Happy October from the Coalition for a Connected West! This has been an incredibly exciting and busy time for us as we completed our first major event, the “Securing Connections” symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. We’re also in the early planning stages of more events in states across the West where we’ll be discussing some of today’s most important technology and communication issues with consumers, businesses and experts in the field. Be sure to stay updated in the weeks ahead by checking our website, Connectedwest.org, for all the details!
Event Recap: CCW’s Securing Connections
On Tuesday, September 23rd, the Coalition for a Connected West held the first event in its Securing Connections series at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. The lunch event was co-sponsored by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The event featured three dynamic speakers: Former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Larry Irving spoke on the “Exaflood” – the data surge that is pushing the Internet to its limits; Co-Founder and CEO of Auroras Entertainment Diane Smith talked about the wonders of the wireless world and how businesses can be started, grow and thrive from anywhere in the world do to advances in wireless technology; and Consumer Policy Solutions President Debra Berlyn provided valuable tips on how parents, children and older adults can stay safe online.
CCW would like to thank Glenn Hamer, President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and State Representative Chad Campbell (D-District 14) for their participation in the event. The event was a great success and we are looking forward to bringing the event to the other states covered in the CCW territory! Check out video footage of the event at here!
Issue Alert: Behavioral Advertising
Recently, the United States Senate heard testimony from leading communications experts and consumer advocates on the practice of behavioral advertising, a controversial Internet marketing tool that is beginning to receive an increasing amount of scrutiny. Behavioral advertising is widespread and is frequently noticed by savvy computer users. The practice works by analyzing the content of a user’s Internet browsing or searching history and then targeting the user with targeted advertisements based on their interests. If an Internet user searches for “bathing suits,” for instance, they may soon become the target for a slew of swimwear ads. Behavioral advertising has been used in the past by some Internet providers and is also frequently used by web sites and search engines, who can sell user search information to advertisers for a profit. Advocates for behavioral advertising argue that this makes for a better browsing experience for consumers, who are much more likely to see advertisements targeted to their interests. However, most consumers don’t even know that their online activity is being tracked and consumer advocates argue this practice is an invasion of privacy. The problem, critics argue, is that search engines aren’t giving consumers the option to opt in or out of behavioral advertising. So, like it or not, right now you’re being watched!
There will no doubt be much more discussion and debate on this issue and CCW will be sure to keep you updated.
October is National Cyber Security Month
This October marks the fifth annual National Cyber Security Month as designated by the Department of Homeland Security. All month long, the National Cyber Security Division has been holding events to raise awareness about emerging cyber threats and what businesses, consumers and families can do to protect themselves. Today’s “cybercriminals” use a wide range of tools and illegal methods to steal the identities, private information, and records of millions of Americans, costing citizens and businesses millions of dollars and burdening victims with the challenging and expensive process of fixing the damage. CCW encourages all technology users to take simple steps to protect your information. Changing your passwords every 60 to 90 days, using updated virus protection software, and opening email attachments only from trusted senders can go a long way towards ensuring that you aren’t a victim to a cyber threat. Visit StaySafeOnline.org for more tips on how to protect yourself online!
Holographic Television May Be Closer Than You Think
Researchers at the University of Arizona recently created the first updatable three-dimensional display that includes memory, a breakthrough in the quest to make 3-D holographic television a reality. Scientists have been able to create still holographic images since the 1990s, but television requires a display that can change images multiple times a second. The recent development at the University of Arizona resulted in a set of displays that could be completely erased and rewritten within minutes, paving the way for future development that will improve on the speed and efficiency of the technology. Holographic television could potentially come in two forms; a flat-panel set like a plasma or LCD television that projects images outward, or a horizontal panel like a coffee table that would project images directly above. Researchers agree that the technology will develop rapidly now that this important milestone has been reached. It may not be long before families across the world can view sporting events, concerts, or even home videos as though they were happening right in front of them!
