The 4th of July provided an appropriate opportunity for Americans to ask an intriguing question: Must standards evolve in order to remain unchanged?
AVOIDING A NEW DARK AGE
As we become more reliant on the Web to obtain information, we become more limited by what someone decides to put – and keep – there. In 2020, will you be able to find your past?
RMBS AND (ANOTHER) DARK SIDE OF THE INTERNET
What do you get when you file a pro bono “friend of the court” brief in favor of honesty in standard setting? Why abuse, of course, from the loonies at the message boards. The Web allows everyone to share knowledge — as well as prejudice, profanity and conspiracy theories.
IS IRAQ “ANOTHER VIETNAM?”
Standards take many forms. One is the verbal standard, often providing a historical reference point. Many people are arguing today over whether Iraq is “another Vietnam”. What exactly does “another Vietnam” mean, and does the Iraq situation meet that standard?
DAN MULLEN, ANDREW JACKSON AND THE DARK SIDE OF THE WEB
There once was a time when running a standard setting organization was a pretty sedate and predictable way to make a living. Now you need to put out press releases to deny rumors that combustible RFID tags are contaminating the money supply.
I HAVE THE VIRUS DU JOUR (YOU KNOW, THE WHATCHAMACALLIT)
“MyDoom”, “Sircam”, “Nimda” – who makes these names up? And why isn’t there a naming convention to do it faster?
Standards, New Frontiers, and ROI
If you’re a big seller to Wal-Mart or the Defense Department, its time to add RFID technology to your IT budget. But which technology will predominate? In standards lie economic security.
Alpha Predators and CyberInsecurity
Is there a way to make economic self-interest drive even monopolists to play nice?
What a Difference a Decade Makes (Or Does It ?)
In the last ten years, the IT world has made major strides moving from proprietary systems to open standards. But has this change to the competitive landscape actually reduced the ability of coalitions of companies to manipulate commercial outcomes?
PDF: The Problem with Patents: Operating with Blunt Instruments
The U.S. patent system has been taking heavy fire for years from critics who contend that it is “irretrievably broken.” This year, those critics gained a new supporter: President Obama — at least when it comes to patents wielded by “non-practicing entities.”