Tech Talk

It is important to understand the risks of the gadgets you are bringing into your home — and bedroom.

A lawsuit alleging that officials from a high school in an affluent area in Pennsylvania watched a 15-year-old at home on a school-issued laptop’s webcam has raised awareness of a relatively unknown risk.  Many laptops sold today have webcams built into the monitor creating for the potential of increased voyeurism.

According to an article on philly.com:

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court, the family said the school’s assistant principal had confronted their son, told him he had “engaged in improper behavior in [his] home, and cited as evidence a photograph from the webcam embedded in [his] personal laptop issued by the school district.”

The Lower Merion School District, the suit alleged, was able to turn on the webcams and illegally invade students’ privacy.

According to the publication:

A statement on the district Web site said the lawsuit’s allegations “are counter to everything that we stand for as a school and a community.”

Stephen Henderson, a law professor interviewed for the story, told philly.com that using such a camera for home surveillance “would violate wiretap laws, even if done to catch a thief.”

It is important for folks with webcams to understand how the popular device works. Some have lights that illuminate when activated, while some do not.  Many have the potential to be activated remotely.  To preserve one’s privacy, users with webcams could simple place a small Post-it note over the camera’s hole to avoid any unexpected or undesired exposure.

It is important to remember to always think of the worst-case scenarios with any piece of technology you bring into your home, because chances are someone else already is.

The American justice system is facing a threat that could result in the incarceration of the innocent and freedom of the guilty.

Graphic courtesy of California Court System

For years, judges have instructed juries to refrain from reading newspapers or watching local television news to preserve each defendant’s right to a fair trial.  However, the Internet threatens to strip our society from that inherent right of all men, women and children.

As Americans, and particularly folks from Southwestern Connecticut, become increasingly connected, it is becoming more difficult to avoid tainting a jury pool.  Countless blogs, tweets and Facebook statuses are disseminated everyday on a variety of topics — in an unpredictable manner.  As an example, a Tech Talk post from last week reported that almost 100 million words a day were posted in Facebook status updates at the beginning of the year.  It is impossible to anticipate the information one will find by logging onto the net.

For this reason, judges need to instruct juries to not just avoid – but stop visiting blogs and social networking sites – during their service as a juror.  Who knows, as was mentioned in a Tech Talk post earlier this week, it might even do the jurors some good to cut their digital leash for a little while.

The Internet also allows people, jurors included, to find supplemental information.  Jurors should be banned from using the net to find more information on the case they have been selected to offer a judgement on.

A TIME article reported that one juror doing research led to a mistrial in Miami.  This juror should be imprisoned.  It may seem harsh, but such actions threaten the very integrity of this country’s jury system — it’s that simple.  Think that juror’s actions were an isolated incident?  Think again! It was determined that at least nine of the 12 jurors Googled after hours.  America needs to get serious on this issue.

In another instance cited in the same article, a New York City juror sent a Facebook friend request to a witness during deliberations.  Following a guilty verdict, the defense team tried to get the verdict overturned, according to the article.  If the request had been granted, a potentially guilty person could have gone free and threatened the innocent.  If this person was innocent, someone who should not have been jailed was. How would you like to be imprisoned for something you did not do because of Facebook?  Either way, it is clear that judges need to prohibit jurors from utilizing social networking sites entirely during trials — and make clear that any use of the Internet, or any other means, to get supplemental information or to connect with people involved in the case will be a jailable offense.

As social networking becomes an increasingly integral part of our society, it could be expected that users will share more of life’s triumphs and tragedies.  However, for one mom, sharing the loss of her young son sparked public outrage.

Shellie Ross, an avid blogger and tweeter, announced the passing of her 2-year-old son to her 5,000 followers on Twitter, according to ABC News.

Ross tweeted 34 minutes after her 11-year-old son dialed 911 to report that his brother was floating unconsciously in their pool, according to the story, begging for her followers to “please pray like never before, my 2 yr old fell in the pool.” 

About five hours later, ABC News reports, the distraught mother tweeted again, saying: “Remembering my million dollar baby.”  She also included at least two photos of her son.

Her announcement prompted both sympathy and anger from other Internet users, the network reported.

Ross told ABCNews.com that no one had a right to question her tweets, and that anyone who attacked her for announcing her son’s death on Twitter “is a small-minded a**hole who deserves to rot in hell.”

Some people, however, defended her actions saying that tweeting the most effective way of disseminating the news with some of the people most important to her.

As social networking continues to evolve and spread among demographics, I have no doubt that users will continue to share more about themselves.

In fact, I am surprised that Ross’ story is even newsworthy.  The proliferation of information about one’s life is one of the most practical and common use of social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook.

In fact, above the box utilized the share information on Twitter asks users: “What’s happening?”

Ross, I believe, did nothing wrong.  She utilized her social network as she desired.  Her child’s welfare or well-being was never threatened or put at risk by her actions.  She simply turned to her friends and followers in one of the darkest moments, just as people have for thousands of years.  Just because this mother opted to digitally should not change her desire — and overwhelming need — to find support.

For anyone who doubted her sincerity should have stopped following her, but to demean her, as some people did, is just unfathomable. 

I believe more people will utilize social networking in their times of personal triumphs — and yes, tragedies — and will soon instances like this will be non-stories.

Until then, my heart is with Shellie Ross.

Facebook released a fascinating snapshot of its users Monday afternoon.

In its most recent company blog post, Lars Backstrom offered a perspective of the world as perceived through the words of the social network’s users in status messages over the past year.

Among the top status trends in 2009 on Facebook in order, according to the blog:

1. Facebook Applications
   Specific words: Farmville, Farm Town, Social Living
2. FML (or F*** My Life)
   Specific words: FML
3. Swine Flu
   Specific words: Flu, Swine Flu, H1N1
4. Celebrity Deaths
   Specific words: Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Billy Mays
5. Family
   Specific words: Family, Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, Kids
6. Movies
   Specific words: New Moon, Transformers, Star Trek, The Hangover, Paranormal Activity, Harry Potter
7. Sports
   Specific words: Steelers, Yankees
8. Health Care
   Specific words: Health Care, No one should have to…
9. FB
   Specific words: FB, FB Friends, News Feed
10. Twitter
    Specific words: Twitter, RT
11. Years
    Specific words: 2008, 2009, 2010
12. Lady Gaga
    Specific words: Gaga, Poker Face
13. Yard
    Specific words: Yard
14. Religion
    Specific words: Easter, Lord, God
15. I
    Specific words: I, is

The data provides some insight into the social network’s users.  Among the most striking aspects to me:

• How prominent applications have become in users’ experiences on Facebook.  I could attest to how many notifications I receive daily sparked by applications; some days, I am sorry to admit I have nearly as many from applications as I do friends.
• How honest, or perhaps frank, users are about their lives. 
  NOTE: According to the blog posting, this term was used the least over the summer and the most on Mondays and Tuesdays.  On a note, it was posted that it was used more commonly on Tuesdays.  This to me, seems to be an indicative of young people continuing to utilize the social network to communicate among peers.  I wouldn’t expect folks using the network for professional means to use the term “FML,” which is generally used to discuss a negative element of one’s day or existence.
• It makes sense that people discussed the swine flu, as it was one of the most prominently reported stories of the year.  It also makes sense as the target demographic is young people.  However, according to the post, the use of the word was used the least on Sundays.  There is no indication as to the reason.
• The only surprising thing about celebrities making the list is how relatively low it is.  I would have guessed it would have been higher than swine flu.  According the post, Patrick Swayze’s death was almost as discussed as Michael Jackson’s.  I would think this is the data’s first indication of an older audience.
• According to the data, “New Moon” was the most discussed movie.  Personally, I thought it wasn’t very good.  I am also surprised that movie chatter didn’t fare higher on this list.
• Facebook users discussed the Yankees and Steelers more than any other teams, according to the data presented on the blog.  It makes sense as the Pittsburgh team won the Super Bowl and the Yankees won yet another World Series championship. 
• Health Care: An interesting trend.  While this issue has consistently been in the news since President Barack Obama’s inauguration in January, it surprised me it made this list.  I would think the social network’s older demographic would have propelled it into such a trending topic.  According to the data, millions of people posted “No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day.” Apparently viral marketing works.  Beyond that, health care mentions are up 10 times since a year ago, according to the data.
• It didn’t surprise me that people discussed Facebook or Twitter on Facebook.  Social networkers tend to be opinionated.  As for Twitter, many people tie their Twitter accounts with their Facebook equivalent.
• Frankly, I was shocked to see Lady Gaga in the top mix.  I knew she was huge, but had no idea she was this big.  This is clearly a mark of the younger demographic.
• Yard took me and Facebook by complete surprise. According to the data, it appears that the newer, older demographic have been updating their friends on the yard work they have been doing. 
• The mention of religion, according to the data, was up 30 percent over last year.  I would think this is yet another indication of newer, older users who tend to be more in line with God and religion.  It has been my experience that fewer of my teenage and high school friends mention the church or synagogue as often as my older friends do.

According to Facebook, there were almost 100 million words a day posted in status updates at the beginning of the year. That is up by a factor of four in the past year.  No one could dispute that Facebook has become an integral part of our society.  And as such, Facebook offers a unique perspective of what the pulse of our nation, and indeed world, truly is.  While it is far (read: far, far, far, far, far) from perfect, it is one of the best we have.  And as more people sign on to Facebook from more diverse demographics, the more accurate that pulse will become.

Facebook will “memorialize” the profiles of dead users when their loved ones request it, the Associated Press reported.

However, the social network will remove any contact information and prevent people from logging in, the wire service reported.

Deceased users’ profiles will also be prevented from appearing in the “suggestions” section of the site, the AP reported.

I applaud the social network for helping its estimated 300 million users to grieve and remember those close to them.

As the social network becomes an increasingly large part of users’ lives, this move is a smart and sensitive one — one that will undoubtedly further cement Facebook’s place in society.

I am not sure when I first heard of Delicious, the social bookmarking service that allows users to tag, save, manage, search and share Web sites, but I am sorry I didn’t try it sooner. The site is as practical as it is simple — and a must-use for everyone. 

As a person who regularly uses multiple computers and browsers each day, I have long struggled with what to do with my bookmarks.  I’ve tried storing them in multiple places — including on flash drives and as a Google document.  However, nothing I tried seemed ideal until I tried Delicious.

This site is great.

In addition to serving as a free place to store your bookmarks online, the site makes cataloging and searching them easy.  It also makes finding similar sites simple by checking out the bookmarks of folks who have saved the same sites.

Delicious also offers browser add-ons to make saving and cataloging your bookmarks even simpler.

I intend to utilize Delicious multiple times each day.

To check out my bookmarks, please click here — and connect with me.

Anyone with Internet access now has easy, direct access to what is widely considered one of the most sacred places on earth.

An Israeli university student has recently set up a Twitter account where prayers and intentions could be directed for regular placement within the crevices of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Reuters reports.

Alon Nir, of Tel Aviv, told the wire service he would print out the prayers and drive them to the Jewish holy site believed to be a direct line to God.

However, the petitioners must keep their intentions brief, as they are restricted to Twitter’s 140 character limit.

Nir told Reuters he hopes his efforts will be “beneficial to people all over the world.”

Recent intentions include safe travel, finding a job and for improved health.

The news agency reports that prayers arrive from overseas via mail, e-mail, text message and fax from around the world, often addressed simply, “Dear God.”

A growing trend is taking root in offices across this country — employees are being encouraged to open fire on their bosses and anyone else who might be around.

Fortunately, this stress-relieving activity is utilizing online first-person shooting video, instead of actual rifles, CNET reports.

The activity is drawing some staffs so close that the half-dozen employees of a Beaumont, Texas-based technology company, for instance, often choose to bond with each other for two hours each week rather than leaving work early.

In addition to having a good time, employees are developing important team-building skills, Grinnell Computers employees say.

The article reports:

“It’s about ‘bonding,’ Kevin Grinnell said, when asked what the benefit to his company is of paying his team to play games. ‘We laugh until we cry when we play these games. We can do the thing where we have company dinners, and company functions, but those really aren’t stress relief. At times, they can be more stress than they’re worth.’ “

Grinnell Computers employees, the article reports, are given a choice of either spending the last two hours of each Friday afternoon playing a computer game, or taking the time off, unpaid.  And the decision is clear, most employees opt to stay and play.

The benefits of the gaming offers a safe, alcohol-free alternative to going to the bar with your colleagues — and then suffering the consequences.

Eileen Zimmerman, a New York Times columnist, wrote against downing a even few drinks with management:

“Everyone you interact with while drinking has the potential to affect your career. A colleague today may be your manager six months from now and will likely recall any indecorous behavior.”