But the debate between serial and parallel communication methods has a long history. In the early days computer processors were limiting the speed at which tasks could be performed. To solve this issue, single tasks where split into many parallel tasks and distributed to multiple computer processors. In recent years, the need to distribute tasks among many different processors has been largely unnecessary due to the speed advancements in computer processors. 20 years ago personal computers where limited to 8 Megahertz (Mhz), todays processors are capable of handling 3,600 Mhz easily.

In fact, the use of parallel processing techniques is currently being used in highly demanding gaming environments where large amounts of visual data requires processing in real time. Advancements found in graphic processing cards (referred to as Graphical Processing Units or GPUs) provide a glimpse into the future of computer design methods and technology that will allow individuals to leverage the huge speed increases in data transfer.

Fiber optic technology is one such technology that enables huge increases in data transfer rates. As society moves to greater personal connectivity using fiber optic technology, we will be unable to match the transportation of data with processing speed. Once again we will be forced to consider the use of parallel processing techniques.

In the next blog posting I will examine several initiatives that allow consumers to leverage the research and development in both serial and parallel technologies to create enriching user experiences.

“My position on Net Neutrality, which is consistent with my position on everything else in the book is that it is a very bad idea to regulate ahead of the problem…[:15]… and I think regulating ahead of the problem, very dangerous - once again - when the technology is evolving as quickly as it is, and the regulatory process, and undoing mistakes made in the regulatory process, is as slow as it is.” Larry Downes (author, Laws of Disruption) on Hearsay Culture podcast Show #101 |- - MP3 File [0:40:35 - 0:41:24]

Regulation, when not informed by government legislation, is often based upon an abstract definition of ‘best-practice’ - meaning how Web 2.0 should be undertaken. This definition of best-practice is taken by developers and imposed when coded by computer programmers. In this way, computer code is the rule of law on the internet.

If we decide not to undertake legislative reform how do we ensure that the internet evolves in a manner that reflects our collective social values? We are fortunate in Canada to have strong advocates for social and legal reform. Individuals such as Michael Geist and David Asper have supported individual rights in this constitutional debate (see attached).

But we must not rely on outside advocates, philanthropic or otherwise. Instead, we must work to understand the barriers technologies impose and make choices on internet usage that reflect our values and long term interests. This discussion on the barriers internet applications impose on individuals is now taken hold in the academic world. Professors are seeking to understand how our environment affects our learning and seeking software applications based the criteria they find important.

In an effort to explore these ideas further, I am working with a highly experienced enterprise architect - Peter Rawsthorne - to create a chapter that discuss how the Internet is the Platform, and how educators can harness the internet to enhance personal learning.

Thoughts?? Email me :: job.4.shawn [at] raguiding.net 

File::PDF, 484 KB - David Asper - Speech to University of Toronto - Donation of $7.5 M

Shawn Berney  

My server currently hosting my online content is a Mac xServe running the OSX Tiger Server operating system. This operating system is now getting on in years and does not include the current software one might expect to run in a web server. One of the advantages of the Intel based macintosh computers, however, is the ability to upgrade components that run ‘under-the-hood’ in Unix. So this is what I did…

• Downloaded and installed the GD2 libraries used by PHP4.3 and PHP5 to manipulate images on the server
• Downloaded and installed the PHP5 source code
• Added 3 virtual domains to the server using server admin - each with a unique log file
• Installed and configured AWStats for web analytics

These tasks required using the Command Line Interpreter to download, unpack, and configure the applications. Many thanks to the staff at Topicdesk.com for uploading easy to follow and comprehensive tools and tutorials!

As the tutorials suggested, I first made a bootable image of my hard drive for backup. This would allow me to simply plug-in my backup hard drive and revert to the system settings of the live server before upgrades had begun. For this task, I used the well respected BRU utility.

Following the instructions provided by topicdesk.com provided no major surprises in the installation and in around 2 hours had my system setup to run the GD Graphic and XML libraries. I had also managed to upgrade my PHP version from 4.3 to the more robust and Object Oriented PHP5 server.

The next task was to install the new virtual hosts. Apple makes this task very easy, and since I installed the PHP5 library from the Command line, the previous installation tasks did not completely break the ability to manage my server configuration from the Mac Server Admin tool. This meant that I could simply add Sites to my current ‘Web’ management profile. I decided to track visits to each site individually, so I also altered the name of the access_log files used by apache and changed the format to ‘combinedv’ (used by AWStats to gather information from web visitors).

Next, I installed and configured the free AWStats web analytical software. This software can be use to collect information from web visitors and provide statistics on most visited sections, pages that most people left from, etc… This program was installed to my localhost directory for providing information through the browser, but not to the general public.

With the foundation now created, I can begin to migrate my existing portfolio of web content to this new environment and track to see who is interested in the development applications and content being hosted. Over the next week, I will be working to present my portfolio using simple HTML, CSS and Javascript technologies on the IETech.Net domain. Stay Tuned for updates!!

At first, this may seem like an easy task - with web development, writing, and project management experience, I should have no problem demonstrating how my skills and experiences can support growing organizations.

I have, however, found this task rather difficult. The ability to quickly convey my diverse experience often appears scattered. I suspect this is causing potential employers to miss the opportunity to work with me. To remedy this challenge, I have begun to create a new online portfolio.

Although still in the early stages, I suspect that the ability to immediately convey my experiences in one central location and provide an easy to understand overview of my skills will add value to my job search. To complement this effort, I have setup web analytical software that will help me to understand what type of information my audience is seeking so that I can target my efforts more effectively.

So, if your interested in continuing to support my efforts, I encourage you to visit my new portfolio often and explore the site as I add content! I would also encourage any feedback or comments - you can email me at: shawn@ietech.ca

Portfolio :: IETech.Net

Cheers!

Shawn

http://Broadcast.onedrop.org

 Second half now starting… Good background music. Started with spectacular Cirque du soleil performance…

Shawn

They have recently started posting their educational seminars on youtube. You can view these presentations on the SingularityU youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/singularityu

Enjoy!

TransGaming is planning to expand its online gaming service with GameTree.tv in early 2010. GameTree.tv will provide gaming services through a set-top-box; similar to how digital and on-demand cable television is distributed today.

The hardware associated with providing this service will utilize an Intel media computer chip (Intel CE). Unlike media chips used in gaming consoles, the Intel CE chip provides a more robust system bus, allowing for expansion capabilities such as computer peripherals (printers, hard drives, USB devices) and expansion slots (for hardware upgrades). 

What excites me most about this new technology is the potential to unify the digital experience. One of the greatest barriers to the adoption of technology today is the investment required to get started. Setting up a computer for gaming requires time, expertise, and money. TransGaming Technologies is well positioned to reduce the barriers of online gaming by providing a single device that is capable of utilizing the internet as the platform for delivering a variety of interactive content, including; online games, informative content, and digital subscriptions.

Individuals have been adopting new tools to communicate and participate in their regional, national and international communities. This ability has been supported by higher connectivity with the Internet. Driving this new interest in online communication tools is the development of businesses that provide structure to our digital communities. The collaborative spaces, however, are not public spaces. Instead, they are more akin to privately owned recording studios that allow the owners to capture the information and knowledge for commercial enterprise.

Over the next five years, I see a fundamental shift in the design of new technologies, tools and applications. This shift will allow individuals to retain control and ownership of personal information. This forecast is based on several fundamental assumptions.

The first assumption is that advertising-based revenue models that allow marketing firms to own and sell personal information will see increasing pressure from alternative business models. Alternative business models will be supported by increasingly sophisticated software that rewards business collaboration and supports the establishment of new relationships.

The second assumption is that the internet will be influenced by developments in mainframe computing where substantial increases in I/O capacity, along with multi-core processing technologies, allow computing clusters to be created at much smaller scales and lower costs than previously possible. 

The consequence of these assumptions could be a new era of networked computing where current unreliable network technologies (based on TCP/IP) are used to support local and reliable network technologies (such as SCSI / SAS / InfiniBand). Reliable network technologies would be  capable of supporting the presentation of immersive online experiences (much like gaming consoles) where the individual is able to record and manage audio / video experiences and online documents in real time.

For a more detailed architectural discussion, please see the Collaborative Book Wiki: Internet as the Platform

Thoughts?? I’d enjoy hearing them!! Please contact me at: job.4.shawn [at] raguiding [dot] net

The danger of allowing private companies to dominate our communication infrastructures is not new. Governments have established regulations that address the severe market failures that can occur when private corporate interests are imposed on society without consideration for the interests of individuals. Although these market failures were recognized early in evolution of Internet technologies as an emerging public policy issue, regulatory attempts such as the World Telecommunication Policy Forum (1996) were unsuccessful at making the necessary reforms. As a result, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) was established. 

“ICANN was deliberately structured to provide the industry with an alternative structure of coordination and regulation within national and international communications sectors… The critical difference is that ICANN had not placed governments at the forefront of visible activity,  but instead placed industry needs and the operation of a competitive deregulated international communication sector as being the major thrust of coordination activities.” (http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac123/ac147/archived_issues/ipj_8-1/internet_governance.html)

After nearly a decade of corporate development that disregards many of the legitimate public policy issues associated with internet communication, issues of public policy rose once again; this time by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Public policy is deemed important because the control of personal behavior - attainable to online application companies - is complete and inescapable. Companies can remove or filter content, banish users, and impose new service agreements that alter your legal rights at any time and without negotiation.  

Today their are growing efforts to address the unilateral control imposed by corporate interests within internet-based applications. Groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada are working to hold internet-based companies accountable for violating the rights and freedoms of individuals. Legal challenges and governmental fines are currently being used as levers for change. In addition, WSIS is working to promote the use of technology that provides social and economic benefits for all.

In the next five years I suspect our internet landscape will look radically different than it does today.

To be continued…