Source: http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,22721,00.html
Cybersister's Comment
This is another security wake-up call for those of
you who may be running (or investing in) e-commerce businesses. If the site
isn't secure, you may have a major liability waiting to happen. Now, I am a
believer in the advantages and viability of e-commerce, but that doesn't mean
that there aren't risks attached to it. Would you leave your office doors
unlocked or not install a security system to protect valuable equipment? The
same logic applies to computer security. There are good security products and
services out there, so it may be time to invest in some.
Data Mining aka "Knowledge Discover in
Databases"
Data mining is a kind of database analysis
application that uncovers patterns in a collection of data. For example, data
mining software could analyze data from your companies’ customer files and
identify customers with common buying patterns. The term is sometimes
generalized and used to describe software that presents data in new ways, but
true data mining uses statistical and mathematical techniques to ‘mine’ the data
for previously unknown relationships. Using these sophisticated techniques, data
mining can provide managers with educated predictions of future patterns and
trends based on current and historic data. Some of the ways that data mining is
used by businesses include: targetting prospective customers, identifying
cross-selling opportunities, and increasing sales productivity and efficiency.
CyberSister's Comment
We originally commented on this in our
Aug/99 issue. (once again, we are ahead of the game, but that's what futurists
are supposed to do, isn't it?). However, the concept seems to be gaining
momentum and applications, and more interest among software companies,
e-commerce companies and technologists, so we thought it needed to be brought up
again. After all, it was included in the list of the top 10
technologies that could change the world (in our Dec 2000 edition).
Huh? A boring old database application changing
the world? Well, data mining, also known as knowledge discovery in databases
(KDD) is a rapidly emerging technology that lies behind the personalized
Web and has a lot of corporate applications. See the article in technology
review for a great discussion of it. Some of you might be
interested to know just how much interest it is generating in the corporate
world.
Wireless Internet
Booming in Japan
The number of Japanese wireless Internet users
totaled 31.41 million at the end of February, up 2.16 million from January, the
Telecommunication Association said Wednesday. The organization noted that the number of wireless subscribers in Japan
rose to 62.57 million last month.
Leading wireless service provider NTT DoCoMo said
it had signed up 20 million users for its i-mode mobile Internet service.
NTT DoCoMo, which plans to launch i-mode in Europe
later this year, will use the platform as the base for its future high-capacity
wireless Internet services.
Source: www.allnetdevices.com
CyberSister's
Comment
Very interesting to note the differences
in how and when industrialized, high-tech countries are adapting to technology.
In the US & Canada, the wireless Internet is just slowly catching on, but in
Japan there are already more than 31 million users.
I guess we can see why Palm is inking
deals in Japan left right and centre to see its PDA units become the wireless
Net access devices of choice. In the States, it seems to be facing stiff
competition from Microsoft's PocketPC device, but has adapted a different
strategy in different parts of the world. That's global, new economy type
thinking.
I think wireless will eventually catch
on just as quickly in North America, but it will still take a long time to catch
up to the kind of numbers/percentages already in Japan. Smart companies see
opportunities elsewhere and adapt to the market they're in, instead of hoping
everyone will just adapt to their way of doing things.
Top Women on the
Web!
In honour of International
Women's Day (March 8, 2001), we thought we'd provide a link to an article
talking about the 'top women on the web', singled out for their
achievements and contributions to the Internet.
The awards were given out by the San Francisco Women on the Web group. The
group included a wide array of tech positions, ensuring that some women's
extraordinary efforts within the community weren't ignored in favor of the
high-rung exec positions typically covered in the media.
Way to go from the CyberSisters!
Source: http://www.upside.com/Ebiz/38e39e440.html
Financial News with a Technology Focus. Want to
hear the latest about Yahoo's woes? How HP is struggling with price cuts? How
Oracle's investors are reacting to its latest press release? Read about it here.
The CEO
Refresher
Great stuff here! I
really enjoyed its insights into management, leadership and risk taking. I found
our "quote of the day" in the "cluetrain
manifesto" article. Their tag line is "brain
food for business" - every once and a while I think I need a little brain food,
and I found some here.
What's a
Ripple Effect Rock? Well, think of a rock thrown in a lake, and how the water
ripples outward. This section of the newsletter covers developments and
technologies that we think might soon cause a "ripple effect" in business or
society.
Inventor's clues fuel talk that
ideal engine is near
New Hampshire inventor Dean Kamen, who
sparked worldwide excitement in January when word leaked of his mysterious new
invention, code named ''Ginger,'' appears to be working on a revolutionary
engine that could introduce an era of cheap, efficient power.
Investigative journalist Adam Pennenberg, author of a book
on industrial espionage, said yesterday that he has found clues that prove Kamen
is working on a Stirling engine, a device that engineers have been trying to
perfect for more than a century.
If Kamen, a well-respected inventor, has made a technical
breakthrough that would allow him to create small, relatively inexpensive
Stirling engines, engineers said, the effects would be far-reaching. In theory,
every home could generate its own cheap power with a device the size of an air
conditioner that uses natural gas, drastically cutting down on the waste
inherent in the electric grid.
An advanced Stirling engine could have wide applications
and could literally change how humans use power - bringing its inventor
incredible riches.
Source: Boston Globe
Cybersister's Comment
According to the article, Stirling engines are extremely
fuel-efficient and very clean-running. However, they have been expensive,
and hard to operate (at least, up until now, presumably). The buzz around this
rumoured new technological breakthrough is in its ability to facilitate
distributed power generation. In theory, with this technology, every home could
generate its own cheap power with a device the size of an air conditioner that
uses natural gas, drastically cutting down on the waste inherent in the electric
grid.
I bet this is something Californians would be extremely
interested in right now :) Alternative fuels are an idea whose time has
come!
That's it
for now! Have a great week!
If you have any one who you think should be added to this list, let us
know--or better yet, let them know by forwarding a copy of the newsletter to
them directly.
To subscribe to the list, go to:
http://www.digitalripple.com/joinlist.html
Back issues of the Ripple Effect Newsletter are available on the Digital
Ripple web site at:
http://www.digitalripple.com/joinlist.html
If you wish to be taken off this list simply send an email to: ripple_effect-unsubscribe@listbot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
British Columbia
745 Clark Drive
Vancouver,
B.C.
V5L 3J3
Telephone: (604) 215-0216
Facsimile: (604) 215-0431
E-Mail: dcurrie@digitalripple.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Telephone: (416)430-5726
Facsimile: (416)430-5726
E-Mail: alcurrie@digitalripple.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Telephone: (905)721 0285
Facsimile: (905)721
1335
E-Mail: alcurrie@digitalripple.com
"Exploring the Ripple Effect of Digital Technology"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
