Monday, December 31, 2001		Latest in IT world

THE ‘Smartstart’ and ‘Impact’ programmes launched a few days ago by SSI Ltd have run into rough weather, with the University of Madras saying it does not have any link with SSI for comducting the programmes, The Hindu reports. A public notice issued last week by the university’s registrar reads thus: "Reference is drawn to the series of advertisements issued by SSI Ltd., which have appeared in the local newspapers and also through posters in public places, regarding the conduct of software programs stating that they are the University of Madras certification programs. It may be noticed that the University of Madras does not have any link with SSI whatsoever, for conducting the programs and therefore the public are informed that they would be participating in the programs at their own risk". SSI on December 5 had said it had signed an agreement with the University of Madras under which students enrolled in its ‘Impact’ and the University’s Internet Community College would certify ‘Smartstart’ courses. SSI however said that they tied up with the university on October 19, 2001.

It’s been the Next Big Thing for a decade — but video on demand finally appears to be living up to at least some of its promise. An idea that has been hyped for years, video on demand — the ability to call up a film or some other type of content through your television when you want and stop and start it — is only now really starting to gain momentum, analysts said. It’s happening, though, without much fanfare., Reuters said. Much of this progress arises from $50 billion in investments by cable companies to upgraded cable infrastructure in the USA during the last five years. These upgraded cable systems allow for digital cable, which lets cable operators compress the content and deliver many more channels into a consumer’s home. And video on demand builds on the digital cable infrastructure now out there.

While technology cannot furnish the willpower, it can help you lose weight. Everything from personal dietary plans on the Net to computerised exercise equipment at the gym can be your ally in the battle of the bulge, The Straits Times reports. For instance, ww.cyberdiet.com, offers free tools that create a specifically- tailored meal plan and help a user find ways to burn calories. Health experts agree that while the Net provides excellent information, it also has plenty of bad and even dangerous information. Watch out for sites that rely on personal testimonials as proof of their efficiency and health plans that offer vague proof of their credibility.Some other such sites include www.mayoclinic.com, www.usda.gov/cnpp and www.navigator.tufts.edu.

If security experts are calling 2001 the worst year for computer viruses, and December the worst month, how bad will things get in 2002? Experts are predicting that viruses and their cousins, the self-propagating worms, will find new and even more nasty ways to attack computer systems, possibly even hitting mobile devices, pocket PCs and smart phones in the coming year, a Hindustan Times report says.Virus writers have learnt that it’s easy to trick persons into opening attachments by telling recipients they are photos of Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova or labelling them ‘naked wife.’ The most damaging virus didn’t spread via e-mail. At an estimated $2.6 billion in damages and 3,00,000 computers infected, Code Red was the biggest virus this year. It spread by exploiting a known vulnerability in servers running Microsoft Corp.’s Internet Information Server Web software.