It looks like CBC.ca has closed commenting on stories posted today. I’m not sure if there are changes in policy coming, if the moderators are on holiday, or if the commenting system is just down for maintenance. May there is a re-design in the works. They could certainly use it. If they’re insist on having
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I’ve been looking into the origins of spatial metaphors in computer use recently. Cyberspace is one of the most well-known relevant terms. Originally coined by William Gibson in his 1984 novel Neuromancer it was eventually picked up to refer to the “space” inhabited by computer users. I ran a Lexis Nexis search on the term’s
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Google has released a new service providing insight into government requests for information about users and/or removal of information. The tool provides statistics on the number of data request and removal requests made, and the % of Google’s compliance with the requests. Interestingly if you click on China you’re told “Chinese officials consider censorship demands
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The CBC reports on a woman who is suing the federal government for its lack of screen reader compatible forms on the public service recruitment website. While the lack of compatibility is, in and of itself, surprising, more surprising is the government’s apparent intransigence. It will be difficult for the government to prove that making
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The second circuit court of appeals has ruled to strike down the FCC’s policy of fining television stations for transmitting indecent speech. The court found that “the FCC’s policy violates the First Amendment because it is unconstitutionally vague, creating a chilling effect that goes far beyond the fleeting expletives at issue here.” Court of Appeals
The White House wants to add to the USA’s wireless broadband spectrum by offering up/re-allocating 500MHz of spectrum for new usage. The official press release spells out the President’s 4 point plan. The goals are to: 1. Identify and plan for the release of 500 MHz of spectrum 2. Provide the tools needed to effectively
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Google labs added a promising app in March. Google Public Data Explorer lets users view and manipulate public data sets. By easing access to and graphing of data sets, apps like GPD offer the potential to greatly increase data analysis and research output. Hopefully the app will develop quickly and more and more data sets
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Providing an excellent example of a solution looking for a problem, the Louisiana House of Representatives has quickly approved a senate bill to add more stringent minimum sentencing requirements for crimes that utilize “virtual street level maps.” From: NOLA.com
Larry Downes posted an interested in piece in defense of a coordinated national broadband plan featuring public-private cooperation. Using examples from prior national infrastructural development, Downes argues that the FCC should focus on network expansion and reduce its regulatory ambitions and net neutrality goals. Larry Downes via Stanford CIS
Industry minister Tony Clement announced funding for 52 new projects aimed at increasing broadband penetration in rural Canada. Funding is set to come from the Economic Action Plan stimulus funds. The projects to be funded can be seen here: Industry Canada Site. Projects range from plans to connect a few hundred homes to plans to connect
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