EDUCATION NEWS
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LAW GRADS ONLINE, BAR NONE
Despite the traditionalists who pooh-poohed its very existence, the country's pioneering Internet law school will debut its first class of Juris Doctorates at a graduation ceremony in Los Angeles, where the virtual institution has a physical office.
http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,56512,00.html
THE NSF NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION DIGITAL LIBRARY (NSDL) PROGRAM
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) National Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Digital Library (NSDL) program recently made its third set of awards for projects in three basic tracks: Collections, Services, and Targeted Research. These projects are working with those funded in fiscal years (FY) 2000 and 2001 to build a national digital library of high quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational resources for students and teachers at all levels, in both formal and informal settings.
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/november02/zia/11zia.html
LEARNING OBJECTS 101: A PRIMER FOR NEOPHYTES
Ask any three educators what a learning object is, and you're liable to get three different answers. For some, learning objects—small reusable chunks of learning—represent a major paradigm shift away from the traditional unit of learning that has dominated formal education for the last two centuries—the course.
http://online.bcit.ca/sidebars/02november/inside-out-1.htm
INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORIES
From its earliest days, SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) has explored strategies to unleash the power of the digital networked environment in order to enhance the process of scholarly communication and address the serious economic problems that plague it. During the past year, we have been following the promise and progress of early-stage institutional repositories—digital collections capturing and preserving the intellectual output of a single or multi-university community. We believe that institutional repositories are a practical, cost-effective, and strategic means for institutions to build partnerships with their faculty to advance scholarly communication.
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/november02/johnson/11johnson.html
STUDY: PDAS GOOD FOR EDUCATION
Handheld devices, once solely the province of CEOs needing a small electronic organizational device, are another step closer to being accepted as teaching aids in public schools. Classroom technology proponents, always desperate for institutional proof that new gadgets can improve the learning process, can thank a study by nonprofit research and development firm SRI International. The study showed PDAs not only help organize calendars and phone numbers, but are also useful to students.
http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,56297,00.html
EPIC WARNS COLLEGES AGAINST P-TO-P MONITORING
A Washington, D.C., privacy group is taking aim at the music industry's efforts to enlist schools in monitoring students' peer-to-peer (P-to-P) file trading activities, sending out a letter to college and university presidents this week calling the surveillance "inappropriate" and "incompatible with intellectual freedom." "Monitoring chills behavior, and can squelch creativity that must thrive in educational settings," the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) wrote in the letter.
http://www.idg.com.hk/cw/readstory.asp?aid=20021111002
DEVELOPING AN INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED CLASSROOM
Creating a successful interactive web-based learning environment can be a challenging task. There are many issues to consider in the design, development, and delivery of a web-based course. Instructors must rethink the way that they teach to create an interactive learning environment in a web-based format. Suggestions on how to address classroom management, technical difficulties, and course evaluation are given. Ideas to promote interactivity in online instruction are offered.
http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/NOV02_Issue/article05.html
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
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MICROSOFT TAKES TOP HONORS AT BEST OF COMDEX AWARDS
Microsoft’s Windows XP Tablet PC Edition won overall best of show at the 2002 Best of COMDEX awards ceremony. "It’s really been interesting to see the diversity of products on the show floor--particularly in tablet PCs," said Michael J. Miller, editor-in-chief of event sponsor PC Magazine, which judged the categories and presented the awards. Editors spent the first days of COMDEX combing the show floor and viewing hundreds of items in 10 categories, including components, development, digital imaging, enterprise hardware, enterprise software, information security, mobile devices, PCs, personal hardware and personal software before arriving at their best-of-show decision.
http://www.comdex.com/news/fall2002/index.php?d=features&s=common&c=best_of_comdex
YOUR VIEWS OF THE NEXT 'KILLER APPS.'
I suggested that what we REALLY need to rekindle the "PC Revolution" is a set of new "Killer Apps;" their features will be SO compelling that, once again, we'll all be on the edges of our seats waiting for the next notes of Moore's Law to hit the shelves. But what will those Killer Apps be? And so far, the software industry hasn't come up with a new one for quite some time. So I asked YOU what applications YOU think might again light up the PC world, so that your ideas might spur software developers in these direction. Your responses have been, well, 'bountiful' to say the least, and I'm going to share a selection of them with you here.
http://www.theharrowgroup.com/articles/20021118/YourKillerApps.htm
WIRELESS AN APPARENT BRIGHT SPOT AT COMDEX
Wireless emerged as the one bright spot at this year's shrunken and lightly attended Comdex/Fall 2002 trade show, with both wireless LAN and enterprise satellite data vendors reporting their best year in a long time in terms of booth traffic and solid sales leads.
http://computerworld.com/news/2002/story/0,11280,76088,00.html
COMDEX FALL 2002: PICKS AND PANS
Comdex 2002 definitely was focused on the serious side of technology. Sure, plenty of flashy new gadgets and invisible wireless transmissions filled the convention hall. But it just wasn't the same old technology trip-out. Was it the state of the economy? The fact that event producer Key3Media is considering filing for bankruptcy?
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,107252,00.asp
RENT A RESEARCHER WITH IBM
Under a new program, Big Blue's research division will make members of its staff available to clients that need assistance building and changing their business operations. The program, called On Demand Innovation Services, will help IBM customers build better supply chains, improve their use of database information, and enhance their management of physical assets, an IBM representative said.
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-966470.html
GOT JUICE? IT'S A MUST-HAVE FOR ROAD WARRIORS
How many power supplies do you or your favorite road warrior have to carry around? One for the laptop? One for the PDA? One for the cell phone? Throw them all away. Of all the cool gear I found this week at Comdex Fall 2002, the one device I most wanted on the spot was Mobility Electronics' iGo Juice.
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2898233,00.html
LINDOWS BREAKS OFF ON ITS OWN
Lindows on Monday unveiled the latest version of its low-cost operating system aimed at bringing Linux to the masses. The release of LindowsOS 3.O marks the first time the company is selling its software as an independent product. Until now, Lindows came bundled with low-cost PCs, including some sold through Wal-Mart.
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-966183.html
CELL PHONE MAKER CALLS ON USB
USB-on-the-Go technology will allow peer-to-peer and direct connections between phones and other devices--without a PC. Qualcomm announced this week that it will license the intellectual property for USB-on-the-Go from TransDimension. USB-on-the-Go, also known as OTG, is a portable supplement to the USB 2.0 specification that allows a peer-to-peer or direct connection among USB devices without a PC as intermediary. When integrated into a handset, users would be able to connect their phones to USB printers, portable keyboards, CD-ROM drives, MP3 players, and digital cameras among the hundreds of other USB devices now available.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106973,00.asp
WHY THE FUTURE WILL BE EASIER TO USE
Computing power will get easier to harness as it permeates every corner of our lives, say experts. In its annual technology forecast, research firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) predicts that much of the complexity of computing will start to be hidden over the next few years. Processors will start to crop up in more and more ordinary household objects and use of data services will broaden.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2449009.stm
IBM DIPS TOE BACK INTO THE HANDHELD WATERS
Shunning the two largest handheld platforms, Palm and Pocket PC, IBM will announce it has inked a deal with Sharp to create a new version of Sharp's Linux-based Zaurus handheld to be named the Enterprise Edition Zaurus. The agreement furthers the strategic direction of both companies, according to IBM officials, as it brings a handheld device into the IBM pervasive computing initiative and extends Sharp's efforts to create a Linux/Java platform to support back-end corporate applications.
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/02/11/15/021115hnsharpibm.xml
GADGET OVERLOAD RELIEF IN SIGHT
Pagers. Cell phones. PDAs. GPS. It's almost getting to the point where you need an assistant to carry around all those so-called "portable" technologies. Fortunately, a cure for wireless gadget overload may not be far off. It's called software defined radio; a technology that replaces analog radio circuitry with digitally generated samples of radio waveforms.
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,55804,00.html
SAY HELLO TO THE NINE HOUR BATTERY
National Semiconductor and ARM are working together to develop power-efficient systems to extend the life of batteries by five times. The technology uses chips that can automatically adjust the performance of the processor and power consumption. It could mean six to nine hours of battery life on a single charge.
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1136756
MICROSOFT'S NEXT OS WILL STICK TO THE DESKTOP
Microsoft has confirmed that a forthcoming release of the Windows operating system code-named Longhorn will be intended for desktops only and will not have a corresponding server release like previously announced. In addition, the follow-on to Longhorn, code-named Blackcomb, will only be a server release without a companion desktop version. Microsoft has said the Blackcomb release will be the full .Net version of the operating system. When Microsoft shipped Windows 2000 it highlighted the fact that the desktop and server operating systems were now on the same release cycle, giving companies a cleaner upgrade option. That, however, disintegrated with the follow-on release that was code-named Whistler and divided into last year's release of Windows XP desktop and the forthcoming Windows.Net Server 2003.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106934,00.asp
START-UP TO OFFER LINDOWSOS ON TABLET PCS [not yet really news; targeting business users]
A group of PC industry veterans took the cloak off a new company called StepUp Computing, and revealed its first product: a low-cost, pen-based tablet computer that can run Windows 2000, Windows XP, and--coming soon--a version of the Linux operating system from Lindows.com. The cofounder of budget PC maker Emachines and several former executives of that company are behind the new venture. Its goal is to offer affordable desktop and mobile computing products that serve small- and midsize-business users in targeted specialty and vertical markets, the company said.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106914,00.asp
VIEWSONIC SHOWS OFF WIRELESS WINDOWS DISPLAY
Display maker ViewSonic will release specifications for a new class of wireless computer displays running a custom operating system from Microsoft that will allow home users to walk away from their desks and still have access to data on their PCs. ViewSonic will release two versions of its wireless display in the first quarter of 2003, according to David Feldman, senior product manager for mobile and wireless at ViewSonic, in Walnut, California. The ViewSonic V110 will be a 10-inch monitor weighing in at 2.5 pounds and priced at $999.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106841,00.asp
INTERNET RELATED NEWS
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WEB BECOMES TRULY WORLD-WIDE
Despite the economic slowdown being felt worldwide and the decline of many Internet-based businesses, global use of the Net continues to boom while e-commerce grows at a robust pace, according to figures released by the United Nations this week. The number of Internet users worldwide is expected to reach 655 million by the end of 2002, representing 30 percent growth over the same period last year, according to the yearly "E-Commerce and Development Report," issued Monday by the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,107219,00.asp
RECENT FCC RULINGS SPUR FEARS FOR FUTURE OF OPEN INTERNET
Microsoft, Yahoo and other media and technology companies are joining consumer groups that say FCC rulings—such as the recent Comcast-AT&T Broadband merger approval—could threaten the open nature of the Internet. In fact, Microsoft and Walt Disney Co. representatives joined Andrew Schwartzman, of the Washington-based Media Access Project advocacy group, in a recent meeting with one FCC commissioner.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2002-11-20-open-internet_x.htm
ONLINE TEST PREP FREE-FOR-ALL
The steep prices of commercial test preparation services no doubt keep many low-income high school students from receiving the same rigorous pre-test instruction as their wealthier friends. But a free online service could give the poorer students a leg up. The California Virtual High School Test Prep Center provides interactive tutorials designed to help students boost scores on their college entrance exams. The site features hints and practice questions for the SAT and ACT exams, and offers a separate vocabulary builder.
http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,56117,00.html
MORE SITES TARGETED FOR SHUTDOWN
Having persuaded the Energy Department to pull the plug on PubScience, a Web site that offered free access to scientific and technical articles, commercial publishers are taking aim at government-funded information services offering free legal and agricultural data. "We are looking into a couple of other databases and agencies," said David LeDuc, public policy director at the Software and Information Industry Association. After more than a year of pressing Congress and the Bush administration, the SIIA succeeded Nov. 4 in having PubScience shut down. The association's members include publishing companies that offer some of the same articles for sale over the Internet that the Energy Department was making available for free.
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1111/web-science-11-13-02.asp
NET SALES TAX PLAN CLEARS FIRST HURDLE
More than 30 U.S. states approved a pact that represents a major step toward creating a system to tax items sold on the Internet. "This is a 21st century system that will dramatically improve the morass that currently exists," Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt said in a statement after 32 states approved model legislation snipping reams of red tape that has kept state and local governments from collecting tax on Internet sales.
http://news.com.com/2100-1017-965554.html
STUDY: CHAT ROOMS PRIME HUNTING SITES FOR SPAMMERS
If dodging spam is high on your wish list this holiday season, be wary of posting your e-mail address in chat rooms, newsgroups and Web pages. But believe it or not, online dating and resume services are relatively safe. Those are among the findings turned up by federal and state authorities in a first-ever undercover investigation tracing the sources of spam, or bulk unsolicited e-mail.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002-11-13-spam-study_x.htm
CONSOLEMAKERS GAMBLE THAT THE FUTURE OF VIDEO GAMES IS ONLINE
Let the online games begin. Microsoft joins rivals Sony and Nintendo today in connecting its game console, the Xbox, to the Internet. Although it's the last of the Big Three to log on, Microsoft's move is being closely watched because of the technology giant's huge investment in online gaming. "You set yourself up for what the next big wave's going to be," said Xbox General Manager J Allard. "It's going to be about online."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/11/15/BU124067.DTL&type=tech
OPERA READIES A LEANER BROWSER FOR BATTLE
Opera Software is keeping the browser wars of the 1990s smoldering with the beta release of a new version of the Opera Web browser for Microsoft's Windows operating system. Opera 7 for Windows is both smaller and faster than earlier Opera releases, and constitutes a wholesale rebuilding of the browser, according to a statement released by Opera of Oslo, Norway. The heart of the new browser from Opera is a redesigned rendering engine that provides improved support for established and emerging Web standards like Document Object Model Level 2 (DOM2), extended Cascading Style Sheets Level 2 (CSS2), and HTML 4.01.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,106920,00.asp
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[NOTE: The selections above are from the Academic ADL Co-Lab News Report, a limited-distribution, weekly executive summary of trends, strategies, and innovations influencing the future of learning and technology in higher education. It is prepared by the University of Wisconsin System Office of Learning and Information Technology (OLIT) in coordination with the Co-Lab. Collegebuys.org is using these selections with permission. The selections from the weekly summaries were selected and edited by David Stuart of collegebuys.org.]
[NOTE: This information is provided for information purposes only. Mention or discussion of a product, company, or person does not represent any official endorsement or criticism of the same. All authors and organizations retain complete copyright.]
[SOURCE MATERIAL: The reference as specific as possible is provided to a source for each summary. When using an online link, ensure the URL has not been broken with a carriage return.]
[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Judy Brown is the Emerging Technology Analyst for the University of Wisconsin System, OLIT. Brown conducts research and consults for the 15-institution UW System. She is Director of the Academic ADL Co-Laboratory at The Pyle Center in Madison, WI. Until recently she coordinated the WTCS Hardware and Software Purchasing Consortium and other statewide technology initiatives for 16 technical college districts comprised of 47 campuses. Brown was named one of the Top 100 women in computing by McGraw Hill's Open Computing magazine (December 1994). She writes a business technology column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and is the coordinator of eWEEK's Corporate Partner Program.]
[COMMENTS & CONTRIBUTIONS: If you want to offer material, or if you want to comment on the contents, contact Judy Brown at judy@academiccolab.org
