I was surprised that the class did not address thumbdrive security, patch management, dumpster diving, and social engineering more in their submissions.
In past years, the issues surrounded viruses, spyware, worms, and other malware. During the more recent semesters, the postings were on wireless issues (lack of encryption), server security, patch management, laptop (data-at-rest) and thumbdrive security, social engineering, shoulder surfing, tailgating, identity theft, and dumpster diving. This reflects a broader perspective of security beyond the intrusions from the World Wide Web.
Some students think that because of the exercise on alternatives to passwords, I am implying that passwords should be replaced totally. No, I am in favor of a two-factor authentication which typically includes a password or a PIN particularly when dealing with portal entry. I am disappointed with passwords themselves which are long, complex and impossible to memorize. And they say not to write it down. There MUST be a better system. I'm glad a few of you mentioned graphical passwords but that is still vulnerable to shoulder surfing!
Students posted some very unique next-generation telecommunications devices. The trend among the submissions was human implantations -- under the skin, in the eye and in the ear. This really should not be a surprise...after all some folks have pacemakers, artificial limbs and VeriChip. Other trends include converged functionality: small form factor, wireless, MP3, and GPS technologies. This is the world of "mash-ups" where different technologies are married together to create a new application. The classic one is the mash-up of cell phones and GPS technology.
Another trend was that many students are REALLY awful artists! I'm VERY glad this is not an art class.
I remember when I was a kid there were matchbooks with offers to take drawing lessons by mail. I wonder if these companies are still around. Some of the students could use their services!
I am pleased with the students' topic selections. Frankly, I wish students could write on 2 or even 3 of the topics they proposed. But I am satisfied with the final selections -- these should be very informative for both the students and myself. You see, students will post their papers in a conference for everyone to view. We are in a collaborative, sharing environment in our virtual classroom!
Session 4
Students are getting "in the groove" (to use an archaic term) with the course. The discussion threads are full of insightful comments and exchanges, the current events postings are timely and stimulating to read and the mini-projects reflects significant thought by the students. Most students are keeping up with their blogs. Hey, this is what graduate school is all about!
Starting this week -- no more Mr. Nice Guy! I won't send e-mail if your posting is deficient (less than 100 words, forgot to put the current events title, etc).
There is no perfect web site (except mine :-) ) so Zillow reflects a number of flaws but represents where we are going when it comes to the web. Self reporting, integrating and re-packaging data, and collaboration are features of most new web sites.
I am glad to see that we have an imaginative group of students in the class. The diary assignment revealed that! Here are just a few of the creative thoughts that came up:
Robotic maid High tech forensics lab Elementary school hackers 108-inch displays Virtual stadium Personalized home Flights to Mars Universal teleworking Peeing robotic dog Robotic barista Voice recognition systems Trips to Mars Ear implanted cell phone chip Iris scanning Collision-avoiding car Robotic arm Tax criminal caught on camera Smart house computer Just-in-time grocery delivery Lexus LX 850 Fuel Cell Car Bullet trains 10 terabyte players Robotic food delivery service Amazon-Google merger "Red tooth" power Second Life FBI All-electric SUVs Thin clients finally arrive Optical computer UAVs Robotic secretary Video cell phone
This is from past semesters...
Laser shower GPS car-crash avoidance system Waterless shower Aero car Health sensor (just like Bones) DNA sampling MP7 Touch TV Screen Virtual assistant Retina scan for authorization Multi-purpose and secure PDA's Smart kitchen Holographic ads Nano-bots Instant video messagingFred the Robot Voice Recognition Car Holographic tables 10 Terabyte PDA's Quantum servers Integration across systems All-Access Device Wireless entertainment system Wallpaper TV Cloned bosses Computer control by thought Digital textbooks GooHoo (Google + Yahoo) Organic solar panels Hyper-bikes 100 core processors OLED Auto dresser Cyber-wife Kitchen digital assistant Wireless Base Launch Imbedded RFID chips 3-D holograhics 20-core processor
One of my favorite sayings is "Imagination is more important than Knowledge." Reflect on that statement a few minutes because it is very profound. Without imagination, our society would not have advanced at all.
This class reflects a broad spectrum of backgrounds. I like classes like these -- you get a wide range of perspectives. I predict a very stimulating class this semester!
Miss Rambo, our mean and evil TA, is upset that several students forgot to include the name of the student they are responding to. However, I feel that this is just a minor concern. I am glad students met the 100-word minimum -- this helps to ensure depth to the responses.
I hope students are applying critical thinking and analysis to the discussion question contributions. It's easy to copy and paste info, but graduate school is all about higher order thinking. The current events postings are really on target! Seems like there are a lot of interest in a variety of areas.
As for the blogs, it would be great to add a little more pizzazz with the addition of images, relevant links and (yes) even humor!
Hi! I want to welcome the students of ITEC 610 to my class blog. Your first "mini-project" assignment will be to create a blog and include your first post...a bio just like what's in the next few paragraphs. Add pictures please. During subsequent weeks, you and I will add posts in our blogs containing reflections from the past week.
While with the FHWA, I attained a Masters degree at the University of Nebraska (Go Big Red!) in Lincoln. The university is recent national football champions! (But...did you know that the "N" on the side of their helmets means knowledge???!!!)
I went on to receive a Ph.D in Engineering from the University of Utah which is located in Salt Lake City. I much enjoyed the climate, people, and the living environment there! Clean living, that's for me!!!
In changing careers, I attended the MBA Program at the University of Maryland at College Park. My concentration was Management Information Systems. Maryland has the best program academically and in terms of athletics. Fear the turtle!!!
I married the former Janet Lee on May 28, 1983 whom I will cherish forever. She is gainfully employed as a clinical pharmacist. She loves chocolate candy, Chinese and Korean food, University of Texas, and her family (not necessarily in that order).
In 1987, we were blessed with Laura Meghan Eun Hae (blessing from heaven) Pang. She is a hard-working student at the University of Pennsylvania. She loves playing the piano, playing the violin, and just playing. There's a video of her at a recent recital (she's in the middle).
I truly enjoy my job, particularly, interacting with the students and working with my esteemed colleagues. They all have a lot to share!
I love to run and it seems like the song "Running on Empty" is very appropriate for me. Some of my running accomplishments include the Marine Corps Marathon, Baltimore Marathon, Montgomery County Marathon-in-the-Parks, Honolulu Marathon, B&A Trail Marathon, Howard County Striders' Metric Marathon, River Rumble Half-Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler, Annapolis Ten-Miler, Governor's Bay Bridge Run (one of my favorites), Pike's Peek (in Rockville, not Colorado), and many others. See Les in a video at the National Marathon!!!
My latest interest is being a paddler in Dragon boat racing. I enjoy this sport with my daughter, Laura. Here is a short video on the sport!
My lifelong goal is to be the best professor that I can be and to light the flame of knowledge among everyone I encounter...(corny but true!)
