Keep Moving Forward...

"Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing things, because we're curious...
and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Walt Disney

Thanks, Tim. I feel the same way.

From my friend Tim Comolli:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Today is a very sad day in our little world. It's been reported that Arthur C. Clarke, among the most influential visionaries in technology and a personal hero of Engadget readers and editors both, has died in hospital care at the age of 90. Along with his many written works (such as the infamous and immeasurably influential 2001: A Space Odyssey), Clarke was possibly best known for conceptualizing the geostationary communications satellite -- clearly one of the most important technological innovations in history.

Arthur, you'll be dearly missed.

44.6 Billion of Big Internet Business

Microsoft's bid for Yahoo! has generated some great discussions in class. Google Senior VP and CLO Dan Drummond wrote a pointed post on the Google Corporate blog recently raising questions about the potential merger. Is the acquisition simply to gain market share in internet revenue and r&d or could it mean something quite different. If Microsoft were to go the route of subscription based operating systems, charging users for the use of an operating system and chat services... would they succeed or plummet ? Only time will tell if Microsoft's bid will be successful, what their motives might be and also how Google and possibly the Federal Government will react to this move. Wait... this just came in... and this one too ; )

PBS Frontline: Growing Up Online

We queued up the PBS Frontline Documentary called 'Growing Up Online' that aired on January 22nd, 2008 and have been discussing it in the lab. You can view the show online at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline

The documentary stirs up many points on the subject and it's well worth a look... and a good chat.

Changing Landscape

Fred Vogelstein whipped up an article for Wired Magazine Online on how the iPhone changed the cellular business landscape. A good read! The iPhone and the Google 'Andriod' project have already brought sweeping changes to the industry. Just imagine what this will look like five years from now.

Things Are Cookin' and Happy Holidays Everyone

We've had one exciting semester thus far.

Discussions on the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) are underway at BBA. Our reports have generated discussions across campus on how technology is used as well as the current internet filtering practices. Meetings will resume in January '08.

Work on a new building is in high gear here at BBA that combines computer lab facilities, audio and video editing suites, sounds stage/s, a fabrication lab and some ecologically sound practices and monitoring systems. A facility like this brings incredible learning and collaboration opportunities.

Our 'laptop proposal' has gone on to the Business Office for some research on demographics and for some discussions with potential vendors on pricing, warranty and insurance options.

Our proposal on the Google for Domains program posted last April has really gained some momentum in discussions here at BBA and across the State.

All these discussions are cookin' on the Research Lab Wiki and this web site. More and more people will be contributing and we couldn't be more excited. Collaboration makes our ideas stronger.

May The Force be with you over the Holidays. Have fun, be nice and be well. See you in January. AP

Innovative Architecture

More innovation from Ted.com

William McDonough delivers a great speech that focuses on design and how it should focus on the principles of "All children, all species, for all time." Ecological sustainability and the design of new cities are on the horizon for McDonough and his design partners. Well worth a look.