Categories
technology

Nice graphic + Apple computers = me interested

Here's a great graphical representation of Apple's strategy to widen its market share…

Categories
voting

More suckers

I find it absolutely astonishing how many people are falling for the utter drivel that is Scytl’s marketing guff. Their product does not verify that votes are accurately stored and counted as the voter intended. This is the essence of reliable, democratic voting and they don’t do it.

Scytl’s MD says “Whereas in physical elections you put your vote in a paper envelope, with Pnyx you put it in a digital envelope that provides the same level of security and privacy. Essentially we recreated the physical world in an online environment”. Hombre, that is a load of manure, the same level of security and privacy? Not a chance.

So you can imagine I’m delighted to hear that Scytl have won a European IST Prize. There’s a sucker born every minute it would seem.

Categories
technology

New Apple Gear

I'm so flabbergasted by the pile of new stuff from Apple I just don't know what to say… Apple seem absolutely focussed on making the Mac experience accessible to as many people as possible.

iWork and iLife both will definitely be on my to buy list for this month.

In other news the nascent Brighton Issues Forum had a very useful meeting with Steven Clift last night.

Interesting times.

Categories
notes from JK

Seen in Antwerp

Bicycle Lights in Antwerp

Categories
notes from JK

Seasons Greetings

Happy Holidays and best wishes.

If you can please make a donation for those suffering in Sudan and for the tsunami victims either through the ICRC or UNHCR

Categories
current affairs

The Rough Guide to a Better World

I'd heard about this extraordinary little book in passing but it wasn't until I picked up a free copy in Brighton's main Post Office that I realised quite how good it was. It's packed with uplifting stories and no-nonsense explanations to globalisation, development and changing to world.

You can download, read or order the book online.

Categories
e-democ / e-gov

Links 16-12-2004

Categories
voting

E-voting pilots, no. All-postal pilots, yes

That's basically what the Government has said in it's very very long awaited responses to the Electoral Commission's hard work.

Kable have a good summary of the situation with some extra quotes. I would love to dissect the Government's reports and report on the Kreminology of the whole affair but I'm moving at the moment and really can't spare the time. Ikea wardrobes don't build themselves you know!

The Times has a good article on the Government's obsession with boosting turnout hence their continuously trying to force postal ballots. As many of the people they quoted comment, it's a bit odd to undermine confidence in the electoral process in favour of a few extra percentage points of turnout.

Louise Ferguson has links to a Radio 4 piece on all-postal voting which I haven't had a chance to listen to but I'm sure must be good if Louise recommends it.

PublicTechnoloy has an article on the reports which leads on the need for a centralised electoral register. This project was once called LASER but now is known as CORE, if it ever happens then it will be another national ID database of sorts. Oh joy. The key point is that while e-voting is on hold CORE could re-awaken e-voting pilots once completed. Oh more joy.

The two government reponses are on the Department for Constitutional Affairs' website here and here

Categories
voting

UK Parliamentary inquiry on e-voting

A bit unexpected but good news I think… there will be a Parliamentary inquiry into e-voting early next year. It will be run by the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee with a sub-committee of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Hopefully it will be an open and frank exploration of the issues. Submissions can be made until 14th January 2005 to odpmcom@parliament.uk

Reports: Industry Standard and TechWorld

Categories
notes from JK

Transport that just works

I've just hopped off a tram in East Croydon and now I'm on a slam door train which is crawling towards London. The tram was cheap, quick, clean and reliable. The train is none of those. I'm going to be late to a Voxpolitics do at Westninster grrrr. Bring on the trams!

Bonus thought In Lublin, Poland they have electric buses powered by tethers just like trams are. They look odd but there's no need to lay track. Why do we need track for trams? Isn't road enough?