Archive for September 2004
Strategic Plan for Electronic Health Records
"The Bush administration has released a strategic plan for every U.S. citizen’s health information to be stored in an ‘electronic health record’ central database within ten years.
"Each person would have a ‘personal health record,’ an electronic file the individual would manage, that could exchange information with the EHR database.
"The PHR would contain information on a person’s insurance plan, prescriptions, allergies, medical history, and conditions such as asthma or diabetes."
Mark S. Sullivan. Medical Records May Go Online. PC World. Aug. 23, 2004.
See also:
United States Department of Health & Human Services. HHS Fact Sheet–HIT Report At-A-Glance. July 21, 2004.
White House Press Secretary. Transforming Health Care for All Americans. May 27, 2004.
Hewlett Packard Introduces iPod
"Hoping to make a big bang in consumer electronics, Hewlett-Packard plans to unveil its long-awaited HP-branded iPod, along with its first televisions, an entertainment hub and the usual array of new printers and cameras, sources said.
Also among the dozens of new gadgets that HP CEO Carly Fiorina will introduce is the company’s first digital projector for consumers, a product the company has been developing for some time. HP has been working on the projector, already a business staple, for more than a year.
"The iPod, while expected to be similar to Apple Computer’s version, is important both as the company’s entree into the music market as well as a part of HP’s strategy to become cool enough to be allowed in the living room."
Ina Fried. HP’s iPod to Lead Consumer Push. News.com. Aug. 26, 2004.
See also Michael J. Miller. An HP iPod and More. PC Magazine. Aug. 27, 2004.
Microsoft to Offer Music Service
"When Microsoft unveils its online music store later this week, the first song offered should be Dave Brubeck’s ‘It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again.’ For Microsoft, taking a trail blazed by others – then trying to dominate the market – is a familiar tune.
With the opening on Thursday, Microsoft will land itself in a market that Apple Computer pioneered more than a year ago with its iTunes online music store, in much the same way that it took on Netscape in the Web browser business and Sony in the market for console game machines.
"As a storefront on the MSN online service, Microsoft’s music service will offer song tracks for downloading to personal computers and portable music players."
Laurie J. Flynn. Can Microsoft Beat iTunes With a Store of Its Own?. The New York Times. Aug. 30, 2004.
See also John Borland and Jim Hu. MSN Music: It’s Really About Windows. ZDNet.com. Aug. 30, 2004.
(Editor�s Note: The Times allows free access to their stories on the Web for seven days before sending the stories to the paper�s fee-based Archive.)
Web Service Offers Caller ID Spoofing System
"Overdue debtors beware: You may not be able to rely on Caller ID to screen out those annoying bill collectors much longer. A California entrepreneur has a plan to bring the hacker technique of Caller ID spoofing to the business world, beginning with collection agencies and private investigators.
"Slated for launch this week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a simple Web interface to a Caller ID spoofing system that lets them appear to be calling from any number they choose.
"Caller I.D. spoofing has for years been within the reach of businesses with certain types of digital connections to their local phone company, and more recently has become the plaything of hackers and pranksters exploiting permissive voice over IP systems. But Star38.com appears to be the first stab at turning Caller I.D. spoofing into a commercial venture.
Kevin Poulsen. US Website Offers Caller ID Falsification Service. SecurityFocus. Aug. 30, 2004.
Update: Ken Belson. Citing Threats, Entrepreneur to Quit Caller ID Venture. News.com. Sept. 4, 2004. (Founder, Jason Jepson, said the people who threatened him already tapped his phone calls and had obtained details about how much money he last deposited into his checking account.)
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