Archive for the 'Technology' Category
Chief British Scientist: Solar Storms Could Create $2 Trillion ‘Global Katrina’
February 21st, 2011Via: Guardian: The threat of solar storms that could wreak havoc on the world’s electronic systems must be taken more seriously, the UK government’s chief scientist has warned. A severe solar storm could damage satellites and power grids around the world, he said, leading to a “global Katrina” costing the world’s economies as much as […]
U.S. Invokes National Security Over Magic 8 Ball Terrorist Finder
February 21st, 2011I’m seriously considering Boondoggles as a category. I would have to use it very selectively, since it could apply to much of what’s posted on Cryptogon. Via: Washington Post: For eight years, government officials turned to Dennis Montgomery, a California computer programmer, for eye-popping technology that he said could catch terrorists. Now, federal officials want […]
Air Force Wants Troll Persona Management Software
February 18th, 2011Via: Federal Business Opportunities: Online Persona Management Service. 50 User Licenses, 10 Personas per user. Software will allow 10 personas per user, replete with background , history, supporting details, and cyber presences that are technically, culturally and geographacilly consistent. Individual applications will enable an operator to exercise a number of different online persons from the […]
Canada Hit by Cyberattack
February 17th, 2011Via: Reuters: The Canadian government was hit by an unprecedented cyber attack from Chinese-based computers last month that penetrated two key economic ministries, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported on Wednesday. The CBC cited sources as saying the hackers broke into computer systems at the Finance Department and Treasury Board. Once the attack was detected, Internet […]
After ‘Jeopardy!’ Victory, Watson Headed to Hospitals
February 17th, 2011Via: AP: Fresh off its shellacking of two human champions of the “Jeopardy!” television show, a computer program developed by IBM Corp. will soon get a workout in two hospitals that have signed up to test the technology. The agreements with the Columbia University Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine will […]
U.S. Government Shuts Down 84,000 Websites, ‘By Mistake’
February 17th, 2011Reminder: If you ever visit cryptogon.com and see the Seized-By-Homeland-Security message, keep cryptogon.ch handy. Via: Raw Story: Approximately 84,000 websites were shut down and wrongfully accused of having links to child pornography as part of “Operation Protect Our Children,” a new joint operation between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ). […]
Austin Considers $50 a Year, Unlimited Electric Car Charging Service
February 14th, 2011Via: Austin Business Journal: Austin City Council members this week will consider charging Austin electric car drivers $50 a year to boot up their batteries from any Austin Energy plug-in. The proposed rate would apply to Austin Energy’s “Plug-in Everywhere” program — a network of public charging stations for electric vehicles. The city would offer […]
Google Offers Two-Factor Authentication
February 10th, 2011I see this development as a sort of confidence trick, where Google is trying to get people to put more of their eggs into fewer baskets (that Google controls, of course). Two-factor authentication schemes offer strong security against unauthorized account access by miscreants, no doubt about it, but never forget that Google is God on […]
Robotic Lettuce Production
February 10th, 2011Via: Singularity Hub: The steady march of industrial automation continues to envelop the world. Many of us have a quaint early 20th century vision of agriculture, but the truth is that the farmer of the 21st century is a machine. Case in point: lettuce. With new hydroponic techniques, companies are able to grow lettuce in […]
Forgive Me iPhone, For I Have Sinned
February 9th, 2011Via: CBS: A new app for devices like the iPhone and iPad aims to take the intimidation factor out of Confession for Catholics — and the Church is giving it the thumbs-up. Forgive Me iPhone, For I Have SinnedYou’ll still have to tell a priest your sins in person, but “Confession: A Roman Catholic App” […]
