18 October 2002
I recently met Daniel Borel, one of the cofounders of Swiss/American firm Logitech -- the company built on mice (so many -- 400 million of them -- that tail to tail they'd stretch to the moon and back). But they got into mice by accident -- they started as a software company! Here's the piece I wrote for today's tech section in the Irish Times -- nonsubscribers can get it free here.
3:27:59 PM  #   your two cents []
Robert Frost. "The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." [Quotes of the Day] Heh! Which is why I work from home most of the time...
3:18:55 PM  #   your two cents []
Terror Turns Real for Horror Site. A message attributed to Osama bin Laden appears buried in the depths of a German horror film fan site. Things turn darker yet when a news service fingers the site as a terrorist mouthpiece. [Wired News]
3:18:14 PM  #   your two cents []
Photo companies focus on wireless. The technology industry thinks it has the answer to keeping digital photography on its steep growth track--first do away with the PC, then dump the camera. [CNET News.com]
3:16:37 PM  #   your two cents []
Bloomberg does battle with pro-smoking lobby. New York dispatch: The mayor of New York's proposed ban on smoking in bars and restaurants has been criticised by some residents who say they fear the west coast mentality. [Guardian Unlimited] Ah, well, that's OK -- as a native Californian, I know we always feared the East Coast mentality [grin].
3:15:58 PM  #   your two cents []
Software lock-in helps double Microsoft profits. Business: Software giant Microsoft bucks trend in battered technology sector by doubling profits in a year. [Guardian Unlimited]
3:14:48 PM  #   your two cents []

The treaty of Nice. Issue explained: The Irish are voting tomorrow for a second time on whether or not to endorse the expansion of the EU. Sarah Left explains what is at stake in the treaty of Nice referendum. [Guardian Unlimited]

I don't know if I believe anyone can actually explain this treaty or what is at stake... anyway, I took advantage of the occasion of the vote to write a column this week on the hazards of electronic voting; you can read it here (Ireland.com members) or here (free).


3:09:40 PM  #   your two cents []
Boy oh boy, am I behind today. Had to do my slides for the presentation in South Africa next week -- hard to boil down all the technological challenges of moving corporate governance functions online in just 15 minutes of PowerPoints -- but at least had lots of fun finding images of hacked websites to get the lawyers worried [grin]. I'm up on my vaccinations, have my taxes filed before Ireland's new Oct 31st deadline (yes, isn't Halloween appropriate?) and am ready for Durban, the beaches of So Africa's beautifully named Dolphin Coast, and a visit to a game reserve. Not looking forward to the very long plane flight, though; although at least the stopover is Paris, which means smelly cheeses and (girliness warning!) the best duty free make-up counters going. Expect sporadic postings over the next two weeks.
3:08:42 PM  #   your two cents []