So while searching on the Net for database worthy topics I came across an article that talks about a new concept tool that the government hopes to use in the future as a type of spy plane. This spy plane will be modeling to look similar to an actual bat. The concept hopes to have embedded cameras, sensors and other functions so that it can communicate with soldiers on the battle field to alert them to enemy locations, any kind of bio alerts via the sensors or anything else the soldiers may need to be concerned about. The University Michigan college of engineering was given the project and a grant to make this concept idea a reality. They hope that the "Com-bat" will be able to function just as a real bad would allowing it to move around freely or remotely without crashing into objects or falling out of the air. Such a piece of hardware could prove to be an invaluable source of information during recon-missions being carried out by our military.
I think this automated bat is a fantastic idea right along with the other idea of implanting microchips into insects and controlling them for the same purpose. Another idea that I mentioned in a past article. I am incredibly interested to see this idea pan out to become a reality and see how it actually works. All credit for this article goes to the website and its author and the link is right here
Monday, March 24, 2008
And they say writing a check is a bad idea....
I was doing some web surfing and came across a gem of a topic in the form of an article on how to hack credit card information via the RFID chip embedded in newer credit cards. The idea behind it is quite simple and its effectiveness is quite alarming. This article was presented by Boing Boing TV and it shows hacker and inventor Pablos Holman show off a credit card scanner that he bought off ebay for about 8 dollars. When he connects this piece of equipment to his computer and run a program he simply has to talk up to where ever your wallet may be and pass the scanner across it. In nearly an instant the 8 dollar scanner will pick up any trace of the RFID that may be embedded within your credit card and simultaneously steal your credit card number, name, expiration date and any other stored information within the chip. It nearly took all of about 3 seconds to rub the card on someones rear end or wallet for the program to take all the information.
It's alarming to think that an 8 dollar piece of equipment, some simple wiring to the computer and a click of the mouse can net you a fresh credit card ready for all the online shopping it can handle. But fear not all is not lost and you don't have to toss those cards out yet. There is a weakness to this form of theft. The card reader cannot pass its signals through a stainless steel wallet. For those that dont mind the retro looking wallet you could always keep your cards concealed in one of these. Other then that the only piece of advice I could offer a potential target is to keep an eye of where you keep your wallet and dont let casual strangers hold scanners near its location because chances are they are treasure hunting and its your "booty" they're after. Hopefully anyone who reads this won't become a target but in a world where identity theft is always around us, you need to protect yourself and become aware of your surroundings. Credit of the article goes to the website I found it on and Boing Boing TV as well as the author of the article. The link is located here
It's alarming to think that an 8 dollar piece of equipment, some simple wiring to the computer and a click of the mouse can net you a fresh credit card ready for all the online shopping it can handle. But fear not all is not lost and you don't have to toss those cards out yet. There is a weakness to this form of theft. The card reader cannot pass its signals through a stainless steel wallet. For those that dont mind the retro looking wallet you could always keep your cards concealed in one of these. Other then that the only piece of advice I could offer a potential target is to keep an eye of where you keep your wallet and dont let casual strangers hold scanners near its location because chances are they are treasure hunting and its your "booty" they're after. Hopefully anyone who reads this won't become a target but in a world where identity theft is always around us, you need to protect yourself and become aware of your surroundings. Credit of the article goes to the website I found it on and Boing Boing TV as well as the author of the article. The link is located here
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Digital Pirates reach safe ground?!
Link to the article given here:
While surfing the Internet on my favorite websites I happen to come across and interesting article that had to deal with File Sharing and a notorious website known as the Pirates Bay. Pirates Bay just for a short background, is a file sharing website home to many cracked programs, movies and other downloadable content usually offered with programs such as Bittorrent, Utorrent etc. It seems the webmasters have been in constant fire from government agencies in the U.S. for copyright infringement etc. What ever were these digital pirates of the virtual sea going to do? Coming to their aid in an unexpected turn of events was the nation of Antigua. Now you probably are wondering why in the world would this nation outside of the U.S. want to help a group of file-sharer's....trust me I thought and thought until I read through the article completely. Well it turns out the U.S. has been trying to put a stop for it's citizens to use Antigua's online gambling services offered on the Internet. A service such as online gambling handles undoubtedly millions of financial records and take in a lot of money from their active users. It seems to me that the U.S. must contribute a lot to Antigua's profit share when it comes to online gambling services. So in an effort to pressure the U.S. to discontinue their efforts and banning Antigua's gambling services, they announced a "free sanction" to the Pirate Bay file sharing website. This is very good news for people around the world who take part in sharing files around the world. Unfortunately this may leave many U.S. companies with little chance at stopping file sharing to take place that infringe on copyright laws.
Although, I feel that they're are many pro's and con's to file sharing so I won't share my own views on them, but this can spell a no win situation for either side of this debate. However, people at Pirates Bay can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, nothing is being announced as of yet as to where this may go in the weeks to come. One can only hope that a diplomatic solution can be addressed so that all party's may move on with something to gain.
All credit for this article goes to the hosting website and the author of the article.
While surfing the Internet on my favorite websites I happen to come across and interesting article that had to deal with File Sharing and a notorious website known as the Pirates Bay. Pirates Bay just for a short background, is a file sharing website home to many cracked programs, movies and other downloadable content usually offered with programs such as Bittorrent, Utorrent etc. It seems the webmasters have been in constant fire from government agencies in the U.S. for copyright infringement etc. What ever were these digital pirates of the virtual sea going to do? Coming to their aid in an unexpected turn of events was the nation of Antigua. Now you probably are wondering why in the world would this nation outside of the U.S. want to help a group of file-sharer's....trust me I thought and thought until I read through the article completely. Well it turns out the U.S. has been trying to put a stop for it's citizens to use Antigua's online gambling services offered on the Internet. A service such as online gambling handles undoubtedly millions of financial records and take in a lot of money from their active users. It seems to me that the U.S. must contribute a lot to Antigua's profit share when it comes to online gambling services. So in an effort to pressure the U.S. to discontinue their efforts and banning Antigua's gambling services, they announced a "free sanction" to the Pirate Bay file sharing website. This is very good news for people around the world who take part in sharing files around the world. Unfortunately this may leave many U.S. companies with little chance at stopping file sharing to take place that infringe on copyright laws.
Although, I feel that they're are many pro's and con's to file sharing so I won't share my own views on them, but this can spell a no win situation for either side of this debate. However, people at Pirates Bay can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, nothing is being announced as of yet as to where this may go in the weeks to come. One can only hope that a diplomatic solution can be addressed so that all party's may move on with something to gain.
All credit for this article goes to the hosting website and the author of the article.
Got GPS for that Radar?
Welcome back to another proud edition of Database is to Mind as Computer is to...
Time to talk about another fun filled article found out on the web~
I am not exactly sure how I feel about this device being bought commercially. Such a device can only promote others to drive recklessly and carelessly put others and themselves into harms way. I am actually glad that such devices are illegal to have in the state of Virginia. Most virginians know all to well what kind of drivers we have around this area and to allow a device that warns you when police officers are near can't be safe for the rest of the public. Though I still feel its a technological advancement in terms of bringing two different types of electronic devices together. However, I still feel the technology could be better used in some other fashion, such as helping people to better their lives. This is my opinion however, I am sure others may feel similar and/or different about such topics. All credit of the article goes to the original author and the website hosting it. Here is the link
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
If only I had a pair of these....
Hello and thank once again for tuning in into the wonderful world of I.T. With spring break finished for this term school begins again into full motion and with that a wonderful article on a pair of Smart Goggles that can make lost keys, etc. a thing of the past!
When you hear/read the term smart goggles what comes to mind? Initially I thought of a pair of goggles that have some kind of electronic function to them to make life easier. I never would of guessed what kind of use these "smart goggles" I found on the web may do for us. Do not let the appearance of these goggles fool you, they are still in their early stages but these goggles are a form of data storing, recognition and retrieval technology with use of voice command and in line sight can help the user remember where certain objects are left behind with the unique ability to learn. Created by Japanese scientists these goggles have the unique trait of learning where the user leaves keys, ipod, hand bad etc. Especially for those forgetful individuals that tend to lose things never to be seen unless you tear your house upside down. These goggles boast to be able to help any who experience chronic senior moments or those who suffer from memory problems caused by dementia.
How these goggles work is absolutely astonishing. The goggles contain a camera that film everything the user looks out while containing a viewfinder over the right lens. Connected to the bad is a small computer processor which learns, stores and recognizes shapes extremely quickly. Setup seems simple enough while all you need to do is put the goggles on and wander around the area such as your home, or workplace for about an hour and look at objects you may want to find later on. After looking straight at an object the user says the name of the object aloud so that the recognition software may identity its shape and name for later retrieval. The display of information will show in the small viewfinder when ever called upon and after searching through its memory it then displays its last known location of the item.
The inventory comments that this invention could be an invaluable aid to the elderly experiencing memory problems even those with Alzheimer's. Taking this technology can even be possible for robots when it comes to recognition and visual learning. If outfitted with the correct programming these goggles can boast as instructional and learning aids. Suppose you program simple shapes from geometry, if the user looks at a shape used in geometry the viewfinder can display what type of shape it is and the name of it. Or for instance programming botanical information to display what type of plants a user may be focusing on which would be important as to avoid plants that may cause harm. One very important application that can make good use of these goggles as police and military use. For instance suppose the police program these goggles with wanted criminals at large. The police while on duty could be wearing the glasses and look at casual pedestrians and happen upon a wanted criminal where the officer can confirm their identity with the view finder and wanted list where they can make the appropriate arrest. The uses are this type of invention can have endless applications. And with its data retrieval and recognition learning ability these goggles can take the simplest task as remembering where your keys are and completely eliminate the "lost keys" factor.
After reading this article I personally was quite surprised as to how far technology has been jumping but at the same time I am glad we are reaching an age where the potential for human and robot interaction is practically within reach. I truly believe these "smart goggles" are the next step in technology to further assist us in our every day tasks. Article link will be copies below and all credit goes to the author of the article and the website.
Web source link
When you hear/read the term smart goggles what comes to mind? Initially I thought of a pair of goggles that have some kind of electronic function to them to make life easier. I never would of guessed what kind of use these "smart goggles" I found on the web may do for us. Do not let the appearance of these goggles fool you, they are still in their early stages but these goggles are a form of data storing, recognition and retrieval technology with use of voice command and in line sight can help the user remember where certain objects are left behind with the unique ability to learn. Created by Japanese scientists these goggles have the unique trait of learning where the user leaves keys, ipod, hand bad etc. Especially for those forgetful individuals that tend to lose things never to be seen unless you tear your house upside down. These goggles boast to be able to help any who experience chronic senior moments or those who suffer from memory problems caused by dementia.
How these goggles work is absolutely astonishing. The goggles contain a camera that film everything the user looks out while containing a viewfinder over the right lens. Connected to the bad is a small computer processor which learns, stores and recognizes shapes extremely quickly. Setup seems simple enough while all you need to do is put the goggles on and wander around the area such as your home, or workplace for about an hour and look at objects you may want to find later on. After looking straight at an object the user says the name of the object aloud so that the recognition software may identity its shape and name for later retrieval. The display of information will show in the small viewfinder when ever called upon and after searching through its memory it then displays its last known location of the item.
The inventory comments that this invention could be an invaluable aid to the elderly experiencing memory problems even those with Alzheimer's. Taking this technology can even be possible for robots when it comes to recognition and visual learning. If outfitted with the correct programming these goggles can boast as instructional and learning aids. Suppose you program simple shapes from geometry, if the user looks at a shape used in geometry the viewfinder can display what type of shape it is and the name of it. Or for instance programming botanical information to display what type of plants a user may be focusing on which would be important as to avoid plants that may cause harm. One very important application that can make good use of these goggles as police and military use. For instance suppose the police program these goggles with wanted criminals at large. The police while on duty could be wearing the glasses and look at casual pedestrians and happen upon a wanted criminal where the officer can confirm their identity with the view finder and wanted list where they can make the appropriate arrest. The uses are this type of invention can have endless applications. And with its data retrieval and recognition learning ability these goggles can take the simplest task as remembering where your keys are and completely eliminate the "lost keys" factor.
After reading this article I personally was quite surprised as to how far technology has been jumping but at the same time I am glad we are reaching an age where the potential for human and robot interaction is practically within reach. I truly believe these "smart goggles" are the next step in technology to further assist us in our every day tasks. Article link will be copies below and all credit goes to the author of the article and the website.
Web source link
Thursday, March 6, 2008
FED's have a back door into whose wirless carrier?
Ever wonder what could happen if you had your phone tapped? How would you feel if you found out that your Wireless carrier gave the FBI and all access pass to their database containing your cell phone number, billing information and other misc. account data. It was made public by "Whistle-blower" that as many as 4 phone companies are being accused of such an action. One of the alleged wireless carriers in question is Verizon Wireless.
This is some serious stuff to be dealing with these days. You have to watch everything you say because even if you are joking around with a friend this "dragnet" type of monitoring could be your undoing. I will have to admit in this day where terrorism and crime is all around us this kind of system has its many pro's but at what cost? At what cost is our right to free speech and privacy for warrant less persecution. Many people are filing law suits because of this but much is being done due to the fact that like anything else this is being treated as a "country secret" so you can't fight what "doesn't exist." So what are innocent people like you and me supposed to do when the government monitors our phone calls, txt messages, voice mails etc. To be honest....nothing, there is nothing the average person can do except keep your nose clean and take some consideration as to what you are saying, especially if it's a joke.
article source listed below and all credit goes to website and author.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/whistleblower-f.html
This is some serious stuff to be dealing with these days. You have to watch everything you say because even if you are joking around with a friend this "dragnet" type of monitoring could be your undoing. I will have to admit in this day where terrorism and crime is all around us this kind of system has its many pro's but at what cost? At what cost is our right to free speech and privacy for warrant less persecution. Many people are filing law suits because of this but much is being done due to the fact that like anything else this is being treated as a "country secret" so you can't fight what "doesn't exist." So what are innocent people like you and me supposed to do when the government monitors our phone calls, txt messages, voice mails etc. To be honest....nothing, there is nothing the average person can do except keep your nose clean and take some consideration as to what you are saying, especially if it's a joke.
article source listed below and all credit goes to website and author.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/whistleblower-f.html
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
There is a community online just for you..and you
Social networking, "the use of a website to connect with people who share personal or professional interests, place of origin, education at a particular school, etc" (taken from www.dictionary.com). As this definition states social networks are growing a dime a dozen these days. You may have heard of some of these places such as Facebook or MySpace. These are just some of the more popular places people flock to in hopes of meeting new people and sharing their ideas and beliefs. Many organizations use these websites for more then just networking with people. You can use social networking for a bunch of database related reasons. Before I get to much into my article allow me to explain how this relates to database. When you join a place such as MySpace you have to sign up with information about you. This kind of information is stored on the servers owned by the operators of Myspace. When you are logged in, depending on your interests or hobbies you will see adds that they feel might interest you. These databases of users can be used by individuals or companies more may reasons such as promoting certain products or services. Other places similar to this or user enhanced websites such as Wikipedia or Urban Dictionary where the information presented on the site is dependent on user interaction via it's registered members. So now that you have an idea how social networks relate to database I am free and clear to discuss this interesting article I found.
It has recently come up on different websites that super producer Steven Spielberg is planning on launching a social network. This social network will focus on those who wish to discuss or have experienced paranormal activity of any kind. The website which is heavily influenced by most of Spielberg's own movies will bring people who are interested in such topics closer together. By storing everyones experience together and sharing them across the web they can collect data and store information just as well as any database. This idea which originally started out with yahoo was initially scrapped but is now in the process of being reborn with the help of this Hollywood all star producer.
It really makes you wondering what kind of people may flock to such a social network, and how much of this information can be fiction compared to having some kind of credibility. The end result will ultimately be the same. The truth is out there for you to find and I personally might want to take a look at this website once it is up and running. Being the adventurous type I am it would be nice to know if there is really anything out there beyond the norm. All credit of this article goes to Michael Arrington of TechCrunch. Link to the site is pasted below.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/steven-spielbergs-ghost-town/
It has recently come up on different websites that super producer Steven Spielberg is planning on launching a social network. This social network will focus on those who wish to discuss or have experienced paranormal activity of any kind. The website which is heavily influenced by most of Spielberg's own movies will bring people who are interested in such topics closer together. By storing everyones experience together and sharing them across the web they can collect data and store information just as well as any database. This idea which originally started out with yahoo was initially scrapped but is now in the process of being reborn with the help of this Hollywood all star producer.
It really makes you wondering what kind of people may flock to such a social network, and how much of this information can be fiction compared to having some kind of credibility. The end result will ultimately be the same. The truth is out there for you to find and I personally might want to take a look at this website once it is up and running. Being the adventurous type I am it would be nice to know if there is really anything out there beyond the norm. All credit of this article goes to Michael Arrington of TechCrunch. Link to the site is pasted below.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/03/steven-spielbergs-ghost-town/
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