Lasers May Be a Reality

Source:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16675-video-airborne-laser-weapon-sails-through-tests.html

Rating: GOOD(potential to be UGLY)

Explanation:
The Pentagon is currently funding a project which would allow military aircraft to carry a laser attached to the nose of the plane. This laser has been tested over the last 16 months and has enough power to shoot down missiles and potentially other aircraft. This new powerful weapon could be a great defense against terrorist weapons of mass destruction. With the ability to respond in minutes, a missile could have barely left the ground and be able to be shot down using this new technology. Therefore this warrants a GOOD rating. However like any piece of potentially destructive technology, in the wrong hands it could produce massive loss of life. This same technology could destroy a plane carrying innocent passengers across the Pacific. This would obviously then result in an UGLY rating. The Obama administration has yet to decide if they are going to continue to fund this project.

What Have You Been Searching?

Source:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10170725-93.html

Rating: BAD

Explanation:
Does an individual have privacy on the Internet or it is the Internet classified as public domain? Yahoo has decided to take the stance of public domain. Yahoo has started targeting their advertisement to an individual based on what they are searching for on their search engines. The positive side of this new analytical technology is I could hopefully stop seeing ads for products I have no interest in, therefore making the ads marginally less annoying. For this technology to work, a computer algorithm must first be able to identify what searches are coming from which computer. The problem therefore lies in the lack of consent given by the user to obtain this information. I would not like a search engine company having information about what I have been recently searching. The question is why not? Social engineering is becoming an increasingly larger threat in today’s world of technology. With this being the case, my recent search information can be used against me. For example, if I have been recently searching for tickets to a game, an attacker could use this information to track which website I purchase my tickets. Now an attacker has narrowed down from over a million sites which site has to be attacked to obtain my credit card information. I hope no one has a grudge on me. For the reason of increasing the lack of privacy, my rating is BAD.

Building Blocks to Learning

Source:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_merrill_demos_siftables_the_smart_blocks.html

Rating: GOOD

Explanation:
The computer as we know it is always changing. Yes they have been becoming smaller and smaller over the past several years, but now they are available in all different shapes as well. David Merrill gives a talk about a new learning tool called shiftables. Components are modeled to look like the building blocks everyone played with as a kid, however they are actually adaptive computers. They can be used for everything from a math learning aid to musical instruments. I found this technology astonishing. With each generation becoming more and more dependent on and needing technology, this can provide a great way to teach children math and other concepts while having fun; even learning something about computers. The blocks use sensors to know what each block around it is doing. For example you put the number 4 on one block, a plus sign on another, and 3 on another, an equal sign on another, and put a blank block next to the equal sign and the number 7 will appear on this block. The possibilities are endless. With the potential to change society in so many ways, it earns a GOOD rating.

Portability Revolution

This weeks article:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/companyNewsMolt/idUKTRE51F3PF20090216

Rating: Good

Explanation:
Texas Instruments (TI) has produced what appears to be the next revolution in portability. TI has developed a chip that will allow a cell phone to become a mini projector anytime, anywhere. The new chip was unveiled on Monday (February 16th ) at the Mobile World Congress showcase in Barcelona and was said to be ready to be included in commercial products in 2010. The chip will allow customers to load a presentation or to surf the web and have it projected onto any surface such as a wall or even a table cloth. Imagine the possibilities for salesmen to have the ability to be at a lunch meeting, take out their phone and project their companies product right onto the table. A teacher or professor to be able to carry their class notes on their phone and walk into a classroom that is not technology enabled and display their content on the wall. I believe this last option is the biggest advantage to society. A school may not be able to afford projectors or computers for every classroom, however a teacher may be able to afford a phone with this capability and provider his or her students with a better education. Texas Instrument not only gets an award for coolest technology of the year but an award for potentially improving society. This results in a GOOD rating.

Google Goes Green

This weeks article:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/159430/google_power_meter_analyzes_home_energy_consumption.html

Rating: GOOD

Explanation:
Google has decided to join the GO GREEN community by “developing a Web service that will let users track electricity usage in a very detailed way.” Google wants to alert consumers about how much energy they use throughout the day in their house and show users how this cost can be reduced. The analysis would provide feedback such as it is cheaper to run the dishwasher during the day. Google makes many contributions to computer science and society and I believe they have out done themselves again. Awareness is the first step to correcting a problem. If I was told running the dishwasher was cheaper when I was at work versus at night when I am asleep, I would. Most people don’t take this step simply because they are unaware of the difference. Everyone loves to save money and why not help mother earth in the process. This product is still in beta and should be released within the next couple of months. Google is hoping to get more companies such as electricity suppliers on board to help improve their product. Thanks Google and you have my approval.

Calling all stalkers!

This weeks Article:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13557_7-10162552-31.html

Rating: BAD

Explanation:
The world of technology has created yet another corporate tag team to take on the “Mobile World Congress” The new players are Garmin and Asus. Garmin and Asus have come together to produce a new generation of smart phones called the Nuvifone M20 and the Nuvifone G60.
The M20 is a Windows mobile based system while the G60 is a Linux based system. These phones have all of your standard features for today's smart phones including email, WIFI, Bluetooth, touchscreen, camera and stalker capability. That’s right Garmin not only put a high end GPS into their new toy but the provided an application called Ciao which has the ability to locate any other phone in your contact list, and then display them on a map.

“Lets you see your friends' whereabouts by linking location-centric social networks and then showing friends' locations on a map. You'll then be able navigate to their locations from there.”

I am in favor of GPS systems in phones and the ability to find restaurants and a specific address, however the ability to locate your friends without their consent or knowledge I believe crosses the line. I could see it being helpful in large crowds, such as in a city as New York but this could also be dangerous in the hands of the wrong type of person. A hacker could tap into this and locate your whereabouts. For these reasons I rate this as BAD for society.

How many?

This weeks Article: http://www.pcworld.com/article/158861/windows_7_to_ship_in_six_different_versions.html

“Microsoft confirmed the multi-version release of Windows 7 to various sources including Gizomodo and Paul Thurrott of Windows Supersite”

Rating: UGLY

Explanation:
Microsoft has once again decided to release not just multiple versions of their upcoming operating system, but 6 completely different versions to the public. Microsoft started releasing different versions of their operation systems with XP Pro and XP home. The initial concept was a good one, a version for your average user, and a version for your business. However the underground community quickly exploited the lack of security in XP Home and everyone from your average user to your business professionals started using XP Professional. With Windows Vista becoming the new Windows ME, it is easy to look at some of its flaws including the number of versions released. With so many versions it was hard for a consumer to get everything they wanted and / or needed without buying the complete version of Vista Ultimate. With this being the case the concept of having other cheaper versions becomes useless because they did not accomplish giving the consumer another option; it was Vista Ultimate or a version of Vista which was not as well supported and had a fair share of issues. This all being said I can't imagine releasing six new versions with Windows 7 as a good concept. Sure, for Microsoft it is a great marketing ploy to create more sales but it does not benefit the consumer. This being the case I would have to say that Microsoft repeating an already experienced problem would result in an UGLY rating.