I don’t suppose someone knows of any prior art, do they?

CNET News.com –

[Quote] Patent creates IM wrinkle: “America Online quietly secures a patent that could shake up the competitive landscape for instant messaging software.” [Quote]

If AOL ever does decide to go after other IM networks, well – that would not be a good thing.

Would a Unix chat system, or (IRC even?) count as prior art?

Nifty Quantum Computing Experiment

Experiment points to new spin on storage

In an experiment that could bring the computing world closer to an advanced method of data storage, a team of scientists successfully reproduced an image that was digitally encoded and momentarily stored within a liquid crystal molecule.

Preview, Robert, Preview…

Edited on Dec 3rd 2002, 00:15 by Hooloovoo

Professor posts digital device hit list

Could singing fish novelties be hooked by a proposed law requiring anti-copying technology in digital devices?

Princeton professor Ed Felten thinks so.

The computer scientist has launched a site, called Fritz’s Hit List, that points out devices that could be forced to carry anti-copying technology if Sen. Fritz Hollings’, D-S.C., Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA) passes. The bill, which is designed to thwart piracy, would restrict digital products that don’t carry government-approved security technology.

Read the rest here

Chipset could give sight to the blind

http://news.com.com/2100-1040-958402.html

I had a friend in gradeschool who was blind since birth. This technology might not be able to help her, but it is an interesting medical technology nonetheless.

Maybe someday Geordi’s VISOR will be a real technology.

rfoy: gocrf ;oml

edit edit: moved my fingers over to the left…

Edited on Sep 18th 2002, 18:46 by Hooloovoo

Edited on Sep 18th 2002, 18:46 by Hooloovoo

D’oh!

CNET News.com – Russia accuses FBI agent of hacking: “A G-man who nabbed two Russian hackers in a sting operation is charged by Russia with downloading evidence from a server without authorization.”

I’m glad Russia is doing this. The agent in charge of the investigation should have gotten a warrant to seize that evidence. You know, that whole “due process of law” thing. What I think is really ironic is that the agents just recieved awards for thier actions related to the case.

“Don’t hack us, or we’ll hack you to prove that you hacked us and then we can arrest you– and it’s okay since we’re the government…”

bleh

Jul 23rd 2002, 23:27 GMT

Could Hollywood hack your PC?: “Congress is preparing to consider a proposal that would authorize copyright holders to disable PCs used for illicit file trading–a step critics say amounts to vigilante justice.”

There’s a great quote about halfway through the article:

[Quote] “I think it’s wildly overreaching,” Litman said. “Copyright owners are in essence asking Congress to say that peer-to-peer file trading is such a scourge, is so bad, that stopping it is more important than enforcing any other laws that federal or state governments may have passed on computer security, privacy, fraud and so forth.”

Litman said that even if a copyright holder accidentally deleted a home video titled “Snow White,” the owner of that computer could be out of luck. “Unless I can show economic harm, I can’t even be compensated,” Litman said. “Even if I want to be compensated, I have to jump through procedural hoops.” [Quote]

Jul 18th 2002, 17:07 GMT

I tend to listen to CNET Radio in the mornings on my way to work. They also stream thier broadcast online, (www.cnetradio.com) which means I can listen to them in the office – since radio reception is not too good.

Anyway, thier about to do a segment on weblogs, I’m going to be calling in to talk about G-Blog.net

(I added this to the Art section to make sure it was near the top of the main page. In case the CNET folks take a peek while on the air.)

Update: I’m pulling this out of the Art section since Gossip has added something about it to the Announcements

-Hool

Edited on Jul 18th 2002, 20:56 by Hooloovoo