Monster SUV Fit for James Bond
Smart Truck is funded by the Army’s TACOM Bond-like countermeasures with TouchScreen activation
Blinding Lights, Explosion Suppression, High Voltage Door Handles Lightweight Armor, Bulletproof Glass, Oil Slicks, Pepper Spray Dispensers, Smoke Screen, Tack Dispenser
Biocentric/AuthenTec Fingerprint Identification, Quad-steering, and Mobile Video Solid state Windows CE touch screen computer Satellite and terrestrial wireless communications with GPS and mapping. Weapon is raised from the cap of the vehicle through sliding doors. Enemy targets are spotted by the four cameras, for both day and night operation.
DARPA Total Information Awareness Program
Funded by DARPA Information Awareness Office , John Poindexter, Office Director DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is home to many innovative ideas (e.g. the Internet)Project seeks to use data mining techniques to analyze and consolidate a wide range of intelligence and commercial databases. ACLU "disturbed" with this new program. Other Programs Information Awareness Office
Silicon Retina Vision Update
Device made by Second Sight in Santa Clarita, California Miniature camera attached to glasses that sent signal to wireless receiver behind ear. Signal sent to electronic chip attached to retina Two blind patients have seen a sixteen pixel image Increasing that to 1000 pixels will be like low resolution TV Will be at least five years before devices are widely available
Internet Provisions in Homeland Security Bill
ISP like AOL or MSN could give government subscriber info without warrant Police would gain added wiretap authority Raises possibility of life imprisonment for hacking, if intent was to kill or harm. Government given authority to trace e-mail and other traffic during a cyber attack ACLU expected to file suit
Papermate Pendulum Pen
Automatically adjust to writing angle Tip rotates to stay vertical Only cost $4
Asteroid Threat Reassessed
Scientist now estimate the asteroid that hit Siberia in 1908 will only hit earth once every 1000 years. Equivalent to 10 Megaton of TNT In an inhabited area, would kill millions of people Based on geosynchronous satellite images looking to rocket launches Between 1994 and 2002, over 300 impacts have been observed
Pedal Power Drives Computers in Laos
Five villages are linked to the Internet as part of project funded by Jhai Foundation Custom built PC features
Use flash memory instead of hard drive and operate with 20W Are powered with car battery that is charged with bicycle crank Are connected by 802.11 wireless to solar powered relay that is beamed to town (30 km away) Use customized Linux OS with Loa script
Residents will use computers for crop market timing, selling handicrafts, using spreadsheets, telephoning relatives.
How to Keep Track for Digital Pictures
First There was the Digital Camera, Now We have Digital Files Windows XP has build in tools for managing photos
Users the file and directory metaphor
ThumbsPlus5 from Cerius Software ($79)
Image database that uses same metaphor
Picasa from Lifescape Solutions ($29)
Second generation digital photo management system Based on photographs, including dates subject matter
Home Security Tutorial
Published by cert.org Outlines what each home computer user must do to protect themselves This 30-page report is easy to read and to implement
Peer-to-Peer Goes Legit
RadioFreeVirgin provides 50 commercial-free streams for $5/monthSince there is no file transfer, there is no copyright infringement A service of Virgin Atlantic Airlines
Internet Population Jumps
Users jump to 655 Million worldwide, up 30% from last year Value of goods purchased $2.3B, up 50% from last year About 18% of all purchasing is done over the Web
Microsoft News
Oversight Committee Takes Shape
DOJ and Nine States Nominate Harry Saal to committee Microsoft Nominates Franklin Fite to committee Saal and Fite will select third member
Microsoft Warns of Critical Security Flaw
Affects Windows 2000, Millennium, and 98, but not XP Allows hackers to change hard drive using MS Data Access Components (MDAC) 65th security bulletin issued by MS this year
Hot Laptop Burns Penis
New Pentium 4 Processors Generate Lots of Heat Laptop case is frequently designed to serve as a heat sink and radiator….bottom gets hot! One man did not heed these warnings. Suffered second degree burns?..in a most private area.
Rich’s Game Picks for Holiday Gifts
PC Games X-Box Games PlayStation II Games
MailBag
We have got lots of letters
Stratford News
Next start is January 6th