January 4, 2009 · 12:28 pm

UK police plan to increase remote searching of home computers

The Sunday Times today reports that the UK’s Home Office has adopted a new plan to allow police across Britain routinely to examine covertly people’s computer hard drives.  As the newspaper comments “material gathered in this way incldues the content of all e-mails, web-browsing habits and instant messaging”.

This, once again, raises huge questions about the changes that ICTs are introducing into the relationships between ‘states’ and ‘peoples’.

The article goes on to note that this is part of an EU wide initiative: “Under the Brussels edict, police across the EU have been given the green light to expand the implementation of a rarely used power involving warrantless intrusive surveillance of private property. The strategy will allow French, German and other EU forces to ask British officers to hack into someone’s UK computer and pass over any material gleaned”.

We should engage in active debate about the morality and ethics of such interventions.  Are claims about ‘international terrorism’ really sufficient to lead to such a fiundamental change into the state-individual relationship?

It is undoubtedly already safer to revert to pen and quill!

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December 30, 2008 · 12:45 pm

Web Accessibilitiy Initiative’s new standards

Those interested in the use of the Web for and by people with disabilities will be gladdened by the announcement by W3C on 11th December 2008 that it had launched “a new standard that will help Web designers and developers create sites that better meet the needs of users with disabilities and older users. Drawing on extensive experience and community feedback, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 improves upon W3C’s groundbreaking initial standard for accessible Web content, applies to more advanced technologies, and is more precisely testable”

Further information is available at:

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December 29, 2008 · 9:47 am

Freeplay’s latest radio

Freeplay has done some great things to develop the use of radio in developing countries. See, for example, the Lifeline Radio support by the Freeplay Foundation

c1-smallTheir latest product, the “Companion” is “… a radio, a flashlight, and a cellphone charger, all in a unit that’s only 125 mm long (4.9″) and 230 g (8 oz).  It has a solar panel and a crank so you’ll never run out of power, and you’ll never have to buy disposable batteries”.  As they go on to say, “This compact, robust radio boasts a rubberized body with recessed control knobs for impact resistance and comfort.  Big on functionality, but small in size, the Companion is a radio, a flashlight and a cellphone charger that fits easily into your bag, your glove box or your drawer – ready when you need it, where you need it.  The AM/FM radio has an earphone socket for personal listening.  The flashlight has 3 LEDs with optics optimized for a focused light.  The integrated cell phone charger means that you’ll never be out of touch because of dead batteries. Offering a choice of self-charge, solar and external recharge power options, the Companion delivers complete independence from wall power or disposable batteries while ensuring sustainable access to information and entertainment.  Freeplay’s patented self-charge technology means excellent reliability.  A 1-minute wind gives you 20 minutes of radio listening at normal volume, or 30 minutes of light, and you can wind some more at any time for as much play time / shine time as you want.  An LED charge level indicator tells you the best speed to wind”.

It’s a great piece of kit, and at just under £10 could have a significant impact in parts of the world where mobile telephony networks are not yet available.

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December 28, 2008 · 1:50 pm

The Durham Brewery

A holiday in Northumbria introduced us to the Durham Brewery – first bottle acquired on Lindisfarne….     the-durham-brewery

Journeying back south, we stopped off at the tiny brewery, just outside the city of Durham, and bought a range of their beers – all excellent.  It has just the right touch of quirkiness to make it of real interest!

This is how they describe themselves: “We believe that beer should be an experience in its own right. Too long it has languished as a nondescript alcoholic beverage; hops and malt subservient to the blandifying efforts of the big brewers. Have you ever reached the half pint mark and been overwhelmed by boredom? The Durham Brewery creates an experience that banishes boredom, enlivens the tastebuds and makes you want to have another. The Durham Experience uses the infinite combinations of malt, hops and yeast to give the ultimate in modern beer sensations. Traditional skills are employed to make beers from malt from a floor maltings and whole hops from around the world. Discover an ever evolving range of beers within our site. Some have been made since our inception and others are brand new. Between cask and bottle-conditioned, we believe that our range is at the cutting edge of beer flavours whilst retaining the traditional character of English ales.“

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December 24, 2008 · 10:07 am

The great Google debate…

Google’s business model has proven to be fantastically successful – they give users something for ‘free’, but  that use actually gives the company something of real value.  Should Google therefore pay users?

A chance meeting earlier this month in Berlin, reminded me that in October 2007, the UK’s Sunday Times published an interesting article entitled “Google.  Who’s looking at you?” – it is well worth a read.

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December 22, 2008 · 5:18 pm

Are the young the only ones who are tech-savy?

I have often pondered about the notion that the young are the only ones who can really work effectively with new ICTs.  After all, I’m no longer that young myself!

markweberMark Weber (Group Director of Client Services, BDP Media and Atticmedia) has recently posted a provocative video of his lecture on this theme, entitled “Fear and Awe of the Digital Native” – it is well worth a watch.

Tim

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December 18, 2008 · 7:20 pm

December – Online Educa, Berlin

In late November or early December every year, many of the world’s leading figures in e-learning make their way to Berlin for Online Educa.  This (14th) year was no exception – as ever, those left on the dance floor early on Friday morning somehow recovered enough to participate enthusiastically later in the day!!!gtz-workshop-small

Members of the ICT4D Collective were involved in two main activities:

  • sessions on technology supported learning in the UN system, and the launching of UNeLearn – led by UNEP
  • workshop on OER convened with GTZ

… and then there were the cocktails ….

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