Information & Media
Information & Commuications Technology Archive
SOFTWARE PIRACY ON THE INTERNET: A THREAT TO YOUR SECURITY.
Business Software Alliance. October 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 28 pages]
Individuals are turning to peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and auction sites in staggering numbers to acquire or transfer illegal software and in doing so are harming the economy whilst exposing themselves to malware, identity theft and criminal prosecution, according to the report.
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THE INTERNET AS A DIVERSION.
Pew Internet & American Life. Aasron Smith. September 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 11 pages]
Three-quarters of online economic users, those Americans who use the internet to keep up with news about the economic recession or their own personal finances, go online to relax and take their minds off of the recession, according to an April 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project.
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WHAT CONSUMERS WANT FROM MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS.
The Brookings Institution. Darrell M. West. September 2009, 19 pages.
Full text [PDF format; 19 pages]
The way in which cell phone users see their devices affects how they employ them and what future possibilities they are willing to entertain. The author, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at Brookings, explores what consumers want from new mobile communications in four different countries (the United States, Spain, United Kingdom, and Japan) and how these results demonstrate the virtue of innovation and open networks for communications policy.
SOCIAL NETWORKING AND CONSTITUENT COMMUNICATIONS: MEMBER USE OF TWITTER DURING A TWO-WEEK PERIOD IN THE 111TH CONGRESS.
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Matthew Eric Glassman et al. September 21, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 15 pages]
During the past 15 years, the development of new electronic technologies have altered the traditional patterns of communication between Members of Congress and constituents. Many Members now use e-mail, official websites, blogs, Youtube channels, and Facebook pages to communicate with their constituents--technologies that were either non-existent or not widely available 15 years ago. Members' use of Twitter can be divided into six categories: position taking, press or web links, district or state activities, official congressional action, personal, and replies.
THE INTERNET AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Aaron Smith et al. September 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 66 pages]
Contrary to the hopes of some advocates, the internet is not changing the socioeconomic character of civic engagement in America, says the report. Just as in offline civic life, the well-to-do and well-educated are more likely than those less well off to participate in online political activities such as emailing a government official, signing an online petition or making a political contribution.
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Moyer, Steve WHAT IF? (Humanities, vol. 30, no. 4, July/August 2009, pp. 32-36)
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The author believes that it is difficult to take in all the ways that reading is changing in response to new technology. Bob Stein, co-director and founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book, is exploring how the digital revolution is transforming the way we read. One of Stein's recent projects was a kind of online book club in which seven women engaged in a close reading of Doris Lessing's THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK, then commented online in the margins of the electronic book, by means of an open-source software called CommentPress. Moyer explores the changes in the book in the past thirty years, noting that there have been more advances in the evolution of the book than there had been in the past five centuries.
Baker, Nicholson A NEW PAGE: CAN THE KINDLE REALLY IMPROVE ON THE BOOK? (New Yorker, Vol. 85, No. 3, August 3, 2009, pp. 24-30)
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Baker is somewhat underwhelmed by Amazon.com’s version 2 of the Kindle electronic book reader.
THE AUDIENCE FOR ONLINE VIDEO-SHARING SITES SHOOTS UP.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Mary Madden. July 29, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 14 pages]
As the audience for online video continues to grow, a leading edge of internet users are migrating their viewing from their computer screens to their TV screens, according to the study.
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WIRELESS INTERNET USE.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. John Horrigan. July 22, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 48 pages]
The survey shows that 56% of adult Americans have accessed the internet by wireless means, such as using a laptop, mobile device, game console, or MP3 player. The most prevalent way people get online using a wireless network is with a laptop computer; 39% of adults have done this. It also finds rising levels of Americans using the internet on a mobile handset. One-third of Americans (32%) have used a cell phone or Smartphone to access the internet for emailing, instant-messaging, or information-seeking.
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Levy, Steven BOOTING UP BAGHDAD (Wired, vol. 17, no. 8, August 2009, pg. 102-107)
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Nine executives from information technology companies traveled to Baghdad earlier this year, hoping to spark some ideas on how a new wave of development and innovation might be kick-started in the war-ravaged economy. Executives from companies such as Google, MeetUp, Twitter, and YouTube were invited on the trip by the State Department because of the inspiration they might provide for breakthrough ideas. Levy’s assessment of the delegation’s impact is subdued at best –- in meetings with the delegation, Iraqi officials seemed to have little grasp of the self-starting ethic which has been key to the success of these companies in the Western world. Even talented Iraqi young people who in another country might be fired up with brash, optimistic energy expressed a preference to find careers and security in government jobs, rather than pursuing an entrepreneurial idea of their own. But members of the delegation still came away with optimism about Iraq’s future in information technology, and take pride in one of the few deliverables of their trip -– Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih is now on Twitter
HOME BROADBAND ADOPTION 2009.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. John Horrigan. June 17, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 50 pages]
An April 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project shows 63% of adult Americans now have broadband internet connections at home, a 15% increases from a year earlier. April’s level of high-speed adoption represents a significant jump from figures gathered by the Project since the end of 2007 (54%). The growth in home broadband adoption occurred even though survey respondents reported paying more for broadband compared to May 2008. Last year, the average monthly bill for broadband internet service at home was $34.50, a figure that stands at $39.00 in April 2009.
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THE STATE OF MUSIC ONLINE: TEN YEARS AFTER NAPSTER.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Mary Madden. June 15, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 18 pages]
In the decade since Napster’s launch, selling recorded music has become as much of an art as making the music itself. The music industry has been on the front lines of the battle to convert freeloaders into paying customers, and their efforts have been watched closely by other digitized industries, newspapers, book publishing and Hollywood among them, who are hoping to staunch their own bleeding before it’s too late, according to the report.
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BRINGING BROADBAND TO RURAL AMERICA: REPORT ON A RURAL BROADBAND STRATEGY.
Federal Communications Commission. May 22, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 83 pages]
Concluding that all rural Americans must have the opportunity to reap the full benefits of broadband services, Federal Communications Commission releases a report. It provides a starting point for the development of policies to deliver broadband to rural areas and restore economic growth and opportunity for Americans residing and working in those areas.
ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Sydney Jones. May 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 14 pages]
The number of online adults who have used online classified ads has more than doubled in the past four years. Almost half (49%) of internet users say they have ever used online classified sites, compared with 22% of online adults who had done so in 2005. On any given day about a tenth of internet users (9%) visit online classified sites, up from 4% in 2005.
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GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM: SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN SUSTAINING AND UPGRADING WIDELY USED CAPABILITIES.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. May 7, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 15 pages]
The Global Positioning System (GPS), which provides position, navigation, and timing data to users worldwide, has become essential to U.S. national security and a key tool in an expanding array of public service and commercial applications at home and abroad. The United States provides GPS data free of charge. The Air Force, which is responsible for GPS acquisition, is in the process of modernizing GPS.
WIRED LESS: DISCONNECTED IN URBAN AMERICA.
Internet for Everyone. April 7, 2009.
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With the Federal Communications Commission set to begin work on a national broadband strategy, the multimedia report calls attention to the urban digital divide. “Even in some of our most tech-savvy cities, millions of people do not have high-speed Internet in their homes or businesses,” said Megan Tady, author of the report. “Many of these urban residents can’t afford broadband access or, just like their rural counterparts, live in areas that have been redlined by Internet service providers that refuse to offer service.”
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THE MOBILE DIFFERENCE.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. March 26, 2009.
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Some 39% of Americans have positive and improving attitudes about their mobile communication devices, which in turn draws them further into engagement with digital resources, on both wireless and wire line platforms, according to the study. Mobile connectivity is now a powerful differentiator among technology users. Those who plug into the information and communications world while on-the-go are notably more active in many facets of digital life than those who use wires to jack into the internet and the 14% of Americans who are off the grid entirely.
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RURAL BROADBAND AT A GLANCE: 2009 EDITION.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. March 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 6 pages]
Three-quarters of U.S. residents used the Internet to access information, education, and services in 2007. Broadband Internet access is becoming essential for both businesses and households; many compare its evolution to other technologies now considered common necessities, such as cars, electricity, televisions, microwave ovens, and cell phones. Although rural residents enjoy widespread access to the Internet, they are less likely to have high-speed, or broadband, Internet access than their urban counterparts. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the difference in access may lie in the higher cost and limited availability of broadband Internet in rural areas.
CONFRONTING THE CRISIS: ITS IMPACT ON THE ICT INDUSTRY.
International Telecommunications Union. February 2009.
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The report, drawing on analysis from leading industry experts and international institutions, considers how the industry can position itself for recovery in the future. Firms’ ability to weather the economic storm will depend on their ability to invest for the future and explore new opportunities to benefit from the eventual upturn. For an industry founded on innovation, the current turmoil will create openings for nascent ICT companies. ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré, speaking in Barcelona, said that innovation is the key to recovery.
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Deresiewicz, William THE END OF SOLITUDE (Chronicle of Higher Education, vol. 55, no. 21, January 30, 2009)
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The author notes that where “the camera has created a culture of celebrity, the computer is creating a culture of connectivity.” As the two technologies merge, they are feeding a common urge to become recognized and visible. Deresiewicz writes that it is becoming increasingly difficult to be alone; in fact, the proliferation of social-networking web sites such as Facebook and Twitter are ways that modern humans stave off loneliness. He notes that solitude was not always stigmatized; in earlier times, the ability to be alone was recognized as a necessary part of the religious experience, or to be able to appreciate nature. The modern age has cast solitude in a harsher light, and the spread of suburbia, which has put more distance between people, coincided with the spread of telephone and television, technologies that enabled connectedness. Deresiewicz worries that we are losing the ability for introspection –- “no real excellence, personal or social, artistic, philosophical, scientific or moral, can arise without solitude.”
ONE THIRD OF EUROPEAN MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING USERS ACCESS SOCIAL MEDIA EXCLUSIVELY.
comScore. January 29, 2009.
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The comScore, Inc. reports that social networking is drawing new users into the mobile Web. In November, 34 percent of mobile phone owners in Western Europe who visited social networking sites accessed social media exclusive of all other mobile Web content.
With 12.1 million users in Western Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K., mobile social networking is a rapidly-expanding category that grew 152 percent from November 2007 to November 2008. The U.K. has the highest penetration of mobile social networking, at 9 percent, nearly triple that of Germany, where the activity is the least popular.
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SPENDING ON CELL PHONE SERVICES HAS EXCEEDED SPENDING ON RESIDENTIAL PHONE SERVICES.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Web posted January 29, 2009.
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Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that cellular phone expenditures increased rapidly from 2001 through 2007. Cellular phone expenditures surpassed spending on residential landline phone services beginning in 2007. Expenditures for residential phone services per consumer unit decreased from $686 to $482 over that period, a decrease of 30 percent.
2009 THREAT PREDICTIONS.
McAfee. January 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 10 pages]
According to the report, the exploitation of the financial crisis to scam users with fake financial transactions services, fake investment firms, and fake legal services continues. The report examines the accuracy of last year’s predictions and provides new insight as to where computer security threats are headed this year.
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DIGITAL MUSIC REPORT 2009.
International Federation of Phonographic Industries. John Kennedy. January 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 32 pages]
Key Statistics [PDF format, 2 pages]
The music industry has transformed its business models, offering consumers an increasing range of new services with leading technology partners. However, generating value in an environment where 95 per cent of music downloads are illegal and unpaid for is still the biggest challenge for music companies and their commercial partners.
The digital music business internationally saw a sixth year of expansion in 2008, growing by an estimated 25 per cent to US$3.7 billion in trade value.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH TELECOMMUTING.
Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. Wendell Cox. January 20, 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 24 pages]
The report shows that the number of jobs filled by telecommuters could grow nearly four-fold to 19 million and deliver substantial economic, environmental and quality of life benefits for the United States over the next 12 years. Spurred by advances in IT, especially the spread of broadband, telecommuting is already the fastest growing mode of getting from home to work. The report calls for government to pursue policies to accelerate and maximize telecommuting, including spurring the deployment and adoption of broadband, which is an essential facilitator of telecommuting.
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OBAMA’S ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES II: IF YOU BUILD IT, WILL THEY LOG ON?
Pew Internet & American Life Project. January 2009.
Full Text [PDF format, 3 pages]
Investment in broadband has become part of the broader discussion about President Obama’s economic stimulus package. Even though the size of the stimulus and the share that might be devoted to broadband are still unspecified, it seems likely that the new Administration will take steps to encourage investment in broadband infrastructure.
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SOCIAL NETWORKS GROW: FRIENDING MOM AND DAD.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Amanda Lenhart. January 14, 2009.
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The share of adult internet users who have a profile on a social networking site has more than quadrupled in the past four years. While media coverage and policy attention focus heavily on how children and young adults use social network sites, adults still make up the bulk of the users of these websites. Still, younger online adults are much more likely than their older counterparts to use social networks, with 75% of adults 18-24 using these networks, compared with just 7% of adults ages 65 and older.
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OECD INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK 2008.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. December 23, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 350 pages]
The economic downturn will hit the Internet economy hard in 2009, according to the OECD estimates. The Outlook says that the IT industry is likely to have grown by 4% at most in 2008 compared to the previous year. But with the outlook for the global economy worsening and business and consumer confidence plummeting, growth will remain flat or decline in 2009. Some sectors are expected to weather the storm better than others. Spending on software and IT services, including outsourcing, by governments and business is likely to continue. However, major corporate customers in sectors hard hit by the downturn, such as banking, insurance and retail, are cutting back spending plans in 2009.
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LIVING AND LEARNING WITH NEW MEDIA: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM THE DIGITAL YOUTH PROJECT.
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. November 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 58 pages]
The study shows that America’s youth are developing important social and technical skills online, often in ways adults do not understand or value. It shows that spending time online is essential for young people to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age.
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DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
U.S. Govt. Accountability Office (GAO)
Recent reports include:
- Majority Of Broadcasters Are Prepared For The Dtv Transition, But Some Technical And Coordination Issues Remain (April 2008)
Full Text [PDF format, 38 pages] - Implementation of the Converter Box Subsidy Program Is Under Way, but Preparedness to Manage an Increase in Subsidy Demand Is Unclear (September 2008)
Full Text [PDF format, 46 pages] - Broadcasters’ Transition Status, Low-Power Station Issues, and Information on Consumer Awareness of the DTV Transition (June 2008)
Full Text [PDF format, 23 pages]
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Piper, Paul NETS OF TERROR: TERRORIST ACTIVITY ON THE INTERNET (Searcher, vol. 16, no. 10, November/December 2008, pp. 28-38)
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The author, a reference librarian at Western Washington University, provides a detailed overview of the presence and activity of terrorist groups on the Internet. He notes that rogue groups are drawn to the Internet because it is easy and inexpensive to communicate and disseminate information instantaneously and in an uncensored fashion worldwide. Terrorist groups use the Internet for a variety of purposes, chiefly for public announcements, data mining, recruitment, fundraising, information sharing, logistics and training. Terrorist websites, chat rooms, bulletin boards and forums are very unstable, with continually changing URLs, due to the cat-and-mouse game with authorities and private watchdog groups. The author describes and gives the website URLs of the many organizations keeping track of terrorist groups, as well as a complete listing of terrorist groups by country, with the most recently known web URLs. He believes that the terrorist presence on the Internet is still in a beginning phase, aimed mostly at staking out territory, but may eventually lead to cyberterrorism.
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Perlman, Ellen; Maynard, Melissa WORKING IN WIKI (Governing, May 2008, pp. 1-11)
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Web 2.0 is a new generation of Internet applications that consist of social networking tools, including websites like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Second Life and Wikipedia. The authors write that state and local government have begun utilizing these social networking tools, and that these tools can transform the way government functions. As opposed to the current top-down culture of emails, briefings and conferences, Web 2.0 encourages a more democratic approach –- for instance, employees can be involved in creating and maintaining a Wiki page. Virtual reality Web 2.0 applications like Second Life can help bring employees at disparate locations closer together and provide a better alternative to conference calls. Second Life can also save costs through virtual training of employees. However, implementing these technologies takes managers who eager to learn the new technology and see it as a means to improve the efficiency of the organization. Success in implementing Web 2.0 in government also requires employees to select what aspect of a project they want to work on. The authors say that Web 2.0 is inevitable for government -- “Governments can either play an active role in transforming themselves or wait and let change hit them; either way, it’s coming.”
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Tucker, Patrick THE 21ST-CENTURY WRITER (Futurist, vol. 42, no. 4, July/August 2008, pp. 25-31)
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Tucker, senior editor of The Futurist, notes that for both writers and readers, these are times of upheaval. The information technology revolution has led to an explosion in written content. For book publishers, the mission is to reinvent the concept of the book for the digital age. For many writers, particularly nonfiction writers, it means joining the online world of blogs, vlogs, and RSS feeds where the pace of news is accelerated. Some bloggers report that the money from ad clicks related to their blog content is barely enough to cover the cost of blogging. Book publishers are finding it harder to back first-time or less popular authors. Across the United States, newspapers and magazines are focusing their resources more and more on their Web sites. In the process, they're giving voice to an entirely new breed of digital journalist even as they show the door to news department veterans. Many writers are justifiably alarmed by the shift, but writers who are willing to view themselves as storytellers first and foremost, who are eager to incorporate new technology into the writing process, have a bright future.
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Chavers, Mikel WI-FI IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS (State News, vol. 51, no. 6, June/July 2008, pp. 23-26)
Full Text [PDF format, 36 pages; full issue; go to p. 23 for article]
Increasingly, visitors to U.S. state parks can not only hike, fish, ski, snorkel or scuba dive, but surf the Internet. With California taking the lead, and other states like Ohio, Kentucky and Texas following, wireless Internet hotspots are becoming more available in state parks. With its “almost negligible footprint,” park directors and other state officials see Wi-Fi as meeting the need of visitors and ensuring those visitors keep coming, whether they be short-term vacationers, business or other groups holding events or retirees spending several weeks or months on the road and in the parks. The chief information officer for California State Parks comments: “We know today that people live very complicated lives. People end up being tethered to their cell phone or their computers. We were concerned that we were going to start losing people at our state parks.” Some states charge for access, while others offer free service. But, in all cases, the bottom line is not to recoup costs, but to provide a service that travelers increasingly have come to expect.
GOVERNMENT IN 3D: HOW PUBLIC LEADERS CAN DRAW ON VIRTUAL WORLDS.
IBM Center for the Business of Government. David C. Wyld. November 15, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 87 pages]
The report shows an example of how Web 2.0's "teen toys" have become a serious work tool. It explores how cutting-edge government organizations are using 3-dimensional virtual worlds on the Internet to conduct training, recruit new employees, and educate the public. It also provides a guide to how virtual worlds have become a fast-growing social phenomenon that believe that, by the end of 2011, fully 80 percent of all active internet users will be participating in 3-D virtual worlds.
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“CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HOW CELL PHONES ARE TRANSFORMING MARKETS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.”
Center for Global Development. Jenny Aker. October 27, 2008.
Full Text [Website, click to download PDF file, 3 pages]
The author assesses the impact of mobile phones on grain market performance in one of the world’s poorest countries. Cell phones have a great impact over time: as more markets have cell phone coverage, the greater the reduction in price differences. It is primarily due to changes in grain traders’ marketing behavior: cell phones lead to reduced search costs, more market information, and increased efficiency in moving goods across the country. The report concludes by outlining the ways in which information technology can be used as an effective poverty-reduction strategy in low-income countries.
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NETWORKED FAMILIES: PARENTS AND SPOUSES ARE USING THE INTERNET AND CELL PHONES TO CREATE A “NEW CONNECTEDNESS” THAT BUILDS ON REMOTE CONNECTIONS AND SHARED INTERNET EXPERIENCES.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Tracey L. M. Kennedy et al. October 19, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 44 pages]
American families are using a wide range of communication media to keep in contact with each other. Married couples with minor children stand out because they have higher rates of internet and cell phone usage, computer ownership and broadband adoption than other household configuration. For today’s married-with-children households, ownership of multiple gadgets and communication tools is a standard feature of life. For example, 89% of married-with-children households own multiple cell phones, and nearly half (47%) own three or more mobile devices. Children in these households are somewhat less likely to own a cell phone than they are to go online: 57% of these children (aged 7-17) have their own cell phone.
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DIGITAL QUALITY OF LIFE: UNDERSTANDING THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL BENEFIT OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION.
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Robert D. Atkinson and Daniel D. Castro. Web posted October 11, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 185 pages]
In the new global economy information technology (IT) is the major driver of both economic growth and improved quality of life. The report documents how IT, since the mid-1990s, has been the principal driver of increased economic growth not only in the United States but also in many other nations. Information technology is also at the core of dramatic improvements in the quality of life for individuals around the world. The report shows how IT is the key enabler of many of today’s key innovations and improvements in our lives and society, from better education and health care, to a cleaner and more energy-efficient environment, to safer and more secure communities and nations.
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Meyer, Michael SURFACE ROUTINES: HOW WE READ ON THE WEB (Columbia Journalism Review, vol. 47, no. 4, November/December 2008)
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People’s limitations when faced with the huge volume of information on the Internet, coupled with their compulsion to know what is there, is changing the way people read printed and online material. In-depth reading is often replaced by skimming greater quantities of content. Studies, such as that by Jakob Nielsen, show that people read much less in their pursuit of relevant information. Although some fear a negative impact on introspective literacy, evidence from a 2007 Poynter Institute EyeTrack study indicates readers online read substantially more text than those devoted to print, and were drawn by text rather than photos. The author concludes that while the Web may influence behavior, it merely highlights cultural inadequacies already present in social and educational institutions.
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Shadbolt, Nigel; Berners-Lee, Tim WEB SCIENCE: STUDYING THE INTERNET TO PROTECT OUR FUTURE (Scientific American, September 2008)
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Studying the Web will reveal better ways to exploit information, prevent identity theft, revolutionize industry and manage our ever-growing online lives. The relentless rise in Web pages and links is creating emergent properties -- from social networking to virtual identity theft -- that are transforming society. A new discipline, Web science, aims to discover how Web traits arise and how they can be harnessed or held in check to benefit society. Important advances are beginning to be made; more work can solve major issues such as securing privacy and conveying trust.
THE ROLE OF THE INTERNET IN BURMA’S SAFFRON REVOLUTION.
Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. Mridul Chowdhury. Web posted October 6, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 17 pages]
The 2007 Saffron Revolution in Burma was in many ways an unprecedented event in the intersection between politics and technology. It is an example of an Internet driven protest which did not lead to tangible political change. It is also of interest because of the complex interaction between eyewitnesses within the country and a networked public sphere of bloggers, student activists, and governments around the globe. The case study examines the root causes, progress, and outcomes of the Saffron Revolution and attempts to parse out the extent to which technology may have played a useful or detrimental role in the unfolding of events.
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CYBERSECURITY ECONOMIC ISSUES.
RAND Corporation. September 24, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 5 pages]
The emerging field of cyber security economics could benefit from better data, better understanding, and better methods for using resources, to provide assurances that software will work as expected. The research brief presents findings that address these key cyber security concerns, perceptions of the importance of cyber security, and considerations for cyber security investment decisions. It suggests that companies, the government, and other organizations can help improve our understanding of cyber security economics by monitoring cyber security incidents and responses, soliciting and using standard terminology and measures, and sharing data whenever possible.
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A GENERATION UNPLUGGED.
Harris Interactive. Web posted September 15, 2008.
Full Text [PDF format, 30 pages]
According to the study, second to clothing, teens say a cell phone tells the most about a person’s social status or popularity, outranking jewelry, watches and shoes. The study also found that cell phones are fast becoming a social necessity among teens. A majority (57 percent) view their cell phone as the key to their social life. With nearly four out of every five teens (17 million) carrying a wireless device (a 40 percent increase since 2004), it’s not surprising that six in ten teens (57 percent) credit mobility for improving their quality of life.
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
[United Nations]. Web posted August 17, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 8 pages]
The report provides a summary of the replies received from governments on the topics related to information security and security of global information and telecommunications systems.
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Vander Veen, Chad NET GAINS (Government Technology, vol. 21, no. 8, August 2008, pp. 16-20, 22)
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According to the author, the World Wide Web is often dubbed “this generation's wild, Wild West,” a raucous, freewheeling digital expanse; like the frontier, the Web is a showcase for an emerging society with its own ideas, goals and morals. In the virtual world of the 21st century, the web has emerged as a “pivotal theater” in which candidates for office must battle -– it has blossomed from a campaign novelty to an essential tool to reach voters. The difference during the 2008 election cycle for president is the advent of Web 2.0 applications; chief among these new applications are social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook and Flickr. Barack Obama's website, for example, features various links to social networking sites; some of them are broadly known, such as Digg and LinkedIn. Others target specific demographics, such as FaithBase, BlackPlanet and AsianAve; Obama uses each of these sites to deliver a message tailored to a niche audience. John McCain's site, meanwhile, makes heavy use of blogs and video. Both candidates’ web site contain a feature that enables online donations, an innovation started by Howard Dean in his unsuccessful 2004 presidential race.
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Heffernan, Virginia MY WIRED YOUTH (New York Times Magazine, February 3, 2008, pp. 20-21)
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Heffernan remembers her adolescence 25 years ago when she discovered the nascent Internet through Xcaliber, an early social-networking technology developed by Dartmouth College. Using Xcaliber, Virginia discovered Conference XYZ, a live chat option on the network. XYZ became Virginia’s hobby: “For years, I dated, studied, endured heartbreak and hazing and crossed and double-crossed everyone in a mysterious online netherworld called Xcaliber. By the time I turned 13, I was confident I knew every single person online. Xcaliber taught me to type, talk to adults, experiment with fantastic personas and new idioms, spot lechers by their online styles and avoid ideologues who post in all caps.” In all this was an exciting, albeit possibly dangerous online world for a teenager to explore. Having explored an early version of the internet has allowed Virginia to understand and identify with the experiences of today’s teenagers as they chat on the internet, just as she did, 25 years ago.
LOVE AND AUTHENTICATION.
ACM Computer/ Human Interaction Conference, RavenWhite, Inc. Markus Jakobsson et al. Web posted July 2, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 4 pages]
Passwords are ubiquitous, and users and service providers alike rely on them for their security. However, good passwords may sometimes be hard to remember. For years, security practitioners have battled with the dilemma of how to authenticate people who have forgotten their passwords. Existing approaches suffer from high false positive and false negative rates. Good security questions should be based on long-lived personal preferences and knowledge, and avoid publicly available information.
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BRIDGING THE GLOBAL DIGITAL DIVIDE, ONE LAPTOP AT A TIME.
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. June 11, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 4 pages]
The non-profit One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program unveiled the second version of its XO laptop, which is designed to bring affordable, modern technology to children in developing countries. The researchers of the study say that the focus on third world countries is promising, but they question whether these efforts will be effective. Non-profits see technology as a way to improve education. Meanwhile, technology companies see a good cause and billions of potential customers.
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SHAPING POLICIES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET ECONOMY.
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. June 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 39 pages]
The aim of the OECD Ministerial is to promote the Internet economy, a concept inclusive of the full range of economic, social and cultural activities supported by the Internet and related information and communication technologies. The report provides policy directions and guidance in 20 areas aimed at facilitating convergence, stimulating creativity, strengthening confidence, and expanding the opportunities for global economic, social and cultural development. It integrates work from five OECD Committees responsible for information and communication technologies, consumer policy, education, public governance, health and development.
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Thomas, Christopher CHINA’S NETIZENS AID EARTHQUAKE RELIEF (Forbes Magazine, June 3, 2008)
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In the aftermath of China’s catastrophic May 12 earthquake, many lives were saved thanks to the Internet. The author notes that the presence of large numbers of potential news reporters online spurred the Chinese government to act quickly. In fact, the Peoples’ Liberation Army first responders were able to locate a landing site near the disaster area, thanks to an instant message posted on popular local messaging services Baidu Post Bar and QQ. The poster, a Wenchuan native, gave the location and topography of the field where the army helicopter was able to land.
THE INTERNET AND THE 2008 ELECTION.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. Aaron Smith and Lee Rainie. June 15, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 27 pages]
A record-breaking 46% of Americans have used the internet, email or cell phone text messaging to get news about the campaign, share their views and mobilize others. A significant number of voters are also using the internet to gain access to campaign events and primary documents. Online activism using social media has also grown substantially since the first time we probed this issue during the 2006 midterm elections. Yet despite the growth in the number of people who are politically engaged online, internet users express some ambivalence about the role of the internet in the campaign. On one hand, 28% of wired Americans say that the internet makes them feel more personally connected to the campaign, and 22% say that they would not be as involved in the campaign if not for the internet. At the same time, however, even larger numbers feel that the internet magnifies the most extreme viewpoints and is a source of misinformation for many voters.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE CABLE INDUSTRY’S IMPACT ON THE U.S. ECONOMY.
Bortz Media & Sports Group, Inc. Web posted June 13, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 54 pages]
The U.S. cable industry accounts for 1.5 million jobs in all 50 states representing almost $62 billion in personal income and a gross economic output of nearly $227 billion, according to study. In addition, it concludes that between 2002 – 2007, direct and indirect employment attributable to the cable industry increased by almost 367,000 jobs, which amounts to nearly five percent of all net new jobs created by the U.S. economy during that five-year period. A major source of the industry’s job growth and economic impact can be attributed its aggressive re-investment of capital, $130 billion since 1996, to develop the nation’s most widely available broadband infrastructure.
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THE INTERNET AND CONSUMER CHOICE: ONLINE AMERICANS USE DIFFERENT SEARCH AND PURCHASE STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT GOODS.
Pew Internet & American Life Project. John B. Horrigan. Web posted May 23, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 42 pages]
The internet plays an important role in how people conduct research for purchases, but it is just one among a variety of sources people use and usually not the key factor in final purchasing decisions. The study tracks the decision-making processes for buying music, purchasing a cell phone, and buying or renting a home. Only 7% of music buyers, 10% of cell phone buyers, and 11% of those who bought or rented a home in the prior year say that online information had a major impact on their decision.
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GENE AND PROTEIN EXPRESSION FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO READIOFREQUENCY FIELDS FROM MOBILE PHONES.
National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. Jacques Vanderstraeten and Luc Verschaeve. Web posted May 13,
2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 21 pages]
Since 1999, several studies were done on genome-wide and proteome-wide response after exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields whose signal and intensities were similar to or typical of those of the currently used mobile phones. To date, the results are still inconclusive as most of the positive reports were flawed by methodological imperfections or shortcomings. Yet, based on lessons from microwave-assisted chemistry, one can assume that RF fields might affect heat activable gene or protein expression. However, most likely, this problem would apply to intensities that are higher than the average human exposure.
EVIDENCE ON THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
Congressional Budget Office. May 12, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 48 pages]
Information plays a key role in health care. Providers such as physicians and hospitals generate and process information as they provide care to patients. Managing that information and using it productively pose a continuing challenge, particularly in light of the complexity of the U.S. health care sector. Health information technology (health IT) has the potential to increase the efficiency of the health sector by helping providers manage information. It could also improve the quality of health care and, ultimately, the outcomes of that care for patients. The term “health IT” generally refers to computer applications for the practice of medicine.
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Simendinger, Alexis NEW MEDIA AS THE MESSAGE (National Journal, vol.40, no. 16, April 19, 2008, pp. 40-44)
Full Text [html format]
National Journal staff writer Simendinger describes the Obama campaign's deft use of mainstream media to attract potential voters to its "offline" campaign network. Using text messaging and e-mail signals to young voters that Obama understands who they are and they should trust him, says political communications expert Kathleen Hall Jamison. The author quotes Arizona State University Professor Matthew Hindman, who adds that "Hillary Clinton would have been the nominee but for the Internet, and she would have secured the nomination -- as her campaign expected -- by Super Tuesday." Other experts wonder if the medium is as important as the message. All agree that the Internet, social networking and other new technologies for organizing potential voters will become even more important in future elections as young people rely less on mainstream media for news and political information.
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Waldrop, M. Mitchell SCIENCE 2.0 (Scientific American, vol. 298, no. 5, May 2008, pp. 69-73)
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Is posting raw results online for all to see a tool or a risk? Science 2.0 refers to the new practice of scientists posting raw experimental results, theories, claims of discovery and draft papers on the Web for others to see and comment on. Proponents say these "open access" practices make scientific progress more collaborative and productive. Critics say scientists who put preliminary findings online risk having others copy or exploit the work to gain credit or even patents. Despite pros and cons, Science 2.0 sites are starting to proliferate; one example is the OpenWetWare projects started by biological engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
AA08130
Metz, Edward RIDING THE WAVES OF TODAY'S ONLINE WEB TOOLS (Online, vol. 32, no. 1, January/February 2008, pp. 18-21)
Full Text (EbscoHost; password required)
The author, a librarian at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, finds that the days of Web surfing, when the user went from site to site to check on the latest content updates, are long gone, replaced by RSS feeds and online news aggregators. Now, as more productivity tools become available online and Web 2.0 social networking tools proliferate, it would certainly be helpful to have just one single platform to host and organize all of these services. The great wealth of gadgetry to choose from adds to iGoogle's attraction. The iGoogle content directory stores an impressive array of some 25,000 content modules or gadgets, as these mini Web applications are called. For many, if not most, of their users, Google is the search engine of choice. People are also drawn to Google for its other search and productivity tools. iGoogle makes it easy to create some very simple gadgets through several templates for things like a framed photo, a personal list, or even a YouTube video channel.
MAPPING IRAN'S ONLINE PUBLIC: POLITICS AND CULTURE IN THE PERSIAN BLOGOSPHERE.
Harvard Law School, Berkman Center for Internet and Society. John Kelly, et. al. Web posted April 7, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 68 pages]
In contrast to the conventional wisdom that Iranian bloggers are mainly young democrats critical of the regime, the authors of this study found a wide range of opinions representing religious conservative points of view as well as secular and reform-minded ones, and topics ranging from politics and human rights to poetry, religion, and pop culture. The research indicates that the Persian blogosphere is indeed a large discussion space of approximately 60,000 routinely updated blogs featuring a rich and varied mix of bloggers.
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AA08094
Geck, Caroline COUNTRY STUDIES: INTERNET AND DATABASE RESOURCES (Choice, vol. 45, no. 8, April 2008, pp. 1275-1284,1286-1291)
Full text available from your nearest American Library
Country studies are an important part of many library collections, as interest in foreign countries continues to grow. Such studies address diverse information needs and originate from sources ranging from government agencies to think tanks to the commercial sector. Many English-speaking countries besides the U.S. furnish country information, and their web sites offer U.S. citizens different country perspectives. One of the leaders continues to be the Library of Congress, with its digitalized collections and Web resource directories. Another is the U.S. Department of State, with its Background Notes and other publications directed at potential visitors to foreign countries and to diplomats taking up residence. Many international organizations have collaborated in compiling statistics, while other good resources are offered by think tank, policy institutes, and academic and commercial organizations. Educational institutions have developed Internet portals to socioeconomic and development data sets, along with tools for comparison. Finally, there are Web 2.0 resources, with video-sharing resources (e.g. YouTube) and wikis like Executive Planet.com.
MOBILE ACCESS TO DATA AND INFORMATION.
Pew Research Center, Internet and American Life Project. John Horrigan. Web posted March 10, 2008.
Full Text [pdf format, 12 pages]
62% of all Americans have some experience with mobile access to digital data and tools. That is, they have either used a cell phone or PDA for a non-voice data application or logged on to the internet away from home or work using a wireless laptop connection or a handheld device. When asked how hard it would be to give up a specific technology, respondents are now most likely to say the cell phone would be most difficult to do without, followed by the internet, TV, and landline telephone. This represents a sharp reversal in how people viewed these technologies as recently as 2002.
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AA08054
Gordon-Murnane, Laura MASHUPS AS DIY TOOLS (Online, vol. 32, no. 1, January/February 2008, pp. 14-17)
Full Text (EbscoHost; password required)
The author believes that content is not only critical to the information professional’s work but that it is also growing exponentially. With more Web 2.0 tools appearing daily, this data explosion is just the tip of the iceberg as tools for entry, use, reuse, distribution, and redistribution are making possible things that previously were too expensive or difficult. More exciting is the movement toward blended search results, which allow data to be interpreted differently than when it is presented as straight text. Blended content is not limited to search engine results and news sites — it is also happening with mashups, which combine data from more than one source to create a new tool, resource, widget, and ultimately a new experience. Two such mashups would be HealthMap, which tracks the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health, and ChicagoCrime.org, a mashup of crime data from the Chicago Police Department and Google Maps, showing crimes reported in the past two years for a certain zip code. However, the world of mashups is only just beginning, so librarians and information professionals need to be involved and active in using, sharing, creating, and helping others find the tools they need for personal and professional uses.
TEENS AND SOCIAL MEDIA: THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA GAINS A GREATER FOOTHOLD IN TEEN LIFE AS THEY EMBRACE THE CONVERSATIONAL NATURE OF INTERACTIVE ONLINE MEDIA.
Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Alexandra Rankin Macgill, and Aaron Smith. Pew Internet & American Life Project. December 19, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 44 pages]
Approximately 93% of American teens use the internet and most use it as a venue for social interaction. This study found that 64% of the teens surveyed participate in one or more “content-creating activities.” 55% of online teens created a profile on a social networking site such as Facebook, 47% uploaded photos, and 14% posted videos.
The data are based on a callback telephone survey of 935 randomly selected teens aged 12-17 and a parent or guardian. The survey was conducted between October 23, and November 19, 2006.
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DATA MINING AND HOMELAND SECURITY: AN OVERVIEW.
Jeffrey W. Seifert. Congressional Research Service (CRS), Library of Congress. Updated December 5, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 41 pages]
Data mining is “the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets.” Data mining has become one of the key features of homeland security to identify terrorist activities and track individual terrorists. However, there are limitations to its capabilities and there are issues of Congressional oversight. This report outlines the technological capabilities, limitations, and oversight objectives of data mining.
THE DIGITAL ECONOMY FACT BOOK. Daniel B. Britton and Stephen McGonegal. Progress and Freedom Foundation. Web posted December 14, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 188 pages]
The ninth edition of the Fact Book provides an analysis of the digital economy covering such topics as the growth of the internet, the hardware and communication sectors, the digital media, electronic commerce, and threats to the digital economy. The authors present historical data as well as projections on broadband adoption, piracy, social networking, and identity theft. This edition also includes a timeline of key events during 2006 and 2007.
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
Peisner, Lynn THE UNITY MOVEMENT (American City & County, December 1, 2007 pgs 36-39)
Full Text [html format]
Governments seek strength by consolidating IT Departments. This article highlights some the benefits of imminent IT reform.
Spector, Michael DAMN SPAM: THE LOSING WAR ON JUNK E-MAIL (New Yorker, August 6, 2007, vol. 83, no. 22, pp. 36-41)
Full Text
In 2004 Bill Gates announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that in two years spam would be solved. At the time, his optimism seemed justified: Congress had just passed a new law (the CAN-SPAM Act) designed to control the problem. Initially, spam did drop, but by 2006 it was clear that this trend was short-lived. Spammers simply changed their methods, creating rogue robot networks (botnets) out of hijacked PCs (the computer that you are using to read this may be one of them). Botnets can easily be disbanded and regrouped using tens of thousands of other computers. Botnet herders can be anywhere -- often in Eastern Europe and Russia, out of reach of the long arm of the FBI. Worldwide, nearly two million e-mails are sent each second -- that's trillions of emails each week. Even if only a miniscule percentage of e-mails results in sales, spammers can still earn good money. It's war, and it looks like the spammers are winning.
STATE E-GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES: IDENTIFYING BEST PRACTICES AND APPLICATIONS.
Jeffrey W. Seifert and Glenn J. McLoughlin. Congressional Research Service (CRS), Library of Congress. July 23, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 61 pages]
E-government is one of the leading approaches to government reform, but there is a lack of coordination or communication between the various initiatives. Congress oversees the e-government initiatives and works with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and state governments to identify best practices, standards, and strategies. This report identifies the practices and strategies that are being used by state governments.
This report is based on research conducted by the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
THE MEANS TO COMPETE: BENCHMARKING IT INDUSTRY COMPETITIVENESS.
Kim Thomas. Business Software Alliance, Economist Intelligence Unit. July 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 30 pages]
Countries that generate information technology (IT) software, hardware, or services contribute 5% to the gross domestic product, and IT is also a major source of labor productivity growth. IT’s domestic industry growth relies on the quality of the information technology, communication infrastructure, supply of local talent, research and development environment, and laws and regulations.
This report compares the IT industry environment in 64 countries. The key findings are: (1) the US has the most positive IT environment; (2) skills-rich emerging markets will challenge today’s performers; (3) skill requirements are changing rapidly; and (4) open competition must be supported by intellectual property rights protection.
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Rossmiller, Shannen MY CYBER COUNTER-JIHAD (Middle East Quarterly, Vol. 14, no. 3, Summer 2007)
Full Text
On Sept. 11, the author was a small-town municipal judge in Montana and mother of three with no knowledge of Arabic or expertise in the Middle East. But the 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. and news reports about terrorists and associates using web sites and chat rooms to carry out operations and recruit converts galvanized her to explore the Internet. Soon she would begin studying Arabic online and navigating through a world of what she describes as jihadi websites. Rossmiller improved her Arabic and used an online translation service to make contacts and create a false identity. She fed tips to the FBI that helped their investigations. One of them contributed to the arrest of an American Army National Guard specialist from Washington State who was posing as a Muslim convert and offering information about weaknesses of his tank unit on the eve of its departure for Iraq. The author’s identity was compromised during the man’s military hearing, making her vulnerable to death threats and leaving her with a bullet-ridden car. While now employing security protection, Rossmiller’s online sleuthing continues prompting the now-retired judge to warn that her experience with the terrorists use of web technology suggests that “Western governments lag behind in Internet cyber-warfare with al-Qaida.”
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Ratliff, Evan THE WHOLE EARTH, CATALOGED (Wired, July 2007, pp. 154-159)
Full Text
Obtaining maps and directions online has been a growing practice for about a decade, but further technological developments are allowing users to customize maps, and make them available to others in ways that redefine cartography. Sites like Platial.com allow users to share their commentary, photographs, or points of interest on map locations for other users. This development is more than another online pastime for the technologically adept, Ratliff writes. Mapmaking has always been a tool of dominance of the land, but now easy-to-use shareware allows anyone to become a cartographer. That can lead to entirely new views of the Earth in all its rich chaotic complexity. According to one expert quoted by Ratliff, “It’s as close to Babel as we get.”
Ramos, Miguel; Gautheir, Dawn MASH IT UP!: REMIXING THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY (Searcher, vol. 15, no. 6, June 2007, pp. 17-22)
Full Text (ProQuest: password required)
The authors give a usefully succint explanation of "mashup": "...Web mashup developers use content from different online sources to create a specialized application that didn't exist before." A simple example would be using Google Map to show the pizza joints in one's neighborhood. More interesting examples include library catalogs that allow end-users to add book reviews, comments and tags. A useful sidebar gives some pointers for those who want to create their own mashup.
Huang, Phil HOW YOU CAN PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS AND THEIR USERS (Computers in Libraries, vol. 27, no. 5, May 2007, pp. 16-20)
Full Text (ProQuest: password required)
Librarians have a responsibility not only to protect public access computers from online attacks, but also to educate and inform their users about the risks. Huang gives some useful pointers in this brief article.
ECONOMICS OF THE INTERNET.
Nicholas Economides. Working Paper, New York University Law and Economics Working Papers, New York University School of Law. Web posted January 1, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 25 pages]
This paper discusses the “salient economic aspects of the Internet, including the possible abolition of net neutrality [the principle that Internet users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use] by local broadband access networks as well as potential incompatibilities and degradation of connectivity in the Internet backbone.”
The author’s conclusion is that competition is the backbone of Internet services, but local access networks are presently posing that net neutrality be abolished and that fees be imposed. The author further contends that the legality of these proposals is questionable and may have adverse consequences for consumers.
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON SOFTWARE: RISKS AND RECOURSE: A REPORT OF THE CSIS TECHNOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAM.
James A. Lewis and Phillip J. Bond. CSIS Technology and Public Policy Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). March 7, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 49 pages]
“Globalization drives change,” and this change along with globalization has brought prosperity to the world. However, along with this prosperity, new risks have evolved primarily from technology. “Creating policies that can maintain economic opportunity while managing new risks is one of the most complex challenges that governments face today. This report looks at one new set of risks created by changes in how companies write software and considers how best to mitigate that risk.”
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
INTERNET CRIME REPORT JANUARY 1, 2006 – DECEMBER 31, 2006.
National White Collar Crime Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. Web posted March 18, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 27 pages]
The 2006 Internet Crime Report is the sixth annual compilation of criminal complaints received by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). In 2006, IC3 processed more than 200,481 complaints composed primarily of fraud types such as auction fraud, non-delivery, and credit/debit card fraud. The total dollar loss was $198.44 million—up from $183.12 million in 2005. Electronic mail and webpages were the two primary mechanisms for the fraudulent contact.
LATINOS ONLINE: HISPANICS WITH LOWER LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REMAIN LARGELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE INTERNET.
Susannah Fox and Gretchen Livingston. Pew Hispanic Center and Pew Internet Project. March 14, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 23 pages]
“Latinos comprise 14% of the U.S. adult population and about half of this growing group (56%) goes online. By comparison, 71% of non-Hispanic whites and 60% of non-Hispanic blacks use the internet.” Only one in three Latinos who speak Spanish only go online, and Latinos are less likely than whites to have internet connection at home. However, college-educated adults have equally high levels (about 90%) of internet use regardless of race or ethnicity.
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
Coombs, Karen A. BUILDING A LIBRARY WEB SITE ON THE PILLARS OF WEB 2.0 (Computers in Libraries, vol. 27, no. 1, January 2007, pp. 16-19)
Full Text [html format]
The centralized and cumbersome nature of the University of Houston Libraries web site was frustrating for library staff, who wanted a site that was interactive and flexible. Coombs, who heads the libraries' Web services, realized that the staff "was looking for a Web site that was more 'Web 2.0' in nature"; in other words, a space that enabled conversation, collaboration and interaction. Coombs discusses the six pillars of Web 2.0 that her libraries wanted to use for rebuilding their site: radical decentralization, small pieces loosely joined, perpetual beta, remixable content, user as contributor, and rich user experience.
2006 GOLD MOUSE REPORT: RECOGNIZING THE BEST WEB SITES ON CAPITOL HILL
Congressional Management Foundation. Released Feb. 2007
Overview [html format]
Full report [pdf format, 267 pages]
The overview notes that this report "marks the third time that CMF has evaluated all Member, committee, and leadership Web sites and recognized the best Congressional Web sites with Mouse Awards. Previously released in 2002 and 2003, the 2006 report reflects the growing importance of the Internet in the everyday lives of Americans." Included in the report are useful tips on building and managing a successful web site.
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
Wentzel, Larry SCANNING FOR DIGITIZATION PROJECTS (Computers in Libraries, vol. 27, no. 3, March 2007, pp. 6-8, 46-48)
Full Text (ProQuest: password required)
Wentzel provides some useful tips for creating digital images with optimal quality. A better understanding of the technology makes all the difference, he suggests.
Kavehrad, Mohsen BROADBAND ROOM SERVICE BY LIGHT (Scientific American, vol. 297, no. 1, July 2007, pp. 82-87)
Full text available from your nearest American Library
Imagine an office with a large number of wireless devices -- both mobile and fixed -- and then imagine delivering gigabit-per-second broadband services to these devices regardless of the number of users, and without interference or eavesdropping worries. One possible solution, which Kavehrad explores in this article, is to accomplish wireless delivery of multimedia internet services using light beams rather than radio waves. You may point out that solving the "last few feet" problem won't help unless one can deliver true broadband connectivity to the building or office. A sidebar suggests one solution that is already being tested in South Africa: "Optical wireless becomes more practical if the broadband data travel the 'last mile' over electric power lines...."
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Swope, Christopher WORKING WITHOUT WIRES (Governing, Vol. 20, No. 8, May 2007, pp. 28-34)
Full Text
A number of cities in the U.S. are installing wireless broadband networks to provide free public access to the Internet. While these projects are usually public-private partnerships and limited to selected public areas, the city of Corpus Christi, Texas took a different approach. This city of 282,000 installed its own WiFi network covering 147 square miles and found that most use was by city agencies, not residents or businesses. The network provides high-speed data exchange between field employees, such as police, firefighters and building inspectors, and their offices, and allows real-time monitoring of public parks, city vehicles, and water and gas meters. Other uses are under development. While Corpus Christi recently sold its network to a commercial company which will maintain and upgrade the system and charge a fee for access, other municipalities continue to watch and learn from the city’s experience with WiFi.
INSTITUTIONS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOW AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: THE CASE OF MOBILE TELEPHONY.
Federica Maiorano and Jon Stern. Joint Center, AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies. May 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 45 pages]
“This paper studies the relationship between regulation and performance in the mobile telecommunications sector.” This analysis tries to separate the impact of regulation from the potential indirect effects of country institutions. The evidence presented confirms a “positive effect of regulatory institutions on telecommunications penetration and also highlights the contribution of a more widespread mobile telecommunications infrastructure to higher levels of GDP [gross domestic product] per capita.”
[Note: Contains copyrighted material.]
RESULTS OF THE 2007 SECTION 1377 REVIEW OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRADE AGREEMENTS.
U.S. Trade Representative. Web posted April 11, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 17 pages]
This report is an annual review of the operations and effectiveness of the U.S. Telecommunications trade agreements. The report, written by the staff of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), is based on public comments and information gathered from industry, the private sector, and foreign governments. The review focuses on specific issues (those of a particular country) as well as general issues (those concerning several countries). The report also highlights areas of progress and provides information on issues under discussion.
BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS [RL30719]
Lennard G. Kruger, Angele A. Gilroy, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Updated April 6, 2007
Available from your nearest American Library
Latest update in this series. Several legislative initiatives introduced by not enacted in the 109th Congress are likely be reintroduced in the 110th Congress. Issues such as whether government has a role to play in broadband deployment, and if so, what specific approaches are most likely to be effective, are discussed.
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AND SPECTRUM DEMAND: ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES [RS20993]
Linda K. Moore. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated April 2, 2007
Available from your nearest American Library
Latest update in this series. Policy issues facing Congress include "the competitive impact on commercial wireless carriers when municipalities offer wireless broadband services, promoting the development of broadband wireless access, and assuring the availability of appropriate spectrum."
BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES: REGULATORY AND POLICY ISSUES [RL32421]
Figliola, Patricia Moloney, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Updated March 15, 2007
Full text available from your nearest IRC
Latest update in this series. From the summary: "In January 2007, Representative Mike Ross introduced H.R. 462, the Emergency Amateur Radio Interference Protection Act, which would require the FCC to conduct a study on the 'interference caused by broadband Internet transmission over powerlines.' This bill is similar in nature to H.Res. 230 and amendment #25 to H.R. 5252, the Communications Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, also introduced by Representative Ross."
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: ISSUES RELATED TO THE STRUCTURE AND FUNDING OF PUBLIC TELEVISION.
General Accountability Office (GAO). Web posted February 20, 2007.
Full Text [pdf format, 79 pages]
“This report reviews (1) the organizational structure of public television, (2) the programming and other services that public television provides, (3) the current funding sources for public television, (4) the extent to which public television stations are increasing their nonfederal funding sources and developing new sources of nonfederal support, and (5) the extent to which public television benefits financially from business ventures associated with programming and how this compares with commercial broadcasters.”
BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS AND THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS [RL30719]
Lennard G. Kruger, Angele A. Gilroy. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated January 25, 2007
Available from your nearest American Library
‘Some policymakers, believing that disparities in broadband access across American society could have adverse economic and social consequences on those left behind, assert that the federal government should play a more active role to avoid a “digital divide” in broadband access. … Legislation introduced (but not enacted) in the 109th Congress sought to provide federal financial assistance for broadband deployment in the form of grants, loans, subsidies, and tax credits. Many of these legislative proposals are likely to be reintroduced into the 110th Congress. … In assessing such legislation, several policy issues arise. For example, is the current status of broadband deployment data an adequate basis on which to base policy decisions? Is federal assistance premature, or do the risks of delaying assistance to underserved areas outweigh the benefits of avoiding federal intervention in the marketplace? And finally, if one assumes that governmental action is necessary to spur broadband deployment in underserved areas, which specific approaches, either separately or in combination, are likely to be most effective?’ — from the Summary
SPECTRUM USE AND THE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL TV [RS22218]
Linda K. Moore. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated January 16, 2007
Available from your nearest American Library
‘The United States, like most of the world, is moving to replace current television technology with a new, technically superior format generally referred to as digital television (DTV). As part of this transition, Congress has acted to move television broadcasters out of spectrum currently in use for the old, analog technology. … Issues related to the release of spectrum and the transition to digital TV that could be addressed by the 110th Congress include reconsideration of the allocation of released radio frequencies and access to unassigned frequencies between the new digital TV channel allocations, referred to as “white space.”’ — from the Summary
BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES: REGULATORY AND POLICY ISSUES [RL32421]
Figliola, Patricia Moloney. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Updated November 8, 2006
Full text available from your nearest IRC
"Congress has expressed significant interest in increasing the availability of broadband services throughout the nation, both in expanding the geographic availability of such services, as well as expanding the service choices available to consumers. Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) has the potential to play a significant role in increasing the competitive landscape of the communications industry but also has the potential to extend the reach of broadband to a greater number of Americans. BPL, like any technology, has its advantages and disadvantages. Proponents state that (1) BPL is less expensive to deploy than the cable and telephone companies’ broadband offerings, (2) it does not require upgrades to the actual electric grid, and (3) it is not limited by certain technical constraints of its competitors; critics have expressed ongoing concern that BPL could interfere with licensed radio spectrum such as amateur radio, government, and emergency response frequencies." -- from the Summary
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AND SPECTRUM DEMAND: ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES [RS20993]
Linda K. Moore. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated July 5, 2006
Full text available from your nearest IRC
This six-page document -- the latest update in this series -- gives an overview the challenges facing policy makers regarding this technology. South Africans who have been following developments in Knsysa, Tshwane and elsewhere may be interested in the problems faced by municipalities in the United States: "The central debate is whether municipal broadband services are part of essential infrastructure — like electrical power or water — with many benefits, including stimulus to the local economy, or whether they provide unfair competition that distorts the marketplace and discourages commercial companies from investing in broadband technologies."
THE STATE OF IPTV [INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION ] 2006: THE ADVENT OF PERSONALIZED PROGRAMMING.
New Millennium Research Council. June 2006.
Download the document [pdf format, 20 pages]
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is an all-encompassing term that covers many different forms of video programming and services. Because the underlying technologies are Internet-based, IPTV can be transmitted over broadband networks and accessed by consumers through a number of different devices. In general, IPTV allows consumers not only to customize their video programming experience, but also empowers organizations of all types to directly and more inexpensively access new and/or targeted global audiences often otherwise unavailable to them via traditional television.
This report finds that: "With the expansion of broadband access and the growth of computing and video production equipment, industry analysts believe IPTV is realizing its potential as a viable programming platform that can compete with cable, satellite and other traditional video mediums … IPTV is also seen by providers and industry watchers as a gateway for new content providers. IPTV is not simply offering traditional television programming through another device or connection. The low costs of creating content allows just about anyone to produce a 'television show'. IPTV providers are already offering content from sports leagues to home cooking shows and more. The video content is making the web experience more robust for consumers, presenting information in compelling formats that greatly interests existing and new audiences…"
GOVERNMENT ACCESS TO PHONE CALLING ACTIVITY AND RELATED RECORDS: LEGAL AUTHORITIES [RL33424]
Elizabeth B. Bazan, Gina Marie Stevens and Brian T. Yeh, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service. May 17, 2006.
Download the document [pdf format, 19 pages]
According to the information in the May 11 edition of the newspaper USA Today, the National Security Agency (NSA) is alleged to have sought and obtained records of telephone numbers called and received from millions of telephones within the United States from three telephone service providers, while a fourth had refused to provide such records. The USA Today article indicated that no names or addresses were obtained in connection with these telephone calls, nor were the contents of these telephone calls sought or obtained. The USA Today story indicated that this information was being compiled in a database and being used for pattern analysis.
This report summarizes statutory authorities regarding access by the Government, for either foreign intelligence or law enforcement purposes, to information related to telephone calling patterns or practices. It also discusses statutory prohibitions against accessing or disclosing such information, along with relevant exceptions to those prohibitions.
DIGITAL TELEVISION: AN OVERVIEW [RL31260]
Kruger, Lennard G., Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Updated May 5, 2006.
Download the document [pdf format, 46 pages]
This may of be interest to South Africans who have been following recent reports on the implications of the 2010 Soccer World Cup for broadcasting in South Africa. The author notes that although Congress and the Federal Communications Commission set a target date of December 31, 2006 for broadcasters to cease broadcasting their analog signals, a loophole effectively means that analog broadcasting is likely to continue for some time.
NET NEUTRALITY: BACKGROUND AND ISSUES [RS22444]
Gilroy, Angele A., Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. May 16, 2006
Download the document [pdf format, 6 pages]
The move to place restrictions on the owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet, to ensure equal access and nondiscriminatory treatment, is referred to as “net neutrality”. There is no single accepted definition of “net neutrality”. However, most agree that any such definition should include the general principles that owners of the networks that compose and provide access to the Internet should not control how consumers lawfully use that network; and should not be able to discriminate against content provider access to that network. Concern over whether it is necessary to take steps to ensure access to the Internet for content, services, and applications providers, as well as consumers, and if so, what these should be, is a major focus in the debate over telecommunications reform.
AA06113
Wasik, Bill MY CROWD, OR PHASE 5: A REPORT FROM THE INVENTOR OF THE FLASH MOB (Harper's, March 2, 2006, pp. 56-66)
View article on ProQuest (password required)
A flash mob is defined as "a public gathering of complete strangers, organized via the Internet or mobile phone, which performs a pointless act and then disperses again." In fact, as reported by the author, who claims to have created the first flash mob in New York City in June 2003, the flash mob can be variously a daring media experiment, an exercise in performance art, and a marketing opportunity co-opted by major corporations. Wasik describes the logistics of organizing a flash mob event, how it evolved from an obscure prank limited to a few of the author's friends into a phenomenon that migrated to other cities throughout the United States, and the breathless coverage that flash mobs generated on blogs and mainstream newspapers. Although lighthearted in tone, the article raises interesting questions about the surprising uses of communications technologies and the impact of their social effects.
HOW AMERICANS USE THEIR CELL PHONES
Rainee, Lee, Keener, Scott, Pew Internet & American Life Project, April 2006
Summary
Full report [pdf format, 13 pages]
Seventy-four percent of Americans who own cell phones say they have used them in an emergency and gained valuable help. Forty-one percent say they fill free time when traveling or waiting for someone by making phone calls. At the same time 82% of all Americans report being irritated at least occasionally by loud and annoying cell users who conduct their calls in public places.
AA05274
Goetz, Thomas; McHugh, Josh; Rose, Frank THE TV OF TOMORROW (Wired, September 2005, pp. 102-117)
View Goetz's article on publisher's website
View McHugh's article on publisher's website
View Rose's article on publisher's website
The authors of this series of articles predict a world where TV becomes synonymous with the Internet and there are millions of sources of video entertainment. Downloading TV clips from Web logs and video sites, Americans are already watching parts of their favorite shows on their computers, rather than on TV. Enthusiasts even download entire shows and trade them with friends online. The distinction between the traditional networks, cable channels, and Web video sources will fade, the authors assert. There are already several Internet startups with names like Akimbo, Brightcove, and Dave TV that potentially offer unlimited TV programming in the form of Internet video downloads for a fee. The Internet company Yahoo is positioning itself to deliver large amounts of video quickly. Major U.S. telephone companies are planning to offer high-quality video feeds through fiber optic cable. The next challenge: intelligent indexing systems that allow viewers to search quickly through giant video archives for whatever they want. One of the beneficiaries: sports, to be available on everything from large screens to computers to cell phone screens, all places, all times.
THE DIGITAL TV TRANSITION: A BRIEF OVERVIEW [RS22217]
Lennard G. Kruger, Lennard G. Kruger. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated August 12, 2005
Download the document [pdf format, 6 pages]
“Congressional policymakers are seeking a way to accelerate the nation's transition to digital television and to expedite the transfer of radio frequency channels from the broadcast industry to public safety and commercial users no later than 2009. Broadcasters are holding spectrum in the 700MHz band (channels 52-69) that they would be required to relinquish after the transition to digital television (DTV) is achieved. Without a hard deadline, the transition to digital television has been postponed. Meanwhile, public safety officials want 700 MHz spectrum that has been assigned to them, but not delivered, in order to build new interoperable networks, while the commercial wireless industry would like access to the spectrum for new services.”
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AND SPECTRUM DEMAND: ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES [RS20993]
Linda K. Moore. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated July 21, 2005
Full text available from your nearest IRC
Latest update on the convergence of wireless telecommunications technology and internet technology.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE: MAKING THE MOST OF COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
National Consumers League
Table of contents [html format]
Looks at the variety of telecommunication options, including Voice-over-IP, available to the public today.
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY AND SPECTRUM DEMAND: ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES [RS20993]
Linda K. Moore. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Updated June 27, 2005
Full text available from your nearest IRC
Looks at the policy implications of third- and fourth-generation mobile telephony, and related technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMAX. Municipalities in the U.S. have started offering wireless broadband services, raising concerns about the impact on the private sector.
Related article: Bills in Congress Seek to Define Municipalities' Rights to Provide Internet Access
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