ACM TechNews - Friday, December 28, 2001

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ACM TechNews
Volume 3, Number 293
Date: December 28, 2001

Top Stories for Friday, December 28, 2001:
http://www.acm.org/technews/current/homepage.html


"IBM Furthers Server Push With New Machine"
"Tech-Support Seekers Turn to the Web"
"A Passenger Whose Chatter Is Always Appreciated"
"After 10 Years on the Web, Impact Keeps Unfolding"
"Boeing Gets License for In-Flight Internet Service"
"Can Powerline Technology Save Broadband?"
"Data Centers Shift Focus to Security"
"Enterprise Technologies That Changed 2001: Part 1"
"For Federal Contractors, A New Tech Boom"
"Fresno Airport Is First in the Nation to Use Face-Scan Technology"
"Live Human Chat Across Different Languages Due In Europe"
"New Features Planned for File Swappers"
"Report: Postal Service Lags in Internet Ventures"
"Fight Against Terrorism Could Fuel Tech Rebound"
"Stand by for More Nasty Web Attacks in 2002"
"Government: Demand Exceeds Supply of Skilled IT Workers"
"The Techno-Thrill is Gone"
"Next Generation Internet RFP $2.5 Million"


******************* News Stories ***********************

"IBM Furthers Server Push With New Machine"
IBM's new x360 e-servers, now in early shipments, are the first
servers to be equipped with Intel's new Pentium 4-based Foster
chip, which is not officially scheduled for release until 2002.
The new e-servers are the continuation of IBM's X Architecture . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item1


"Tech-Support Seekers Turn to the Web"
An increasing number of computer users are surfing tech support
Web sites instead of calling in.  Over the past few years, nearly
all computer manufacturers have stiffened their in-person
offerings, either upping fees or cutting free tech support . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item2


"A Passenger Whose Chatter Is Always Appreciated"
Dimitri Kanevsky and Wlodek Zadrozny of IBM's Thomas J.
Watson Research Center have created a software system that can
interact vocally with automobile drivers.  Kanevsky, who is
hearing impaired, got the inspiration for the invention when he . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item3


"After 10 Years on the Web, Impact Keeps Unfolding"
The Internet's effects on daily life and communications are still
resonating a decade after its debut.  Relationships are being
forged on the basis of Web correspondence, commercial
transactions are taking place online, and music and books can be . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item4


"Boeing Gets License for In-Flight Internet Service"
The FCC has granted Boeing a license to provide airline
passengers with real-time, high-speed Internet service.
Connexion by Boeing is designed to offer travelers the same speed
and service users would expect on the ground, according to . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item5


"Can Powerline Technology Save Broadband?"
Telecommunications and utilities companies are investigating
powerline technology as way to help bring broadband Internet to
more homes faster.  Powerline provides fast Internet access using
medium voltage electrical connections, but does not mesh well . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item6


"Data Centers Shift Focus to Security"
Rockville, Md.-based Fortress Development changed its name last
month from DataCentersNow in hopes of attracting new clientele to
its facilities, which were originally designed to provide
telecommunications firms with backup locations.  Over the past . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item7


"Enterprise Technologies That Changed 2001: Part 1"
Analysts list Internet and network security among the most
important enterprise technology breakthroughs of the past year,
according to an informal poll by NewsFactor Network.  The Yankee
Group's Matthew Kovar notes that security intelligence services, . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item8


"For Federal Contractors, A New Tech Boom"
IT providers are rushing to meet new demand from the government
at local, state, and federal levels.  Before Sept. 11, Federal
Sources reported a $1.3 billion increase in federal IT
expenditures this year, for a total of $46.3 billion.  Estimates . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item9


"Fresno Airport Is First in the Nation to Use Face-Scan Technology"
California's Fresno-Yosemite International is the first airport
in the United States to use face-recognition technology to scan
passengers, under a pilot program authorized by the Federal
Aviation Administration.  After walking through metal detectors, . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item10


"Live Human Chat Across Different Languages Due In Europe"
The NESPOLE project aims to enable multilingual communications
between Web users and live human operators, with the Internet
acting as translator.  Administered by the European Commission,
NESPOLE (Negotiating through Spoken Language in E-commerce) would . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item11


"New Features Planned for File Swappers"
MusicCity announced it would release version 2.0 of its Morpheus
file-trading software, despite continued legal threat from
Hollywood studios and music labels.  Version 2.0 comes replete
with Windows XP support and is able to join with the Gnutella . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item12


"Report: Postal Service Lags in Internet Ventures"
A new report from the General Accounting Office says the U.S.
Postal Service is way behind in its efforts to bring some of its
services online because of bad management, as well as poor
accounting and disorganization.  Grouping and focusing its . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item13


"Fight Against Terrorism Could Fuel Tech Rebound"
The war against terrorism and a new focus on homeland security
could foster more IT innovation and investment, and lead to an
economic recovery for the technology sector in 2002.  Yankee
Group program manager Andy Efstathiou says the Sept. 11 attacks . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item14


"Stand by for More Nasty Web Attacks in 2002"
Computer security experts warn of even worse virus and worm
attacks in 2002; new blended threats, such as Nimda, exploit
multiple vulnerabilities and combine virus and hacker techniques
to propagate themselves and inflict damage.  Some compromises . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item15


"Government: Demand Exceeds Supply of Skilled IT Workers"
Phillip Bond, the U.S. Commerce Department's technology
undersecretary, on Thursday said the country still suffers from a
shortage of IT workers.  He said, "Employers are still having
trouble finding the types of people they need...because the . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item16


"The Techno-Thrill is Gone"
Salon.com senior editor Andrew Leonard writes that the excitement
of new technology and state-of-the-art gadgetry has become less
important in light of Sept. 11 and the subsequent war in
Afghanistan.  He also notes that while computer games may be more . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item17


"Next Generation Internet RFP $2.5 Million"
CommerceNet--with lead funding from the California Technology, Trade
and Commerce Agency, Division of Science, Technology, and
Innovation---is requesting proposals for the Next Generation Internet
(NGI) Application Development Program. California-based businesses, . . .
http://www.acm.org/technews/articles/2001-3/1228f.html#item18


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