Rick’s Short Circuit: broadband mapping controversy, high-tech clothes, and a silver lining
Around the Web today are reports of controversy in the awarding of $7 billion to extend broadband, research into high-tech clothing, and possible good news for engineers in Massachusetts.
Before the US government spends $7 billion to extend broadband service, it needs maps to help determine where the money should be spent, reports the Wall Street Journal. But that presents a problem, the Journal says, explaining that “…the biggest US provider of broadband coverage maps, Connected Nation Inc., is backed by big telecommunications companies like Comcast Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., and AT&T Inc. that potentially stand to benefit from how the Obama administration doles out the money…Critics complain it uses unverifiable confidential information from phone and cable companies to draw its maps, and worry Connected Nation will use the maps to steer stimulus funds toward its big corporate sponsors, at the expense of smaller players or poorly served areas.” For its part, Connected Nation says it has a “governance framework” that will keep its mapping work independent of the cable and phone companies.
The BBC reports that “University of Ulster researchers are examining how hi-tech clothing could improve the lives of older people. The three-year project could see electronic devices built in to clothing that could provide information ranging from heart rate to bus timetables.” The article quotes Bryan Scotney, director of the university’s Computer Science Research Institute, as saying, "This project is particularly exciting as we will be working with partners with complementary expertise that will enable our research in sensor technologies, data fusion, and intelligent data analysis to have a real impact on people’s everyday lives."
The recession may have a silver lining for Massachusetts, reports the Boston Herald. The Herald reports that the state’s unemployed can’t find jobs elsewhere and don’t want to sell their homes at a loss. The article continues, “The net result could be that the state will keep talented executives, engineers, medical workers, and others when a recovery occurs, putting Massachusetts companies in good competitive shape to take advantage of an economic uptick.” In fact, the article adds, the state could see a population increase during the downturn.
Previous Short Circuit: GM’s fall, Skyhook’s rise, and a killer app.
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