Tech Archive 2014

1st Quarter

Musings/Opinions
Technology in our Time
Apple Encrypts Smartphone

Musings/Opinion During the first decade of this century most Americans lived in daily fear, it might have been 'yellow, orange' or kiss your ass good-bye 'red.' Now it seems like we live in a world where every aspect of our technological lives are under threat. From computer virus to the simple action of buying something at a brick and mortar with your credit card, nothing seems safe. Back in the mid-90's I embraced technology. I loved it, everything seemed possible and at your fingertips. But in the last ten years I have become afraid...no that's not the right word, very cautious. We seem to be in the dark side of technology cycle currently. Hopefully we will climb out of this valley and get back on an even keel soon.

Technology in our TimesSeptember 21, 2014

    Today unlike any other time in history every moment of 99% of the people on the planet are interwoven with technology. From shopping and using a credit/debit card, talking on your phone/smartphone. Even driving your car, which probably has a computer under the hood. I know fifty years ago many of us watched the Jetson's and though "wow the future will be cool." But didn't think that would happen in their life times. The explosion in communication technology specifically, has caught a lot of people by surprise. Recently there was a poll stating that 40% of US homes are cellphone only homes. Four short years ago 26% of US homes had cellphone only.

From an article in Bloomberg News:
    Good luck unplugging: The average U.S. household owns five devices connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi, wired or cellular networks, according to new research from consultant Chetan Sharma. The survey of more than 1,000 people also revealed this shocker: more than 6 percent of households own more than 15 connected devices, which includes smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs and digital photo frames. That high number will become the norm for a growing percentage of consumers in the coming years, said Sharma. He estimated that about 70 to 80 percent of these gadgets can access the Internet via wireless connections.

    Knowing all of that it was recently announced that the Internet had run out of room. I know, sounds like a joke but remember when we ran out of phone and license plate numbers? Just sayin'. I think that until Dick Tracy type watch or Google Glass's are perfected things are probably going to get worse/more congested before it gets better.

Google, Apple to encrypt SmartphonesSeptember 26, 2014

    I read this article yesterday and thought "finally, these companies are standing up for what's right." Privacy is back in style! It wasn't surprising when the FBI said:

James Comey, the Federal Bureau of Investigation director, said Thursday he was "concerned" over Apple and Google marketing smart phones that can't be searched by law enforcement.
"What concerns me about this is companies marketing something expressly to allow people to place themselves beyond the law,"

    "Beyond the law???" Apparently Mr. Comey, isn't familiar with the Constitution of the United States of America, that decrees that unreasonable search and seizure is not lawful. With the explosion of technology, which we are all addicted to now, there is a mountain of data that surrounds each one of us. I'm not sure why the law enforcement communities feel that it is their "right" to have access to my private data? I have nothing to hide but just like I don't walk around naked I don't want strangers looking at my private parts.
    "Terrorists don't use social media, Gmail or Verizon is an interesting article spelling out what most people have long guessed.
    "I think the reaction of the 'watcher' when s/he becomes the 'watched' is very interesting. 99% of the citizens of the US are not planning to over throw their gov't., nor are they planning on destroying infrastructu