The scientists implicated by the hacked emails in the University of East Anglia may be regarded as sorry fraudsters, an aberration of what science is all about. What is fundamentally worrisome is the reaction of the large community of ‘believers’ in the theory the fraudulent scientists tried to falsely promote. These believers have abdicated their solemn responsibility as scientists, and instead acted like lawyers in a court room, defending their side of the story, mindless of the truth. I would have expected the community of believers in manmade climate change to ’stop the press’, call for a thorough re-evaluation of all the raw data that was used to arrive at the celebrated conclusion of man induced global warming. Those believers should have been most disturbed and most shocked by the exposed emails, and as true blue scientists, clear their mind from past conclusions, building their case afresh from re-examined raw data. And changing their conclusion if the data so suggests. Alas, the believers ridiculed, pooh-poohed, dismissed, belittled, those damning emails, treated them as a joke, as not showing the ‘big picture’, as ‘out of context’, as ‘10 years old’, and claimed that the ‘infidels’ who deny the premise of manmade warming do not really understand how science works, how scientists write. In other words, all the ‘infidels’ are utterly stupid. This is reminiscent of the darkest ages when religious belief stamped out scientific truth. I would like to believe that we are not back in those days, but the recent data suggests otherwise.
Climategate: Science Itself Is In Question
Published December 13th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsStart-Up Nation: What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Published November 18th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsThe cream de la cream of Israel’s technological talent is gravitated towards a couple of thousand start-up firms, funded by eager venture capitalists, and moved by a few dozen super-success stories. The income fuels the economy, and regenerates itself; quite a positive picture, but not without a shadow. Venture capital is ‘exit’ driven, funds go to concepts that can be realized within 24 months or less, which in turn drives the entrepreneurs to quick impact internet gimmicks, and ritzy consumer gadgetry, a track that established a few young multi millionaires in Israel. Alas, the survival of Israel depends on long range, heavy duty, deep research technological programs that are left with second tier personnel. In the early years the talent of young Israelis went to build the renowned aviation industry, the world class military industry, phrama, nuclear, agriculture, and innovative production facilities. These programs established the country as a powerhouse to reckon with, and kept it safe within its borders. Israel needs today’s challenges to be equally committed to, and a few thousand internet-centered startups are not the answer. A growing number of political scientists claim that peace would come to the Middle East as soon as oil loses its centrality in world affairs. This will happen when a robust oil-replacement becomes a reality. There you have it, an example of a national R&D program that will earn Israel its much deserved security. A lot can be done with start-ups, nimble, and quick as they are, but Israel needs a serious organizational framework staffed with its best and brightest to continue its parade of technological miracles, and keep it safe and thriving. If getting rich quick is the prevailing sentiment, then a danger is looming. Patriotism should increase its weight in the motivational spectra. And nothing would happen without a vigorous and visionary technological leadership aware that its success is the guarantee for the future of Israel.
If you believe inventors, vendors, academics and politicians, we are under a flood of innovation like never before in human history. But how can one tell? We also have the best marketing and promotion machine in human history. That means we can blow up a tiny new idea into an earth-shaking, life-changing innovation — as far as the press and public opinion is concerned. Hype is upon us. When one discounts it — do we still have unprecedented innovation, or are we on a plateau?
Human history suggests that creative periods follow by periods of digestion and accommodation of the big changes of yesterday. After the invention of the printing press, every improvement thereto was hailed as ground breaking; almost every essential automotive system today was present on the Model-T; quantum mechanics got weirder over the last ninety years, and the integrated circuit got more integrated in a predictable pace (Moore’s law).
D&G Sciences — Innovation Productivity Corporation, known for its development of an innovation progress metrics, is now developing an innovation impact metrics to establish a scientific measure of innovation activity.
Software Generated Hardware: The Last Hurdle Before Computers Evolve Autonomously.
Published October 21st, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsSoftware generated by software is not new anymore, but the underlying man-made hardware was hitherto the limit of the self evolving computing assembly. This limitation may be removed, and not in the very distant future (DGS got the contract to appraise it). The idea is to use well crafted polymer chemistry to construct an evolving computing platform. Given sufficient supply of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, plus small measures of additional common elements, the core computing unit will be able to direct the further synthesis of computing hardware, on which to run the software generated software. Such an autonomous computing environment will be without an on/off switch, it will be able to metastasize and thereby escape human control, leading to untold consequences. Yet, this disturbing uncertainty is not likely to quench the emerging research.
Space Asteroids and D&G Sciences Methodologies
Published September 5th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsAt any moment now, our telescopes might discover an ominous Space Asteroid on collision course with earth, giving us a tight measure of years, perhaps just months, before impact. There are today various technology ideas on the books for how to avert such a catastrophic event like the one that doomed the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, or like the 1908 Tunguska Explosion should it occur over a populated urban area. Alas, today no serious money is spent developing any of the proposed counter measures. It’s very expensive, and we may just get lucky… But if not, it would a life and death race against the fast approaching impact event. The various competing solutions will have to be appraised not only by how effective they are in principle, but by our chances to succeed and develop an effective countermeasure. There will be no extension, no rescheduling. We better be ready in time, or else… For this reason alone, D&G Sciences — Innovation Productivity Corporation tools for innovation appraisal should be developed to their full promise.
Avivah Litan Recommends Gideon Samid’s ‘Unending CyberWar’ as a ‘Must Read’ for Many Years to Come
Published August 27th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsAvivah Litan, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst, Gartner Research: Gideon Samid’s latest book on CyberSecurity in a ‘must read’ for both seasoned security professionals and novices caught in the ‘unending CyberWar.’ The author employs an innovative approach to his book, combining the hardcopy text with a companion cyber version that enables dynamic updates and non-linear traversal of the material as it continues to evolve. Combined with an interactive forum for public contributions, this book is sure to live on as an all inclusive tutorial and framework that will provide high value to security professionals for many years to come.
The book offers a pragmatic tutorial that gives an in-depth analysis of threat identification and responses. It also provides a valuable framework for developing and implementing effective response systems to particular threats, and covers technological and human aspects critical to success in defeating cyberthieves. Insightful discussions unearth the mysteries of complex technological concepts, such as cryptanalysis and multi-layer cryptography, for both the layman and the security expert. Exploration of hacker motivations and modus operandi further expand the security professional’s ability to effectively fight the cybercriminals off. The book is rounded off by intriguing essays on cybercrime and more indepth coverage of relevant foundational technologies, security tools and products. All in all a comprehensive, engaging, readable, informative and dynamic piece of work that will give the ‘good guys’ the weapons and armor they need to win this war.
Avivah Litan is a Vice President and Distinguished Analyst in Gartner Research. Her area of expertise includes financial fraud, authentication, identity theft, fraud detection and prevention applications and other areas of information security and risk. She also covers payment systems and financial flows in the business-to- consumer and business-to-business markets
Religious Co-Existence; Religious Tolerance, Code-of-Faith
Published August 25th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsIn our shrinking world religious tensions are on the rise. History teaches us that religious wars were the longest and bloodiest on record. To prevent the 21st century from becoming a blood bath it’s incumbent upon us to abide by a code-of-faith that would facilitate religious co-existence, and bring peace about. This is the idea behind the new site Code-of-Faith.net. It presents a code that distills this co-existence and mutual tolerance to three fundamental principles. By adhering to these principles humanity will insure peaceful co-existence within its various religions. Add your voice to religious co-existence and substantiate the fundamental value of these three principles. It will help us flush out any religion or sect that systematically rejects one or more of these principles, so that the rest of us would be aware of a brewing problem.
When Money Flows, Innovation Slows; When Funds are scarce, Innovation Flares.
Published August 20th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsInnovation money appears to concentrate on trends, and fashion, and gurus. As it flows it attracts the success driven masses who pose as promising candidates for the innovation fashion de-jure. Since the money is eager to flow in the ‘hot direction’ many of those no-gooders gulp the big time dollars and go nowhere. This asphyxiates the true innovators who nurture ideas that are not trendy, but trend setters, for a trend that has not yet come to pass. Unfunded, the true believers, concentrate on the theoretical aspects of the new technology, and on becoming so darn brilliant that someone will notice. Eventually someone does, a true innovation comes to pass, new trend is set, and hoards of mediocre success seekers dance before the funding fat cats. And so it goes.
Kinetic Energy (Flywheels) — a Strategic Storage Solution?
Published August 10th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsTurning wind energy into fast (>4ok RPM) rotating heavy cylinders magnetically suspended with almost zero friction — is one eyebrows raising solution to energy storage to mitigate windless periods. Mechanical energy is most advantageous for immediate use and consumption. The question of feasibility though is still open. Inventors are hush-hush over the concept of storage durability. DGS would love to appraise the R&D effort — if details are available.
RFID technology is becoming so efficient and inexpensive that the US Mint is reportedly considering marking every $50 bill and up with active chips that can be recorded in discreetly fitted readers in every public place, exposing individuals walking around with oodles of cash in their pockets, and in particular tracking cash payments as if they were e-payments. Good for the war on terror, a boost for the anti-corruption campaign — horrible for citizens’ privacy. Privacy advocates are gearing up for a counter technology. The underworld too, one would say. DGS performs a pro bono appraisal. Stay tuned!
Stem Cells Coaxed To Grow Into A Full Fledged Eye! Could Humans Be Fitted With a Backwards Looking Third Eye?
Published August 9th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsTo the best of my knowledge this is extremely embryonic (pan intended); some success on low grade fish, replacing a removed eye, but the idea is to eventually develop the technology to grow a third eye for people. Ostensibly to replace any damaged original eyes, but with another leap of technology a third eye fitted say at the back of our neck would make us… well. Who said that science fiction is dead, it’s all science now, or shortly? I am fortunate to be in the business of appraising the effort needed to implement such bold imaginative ideas. After all that’s what counts: how fast can we see it work?! (apply).
Do US Photography Satellites Go Blind? A Masking Haze Tech-Shift On Its Way?
Published August 9th, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsIsrael reportedly develops an invisible haze to mask settlement activities from space photography. The idea is not new, many countries try to hide their secrets from prying satellites. Tiny, highly polished metal chips would bounce light, and break view to a haze, but with limited effects. The novelty in the Israeli solution seems to be a swarm effect, primitive short-range communications among tens of thousands of floating chips that congregate as moving ‘clouds’ creating a very effective light randomization. For years now American satellite technology dominated US intelligence feeds. Are we at the verge of a pendulum swing?
