software should be
available for retail purchase some time next year.
**Internet Commerce**
Title: IBM Planning To Research Internet Trade
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://wsj.com/
Author: Raju Narisetti
Issue: Internet Commerce
Description: IBM is expected to unveil an effort called the Institute for
Advanced Commerce, which was conceived as a research partnership between
academia and industry, at the Internet World '97 trade show. IBM plans to
make an initial funding of $10 million for preliminary projects such as
research on information economics, cyber-auctions and electronic checks. IBM
has stepped up spending in the electronic commerce arena as it seeks to sell
services and software to companies hoping to exploit the 'Net. Irving
Wladawsky-Berger, GM of IBM's Internet Division, said, "The institute is our
way of making a strong statement to the world, and especially to the
academic community, that electronic commerce is becoming a discipline worthy
of study."
**Universal Service**
Title: Clinton Approves Bill Extending Universal Service Eligibility
Source: Telecom AM---Dec. 5, 1997
http://capitol.cappubs.com/am/
Issue: Universal Service
Description: President Clinton signed into law a bill allowing phone
companies not subject to state jurisdiction, such as those owned by native
Americans tribes and some telephone co-ops, to qualify for universal service
funds. The Nat'l Telephone Cooperative Assoc. said the "correction" to the
Telecom Act recognizes the "fundamental role" such companies play on Native
American reservations.
**Education Technology**
Title: Teaching Conference
Source: New York Times/CyberTimes
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/120597education.html
Author: Pamela Mendels
Issue: Education Technology
Description: In the first day of a three-day conference, academics gathered
at Columbia University to discuss the fundamental question: "Is the computer
a help or a hinderance to the intellectual formation of young minds?"
"There is a tremendous pressure to computerize all of education, at every
age level, in every subject," said Douglas M. Sloan, a Teachers College
professor of history and education and organizer of the event. "And yet the
critical questions are not being asked. When is it appropriate to introduce
computers? When is it not? When is it helpful? When is it not?" The
conference called, "The Computer in Education: Seeking the Human Essentials"
has brought together a diverse group, ranging from technophiles to
techno-skeptics, to spark a discussion on the appropriate role of the
computer in education.
**Merger**
Title: Technology by Microsoft To Be Included in Network
Source: Wall Street Journal (B10)
http://wsj.com/
Issue: Merger
Description: At Home Corp. said it has teamed up with Microsoft to
include Microsoft's technology in its business. In joining with Microsoft to
incorporate a jointly developed version of that company's Internet Explorer
4.0 web browser in the At Home Network, as well as working to support
Microsoft's Windows NT operating system in corporate networks, At Home
officials said they hope to accelerate growth by offering customers more choice.
**Urban Myth**
Title: Fleeing Coyote Takes Refuge in Seattle Federal Building
Source: Washington Post (A25)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-12/05/092l-120597-idx.html
Author: Associated Press
Issue: Urban Myth (?)
Description: "There's nothing like a secure federal building for providing
refuge from attackers. Or so a harassed coyote apparently thought the other
day in downtown Seattle. A coyote being chased by crows scampered through
downtown streets and ducked into a busy federal building to escape. It ran
into an open elevator and the door closed, trapping the panicked animal. It
may sound like an urban myth, but the episode happened Wednesday in the
Pacific Northwest's largest city. 'Fortunately there was no one in the
elevator,' said Ken Spitzer, a spokesman for the General Services
Administration, which supervises the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.
Animal Control officers removed the coyote unharmed after about 2 1/2 hours.
The animal appeared to be healthy, though a little stressed. It was
released later Wednesday in a rural area east of Seattle." (okay, we could
use this story to get into the issue of urban sprawl but instead just
consider this a light(er) story for your weekend send-off, and remember to
beware of who you share your elevator ride with)
*********