Articles tagged with Internet
UC researchers argue that citizen awareness and participation are essential for a robust cybersecurity strategy. They recommend a three-pronged approach: coordination between government agencies and business interests, engagement with the public about their role in cybersecurity, and education on safe computer practices.
The review highlights the growing problem of counterfeit internet drugs, with estimates suggesting up to 90% of these illegal preparations are now sold online. The study found that 44% of Viagra offered on the internet is counterfeit, posing risks to patients and undermining healthcare systems.
The MOLTO project aims to create a reliable multilingual translation tool using type theory, enabling easy extension and use by non-experts. The system will cover most EU languages, facilitating access to knowledge for all citizens.
Researchers are developing a smart bushfire monitoring system that uses temperature and humidity sensors connected to GPS and wireless communication technologies. The system offers several benefits over earlier detection methods, including easy adaptability and low initial expense.
A University of Illinois economist suggests reducing mail delivery to five days a week could help the USPS recover from financial losses. However, this move might also lead to a loss of lucrative business customers who rely on frequent deliveries for advertisements and promotions.
A proposed wireless smart home system integrates RFID technology with Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) to enable video monitoring and media access throughout the household or remotely. This allows users to check on devices, security alarms, and children's activities while away from home.
The study found that internet retailers can successfully compete with brick-and-mortar stores by focusing on niche products. The researchers recommend that online retailers vary their product offerings based on geographic locations and promotional strategies to target specific consumer groups.
Researchers developed a protocol to distort internet search engine user profiles, preserving privacy from profiling and data exploitation. The new system offers an improvement in response time while delaying searches slightly.
Researchers found that readers better understood, remembered and emotionally responded to material found through searching compared to surfing. Information was also better retained when individuals conducted specific searches for information.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a way to protect against rootkits by hijacking hooks in operating systems. By moving hooks to a centralized location, they can be protected using hardware-based memory protection, making it harder for malware to subvert them.
Research led by a University of Illinois business professor finds that online sales could lead to lower prices, but also fewer product options. The traditional system of selling through retailers encourages longer product lines, which may dry up as manufacturers turn to direct sales online.
A study by Michigan State University found that internet forums are used to share information about prostitution and provide warnings to other 'johns', making it harder for law enforcement. The researchers also discovered that these online communities help individuals justify their behavior and view prostitutes as commodities.
Middle-aged and older adults with little Internet experience showed significant brain activation patterns after just a week of online training. The study found that internet searching can stimulate neural activity, enhancing decision-making and complex reasoning in older adults.
Researchers at the University of Washington discovered security weaknesses in three popular household robots, including WowWee Rovio and RoboSapien V2. The study highlights the need for improved robot security and privacy measures to prevent misuse by bad actors, who can exploit these vulnerabilities to harm users or their environments.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Louisiana Tech University a $951,000 grant to support cyber education programs in northern Louisiana. The Cyber K-12 project aims to provide professional development opportunities for K-12 educators and increase the number of teachers with expertise in cyber education.
A study of 2,293 adolescents found that depression, ADHD, and social phobia predict Internet addiction, with sex differences in predictive factors. Hostility was a significant predictor for male adolescents, while social phobia was a key predictor for female adolescents.
The £30 million Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) will create 80 new positions and become the UK's principal centre for counteracting malicious cyber-attacks. Leading edge research will help keep crime off the internet, combat anti-social behaviour, and safeguard electronic information.
Researchers found Hummer owners frame themselves as moral protagonists, using American foundational myths to defend their consumption choices against critics. They believe representing a bastion against anti-American discourses earns them the moral high ground.
Researchers aim to reduce isolation and depression among seniors by training them to use the Internet and social media. The study also focuses on increasing access to health information, making it easier for older adults to stay healthy.
Jeannie Albrecht's five-year grant aims to develop techniques for increasing stability in mobile applications, benefiting students and researchers at small colleges. The project will integrate human interaction patterns into a software toolkit, providing valuable hands-on experience with emerging mobile computing systems.
The Together Anywhere project aims to simplify group communication via the Internet, creating a sense of presence among distant participants. The Fraunhofer Institute's Audio Communication Engine enhances video and telephone conference call quality with low-delay hi-fi audio.
A Spanish study reveals that 31% of doctors believe the Internet complicates their relationship with patients, while 96% have been questioned by patients about online information. Doctors recommend websites to almost a third of their patients, but many see the Internet as undermining patient independence and credibility.
A study by Russell Belk explores how societal changes impact sharing, highlighting threats like individualization and decline of public education, but also finds healthy models in online communities and forums. Belk suggests promoting sharing through an expanded sense of self and shared ownership.
A study found correlations between video-game playing and health risks in adults, with female players reporting greater depression and male players having higher BMI. The study suggests a need for further research on how to use digital opportunities to promote health and prevent disease.
The Georgia Tech Research Institute has released an open-source version of its FalconView software, expanding its user base to include municipalities, police forces, architects, and environmental researchers. The new version offers enhanced mapping capabilities, analysis tools, and improved interoperability.
A new tool called Vanish can make online personal data expire, becoming irretrievable from all Web sites and home computers. The system uses decentralized file-sharing networks to create a secret key and then encrypts the message with that key.
A study of 231 men found that only 1% of child pornography consumers went on to commit a hands-on sex offense. The researchers suggest that the motivation and recidivism rates differ between child pornography consumption and physical assault.
Researchers at Cornell University tracked 1.6 million online news sites to analyze the life cycle of news stories, finding a consistent rhythm as they rise and fall in popularity. The study reveals a 'heartbeat' pattern of handoffs between mainstream media and blogs.
The University of Colorado at Boulder is developing a new communications technology called Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) with NASA, which will extend Earth's Internet into outer space and across the solar system. The technology enables automated future communications capabilities for lunar habitation and surface exploration.
A recent study found that online computer games promoting healthy foods and beverages can encourage children to choose nutritious snacks. The research involved 30 low-income African American children who played a game rewarding healthy food choices versus one promoting unhealthy options.
The University of Illinois Chicago is leading a five-year study to increase demand for evidence-based, Internet-based smoking cessation treatment among young adults. The project aims to develop interactive, Internet-based ads and evaluate their effectiveness in motivating young smokers to use the stop smoking program www.BecomeAnEx.org.
The survey found that women made up 56% of Obama's small donors, while McCain's were 61% male. Younger donors, aged 18-29, also favored Obama, with 15% of his small donors in this age group compared to 5% for McCain. Additionally, Obama's donors were more likely to be better educated and less affluent than McCain's. The campaign's onli...
The 2008 federal elections saw a significant shift in campaign fundraising, with Democrats surpassing Republicans in raising money from individuals. The Obama campaign's use of the Internet and ground game contributed to its substantial advantage in voter mobilization.
Researchers suggest a new paradigm for coping with cybercrime by shifting focus from punishment to deterrence and prevention. Individuals must recognize their own front-line defense against cybercrime and work together to build and maintain defenses.
Researchers found health-related activities in Second Life, including disease-specific support groups, virtual simulations, and medical research. These activities have significant implications for patients' experiences, offering a safe environment to seek information and share health experiences.
Research suggests that online educational empowerment enables learners to acquire knowledge efficiently through social networks. However, individual self-governance is key to success in these communities. The study explores how personal factors like goals, communication skills, and IT skills affect learning outcomes.
A randomized controlled trial of an e-mail intervention program found that employees who received tailored messages were more physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables, and reducing saturated fats and trans fats. The changes had a lasting effect four months after the intervention ended.
Researchers at the University of Maryland are working on a project to analyze vast amounts of DNA sequencing data using remote computer clusters, also known as Cloud Computing. The goal is to determine whether this approach can be more cost-effective and efficient than traditional local clusters.
A study found no correlation between hospital safety scores and in-hospital mortality rates, suggesting that self-reported safety practices may not be an effective measure of quality care. The researchers concluded that further research is needed to establish valid methods for assessing adherence to safe practices.
Researchers explore using web crawlers to mine informal web-based sources for ecosystem monitoring, providing early warnings of potential ecological disasters. The Internet may contain information on drivers of change, such as global seafood markets, which can help avoid abrupt ecosystem collapse.
A new device using a Raman amplifier has successfully transmitted data over 37 miles of single-mode fiber, error-free, at a speed of 2.5 Gb/s. This technology could provide high-speed Internet to 99% of Australians living in Victoria, closing the digital divide.
A new report suggests that teenagers' increased internet use has transformed it into a social networking tool, fostering closer relationships and reducing superficial connections. The study also highlights the positive effects of online communication on mental health, including reduced inhibition and higher quality friendships.
A new study finds that open access articles experience a 12% increase in usage compared to commercial formats, but have only a small positive impact on attention. Open source publications benefit researchers in developing countries with limited access to research funding and libraries.
A Kansas State University marketing professor says online shopping will borrow from Second Life, allowing shoppers to interact with virtual avatars and purchase items in a social setting. The future of e-commerce may also involve mobile devices, with research suggesting that gaming and chat features are key to attracting young customers.
A panel of scientists at Michigan State University discussed using the World Wide Web as a tool for research, with topics including survey research, measuring social networks, and creating virtual worlds. Researchers are leveraging the Internet to inform social science applications in the real world.
A report highlights the growing trend of US healthcare consumers purchasing unapproved prescription drugs online, driven by high prices and limited access to affordable treatments. This phenomenon carries significant social and policy implications, particularly in a period of economic recession.
The counterfeit drugs market is expected to be worth £55 billion by 2010, with nearly 62% of prescription-only medicines being fakes. Harmful ingredients found in counterfeit medicines include arsenic, boric acid, and leaded road paint, which can have devastating consequences for patients with potentially fatal conditions.
Research suggests that excessive technology use may lead to a decline in critical thinking and analysis skills, while visual skills improve. Experts recommend a balanced media diet and encouraging reading for pleasure to develop essential skills.
A nationwide survey found that only 22% of Americans believed Barack Obama was a Muslim, despite hearing the rumor. The internet played a key role in spreading rumors, with nearly two-thirds of respondents getting information online, and nearly one-third getting campaign news from video sharing sites.
The special issue highlights various new treatment options, including mobile phones, Internet-based interventions, and computers. Researchers have seen promising results, such as a high number of students logging on to screening programs and increased access for hard-to-reach populations.
A study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology reports that paintball injuries can result in rupture of the eyeball, detached retina, and even enucleation. Eye protection can prevent nearly all injuries, with over 97% of cases avoided by proper use.
A Dutch study published in BMC Public Health found that phone and internet counselling is effective for weight management in overweight workers. The study compared counselling via phone and e-mail with standard practice and found significant weight loss in all groups, with those in the phone group losing the most weight.
A recent study by University of Illinois professor Brendesha Tynes found that adolescents experiencing online racial discrimination are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also revealed the presence of masked racism and hate groups targeting specific ethnic groups online.
Researchers discovered a weakness in the MD5 algorithm that allows for the creation of rogue certification authorities, which can be trusted by all major web browsers. This opens the door for virtually undetectable phishing attacks, compromising user passwords and private data.
The Tiny Videos system, created by Alex Karpenko, is a groundbreaking framework that allows for efficient compression and searching of large amounts of video data. It can recognize and find duplicate video segments, properly labeling them and helping users quickly find specific videos.
A study published in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising suggests that non-profits can exploit online marketing strategies to gain traffic and raise awareness. By focusing on relevant keywords and optimizing their websites, non-profits can improve their search engine rankings and increase donations.
Brent Heeringa's research focuses on three specific problems: optimal algorithms for hierarchical data, dynamic models of information organization, and new models for categorical data. His project aims to create systems where desired information is quick and easy to find.
Chris Bronk, a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, argues that the concept of wiretapping is obsolete due to advancements in VoIP technology. He advocates for clear, openly stated policies on government surveillance adapted to the latest technology.
A new NC State study reveals that consumers comparing prices online can pressure retailers into offering discounts, particularly if they shop around frequently. The study found that larger retailers may limit price cuts to avoid giving smaller competitors an advantage.
A study reveals a mathematical model called 'hidden metric space' that explains the efficiency of complex networks, including the Internet and human language. This discovery could lead to innovative architectural changes to remove bottlenecks and optimize communication in these systems.