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Issue no. 10, 2002 Published: Mar 08, 2002
Cyberspace copyright protection reinforced
Flickering computer lights could pose threat to privacy
Broadband outpaces narrowband in US for first time
Self-healing systems will help cure industry blues
Shrinking and rethinking the old vertical antenna
Study: Solar bursts disrupt cell phones
Scratches take gloss off Xbox launch
Pentagon in search for robot GIs
UK net monitoring scheme under fire
No pain, no game

Cyberspace copyright protection reinforced
A landmark international treaty reinforcing the protection of copyright in cyberspace came into force on Wednesday amid controversy in the US and Europe over whether tougher copyright rules stimulate or inhibit creativity on the internet. The copyright treaty, negotiated by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in 1996, and a sister treaty protecting sound recordings that comes into effect in May update copyright law for the digital age. The treaties outlaw attempts to circumvent techniques designed to prevent unauthorised copying and ensure royalties are paid. But civil liberties advocates claim the restrictions curb freedom of speech and expression on the internet. The EU and the 15 member states are expected to ratify together after the necessary implementing legislation has been passed in each country.
Financial Times Mar 06, 2002	back to top

Flickering computer lights could pose threat to privacy
By monitoring the flashes of LED lights on electronics equipment and the indirect glow from monitors it is possible to remotely eavesdrop on computer data, say researchers at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver and Auburn University in Alabama. Optical signals from the little flashing LED lights - dotting everything from modems to keyboards and routers - can be captured with a telescope and processed to reveal all the data passing through the device. The research suggests software-controlled LEDs can carry a modulated optical signal that echoes the flow of data. This means attackers could gain access to classified or personal data just by watching and de-coding the flickering light. No physical access to the machine being watched is required. The remedy for having LED signals read is easy - locate equipment away from windows, put black tape over LEDs or de-activate them when not in use.
CNN / Reuters / Ananova Mar 07, 2002	back to top

Broadband outpaces narrowband in US for first time
Analysts in the US say broadband internet access outpaced narrowband for the first time in January. Nielsen NetRatings say broadband users accounted for 53 per cent of the 2.3bn hours Americans spent online. The figures confirm the rapid take-up of high-speed connections both at home and at work. The monthly figure shows a 64 per cent increase from a year ago. 'Broadband has hit the mainstream, with time spent online by broadband surfers surpassing the critical 50 per cent benchmark,' said Netratings analyst Jarvis Mak. He added that the research should speed the emergence of dynamic services geared to broadband users. 'The growth and development of broadband will create a more interactive and robust online experience, impacting e-commerce, streaming media and overall internet content,' he said.
Ananova Mar 05, 2002	back to top

Self-healing systems will help cure industry blues
Analyst Gartner is predicting that software to help computers automatically manage themselves will be the big technology for this year. Gartner's backing for so-called utility software will provide further encouragement for emerging grid computing technologies. A utility system makes computing power available on demand and would provide the reliability and availability demanded by modern business. Grid technology connects distributed systems into a virtual supercomputer which makes full use of all available compute power. The system is self-healing and self-managing, with resources automatically allocated and re-allocated according to peaks in demand, with crashed servers instantly swapped out to maintain continuous availability. Last week, credit card giant American Express signed a $4bn deal with IBM to operate its system on a utility basis.
VNUnet UK Mar 05, 2002	back to top

Shrinking and rethinking the old vertical antenna
As cellphones start to approach the size of matchboxes, their antennas are shrinking too. In the tiniest new phones the antenna is often hidden inside, where it may take the form of a piece of foil or a coiled wire. But a new material, which is a mix of silicone and a metallic compound, can be moulded into any shape, allowing to create phones in which the entire case serves as the antenna. Because the material is such an effective conductor, it reduces the amount of battery power needed to send a signal and offers better reception than a traditional antenna, according to Integral Technologies, the inventor of the new material. Experts on antenna design said that Integral's technology sounded interesting but that they would need more information to evaluate it. They noted that other researchers were also looking to novel materials as a way to boost antenna performance.
New York Times Mar 07, 2002	back to top

Study: Solar bursts disrupt cell phones
Cell telephone users already dismayed at losing their signal in tunnels, large buildings and in mysterious 'dead spots' can blame another factor for cutting off their vital conversations - solar bursts. Bursts of microwave energy from the sun can disrupt wireless cell communications several times a year, a team at Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs in New Jersey said on Wednesday. They are worst at so-called solar maximums, which are marked by sunspot and other activity and which cycle every 11 years, but the bursts can come at any time. Solar radio bursts strong enough to disrupt a cellular telephone call occur between 10 and 20 days a year. Cell antennas pointing east-west are more susceptible mornings and evenings than at noon.
CNN / Reuters Mar 07, 2002	back to top

Scratches take gloss off Xbox launch
Japanese gamers have discovered that the much-hyped Xbox games console can cause scratching to DVD disks. But Microsoft says the defects are unlikely to affect game playing and does not intend to recall the device. The scratches affect the edge of DVD disks on the side storing data. Since the console was launched in Japan on 22 February, Microsoft has reportedly received 243 reports of the problem. The company claims the scratches occur when disks are placed into the DVD drive tray, rather than whilst the disk is playing. Serious scratches can impair a DVD player's ability to read information although error correction software provides a certain amount of tolerance to such flaws. Microsoft say the scratches should not reduce the lifespan of the disks. The console is already available in the US and will be launched in Europe on 14 March.
New Scientist Mar 05, 2002	back to top

Pentagon in search for robot GIs
The US Army is on the hunt for a private contractor to build war droids. Dubbed 'Future Combat Systems', the robots will be used to deploy sophisticated weapons in war zones to limit human casualties. A Pentagon spokesman explained that the robots will do 'everything you would ever need to do on the battlefield. They will be able to fire at things, defend themselves, do reconnaissance and find targets.' Boeing, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin are all bidding to lead the $154m project, and the plan is to have a first generation of battlefield R2D2s ready for war within a decade. The robotic 'seekers' will look for the enemy, signal its location and call in firepower. Weapons will include advanced laser guns and microwave cannon fired from unmanned vehicles to take over the role of tanks. Pilot-less aircraft would then launch guided missiles and smart bombs at the targets identified by the ground robots.
VNUnet UK Mar 07, 2002	back to top

UK net monitoring scheme under fire
UK Government plans to archive all internet traffic and e-mail has been singled out for this year's Big Brother Award ceremony. The awards - established in 1998 by Human Rights watchdog Privacy International - are designed to expose the state erosions of privacy as well as honouring those that made an outstanding contribution to preserving privacy. The plan to store all communication data won in the Most Appalling Project category. The scheme is outlined in the UK government's Anti-Terrorism Act. Other 'winners' included UK Cabinet Secretary Sir Richard Wilson who was singled out for what the judges described as 'his long-standing commitment to opposing freedom of information, data protection and ministerial accountability'. The Lifetime Menace award went to the UK government plan to introduce nationwide ID cards. The judges described the scheme as the worst threat to privacy yet.
BBC News Mar 04, 2002	back to top

No pain, no game
Have you ever had a hankering to play a computer game that allows you to inflict real pain on your opponent? Two German designers have addressed this yawning gap in the gaming industry with a fiendish invention called, appropriately enough, the Painstation. The game is based on an old PC game known as Pong. However, in this revamped version, missing the ball is very painful. During the game, the left-hand is positioned on a sensor field - called Pain Execution Unit (PEU). Along both sides of the playing field are Pain Inflictor Symbols, each representing a different sort of pain. Sensations such as heat, punches and electroshocks of varying duration delivered through the PEU. It seems unlikely that Painstation will ever be anything more than a curiosity piece. It would take a brave manufacturer to promote a console capable of making players bleed. There is also the matter of Sony which has already made threatening noises regarding the use of the name and its logo if the pair ever wanted to commercialise their product.
Wired News Mar 07, 2002	back to top