Cars That Drive Themselves Coming Soon

No this is not a science fiction movie, or some MIT college project. BMW, Google and GM, in partnership with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Association and Segway, as well as some other major car companies are all testing models in prototype that could be the fore-bearers of autonomous vehicles . GM may even be slated to release their Chevy model the En-V in the Chinese city of Tianjin Eco-City, currently under development and expected to be completed by 2020. With the near collapse of GM, prompting a government takeover, the company is now shifting directions towards more green 21st century style vehicles. According to Larry Burns, VP of Research and Development at GM, “We were the S.U.V. company, and we accept that. We want to become the U.S.V. company — known for ultra-small vehicles.” Burns' statements are in response to the size of of the En-V, but with the release of the Volt and development of the En-V this displays a marked departure from the gas guzzling SUVs  of the American car-maker. Likewise, The German manufacturer is jumping into the game. As always the car company is putting their famed German engineering to the forefront, "BMW's self-autonomous system uses four types of sensors, radar, cameras, laser scanners and ultrasound distance sensors and can even change lanes to zoom past a slowpoke car." Unlike BMW, Google is "using artificial-intelligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by a human driver."


Many of the articles I have read show these companies using differing technologies, and sizes of vehicles all the way from the tiny segway like En-V to a Sedan sized BMW. They all seem to have a few things in common, however. Most of them share information between other cars, speed, location, etc; this enables the cars from crashing into one another. Likely these vehicles will also communicate with traffic lights, and other driving related infrastructure in the future as well. Safety and convenience also seem to be highlights of these automobiles. Self-driving automobiles may usher in a new era without driving accidents, DUI and DWI related driving fatalities, and less tickets for their owners. That long walk to the car or being late picking up the kids from school because you had to work late may also become a thing of the past, as cars wouldn't even need a driver present in the vehicle just call them up and they pull up right in front of you ready to take you anywhere you want to go.

Google Goggles

Google seems to be at it again, apparently sources are now stating that Google now has a pair of glasses in the works that connects to the internet, GPS, and displays an image directly on your lenses in front of you like the terminator. According to the site 9 to 5 Google the glasses are currently in the late development stage. It is not for certain yet, however, the glasses will likely run a version of Android. The glasses have been floating around the rumor mill for sometime but insiders are releasing some information about the specs and rumor has it they are coming soon. Those who have seen the prototype claim it will look much like the Oakley Thumps seen at the upper left. It has also been reported that the glasses will have access to the internet through a cellular phone and some say that through Google\'s new acquisition of Motorola mobile the specs may actually be a cellphone itself. Much of this remains to be seen but I myself can not wait to get my hands on a pair. With news of this as well as news that Microsoft may be in development of a computer with an interface similar to that of the computers in The Minority Report make touch screens seem like a child\'s toy, more on that tomorrow. The future is looking pretty awesome!

Apple Should Boycott Foxconn

Foxconn, a manufacturer for many major electronics companies, is in the news for a second time documenting their horrific abuse and strict military like culture within the company. Two years ago the company made headlines for a string of suicides at the plant. What was Foxconn's response? the company installed nets on the roof so that no one could jump from the building any longer. The latest news from the company, 150 workers have threatened mass suicide if demands for better pay and working conditions. Many employees have spoken out against the company despite the fear of reprisal as the company has pledged to prosecute anyone who speaks out against them. The company is a major manufacturer of Ipods and Ipads, they have also been documented in Apple's sixth annual supplier responsibility report as major violators. Apple has come forward with a statement stating "We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain. We insist that our suppliers provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes wherever Apple products are made. Our suppliers must live up to these requirements if they want to keep doing business with Apple." Though they maintain this promise it seems little has been done to reprimand the company. Some of the things Apple found in their annual investigation were: the use of pregnancy tests to screen employees, more than 50% of the workers exceeded the weekly maximum of 60 hours per week as well as workers not allowed days off, payment practice violations, did not provide all employees benefits required by law. I hope that Apple will stand by their commitment to human and workers rights and boycott Foxconn among other manufacturers who regularly commit human rights violations.

The Internet Revolution

These days everyone talks about how the internet has revolutionized our world and it's true. We can shop online, trace our ancestry online, play games with one another, and most of us couldn't go a day without checking our Facebook. However, the internet is changing our world in an even bigger way. In some of my recent posts I've discussed the hacker group Anonymous as well as protest efforts across the Internet to stop SOPA and PIPA. The Arab Spring would likely also have been a topic of discussion if my blog had been up at the time. More and more, however, the internet is not only effecting trivial things in our lives like shopping, and playing games but real concrete issues that affect our daily lives. Over the spring sites like Twitter helped to organize people as well as get the message out around the world what was happening in the middle east.  Twitter, Facebook and Blackberry devices helped to organize protest and looting throughout England. Through an organized protest over the internet American sites stopped the draconian legislation SOPA. It doesn't just stop there the rise of the internet and the tech age has helped to usher in the concept of geeks actually being cool and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook even highlighted in his companies IPO how "There's a hacker mantra that you'll hear a lot around Facebook." Many people have said that this year 2012 marks the end of the world but I think this just may be the beginning, a changing of the guard where past tyrannies are cast down and a new more just world is rebuilt and I believe the internet has and is going to have a big hand in that.

Anonymous Intercepts Call Between Scotland Yard And FBI

Anonymous has had a busy week from taking down CBS.com going after MPAA, RIAA, and Department of Justice sites. Now they have released a recording of an FBI phone call to Scotland Yard regarding the group as well as an email sent by an FBI agent which gave details and a password for accessing the call. Today they even went as far as to post "The FBI might be curious how we're able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now." This seems to all be leading up to Operation Black March. It is not clear exactly how Anonymous got the access or the intelligence that the call was being made, what is clear is that this is a major embarrassment to the FBI. The call made was regarding an investigation under way of two suspects associated with the splinter group Lulzsec as well as other alleged members of the group. However, it seems that Anonymous is likely one step ahead of Scotland Yard and the FBI. Since the congressional hearings over SOPA and PIPA and especially in the wake of Megaupload being taken offline Anonymous has been extremely active and according to Operation Black March they show no signs of stopping or slowing down.

Google Pledges Tighter Security With New User Experience

Yesterday in my blog I touched on concerns over Google's new integrated user experience. Rebecca Lieb, however, touts this to not be so. In her article, Google’s New Privacy Policy Critical to Competition with Facebook, she highlights how Google is set to strengthen their privacy policy while competing with Facebook.


"This move does make enormous sense for Google on three primary levels.

1. Google’s stated reason for making a major change. It doesn’t make sense to have 70 different privacy policies. It does make sense to consolidate, and to simplify language. That’s good UX.

2. Google is increasingly a media company. Its revenue comes from ad sales. These privacy policy changes will help it deliver not only better search results (let’s leave personalized search out of the equation for now), but better ads. It’s a major step closer to cracking the database of intentions. What’s a “Jaguar”? An “Apple”? “Bass”? The move really will help refine results.

3. Google needs a 360 degree view of the customer now more than ever. Why? Because Facebook’s already got it. Or is at least a lot closer to having it than Google is if all Google’s information is separately warehoused. Facebook is currently better positioned than Google to “know” what videos you’re watching on YouTube (which Google owns!), and tie that data with what you’re reading in “The Wall Street Journal” or “The Washington Post,” or posting on Pinterest. With Facebook about to go public, Google needs to change that equation, and change it fast."
Though Lieb makes a strong case for the added benefits this provides to Google she fails to touch on the reasons why many Google users are rightfully nervous. Nowhere in her article does she discuss how this will, integrate add security for users among other things. In Facebook's IPO release they actually address the concern over Facebook's privacy and security and state that if their millions of users lose faith in the companies ability to guard the multitude of users' data Facebook will be adversely effected. I have not read, nor heard any concerns by Google how this new policy will handle potential risks to security for ill or for good. If anyone has any information regarding this i would love to hear it, but I am curious over what the new user integration could hold over security concerns. As I have stated before Google was hacked in 2009 by the group Aurora and though measures have been taken to prevent similar attacks, does this new interface help or hinder their ability to guard user data in the future?

Google and Facebook Move Forward With User Targeted Advertising And Integration But At What Cost?

I am sure most of you out there have seen the new disclaimer on Google's website warning of their new privacy policy and user integrated experience. Maybe you have seen more ads on Facebook becoming more a kin to recent searches you have made or pages you have liked. Maybe you have even read about Open Graph Action Spec Targeting which allows Facebook to target ads based on apps you use or content you post, like Spotify posting whatever song you are currently listening to. Welcome to the New Internet, ads using cookies specifically targeted towards you based on what apps you use, what sites you visit, your demographics, what geographical locations you visit or live, socioeconomic standing, what you search for, buy, music you listen, etc. Now in many ways this will make a more user friendly experience, for example no more having to log in to multiple accounts within the Google family of sites from Google+ to Gmail, Youtube to Blogger and of course regular old Google. The question begs, with new ever evolving rules on privacy from Google and Facebook, is a better more convenient user experience worth the loss of privacy and anonymity?

Google in recent days has also announced that it will follow Twitters lead and censor some content on blogger at the behest of certain countries. Twitter had initially caused an uproar by announcing that it would remove user posted tweets that were illegal in said country but would allow it to be seen in other countries. Is this a brave new world we are moving toward? With the recent hearings on SOPA and PIPA, as well as the shut down of MegaUpload it feels more and more that government and big business are increasingly pushing towards tightening its grip around the once free medium of internet. Google supposedly adheres to the company mantra of "don't be evil" but one wonders how closely they continue to follow this?

These issues not only raise questions of the issue of privacy relating to corporations, businesses and government entities having access to our every move on the internet but cyber-criminals as well. Many may recall the cyber attacks by a Chinese based group called Aurora which took place from June 2009 in through the Christmas holiday of that year, which infiltrated 200+ companies including Google. What is to say that something similar could still not happen and now with a more integrated user experience and Facebook and Google at the helm for targeting (The group Anonymous just targeted Facebook over the weekend) that could make your personal information more easily accessible by hackers. No word in the disclaimer mentions what further measures would be taken to ensure integration does not make hackers gaining access to your information easier. Google has become far more secure since the Aurora attacks but all these questions.