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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2005 Google Modifies Library Project Portable Device Helps Students Prepare for Tests Linux Goes to French Schools Research Center Coming to New York New York Adds Disclosure Law GOOGLE MODIFIES LIBRARY PROJECT Google has announced some changes to its Library Project following vocal criticism from a number of publishers. Under the terms of the project, Google made arrangements with five major libraries to scan some or all of their books, posting at least a portion of each book in an online repository for public access. Publishers complained that making such electronic copies of copyrighted works--regardless of whether they are put online--violates the rights of the copyright holder. Google now says it will not scan any book that a publisher specifically asks to be exempted, and it will not scan any copyrighted books until November, giving publishers time to review titles they might want excluded. Publishers appeared unmoved, however, with the Association of American Publishers (AAP) saying that Google's new plan "places the responsibility for preventing infringement on the copyright owner rather than the user." Peter Givler of the Association of American University Presses echoed the AAP's dissatisfaction with the changes to the project. He was glad that Google is trying to address publishers' concerns but said of the new policy that it "doesn't seem to me that it gets us very far." Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 August 2005 http://chronicle.com/free/2005/08/2005081201t.htm PORTABLE DEVICE HELPS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR TESTS A new gadget from Princeton Review and Franklin Electronic Publishers aims to help students prepare for the SAT. Pocket Prep is a portable electronic device that offers practice tests, tutorials, and a vocabulary list in a package about the size of a typical PDA. The sample questions that Pocket Prep offers include multiple-choice questions that the device scores, giving users a report of strengths and weaknesses, and essay questions, which users must either grade themselves--by comparing them to sample answers in the Pocket Prep--or send to the Princeton Review for grading by a person. Andy Lutz of Princeton Review said similar devices designed for tests such as the ACT and graduate exams are planned. Kaplan, a competitor of Princeton Review, also has moved study aids into the world of technology. Kaplan offers test prep software for cell phones and PDAs, as well as a CD of songs with lyrics designed to help students expand their vocabularies. Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 August 2005 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/weekly/v51/i49/49a03702.htm LINUX GOES TO FRENCH SCHOOLS A Linux group in the Auvergne region of France, working with the local government, will distribute CDs with free and open source software to students in the region. In September, every student in Auvergne between 15 and 19 years of age will receive two CDs. One includes OpenOffice.org software, as well as the Firefox browser and GIMP image software. The other is a Linux Live CD, which will allow the users to experiment with a Linux operating system without installing it on their computers. Nicolas Spallinger, a member of the local Linux group, said the idea is to let students try Linux without committing to a particular version. If they are sold on Linux over other operating systems, they can then install their preferred variety of Linux. Organizers of the program hope it will encourage students and their families to consider free and open source applications as an alternative to proprietary software. CNET, 11 August 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-5828644.html RESEARCH CENTER COMING TO NEW YORK A real estate company based in California will build a research park in New York City with the hope of attracting scientific and biomedical companies that are routinely spun off from colleges and universities in the city. The city's academic institutions consistently produce start-up companies in biotech fields, but few remain in the city, instead settling in less expensive areas such as New Jersey and California. Despite years of efforts at creating such a research park, previous proposals have been abandoned because developers were reluctant to commit to such a project without guaranteed tenants. Officials from Alexandria Real Estate Equities said projects like this one rarely have tenants before the facility is built. Construction is expected to begin next year, and companies can start moving into the research park in 2008. New York Times, 11 August 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/11/nyregion/11bio.html NEW YORK ADDS DISCLOSURE LAW New York State has enacted a law requiring corporate or public organizations to notify individuals in the event that personal information about them has been compromised. Similar in concept to a California law that went into effect two years ago, the New York law compels organizations that store sensitive information to contact consumers as quickly as is practical if there is evidence or suspicion that data including Social Security numbers or credit card numbers have been unlawfully accessed. At least 15 other states have passed similar legislation since California did. New York State Assembly member James Brennan, sponsor of the legislation, said, "If a person is not aware that he or she has been a victim of identity theft, then the damage done could be severe and irreversible," noting that the sooner people are made aware of security breaches involving sensitive data, the better their chances are of avoiding the worst repercussions. The Register, 12 August 2005 http://www.theregister.com/2005/08/12/ny_security_breaches_disclosure/ ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your settings, or access the Edupage archive, visit http://www.educause.edu/Edupage/639 Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE RESOURCES The EDUCAUSE Resource Center is a repository for information concerning use and management of IT in higher education. 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