Communications of the ACM articles from December 1999

Communications of the ACM archives from December 1999

News Track.(Internet Engineering Task Force's proposed IPv6 standard raises privacy concerns)(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... NEW IP ADDRESS SYSTEM VS. PRIVACY A Proposal to improve the way information flows across the Internet has privacy advocates worried the design could be used to trace a person's identity. The proposal, an addressing system called IPv6, was...

Y2K COUNTDOWN.(Russian officers to arrive in Colorado Dec 22 to ensure Y2K will not result in accidental launches of nuclear warheads)(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... U.S. and Russia Nukes Agree Russia and the U.S. have agreed on the final details for a special command post in Colorado to ensure that potential Y2K computer glitches in either nation's missile warning systems do not lead to an accidental...

Reengineering the University.(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... This month's "Forum" continues the debate regarding the restructuring of the university model, spurred by Dennis Tsichritzis's article "Reengineering the University" (June 1999, p. 93). WHENEVER THE FUTURE Of universities is discussed, it...

Net to Worry.(Fidnet proposal raises privacy concerns)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
December 1, 1999... As with any new and powerful technology, there is the inevitable specter of panic. Be wary, the bark may be worse than the bite. It's easy to understand why our society struggles with its panic about computers and the Internet. But what's...

Flying Wireless, With a Net.(wireless telephony reaches the masses)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
December 1, 1999... Mobile Internet providers prepare for takeoff. "What's for din-na?" the cell phone-toting moviegoer barks into a platinum Nokia handset so loud the question can be overheard by fellow theater patrons. Mobile phone conversations have become...

The Esprit ATLAS Project.(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... Two European research technology development (RTD) managers of IT companies have been brainstorming for half a day. Lots of food has been consumed, exhausted secretaries and junior project managers of the two teams are praying for the meeting...

Stop That Divorce!(one computing discipline with several subspecialties; don't separate software engineering from computer science)(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... As the 21st century fast approaches, computing professionals still do not have a clear understanding of the nature of their profession. This is unfortunate, especially since the discipline has accumulated enough science over the years to make...

Licensing Software Engineers.(Industry Trend or Event)(Column)
December 1, 1999... Deja vu. As I read the many comments on software engineering licensing I'm reminded of the debate on the merits of the "go to" statement that raged in this publication three decades ago. I recall in particular the famous computer scientists of...

Preditors of Online Buying Behavior.(Wharton Forum on Electronic Commerce survey)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... What personal characteristics predict whether or not people buy on the Net? Look for a "wired" lifestyle and time starvation, not demographics. CONSUMERS WORLDWIDE CAN SHOP ONLINE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS a year. Some...

USERS ARE NOT THE ENEMY.(password survey)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Why users compromise computer security mechanisms and how to take remedial measures. Confidentiality is an important aspect of computer security. It depends on authentication mechanisms, such as passwords, to safeguard access to...

A Case Study of a NETIZEN'S GUIDE TO ELECTIONS.(Center for Governmental Studies' Democracy Network)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)
December 1, 1999... Political hopefuls learn to use the intrinsic powers of information, democracy, and the Internet. Every new information and communication technology seems to garner proposals for applications in politics and governance. Rapid worldwide...

VOTING TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION.(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... Two recent--yet very different--real-world experiences provide valuable lessons for building the technologies necessary for true teledemocracy. It's been suggested that teledemocracy should primarily support the existing system of...

TELEDEMOCRACY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.(Salangen municipality, Norway)(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... Politicians in a small Norwegian municipality experience how telecommunications technology can support and impact the election process. Since the 1980s, there has been concern in Norway for the efficiency and effectiveness of local...

THE DRIVING FORCES IN THE VIRTUAL SOCIETY.(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Examining the factors propelling the evolution to a virtual workplace and the arrangements being used to implement these changes in a societal context. The term virtual society refers to all components that are part of a society's culture...

Software Cultures.(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Exploring cultural practices in managing heterogeneity within system design. The practice of software development lends itself to examining the ways that "systems of people and machines (are), situated and distributed, and most of all,...

The Future of Software.(Company Business and Marketing)
December 1, 1999... Companies like British Telecommunications whose business is based on the performance of their software systems, should emphasize accessibility, adaptability, transparency, fail-safe operation, and a human face. SOCIETY IS INCREASINGLY...

HOW A COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORK IS REALLY USED.(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Use is not always what the user says it is in practically any domain, including health care delivery, as the authors' research revealed. COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION NETWORKS (CHINs) ARE DEFINED BY THE ERNST AND Young Health Care Practice...

The FAA's Y2K Preparedness.(Government Activity)
December 1, 1999... Over the last few years, media attention has focused on the Y2K computer problem and potential disasters that it may cause. Computer systems worldwide may encounter problems ranging from slight anomalies, such as time tracking and problem...

Risk, Reality, and Readiness.(Technology Information)
December 1, 1999... After five long years of dealing with and studying the Y2K computer problem in hundreds of public and private enterprises and scores of countries, does it just come down to one question? What are you going to do on New Year's Eve? The...

Risks of Insiders.(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... This month we consider some of the risks associated with insiders. An insider is someone who has been (explicitly or implicitly) granted privileges authorizing use of a particular system or facility. This concept is clearly relative to virtual...

Commentary: FIDNet Panel Moderator John Markoff Discusses Context and Issues.(Federal Intrusion Detection Network considered to patrol the Internet, but raises privacy issues)(Government Activity)
December 1, 1999... Last August President Clinton issued an Executive Order establishing a Working Group on Unlawful Conduct on the Internet. The Group was asked to prepare recommendations about the need for "new technology tools, capabilities or legal...

ACM-IGC Begins Work with ICANN.(ACM Internet Governance Committee; Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Last spring, at the initiative of ACM President Barbara Simons, the ACM Internet Governance Committee (ACM-IGC) was established as part of the Association's ongoing activity in areas involving technology and intellectual property. ACM-IGC is...

The Sig World.(ACM activities)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... SIGARCH Serves Computer Design Professionals For approximately 30 years ACM's Special Interest Group on Computer Architecture (SIGARCH) has been serving computer professionals in industry and academia who work at the forefront of computer...

Local Activities.(ACM activities)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... ACM Student Chapter Excellence Program The annual ACM Student Chapter Excellence Program recognizes outstanding ACM student chapters in several key areas. The 1999-2000 program focuses on five areas: * Outstanding Chapter Activities...

New & Noteworthy Products.(ACM books)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... Welcome to "For Members Only: New & Noteworthy Products," a showcase for the latest (and noteworthy) ACM publications/special interest groups, and products. The selected Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and magazine section contain new offerings....

Notes From the Motherboard.(ACM activities and services)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... ACM Announces IT News Service Beginning December 1, 1999, thanks to the sponsorship of Gateway, Inc., ACM members will have an opportunity to receive triweekly email with the URL for a site that will contain digests of the most important...

Pubs Corner.(ACM Press activities)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... New Publication: ACM Transactions on Computational Logic ACM is pleased to announce a new publication, ACM Transactions on Computational Logic (TOCL). This addition to ACM's Transactions Series is devoted to research concerned with all uses...

International Activities.(ACM)(Industry Trend or Event)
December 1, 1999... ACM Budapest Meeting Identifies Key Actions The ACM Executive Committee and senior staff hosted an international meeting in Budapest in September, 1999 with ACM members and ACM chapter leaders from 10 Eastern and Central European countries:...