290203
submission
siddesu writes:
Nice high-level BBC overview of some technologies for surveillance developed in the US and the UK.
From the article:
"The US and UK governments are developing increasingly sophisticated gadgets to keep individuals under their surveillance. When it comes to technology, the US is determined to stay ahead of the game."
"But it [a through-the wall sensing device in development] will also show whether someone inside a house is looking to harm you, because if they are, their heart rate will be raised. And 10 years from now, the technology will be much smarter. We'll scan a person with one of these things and tell what they're actually thinking."
Time for developing the next generation tinfoil hats?
281119
submission
siddesu writes:
The U.S. House of Representatives passed Friday (Sept. 7) a sweeping and controversial patent reform bill. The bill (HR1908, available here) calls for the U.S. to shift from its first-to-invent to a first-to-file policy; aims to set limits on damages by tying them to the value of the patent itself; seeks to narrow the definition of willful infringement to cases where it can be demonstrated an infringer knew of the patent and used it anyway; and would also limit patent lawsuit venues to courts in jurisdictions where the infringement took place or where the parties do business. Finally, it would define a new and streamlined process for re-examining patents when they are challenged.
The bill is fiercely opposed by US IP lawyers and some large companies, but was welcomed by the Software and Information Industry Association.
127639
submission
siddesu writes:
Marxist revolution, WMDs, flashmobs and other sci-fi items are coming soon in a country near you, according to the UK Ministry of Defence and this article in the Guardian.
"Information chips implanted in the brain. Electromagnetic pulse weapons. The middle classes becoming revolutionary, taking on the role of Marx's proletariat. The population of countries in the Middle East increasing by 132%, while Europe's drops as fertility falls. "Flashmobs" — groups rapidly mobilised by criminal gangs or terrorists groups.
This is the world in 30 years' time envisaged by a Ministry of Defence team responsible for painting a picture of the "future strategic context" likely to face Britain's armed forces."
Perhaps now is the right time to stock on those electronic parts that you'll need for your robot army.
49108
submission
siddesu writes:
Wired story has it that MPAA (the protectors of honest and hungry artists worldwide) lobbied hard to stop an anti-fraud bill in California. The reason? 'We need to pose as someone other than who we are to stop illegal downloading'.
"The bill, SB1666, was written by state Sen. Debra Bowen, and would have barred investigators from making "false, fictitious or fraudulent" statements or representations to obtain private information about an individual. ... Victims would have had the right to sue for damages."
More: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72214-0.htm l?tw=rss.politics
43132
submission
siddesu writes:
There is a brief article on BBC news about Alcatel suing Microsoft for patent infringement. The story, quite thin on detail, goes on to say that "Alcatel has not revealed which Microsoft products it believes are in breach but says they relate to digital video and network communication." The battle of the titans for settlement cash could be fun to watch.
More here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6172214.stm
