Is it a bird...Is it a plane??

No it is not a bird or a plane, and thank goodness it is not the sky falling either. Reports have confirmed that a U.S. spy satellite that was orbiting Earth has lost power and has begun to descend into the atmosphere. Where this monster of a satellite will crash has many pondering that same question. The satellite in question is about the size of a small bus and weighs about 20,000 pounds. How much collateral damage can this satellite cause is the question of concern to many individuals, though statistically it has just as much chance of falling harmlessly into the ocean as it does landing in any part of land mass throughout the world. Not many details are being released about the satellite because it is assumed to be an "eye in the sky" type where it's used for spying and reconnaissance among other non-military applications. There are talks that the satellite may contain on board harmful agents that could cause problems. Such is the case as one report claims the satellite might contain beryllium a light weight metal with a high boiling point that if heated could cause harmful effects if breathed by people. But these are speculation's because not much is known about the craft as it is deemed as top secret by the government. Rest assured the appropriate government groups are monitoring the situation very closely and hope to have a possible solution as the satellite begins its fall into the atmosphere.

So what does this mean for us all? Can this cause minor or major damage? The potential is there depending on where it lands. What happens if it hits the U.S.? What kind of harmful effects can we expect from this and what would be the appropriate actions to take for us citizens? But let's not stop the train of thought there. Despite as bad of a scenario this presents there is more bad news. Because this satellite is a spy satellite what does this mean for National Security? We all know there are groups out there to who do not feel all warm and fuzzy for the U.S. But how does this tie in with the satellite you ask? The spy satellite obviously used to gather information around the world, how could lets say a terrorist group use this information? If they were to acquire our spy satellite could they not use it for their own agenda's? Would this satellite dropping into their lap, metaphorically speaking, harm the U.S. far more then it simply dropping into a secured area that we control? It has been noted that U.S. spy satellites when no longer of use are brought in through a controlled reentry and disposed of because of the harmful secrets they could possibly carry. So that leaves us to ponder what could a group who does not favor the U.S. possibly gain from a falling spy satellite. My guess would be technology that they might not presently have, government secrets, access to computer networks via the satellites computer. In theory, speaking as a networking major, if you have a piece of software and/or technology that regularly access a particular network then you gain control over said software then you in turn can use its ability to access said network.

Among the many worries the U.S. government should have, crashing down to the earth should not be the only worry they have, allowing government technology and secrets into the hand's of those not aligned with the U.S. could be devastating for U.S. security and all of it's citizens. Let's hope for the sake of all the U.S. that our government can find a positive solution so that collateral damage and the loss of government secrets does not occur from this unfortunate event.

**Edit**

forgot to show where I read this article about, sorry about that folks~
Article to be found by clicking " Here "

The future is within ones eye...

So as the topic states I was being literal. Imagine being able to web surf while walking down the street...now some of you are probably thinking to yourself...." Meh I do that already with my cell phone or PDA..." Ok fair enough but I meant it more figuretively. Try this one for size for those with all the gizmos to web surf, imagine websurfing and not holding a single piece of technology in your hand. Everyone still with me? Good because the future is just around the corner and I stress everyone to take a good look at it with your very own eyes. Now I guess enough beating around the bush allow me to introduce the next wave of technology...Super Human vision via contact lens! Yes you heard me right, embedded circuits within a simple contact lens either regular or corrective that allows you to do a multitude of functions simply with your eyes!

To get an understanding of what this could mean, if anyone has ever seen shows such as the Million Dollar Man or the Bionic Woman, then you probably already have a much better idea of what this truly is. Now your probably wondering what exactly does this eye do if anything? Well thats an excellent question, this eye can do just about anything that it will be programmed for, its limits are non-existant. The eye could potentially allow you to zoom your vision as if you were using a digital camera. Like mentioned above the eye could allow one to surf the internet via a visible interface to the user only right infront of your eyes. Surfing the internet is just the beginning, one could even hope of accessing basic computer functions from perhaps your own computer. Police could take advantage of this kind of technology if they needed to target a certain individual within a crowd or even scan a persons face to display a database before their eyes to see if a perp. matches whats on file. The sky's the limit when it comes to this futuristic piece of technology. Recognition software can be taken to the next level with actual people performing the recognition of other individuals live.

The contact lens is an actual contact lens that has been tested on rabbits for multiple minutes at a time and deemed no harmful effects. The lens is easy to pop in and out as a normal contact lens. Though no official use is determined one could imagine the grand uses for such a high tech piece of equipment. They actually in bed circuits within the lens to allow it to do what its programmed to do. Don't worry about power though as the articles hints at solar panel technology embedded on the surface of the lens to gain energy from the sun to power it and a combo of radio frequency waves. Amazing!

What can this mean for people? We could very well see the opening of many things, so many that the list can go on. Face recognition, database accessing via a systems files., surfing the internet, military and recon application, even camera zoom technology which could help doctors when performing very delicate surgery, even in the entertainment industry with video games holds a place within this eye.

Don't run out to your local Pearle Vision just yet, this are not ready for the market much testing is still in the works and future improvements and additions are still being worked on. Though this is a great step forward for technology, what does this really mean for people? Sure we have glasses and corrective lens, but now computer circuit powered lens...will we all gain super human sight or x-ray vision by simply wearing this contacts? Don't hold your breath yet, I am sure researchers and scientists have much more better uses for these contacts then simply pleasing individuals with their own agendas! So what are your opinions of this great leap in human-computer technology? Though I have opening feelings about it, there are still many questions I have just like anyone else would. But ultimately my question would be when can I exchange my glasses for such a wonderful tool?

For anyone else interested in reading this topic here is the weblink and perhaps you can do your own research on it and come up with your own opinion on this subject~

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uow-clw011708.php

A not so wonderful day for ebay

One of the worse things that could happen to any business is to have their companies database accessed by an outsider of the company, usually a hacker. It seems ebay has been plagued by a certain individual who goes by the name of 'Vladuz.' It is unknown if this hacker is one or many who each call them self as this Vladuz hacker. There are many instances in the articled listed below of this hacker listening in on conversations held by officers and CEO's of eBay. This Vladuz over the years has maintained use of eBay's super account functions in an attempt of hurting the company and its users for financial gain. There were many instances where this user would sell software that its primary use was to be used to hack into eBay's infrastructure. Using the database that is accessed by eBay employees Vladuz has gained insight on super user controls and other tools to access user information and personal data and leaving them exposed for the general public and other hackers to use. Many of eBay's employees and users are concerned, if so many of eBay's super user functions are so easily accessed by an outside party then long has this been going on? Are the users confidential information safe? As any who have signed up for eBay would be aware, you require a credit card to sign up and that means your financial data is at this Vladuz's grasp. Concerned? Yes I would be, and so should anyone else who is a registered member of eBay. How and when eBay arranges to have these security loop holes corrected throughout their database should be the next question floating around. Despite that, how long will it take for this hacker(s) take before they reveal a new method for entering eBay's database. The questions are out there and obviously eBay needs to own up and have these concerns, from their millions of users who trade and sell items every day for millions of dollars, answered.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/oct/25/ebay.hacking