Study explores the future of book digitization
Reluctant faculty members, challenges in scanning old texts with foreign characters, and conflicting ideas about whether information should be commodified or made free on the internet have been barriers to those who advocate for book digitization, according to a new report.
Wal-Mart to offer its workers an affordable online education
Wal-Mart is dipping its toe into the online-education waters, working with a web-based university to offer its employees in the United States affordable college degrees, reports the New York Times.
Software could ease pain of Windows 7 migration
The migraine-inducing process of migrating Windows from XP to 7 could get easier now that virtualization developer InstallFree has released InstallFree Bridge 2.0, a program that reportedly eliminates software compatibility issues.
Yahoo faces privacy test with new eMail features
Yahoo Inc. is hoping to turn on a new sharing option in its popular eMail service without shocking users who prize their privacy, reports the Associated Press.
Canadian government gives businesses greater powers over copyright
The conservative Canadian government is giving consumers permission to copy content for personal use, while expanding the ability of businesses to digitally lock their products to prevent anyone from actually doing it, reports the Toronto Star.
Some colleges have second thoughts on Gmail
A small-scale backlash against Google’s free eMail service and applications has included at least three prominent universities this year, after many colleges had begun moving to the outsourced Gmail system to save money and simplify support.
Lawsuits resume against illegal file sharers
Suing people for illegal file sharing appears to have made a comeback, CNET reports—although now it’s smaller studios that are the plaintiffs.
FCC aims to measure home broadband speeds
The Federal Communications Commission wants to find out whether broadband providers are delivering internet connections that are as fast as advertised, reports the Associated Press—and so the agency is seeking 10,000 volunteers to take part in a study of residential broadband speeds.
Not everyone ready for the digital textbook revolution
Don’t let the iPhones and BlackBerries fool you: Research and a recent pilot program that put eReaders in college students’ hands showed that most students aren’t ready to read their textbooks electronically, despite the proliferation of internet-ready mobile devices on campuses nationwide.
House passes major science, technology bill
The U.S. House of Representatives gave its assent on May 28 to $84 billion in federal funding to help keep the country competitive in the fields of scientific and technological innovation.