Random

Satellite Radio....

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New York Times: Forsaking AM and FM for Satellite-Dial Diversity When Michael Scantlen purchased a Sirius satellite radio system for his car, he had to buy not only the equipment but extra gasoline as well. "The first week I got Sirius, I used up an extra half-tank of gas because I didn't want to stop listening to the programming," said Mr. Scantlen, 47, an electrical engineer in Agawam, Mass. "I haven't listened to regular radio since I bought it"

Would like to take a look at this. Would be great for trips up to the mountains...

Say Goodbye to the Pay Phone...

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Requiem for the Pay Phone | By Yuki Noguchi, Washington Post Staff Writer - Monday, December 30, 2002;At one time, voices glanced against its metal walls. Dates were made here, secrets exchanged. Once people lined up, shifting from foot to impatient foot, pointedly lifting their watches, Hey, lady, how long you gonna talk?

I remember two summers ago driving across the country with my daughter, someplace in Wyoming, making plans to spend the night in North Platte, Nebraska. Thinking how nice it was not to have to stop and make a call, but rather just use the cell phone...

Social Software: In-Room Chat

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OpenP2P.com: In-Room Chat as a Social Tool [Dec. 26, 2002] The in-room chat created a two-channel experience -- a live conversation in the room, and an overlapping real-time text conversation. The experiment was a strong net positive for the group. Most social software is designed as a replacement for face-to-face meetings, but the spread of permanet (connectivity like air) provides opportunities for social software to be used by groups who are already gathered in the same location. For us, the chat served as a kind of social whiteboard.

This is an interesting article by Clay Shirky. I often use instant messaging while in meetings. Believe it or not it is usually work related. Checking of facts or seeking clarifying information, but his idea of a digital whiteboard is something I would like to try.

I had the opportunity to see Clay Shirky speak at the O'Reilly Emerging Technologies Conference last spring. He is a great speaker and has great insight into how tools such as blogging, instant messaging and ubiquitous network access are changing how people communicate.

Speaking of the O'Reilly Emerging Technologies Conference, this may be a better venue for a blogging in education get together than the traditional venues such as NCTE, IRA or other such groups...

The Billboard is Listening...

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These billboards are all ears
The billboard is listening.

In an advertising ploy right out of Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report," electronic billboards in the Bay Area and Sacramento are being equipped to profile commuters as they whiz by -- and then instantly personalize freeway ads based on the wealth and habits of those drivers.

For example, if the freeway were packed with country music listeners, the billboards might make a pitch for casinos. If National Public Radio were on, the billboards could change to ads for a high-quality car or a gourmet grocery.

The billboards -- in Palo Alto, Daly City and Fremont -- will pick up which radio stations are being played and then instantly access a vast databank of information about the people who typically listen to those stations. The electronic ads will then change to fit listener profiles. [Smart Mobs]

Aerial ISPs: strato-blimp wireless providersThese

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Aerial ISPs: strato-blimp wireless providers
These high-tech blimps could carry up to 4,000 pounds of telecommunications gear and float it up to 13 miles into the stratosphere. At that height, far above any conventional commercial air traffic or turbulent weather patterns, the Stratellite would act as a wireless communications hub to provide wireless voice and data services for an area of up to 300,000 square miles. "It's perfect for outlying areas that can't get broadband telephone or cable [TV] access," says Sanswire CEO Michael K. Molen. "[Subscribers] just put up a small antenna and they're in business." [Smart Mobs]

PDABuzz.com - Monday, December 23

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PDABuzz.com - Monday,December 23 2002
Handspring and TechSoup are teaming up to bring an unbeatable offer to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Staff, board members, and volunteers of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations can receive a Treo 180 for free when they sign up for a T-Mobile Internet (GPRS) service plan and mail in a $150 rebate.TechSoup, a free nonprofit Web site created by CompuMentor empowers nonprofits to succeed in the Digital Age by providing timely and targeted technology information and resources. TechSoup provides other nonprofits with the tech know-how they need to more efficiently and effectively achieve their missions. Through its online technology store DiscounTech, TechSoup also offers access to affordable tech products and services just for nonprofits. TechSoup partners with high-level tech organizations such as CNET and with other leading nonprofits such as NPower.

AOL Instant Messaging Patent Issue...

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As AOL pursues its patent on instant messaging, people all over the Net are assembling examples of "prior art" -- instant-messaging-like systems that long predated AOL's. Rafe Colburn recalls one from a company he once worked for. Brian Dear writes in to point out that the PLATO system had IM functionality back in 1973. [Scott Rosenberg's Links & Comment] I remember using PLATO at Indiana University in 1979 or 1980. Black screen with orange text...

Creative Commons...

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Creative Commons On December 16, 2002, Creative Commons released version 1.0 of its Licensing Project, and the first release of content under its Founders' Copyright. These are the first two projects in a series that Creative Commons will launch, all designed to help expand the amount of intellectual work, whether owned or free, available for creative re-use.The Licensing Project will build licenses that will help you tell others that your works are free for copying and other uses but only on certain conditions. You're probably familiar with the phrase "All rights reserved" and the little © that goes along with it. Creative Commons wants to help copyright holders send a different message: "Some rights reserved" and our "CC Creative Commons" logo.

Lawrence Lessig is associated with this group. Bill Walle and I saw him speak at the O'Reilly Emerging Technologies Conference last spring and this idea was introduced at the conference.

New York Times Magazine: Pedal-Powered

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New York Times Magazine: Pedal-Powered Internet Picture this: A remote farmer in the dirt-poor country of Laos wants to check some e-mail. So he goes to the only computer in his village. (It's bolted to the floor of a public building, to prevent theft.) He brings a friend along -- not to Web-surf with him, but to pedal a bicycle-driven generator that powers the computer. When they've cranked out enough juice, they can log onto the Web, using a jury-rigged set of wireless antennae. It's a clunky system made out of spare parts, but when it goes live next year, it will become the newest way to hook up the developing world: the pedal-powered Internet.

New York Times: Philadelphia School's

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New York Times: Philadelphia School's Woes Defeat Veteran PrincipalFresh from the suburbs and brimming with idealism, Dr. Solkov was chosen by Edison to welcome reporters, television crews, politicians and officials to Morton McMichael Elementary School as the district began the experiment that everyone hoped would turn the troubled Philadelphia school system around. "This is the model that will work," she told reporters, who were focused on her students' poverty and their dismal math and reading scores. But last week she told her staff she was resigning. Sad tale of a veteran principal and her attempts to turn around a Philadelphia elementary school. Portland is noway near as bad as this, but we seem to be on that kind of track...

VoiceXML

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Tellme. Studio Tellme Studio is a powerful suite of Web-based VoiceXML development tools and community resources that enable you to build, test, and publish your own Internet-powered, voice-enabled applications on the Tellme Network. Interesting idea... think of a school district offering professional development opportunities. What if the could offer a simple phone interface for listing course availability?

Thermal Imaging Unit

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fire station imageToday I went on a field trip with my son's class to the Portland Fire Bureau. The kids had a great time. Here the officer is demonstrating a thermal imaging unit. Allows them to see in the dark and in smoke filled rooms.

Special Section of NY Times Circuits: Wi-Fi

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The Wi-Fi Boom Today's New York Times has several articles on Wi-Fi. One highlights how different types of users are taking advantage of Wi-Fi connectivity to transform their workplaces. Several examples involved people who now make Starbucks their branch office. Sounds familiar... :-) Of particular interest was the experience of a high school in the Seattle area. Every student has a laptop with Wi-Fi. Students utilize applications such as instant messaging to share files, and keep in contact. Cell phone use is down, parents message their children to arrange things such as afterschool pickups.

"There's a lot of instant messaging going on," said Diane Burgess, 39, the school's information technology manager. Ms. Burgess said classes were no longer disrupted by cellphones, parents message their children to arrange pickup times, and students regularly share files for collaborative projects. "Wi-Fi lets them do group work from anywhere on campus," Ms. Burgess said. "It's a really freeing experience."