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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, JULY 17, 2006 UT Austin Edges Toward Nanotechnology HP Develops Tiny Radio Chips AOL Introduces Security Tools UT AUSTIN EDGES TOWARD NANOTECHNOLOGY The regents of the University of Texas System have given their approval for Chancellor Mark Yudof to solicit grants and other funding to support a nanotechnology research center. Called the South West Academy for Nanoelectronics, the center would be housed at UT Austin's Microelectronics Research Center. Among possible areas of study, researchers at the center would investigate how nanotechnology might replace conventional transistors, the building blocks of current computing devices, with smaller processors. Researchers would also look at nanotechnology applications in biomedicine, energy, and health care. Organizers of the center hope to secure $1.5 million from the Nanoelectronics Research Corp., which has given grants to similar research centers at UCLA and the State University of New York at Albany. Backers of the initiative also plan to seek $10 million from the high-tech industry and another $10 million from the state. Silicon Valley, 14 July 2006 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/15041918.htm HP DEVELOPS TINY RADIO CHIPS HP researchers based in England have developed very small chips that can store 512,000 bytes of information and be read by a handheld device. The chips, called Memory Spots, are 1.4 square millimeters and feature small processors, which would allow the chips to actively protect the data they contain. Unlike RFID tags, which company officials said the new chips are not intended to replace, the chips hold significantly more data and cannot be read from several feet away. Whereas RFID chips are designed for inventory and supply-chain applications, Memory Spots have different potential. Because the HP chips have a relatively large capacity, they can store not only text-based information but also audio, video, or images. HP officials said the chips might be used in medical bracelets, for example, or attached to photos to store information about the pictures. New York Times, 17 July 2006 (registration req'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/17/technology/17tag.html AOL INTRODUCES SECURITY TOOLS AOL is set to release a test version of a security package that the company will offer to anyone, not just AOL customers. The company currently offers security applications to subscribers, including a firewall and antivirus and antispyware tools. The new offering, known as Total Care, will be a comprehensive package, with components coming from various third parties. Firewall, antivirus, and antispyware tools come from McAfee; Iolo Technologies provides tools for PC performance, and backup tools come from FarStone Technology. Following Microsoft's launch of Windows Live OneCare in May, leading makers of security products pledged to offer similar one-stop products that should serve all of a user's needs. According to Gartner, growing numbers of consumers are looking to their ISPs to provide security solutions rather than buying tools from other vendors. The firm said that last year, 14 percent of computer security sales were from ISPs, compared to just 5 percent the year before. CNET, 17 July 2006 http://news.com.com/2100-1029_3-6094932.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. To access resources including articles, books, conference sessions, contracts, effective practices, plans, policies, position descriptions, and blog content, go to http://www.educause.edu/resources ***************************************************** CONFERENCES For information on all EDUCAUSE learning and networking opportunities, see http://www.educause.edu/31 ***************************************************** COPYRIGHT Edupage copyright (c) 2006, EDUCAUSE
