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Tech Talk Radio Highlights
This week Tech Talk reviewed the technology that will
be used in the digital battlefield deployed to Iraq, the
new airline passenger profiling system, the WinZip file
compression program, and the threat of Windows root
kits. In addition, Paul Renard, Stratford's Dean of IT,
reviewed the adaptive testing technology used for
certification.
Listen now to the latest show using MP3 or RealAudio. Check out all the links
referenced during the show.
Tech Talk airs each Saturday at Noon on WMAL
Radio (AM630) and is sponsored by Stratford
University. WMAL is an ABC affiliate and the number
one AM radio station in the Washington, DC market.
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| Digital Battlefield Will Be Tested In Iraq | | | The digital technology that has transformed the modern
battlefield will be tested in Iraq. All vehicles will have
digital screens with battlefield views keyed to GPS
location. These maps, which will include the positions
of both friendly and enemy targets as well as an
interactive "whiteboard" so commanders can
communicate the latest tactical strategies, will
provide "situational awareness" during battle.
"Precision guided logistics" will use RF tagging for real
time tracking of all supplies similar to FedEx. GPS will
be used to guide munitions with one meter accuracy. Vehicles
will have day/night Infrared sights with targeting information
automatically shared for global view. All systems will be
linked via a secure satellite network and can relay information
back to the Pentagon for real time tracking of events.
Check
out the WashTech Article
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| Feds to Begin Passenger Background Checks | | | Delta Airlines will begin beta-testing the Computer
Assisted Passenger Prescreening System
(CAPPS II) at three airports in March. CAPPS II
consolidates existing databases and the Passenger
Name Record (PNR) to develop a passenger profile that
will be used to identify potential terrorists. The PNR
includes credit card numbers, dietary requirements,
phone numbers, and comments.
The system was ordered by Congress after the September
11th attack. This system is a follow-on to CAPPS I, which
successfully identified (but did not stop) 11 of the 19
hijackers. ACLU may challenge the system as a violation
of privacy. The European Commission has reluctantly agreed
to provide PNR data on airline passengers embarking in Europe.
Lockheed will deploy the system nationwide.
Check
out the Full Story
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| Certifications Move to Adaptive Testing | | |
Gone
are the days of fill-in-the-dots, scantron-based standardized
tests. Computerized adaptive testing technology has now been
adopted by most college entrance and certification exams.
The test taker is presented one question at a time. Questions
cannot be skipped, and answers cannot be changed once submitted.
A correct answer will trigger a more difficult question and
an incorrect answer an easier question. By adjusting the difficulty
of each question dynamically, these tests are quickly able
to arrive at a quantitative measure of knowledge.
Adaptive testing requires that the student has actually
mastered the body of knowledge. This technology has dramatically
improved the accuracy of the certification process. Simply
memorizing test questions is no longer adequate. Paul Renard,
Dean of IT at Stratford University, reports that students
who complete Stratford's hands-on educational program do
well with adaptive certification exams.
Check
out the Theory Behind CAT
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| Reading a File with a ".Zip" Name Extension | | |
Files
are frequently compressed for storage or for sending as e-mail
attachments. The most popular file compression program for
Windows is WinZip. Files compressed with WinZip have a ".zip"
name extension. In order to decompress and open a zipped file,
it is necessary to download and install an evaluation copy
of WinZip. If you want to use WinZip to create your own compressed
file, you will have to purchase a license for $29.
Download
WinZip for Review
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| Windows Root Kits -- A Growing Security Threat | | |
Root kits
have been available for Unix and Linux for years. They are
increasingly available for Windows. A root kit is a kernel-level
trojan that sits between the user and the operating system.
It masks its presence by filtering all information available
to the user. Any program that is registered with the root
kit is also invisible. Root kits allow a hacker to remain
on a penetrated machine without detection.
Security
professionals need to understand this technology in order
to combat it. Download the latest Windows root kits from
rootkit.com.
Check
out Security Focus Alert
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