IT Trends :: Thursday, September 7, 2006
New Technology
Wired For Safety, Late-Night Snacks
Cell phones aren't just for talking anymore. These days, college students can check class schedules, check on their laundry, and check in with campus security via their cell phone. Rave Wireless, in use at 15 schools, is an application that allows students to do everything from receive assignments from professors to check study room occupancy. Using a feature called Rave Guardian, a student can set a timer if he or she feels unsafe en route to any destination. If the student d'es not turn off the timer or answer resulting calls from campus safety officials, a built-in GPS system tracks the phone…
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U. of Michigan Adds Google Digitized Books to Online Catalog – With Limits
The University of Michigan is updating its online card catalog to include digital full-page scans of books. However, if the text is under copyright, users will be directed to the hard copy version on the shelves. The fair-use doctrine allows educators to reproduce a limited portion of copyrighted material for classroom use without seeking permission or paying royalties. But how far that principle applies to putting copyrighted materials online is an area of dispute. U of M will also allow copying and pasting of the digital texts, a feature that Google's controversial program d'esn't offer…
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New Facilities Appeal to College Freshmen
Today, wireless connectivity is a top priority for dormitory residents. At Davenport University, a new student housing building boasts apartment-style living, cable TV, and social rooms with game tables, but one student says, "wireless Internet was [the] big thing" that drew her to the residence…
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Wi-Fi Alliance Nears New Wireless Standard
802.11n gets a "big shot in the arm," by the adoption of standards by a manufacturing group more than a year before such an accomplishment had been scheduled. An industry group of wireless networking companies said Tuesday it will start certifying next-generation routers and network cards in 2007, a year before official standards are expected. Some 802.11n chips are already in currently produced machines and this agreement means the functionality is coming along sooner than expected…
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