Confusion in Wireless Home Networking
2.4 GHz (802.11b, 802.11g, and Bluetooth)
5 GHz (802.11a)
Dual band (a & b) looks like a winner
Look for repeaters to be released soon
What do you need? (Firewall, Router, AP)
Confusion in HDTV may get better soon
Screens (Format, size, technology) ? Standard are stable
Tuners (Receivers, Cable Boxes) ? Finally some standards here
Agreement between Consumer Electronics Association and National Cable and Telecommunications Association will mean cable-ready HDTVs will be plug-and-play
If set-top box is required it will attached through a digital video interface connector (DVI)
Firewire (IEEE 1394) will connect to TV and DVD recorder
Audio (Surround Sound) ? Standards are stable
Recording Devices (DVD) ? Standards are evolving
Broadband Telecom Rules May Change
Powell set to loosen regulations for Baby Bells to share lines in order to get into broadband
Hollings no longer Chair of Senate Commerce Committee (a vocal critic of Powell)
New chair in John McCain (a Powell supporter)
Cocaine, Inc Goes High Tech
Cali Colombian Drug Cartel found using an $1.5M IBM AS400 Mainframe eight years ago
Business intelligence software to correlate phone calls on employees to key government and enforcemenet officials
Sophisticated supply chain management software now in use
Mapping of radar patterns to plan flight paths
Latest encryption techniques for distributed computing currently used for communications network
Reverse auctions to launder money uses the latest e-business technology
Internet was officially born 20 years ago
January 1, 1983 the 400 computers hooked to the ARPANet were switched to TCP/IP
TPC/IP, the protocol, was conceived 33 years ago in an ARPA research contract
TeleSea to Launch Wi-Fi for Networks
Reston Based Firm
Wi-Fi for major ports
Cruise lines to pay $500/month for access
Microsoft Ordered to Carry Java
Must include Sun Java Virtual Machine
Rather than only Microsoft?s version (which Sun says in not fully compatible)
Cloistered Nun Find Computer Vocation
Sister Marie Bernardina
One of 14 nuns cloistered at Carmel of Port Tobacco Monastery
37 year old nun is Web Mistress of ICS Publications
Publishes works from Institute of Carmelite Studies in Washington
Convent also does Data Processing work for the Archdioceses of Washington
Sister Marie Bernardina spends two hours per day on the computer
Rat-Brained Robot
Steve Potter of Georgia Tech combines electronics and neurons
Placed a droplet of solution containing thousands of rat neurons onto silicon chip
Chip is embedded with 60 electrodes connected to an amplifier
Robot sends signals back to the neurons for training
Trying to develop concepts for self-healing computers
Holiday e-Commerce up 40 Percent (BizRate)
Computer hardware top selling ($6.24B, up 50%)
Electronics ($2.54B, up 38%)
Entertainment ($1.72B, up 61%
Apparel ($1.61B, up 10%)
Predictions for 2003 (from Canoe News)
Death of CD-ROM
Instant Message for Business
More Linux in Business
Web Access Prices to Go Up
Wireless to Continue Strong (not as standalone 802.11b)
Law enforcement information database sharing will be up
Stupid Move of the Year
In July, Flooz.com sells $1000 of Flooz currency for $800 to AmEx holders
Suspends offer one month later
Declared backruptcy in November (Flooz currency now worth nothing)
Listed as Numbers 5 & 6 in 101 Dumbest Moments in Business
IRS Expands Internet Usage
You can e-file and e-pay your taxes
You can?t e-scape your taxes
Stratford News
Grad Program Review
Undergrad Program Review
Next Start January 6th