CTL's Weblogs

Next Big Thing Is a Really Small Battery

Next Big Thing Is a Really Small Battery
"In a field (nanotechnology) that is so young and is moving so quickly, it's hard to see the milestones, but it has advanced from the theoretical research phase to patented techniques that will form the foundation for its growth and development. One such patent has just been issued to the University of Tulsa for batteries that are so small that 40 could be stacked across the width of a human hair."

If the Webmaster's Busy, Everyone Else Can Pitch In

If the Webmaster's Busy, Everyone Else Can Pitch In
"The latest version of Contribute, software from Macromedia that can help non-experts update Web page content, allows Macintosh users to contribute shoulder to shoulder with their Windows co-workers. In addition to being compatible with Mac OS X, Contribute 2 has several new features for the Windows side, including the Macromedia FlashPaper function, which can be used to convert any printable type of document into an embedded Web page element."

A Television Network With a PC at Its Heart

A Television Network With a PC at Its Heart
Columbia College found a way to take proven technology and adapt it to a new use. Columbia is spread over a dense neighborhood in Chicago. The university used closed-circuit TV network to broadcast announcements, information and student-produced work. Running extra fiber-optic lines would have been prohibitively expensive. The college discovered the Sony NSP-100 network storage player which is designed to receive, store and play up to 18 hours of compressed video and graphics sent over a standard Internet-protocol network without crashing the system in the process. While this technology was designed primarily for trade shows and corporate training, Columbia realized the machines could be plugged into the Ethernet network that already connected campus buildings. Programs can be loaded the night before so they won’t clog the net and each station can receive specific parts of any or all programs.

Minnesota Teenager Arrested in Internet Attack

Arrest Expected Today in Internet Attack
"U.S. cyber investigators have identified a teenager as one author of a damaging virus-like infection unleashed weeks ago on the Internet, a U.S. official confirmed. A court official identified the teenager as Jeffrey Lee Parson, 18, of Hopkins, Minn., known online as 'teekid.' A U.S. official in Washington also confirmed an arrest was made early Friday."

The Open Source Portfolio Initiative releases 1.0

CETIS-The Open Source Portfolio Initiative releases 1.0
"Earlier this year, the University of Minnesota realized that its well regarded and mature e-portfolio system would have a much better chance of reaching its full potential by open sourcing it, and getting others involved. The first fruits of that decision are now available for demo and download... Possibly the most immediately attractive aspect of the OSPI system as it stands is the fact that it is pretty mature and well proven."

MIT Everyware

Wired 11.09: MIT Everyware
In September of this year MIT will put 500 free courses online. The idea behind MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is to make MIT course materials that are used in the teaching of almost all undergraduate and graduate subjects available on the Web, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world. These classes and all handouts, quizzes and lectures will be free to anyone who wants to learn or use them in curriculum development. This is not a degree or certificate-granting program. After a great trial year, MIT received private funding to continue this initiative they hope will spur other institutions of higher education to follow. MIT’s trial year brought students from over 200 countries, with Canada leading the way, to study such diverse topics as philosophy, electrical engineering, music or management. A visit to their web site is well worth the trip: http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html

Internet Attackers Harder to Track

Internet attackers harder to track, experts say
"The two versions of the Internet worm that has wreaked havoc this month were written by two people in different parts of the world, computer security experts believe. The creator of the first worked in the United States and was intent on gaining notoriety by shutting down computers. The maker of the second was based in China and appears to be an idealist who tried to use a worm to fix the problem but ended up slowing corporate networks to a crawl."

A Stroll Through the Ivy, With a Tour Guide That Beeps

A Stroll Through the Ivy, With a Tour Guide That Beeps
"The tour is part of a research project that explores the next generation of 'context aware' computers - devices that can orient themselves in the real world and provide information about what is around them. Simpler versions are widely available commercially in hand-held organizers or car-dashboard devices that display maps, sometimes with voice directions, based on satellite navigation information from the Global Positioning System. Cornell's tour guide, called Campus Aware, supplements this technology with richer content - the history and lore of campus sites - and with notes left 'at the scene' by previous visitors. This e-graffiti, as researchers call it, adds a serendipitous touch to the tour."

Software Translates Restaurant Orders

Excite News
"Nguyen, who enters his senior year at the University of Nebraska at Omaha this fall, developed what he calls the Intelligent Pocket Order Delivering System. It allows waiters to take orders on a wireless pocket computer, then transmit them to the kitchen in a different language...Restaurants aren't the only ones who can use Nguyen's software. Nguyen said he designed it to benefit the entire service industry, including hospitals."

Partners sought for digital preservation

Partners sought for digital preservation
"The Library of Congress seeks partners to help preserve at-risk digital materials. Federal officials on Tuesday said they are taking applications for organizations to work with the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, an initiative of the Library of Congress funded by legislation passed by Congress in December 2000, and hopes to identify groups willing to work in partnership with the library to collect and preserve digital information for the future."

For Those Needing 32 More Bits

For Those Needing 32 More Bits
"The arrival of 64-bit desktop processors signifies a new era of computing — initially for professionals who are bumping up against the memory limits of existing PC's. Soon afterward the new chips will affect everyday computer users, for whom a new generation of media machines should offer remarkable improvements in audio and visual effects."

DNA may be Basis for Power Computing

USATODAY.com - DNA may be basis for power computing
"It almost sounds too fantastic to be true, but a growing amount of research supports the idea that DNA, the basic building block of life, could also be the basis of a staggeringly powerful new generation of computers...Eventually, the scientists aim to create self-sustaining computers that can be used, for instance, on deep-space voyages, to monitor and maintain the health of humans on board."

The Digital Divide That Wasn't

BW Online | August 19, 2003 | The Digital Divide That Wasn't
"Remember how the Web was going to bypass the poor? It didn't. Access is there, awaiting the guidance -- and desire -- to use it "

High School Seniors Weak in Math and Science Tests

High School Seniors Weak in Math and Science Tests
"Fewer than half of graduating high school seniors who took the 2003 ACT college entrance exams were adequately prepared for college-level algebra, and only about a quarter were prepared for college biology, according to the ACT results released yesterday."

Med Students to Make Mouse Calls

Wired News: Med Students to Make Mouse Calls
This is update of the new virtual medical school – also see the August 1 OIT Clippings Weblog: “Virtual universities to train real doctors.” Dr. Smith and his colleagues lead the way to other science and medical degrees becoming entirely online when combined with the practicum done at local clinics or hospitals. Dr. Stephen Smith is associate dean at Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island and part of the impetus behind this interesting and somewhat controversial idea.

ADL Academic Colab News

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is a member of the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Academic Colab.

The following is a recent email/newletter update on ADL and Academic Colab activities ...

The is a lot of activity both at the Academic ADL Co-Lab and with ADL and SCORM. We are looking for better methods to both convey this information to you and to involve you and your organization in the Co-Lab activities. Please forward this to interested parties within your organization and encourage them to join the partner discussions. Also please let us know what activities or services might be of interest to your organization. We do have some funding for a partner project and are considering developing some templates and funding subject matter experts and instructional designers/graphic artists to complete some shared SCOs. Is this of interest to you?

More on:

• The ADL SUMMER SEQUENCE
  
• Repository Summit on October 7-8 (no URL yet)
  
• DISTANCE LEARNING (DL) GUIDELINES: WHAT WORKS IN DISTANCE LEARNING
  
• ADL Handbook (Best Practices)
  
• RELOAD EDITOR ADDS CONTENT PACKAGING AND SCORM AUTHORING
  
• Don't forget the SCOurse at http://www.academiccolab.org/learn for free
  learning materials on ADL and SCORM - all built using SCORM
  

For more details on this list of items, click "MORE..." below.

The ADL SUMMER SEQUENCE held last week in Madison provided some valuable
information and sharing. Most of the presentations are available at
http://www.academiccolab.org/events/adlss.html (Hopefully the remaining
sessions will be posted this week.) One of the main outcomes was that SCORM
1.3 (now in draft form) will be maintained for some time for stability.
Rather than finishing 1.3 and moving to 1.4 or 2.x, the decision has been
made to halt and concentrate on implementation and stabilization. If there
are enough concerns about other needs, they will be addressed at that time.
Vendors have been working to keep current, but it is getting more difficult
all the time. SCORM 1.3 offers a number of advanced capabilities (mainly in
sequencing) which will take some time for all to understand and implement.

We are preparing for a Repository Summit on October 7-8. If you are working
on a learning content repository, please let us know.

Other items of interest:
DISTANCE LEARNING (DL) GUIDELINES: WHAT WORKS IN DISTANCE LEARNING
What Works in Distance Learning is a collection of findings in the
effectiveness of design and development strategies for Distance Learning
(DL). Supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Capable Manpower
Future Naval Capability (CM FNC), these guidelines were compiled by National
Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards and Student Testing
(CRESST)/UCLA.
http://www.adlnet.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=DLGuid

THE JOINT ADL CO-LAB now has five chapters in their ADL Handbook. Thanks to
Dr. Daly and Mrs. Scott for all their work.
http://www.jointadlcolab.org/BestPracticesHandbook.pdf

RELOAD EDITOR ADDS CONTENT PACKAGING AND SCORM AUTHORING
Following a comprehensive rewrite, the 1.1 version of the RELOAD e-learning
content authoring tool can now be used to edit both plain IMS as well as
SCORM content packages. What started as a humble, open source metadata
editor is now rapidly on the way to become a full e-learning content editor
that will allow you to create plain IMS content packages or SCORM Sharable
Content Objects (SCOs) in their entirety, from existing material.
http://www.cetis.ac.uk/content/20030814153401

SCO DAYS information is available at http://www.scodays.org We are under
discussion to repeat these sessions virtually. Please let us know if you are
interested.

Don't forget the SCOurse at http://www.academiccolab.org/learn for free
learning materials on ADL and SCORM - all built using SCORM.

RELOAD Editor Adds Content Packaging and SCORM Authoring

CETIS-RELOAD editor adds Content Packaging and SCORM authoring
"Following a comprehensive rewrite, the 1.1 version of the RELOAD e-learning content authoring tool can now be used to edit both plain IMS as well as SCORM content packages. What started as a humble, open source metadata editor is now rapidly on the way to become a full e-learning content editor that will allow you to create plain IMS content packages or SCORM Sharable Content Objects (SCOs) in their entirety, from existing material."

As Belated Converts, Schools Keep Vigil for Internet2

As Belated Converts, Schools Keep Vigil for Internet2
"Today, only about three million people, mostly on college campuses, have access to the network backbone, known as Abilene, that is the heart of Internet2, compared with an estimated 600 million users of the original Internet. But for those sharing data, sending e-mail or browsing the Web on Internet2, the difference in speed is striking."

The Future of Technology

BusinessWeek Online: BW Magazine
Take a look at the current issue of "Business Week Online" dedicated to the future of technology. Projects and opinions are offered that site both benefits and risks involved in some of technology’s popular uses. Some topics covered include the current state of doing business in Silicone Valley or different scenarios in relation to future trends.

Internet Survives Power Failure

Internet Survives Power Failure
"Internet performance tracker Keynote Systems said the outage has not slowed the Internet...Technology companies in New York such as IBM were affected."

Student Accused of Hacking In, Taking Exams

CNN.com - Student accused of hacking in, taking exams - Aug. 4, 2003
"A graduate student is accused of hacking into the University of Michigan's computer system and using information from more than 60 students and professors to forge e-mails and get copies of final exams."

Philadelphia School District Partners with Universities to Improve Schools

Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/12/2003 | Phila. district names 8 partners to adopt 16 schools
"Announcing a new kind of partnership, the Philadelphia School District has hired six universities, a private company, and the Franklin Institute to improve 16 of its 260-plus schools...K12, an education management firm, will develop a Web-based instructional program."

Degrees of Separation Are Likely More Than 6, Especially in E-Mail Age

Degrees of Separation Are Likely More Than 6, Especially in E-Mail Age
"The advent of the Internet enabled the researchers to more carefully explore the problem, which is part mathematical — the structure of the network — and part psychological — what motivates people to participate or not, and how do people decide whom to send the message to? The answers are of interest both to computer scientists studying the ebb and flow of information on the Internet and sociologists studying the spread of gossip and cultural trends."

Fast Spreading Worm Attacks Microsoft Windows

Fast Spreading Worm Attacks Microsoft Windows
"An Internet worm aimed at the Microsoft Windows operating system was rapidly spreading around the world today, infecting home users and company networks alike, even though the possibility of such an attack had been widely anticipated by computer security experts."

Macromedia Puts Faster Flash to the Test

News: Macromedia puts faster Flash to the test
"The new version of the Flash Player, available for download from Macromedia, concentrates on performance improvements that allow the software to process some types of Flash content as much as 10 times faster..."

Researchers Compile 'Atlas' of the Brain

Yahoo! News - Researchers Compile 'Atlas' of the Brain
"A computerized 'atlas' (http://www.loni.ucla.edu/ICBM/) of the brain is for the first time giving researchers and medical experts a map for unlocking the puzzles of the mind... An international research consortium, led by Mazziotta and Dr. Arthur Toga, director of UCLA's laboratory of neuro imaging, has so far gathered digital images of 7,000 brains using technology such as magnetic resonance imaging scans."

Free Online Tutorial on SCORM and ADL

Academic Advanced Distributed Learning Co-Lab
Do you want an introduction to the SCORM Content Model? Wonder about Meta-data or content structure? Consider the free online self-tutorial on ADL and SCORM offered by ADL Co-lab. The training modules take approximately 45 minutes. This is a good intro – though your eyes may glaze over towards the end.

Sharing Research Excellence

ISIHighlyCited.com - Home [v.1]
"This freely accessible Web site gives research professionals working in a variety of occupations an invaluable tool to identify individuals, departments and laboratories that have made fundamental contributions to the advancement of science and technology in recent decades."

In DSpace, Ideas are Forever

In DSpace, Ideas Are Forever
"A number of universities, from the California Institute of Technology to M.I.T., are creating 'institutional repositories' designed to harness their own intellectual output. M.I.T.'s archive, perhaps the most ambitious, is called DSpace (www.dspace.org)."

Eyes Off, Screen Off

Technology Review: Eyes Off, Screen Off
"Researchers from Duke University have devised a detector that determines if a person is present and looking at a computer screen, and keeps the screen on only when it is being watched."

Hand-held Devices Said Easy to Hack

Hand-held devices said easy to hack
"Hand-held computers used to store phone numbers, medical and credit-card information leave millions of gadget lovers fully exposed to identity-theft and other crimes, security experts said Saturday....While mobile computers are vulnerable, they are also powerful enough to be used to launch attacks on other users."

The Future of Human Knowledge: The Semantic Web

E-Commerce News: The Future of Human Knowledge: The Semantic Web
"Under an interdisciplinary project collectively known as the Semantic Web, computer scientists around the world are working on ways to revolutionize the Internet. The researchers, from Europe, Asia and the United States, are developing standards, protocols and technologies that will advance the development of a more meaning-oriented Web."

Virtual Universities to Train Real Doctors

IHT: Virtual universities to train real doctors
"For aspiring doctors, the first half of medical school is both hard and messy, as they dissect human cadavers and practice giving physical exams to classmates. But soon medical students may be able to study medicine for two years without getting near a cadaver, or a fellow student. In what may be the most extreme example of the trend toward Internet-based education, a worldwide group of medical schools is collaborating to build an 'International Virtual Medical School,' allowing students to begin work toward a medical degree thousands of miles from a classroom."

Ground-Breaking Work in Understanding of Time

Ground-breaking work in understanding of time
Peter Lynds, from New Zealand, has a fascinating theory of time, space and quantum mechanics that purports to solve the age old Zeno of Elea’s famous motion paradoxes. He is being compared to an Einstein of today. The physicists & mathematicians among us can tell how closely this resembles the chaos theory. If there is indeed not an instant in time then how can we use the fastest computational program to solve problems in physics – answers would all be just an estimate.