Communications of the ACM
News track
News Track
A new report alleges much of the used computer equipment being sent to developing countries for use in schools, businesses, and homes is not only unusable it is creating enormous environmental problems in some of the world's poorest places, according to the New York Times. The report by the Basal Action Network, a Seattle-based environmental organization, says tons of equipment neither operable nor repairable is donated or sold to developing nations by U.S. recycling businesses. The group charges many of these businesses with dodging the expense of recycling the equipment properly, instead dumping hazardous waste in many developing countries. The National Safety Council expected more than 63 million computers in the U.S. would be obsolete by the end of 2005; the average computer monitor contains as much as eight pounds of lead, along with plastics filled with flame retardants and cadmium, all of which can be harmful to humans and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency admits inappropriate practices have occurred in the recycling industry and has been working with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries to provide greater assurance that exports of recyclable materials will be environmentally sound.
China's Net Preferences
The first major public opinion research tracking Internet use in China found the typical user is a young male who prefers IMing to email, rarely buys online, and favors news, music, and game sites. According to the study, conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and released by the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., two-thirds of the participants use the Net for news (often entertainment-related) or for online games. About half download music and movies. Moreover, the majority do not trust the quality of goods sold online and prefer IMing because it provides instant contact. "Very few Chinese use answering machines, and email is like an answering machine," explains Guo Liang, the academy's leading Internet expert. "It's convenient, but it's not immediate."
Brain Drained
When the technology to produce sophisticated images of a living human brain first appeared, scientists were convinced it would revolutionize the field of psychiatric research, unlocking the door to a litany of mental disorders and influencing new methods of treatment. Now, three decades later, it appears the technology has far outpaced the science. The New York Times reports researchers have yet to develop a standardized tool for diagnosing and treating mental disorders based on imaging studies. Indeed, there is a growing sense that brain scan research is still years away from providing psychiatry with any real tests for mental illness. Harvard professor Steven Hyman notes the scientific community was excessively optimistic about how quickly brain scanning would contribute to psychiatry. "In their enthusiasm, people forgot the human brain is the most complex object in the history of human inquiry, and it's not at all easy to see what's going wrong." The payoff from brain imaging, some experts say, may come when researchers combine the scans with other techniques, such as genetic or biochemical tests.
Right now, I don't think any university in China has an atmosphere comparable to the older Western universitiesHarvard or Oxfordin terms of freedom of expression. We are trying to give the students a better environment, but in order to do these things we need time. Not 10 years, but maybe one or two generations."Lin Jianhua, executive VP of Beijing University, on China's drive to build the world's best universities within a decade.
Cell Phones Alter African Life
African nations are recording a staggering increase in cell phone subscriptions. Indeed, the Associated Press reports wired-up Africans now number approximately 100 million of the continent's 906 million people. Cell phones made up 74.6% of all African phone subscriptions in 2004; in fact, the area south of the Sahara saw a 67% increase in subscriptions. In Nigeria, the number of subscribers in that nation of 130 million jumped from 700,000 to over 10 million. Moreover, the use of the technology has transformed life on the continent in a host of ways. Cell phones erased most of the problems that made land lines prohibitive to the population, many of whom are now linked instantly to family, neighbors, customers, markets, and the farming community for the first time.
U.S. IT Salaries to Rise
IT professionals in the U.S. can expect starting salaries this year to increase an average of 3% over 2005. In addition, larger increases are expected in high-demand specialties such as IT auditors (+11.2% to the range of $67,000$94,250), lead applications developers (+5.3% to between $72,000$98,250), and network security administrators (+5.2% to the range of $67,500$94,750). The newly released Robert Half Technology 2006 Salary Guide also finds companies are accelerating the hiring process to avoid losing top candidates to competing employers. Industries forecasting particularly strong demand for IT professionals in 2006 include manufacturing, business services, and banking/financial services.
Runway Techno-Chic
The fashion industry is taking on the techno world, claiming many of the most popular gadgets as fashion "accessories." Indeed, some of the most popular items during the recent holiday season included bejeweled wireless earpieces and designer sunglasses complete with Bluetooth technology. The Washington Post reports high-end designers cashing in on this new trend include Louis Vuitton's "international telephone case" for $305 and Dior's $315 iPod mini case and matching $295 travel case for all iPod accessories. After years of experimental designs, techno-fashionistas say the industry is finally finding a comfortable middle ground between form and function, mostly by exploiting the smaller, and therefore more wearable, devices. Wearable technology is big business for companies; accessories generate retail profit margins of 60%80%.
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