Posts By: David Firth

Yahoo scanned millions of its users’ emails on behalf of the US government.

Posted by & filed under Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues, IS ethics, IT and the law.

Yahoo has downplayed a report that said it had scanned millions of its users’ emails on behalf of the US government.  Reuters made the allegation recently, saying Yahoo had created special software to comply with a classified directive. Source: BBC Technology News Date: October 11th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37568106 Discussion 1) Every email was scanned.  “Sources had told said… Read more »

Clayton Christensen: The Theory of Jobs To Be Done

Posted by & filed under Competitive advantage, Emerging Technologies.

In today’s digital age, business executives collect reams of data as they try to develop the next must-have product for consumers, yet corporate innovation efforts remain painfully hit or miss.  A recent McKinsey poll found that 84 percent of global executives said innovation was extremely important for business growth, yet 94 percent were dissatisfied with… Read more »

‘Think about the future’: Kids face up to the dangers of sexting

Posted by & filed under Ethical Issues.

In a world where sexting — digital flirting  — can create devastating personal and and legal problems, Grade 4 students in Nova Scotia are learning how to stay safe online.  Like many teachers and school boards across Canada, educators at Bluenose Academy in Lunenburg are making online safety a priority. Source: CBC Technology News Date: October 6th, 2016 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/teens-sexting-education-1.3789913 Discussion 1) What sort of technology… Read more »

No connectivity: the internet ‘blackout zone’ that is rural Canada

Posted by & filed under bandwidth, Competitive advantage, Consumer Technology, Ethical Issues.

An Ottawa Valley family’s monumental struggle to get broadband internet shows that a significant geographic digital divide still exists in Canada, even for those who aren’t very far from urban centres.  “I live an hour from our nation’s capital, 10 minutes from the town of Renfrew on a busy highway,” says Kevin LeGris.  “I’m in… Read more »

How people use their phones in bed

Posted by & filed under Consumer Technology, Ethical Issues.

Fifteen million people in the UK [that’s about a quarter] are disrupting their sleep patterns by looking at their mobile phones and other devices, with a third of them checking for messages at night and more than a sixth replying to them. Source: BBC Business Date: October 4th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37471676 Discussion 1) How might this behavior impact… Read more »

Meeting Cellebrite – Israel’s master phone crackers

Posted by & filed under Business Intelligence, Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues.

Cellebrite is an Israeli company that helps police forces gain access to data on the mobile phones of suspected criminals.  Cellebrite was in the headlines earlier this year when it was rumoured to have helped the FBI to crack an iPhone used by the San Bernardino shooter. Source: BBC Technology News Date: October 4th, 2016 Link to… Read more »

How tech is helping a casino catch the cheats

Posted by & filed under Competitive advantage, Cybersecurity, Electronic Surveillance, Ethical Issues.

  In the past, casinos would employ agents to observe gamblers’ behaviour and watch out for cheats, but now technology is playing a role. Source: BBC Technology News Date: September 28th, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37095120 Discussion 1) What other businesses could use this sort of technology? 2) What sort of disclosures should a casino, or other business using this… Read more »