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March 5, 2008, 3:53 PM
Rumors Fly About Wikipedia’s Whiz
At my son’s school, some teachers are very anti-Wikipedia. For instance, he is not allowed to use the popular online collaborative encyclopedia as a source for his report on Dwight D. Eisenhower.
I use Wikipedia a lot, and I’ve always thought the criticisms leveled against it were overblown. The fact is, there’s always going to be some opinion involved with a huge encyclopedia, and if you have your wits about you, you should be able to tell when something is a legit entry.
But a story today -- detailing some of the ugly, behind-the-scenes dealings of those who run the site -- is making me wonder about the integrity of Wikipedia.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle and Associated Press: Jimmy Wales, the Internet whiz famous for creating the online, user-edited encyclopedia Wikipedia, is facing allegations on two fronts that he abused the trust of the community he helped build.
Former Wikipedia employee Danny Wool is alleging that Wales misused money from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit group that oversees the site.
At the same time, Wales has been hit with concerns that he inappropriately tinkered with a Wikipedia entry on behalf of a girlfriend, a television news commentator, whom he abruptly dumped last week. Some of the juicier, only-in-the-Internet-age details are buried toward the bottom of the Chronicle story: The financial allegations surfaced after Wales' breakup with conservative commentator Rachel Marsden, a former contributor to Fox News. Marsden said Wales dumped her through a blog posting.
Marsden responded by leaking steamy instant message conversations, apparently between her and Wales, to tech gossip site Valleywag. She also began auctioning off on eBay clothing that she said Wales had left at her New York apartment. Wales, meanwhile, told a reporter Tuesday that he “acted completely consistently with Wikipedia policy."
Posted by at 3:53 PM
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March 5, 2008, 1:19 PM
There's Stealing Tunes, And There's Stealing Tunes
I'm reserving judgment on this one, but the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., has concluded that the introduction of Apple's iPod in 2005 has sparked an increase in violent crime.
From Audioholics:
iCrime is apparently on the rise, that’s what the Institute is calling the theft of small portable gadgets like the iPod. FBI statistics say robbery has risen from 137 per 100,000 people in 2004 to 141 per 100,000 in 2005 and 149 in 2006. These numbers have been the source of the overall violent crime rate’s increase despite drops in other violent offenses like rape and aggravated assault. The rise corresponds with the period where Apple sold about 5 million iPods and the gadget became a cultural icon.
On the surface, it seems like quite a stretch to conclude that iPods are responsible for the increase in robberies. But...
Subway officials in New York and San Francisco have reported dramatic increases in iPod thefts. Some local news reports have claimed iPods are the new must-steal item for thieves replacing the oft’ absconded Air Jordans.
That last part makes sense from the robber's perspective. I mean, it's not like you have to pry the iPods off someone's feet.
Urban Institute researcher John Roman points out that the robbery rate increase has mainly been among juveniles and not adults.
While perhaps true, I'm not sure it lends much strength to the iPod/crime correlation argument.
I'm not the only skeptic. According to Northeastern University College of Criminal Justices associate dean Jack McDevitt (quoted by Audioholic):
“There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence of cell phones, iPods, GPS systems that have been targets for theft. No research can tell us those wouldn't have been substituted for other things.”
Exactly.
Posted by at 1:19 PM
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March 5, 2008, 11:52 AM
Not To Be Indiscreet, But...
I think we all know what industry this is tailor-made for...
Sense of Touch Comes to Computers
PITTSBURGH -- A controller developed at Carnegie Mellon University allows computer users to manipulate three-dimensional images and explore virtual environments not only through sight and sound, but by using their sense of touch.
The device, expected to be used mainly for research, training and industrial purposes, comes close to the sensitivity of the human hand.
Using magnetic fields, the so-called haptic device replicates the response a hand might have to textures and gravitational forces, said Ralph L. Hollis, a Carnegie Mellon professor who developed the controller. Haptic refers to devices that convey the sense of touch.
-- Washington Post
Posted by at 11:52 AM
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March 4, 2008, 2:16 PM
Collaboration Mania or Web 2.0 Bubble?
As someone who covers social networking and Web 2.0 companies, I’ve been curious about the slow adoption of these technologies by businesses, considering how popular they are among consumers.
There’s a ton of interest in social networking but also lots of confusion and trepidation. The concerns of many IT pros were recently summed up in a post on Jupitermedia’s IT Management Forum (this has been edited for clarity):
We operate a good-sized, and rather popular intranet. The site is updated daily with articles or other info. Our employees use it extensively ... We are not huge, but not "mom and pop" either. About 700 people, all under one roof.
I have read that many large companies are creating a "MySpace" like environment within their intranet, a super-charged employee directory one article called it. …
My boss and I both agree it would be something fun to do, but at the same time we both also wonder if that's all it would be -- fun. If we already have a strong following, what's the justification? Now comes a report from Gartner on social networking, which Internetnews.com’s David Needle wrote about today ( Top Five Barriers Social Networks Face.)
The two barriers that carry the most weight, in my view, are "Overcoming Cultural Barriers" and "Ensuring Privacy."
Cultural barriers -- that’s a big one. Regardless of the breathless hyperbole from the collaboration software industry, most everyday cubicle dwellers aren’t interested (so far). Collaboration has its place in certain industries and with specific technologies -- or on a non-work-related social network -- but it’s too foreign to your average office worker.
I also hear a lot of concerns about the privacy of social networks. The co-author of the report, Gartner analyst Anthony Bradley, says enterprises need to understand the different levels of security threats: Gartner notes the privacy issues related to Facebook, MySpace and others are public Web sites are very different than what a more closed or restricted enterprise network could offer. "I try to draw a line between security and privacy, which need to be managed differently," said Bradley. "A lot of the security aspects with social software are similar to what you would implement for any Web site or collaborative environment.
"You hear e-mail is a security problem, but are they breaking into the system or is it about users disseminating IP? You can't control someone posting information on FaceBook," he added.
Whether collaboration in the enterprise really takes off, or if this is a Web 2.0 bubble, remains to be seen.
Posted by at 2:16 PM
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March 4, 2008, 9:32 AM
Signs Your Job Is At Risk
As the economy slides further into a recession (and don't let anyone deceive you, we're in one), it's more important than ever for IT professionals to be fully aware of what's happening in their industry and their company.
Sadly, many IT pros who can spot a threat to their network from the other side of the globe remain oblivious to signs, both subtle and blatant, that their own jobs may be in jeopardy. Call it "head in the sand" syndrome, wishful thinking or geek blinders -- this failure to recognize a potentially perilous situation can lead to disaster.
Over at a site called the IT Productivity Center (owned by MIS management consulting firm Janco Associates), I found a list of warning signs for CIOs and other high-ranking IT executives that their jobs are in danger. Here are a few of them (my comments in parentheses):
Marginalization by management: You are bypassed for promotions and assignments. (Worse, you are given humiliating new tasks, like making sure the copy machine has toner.)
IT is not part of the big picture: The strategic direction of the enterprise does not include IT as a key component. In essence IT is a cost center. (This also is an excellent warning sign that your company is doomed, by the way, so get out.)
Out of the loop: Both formal and informal meetings on new business decisions are held without you. (Also an indication that your company is clueless, unless there's another IT person in these meetings, in which case these exclusions are all about you.)
Being CIO now sucks: It is no longer a joy to do the job, it is tedious and you are looking over your shoulder. (Part of the problem here may be that you became a geek because doing geek things was enjoyable, and now you're managing people, which requires an entirely different mindset than configuring a router.)
Remember, you are responsible for your own career. Don't be passive, don't be willfully ignorant of bad stuff going on around you, and keep it real.
Posted by at 9:32 AM
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March 3, 2008, 4:44 PM
Microsoft Unleashes Scary Server Robot
I'm concerned about the advertising vehicle Microsoft is using to pitch the new Windows Server 2008. The operating system just officially launched, and on lots of web sites, including some here at Jupitermedia, you may have seen a big scary robot on skates (or maybe it’s just running) when a Microsoft "interstitial" pops up. The big bot skates aggressively across the screen, hunched over, with the product name in the corner.
I couldn’t find the robot on any non-Microsoft web sites today, but he (or she?) lives on at this Microsoft site. To see the bot, you may need to load Microsoft Starlight. Then, brace yourself, and click the aforementioned site to experience “The Server Unleashed: Windows Server 2008.”
Witness how it “runs on legs of steel and is a master of self-defense.” Hear the scary space sounds, kind of like a robot’s heartbeat, if a robot had a heart, while menu options like “Stability,” “Case Studies,” and “Toy Box” float around the robot.
A little background: Remember Microsoft’s code name “Longhorn” that hung around for a few years? That’s what Windows Server 2008 used to be called. It’s the most recent release of Microsoft Windows server line of operating system. It’s the oft-delayed successor to Windows Server 2003.
The scary robot is part of a big Microsoft push to not be seen as a stodgy computer company. Look at the big, athletic robot! Wow, is this a hip, fast-moving server operating system or what?
The bot is just part of the advertising push. Another whole team of advertising geniuses is currently flogging MSN Entertainment. The ad team is running annoying internet ads regarding this service, where a crazed rap singer or an Idol-esque pop diva rave about how they get all the latest celebrity dish on MSN Entertainment.
In addition to the scary robots and the crazed pop singers, Microsoft is dealing with other annoyances. Vista sales, for instance. Although Vista hasn’t been a flop, it’s failed to thrill a lot of home users. Microsoft has announced that it’s set to cut the price of the OS, with online discounts rumored to send versions of Vista falling to around half price.
Maybe they need to switch the robot over to the Vista campaign.
Posted by at 4:44 PM
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March 3, 2008, 9:25 AM
Flag-burning, Yes; Spamming, No
One is cheap, even juvenile, political theater. The other is the bane of every email user's existence. Both are offensive.
Fortunately, the Virginia Supreme Court's decision on Friday to uphold the first U.S. felony conviction for spamming means only the former act -- burning the American flag -- is protected by our First Amendment, despite the bogus arguments of spammer Jeremy Jaynes's defense team.
From Ars Technica:
The spammer will serve nine years in prison for sending what authorities believe to be millions of messages over a two-month period in 2003. ...
While defending Jaynes, his lawyers attempted to argue that a provision of the Virginia Computer Crimes Act violates constitutional First Amendment rights to "anonymous speech," as well as the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. The court rejected these claims due to Jaynes' use of fake e-mail addresses, which breaks the U.S. CAN SPAM law's condition of giving recipients a means of contacting the sender. The court also stated that his peddling of scam products and services excludes him from First Amendment rights.
Any precedent on peddling scam wars? Just asking.
Posted by at 9:25 AM
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February 29, 2008, 1:16 PM
Mystery Of Google's Magic Logo Revealed!
Ever wonder how search behemoth Google came up with that distinctive logo?
Me neither, but Wired has an interesting feature about the evolution of the Google logo. Wired interviewed the graphic designer, Ruth Kedar, who was asked nine years ago by Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to create some prototypes.
I'm not sure how many prototypes Kedar conjured, but she shows eight to Wired. Now, being a graphics designer, maybe she can knock these out in her sleep. But it looks to me like she spent some time on this logo project, impressive given that Google back then was just another start-up and not the mega-success it is today. I hope Brin and Page offered Kedar more than pizza and beer for her contribution.
Regarding the logo prototypes, the first three featured black letters in the logo with some splashy graphics adding color. It wasn't until No. 6 that the logo began looking similar to the now-classic yet playful design we know and love today.
Posted by at 1:16 PM
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February 29, 2008, 9:20 AM
And They Had a Whole Extra Day To Get Ready
For those readers looking for the ultimate Leap Day online destination, I have good news -- and bad.
After an arduous 12-second Google search, I found the ideal site: The Leap Year Museum (or LeapZeum, as its creators have dubbed it).
Here's the message on the front page:
An Internet museum of all things Leap Year
Things that relate to that quadrennial date, February 29
Sometimes this job is too easy.
Oh wait, here's the other message posted on the front page today, February 29:
The Leap Year Museum is under renovation. Many of the links are not working. Please check back often.
Sure we will. Maybe in another four years.
Posted by at 9:20 AM
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February 28, 2008, 11:41 AM
The Internet Knows All
Whether the topic is financial advice, health concerns or job training, there's one expert more Americans consult than any other -- the Internet.
That's according to data from a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey on why people first went online and what makes them stay.
The survey asked 2,800 American adults "what sources of information they consulted for assistance with solving problems such as health issues, education and job training, or taxes."
Topping the list, at 58%, was the Internet. Here are the others (two of which I made up):
53% -- Professional advisers
45% -- Friends and family members
41% -- Mattel's Magic 8-Ball
36% -- Newspapers, magazines and books
34% -- Government office or agency
16% -- Television and radio
13% -- Public library
11% -- Other source
6% -- Voices in my head
I think these results make perfect sense. After all, the Internet represents a vast universe of information that can be accessed right from your own home, 24/7. And you don't get billed by the hour.
Posted by at 11:41 AM
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February 27, 2008, 9:41 AM
Modern, In a Primitive Kind Of Way
It looks like the Republican National Committee is having the same kind of luck searching for thousands of missing White House emails as O.J. Simpson has had finding the real killer.
From the Washington Post:
After promising last year to search its computers for tens of thousands of e-mails sent by White House officials, the Republican National Committee has informed a House committee that it no longer plans to retrieve the communications by restoring computer backup tapes, the panel's chairman said yesterday. ...
The committee is investigating allegations that vast stores of official Bush administration e-mails have also gone missing from the White House, which scrapped a Clinton-era archiving system and has struggled with data retention problems.
A former White House technology manager told the committee in statements released yesterday that the Bush administration's e-mail system "was primitive and the risk that data would be lost was high."
Hmm. That hardly sounds like the primo system left behind by former White House office CIO Carlos Solari, as described in this bio:
Carlos Solari has most recently completed a successful assignment as the Chief Information Officer for the Executive Office of the President (EOP – The White House) – a position first created in August 2001. ...
While serving as CIO, Solari transformed the EOP IT infrastructure to a modern, survivable enterprise serving the White House and its 12 component offices – all in the midst of unprecedented cyber and physical security concerns. This transformation was comprehensive and conducted while concurrently delivering advanced business functionality.
The data storage functionality, not so much.
Posted by at 9:41 AM
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February 26, 2008, 4:39 PM
Jihad, Whatever...
I was doing a Google search on "internet" and "terrorists" and stumbled upon this article at a site called GovernmentExecutive.com, published by the conservative National Journal.
The premise of the piece is that the world is experiencing a "third wave" of terrorists, whom former CIA case officer Marc Sageman called "terrorist wannabes" ...
These dissidents typically don't associate face to face, rather their interaction has shifted to Internet chat rooms and online forums, which act as "echo chambers" where anger intensifies and participants become more radicalized.
Here's a perfect example of that "echo chamber of hate" phenomenon. (Warning: It's a scary place.)
Back to the article:
The latest terrorist wave is largely a self-limiting threat, Sageman said, because it's made up mostly of bored, unemployed young people with fantasies of glory and thrills. That profile lacks the ideological commitment to jihad that is typical of the older al Qaeda generation.
So let's sum this up: The third wave of terrorists is comprised of "wannabes" who spend most of their time alone and online, where they post angry messages and hatch failed plots. They are unemployed, bored and, despite their rage and delusions of grandeur, do not have the "ideological commitment" to jihad that older terrorists have.
It appears the era of the Slacker Terrorist is upon us.
Posted by at 4:39 PM
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February 26, 2008, 1:38 PM
Pakistan Keeps Bin Laden, Returns YouTube
From the Associated Press:
Pakistan's telecoms regulator said Tuesday it has lifted restrictions on the YouTube Web site that led to the knocking out of access to the popular video-sharing site in many other countries for a few hours over the weekend. ...
Pakistan ordered YouTube blocked on Friday over a clip featuring a Dutch lawmaker who has said he plans to release a movie portraying Islam as fascist and prone to inciting violence. As a result, most of the world's Internet users lost access to YouTube for several hours on Sunday.
(Note to Pakistan: If you really want to see blasphemy, I'd refer you to UselessJunk.com. That's like the Blasphemer's YouTube.)
Now, Pakistan really didn't try to block the rest of the world from using YouTube. Just the infidels. Or so it says. Here's what happened, AP reports:
An Internet expert said Sunday's problems came after a Pakistani telecommunications company complied with the [government's] block by directing requests for YouTube videos to a "black hole." So instead of serving up videos of skateboarding dogs, it sent the traffic into oblivion.
The problem was that the company also accidentally identified itself to Internet computers as the world's fastest route to YouTube, which is owned by Google Inc. That led requests from across the Internet to the black hole.
If you're really into the inner workings of the Internet, Declan McCullagh over at CNET News.com does some impressive drilling down into the technical details of what he termed this "serious Internet vulnerability."
Posted by at 1:38 PM
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February 25, 2008, 2:42 PM
Wherever You Are, It Will Be Home (Page)
American poet and That's So Raven guest star Maya Angelou once said, "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."
Angelou may be close to achieving this dream, at least in cyberspace. According to the 2008 Digital Outlook Report by online marketing firm Avenue A Razorfish, the very premise of a web site home page is evolving:
Search, social networks, blogs, and RSS (among a host of other online sources) are driving more and more users deep into today’s Web properties. Now, the majority of consumers bypass a site’s home page completely.
Every page is now a home page, each of which will have a wider reach, a lasting shelf life, and the ability to attract a new audience like never before.
There's a lot of interesting data for e-marketers in the Avenue A Razorfish report (posted online by Apple veteran and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki). For IT pros, here's the main takeaway: Tempting though it may be to get sidetracked on Web 2.0 tricks and theatrics, "it's data and analytics that will be at the heart of the most successful digital businesses."
Posted by at 2:42 PM
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February 25, 2008, 9:55 AM
None More Black
It might someday be used by the military as a kind of "cloaking device." It will make solar panels more efficient. And it will increase the accuracy of energy-measuring instruments.
The real question, though, is when this creation by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will enable iconic hipsters everywhere to achieve an even deeper level of cool.
From the Washington Post:
Researchers in New York reported this month that they have created a paper-thin material that absorbs 99.955 percent of the light that hits it, making it by far the darkest substance ever made -- about 30 times as dark as the government's current standard for blackest black.
The previous record for darkest substance ever made was held by the cover for Spinal Tap's Smell the Glove album.
Posted by at 9:55 AM
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