Facebook, Google and Apple use facial recognition to automatically recognize people in photos and the technology is increasingly being used in other ways, such as in billboards that target ads based on who’s walking by. But is this technology good, or bad? Is it an invasion of privacy, or is it something consumers can benefit from? READ MORE
Network World is reporting that puppy cams, which are Webcams people set up to keep an eye on their pet during the day, and other streaming and media services (e.g., Netflix) could bring the Internet to its knees. “An unexpected driver in this overall growth of Internet traffic is the surge in ambient video. This is so-called ‘puppy cam’ traffic — fixed video sources featuring pets, so-called ‘nanny cam’ child care and health monitoring video streams, and especially security camera applications.” Cisco: Puppy cams threaten Internet [Network World]
As with any new technology, users worry about security. Is it risky to put so many eggs in a single basket – that is, all those voice and data services on a single network? Could hackers or computer viruses damage the systems? Can calls be intercepted or disrupted? The answer to all three questions is: yes. Voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) systems are just as vulnerable as any other network that is connected to the Internet. At the same time, passwords, firewalls, virtual private networks, and other standard security options offer some protection, as does detailed call reporting that captures information on every number dialed. In addition, according to AltiGen, it’s tougher to “tap” a VoIP conversation than it is a normal telephone connection because capturing digitized voices required highly sophisticated equipment. For more information on VoIP, visit: Bitpipe IT research White papers, reports and other information http://www.bitpipe.com Network World Fusion Primers, tutorials, case studies, buyer’s guide, other resources http://www.nwfusion.com/research/voip.html Voice over IP Calculator Directory Book list, hardware information, list of service providers http://www.voipcalculator.com/directory/
