December 20, 2006

YOU are Time's Person of the Year

"In 2006, the World Wide Web became a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter"

To see why you are the Time Person of the Year, see the Magazine.

Posted by vvarvel at 11:36 AM | Comments (0)

October 10, 2006

Strong Copyright + CRM + Weak Net Neutrality = Digital Dystopia

Charles Bailey Junior provides an interesting look atseveral processes threatening the future of the Internet in the September 2006 issue of Information Technology and Libraries.

Abstract
Three critical issues—-dramatic expansion of the scope, duration, and punitive nature of copyright laws; the ability of Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems to lock-down digital content in an unprecedented fashion; and the erosion of Net neutrality, which ensures that all Internet traffic is treated equally—-are examined in detail and their potential impact on libraries is assessed. How legislatures, the courts, and the commercial marketplace treat these issues will strongly influence the future of digital information for good or ill.

Read Article

Posted by vvarvel at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2006

School-Home Digital Divide

It's 2003 data, but still useful. At home, 78% of white students have Internet access, which isn’t enormously different than the percentage with access at school. In comparison, only 46% of African American students, 48% of Latinos and 43% of Native Americans had access at home; Asian-Americans and mixed ethnicity students fared better at 74% apiece. Regarding disability, 68% of non-disabled students and 55% of disabled students had home access.

Read the NCES Government Report

Posted by vvarvel at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)

July 31, 2006

Midwest Regional Super Net

The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) and Merit Network, Inc., research and education networks operated by Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, said they would jointly acquire additional fiber acquisitions to enhance the Midwest’s regional networking capabilities.

Read More

Posted by vvarvel at 08:20 AM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2006

Google opening research center

From Educause -

GOOGLE TO OPEN MICHIGAN RESEARCH CENTER
Google is expected to announce plans to open a research center in Ann
Arbor, Michigan, home of the University of Michigan, alma mater of
Google cofounder Larry Page. The center will reportedly encompass
240,000 square feet, of which the majority would house a technology and
call center. The balance of the space would be dedicated to Google's
controversial book-scanning project, in which the University of
Michigan is a participant. The anticipated announcement is good news
for the state, which has lost a considerable number of jobs in recent
years and hopes to restyle itself as a hub of technology, compared to
its former position in the auto industry.
New York Times, 11 July 2006 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/technology/11google.html

Posted by vvarvel at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)

June 13, 2006

House Rejects Net Neutrality Rules

In other words, you may be paying more for your Internet soon as a tier system of access leans closer to reality.

See http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/060906T.shtml and http://www.educause.edu/PressReleases/1175&ID=1347.

Posted by vvarvel at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)