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November 8, 2012

Policy Watch

Obama will face tech-policy issues in second term
Some key technology-policy issues that President Barack Obama will face in his second term include high-skill immigration reform, intellectual-property protections, Internet surveillance and Net neutrality, experts say. Also, a battle is brewing on the Federal Communications Commission's role in expanding and regulating the wireless spectrum. Network World/IDG News Service (11/7) , The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Bits blog (11/7) , CNET (11/7)

DHS chief wants a team of computer gurus to help in emergencies
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is calling for the formation of a special reserve of computer experts to help protect the nation from cyberattack. Napolitano said the country's power infrastructure could be brought down by attacks on control systems by hostile nations or terrorists, or in severe weather such as Hurricane Sandy and its remnants. CSO (11/2)

Technology Trends

Computational genomics drives personalized cancer care
Software engineers are emerging as key players in the drive to translate massive amounts of genomic data into drugs that target specific genetic mutations. Using about the same amount of computing power as is available on the average personal computer, computational biologists are developing algorithms to identify recurring genetic patterns in tumors. Drugmakers will increasingly work with software developers, such as Microsoft, to develop new algorithms, methodologies and even therapies, says Les Jordan, chief technology strategist at Microsoft's Life Sciences unit. Reuters (11/1)

Google takes to the highway to pioneer self-driving cars
Driverless cars are hitting the road in California as part of Google's tests of autonomous vehicles such as the Lexus RX 450h on the freeways of Silicon Valley. Google-powered vehicles have logged more than 300,000 miles in the past two years, the company says, as it vies with automakers to pioneer what Google engineer Anthony Levandowski insists will be the "most important thing that computers are going to do in the next 10 years." The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/26)

Career & Workforce Development

Hiring a tech consultant? Think about this first
Hiring an IT consultant can be a good way for a company to temporarily bolster its workforce for project-specific tasks, but it's not as simple as just adding a desk, experts say. To avoid legal issues, companies need to determine whether a consultant is an employee or an independent contractor, and draft clear contract language that protects a firm's intellectual property and trade secrets. They also need to make sure their consultant isn't going to end the relationship without bringing full-time employees up to speed on what was accomplished, this article notes. CIO.com (11/7)

Reduced tuition for STEM majors is proposed in Florida
A Florida task force is drafting a proposal that would lower tuition for degrees in high-need areas such as science, technology, engineering and math. The idea was triggered by a growing need among companies for workers with STEM skills. The Atlantic online (11/5)

SmartQuote

Leave other people's mistakes where they lie."

--Marcus Aurelius,
Roman emperor

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