***************************************************** 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 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2003 Proposed Distance-Education Regulation Change Criticized Research Company Says No Lull in Peer-to-Peer Traffic RIAA Links File Sharing with Child Porn Sharp Laptops Offer 3D Display PROPOSED DISTANCE-EDUCATION REGULATION CHANGE CRITICIZED Testimony at a Congressional subcommittee hearing warned that repeal of a federal distance-education regulation known as the 50 percent rule might result in inadequate oversight of online programs. The rule prohibits students who attend colleges that enroll more than half of their students at a distance from receiving federal financial aid. The bill under consideration, HR 3039, would repeal the 50 percent rule for telecommunication programs such as online or satellite-based courses. It would not affect application of the rule to traditional correspondence programs. A recent Department of Education report on institutions that had the rule waived on a trial basis concluded that eliminating the rule caused no problems. The report recommended revising or eliminating the regulation. Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 September 2003 (sub. req'd) http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2003/09/2003091202t.htm RESEARCH COMPANY SAYS NO LULL IN PEER-TO-PEER TRAFFIC Research firm BigChampagne, which monitors traffic on peer-to-peer networks, said that despite recent lawsuits filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), file-trading activity has not decreased. Eric Garland of BigChapagne said the RIAA's actions will likely discourage some users from continuing to use such networks, but users, he said, "enjoy safety in numbers." Garland said the perception among users is that the odds of being sued are extremely low. The RIAA discounted the reported usage numbers, saying that their actions have prompted significant media attention and discussion "among parents, children and many others about the illegality of distributing copyrighted music online and its consequences." BBC, 12 September 2003 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3102982.stm RIAA LINKS FILE SHARING WITH CHILD PORN The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other witnesses testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that peer-to-peer (P2P) services are used to trade child pornography as well as to download pirated copies of digital music and movie files. Any type of Congressional action against P2P networks could benefit the recording industry's attempts to eliminate illegal file sharing, pointed out P2P network supporters. Owners and defenders of P2P networks objected to the allegations of child pornography as a serious problem in the file-sharing arena. Washington Post, 10 September 2003 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56454-2003Sep10.html SHARP LAPTOPS OFFER 3D DISPLAY A new notebook computer from Sharp Corporation, a Japanese electronics company, will come with a display capable of showing three-dimensional objects without requiring users to wear special glasses. The Mebius PC-RD3D is expected to go on sale in late October in Japan, with release in the United States slated before the end of the year. Although the new system targets mostly people who design 3D software, the company said it is also planning to release a model for consumers. The laptop toggles between the 3D display and a regular display. The price is expected to be about $3,000. InfoWorld, 12 September 2003 (registration req'd) http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/09/11/HNsharp3d_1.html?hardware ***************************************************** 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 "EQ" 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 on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/conference/ ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2003, EDUCAUSE
