Headlines from around the Web for Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Compiled by Melanie Bender
Bill Gates Says Immigration, Education Reform Needed For U.S. To Compete
InformationWeek
Bill Gates told members of the House Subcommittee on Science and Technology they need to to help America remain globally competitive by increasing funding for science and math education, basic science research, and to raise the cap on green cards and H-1B visas for foreign talent.
A Heart Device Is Found Vulnerable to Hacker Attacks
The New York Times
While the threat is largely theoretical, a team of computer security researchers plans to report that it had been able to gain wireless access to a combination heart defibrillator and pacemaker, reprogramming it to shut down and to deliver jolts of electricity that would potentially be fatal â€" if the device had been in a person.
Philadelphia Pays Consultant $200,000 for Wi-Fi Work
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia's CIO admitted on Tuesday that Wireless Philadelphia, the municipal Wi-Fi network that was to be built for free, has a $200,000 price tag in the form of a consultant serving as technical project manager.
Union Decries Increasing Number of Outsourced IT Contracts for California
The Sacramento Bee
A report compiled by the Service Employees International Union notes information technology contracts awarded by the state have tripled since 2003, and California could save up to $100 million annually by reducing its reliance on contractors.
New Collaboration Tools Provide Support to Soldiers Anywhere, Anytime
Government Computer News
The Army’s Telemaintenance Program, based at Fort Monmouth, N.J., can provide this direct support to warfighters by using a combination of Adobe Connect Professional, satellite communications, a headset and laptop PC. Similar satellite communications are proving essential for the U.S. Africa Command.
CDT Launches Health Privacy Initiative
InfoWorld
Privacy needs to be a higher priority as the U.S. government and other groups push for adoption of health IT as a way to improve the country's healthcare system, said the Center for Democracy and Technology , which has launched a health privacy initiative.
Box Repels Youths, but Adults Can't Hear It
The Baltimore Sun
A British inventor's security device repels youths with its high-pitched pulsating sound that can mostly be heard only by teens and people in their early to mid-20s. And it's being used and abused on both sides of the Atlantic now.
It’s Easy, and Expensive, to Forget About Old Equipment
The New York Times
Sloppy inventory control can cause major headaches for companies -- including potential tax and legal consequences. So one entrepreneur has started a company to develop a method for continuous tracking of assets from the warehouse receiving dock to the dumpster.
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