Evolving Higher Education

Hey, I’m back with a new blog. Things have been busy at work, the type of busy that is both full of challenges but also full of rewarding work and collaboration amongst good people.

Tom Golway

Outside of work I’ve continued the production of my Seasons in NY videos, Spring in NY is undergoing final edits and should be on youtube in the next couple of weeks. I’ve also just gone through the agony known as college application/acceptance process. An interesting and stressful experience but a good learning experience. One particular observation was the changing value of academic achievements in some elite institutions.

Evolving Corporate Information Technology

Since my last blog I have half written about 10 or so blogs, but can’t seem to finish them, or perhaps I’m not satisfied with my conclusions. So here I am, streaming music on Spotify sometime after midnight writing this blog. I blame Starbucks and their policy to give a free coffee when you buy a pound, or perhaps it’s my selection of music (Metal). But I digress.

Tom Golway

During the past week the subject of change came up a couple times, particularly around how information technology has risen to a prominence in corporations equal to other core business functions. Having been in the technology field for many years has given me an amazing opportunity to participate in some of the most radical changes in the history of business. Early in my career the concept of a “C” level technology executive was non-existent.

Social Engineering

Good article on Social Engineering being a large risk to Corporate IT infrastructures and a company's information assets.

Tom Golway

As the article states, poorly trained workers is a reason, however it is not the only one. Most companies fail to protect their information assets adequately. Having strong perimeter security isn't enough if information assets are easily accessible from within an organization.

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

Some thoughts on information technology security

I think most of us are aware of the high profile corporate network security breaches that have occurred this year. It seems like every couple of years we experience a wave of security events, quite a bit of activity occurs leading to some nominal changes.

Tom Golway

You may think I use the word nominal very casually, however recently I took a look back to see how far security has come in the last 20 years and stand by my use of the word nominal.

Why 20 years? It was about 20 years ago when the first commercially available firewall was introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation. Security in the form of authentication and access controls were widely used prior to the firewall, however security was considered to be primarily a system level function.

Blog on the evolution of learning

Great blog on how learning has evolved by Howard Rheingold.

Learning Reimagined: Participatory, Peer, Global, Online

First, I have found that in both my traditional physical classrooms and online environments, the chances of successful outcomes are multiplied when every person in the group makes a commitment to active participation in helping others learn.

Read more at dmlcentral.net

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

In search of – the meaning of a “hack”

I was reading reuters.com over the weekend (I really was, no gratuitous plug here). While in the technology section, I came across a blog titled “The real meaning of hack” by Adam Penenberg. Anyone who knows me would realize that a blog title like this is a great way to get my attention.

Tom Golway

The first part of the article was all about Mr. Penenberg trying to convince us that he is an expert on hacking. All Mr. Penenberg convinced me is that he is a prolific writer and uses his interpretation of hack and hacker in his writings.

Mobility and the PC

The PC as we know it is dying. Not today or even in the near future but there’s no question that it has been on extended life support for sometime. The demise of the PC in its current form is being driven by an overwhelming desire of the marketplace to be mobile.

Tom Golway

But is mobility something new or just an evolved form of traditional computing. I suppose most people have associated mobility with e-mail or perhaps some web surfing on their mobile device. But true mobility is all about computing on demand and having the same accessibility to content and applications anywhere and everywhere.

Germany and Nucelar Power

One of the things I love about social media is sharing information amongst the people in my network. Today I was sent a link to a news story that a couple of people thought would interest me. They were right, though I admit to being a bit embarrassed that the story came from Reuters and I failed to see it.

Tom Golway

The story was about Germany’s decision to pull the plug on its nuclear industry in 2022. The viral nature of the Internet ensured that every detail of the Fukushima disaster unfolded in real-time. Given this and the overall political climate in Germany, one can’t be surprised at the motivation behind this decision.

Problem Management through Social Media

If you follow me via my blog or Twitter (@readyforthenet) you likely would have seen a flurry of tweets and posts around a failure event last week involving the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). Sure it was a bit frustrating for many people, including me; however it evolved into a case study in the use of Social Media to manage through consumer issues.

Tom Golway

Now we are not talking about your average consumer, we are talking about some of the most demanding commuters in the country, commuters who pay substantial ticket fares to travel to very demanding jobs and receive a sub-optimal service.

The LIRR historically has its share of service outages, but what has caused the most pain for their customers has been their lack of clear communications during an outage. The LIRR has tried; they put an e-mail alerting system in place. When it works it is ok; however e-mail alerting is unreliable, not scalable and lacks persistency. Typical complaints are not receiving the alert, receiving the alert long after the event occurred or missing the e-mail in the normal sea of e-mails received daily.

Commuting and Social Media

Today at 7PM I received an alert from the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) about an issue that happened that would impact tomorrow’s morning commuter train commute. They said look for updates before heading for work.

Tom Golway

This is not a first and brings up the question ‘Why are they always so reactive with so little process?’ Issues occur that can't be predicted in advance, but flexible response processes can be developed to limit the impact of an issue. This would be an ideal time for them to be proactive and implement a pre-planned reduced schedule. Then leverage social media to get the word out to as many people as possible.

While looking at their social media presence, I found out that they do not monitor their social media 24x7. Do they think that nothing is reported via social media? Or perhaps events, issues or any other news never happens outside of their 9-5 M-F monitoring window.

Clean Energy Project - Lecture Series

I have been supporting this project for more than 3 years now for various reasons, including clean energy sources for better living, less pollution and an ability to create a disruption in the world's energy markets that will take away the current economic and political imbalance that exists today.

Tom Golway

Yeah maybe its only a dream, but sustainable self-sufficiency in energy as well as food and clean water is a vision worth pursuing. Every small success can contribute to a big impact.

If you have an interest in helping, please join my team at the World Community Grid.

World Community Grid - Clean Energy Project - Lecture Series

On Earth Day, April 22nd, 2011, Dr. Alan Aspuru-Guzik provided an update on the Clean Energy project running on World Community Grid.

See this on YouTube.

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

Litigation as a business enabler?

I'm not surprised to see this and I suspect that because of how content and content distribution is evolving, litigation will be the primary way that new agreements will be constructed.

Tom Golway

Instead of spending all this money making lawyers wealthy, perhaps these companies should work on new commercial models to reflect the convergence of distribution technologies. This is not something that is new, consumers want to be able to have ubiquitous access to all content regardless if its traditional cable, wired Internet, mobile Internet, etc.

In reality this opens opportunities for all companies to create more efficiencies and scale. It should also bring back a focus on the the content and making it more valuable to consumers. Isn't that their primary business?

Time Warner Cable, Viacom sue each other over iPad TV.

NEW YORK(Reuters) - Time Warner Cable and Viacom Inc on Thursday countersued each other in an escalating battle over whether cable companies have the right to distribute TV shows to devices like Apple Inc's iPad tablet.

Read more at www.reuters.com.

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

The wired world - vision circa 2000

I happened to come across an article from 11 years ago about a company I worked for back then, Marconi. It my second attempt at pushing forward my vision for an "Intelligent City".

Tom Golway

These two clips from Economist article captured what we thought would be the catalyst that would provide the fuel to "boil the ocean".

Myspace's Shrinking Revenues

I supposed its not surprising that Myspace's revenues are shrinking as its value proposition isn't clear or perhaps the perception of its value isn't clear.

Tom Golway

I've always thought that Myspace had great potential a couple of years ago, particularly in the area of social commerce. It seemed that it was evolving to become a niche community, supporting musicians both established artists affiliated with record companies and indies looking to promote their talents using social media.

It had the chance to use its cash flow from advertising and move towards transactions. Its leadership let that slip by.

Now that its worth is slipping, I would say that it would be a good play for Apple, given that Ping as a community is worthless. The integration of Myspace and iTunes would be a huge force in the industry.

Then again, as Microsoft morphs Zune into a mobile play on phones, having a decent community like Myspace would give it a boost as well.

Myspace's Revenue Collapse

See more at www.businessinsider.com

Comments and thoughts are always welcome.

AT&T & T-Mobile - More Spectrum

The PC as we know it is slowly dying due to increased desire of the marketplace to be mobile. In mobility, the key factors will be the user experience, not the underlying application. Lightweight platforms (both physically and software) are not just a requirement, they will be the expectation of the next generation of users.



For wireless carriers the issue will become capacity, they need more of the wireless spectrum. Over the next couple of years the value of that spectrum will increase geometrically. Unfortunately performance will suffer as a result of overcrowding.



Over the next 2-3 years we will see startups looking to create IP around potential solutions. First will appear IP around squeezing more out of the spectrum, next will be new technologies.



Anyway you look at it, your future is a mobile one.

Amplify’d from www.businessinsider.com

CHART OF THE DAY: The Real Reason AT&T Is Buying T-Mobile

See more at www.businessinsider.com

 

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Social TV Trends

URL:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-digital-so...

An interesting article and trend, though the more interesting piece is the opportunity for a full integration of TV (or other content) and social media on the same platform. We've certainly seen examples of this such as last year's Olympics and tweets, however the technologies are not fully integrated as yet. This is an opportunity looking for an innovative leader.

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/bup0f

Warner Bros to offer movies on Facebook

URL:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-facebook-i...

A definite win for Facebook. This is a very low risk way for Facebook to keep users from drifting away from the Facebook platform. For Warner Bros, its a way to tap into the emerging social commerce industry.

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Wimbledon in 3-D!

URL:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/us-tennis-wim...

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Solar Power over 30 years ago

Its amazing that its been over 30 years now since I was at Lincoln Lab. I will always remember how, against the odds, WBNO-AM powered up via the Sun. Back then I was convinced that by the year 2000 we would be using solar as a significant source of energy. I still believe in solar as one of a number of energy sources, however I also believe that it will take much more than organic growth and relying on our free markets system to make progress.

Amplify’d from www.motherearthnews.com

TUNE IN TO THE SUN!

Bryan, Ohio—located in the flat, northwestern corner of the Buckeye State, 50 miles west of Toledo—is nobody's idea of "Sun City". The area has rainy summers . . . long, harsh winters . . . and cloud covers that manage to look ominous even when they're not dropping rain or snow. It was precisely this no-quarter-given climate, however, that led to the decision to locate the world's first solar-powered commercial radio station irk Bryan. The concept's backers felt that, if the enterprise could succeed in such an obviously "nonsolar" location, it would be viable most anywhere. So, to prove the point, WBNO-AM (a 500-watt, dawn-to-dusk operation) transferred its electrical allegiance from Toledo Edison to the sun on August 29, 1979. Read more at www.motherearthnews.com

 

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Interesting Support from HP

URL:  http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2011/110308xa.h...

Seems to me that this is something more software vendor should be supporting, though it does depend on pricing.

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More good health tips

URL:  http://www.webmd.com/cancer/slideshow-cancer-fighting-f...

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Pompeii - Exhibit at the Discovery

Amplify’d from www.discoverytsx.com

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America's 10 Most Walkable Cities

URL:  http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/...

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Social Theorem Blog

http://socialtheorem.com/?p=59

Excellent post on the evolving/maturing of social media.



What we are seeing is a natural evolution of the Internet. In a sense the Internet is going through a period of “self-regulation” where most people will participate by providing transparency and ignoring the noise created by anonymous posts and those who post things that may not be relevant to the mass audience.



This is a good thing, though one has to wonder about the loss of anonymous posting since it does serve a purpose in some situations.

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IPv6 is finally going to be a high priority, well maybe...

Amplify’d from newsroom.cisco.com

The Internet Is Out of Addresses, But Don't Panic

See more at newsroom.cisco.com

 

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Doobie Brothers - Far From Home Project

http://farfromhomeproject.com/

Nice concept from the Doobie Brothers. Taking videos from fans to construct their music video.

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Death of the music industry as we know it

Interesting chart and comments. The chart's headline is "The Death of the Music Industry" but in reality this chart only focuses on the conventional business model of the music industry, which is dying.



The music business is morphing rather quickly toward streaming media supported by ads and more people attending live shows.



I would say that the music industry is undergoing democratization. Ultimately this chart will evolve to a point where the majority of traditional sales will be led by manufactured stars, while independent artists will dominate the live show scene, not in terms of dollars but certainly in attendance.

Amplify’d from www.businessinsider.com

CHART OF THE DAY: The Death Of The Music Industry

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Employees are Your Greatest Asset in a Business

Amplify’d from www.mzonearticles.com

I have been an entrepreneur for over twenty years, and along the way, I have learned a few things about what makes a business successful. Here are some tried and true characteristics and strategies of successful companies. How many of these are you doing? Do you need to reevaluate your Business Plan? Read more at www.mzonearticles.com

 

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A future for news | Analysis & Opinion |

URL:  http://blogs.reuters.com/from-reuterscom/2010/12/14/a-f...

It certainly will be interesting how this evolves. I do see the extensibility of the vision of the author outside of news into all information sources.



What is implied in this blog is an evolution toward the potential of harnessing the power of crowd sourcing, both dynamic (such as Twitter) and persistent (blogging, etc.). This is not a small undertaking given the question of trusted and unbiased content, though this an area where Thomson Reuters leads the competition.

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China faces Internet dictator's dilemma: Clinton | Reuters

URL:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/us-usa-intern...

As people find the balance with online and in-person socialization, the social net will enhance their lives and bring greater understanding to the world. People will maintain an ‘inner circle’ of relationships that will primarily be in person, while staying connected with people around the world through various forms of the social net. This will allow the average person to gain a greater understanding of the world from the eyes of other average people from different countries and cultures. This hyper-connectivity will give rise to greater collaboration leading to more creativity and ideas.



Ideas and creativity are the most dangerous weapons against those who look to suppress freedom. The Internet has the potential to magnify their impact and it is why it is suppressed in certain places.



Governments will need to adjust to this new world society.

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Apple subscription service challenges publishers | Reuters

URL:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/us-apple-subs...

Ultimately this will encourage publishers to find alternative ways to distribute their content. I don’t see publishers recreating distribution channels, its more effective for them to have multiple outlets to distribute.



Distribution is a commodity, though to a consumer the ease of acquiring content is a factor not to be overlooked. Also having an ability to see recommendations from peers and supporting other components of social media will also attract and keep consumers loyal to a distribution source. At this point, Apple has distribution and ease of acquiring content, but other aspects let’s face it, Ping is, well let’s just say it isn’t very useful.

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A Break Down

Amplify’d from www.businessinsider.com

CHART OF THE DAY: A Break Down Of The $2 Billion Virtual Goods Industry

See more at www.businessinsider.com

 

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"open expression of creative ideas was negatively correlated with perceptions of leadership potential"

Interesting article and I agree with the points but not as a general rule. I'd also say that this "barrier" is breaking down slowly.

Amplify’d from blogs.forbes.com

Your Organization To Read more at blogs.forbes.com

 

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IPv4 Addresses are gone.

Definitely an interesting milestone and certainly reflects an amazing growth in the Internet. Its more significant when you consider the creativity in how IPv4 addresses were conserved.



I can't possibly imagine the number of devices connected to the Internet that have private addresses.

Amplify’d from www.reuters.com

Depletion of Internet addresses reflects wired world

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Thirty years after the first Internet addresses were created, the supply of addresses officially ran dry on Thursday. Read more at www.reuters.com

 

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Regardless of who the hot company is today, after 100 years, IBM still drives innovation and progress

Amplify’d from www.bladenetwork.net

IBM Celebrates 100 Years

IBM is celebrating 100 years - a century of achievements that have changed the world. Across the decades, IBM has had a greater impact on business than any other company. IBM’s tradition of innovation is reflected by its leadership patent portfolio. For the past 18 years, IBM has received more U.S. patents than any other company, holding more than 40,000 patents worldwide. And IBM’s history of outstanding business performance and its strong balance sheet virtually define “blue chip company.” Read more at www.bladenetwork.net

 

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Great interview about the Thomson Reuters corporate culture - Organizational curiousity.

Amplify’d from blogs.forbes.com

Thomson Reuters’ Culture of Organizational Curiosity

Interview with Devin Wenig, CEO, Thomson Reuters Markets Read more at blogs.forbes.com

 

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CHART OF THE DAY: The Android Effect On HTC

Amplify’d from www.businessinsider.com

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Roasted Corn Chowder with Chicken and Cilantro

URL:  http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/roasted-corn-chowder-...

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Volcanic lightning is seen above Shinmoedake

Volcanic lightning or a dirty thunderstorm is seen above Shinmoedake peak as it erupts

Amplify’d from news.yahoo.com

Volcanic lightning is seen above Shinmoedake ... Volcanic lightning or a dirty thunderstorm is seen above Shinmoedake peak as it erupts, between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures

Mount Shinmoedake erupts in Japan Play Slideshow Pause Slow Med Fast Photo Gallery Read more at news.yahoo.com

 

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A Supercomputer on Your Desktop

URL:  http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2011/ts_013111b.html?sid...

Graphics Technology That Drives World's Fastest Supercomputer Can Dramatically Speed Processing for Businesses and Consumers.

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Shop & Dine Vino 2011 | Vino 2011

URL:  http://www.italianmade.com/vino2011/shop-dine-vino-2011

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The Journey we call Life's Photos - January 2011 Snow Storm

Amplify’d from www.facebook.com

The Journey we call Life's Photos - January 2011 Snow Storm Read more at www.facebook.com

 

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Stresa Restaurant

URL:  http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home

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10 Biggest Predictions for the Future of Book Publishing

Amplify’d from www.onlinecollege.org

10 Biggest Predictions for the Future of Book Publishing

The future of books is at stake, for some readers and industry members. But even those who are nostalgic for smelling pages before they're read can get excited about what's to come in book publishing. Read more at www.onlinecollege.org

 

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My Encounter With a 3rd World Social Network

URL:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/37747120/My-Encounter-With-a-...

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Amplify’d from www.businessinsider.com

CHART OF THE DAY: The Number One Thing Android Tablets Need To Beat The iPad

See more at www.businessinsider.com

 

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Innovation

Amplify’d from sloanreview.mit.edu

The 5 Myths of Innovation

Nowadays, goes the theory, innovation is supposed to be done constantly, by everyone in the company, improving everything the company is about — and new Web-based tools are here to help it happen. Is the theory right? Or do the experiences of companies reveal something different? Read more at sloanreview.mit.edu

 

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