Next Frontier

As we have discussed many amazing things throughout this semester, it makes me wonder what the next step will be. Indeed the hardest step to take is the first step. Since information and communication technology has already taken the first step years ago, we continue to reap the benefits even up to this very day. As very well noted, law has been, as always, trying to catch up but fails to do so. Perhaps, an international agreement might be the answer or maybe we can find the answer in the implementing rules and regulations.

Information is crucial in our time and age. Before, we couldn’t care less with what happens on the other side of the world. Now, we just want to know everything that goes on in the world. I don’t know if we indeed developed that trait because of the internet.

Technology is quick developing. Yesterday’s high-end model is today’s entry-level model. Everything changes so fast. We also noted in class discussions how criminals use technology to their advantage.

Anyway, my point is that we normally think that technology has reached its limitations. It is true. For example, we realize that computer processors are not just all about megahertz and that cameras are not just about megapixels. There are many ways in which technology can sidestep its inherent physical limitations. In the same way, the law should also be like that. We know how lawmaking works in the Philippines. It is not easy to have a bill passed. There is politics involved. What then should we do? We should then work to create a law which can stand the test of time. Only in that way can we make sure that even with the advancement of technology, the law is still here to help us and to protect us in case the need for it arises.

Even as we finish this course, as we have learned so many lessons, the evolution of Information and Communication Technology will continue to live on and will even continue even after we are gone from this world. What seems to be the end of the current technology is actually just the next frontier that we are all looking forward to.

ENTRY # 16

John Joseph S. Parco

things get lost in the clouds

So I just wrote a five-paragraph blog about the Mckinsey Global Institute's recent report that showed how the Internet contributed to economic growth for the past 15 years.

I then quoted figures the report presented:

- In the 13 economies the study surveyed, the Internet contributed 7% of growth over the past fifteen years; this contribution has been growing, because the Internet generated 11% of growth for the past five years.
- most of the growth occurred in SMEs
- SMEs with a strong web presence grew twice as fast compared to SMEs with minimal or no presence
- SMEs that took advantage of the Internet reported twice as much revenue from exports compared to those that didn't.

After quoting these statistics, I proceeded to assert that our country's MSMEs should tap the potential of the Internet to expand their markets and jack up their revenue. Government has a crucial role in supporting our MSMEs in this move, by first, making the necessary infrastructure, information and incentives available to them; and second, by boosting public trust and confidence in the Internet and the MSMEs that transact online.

I then ended the blog with a proposition that a Department of Information Communications Technology will be helpful in this endeavor, and in creating an environment conducive to ICT-driven economic growth.

All the while, the "save now" button below the typing area of this blog kept sayin "saving" and draft autosaved at 8:05 AM. draft autosaved at 8:55AM. autosaved at 9:07 AM. at 9:45 AM.

AUTOSAVED MY ASS!

After I clicked the "Publish Post" button, a page saying that there was an error appeared. I went back to the my draft but lo and behold, only the first two sentences got autosaved. And so I had to re-write my entire blog all over again, and this time, with a rant and a warning: things get lost in the clouds. using and saving files in word programs is still the safer bet.

-- Ixara Maroto, 16th post

The DPWH Photoshop Mishap.

We know the Philippine government's got a knack for drama, but to go to the extent of Photoshop-ing public officials in the middle of a crisis to show some sort of dedication to their jobs? That's just ridiculous.

[DPWH Photo]

These DPWH officials were supposedly "deep in thought," possibly evaluating the damage that was done to the seawall along Roxas Boulevard by the recent typhoon Pedring. The photo was reportedly posted on the DPWH's Facebook page as an official photo, but it was quickly removed. It was a bit too late when they realized that Web 2.0 is a world of skeptics and untrained-eyes-no-more who have mastered the skills of screen-capturing and downloading.

That it was just about the drama couldn't be that far from the truth, considering the fact that if you look closely, two of the three men in the foreground can actually be seen in the background.

Amusing reactions from the public and official apologies from the DPWH aside, it's a sad, sad way of affirming what the public already thinks about government officials not taking their jobs seriously. And, like this blogger wrote, "If they can fabricate simple things like this, just imagine what these guys can do to progress billings and acceptance of projects."

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#15 - Somayyah Abdullah
[Previous posts: 
#1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14]

multi-function cookware

It all began with my husband requesting that we try to bake a blueberry cheesecake, when we found out that our old gas range oven doesn’t work anymore, and then we went to the appliance center to look for appliances that can “bake.”

We found out that certain models of microwave, turbo, and huge oven-toasters can bake as well. These appliances are doing multiple functions.

A microwave oven is primarily used to heat food quickly, however certain models like the one we received for our wedding can also function to bake and as a rotisserie, certainly great news that I don’t have to purchase anything new.

However, I recently bought an oven-toaster as well and now that I’ve been asking appliance stores, I regret that I bought a small one, even though an oven-toaster’s primary utility is to toast bread, the larger variants have the capacity for baking and operates as rotisserie as well.

I didn’t even know that a turbo cooker can roast, broil, bake, steam, etc! I still don’t know how to operate our turbo cooker though, hehe.

Entry # 16

Under The Sun

Everyone is aware of the rising prices of fuel and other sources of energy. Alternative sources have been constantly being developed to make them more reasonable and convenient for not only the large companies but for the individual families as well. One of the best sources of fuel is solar power. However to set up solar powered panels in a home costs a bit much for the average income earner, and even then the output is minimal given the investment. For poorer third world countries this leaves coal and other depletable sources of energy as the get go way of supplying energy.

A solar energy firm called Eight19 from the United Kingdom had developed a new low cost system for supplying solar power to poorer families. This system is known as IndiGo, which is being introduced in Kenya. In consists of cheap flexible plastic made into a 2.5W solar panel that charges a battery. Now here is where it gets interesting; the panel itself is connected to a USB mobile phone charger and an LED lamp that provides around 5 hours of light from one day’s charge.

The system will only cost a $10 initial fee for the lease and $1 a week to run. On top of these, users will be given scratch cards that they can validate by sending text messages through their phones which in turn add credit for future uses. The company has plans of introducing the same technology to other countries within the next few months, as well as more powerful panels for larger households and electronics.

Technology such as this would do wonders for the Philippines given our generally sunny climate as well as abundance of low-income housing. Hopefully if such technology is brought to the Philippines, it will properly be marketed and used to save up on bio fuel such as coal.

The Birds Are Angry

After the infamous Anti-Planking bill filed by QC Rep. Winston Castelo, another bill filed by the same congressman is now gaining the same popularity. The news of his ANTI-ANGRY BIRDS BILL is now becoming viral in social networking sites.

The bill was drafted in response to his displeasure upon seeing several Angry Bird themed items in a number of stalls in 168 Divisoria Mall.

It is said that the House Bill 5379 "aims to monitor the diversity, quality and quantity of items bearing the angry birds likeness." A stall shall have no more than two kinds of the said birds emblazoned on its items. Items covered by the bill includes, but are not limited to, shirts, cups, mugs, cellphone accessories, and many others. Those not stated, but bears the semblance or similarity to Angry Birds franchise is subject to the law as well.

Why does the public have to pay House Representatives to file this kind of bills? Public funds should be spent wisely and be allocated to endeavors that will alleviate the plight of the Filipinos, instead of funding the research, drafting and filing of nonsensical bills such as the Anti-Planking and the Anti-Angry Birds bills.

Instead of filing a bill directed towards a particular brand, Angry Birds in this case, why not draft legislation, or strengthen the ones in existence, that can address the issues of copyright and trademark infringement? Clearly, the use of the Angry Birds design without permission is a violation of intellectual property rights of its owner.

Now the BIRDS are directing its ANGER towards the gentleman in Batasan.

Entry # 15 by D. LAURON

Authentic Text Message?

Recently in Pennsylvania, its Supreme Court ruled that an “unauthenticated text message” is not admissible as evidence in trial, this was the basis for granting Amy Kock a new trial. This was the ruling of the court on the admissibility of a text message offered to prove the intent of the accuse d (Amy Koch) to distribute illegal drugs which was found in her possession. A three-judge panel found that it was not shown that Koch wrote the said text FOUND in her phone and that the texts constituted inadmissible hearsay.

Although Koch admitted to owning the phone, which was seized at her home during a drug search, the judges found that the defense successfully argued that the state lacked evidence tying her to the text. Squarely put, ownership does not equate to authorship. The Court disregarded the ruling of the trial court that doubt as to authorship went into the weight of the evidence and not its admissibility. It took into account that the same phone could be used by different people and there is that likely possibility that she was not the one who authored it.

The Court likewise rules that the trial court erred in admitting the text message as evidence as not hearsay. The defense accordingly offered the text message of the text message for the “to prove the fact that these things were said on this phone”, but the Court said that the relevance of the text message for the state was to show that Koch had the intent to distribute/sell which depended on the truth of the text.

I tried to look for a Philippine case where the said ruling would be relevant. I found ANG v CA (GR 182835, 20 Apr 2010). In this case petitioner Ang was found guilty for violating the anti-VAWC law for sending several multi media messages to her ex-girlfriend, the picture was of a naked woman where the face of Irish Sagud (ex-girlfriend) was super imposed. An entrapment operation was planned to arrest him. A text message was sent by the police through Sagud’s phone to the same number which sent the nude MMS, setting up a meeting. On that day Ang indeed appeared and was arrested. The phone seized from him during the entrapment was used as evidence against him.

Comparing the two cases, and applying the recent Pennsylvania SC decision, Ang has a good chance of not being convicted, as the prosecution from a reading of the case has not actually established that he sent the MMS to Sagud. However, as a defense Ang actually admitted to having sent the MMS to Sagud claiming that it was sent to him by an un-indentified number who was harassing Sagud and he merely forwarded the said MMS to her. He did not present the said number in Court.

Lesson learned. DENY. DENY. DENY.  So how do we prove authorship then?