IT Industry

Finally, A Country Says No to Software Patents

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Friday, April 2nd, 2010
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As many know, I disagree with patents in general, and a software patent is one that really annoys me the most. Thankfully, a country is taking a step to reform the country's standards of patentability, the country being New Zealand.

One of the biggest changes in the proposed bill is patentability exclusion for software. If the bill is approved, it will eliminate conventional software patents in New Zealand.

The official summary of the bill acknowledges that software patents are detrimental to the open source software development model and have the potential to seriously halt innovation. A large number of submissions argued that there is no 'inventive step' in software development, new software has been built on existing software.

The only thing we hope to happen is other countries will follow New Zealand's approach.

Source: New Zealand patent reform bill says no to software patents

Why education is soo far behind

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Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
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Before I begin, I was able to experience what it is like to be a teacher in the year 2007 and from my own experience, it was hard work. The hours are long, especially during marking periods, and there are a lot of 'assumed' on the spot expectations - although I did enjoy teaching, watching people learn from the knowledge I was able to pass on.

Unfortunately, teachers have guidelines they 'must' follow and the assignments, tutorials, and exams must match these guidelines or at least be equivalent to the guideline. I'm sure other states in Australia and even other countries will have the same opinion about the guidelines - they are never up to date, and they are based on topics which really don't matter in the real world. To make it simple, it's like W3C to the Web Industry; they are never up to date and they focus on some of the least important things.

I really would have loved to teach the students some really cool things however I knew that if I distract them or taught them too much, then their main assessments would either a) never get completed or b) lack any enthusiasm. So to my student's disadvantage, I taught them what the guidelines told me to teach them.

For some teachers, their lacking in knowledge of the real world is a big issue. I understand quite well why a lot of them are missing any real world knowledge quite easily: do a 12 hour day of marking, conversing with students, organising assignments, following up on missed calls, helping students and more and then try put in some time to learn something for yourself. It isn’t going to happen.

I do believe teachers need time to educate themselves through personal projects and social networking with other teachers in the same field. Exactly how universities and colleges designate a day to professors to work on their personal projects, this would benefit teachers at TAFE and schools if they could have the same privileges.

Somewhat related article
A clear example of lacking of real world knowledge is shown in this post about a teacher whom confiscated a student's Linux CDs, thinking it was piracy. And that article gets better.

Even Google is feeling the Economic Pressure

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Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
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Google's stock prices have recently dropped to a low figure that we haven't seen for quite some time, which is a bit of a worry when the largest technology company is feeling the pressure. Google have announced they have freezed their employee base, they're not hiring any more staff and they don't have any plans to lay off staff (at the moment).

Internally, Google are focusing on their major projects which is their search engine, and adsense amoungst a few more. The biggest change they've made is ceasing all research and development on projects that fit under the 'experimental' or 'fun' category, and those projects which haven't gained any popularity.

Projects which have stopped development include Lively which is a 3D avatars and room chatting socialising application. With the statistics below you can clearly see the little popularity this service has received.

The tech industry is definetely feeling the economic pressure with other companies announcing staff layoffs across the board. Techcrunch have recently announced layoffs have reached over 100 000 in the tech industry alone. AT&T having the largest with 12 000 staff layoffs.

Finance experts report we haven't seen the worst of this economic disaster, but I hope this isn't the case. For tech companies finding it hard to keep an active client base, look for clients that will survive the economic issues (such as supermarkets, and businesses that sell everyday goods and services).

Further readings:-
* Google's Lively Receives A Death Sentence
* Tech Layoffs Surge Past 100 000

A note about modifying arrays during a loop.

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Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
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Just a small tip for some people who might be modifying arrays during a loop, where the array is used in the condition of the loop. Just be a little bit careful on what you do with the array when looping through.

 
var testArray = Array('1','2','3','4','5');
for(var j=0; j<testArray.length; j++) {
    alert(testArray[j]);
    if(testArray[j] == '3') {
        testArray.splice(j,1);
    }
}
 

The above array loop is written in JavaScript, whether you're using JavaScript or not this is still something small to keep in mind. It will produce an alert of '1', then '2', then '3', and then '5'.

The length of the above array is 5, you start at position 0 and testArray[0] doesn't equal '3' so move on, same thing with position 1 (testArray[1] doesn't equal '3'). You then move onto position 2 where testArray[2] does equal '3', so we splice the array at position 2 which removes testArray[2] from the array, making the rest of the array drop down a position.

j still equals 2, so when it loops through again, j will equal 3. When it looks at what position 3 equals (testArray[3]) it will now be '5' as the array's position dropped down by one from the splice.

So we missed out on alerting '4' after going through that loop and you might be doing something important with the loop rather then simply alerting the values, there is 2 ways to get around this. One, put the 'something important' function after the loop in its own separate array. Or two, even easier, if the 'if condition' is true and you modified the array, simply affect the value of j so that the next loop through will be correct (like below).

 
var testArray = Array('1','2','3','4','5');
for(var j=0; j<testArray.length; j++) {
    alert(testArray[j]);
    if(testArray[j] == '3') {
        testArray.splice(j,1);
        j--;
    }
}
 

Web Applications Entering The Desktop Application Market

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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
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To any IT developers, this is old news, or you may not have put 1 and 1 together. Web applications are slowly taking over the desktop application market as more features and tools are added to desktop browsers.

We‘re often used to installing all the necessary software after installing our operating system, but these days all the software you used to install can be found a "click away" on the Internet. Which only requires an Internet connection and a browser.

Webtops, online office applications and communication applications have been around on the Internet for quite some time now, and we will be influenced soon if not already to follow this trend.

Why? Because it‘s simpler to the average user. IT developers will not make the transition as quickly but soon will.

Anything that a desktop application can do, a web application can do better.

Out with the old, in with the new

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Friday, May 23rd, 2008
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Out with the old, in with the new.

The saying I'm sure we've all heard, but how does this relate to Web Development? Well sometimes we've just got to give up that old treasure of ours, that old website, that old web application, that old Internet application, and especially if your business relies heavily on it. It can come at a cost to your company to upgrade however the long term return is well worth it.

Before you look at upgrading your website or application, you need to research your business and what benefits you can achieve out of new technology services. Before I continue on with this post, I would like to elaborate one thing "sometimes it's best to start over."

You can achieve a really magnificent result from your upgrade, but as most people will tell you, it's cheaper to simply buy brand new then to spend all the $'s on upgrading (especially these days). The same applies with technology, new programming features leaves older features depreciated, and normally time consuming compared to the latest.

Your upgrading and continuous work can only get you so far, but why not go for the full blow and get the latest technology, you'll get more power in less time.

On this note, I'm going to look further into Python and Ruby on Rails (for those who don't know what they are... go Google them).

Brisbane’s Upcoming Data Centre – Australia’s Largest

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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
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Australia's biggest datacentre will be coming to Brisbane by Engineering giant Emerson and datacentre company Digital Sense who have signed a deal to build 'what they claim' is Australia's largest high-density datacentre. Totalling 10,000 square metres and drawing a maximum of 196 megawatts of power.

Named "Data Centre City", the datacentre will be built near Kenmore just outside Brisbane, with a maximum capacity of 6,500 watts per square metre. Digital Sense hopes the first parts of Data Centre City will come online late this year.

The company pair are also working on a smaller datacentre in Kenmore, totalling 1,600 square metres and drawing 2000 watts per square metre, which is scheduled for completion this July.

The demand for data centres is in high demand across the world with more and more hosting companies forming, and more people looking at Internet solutions for their business. These new data centres will open Brisbane's perspective further in the IT and Internet industry. Putting Brisbane on the global Internet map, soon to be capital.

Brisbane's Upcoming Data Centre – Australia's Largest

Comments

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Australia's biggest datacentre will be coming to Brisbane by Engineering giant Emerson and datacentre company Digital Sense who have signed a deal to build 'what they claim' is Australia's largest high-density datacentre. Totalling 10,000 square metres and drawing a maximum of 196 megawatts of power.

Named "Data Centre City", the datacentre will be built near Kenmore just outside Brisbane, with a maximum capacity of 6,500 watts per square metre. Digital Sense hopes the first parts of Data Centre City will come online late this year.

The company pair are also working on a smaller datacentre in Kenmore, totalling 1,600 square metres and drawing 2000 watts per square metre, which is scheduled for completion this July.

The demand for data centres is in high demand across the world with more and more hosting companies forming, and more people looking at Internet solutions for their business. These new data centres will open Brisbane's perspective further in the IT and Internet industry. Putting Brisbane on the global Internet map, soon to be capital.

Another patent… another lawsuit

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Sunday, April 13th, 2008
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Yet another lawsuit for breaking a patent, Ultra is suing the majority of it's competitors. They are suing 22 other modular power supply manufacturers for not violating the patent, but being an accomplice to end users who are violating the patent. Yes I hear what you are saying "how would we have known about this patent?"

Ultra says they sent several letters to the manufacturers and they are requesting 3 times the damages being made. Oh, and unless we're missing something here, Hewlett Packard filed a modular power supply patent in 2000 -- we certainly recall Screen Savers covering the devices way back in '99.

If I became a politician, I would definitely get rid of patents. Even a person who has nothing to do with the patent can be making riches from having it, really it's just documentation of an idea. No different to notes in my top draw of my desk.

bug.gd

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Monday, October 29th, 2007

bug.gd Logo

Billed as “humanity’s last remaining hope against computers” Bug.gd is aiming to build a collaborative search and answers database of computer bugs. Duncan Riley - Techcrunch (http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/10/28/buggd-collaborative-search-and-bug-solutions/)

Really simple idea, users jump onto the site, they enter their email address and the bug (error message). If someone already has a solution they will be prompted with the answer, otherwise the user will be shown a message that the bug could not be found.

In general, the user will eventually find a solution, bug.gd will automatically send an email out to the user requesting the solution to the problem so others can benefit later. This will provide a regularly updated collaborative database of problems and solutions (as long as the users follow up on their bug).

The service is free and ad-free, Microsoft have already been generous enough to share 60 000 bug fixes (that's a scary figure).

Check the site out at bug.gd

I’ve joined the Faraday Media Team

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Friday, October 19th, 2007

Dallas Freeman Joins Faraday Media

I've joined and been welcomed to the Faraday Media team, to work on various projects and in particular Particls (which I've mentioned many times before on my blog). So you know how enthusiastic I am about the software and now I'm one of the developers.

The guys I'm working with have tonnes of ideas, and I hope to bring some of my ideas to the table as well.

I look forward to working with the guys.

I've joined the Faraday Media Team

Comments

Friday, October 19th, 2007

Dallas Freeman Joins Faraday Media

I've joined and been welcomed to the Faraday Media team, to work on various projects and in particular Particls (which I've mentioned many times before on my blog). So you know how enthusiastic I am about the software and now I'm one of the developers.

The guys I'm working with have tonnes of ideas, and I hope to bring some of my ideas to the table as well.

I look forward to working with the guys.

Iran blocks access to Google

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Monday, September 17th, 2007

As a part of a clampdown on material deemed to be offensive, the Mehr news agency reported that Iran has blocked access to the Google search engine and its Gmail email service.

"I can confirm these sites have been filtered," said Hamid Shahriari, the secretary of Iran's National Council of Information.

There is no real explanation to why the sites are being blocked, there are several other foreign sites that are inaccessible to Iranian users from Monday morning. Iran has some tough censorship on Internet sites and services, banning thousands of websites and blogs containing sexual and politically critical material as well as women's rights and social networking sites.

The rules are applied by ISPs who are preventing access to baned sites based on keywords, which means that some perfectly anodyne sites are not accessible as well as those that are more sensitive.

Iran is in the midst of one of its toughest moral crackdowns in years, which has already seen thousands of women warned for failing to obey Islamic dress rules.

Google Calls for International Privacy Standards

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Monday, September 17th, 2007

This has been in the air for a while now, I can remember Google announcing this last year to prevent malicious software installed on consumer's computers. The biggest issue of most downloaded applications off the Internet is 'what else did it install?' There are a lot of free applications out there that will install keylogging applications onto your computer, which is a huge threat for those who do Internet banking, emails and so forth.

Google's Global Privacy Counsel Peter Fleischer took the stage at a European regional meeting on the "ethical dimensions of the information society," organized by the French Commission of the UNESCO, to call for international privacy standards. Other search rivals to Google are in the picture as well such as Ask and Microsoft.

Now is the time for such standards, Fleischer says.

There is an accelerating globalization, technological innovation and concern over personal privacy. Fleischer cites the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Privacy Framework as the standards of International Privacy.

The APEC Privacy Framework, according to the organization's Web site, is built on nine principles: preventing harm, integrity of personal information, notice, security safeguards, collection limitations, access and correction, uses of personal information, accountability and choice.

More information here By Nicholas Carlson (Internet News).

Is Google Apps ready for Enterprise?

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Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

It was announced earlier today that Google Apps will be available for the Enterprise market through Capgemini, a consulting and outsourcing service. For $50 / year, companies can subscribe to the Google Apps Premier Edition, which includes all the usual plus a few more like Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Gmail, Calendar, Google Talk, Page Creator, Start Page, Administrative tools, APIs, 24/7 tech support and a 99.9% uptime guarantee for Gmail.

Other web application services offer off-line modes and even options to host on your own site. This is a huge difference over Google Apps as they cannot be accessed offline.

Zimbra is a competitor to Google Apps and had this to say in an email:

Google’s deal with Cap Gemini today definitely raises visibility for the SaaS market. However, the pair face a challenge: since all Google Docs are stored on Google’s servers, public companies would face big Sarbanes-Oxley compliance issues if they deployed Google Apps. Zimbra’s Web 2.0 messaging and collaboration platform provides enterprise customers with freedoms that Google Apps just can’t provide, including the ability to archive for compliance purposes. They can use Zimbra as a hosted service or deploy it on-site. They can use it online or offline while retaining killer AJAX functionality. They can offer their employees access from any desktop, Web, or mobile client.

Zimbra is trying to grab a slice of that Google hype for itself, and it’s not the only company to do so: Microsoft is also taking shots at Google Apps today.

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