Siggraph Held Last Week in San Diego
ACM SIGGRAPH has grown from a handful of computer graphics enthusiasts to a diverse group of researchers, artists, developers, filmmakers, scientists, and other professionals who share an interest in computer graphics and interactive techniques.
This years exhibits included more complex animation
?This all centers on Moore?s law, Darin Grant, Chair of this years convention, Software and hardware prices are going down and capabilities are going up.
Off-the-shelf software that stole the show: Maya and Adobe Photoshop .
Award winning Exigo was a nightmarish battle between armor-clad warriors and goblin, was created by several unknowns fro Hungary.
Joel on Software Book Review
Rick Chapman?s Book, ?In Search of Stupidity "
Why did Microsoft succeed?
?#2 in 86 and #1 in 2001 in software company earnings ranking
Only software company to make both top ten lists
MS did not make a fatal mistake and stayed on top
Forced by programmers (like Netscape?s code rewrite)
Forced by WallStreet (like Ashton Take or Lotus)
Was run by programmers who were business men
Wi-Fi Bubble Is Bursting
Paid hot spots are a bust
T-Mobile is bleeding red ink
Free hotspots are low cost to install and can piggyback on a DSL connection
Great new idea for small business owners?give away connections..get customers
Using Wi-Fi for Home Media Broadcasting
The Old Way
Problems with the CD Jukebox
Wiring the Stereo System and All Those Speakers
The New Way
Use the Wireless LAN for Music Distribution
Rip CD songs into MP3 files
Place all MP3 in a central repository with suitable subdirectories
Download and install a free Broadcast Server (SHOUTcast from WinAmp )
Receivers need computer, wireless card, player.
Just point player at port 8000 of server and listen
Microsoft Security Flaw May Trigger Next Worm
Uses vulnerability in RPC portion of DCOM
Flaw in virtually every Windows computer
75% of all computers in US affected
Code has been distributed for a worm attack against TCP Port 135
Won?t spread as fast as slammer which was UDP
Homeland Defense is urging all Windows users to install patch.
WorldCom in the Hot Seat Again
Redirecting traffic to by-pass origination and termination fees
Termination fees are usually 2 to 3 cents per minute on interstate calls
Traffic sent through Canada or laundered through small phone companies
Header information forged with fake originating address
Long distance calls may look like local calls on caller ID
Saved over $1B since 1994
Called ?Project Invader? or ?Project Scorpion?? Classified company secret.
US Governments may bar Worldcom from Federal Contracts
Temporary ban for 1 month.
GSA considering whether is should extended to 3 years
Data Dump Required Before Flights
Date of birth, home address, phone numbers will be checked
Look for people wanted for ?crimes of violence.?
Look for domestic groups accused of terrosism
Exclusions praised by Electronic Frontier Foundation
No health or financial data will be used.
Information will be retained for days, not years
No IRS or deadbeat dad databases will be used
Stratford ?Trends? Seminar Series
Trends in Information Systems (July 23, 2003) ? Richard Shurtz
Trends in Open Systems (August 26, 2003) ? Billy Ball
Other topics will include Information Security, Wireless Technology, Digital Design and Animation, Telecommunication Technology, Network Management, e-Business, Web Services, Security and Biometrics, 64 Bit Processing on the Desktop, and Broadband Regulatory Ease
DVD Standards (Revisited)
DVD-R and DVD-RW (first and most prevalent)
DVD+R and DVD+RW (a close second)
DVD-RAM (data backup only)
Latest multi-standard writers are the best bet
Get a Dual DVD Writer (+ and -) if backup is not important
Get multi-DVD writer (+, -, and RAM) if backup is important
Laptops Sales Dollars Top Desktop
Dollar value of laptop sales passed that of desktop computer sales in May
Hot Technologies Wi-Fi (b or g)
Centrino processor includes 802.11b option
Mobile processor ?M increase battery life
15 inch screens the norm (Apple has a 17 inch screen)
Touchpad or Track Point instead of a mouse
Some sport HDTV widescreen?but pay the price in weight
Not much Bluetooth play
Stratford News
Dates to Remember
Next Start This Week, Then September 8th, 2003
Next Seminar August 26th, 2003
Program Update
New Digital Design and Animation Program
Networking and Security Undergraduate Programs
Includes Linux and Wireless
Enterprise Business Management
Telecommunications