***************************************************** Edupage is a service of EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. *****************************************************
TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2002 ICANN Proposes Accepting Applications for New Domains Studios Launch Fee-Based Movie Download Service Bill Would Fund Technology Standards AND Report Envisions Fundamental Changes in Higher Education Antenna Said to Improve Wireless Security Two Companies Release Updated SE Linux ICANN PROPOSES ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR NEW DOMAINS Stuart Lynn, president of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), said he supports creating three new so-called "sponsored" domains, as early as next year. Unsponsored domains, such as dot-com and dot-org, are open to anyone. Names in sponsored domains are limited to specific groups, such as museums for dot-museum and employee-owned co-ops for dot-coop. The ICANN board of directors could vote on the proposal next month. Karl Auerbach, a member of the ICANN board, disagrees with the plan to add only sponsored domains. Auerbach contends that as many domains should be added as the market can sustain. Washington Post, 11 November 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38130-2002Nov11.html STUDIOS LAUNCH FEE-BASED MOVIE DOWNLOAD SERVICE Five major movie studios have launched Movielink, a service for downloading recent movies. Each studio is able to set its own prices for movies. Movies will cost between $1.99 and $4.99 each to download, and users can keep the movies for 24 hours after they are activated. The studios hope that despite the fee to download movies from Movielink, many users will be attracted to the service because of reliable technology and fast download times compared to free, peer-to-peer networks. Movielink also includes customer service, a feature not found on file-swapping networks. Jim Ramo, chief executive of Movielink, said, "We hope video piracy isn't in the culture the way music piracy is." Wall Street Journal, 11 November 2002 (sub. req'd) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1036963204998126188,00.html BILL WOULD FUND TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS A bill written by Rep. Jim Barcia (D-Mich.) would use $47 million of federal funds to support in-progress projects studying technology standards. Barcia wrote the bill after reading a report written by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that attributes losses of $1 billion annually in the U.S. automotive industry to problems of interoperability. Research into XML-based standards would likely see much of the funding if the bill passes because, as Ric Jackson of NIST said, XML may be the approach that leads to the grail of seamless interoperability. Wired News, 11 November 2002 http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,56287,00.html AND ***************************************************** REPORT ENVISIONS FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN HIGHER EDUCATION A new report from the National Academy of Sciences predicts fundamental changes in the way universities function due to the introduction of information technology. The report, "Preparing for the Revolution: Information Technology and the Future of the Research University," proposes that changes in technology could lead to a future in which instructors sell course material to many institutions and students assemble an education from courses at several schools. Mark F. Smith of the American Association of University Professors expressed concern over the notion of an educator as "more of a consultant or a coach than a teacher," as the report states, saying that information technology cannot substitute for human interaction. The report makes a number of suggestions for how institutions should adapt to the role of technology in education. Chronicle of Higher Education, 8 November 2002 http://chronicle.com/free/2002/11/2002110801t.htm ANTENNA SAID TO IMPROVE WIRELESS SECURITY A new optical antenna developed at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom may offer users a much more secure alternative to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless networks. Researchers at the university said the new antenna is 100 times more efficient than other optical devices, making it ideal for transferring large amounts of data with relatively high security. Because the antenna uses infrared signals rather than radio waves, the signals do not travel through walls and can be very tightly focused. Infrared signals are effective for distances up to three miles and are much more difficult to eavesdrop on than radio waves. Researchers said the technology could address the fears of businesses, many of which are reluctant to install wireless technology because of security concerns. CNET, 11 November 2002 http://news.com.com/2100-1033-965239.html TWO COMPANIES RELEASE UPDATED SE LINUX Two companies, Open Source Development Group (OSDgroup) and Westcam, have released an updated version of Security-Enhanced (SE) Linux, which was developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) in early 2001. According to Richard Kuebler of OSDgroup, the NSA created SE Linux by adding security features and functionality to the Linux operating system, making it acceptable for use by military agencies. The NSA, however, did not offer support for the changes made. The version released by OSDgroup and Westcam adds a graphical installer as well as new security settings. OSDgroup will create training courses to help businesses understand and efficiently use the features in their version of SE Linux. ZDNet, 11 November 2002 http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-965179.html ***************************************************** 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. For information on EDUCAUSE publications see http://www.educause.edu/pub/ ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information about EDUCAUSE conferences and other professional development opportunities, visit http://www.educause.edu/conference/ ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2002, EDUCAUSE
