The Future Place Blog

Do you know what an outbound spam filter is?

If you don't, read this great post by the ever readable James Cherkoff.

Then, think about whether you need one, I am sure I do.

Internet Cable from Europe to Middle-East Severed

The BBC report that an undersea cable near Egypt has resulted in widespread connection problems between Europe, Middle-East and Asia.

This story reminds us how essential the Internet has become. This problem has resulted in a slowdown, not a blackout. But at some point in the future there will be a blackout, because everything breaks eventually, and what will happen then?

Wikipedia page blocked by UK watchdog

A dispute has erupted in the UK between those opposed to the abuse of children and Wikipedia editors who feel they should be able to do whatever they want on the Web, according to a report by the BBC.

The IWF (Internet Watch Foundation) as recommended to UK ISPs that a page on Wikipedia about the German heavy metal band Scorpions should be banned because it the page includes a picture album cover of a female child. This advice has apparently been adopted by most of the leading ISP's, resulting in that page being blocked. Before issuing their advice the IWF took advice from the police that the image was likely to be illegal in terms of the UK's laws on child abuse and pornography.

The Wikipedia editors who are being quoted on the Web and on the UK radio may not be typical of all editors, but they are claiming a) they should be allowed to self-censor, and b) Wikipedia should not be filtered because it is one of the most popular sites on the Web.

Wikipedia editors certainly can't argue that they have not had a chance to self-censor as the argument about this image was reported back in May 2007 on gawker.com. Note, this article includes a modified image of the offending album cover, the modification being a picture of a teddy bear being added to largely obscure the image of the girl. However, even with the teddy bear, I can readily see what the UK's very strong laws on protecting children would probably have been broken by the original image.

Great telecoms report from Ofcom

UK telecoms regulator regularly provides some really useful reports, paid for by the UK taxpayer, and made publicly available. The latest report is available at their website and provides an international comparison of TV, phone, radio, and Internet (looking at UK, USA, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and others).

Will the Internet be illegal in Italy?

One of the posters on mylifemyid drew my attention to this post on The Register. An Italian court has ruled that blogs in Italy are unlawful, and the case could have wider implications. I am sure somebody will sort it out, but who? When?

The day the Internet failed

Interesting bit of humour in the form of a YouTube video about an hyppthetical Internet metldown.

However, the Internet will crash one day, and will hit commerce and government very, very hard.

via Mike Gray

The over 55s are banking online

The BBC reports that 3.6 million Britons aged over 55 are banking online. Between 2001 and 2006 the number of people banking online has increased from 6.2 million to 17 million, an increase of 175%. Amongst the over 55s the increase was 350%.

One of my theories about websites and services is that if people really want to use them, they will learn how to use them, even if they are not straightforward nor easy. Online banking is relatively complex, requiring a raft of security measure, and clunky interfaces, but people find it so useful they manage to negotiate it. But if somebody offered a much easier option, people would take it.