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TOP STORIES FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002 DoubleClick to Pay Fine, Modify Privacy Policy IBM Researcher Tries to Build an Ethical Computer New Technology for Flat-Panel Monitors AND Higher Education Grapples with Online Learning Ventures Perceived Lack of Quality Still Haunts Online Degrees Sales of Dummy Diplomas Continue DOUBLECLICK TO PAY FINE, MODIFY PRIVACY POLICY Online ad provider DoubleClick Inc. has agreed to modify its privacy policy and pay a $450,000 fine after a 30-month investigation into the company's handling of consumer data. DoubleClick's ads use cookies to track users' surfing habits, and privacy groups had accused the company of abusing the information it collected. Under the agreement, DoubleClick will make user profiles available to consumers, verify its compliance with the settlement, and pay the fine. Web sites that permit DoubleClick ads to collect user information must state this in their privacy policies. Consumer data will no longer be shared without permission from individuals, and DoubleClick is developing a tool for users to review the data the company has collected on them. New York Times, 27 August 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-DoubleClick-Probe.html IBM RESEARCHER TRIES TO BUILD AN ETHICAL COMPUTER A scientist at IBM is working on a "Hippocratic database" that he says is based on a code of responsibility for the data it holds. Rakesh Agrawal's idea was influenced by his brother, a doctor, who pointed out that the Hippocratic Oath is a strong foundation for people's trust in their doctors. Agrawal's database goes beyond basic rules for handling data, including reasons why each piece of data is collected and limits on how long those data should be kept. Data that are no longer needed are deleted from the database. Rules in the functioning of the database allow enforcement of the underlying policies for what data are collected, how they are used, and how long they are kept. According to Agrawal, a World Wide Web Consortium standard that aims for the same level of trust lacks any provision for enforcement. PCWorld, 27 August 2002 http://www.idg.net/ic_940272_1794_9-10000.html NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR FLAT-PANEL MONITORS A group of researchers at Penn State University said that light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) might prove to be a viable alternative to using LEDs (light-emitting diodes) in color flat-panel monitors. Weaknesses of LEDs in such monitors include speed, stability, and longevity. The researchers said the LECs they have created, by placing luminescent polymers between two electrodes, address these problems, while using less power to function. Not all of the necessary colors have been developed, but the Penn State researchers said they are in process. The result of this work with LECs could be simple, low-cost flat-panel monitors. NewsFactor Network, 27 August 2002 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19189.html AND ***************************************************** HIGHER EDUCATION GRAPPLES WITH ONLINE LEARNING VENTURES A series of setbacks and difficulties have kept for-profit, online higher education spin-offs from realizing success. Ventures at schools including Columbia University and New York University have been scaled back or dropped. UMUC Online, the online project of the University of Maryland University College, was scrapped last fall. But many involved in such initiatives still believe in the potential for online higher education. Gerald A. Heeger, the president of UMUC and champion of UMUC Online, thinks that online learning can actually be better than traditional, residential education. Matthew Pittinsky, chairman of Blackboard, said that for every failed venture there are five that succeed. Adam Newman of Eduventures said that the industry has seen a "retrenchment" that focuses online initiatives where they can succeed, such as in supplements to traditional classes. Washington Post, 27 August 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1393-2002Aug27.html PERCEIVED LACK OF QUALITY STILL HAUNTS ONLINE DEGREES Despite an increase from 12 to 30 last year in the number of institutions offering degrees that can be earned entirely online, graduates of those programs still face the perception of having a second-rate degree. Robert Tucker, the president of InterEd, a company that tracks online education programs, said the reason is that people making hiring decisions usually come from traditional, resident programs and that they are generally skeptical of online education. Indeed, a representative of the American Bar Association, which refuses to accredit online-only Concord Law School, said that "Someday, [proper] training may be online, but it's not there yet." Supporters of online programs say the medium of instruction is inconsequential to the quality of education. The University of Maryland University College offers both residential and online programs, but transcripts from the school do not indicate which medium was used for the degree. Wired News, 28 August 2002 http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,54734,00.html SALES OF DUMMY DIPLOMAS CONTINUE Despite a number of recent cease-and-desist requests, a Web site that sells fake diplomas continues to do business. Prompted by the success of one institution that asked to have its name removed from the fakedegrees.com site, several other colleges and universities have sent similar letters and e-mail, asking that the names of their schools--and links to them--be removed from the site. Although many of those requests have been obliged, the site still says that customers can purchase an "authentic looking" diploma from schools that are not listed. Customers of fakedegrees.com pay $75 for a six-month membership, which allows them five fake diplomas. The Web site says that in the future, fake transcripts, references, and letters of recommendation will be available. Chronicle of Higher Education, 27 August 2002 http://chronicle.com/free/2002/08/2002082701t.htm ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html 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] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EDUCAUSE Quarterly" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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