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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 07, 2005 Welsh University Announces Supercomputer Plans Paige Calls for Stronger IT Emphasis BSA Calls for Stronger Copyright Legislation Feds Launch National Response Plan Oracle Wraps Up PeopleSoft Acquisition Microsoft Launches Antispyware Tool WELSH UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES SUPERCOMPUTER PLANS The Welsh Assembly Government this week announced plans to build one of the world's fastest supercomputers at Swansea University. The tennis-court-sized machine will be developed with funding from the government and with support from IBM. The supercomputer, to be built at Swansea's new clinical college, will be used for biology research, including studies of disease prevention. The project is part of technology efforts by the government of Wales to strengthen the country's economy by 2010. Another initiative aims to make broadband access available throughout Wales. Organizers hope the project will lead to the creation of spin-off companies, attracting even more jobs to the area. BBC, 6 January 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4150285.stm PAIGE CALLS FOR STRONGER IT EMPHASIS Education Secretary Rod Paige this week called for improved use of technology in U.S. schools. According to a report issued by the Department of Education, virtually all of the nation's schools are connected to the Internet, and schools on average have one computer for roughly every five students. Despite this level of technology available, and despite the fact that many students are using computers regularly for schoolwork, educators do not have the skills or the understanding to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum, according to the report. "Schools remain unchanged for the most part," said Paige, "despite numerous reforms and increased investments in computers." Although insufficient funding is frequently cited as a reason for the lag in teacher training, the report rejected that argument, pointing out that funding can come from a number of sources. San Jose Mercury News, 7 January 2005 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/10588049.htm BSA CALLS FOR STRONGER COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION The Business Software Alliance (BSA) has released a white paper calling on government to strengthen laws meant to protect copyright holders from digital piracy. Fearing a situation like the one that record companies are grappling with, the BSA--which includes such companies as Microsoft, Intuit, and Symantec--urged lawmakers to take appropriate steps to ensure the enforceability of software copyrights and patents. An attorney for the group, Emery Simon, said the goal of the paper was not to encourage specific action but simply to identify a "problem that needs attention." The paper contends that a series of court rulings regarding the Digital Millennium Copyright Act have resulted in an "impediment to effective enforcement," but the group did not specifically call on lawmakers to revise that law. CNET, 7 January 2005 http://news.com.com//2100-1030_3-5516568.html FEDS LAUNCH NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN The Department of Homeland Security has released a plan that directs how the federal government is to work with state, local, and tribal governments, as well as with the private sector, in the event of a national emergency. The National Response Plan is rooted in the National Incident Management System, which is currently under development by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is expected to be complete by the end of fiscal 2007. The National Response Plan establishes standards for training and organization. In addition, it outlines protocols for handling incidents that span various jurisdictions, with the goal of helping officials at all levels of government better coordinate their responses despite widely varying technologies used in prevention, response, and recovery efforts. Federal Computer Week, 7 January 2005 http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2005/0103/web-response-01-06-05.asp ORACLE WRAPS UP PEOPLESOFT ACQUISITION Oracle this week secured 97 percent of the outstanding shares of PeopleSoft, completing its protracted takeover of its rival without having to resort to a proxy vote. The company said it can now "move ahead quickly with the integration of the two companies." Oracle explained that when the merger is finalized, PeopleSoft will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle, which will become the world's second-largest enterprise software company. Details about changes to the company's management structure, as well as about layoffs resulting from the acquisition, are expected January 14. Chuck Philips, co-president of Oracle, said his company is committed to supporting PeopleSoft products and customers and will enhance some products. Philips would not rule out the possibility of another large-scale merger, but said nothing of that sort would happen for at least two quarters. Internet News, 7 January 2005 http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3455811 MICROSOFT LAUNCHES ANTISPYWARE TOOL Microsoft this week began offering a test version of an antispyware application for download. The company had been promising such a tool for some time, and it will debut an antivirus tool next week for cleaning viruses and other malware from computers. A spokesperson for Microsoft also said it will begin offering a service called "A1" that will provide users with updates to these tools. Microsoft has been working to improve the security standards of its products, and the company's new tools represent its extension of those efforts into the software security market currently led by companies including McAfee and Symantec. Shares of both of those companies' stock fell sharply on the news of Microsoft's new security tools. Reuters, 6 January 2005 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=7260250 ***************************************************** 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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