Communications of the ACM
The blog archive provides access to past blog postings from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
March 2013
From Computational Complexity
Opera and MOOCS
I've really learned to enjoy opera (the art form not the browser) and while I've come to really enjoy Atlanta, the city only has a regional opera company. So I tried out the Metropolitan Opera HD broadcasts in a local movie theater…
From Wild WebMink
Speak Up For SHIELD
If you’re a US citizen, your support for the bipartisan SHIELD Act could strike a decisive blow to patent trolls by making them pay costs if they lose patent actions and allowing judges to require a bond for costs from them before…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Tracking Sensors in the Workplace
Via the CACM and the WSJ: We examined this approach, using RFID badges and portal sensors in the Innovation Centers. It made things more efficient by letting you know where people were in a large and complex facility. HR's…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Strong Collaborative Skills Matter
From CIO: Almost nothing of note in IT can be done today without extensive collaboration. The skills to do this are essential in companies large and small. This is obvious. A puff piece stating that, yet I had not seen…
From Wild WebMink
Red Hat Picks Up Dropped Java 6
Red Hat put out a press release yesterday that didn’t instantly make sense to me. After a chat with their GM of Middleware, I realised actually they had all done us a favour picking up care of OpenJDK 6 that Oracle had dropped…
From Schneier on Security
Oxford University Blocks Google Docs
Google Docs is being used for phishing. Oxford University felt that it had to block the service because Google isn't responding to takedown requests quickly enough.
Think about this in light of my essay on feudal security.…From The Noisy Channel
The Noisy Channel Has Moved To LinkedIn
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably interested in my current writing. You can find my latest posts on my LinkedIn author page.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Finding and Amplifying Creativity
In the HBR Blog: Why we implemented an innovation center in 2000. " ... In 2010, IBM ran a survey of 1,500 CEOs and found that the most valuable management skill was no longer "operations" or "marketing" but "creativity."
…From The Eponymous Pickle
Changing Role of IT
Bill Inmon on the changimg role of IT. The evolution of technology and how the IT department reacted. Including a look at some of the glorious failures we have all decided to forget.
From The Eponymous Pickle
CPGs Load for Mobile
A survey of CPG spending that points towards much more spending in the mobile space. Not unexpected, the new consumer is moving quickly, and they are increasingly looking for mobile answers. More data will be generated and…
From Computer Science Teachers Association
Where Are the Teachers in Code.org?
Earlier this month, computer science education fever spread throughout the nation as promotional videos from code.org were publicly released. The media frenzy can be linked to the endorsement of 84 "Leaders and Trendsetters "from…
From Gödel's Lost Letter and P=NP
Checking the Higgs Boson
Reliability and scientific discovery Cropped from src. Dennis Overbye is Deputy Science Editor of the New York Times. He has just written the lead article for Tuesday’s “Science” section of the Times, which is entirely devoted…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Disappearing Interface
On the disappearing Interface: " ... Instead of all-purpose, full-focus devices, these new tools are migrating outward, on and around our bodies, to our fingers and heads and wrists and ears, and even feet. From there, they…
From Schneier on Security
How the FBI Intercepts Cell Phone Data
Good article on "Stingrays," which the FBI uses to monitor cell phone data. Basically, they trick the phone into joining a fake network. And, since cell phones inherently trust the network -- as opposed to computers which inherently…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Addressing Showrooming with Price Matching
In Shopperception. Good thoughts on this threat: " ... Throughout this article we presented a possible threat and how retailers are reacting with defensive campaigns that may just make people wonder about prices even more.…
From Wild WebMink
A Broken Promise
Microsoft was fined for being a scofflaw and for failing to self-regulate as it had promised, not (just) for a “technical oversight”. I explain more on InfoWorld today.
From Schneier on Security
Browser Security
Interesting discussion on browser security from Communications of the ACM. Also, an article on browser and web privacy from the same issue.
From Putting People First
What form of behaviour change does climate change call for?
Jonathan Rowson @Jonathan_Rowson, who leads the RSA Social Brain Centre, recently gave a 15 minute presentation on the Social Brain Centre’s emerging ideas relating to behaviour change in the context of Climate Change. The title…
From Putting People First
Reaching those beyond Big Data
Opening up the Stories to Action edition of Ethnography Matters is Panthea Lee’s @panthealee moving story about a human trafficking outreach campaign that her company, Reboot, designed for Safe Horizon. In David Brook’s recent…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Tableau Webinar Tomorrow
Of interest: " ... web seminar Tableau is hosting tomorrow (3/6). The webinar starts at 2p eastern and will feature current Tableau customers speaking about how they’ve been able to drive user engagement with interactive dashboards…
From The Eponymous Pickle
To Sell is Human
FromWharton: Excellent interview and video with Daniel Pink, a favorite author of mine. He was recently a guest lecturer at my Alma Mater. About his new book: To Sell is Human, the Surprising Truth About Moving Others. "…
From Schneier on Security
The NSA's Ragtime Surveillance Program and the Need for Leaks
A new book reveals details about the NSA's Ragtime surveillance program:
A book published earlier this month, "Deep State: Inside the Government Secrecy Industry," contains revelations about the NSA's snooping efforts, based…From The Eponymous Pickle
Challenges of Mobile Business Intelligence
A topic I am currently exploring. Scale of display, security, effectiveness of interaction are among the concerns. And software that can properly deal with that.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Measuring Advertising
Measurement of outcomes is always interesting to me, so this led to the announcement below:The Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative (WCAI) and the SEI Center's Future of Advertising Program (SEI FoA) are pleased to announceField…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Airwriting
In Popsci: Understanding gestural generation of text. Airwriting.
From The Eponymous Pickle
Cautions About Big Data
In TDWI: Three things that matter with Big Data. These cautions apply to all data based projects and thus should always be considered and addressed. I would add: You should always know where the data is used today in the…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Online Credit Card Usage
In Supermarket News: A snippet of information about online credit usage. " ... Many Wal-Mart Stores shoppers who purchase online and opt to pay with cash at a store actually end up using a credit card, Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Bill…
From Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information From Alfred Thompson
ACM/IEEE-CS CS2013 Ironman-v1.0 draft released
Those of you interested in undergraduate computer science education will be interested in the latest draft of the ACM/IEEE-CS CS 2013 curriculum recommendations. This is the all but final draft. The final draft will be released…
From Schneier on Security
Al Qaeda Document on Avoiding Drone Strikes
3 – Spreading the reflective pieces of glass on a car or on the roof of the building.
4 – Placing a group of skilled snipers to hunt the drone, especially the reconnaissance
ones because they fly low, about six…
From The Eponymous Pickle
Radio Gets Second Screen
In AdAge: Music ID App Soundhound will lead you to supporting screen for music playing nearby, Will be interesting to see how well the combination of media work.