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TOP STORIES FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 03, 2005 University Researchers Developing Browser to Fight Terrorism Broadband Gets Really Fast Google Sponsors Open Source Program for Students Sun to Buy Storage Technology UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS DEVELOPING BROWSER TO FIGHT TERRORISM Researchers at the University of Buffalo (UB) are developing browser technology that endeavors to identify hidden connections in vast collections of documents. Rather than simply looking for matches to specified query terms, which is what typical search engines do, the UB technology seeks to uncover connections between ideas. According to John McCarthy, professor emeritus of computer science at Stanford University, a tool that successfully links concepts could be an important breakthrough. A number of federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are investing in the research, which they hope can be used to find the sorts of connections that will aid efforts to fight terrorism. The project has been used to search the report from the 9/11 Commission as well as public Web pages, looking for connections regarding the hijackers. The tool searches for concepts such as names, dates, and places and maps the connections it finds, potentially resulting in trails of evidence useful to investigators or other authorities. CNET, 2 June 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-1012_3-5730176.html BROADBAND GETS REALLY FAST The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has ratified a new standard that promises to boost data-transfer rates far beyond what is available today. Current DSL technology allows for rates of up to 10 Mbps, which for most DSL customers translates to speeds of 3-5 Mbps. The new standard, called Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line 2 (VDSL2), is said to be capable of transfer rates as high as 100 Mbps, offering most consumers consistent speeds of 25 Mbps, with peaks much higher than that. The VDSL2 standard is designed to work with existing DSL equipment. The ITU believes that by offering speeds this high, DSL providers can effectively compete with traditional carriers for video and voice services such as HDTV, voice over Internet protocol phone service, and videoconferencing. Michael Brusca, chairman of the DSL Forum, which includes manufacturers of DSL equipment and providers of the service, said the new standard "represents another essential element in the delivery of universal broadband access for multiple applications." Internet News, 2 June 2005 http://www.internetnews.com/infra/article.php/3509676 GOOGLE SPONSORS OPEN SOURCE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS Google has announced a program called Summer Code in which students work with open source organizations on coding projects. Google is accepting applications until June 14, from which it will select up to 200 individuals to participate in the program. Students in the program can develop their own ideas for development projects or base their work on ideas from one of the nine open source organizations that are part of the Summer Code program. Google has taken several steps to support open source initiatives, including developing a repository for open source applications related to Google technology and working on strategies to make its search-engine technology browser-independent. Summer Code program students will receive $500 from Google when they are accepted into the program, and projects undertaken must be completed by September 1. By October 1, participating open source organizations will announce whether the projects were completed successfully. Students who complete their projects will receive another $4,000 from Google. CNET, 1 June 2005 http://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-5727781.html SUN TO BUY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY Sun Microsystems has announced a deal to acquire Storage Technology Corporation for $4.1 billion. Sun has been especially hard hit by the dot-com collapse, and its decision to buy Storage Technology is seen as a move to compete more directly with companies including IBM and HP for the corporate computing market. Storage Technology makes tape and disk storage systems, which, according to chairman and CEO Patrick J. Martin, continues to be a growing and profitable market. Scott McNealy, Sun chairman and CEO, said the acquisition would also add a significant number of much-needed sales representatives. IDC analyst John McArthur said he thinks the deal is a good one. "Sun has to find a way to tell a different story," he said, "and this permits them to say, 'I can deliver a complete set of integrated pieces.'" New York Times, 3 June 2005 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/technology/03sun.html ***************************************************** 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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