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INTERNET
Packet Tracking Promises Ultrafast Internet
Iraq "Virtual Heritage" Archive Planned
The FCC, Weblogs, and Inequality
RIAA, Colleges Agree on Webcasting Rate
Oregon Turns to eBay for Massive Surplus Sale
E-WASTE
You Make It, You Take It
JOURNALISM
NY Times Executive Editor, Deputy Step Down
EDTECH
Dept of Ed Seeks Broad Input on New National Edtech Plan
DIGITAL DIVIDE
Event: The Impact of ICTs on Democratization and Good Governance
Malaysia's Internet Investment
India's Rural Masses Embrace Wi-Fi
Ghana trumps mighty Microsoft
INTERNET
PACKET TRACKING PROMISES ULTRAFAST INTERNET
A team of researchers at California Institute of Technology has developed a
new Internet protocol for improving data transmission rates called Fast TCP.
The protocol, an update of the Internet's Transmission Control Protocol that
regulates how Internet data is broken up into pieces and reassembled when
transmitted over a network, uses software to spot situations where data is
being delayed during transmission. This allows the protocol to identify the
ideal speeds for transmitting data without getting lost. In experiments
conducted by the University and the Swiss Internet lab CERN, researchers
were able to send data from California to Switzerland at over 900 megabits
per second, compared to only 266 megabits per second when using the old TCP
protocol over the same transmission line. When researchers bundled 10 Fast
TCP systems together they were able to acheive transmission rates of 8.6
gigabits per second -- more than 6000 times the capacity of typical consumer
broadband. Such speeds could eventually hold promise to consumers
downloading entire movies in about five seconds.
SOURCE: New Scientist; AUTHOR: Barry Fox
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993799
IRAQ "VIRTUAL HERITAGE" ARCHIVE PLANNED
The University of California at Berkeley is trying to raise $5 million for a
project that would chronicle Iraq's museums and archaeological digs. The
results would be displayed on a website through photographs, text and
real-time data such as the humidity or earthquake activity at research
sites. Many historical sites were looted after US-led forces gained control
of Baghdad in April, and experts say looting continues at archaeological
sites. "Now the US has the upper hand in Iraq, I feel in some ways it is our
obligation to help part of the restoration and reconstruction," said Ruzena
Bajcsy, director of the university's Center for Information Technology
Research in the Interest of Society. "I am using Iraq as an opportunity for
promoting the idea of a virtual heritage, a cultural heritage encyclopedia."
Hewlett Packard has already agreed to provide funding for three months to
set up a website for the project.
SOURCE: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2958878.stm
THE FCC, WEBLOGS, AND INEQUALITY
[Commentary] Reacting to Monday's FCC ruling on media ownership, Clay Shirky
suggests that both sides of the debate can learn a lesson from the
development of Web logs, or blogs, over the last five years. In his essay,
Shirky argues "inequality is a natural component of media," observing that
despite the free and diverse nature of blogging, great inequalities
developed between the most commonly linked-to blogs and those linked to less
frequently. In short, inequalities can exist even in environments in which
consumers can choose freely among a wide variety of options, unfettered by
centralized control or regulation. Advocates for a new system are left with
three possibilities: a media market that is equal and free, one that is
diverse and free, or one that is diverse and equal. Each option, of course,
is missing a component that the others offer.
SOURCE: Clay Shirky's Writing About the Internet; AUTHOR: Clay Shirky
http://www.shirky.com/writings/fcc_inequality.html
RIAA, COLLEGES AGREE ON WEBCASTING RATE
The US recording industry and colleges nationwide have agreed on a royalty
payment scheme that will allow college radio stations to stream digital
content over the Web at a discount. Educational institutions will pay a flat
fee of $250 per year, retroactive to 1998 and continuing through the end of
next year, while schools with multiple stations or with larger audiences may
pay more. The agreement is the last in a long string of negotiations reached
by the recording industry and upstart Web radio stations in hopes that
royalties could be either eliminated or minimized to lower barriers to
entry. Both sides praised the outcome, noting that it ensures payment for
musicians while providing incentives for webcasters to play lesser-known
works.
SOURCE: CNET News; AUTHOR: Reuters
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-1012907.html
OREGON TURNS TO EBAY FOR MASSIVE SURPLUS SALE
The state of Oregon has created an electronic model for converting surplus
assets to cash -- with the help of eBay. Since 1998, Oregon's Surplus
Property office has sold leftover items ranging from old office furniture to
cars repossessed from criminals to small items confiscated at Portland
International Airport, totaling over $7 million in sales last year alone.
While other states have followed Oregon's lead, the city of Lynchburg, VA
and the US Department of the Interior have enlisted Oregon's help. The state
collects a small processing fee in exchange for selling Lynchburg and the
department surplus goods via its own system, creating a win-win situation
for both parties.
SOURCE: USA Today; AUTHOR: The Associated Press
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2003-06-05-oregon-ebay_x.htm
To view the Oregon auction site, visit:
http://www.oregonsurplus.com
E-WASTE
YOU MAKE IT, YOU TAKE IT
On Wednesday, the California state senate passed a bill that would require
electronics manufacturers to plan and finance the collection and recycling
of all computer equipment. Californians discard 2.75 million televisions or
computer screens per year, some of which do not receive proper disposal. An
alarming amount of e-waste is shipped to developing countries that have
almost no environmental regulations. Manufacturers, who currently bear no
responsibility for recycling their products, are concerned by the notion
that they will be solely responsible. "We believe in shared responsibility,
a responsibility of the consumer, government, retailers and other parties,"
said David Isaacs, director of Hewlett Packard's global public policy. Mark
Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, counters, "Sharing
is a really nice concept, but the fact is that HP makes decisions about how
to design their product -- to put toxic materials into the product. Nobody
else has that power." The bill still requires approval of the state assembly
and Governor Gray Davis. Last year, a similar bill passed both houses of the
state legislature, only to be vetoed by Governor Davis. If adopted, the law
could have a sweeping effect on the industry.
SOURCE: Wired; AUTHOR: Gabe Friedman
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,58850,00.html
JOURNALISM
NY TIMES EXECUTIVE EDITOR, DEPUTY STEP DOWN
New York Times Executive Editor Howell Raines and his top deputy Gerald M.
Boyd resigned this morning following a five-week firestorm over journalistic
practices at the newspaper. Last month the Times admitted that reporter
Jayson Blair had faked dozens of stories; the aftermath led to what seemed
like an endless stream of mudslinging and score-settling between current and
former Times writers and journalists from other newspapers. Raines had been
criticized for his heavy-handed management style, and for not strongly
publicly supporting Times staffers who were clearly being demoralized by the
public scandal. The publisher of the Times announced that former editor Joe
Lelyveld would return in the interim until a permanent candidate could be
found. At a hastily organized ceremony at the Times, Raines parted with his
Times staffers by telling them, "Remember, when a great story breaks out, go
like hell."
SOURCE: NY Times; AUTHOR: Jacques Steinberg
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/05/national/05SHELL-PAPE.html
EDTECH
DEPARTMENT OF ED SEEKS BROAD INPUT FOR NEW NATIONAL EDTECH PLAN
The US Department of Education has called for broad participation and input
from a variety of stakeholders in crafting its third National Education
Technology Plan. Students, parents, educators, college and university
leaders, and business and industry representatives are encouraged to submit
feedback by visiting http://www.NationalEdTechPlan.org and clicking on the
"Participate in the Plan" link. A component of the No Child Left Behind Act,
the plan will serve as a tool for education leaders to set a strategic
direction to meet the changing demands of life and work in light of
developments in technology. "This effort will set new priorities and actions
that all stakeholders can rally behind to ensure technology is being used
effectively to prepare students for their future, not our past," US
Secretary of Education Rod Paige said. "When used effectively, technology
can help prepare our nation's children to succeed in the 21st century," he
added.
SOURCE: U.S. Dept. of Education
http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/05-2003/05232003.html
http://www.NationalEdTechPlan.org
DIGITAL DIVIDE
EVENT: THE IMPACT OF ICTs ON DEMOCRATICIZATION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
The DOT-COM Alliance and InterAction are hosting a two-hour forum today at
4pm focusing on information and communications technologies (ICTs),
democracy and good governance. Among the issues to be addressed: Has
e-government increased the dissemination of information to local
communities? What makes an e-government systems implementation successful?
What role do nongovernmental organizations play in advancing technology in
the government sector in developing countries? Speakers at today's forum
include Dr. Eric Rusten of the Academy for Educational Development and Dr.
George Sadowsky of the Global Internet Policy Initiative. RSVPs are not
required but would be appreciated, and can be sent to Julie Fossler at
jfossler( at )interaction.org. The event will take place in Washington DC at the
Academy for Educational Development Conference Center, 1825 Connecticut
Avenue, NW, 8th Floor.
SOURCE: InterAction
http://www.dotcomalliance.org/speakerseries.htm
MALAYSIA'S INTERNET INVESTMENT
Malaysia's Federal Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia has
announced it's spending RM1 billion (USD $263 million) as part of its
universal service plan to establish telephone lines and Internet facilities
in schools, clinics, libraries and community centers. The investment is a
20-fold increase in universal service spending from last year. The ministry
also announced it will spend an additional RM10 million (USD $2.6 million)
to establish 40 rural Internet centers this year, upping the total number of
federally-funded rural telecenters to 56. Each village center will have
three to five Internet computers and will be managed by committees of local
residents. Center managers will offer free training to villagers in the
hopes of bridging Malaysia's digital divide between its rural and urban
communities.
SOURCE: Brunei Online; AUTHOR: Arman Gunsika
http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/jun4b1.htm
INDIA'S RURAL MASSES EMBRACE WI-FI
Over 200 rural villages in India's Maharashtra state have formed a wireless
Internet cooperative, establishing 50 wi-fi "hotspots" in their communities.
The co-op has managed to raise more than $400,000 (RS20 million) to expand
the reach of wireless Internet locally. Maharashtra is not alone, however;
communities across rural India have begun embracing wi-fi, recently
legalized by India's government. At a recent technology conference in
Bangalore, India, speakers suggested that these rural communities were
actually ahead of the curve in terms of wi-fi deployment when compared to
their urban Indian counterparts. Given the lack of communications
infrastructure in much of rural India, wi-fi is quickly filling a niche as
more villages desire to go online. Some Indian companies, though, have
invested in deploying fiber optic lines to rural areas, but much of this
bandwidth is unused; experts suggest that these companies should partner
with communities to further expand "last mile" Internet connectivity
throughout rural India.
SOURCE: InfoChange India; AUTHOR: The Hindu Newspaper
http://infochangeindia.org/ItanddItop.jsp?section_idv=9#2168
GHANA TRUMPS MIGHTY MICROSOFT
UK-based Hermann Chinnery-Hesse was vacationing in his native country of
Ghana when a friend placed a bet with him to try to make a fortune in West
Africa. The result of the bet was Soft, a Ghana-based software firm whose
products are locally giving Microsoft a run for their money. With a staff of
70 and a stream of international investors eager to get a stake in his
company, Chinnery-Hesse says his success has come from understanding the
realities of IT in Africa. "First of all it needs to be simple and cheap,"
he says of local software needs. "Then it must be tropically tolerant and
able to cope with frequent power cuts." Chinnery-Hesse adds that Africa is
in a strong position to benefit by participating in the information economy.
"Technology is the only way for Africa to get rich," Mr Hesse says. "We
don't have a proper infrastructure and we can't compete in manufacturing....
But if you put me behind a PC and tell me to write software for a Chinese
customer, then I can compete brain-for-brain with anyone trying to do the
same thing in the US."
SOURCE: BBC Online; AUTHOR: Briony Hale
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2935210.stm
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