A new report urges southern-Ontario cities to partner with Uber and other “shared mobility” services to improve transit Source: The Toronto Star Date: August 30th, 2016 Link: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/08/19/embrace-new-transit-technology-or-else-u-of-t-study-says.html Discussion 1) ““Shared mobility” is the term used to describe the current shift away from personal ownership of things like bikes and cars toward shared use of those resources though… Read more »
Posts By: David Firth
Thailand’s students reveal their vice — cheating by device
This is a confiscated smartwatch showing a student’s math data. In Thailand, being brought up to be polite, tolerant, and respectful hasn’t prevented rampant cheating on university entrance exams, now aided by embedded cameras, smartwatches and all other manner of high tech gear. Source: Toronto Star Date: September 1st, 2016 Link: https://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2016/05/11/thailands-students-reveal-their-vice-cheating-by-device.html 1) How might you prevent… Read more »
Google Cloud Chief Diane Greene: Here’s How We’ll Catch Amazon And Microsoft
Diane Greene, senior vice president in charge of cloud and enterprise at Google. The onetime cofounder of VMware, a pioneer in what’s now known as cloud computing, heads Google’s enterprise and cloud businesses, seen by many as its next big business beyond advertising. Appointed last November when Google bought her startup, the senior vice president… Read more »
Microsoft Excel blamed for gene study errors
Microsoft’s Excel has been blamed for errors in academic papers on genomics. Researchers trying to raise awareness of the issue claim that the spreadsheet software automatically converts the names of certain genes into dates. Gene symbols like SEPT2 (Septin 2) were found to be altered to “September 2”. Source: BBC Technology News Date: September 1st, 2016… Read more »
Who are the hackers who cracked the iPhone?
The cyber arms NSO Group was founded in 2010 and is based in Herzliya, an attractive city north of Tel Aviv that is known as being a cluster of tech start-ups. The group was likely funded by the elite 8200 Intelligence Unit, an Israeli military-funded scheme for start-ups. Source: BBC Technology Date: September 1st, 2016 Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37192670… Read more »
Set-top box crackdown will chill Canada’s tech innovation
Canada’s federal court has issued an injunction banning several companies from distributing set-top boxes with pre-loaded software, despite the fact that everyone agrees the boxes also have legitimate uses. Source: Toronto Star Date: August 25th, 2016 Link: Set top boxes Discussion 1) At issue here is ” set-top boxes that turn standard televisions into “smart TVs,” enabling users… Read more »
Google’s cloud-computing customers experiencing errors and delays in their service
The search giant Google said on Tuesday that problems with its Central U.S.-based data center region on August 11 led to some of its cloud-computing customers experiencing errors and delays in their service. Google’s Central U.S.-based data center region is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa., and the search giant has spent roughly $2.5 billion… Read more »
Are hi-tech spies stealing all your firm’s secrets?
Last weekend’s reports about the New Zealand rugby team’s discovery of a listening device sewn in to a hotel meeting room chair, have illustrated just how much spying technology has advanced in recent years. These days, you don’t need to sit outside in a van with your headphones on, listening to static for an hour… Read more »
Using Virtual Reality to Sell Homes
Using VR to sell homes Source: CNN Date: August 25th, 2016 Link to video: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2016/08/19/virtual-reality-real-estate.cnnmoney/index.html Discussion 1) VR is not new, but it is clearly getting more mainstream. What other applications would benefit from this VR sales approach? 2) Are there any additional privacy or security issues arising from the use of VR to make sales?
Using heat mapping to see where people are
This technology allows someone to accurately map where, and for how long, a person is. Source: CNN Date: August 25th, 2016 Link to video: http://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2016/08/15/shopping-tracking-technology.cnnmoney Discussion 1) Where else might this sort of technology be really useful? 2) If you were buying this technology for your company, what sorts of concerns might you have?
Leading Titles
Introduction to Information Systems, 3rd Canadian Binder Ready Version Update Edition
R. Kelly Rainer, Casey G. Cegielski, Ingrid Splettstoesser-Hogeterp, Cristobal Sanchez-Rodriguez
ISBN: 978-1-119-13385-8
August 2015, © 2016
CDN $98.95; CDN $114.95