iSatHub Internet Hotspot

Patrick Nelson reports on Inmarsat's iSatHub Internet hotspot, a device which costs about $1,500 and provides Internet access everywhere but the poles. The service is VERY costly: $499.99/month for a 300 megabyte plan.

-DD

 

Google Update

Jered Newman presents on the Google's success and failure during 2014. Successes which he listed include:

li>Greater compatibility with Microsoft Office li>Google Voice updates
1. Android 5's features and flat design

-DD

Ghostery Security App

Ms. Smith reviews the free Ghostery security application in NetworkWorld.

-DD

 

History of Information Architecture

Earl Morrogh provides a "Brief History of Information Architecture " in The Journal of Information Architecture. Amdahl referred to the concept of information architecture in 1964, though the term itself was not used until 1970 at Xerox.

-DD

Predicted 2015 Advances

Agam Shah predicts which computer technologies will make a difference in 2015 . Many of his predictions involve shedding physical wires for radio-frequency connections, with wireless charging, wireless monitors, and wireless peripherals in the forefront.

-DD

State of Cuban Internet Access

Stephen Lawson reports that Internet access is limited in Cuba due to the Cuban government's domestic policies. The restrictions on information access have hindered economic growth on the island.

-DD

Unsecured Servers

Lucian Constantin reports that many embedded servers have a flaw which allows a third party to run software or otherwise take control of the router (and by extension, control network traffic).

I assume that many of the vulnerable routers are in homes where the residents have no clue that the vulnerability exists. I hope that if an ISP provided the router, they would manage router security as well.

-DD

Theology of Technology

Steven Grose meditates on the theology of technology adoption.

-DD

Google's News Trends: 2014 Edition

Google has produced a summary of news from 2014 based on search results and Google News stories. The page includes a video and links to photo essays.

-DD

 

Greg R. Notess

Greg R. Notess is a regular contributor to Searcher magazine, distilling current news about search technology and industry trends to information professionals. The magazine (and his columns) are available in full-text to subscribers of ProQuest databases, including its consumer subsidary, Highbeam Research.

Notess has his own website, Notess.com , but at the time I examined the site the content had not been updated for months. He provides archives of his columns from 10-15 years ago, making this site useful documentation of how Web technology has changed in a decade.

-DD

 

Searchengineland

Searchengineland.com provides news about search technology . It appears to target those pursuing search engine optimization. While it does suggest current trends in search technology, the obnoxious popups on the site keeps it from being on my list of frequently accessed sites.

-DD

Inside Google Search

Google offers a page which showcases their latest search technology and training tools, called "Inside Search ."

-DD

Patent Trolls in Spotlight

Grant Gross asserts that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating patent trolls .

-DD

Targeted Marketing on Facebook

Zach Miners reports how brick and mortor purchases result in targeted Facebook ads .

-DD

Health Information Privacy

Ms. Smith reports that 38 government agencies have access to electronic health records .

-DD

Microsoft Word Track Changes

Lucy Ferris explains why she does not use the "track changes " feature in Microsoft Word when grading undergraduate essays, and instead relies on corrections to a paper copy of the document. A vigorous set of comments follows her post.

I have some insights into the use of track changes in an online environment. There faculty do not have Ferris' option of requiring paper submissions, and track changes is a needed tool. However, any professor using track changes with new college students needs to explain how the technology operates. I have met several new online students who almost flunked their first course (and certainly frustrated their professor) because they did not have their software configured correctly to read the professor's comments.

-DD

 

Security for the Corporate Network

John Zarowski shares digital security tips for a corporate environment. Most return to the theme of having clear policies distributed to all workers.

-DD

Mobile Security

Grant Hatchimonji warns about poor mobile security practices. Hatchimonji outlines eight things employees can do to bolster corporate security.

-DD

Silence About Offshoring

Patrick Thibodeau opines that severance packages with non-disparagement clauses are an explanation for US technology worker's silence when they are forced to train H1-B workers to take their jobs.

-DD

Being a Tech Hero

Gordon Ung's video provides tips for being a technology hero to your family this holiday season.

-DD

 

To "Talk Turkey"

William Germano provides the history of the U.S. phrase, to "talk turkey ."

-DD

Secure Your Apple MacIntosh

Chris Breen demonstrates how to secure your Apple Mac computer using tools already installed on the computer.

-DD

 

Alternate Credentials

Steve Kolowich reports that alternate certifications such as badges and nanodegrees are not being heavily weighed by most employers.   Jobseekers are attracted to these inexpensive specialized credentials because they are attainable in much less time than a traditional degree, or because they hope the credential will attract an employer's eye.   This video shows what hiring managers do examine.

-DD

 

Listening to Customers

David Strom provides ways to listen to your customers . Some of this involves gathering feedback from your customer service staff, and some listening requires initiatives that directly interact with customers.

-DD

Grading with Student Involvement: Specifications Grading

Educator Linda Nilson describes specifications grading and contrasts it with standards-based grading. The first method is designed to increase student involvement in the assessment process and should promote academic rigor, while the second involves the student repeating an assignment as many times as needed to achieve mastery.

-DD

 

Adjunct Faculty Retirement Concerns

Stacy Patton reports on the dismal retirement options some adjunct faculty face.

-DD

Career Development

Adam Sicinski presents concepts needed for career development using a Mind Map. He stresses the need to commit yourself to the planning and execution your career goals if you want maximum career success.

-DD

 

Professional Development Tips

Rich Hein shares professional development tips for programmers professional development tips for programmers . Most of these, such as staying current in your field, are of value to anyone in a job influenced by changing technology.

-DD

In-Flight Learning on JetBlue

The Coursera blog reports that JetBlue will provide course materials on some of their flights.

-DD

Funding Teacher Education

Kelly Field reports that the U.S. government is modifying teacher education grants to improve teacher readiness . The new regulations would restrict access to government funding if graduates are generally unable to advance their students.

-DD

Technical Writing

Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts provides a checklist that explains how to write a technical brief .   A technical brief is used to outline the requirements for a technical document.

-DD

MOOCs for Techies

Jake Widman shares an updated list of free MOOCs for techies which are being offered by universities across the United States. This is an addendum to an earlier list of tech MOOCs.

-DD