Postcodes , the 'me me more ' generation and the Internet.

A recent article from the BBC speculates that house buyers are starting to use the Internet to research possible purchase locations via sites on the Internet in ways that will inevitably lead to much more homogenous communities insulated from any demographic or social group considered unsatisfactory. The irony that the internet with it's potential to unite the world and this type of self serving, self validating behaviour cannot be more dramatic. To highlight this I suggest you take a quick look at inveneo and the work they are undertaking in Uganda.The original BBC video here.

Zotob, viruses, organised crime, extortion and $6 a million loss in car production

It seems that the nature of the threats we face from the Internet is changing and hacking has become the tool of malicious forces worldwide.Chris Horley recently interviewed by the ABC Australia speculated that the motivation of hackers is becoming far more malicious than in the past.Organised crime has picked up on the potential of spyware and viruses to extort money from online businesses.For more information see the ABC

McWireless and social justice comes to a McDonald's near you

Image courtesy of Nicolatain

If you think about it, this is amazing. A burger chain has the ability to influence the future of a whole generation. But it might require a bit of philanthropy on their part.Flexible learning often requires access to computers and the internet, things that some students find beyond their reach. McDonalds new wifi hotspots established at many stores across the country provide half the solution. McDonalds believes they will allow customers to check emails surf the web or download video but there are also bigger burgers to fry. I challenge McDonalds to provide laptops to disadvantaged students so they can complete their studies over a dish from the deli choices menu, low fat, social justice, and, great marketing! Yes that's right McDonalds could become the missing link in providing better access for voacational education students. Now that would make a difference!McWireless

Teens prefer instant messaging

from Reuters (via Yahoo News):
A recent survey has shown that teens though 90 percent use email( an extroardinary statistic for educators in itself )they prefer instant messaging. Similarly nine out of ten use the Internet and many use instant messaging to send music or images.
For more information see yahoo

Redtacton: Broadband using human skin!

Redtacton a technology recently developed by NTT in Japan has the potential to ubiquitise computing in everyday life. The human body will become the conduit for this. Simply by touching stepping or moving machinery can be started or stopped. Embedded medical devices can be controlled. The applications are enormous, medical security and data transfer are just the start. Conferencing can be enabled without the use of wiring, and walls and desks and doorknobs can be conduits for data transfer. In education the applications are endless from lesson outlines to administrative forms data could be transfered quickly and easily without pedagogical intervention. If you hadn't thought it was time to reinvent yourself if you are a teacher perhaps you should have a rethink!! For more information have a look at Redtacton To be involved in their trials Contact Redtacton