EDUCAUSE 2010 follows top trends in campus IT
EDUCAUSE 2010 kicks off on Oct. 12 in Anahein, Calif., and will give higher education IT leaders a chance to learn from successful practices and share their own thoughts and ideas on what makes for truly successful technology management on campus.
New software turns paper into an inexpensive digital tablet
New software will enable Livescribe’s digital “smart” pens to stream all notes taken live, in real time, to a computer—turning special dotted paper into an inexpensive digital tablet, the company says.
Leading design software AutoCAD returns to Mac
Autodesk announced Aug. 30 that its AutoCAD software used by professionals to design everything from skyscrapers to pocket knives is reuniting with the Macintosh computer platform, AFP reports.
Google tool tries to cut through eMail clutter
Google Inc. can sift through more than a trillion web links in a matter of seconds, but can the internet search leader help people wade through their overflowing eMail inboxes? That’s the challenge Google will try to tackle Aug. 31 with the introduction of a tool called “Priority Inbox” in its Gmail service, reports the Associated Press.
University pushes for better attendance with electronic scanners
Officials at Northern Arizona University are reminding students that faculty members have the choice to use new electronic scanners that track class attendance at the campus’s largest lecture halls, but some students continue their vocal opposition to the technology as the fall semester gets underway.
PC industry’s woes could mean bargains this fall
If you’re looking for bargains on computers, bad news from the tech industry could be good for your pocketbook, reports the Associated Press.
MIT turns to smart ventilation as campus greening continues
An advanced ventilation system that adjusts airflow according to outdoor temperatures and how many people are in a room could help the Massachusetts Institute of Technology save $100,000 annually as the university continues to trim its energy use.
Researchers: Digital devices deprive brain of needed downtime
Cell phones, which in the last few years have become full-fledged computers with high-speed internet connections, can make the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect, reports the New York Times: When people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.
Scholars test online alternative to peer review
The internet is calling into question one of academia’s sacred rites, reports the New York Times: the peer- reviewed journal article.
Universities use tool to battle student ID theft
College students have to know which data are most vulnerable before they can protect their identity online. The creators of a new software program that fights identity theft say it can do just that, and some of the most well respected universities are listening.