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 04-20-2001E-government Convenient, but Safe?Jonathan Nee NetCompass News Editor Need for IT Workers on DeclineThe Information Technology Association of America anticipates the creation of 900,000 new IT jobs in U.S. companies this year. The ITAA released a study Monday showing that the IT industry expected 44 percent fewer new jobs than last year when similar research indicated 1.6 million new information technology jobs would be created. A slowing economy, extensive downsizing and more cautious hiring policies in HR departments all contribute to the lower numbers. While the economy has lost its "enthusiasm" of a year ago, IT professionals are still in high demand. In fact, ITAA's study claims that despite substantially fewer new jobs in the field, only about half of those new positions will be filled. Qualified IT professionals are a rare commodity and demand still exceeds supply in the current market. Most needed are technical support workers whose positions will comprise about one-fourth of all new jobs created in the next year. The report finds that demand is also up in network design and administration and enterprise systems. The need for professionals in digital media, database development and administration, technical writing and web development is expected to decline during the year. The ITAA estimates that about 10.4 million people are currently working in IT-related jobs. The migration of cutbacks from strictly internet start-ups to high tech giants is setting off alarms with employees and job seekers. Yet, amidst all the concerns in the high tech industry, the national unemployment rate remains low - 4.7 percent in January. And From the Same People Who Brought You E-governmentAccording to a congressional report, dozens of federal web sites use unauthorized software to track users' behavior. The scale of the problem is yet to be determined, as agencies like NASA cannot even provide an accurate count of how many web sites they actually operate. The information presented to Congress represents numbers from 16 reports, only a third of the agency audits in progress. The rest of the reports are expected to be released in a few months. Investigators found 64 federal web sites using unauthorized files that allowed them to track the browsing and buying habits of internet users. Many agencies claimed they were unaware the technology was implemented, but agencies such as the U.S. Mint responded by saying cookies are beneficial to the operation of the site. Cookies are files that enable sites to identify specific computers that log on and help to distinguish user preferences. Their use is contested by cyber-rights and privacy groups. Congress has ordered internal investigations in all agencies and stated that only compelling need and the approval of the agency head will constitute an acceptable use of cookies. Microsoft Cracks Down on Software PiratesMicrosoft is conducting a campaign against software pirates worldwide. The U.S., Britain, Germany, Brazil and China are among the 22 countries being targeted, the software behemoth said Monday. According to Microsoft, five million units of counterfeit software and hardware had been seized, totaling about $1.7 billion. A Microsoft spokesperson said that these numbers represent a marked increase from the previous year. The counterfeit rings usually support other criminal and terrorist activities and find the anonymity of the internet welcoming. Yet again, analysts claim that the slowing economy is partly to blame for both the piracy and the crackdown. Tech companies have turned to pirated software as a way to cut expenditures while the economy's decline has made the sting of software piracy even more potent for companies like Microsoft. According to a study conducted by the Software and Information Industry Association, piracy cost $12 billion in revenue worldwide in 1999. In Brazil alone, more than half the software in use last year was pirated, costing an estimated $1.3 billion to the tech industry. In addition to legal action against 47,000 auction postings and Internet sites over the past six months, Microsoft is implementing new security measures, including product activation that requires customers to activate software by phone or over the internet. Throngs Attempt Genealogy Searches22 million immigrants, passengers and crewmembers entered the port of New York from 1892 to 1924. 10 million people overwhelmed http://www.ellisislandrecords.org during the 24 hours after the site was unveiled Tuesday. Developed by the Ellis Island Foundation as well as Compaq, Hostcentric, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and FamilyTree Magazine, the new web site boasts a searchable database containing 70 percent of all arrivals to the United States during the aforementioned immigration period. The database includes information such as names, nationalities, ports of origin, ages and hometowns. Visitors to the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island can obtain printouts of their ancestors' information, purchase a copy of the original immigration records or pick out a photo of the ship that carried them. Visitors to the web site will be able to do the same in a month or two. Up until now, information from Ellis Island was only available on microfilm at the National Archives in Washington or the Mormon Church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Due to the web site's immense popularity, users have found the site inaccessible and are greeted by a message that thanks them for their interest and tells them to check back later. PSINet Financial Situation Looks BleakVirginia-based PSINet said on Tuesday that it might have to file for bankruptcy. The internet access and web hosting provider said it would be unable to to file its 2000 financial report in the required period and that changing circumstances were the source of the delay. The company claims that as of March 30th, its cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and marketable securities totaled about $254 million. In a company statement, PSI said the sale of assets would produce insufficient funds to meet its current cash demands and that none of the financial plans under consideration would guarantee enough cash to maintain operations. The statement also said that most of these plans would involve restructuring under the federal bankruptcy code. Even with reorganization and other plans, the company anticipates its failure to meet capital requirements for the Nasdaq and its stock having no value. The Baltimore Ravens may want to start shopping for a new stadium name. Total Site NewsThe W.W. Reynolds Companies, one of Boulder's leading commercial real estate developers, retained Total Site's services for web-based promotion of a new downtown building project. One Boulder Plaza will span two blocks between Canyon and Walnut. The new development will feature 234,000 square feet of mixed-use office space, a plaza and an ice skating rink. Total Site NewsBoulder-based LeftHand Networks has retained Total Site to design and produce its corporate web site. LeftHand Networks provides network data storage solutions using proprietary hardware and software. Need for IT Workers on DeclineThe Information Technology Association of America anticipates the creation of 900,000 new IT jobs in U.S. companies this year. The ITAA released a study Monday showing that the IT industry expected 44 percent fewer new jobs than last year when similar research indicated 1.6 million new information technology jobs would be created. A slowing economy, extensive downsizing and more cautious hiring policies in HR departments all contribute to the lower numbers. While the economy has lost its "enthusiasm" of a year ago, IT professionals are still in high demand. In fact, ITAA's study claims that despite substantially fewer new jobs in the field, only about half of those new positions will be filled. Qualified IT professionals are a rare commodity and demand still exceeds supply in the current market. Most needed are technical support workers whose positions will comprise about one-fourth of all new jobs created in the next year. The report finds that demand is also up in network design and administration and enterprise systems. The need for professionals in digital media, database development and administration, technical writing and web development is expected to decline during the year. The ITAA estimates that about 10.4 million people are currently working in IT-related jobs. The migration of cutbacks from strictly internet start-ups to high tech giants is setting off alarms with employees and job seekers. Yet, amidst all the concerns in the high tech industry, the national unemployment rate remains low - 4.7 percent in January. \ And From the Same People Who Brought You E-governmentAccording to a congressional report, dozens of federal web sites use unauthorized software to track users' behavior. The scale of the problem is yet to be determined, as agencies like NASA cannot even provide an accurate count of how many web sites they actually operate. The information presented to Congress represents numbers from 16 reports, only a third of the agency audits in progress. The rest of the reports are expected to be released in a few months. Investigators found 64 federal web sites using unauthorized files that allowed them to track the browsing and buying habits of internet users. Many agencies claimed they were unaware the technology was implemented, but agencies such as the U.S. Mint responded by saying cookies are beneficial to the operation of the site. Cookies are files that enable sites to identify specific computers that log on and help to distinguish user preferences. Their use is contested by cyber-rights and privacy groups. Congress has ordered internal investigations in all agencies and stated that only compelling need and the approval of the agency head will constitute an acceptable use of cookies. \ Microsoft Cracks Down on Software PiratesMicrosoft is conducting a campaign against software pirates worldwide. The U.S., Britain, Germany, Brazil and China are among the 22 countries being targeted, the software behemoth said Monday. According to Microsoft, five million units of counterfeit software and hardware had been seized, totaling about $1.7 billion. A Microsoft spokesperson said that these numbers represent a marked increase from the previous year. The counterfeit rings usually support other criminal and terrorist activities and find the anonymity of the internet welcoming. Yet again, analysts claim that the slowing economy is partly to blame for both the piracy and the crackdown. Tech companies have turned to pirated software as a way to cut expenditures while the economy's decline has made the sting of software piracy even more potent for companies like Microsoft. According to a study conducted by the Software and Information Industry Association, piracy cost $12 billion in revenue worldwide in 1999. In Brazil alone, more than half the software in use last year was pirated, costing an estimated $1.3 billion to the tech industry. In addition to legal action against 47,000 auction postings and Internet sites over the past six months, Microsoft is implementing new security measures, including product activation that requires customers to activate software by phone or over the internet. \ Throngs Attempt Genealogy Searches22 million immigrants, passengers and crewmembers entered the port of New York from 1892 to 1924. 10 million people overwhelmed http://www.ellisislandrecords.org during the 24 hours after the site was unveiled Tuesday. Developed by the Ellis Island Foundation as well as Compaq, Hostcentric, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and FamilyTree Magazine, the new web site boasts a searchable database containing 70 percent of all arrivals to the United States during the aforementioned immigration period. The database includes information such as names, nationalities, ports of origin, ages and hometowns. Visitors to the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island can obtain printouts of their ancestors' information, purchase a copy of the original immigration records or pick out a photo of the ship that carried them. Visitors to the web site will be able to do the same in a month or two. Up until now, information from Ellis Island was only available on microfilm at the National Archives in Washington or the Mormon Church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Due to the web site's immense popularity, users have found the site inaccessible and are greeted by a message that thanks them for their interest and tells them to check back later. \ PSINet Financial Situation Looks BleakVirginia-based PSINet said on Tuesday that it might have to file for bankruptcy. The internet access and web hosting provider said it would be unable to to file its 2000 financial report in the required period and that changing circumstances were the source of the delay. The company claims that as of March 30th, its cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and marketable securities totaled about $254 million. In a company statement, PSI said the sale of assets would produce insufficient funds to meet its current cash demands and that none of the financial plans under consideration would guarantee enough cash to maintain operations. The statement also said that most of these plans would involve restructuring under the federal bankruptcy code. Even with reorganization and other plans, the company anticipates its failure to meet capital requirements for the Nasdaq and its stock having no value. The Baltimore Ravens may want to start shopping for a new stadium name. \ E-govWith an eye on improving the efficiency of government agencies, President Bush has included an "e-government fund" in the administration's 2002 budget proposal. The proposal calls for $100 million dollars over five years and will go toward implementing a citizen-centered online government in which the public and agencies can interact and conduct transactions securely. The first $20 million of the fund is earmarked for "interagency e-gov initiatives" to be administered by the Office of Management and Budget. The federal government has, for the most part, been slower than state and local governments to make the transition to the internet. Bush's proposal continues the work initiated under the Clinton administration, which hoped to create more efficient electronic means of conducting routine transactions such as paying parking tickets. These efforts will go toward fulfilling the directives set out in the Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998. The fund will also provide resources in addressing the most serious impediment to an inter-connected e-government. That problem is the incompatability of encryption technologies from agency to agency. In order to develop a seamless infrastructure, agencies will no longer have to sacrifice precious internal budget dollars in solving their incompatability problems. Last year the federal government demonstrated its committment to the project by launching http://www.firstgov.gov, a government portal that allows users to perform keyword searches across agencies rather than searching at each individual agency's web site. \ Total Site NewsThe W.W. Reynolds Companies, one of Boulder's leading commercial real estate developers, retained Total Site's services for web-based promotion of a new downtown building project. One Boulder Plaza will span two blocks between Canyon and Walnut. The new development will feature 234,000 square feet of mixed-use office space, a plaza and an ice skating rink. \ Total Site NewsBoulder-based LeftHand Networks has retained Total Site to design and produce its corporate web site. LeftHand Networks provides network data storage solutions using proprietary hardware and software. \ E-govWith an eye on improving the efficiency of government agencies, President Bush has included an "e-government fund" in the administration's 2002 budget proposal. The proposal calls for $100 million dollars over five years and will go toward implementing a citizen-centered online government in which the public and agencies can interact and conduct transactions securely. The first $20 million of the fund is earmarked for "interagency e-gov initiatives" to be administered by the Office of Management and Budget. The federal government has, for the most part, been slower than state and local governments to make the transition to the internet. Bush's proposal continues the work initiated under the Clinton administration, which hoped to create more efficient electronic means of conducting routine transactions such as paying parking tickets. These efforts will go toward fulfilling the directives set out in the Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1998. The fund will also provide resources in addressing the most serious impediment to an inter-connected e-government. That problem is the incompatability of encryption technologies from agency to agency. In order to develop a seamless infrastructure, agencies will no longer have to sacrifice precious internal budget dollars in solving their incompatability problems. Last year the federal government demonstrated its committment to the project by launching http://www.firstgov.gov, a government portal that allows users to perform keyword searches across agencies rather than searching at each individual agency's web site. |
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