3D printing: How does it really work?
The nine most common 3D printer technologies
by Julie Sartain, March 24, 2014
Three-D printers are the hottest thing on the IT landscape. Everyone — users and vendors alike — wants a piece of this pie and, with many 3D systems now printing candy and food, they could get their wish; that is, an actual, edible piece of pie. 3D printers are the 21st century version of Star Trek’s replicators and they can, literally, print (or replicate) anything from a piece of pumpkin pie to a full-blown multi-story house. But 3D printing is not just one thing – there are many ways to do 3D printing. This slideshow illustrates the nine most common 3D printer technologies.
Celebrating Unix heroes
by Julie Sartain, August 19, 2013
Unix, the multitasking, multi-user operating system was developed in 1969 at Bell Labs by AT&T employees and associates. Unix descendants and clones include Berkeley Unix, Minix, Linux, AIX, A/UX, HP-UX and Solaris. Apple’s Mac OS X is based on Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) UNIX. This presentation features the early Unix pioneers and their contributions to the computer industry.
Can your IP address give away your identity?
by Julie Sartain, July 16, 2013
Can hackers, stalkers, criminals, and other Internet users track you down by your Internet Protocol (IP) address? According to the courts, several analysts, and IT professionals, the answer is both yes and no. An IP address by itself can identify a specific access device, but not who’s using it or exactly where you are. However, by combining IP address with other types of information, it is possible to get pretty specific. For example, it’s possible to narrow down IP addresses to a general geographic area.
Sun’s stars: Where are they now?
by Julie Sartain, May 13, 2013
Sun was founded Andy Bechtolsheim, Vinod Khosla, Scott McNealy and Bill Joy in 1982. Sun went public in 1986 and was raking in $1 billion in annual sales by 1988. One of the brightest lights in Silicon Valley for more than two decades, Sun’s bread and butter was high-performance workstations and servers running Sun’s SPARC chips and Sun’s Solaris operating system. The company was also a staunch open source supporter. Among Sun’s many innovations were NFS (network file system) and Java.
Lotus pioneers: Where are they now?
IBM kills Lotus name, but software, key players, live on
by Julie Sartain, February 04, 2013
Thirty-one years ago, Mitch Kapor and Jonathan Sachs created a software program that would change the world: Lotus 1-2-3 for the IBM PC. But the company’s greatest and most successful product was Lotus Notes. IBM bought Lotus in 1995 and has kept the groupware product alive. However, in December IBM announced that it was removing the Lotus name from its Notes/Domino product line. We caught up with several Lotus pioneers to see what they’re doing today and how they feel about the end of the Lotus name.
Virtual reality gets real
10 examples of virtual reality in gaming, science and training simulations
by Julie Sartain, September 24, 2012
Virtual reality was all the rage two decades ago, then fell off the radar screen. However, VR is making a bit of a comeback these days. The success of the Nintendo Wii has trigged renewed interest in VR systems for gaming. And companies are sprouting up that are working on VR projects in a number of other areas.
The wild world of wearable computers
Are you ready for talking watches, singing shoes, ringing earrings and vibrating tattoos?
by Julie Sartain, August 20, 2012
Welcome to the world of wearable computers. According to Forrester’s Sarah Rotman Epps, in three years, wearables will be everywhere. “Wearables are proving their utility in numerous industries,” says Epps. “In the past year, consumer wearables such as the BodyMedia Armband and Nike+ FuelBand have proliferated in the health and fitness industries. This year, we’ll see wearables begin to break out of communication, health, and fitness to other verticals such as navigation, social networking, gaming, and commerce.” Here are some of the wearable products that you can buy now.
7 ways to mask your Internet identity
You can’t erase all of the personal info that’s out on the Web, but you hide in plain sight
by Julie Sartain, May 03, 2012
Have you checked your online identity lately? Is it accurate or full of inconsistencies, both of which can be devastating? Accurate information can be used by stalkers and cyber criminals, while incorrect data that casts you in a bad light can cost you a promotion, a job, or even your business. Companies such as Intelius, Spokeo, MyLife, PeekYou, BeenVerified, PeopleFinder, and Radaris (to name a few) aggregate your personal information, sell it, then make it difficult, if not impossible, to get it removed. But there are ways to mask your digital identity.
How to protect your online privacy
Google’s new privacy policy can by confusing, so here are clear steps to take to protect yourself online
by Julie Sartain, February 27, 2012
Google’s “Good to Know” campaign is part of Google’s strategy to educate the public about preserving users’ privacy with Google and on the Web. Safety online is the first step toward protecting your privacy. Phishing, malware, ad scams, and insecure websites are all malicious attempts to steal your identity. Take precautions in these areas to protect your privacy. Google explains how to protect your data, which also protects your privacy.
Hot authentication tools
The latest in multi-factor authentication schemes
by Julie Sartain, February 06, 2012
User name and password doesn’t cut it anymore in the world of online financial transactions. New federal rules call for multi-factor authentication schemes to combat growing threats. The latest multi-factor measures focus on biometrics, advanced analytics, and out-of-band techniques utilizing smartphones.
Is quantum computing real?
by Julie Sartain, Network World, 09/26/2011
Researchers have been working on quantum systems for more than a decade, in the hopes of developing super-tiny, super-powerful computers. And while there is still plenty of excitement surrounding quantum computing, significant roadblocks are causing some to question whether quantum computing will ever make it out of the lab.
Not sure what quantum computing is? Here are some slides that offer a brief explanation of quantum computing. Also, here are some images showing a quantum computer built by the Canadian company D-Wave Systems.
Five potential Facebook killers
And three sites crushed by Facebook that are hoping for a rebirth
by Julie Sartain, Network World, 07/05/2011
The social networking scene is constantly in flux. Facebook is at the top of the heap right now, but challengers are springing up all the time, hoping to leverage the next big wave into a lucrative IPO. Here are five social media sites that are creating a buzz.