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CT Briefs
CT Briefs
7/1/2008
:: NEWS
MARTIAN IMAGE from U Arizona's Phoenix Mars Mission site lands on iTunes U.
MARS LANDS ON ITUNES U. The University of Arizona has brought video and animations relating to the Phoenix Mars Mission to iTunes U. The university is taking the lead role in the first mission of a NASA program of smaller missions to Mars designed to complement its larger ones. A range of still images, videos, and animations are available on UA's Phoenix Mars Mission website, while the mission's iTunes U portal concentrates on video clips. Read more here.
CATCHING SPYWARE AT THE PERIMETER. Every student at Eastern Kentucky University has long been supplied with antivirus software, but now that's just part of a larger security picture. Assistant Director of Networking, Telecommunications, and Systems Ed Riley observes, "By relying on a user-based approach, we were essentially relying on people, and people are the weakest link in any security system." The university now employs multitiered security comprised of antivirus, anti-spam, and network access control. FaceTime's Real-Time Guardian stops spyware and other malware before it gets onto the network. "This kind of edge-based protection is really essential to our network security," comments Riley.
ROBOTS TO THE RESCUE. Microsoft Research has announced its support of three unique robotics research projects at higher education institutions. At the University of South Florida, researchers are developing a webenabled, multimedia robot that can interact with trapped disaster and accident victims until rescue personnel arrive at the scene. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell are creating a multirobot interface to monitor and command robots deployed in a disaster scenario. And in a partnership between Texas A&M and UCBerkeley, robots will be taught to venture into remote and dangerous locations, making it safer for scientists to study climate change. Along with a cash award, each institution will receive relevant advanced software development tools, including Microsoft Robotics Studio.
ALERT SYSTEM FITNESS. The University of Vermont is taking a multimodal approach to mass notifications, striking a balance among technologybased solutions like e-mail, voicemail, or PDA communications, and low-tech solutions like flyers or audio speaker systems-- all used as appropriate. The school is focusing on reliability and has selected inCampusAlert from MIR3 as its notification platform, featuring 24/7 support, proven capacity to deliver messages in a timely manner, and appropriate security and redundancy.
Recommended Reading
- Where the Risks Are
Knowing what to spend on data protection and where to focus the effort isn't easy. Security assessments help eliminate the guesswork by identifying where your most critical risks lurk.
- Technology Forever
Who says classroom learning has to culminate with a formal degree? Tech-enabled lifelong learning programs are utilizing videoconferencing, vodcasting, and more to reach out to the 50-plus nontraditional student.
- They Say They Want A Revolution
As sustainability efforts ramp up on campuses, educators share eco-friendly dorm practices-- the ideal way to educate students about environmental issues.
- Getting More out of Mobile
Sure, cellular and handheld devices are quintessential communication tools, but savvy institutions are getting extra bang for their mobile tech bucks.
- It's Bandwagon Time
Colleges and universities worldwide are turning to the hosted SaaS model and saying goodbye to issues like patch management and server optimization.
- Waiting It Out
Have you given up trying to bring faculty into the world of emerging technology for teaching and learning?
