Author: john

Kids on the Net: Perceptions, Indecency, etc.

For some reason, the topic of kids’ exposure to indecent material on the net has been a hot topic lately.

Stefanie Olsen at CNet, doesn’t have much of an answer to why an old study has suddenly received a good deal of coverage…but this was the first time I heard just how old this research was.

Also on CNet is a good piece on kids perceptions of watching TV and video in the world of YouTube.

Finally, creating a .xxx zone on the internet might be seen as similar to (legally permissible) “red light” districts in the real world. An .xxx TLD would make it a great deal easier to block content that a parent might not want their child to see. This article has a good overview of the pros and cons in this debate: X-rated content may get dedicated home in cyberspace – Network World

Update

Another story from CNet

Jobs and Gates – Big, Important Ideas

Two of the industry’s largest heavyweights spoke to two of the most pressing issues in computing: Digital Rights Management and Security.

Thoughts on Music

Apple posted a memo from Steve Jobs today regarding Apple’s take on the relationship between iTunes, the recording industry, and the use of digital rights management to protect files. The surprising thing: Apple is ready and willing to completely drop all forms of DRM. Under this “third option” Jobs describes that:

In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.

The popularity of iTunes/iPod has given Apple a good bit of muscle over the recording industry, as well as some heat from governments concerned about the market power of the tying of the two. This is a bold move that would solve this problem, and possibly leave Apple with less power.

Gates says technology’s biggest challenge is keeping data secure (transcript)

In a recent speech, Bill Gates spoke of the great importance that data security will have in the future. It’s true that wallets and the proposed identity layer of the Internet, along with trusted computing, have been pets of Microsoft for some time. But here they are being connected with the problem of “keeping information secure in this age of laptop-lugging workers.” The problem of securing data strikes me as the “next Y2K.” The point may come where the public will demand systems which can ensure that data remains centralized and off vulnerable laptops.

For a good explanation of the “identity layer,” check out this chapter in Lessig’s Code 2.0.

Update

Lessig makes an excellent suggestion in response to Jobs’ statement: allow DRM-free tracks for artists that want them

Supreme Court on PBS

Last night PBS aired the first half of its documentary on the history of the Supreme Court. This half went all the way from the Revolution to the New Deal and focused primarily on major cases (Dred Scott, Lochner) and their relation to political changes. While there’s a bit of hagiography, they seem to be doing a good job at pointing out how the Court has been at times falable throughout its history.

Shows like this are always good fodder for teaching, and the section on Marbury v. Madison shows how a case with a somewhat complicated background can be made interesting by turning it into a good story.  A segment like this might make a good online class supplement.

Database of broadband providers

The FOIA Blog points out that a number of Freedom of Information Act requests (by academics and industry watchdogs) to the FCC to gain access to a directory of U.S. broadband providers have been deined under the exemption for trade secrets/confidential business information.

There have been a few times in previous posts where I have claimed that a large number of Americans have limited choice when it comes to broadband service–these data would put that debate to rest.

As an academic, I’m also sure that this sort of data would be helpful to researchers studying the media effects of the Internet…at least by creating an easy metric by which one could tell how “wired” a particular community is.

For anyone interested, the case to watch here is:
Center for Public Integrity v. Federal Communications Commission (District of Columbia)