President Clinton presented the first award to Andre Agassi

 
President Clinton presented the first award to Andre Agassi at the Global Clinton Initiative. Agassi, Founder, Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, created a tuition-free college preparatory academy, providing educational and recreational opportunities for students in under-served areas of his hometown of Las Vegas, NV.

Shakira to start ALAS America Latina en Accion Solidaria

 
Shakira an Gabriel García Márquez are joined by Ruben Blades, Juanes, Ricky Martin, Mana, Aleks Syntek, David Bisbal, Alejandro Sanz, and Miguel Bose to start ALAS. ALAS is according to their website an organization of artist dedicated to better the nutritional, health, and educational condition of Latin American children. ALAS stands for America Latina en Accion Solidaria (Latin American in Solidarity Action). You can check out their website at http://fundacionalas.org/.

Carlos Moreira Video announcing the Neteid at the Clinton Global Initiative

WISekey and OISTE launches NETeID at the CGI. Many other pledges such as a commitment from the Florida Power & Light Co. to build a solar power plant as part of a $2.4 billion clean energy program.

Founded by former President Bill Clinton, CGI draws world leaders, CEO, celebrities and scholars for three days of discussions on global issues and asks them to take concrete steps on those causes.

America’s Cup team Alinghi use biometrics to prevent spying

Thursday, September 27 2007
Following a spy scandal in Formula One racing, Switzerland’s top sailing team Alinghi have hired Swiss electronic security firm Wisekey to help prevent top secret information from getting in their competitors hands. Wisekey developed a secure identification card with a photograph, personal password and a computer chip that limited access to sensitive areas of the Alinghi website and data bank as well as physical access to the team's camp. The company also plans to add security with biometric data such as fingerprints but there is some resistance to that idea due to the social stigma of police fingerprinting criminals.

Read the full article here.



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Visit the other Avisian publications: Contactless News, CR80 News, RFID News, and FIPS201.com.

Geneva The City that Invented the Web

How it all began - a quick synopsis of the internet history

The pavement for the internet was sparked by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) launching of the first earth satellite called Sputnik in 1957. The United States was shocked by the USSR advancement in technology and out of fear, they envisioned the danger of the Soviet creating weapons in space that could strike them anytime and place in the US. Seeing the danger that they would be helpless and susceptible to such a potential attack they quickly responded by forming an organization called Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1959. This organization came under the umbrella of the Department of Defense (DoD) and was given the responsibility to establish the United States as a military leader in the advancement of science and technology. This set off the space race between both countries.

[Note: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was commonly called Soviet Union or Russia. Abbr. USSR.]

By the year 1965 due to the theories of computer networking development, ARPA sponsored a study on 'co-operative network of time-sharing computers'. In 1968 Pentagon (the United States military head quarters) put forward a proposal for the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) - a pioneering wide area computer network- to unite America's military and scientific establishments. In 1972 The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was renamed The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The genesis of the Internet

By the late 1980’s researchers (from around the world) contributing at the European Particle Research Laboratory (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland were having problems organizing and formatting documents that they wanted to share since their different computers and software system had to be compatible with the main CERN computing system. This caused frustration which lead to an unwillingness to comply to the CERN computing system. In addition, CERN being the premier Internet site in Europe were having serious problems locating all their data information. There system was quickly becoming overwhelmed by daily data information and urgently need a system that could readily correct this problem. There problem was however answered by a young computer researcher named Tim Berners-Lee.

The inventor of the web

Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist invented the World Wide Web in 1990. He graduated from the Queen's College at Oxford University, England, 1976. In 1980 he spent six months at CERN as a consultant software engineer. While there, he wrote his own personal software program as a memory substitute for storing data information called "Enquire". Even though this was not published it set the foundation on which the internet concept was built for the future. In 1984 however, he took up a fellowship at this same organization and in 1989 in response to the problems that was facing CERN he submitted a proposal called the global hypertext project. The purpose of this project was for the development of a data information system that would create a network (web) of information. This information system is now known as the World Wide Web.

In 1990, he wrote the first World Wide Web (WWW) server called the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). This “WWW” system that he would design was the method in which computers would communicate over the internet using hypertext documents. This system worked by assigning a universal system of written documents with addresses and hypertext links to all information. He called the system of written addresses a Universal Resource Identifier (URI). This is now known as Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
A hypertext link is a computer-based text retrieval system that enables a user to access particular locations in webpages documents by clicking on links within specific webpages or documents. By October 1990 Tim Berners-Lee started working on his proposal and wrote a program - hypertext browser/editor -that would allow hypertext documents to be retrieved and viewed. In the summer of 1991 his WorldWideWeb browser/editor and web server software, that was originated within CERN, became available on the Internet. Researchers and computer enthusiasts from around the world began setting up their own web system by downloading the browser and the web server software using File Transfer Protocol (FTP). His goal became a reality that would now solve the problem that the scientist at CERN where facing. Scientists were now able to send and post information documents on the web that could easily be assessed by anyone around the world that needed that specific information. This therefore means that they didn’t have to worry or get frustrated of whether the operating system used by other scientists were compatible or not due to the difference in the different operating systems used.

During the next three years as users of the internet spread, Berners-Lee worked on refining the internet through feedback from its users. In 1994 he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he worked in the Laboratory department for Computer Science (LCS). He wanted the World Wide Web to be free and not to be controled by any company or institution manipulated by destructive competition and so, he envisioned a consortium that would enhance the full potential of the Web development thus ensuring stability and evolutionary transformation of the web in a standardize democratic process. Thus, through the help of MIT he head the new consortium as Director, known as the World Wide Web consortium (W3C) and coordinates all three centers world wide MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) in the US, European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM) in France, and Keio University in Japan. The goal and mission of W3C is to ensure the web stability by standardizing the technical specifications of the WWW and laying down guidelines by which to follow by a democratic process. These standards and guidelines are not enforced but are recommended by W3C . This they achieved by bringing together all its members and other internet/software companies such as Microsoft, Sun, IBM, Apple and Netscape just to name a few.
Source: http://universalfacts.blogspot.com/2005/10/who-invented-web.html

Carlos Moreira invited by Javier Cremades to the launch of his book Micropoder in Madrid

During the launch of the book Micropoder by Javier Cremades www.javiercremades.com on which I was invited to participate, the President of the PP Mariano Rajoy presented his views of a technology plan for Spain.

Article in spanish: Source: La Vanguardia (EUROPA PRESS)

Rajoy promete un Plan Tecnológico que acabará con el canon indiscriminado y abaratará el ADSL
El presidente del PP, Mariano Rajoy, aseguró hoy que, si es presidente del Gobierno, impulsará un Plan Tecnológico para España; terminará con el canon indiscriminado; fomentará la extensión de Wi-fi y el abaratamiento del ADSL a fin de que los españoles participen de la "revolución tecnológica" que, a su entender, está cambiando la sociedad.
18-09-2007 - La Vanguardia (EUROPA PRESS) - "Yo voy a proponer a los españoles un verdadero Plan para modernizar el país. Un Plan Tecnológico que haga de nuestra democracia, una democracia avanzada", subrayó Rajoy, quien acusó a los socialistas de haber demostrado, en esta legislatura, que están "más cerca de los parques jurásicos que de los parques tecnológicos".

Aprovechando la presentación en el Congreso de los Diputados del libro de Javier Cremades 'Micropoder. La fuerza del ciudadano en la era digital', de la editorial Espasa, Rajoy insistió en que su partido procurará "otra política" con respecto al canon digital, por entender que "lo esencial de Internet no es la copia, sino la creatividad".

"Un canon indiscriminado penaliza el talento y el Gobierno que yo presida no está por la labor. Yo lo que haré es otra cosa: primar la creatividad y levantar el manto de sospecha digital que se ha extendido sobre todos los ciudadanos -explicó-. Lo haré porque no quiero que se presuma que los ciudadanos se dedican a la piratería pero, sobre todo, porque no quiero que España evolucione hacia la edad de piedra tecnológica".

"Adsl: Al mismo nivel que Francia"

Asimismo, Rajoy anunció que piensa aprovechar su programa electoral para defender una política de fomento del ADSL que sitúe a los españoles al nivel de los franceses quienes, por un precio inferior, ofrece ocho veces más potencia al usuario medio.

"Igualmente promoveré la extensión de la tecnología WIFI. No sólo para que todos los edificios de la Administración, los centros escolares y las estaciones y aeropuertos de nuestro país tengan acceso a esta tecnología, sino para que en cuatro años todas las ciudades mayores de 20.000 habitantes dispongan de espacios que estén abiertos a esta tecnología", remachó.

Dicho esto, Rajoy criticó que, bajo su punto de vista, no se hayan aprovechado los tres últimos años para tratar de "modernizar" la sociedad a través de las nuevas tecnologías, dado que el Gobierno de José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero "ha estado dando vueltas sobre problemas del siglo XIX pero no sobre los desafíos del XXI".

"El resultado de todo ello es que España ha perdido un tiempo precioso para abrir un debate en profundidad sobre la sociedad del conocimiento, sobre Internet y sobre las políticas de innovación -sentenció-. Sin embargo en este asunto creo que España necesita experimentar una revolución que ponga fin a la esclerosis y la falta de empuje que ha mostrado nuestro país durante estos años de gobierno socialista".

Finalmente, dijo que serán los 'populares' los que permitan a los españoles dan ese paso hacia una nueva sociedad, algo que "a la izquierda, como es lógico, le preocupa". "Heredera de los viejos patrones de los defensores de la sociedad cerrada y uniforme, Internet le produce vértigo. Hay demasiada libertad, demasiado individualismo, demasiada creatividad. Para los liberales es todo lo contrario. Para quienes defendemos la sociedad abierta, Internet es una oportunidad de tener información directa sobre lo que piensa y quiere la opinión pública", concluyó.

Participate at the Photo competition at Youtourist.net the WISekey Social Network for Tourism

YouTourist.net will encourage tourist exchanges of pictures, videos, and comments and give special communication opportunities for local communities and travel companies involved in the whole chain of tourism development. Crosscutting areas in poverty alleviation can be greatly aided by introducing the type of technology available for travel industry Trusted Social Networks.


PRIZES

* 3 round trips and accommodation to Sri Lanka

* 9 digital cameras

All Sponsored by Sri Lanka Tourism Board


Welcome and thank you for participating in this World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) initiative to support The United Nations 3rd Millennium Development Goal to promote “Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”.



“Tourism Opens Doors for Women” is the theme of World Tourism Day 2007 and this photo competition presents you an opportunity to showcase your vision of:
Gender equality and women empowerment in tourism activities
Women leaders within the tourism industry including Women Entrepreneurs
Your participation by entering photos in this competition and also viewing and voting on the submitted photos will increase awareness and highlight how Tourism Opens doors for Women.

Prizes will be awarded to 12 winners that will be announced during UNWTO's General Assembly in Cartagena de Indias , Colombia, 22-29 November and will be exhibited at UNWTO's headquarters in Spain or at other locations at the discretion of UNWTO.

This competition is hosted by YouTourist.net, a UNWTO and WISeKey initiative, to create a trusted social network with the objective of promoting and encouraging sustainable and responsible tourism.

2007 Clinton Global Initiative areas of Focus

The Clinton Global Initiative began with a focused effort to identify a small number of the most serious issues affecting the world today. Advisory boards and working group chairs are assigned to oversee each area of focus.


Education

Education is critical to social and economic empowerment, yet severe disparities persist within both the developed and developing worlds. Children—and especially girls—often lack access to a basic education that equips them to navigate everything from the daily challenges of their own societies to the changing tides of technology and the global marketplace. Although education is also central to building tolerance within diverse societies and between culturally distinct countries, schooling is frequently manipulated for religious and political purposes with dire consequences. This year’s CGI will explore specific and practical ways to address these problems.


Energy & Climate Change
In recent years, world temperatures have reached record highs, oil prices have climbed to new peaks, and the market for clean energy technologies has grown dramatically. This year, CGI will explore specific steps for cutting emissions of heat-trapping gases and shaping a clean energy future. Visionary leaders are finding exciting new ways to confront these challenges. Energy and Climate Change working group sessions will explore these challenges and others including: clean energy markets in the developing world, new approaches for protecting tropical forests, innovative state and local solutions to climate change, green buildings, and national policies and international cooperation to fight global warming.



Global Health
Seeking effective partnerships and innovative ideas, CGI focuses on reducing the scale of a catastrophe that is preventable. Global Health working group sessions will examine high impact opportunities for governments, international organizations, the private sector and civil society to collaborate on critical global health issues including: fighting under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micro-nutrient deficiency, developing new vaccines and expanding the use of existing vaccines, and strengthening health systems, including low-cost IT solutions.



Poverty Alleviation
People around the world are taking strides toward rendering better tools in the global fight against poverty. The poverty working group at the Clinton Global Initiative seeks answers to questions such as: how, in an increasingly complex and uncertain global trade environment, can trade benefit the world’s poorest producers? The group also seeks concrete steps that people can take, such as creating jobs to generate domestic savings and reduce dependence on aid, linking businesses and NGOs in new collaborative initiatives, and equipping young leaders to organize communities, fight poverty and create wealth.

Why Digital IDs are not yet everywhere?

Why Digital IDs are not yet everywhere?
Issuance of secure digital identities is today still a rare commodity, only a small group of industries consider digital identities as a disruptive technology. Ownership of a credit card, bank account and passport can’t yet be transferred into your digital trustworthiness on your card or mobile phone. The revolution is to come but will surely reach sooner that we expect as the digital children are now increasingly becoming CEOs, Ministers, Presidents and Prime Ministers.