Apr
15
Google never ceases to amaze
Posted by Dirk Avery at 12:59 pm under Internet, Technology.
(Apologies for writing so little lately. The final finals season is heating up even though the weather is not - very much.)
Anyway, Google recently announced they will be employing software tools originally intended to filter out copyrighted material to track down missing and exploited children used in the pornography industry. It is tragic […]
Apr
8
Free Stem Cell Patent Database
Posted by Keeley Vega at 6:38 am under Innovation, Internet, Patent, Wikinomics.
Stemcellpatents.com announced the launch of its updated stem cell patent database. The site includes summaries and analysis of over 1275 expert-selected patents identified as relevant to stem cell commercialization.
According to the website, this database is an effort to exploit the infinite potential of stem cell therapeutics. “Unfortunately, due to the nature of current day science, […]
Apr
4
9th Circuit says CDA does not shelter Roommates.com
Posted by Keeley Vega at 9:14 am under Internet, Litigation.
Big loss for Roommates.com, internet forums, and ISPs yesterday.
[Background: The touchstone of § 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) is that providers of internet computer services are immune from liability for content created by third parties. The immunity applies to a defendant who is the “provider… of an internet computer service” and is being sued […]
Mar
25
The looming broadband war
Posted by Dirk Avery at 9:59 am under Internet.
Google’s recent FCC filing brings to mind our US broadband shortcomings. The basic problem US Internet users face is in the “last mile.” Our Internet access is far slower than many first world countries because of this last mile bottleneck. Rumor has it (though little information is available) that the Internet backbone is relatively clear […]
Mar
21
Vote for OpenCongress!
Posted by Keeley Vega at 1:48 pm under Internet, Legislation.
After some e-encouragement from a professor, I checked out OpenCongress.org, a “free, open-source, non-profit, and non-partisan web resource with a mission to make Congress more transparent and to encourage civic engagement.” It is fantastic!
With OpenCongress you can create your own account and easily track your favorite bills, Members of Congress, committees, industries, and issues. It […]
Mar
21
Multilingual websites now easier
Posted by Dirk Avery at 1:41 pm under Innovation, Internet, Wikinomics.
Google has announced a new AJAX Language API which allows for translation and language detection. Like its other AJAX APIs, Google aims to provide website developers access to its substantial software resources enabling a new generation of web applications.
The number of languages included is impressive with such common languages as English, Spanish and German, […]
Mar
20
New York Takes on Targeted Ads
Posted by Keeley Vega at 9:00 am under Internet, Legislation.
NY Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky is sponsoring a bill that would make it a crime for certain web companies to use behavioral targeted ads generated from the collection of personal data. Two problems.
First, it’s impossible for this law to only affect NY given the nature of the internet. Companies may have to change their behavior […]
Mar
19
Why isn’t .xxx a good idea?
Posted by Dirk Avery at 11:21 am under Internet, Legislation, Litigation.
A new top-level domain dedicated to… um… pornography is a great idea. A new domain would allow segregation of content in a manner much like content is segregated in the “real” world. This would provide neat and easy control for those who wanted it. Schools and employers could simply not provide access […]
Mar
17
YouTube Awards
Posted by Keeley Vega at 9:19 pm under Events, Internet, Wikinomics.
Google is hosting the second annual YouTube Awards. Vote for your favorites in the following categories:
Short Film
Comedy
Series
Sports
Creative
Politics
Music
Instructional
Inspirational
Commentary
Eyewitness
Adorable
Make your selections before 11:59 pm PT on Wednesday. You can vote once per day. Winners will be announced on the 21st and all will be invited to a special YouTube gathering later this year.
I’m not particularly impressed with […]
Mar
17
Japan, bellwether of net bias?
Posted by Dirk Avery at 8:55 am under Copyright, Internet.
A thousand of Japan’s ISPs have come to an agreement to ban P2P users. Users would get one strike before they were out. Once a user is out, they’ll be tough pressed to find a provider.
The popular P2P application in Japan, Winny, encrypts its traffic. The ISPs, though, are not going to do […]