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March 22, 2004
Got Randomness?
If you've ever needed true random numbers and not known where to get them, there's now a web site where you can download some. The underlying technology was developed by the Group of Applied Physics of the University of Geneva in 1998. The device exploits an elementary quantum optical process - namely the reflection or the transmission of a light particle on a semi-transparent mirror - to produce binary random numbers. The quantum random number generator technology was commercialized by id Quantique, a spin-off of the University of Geneva. As far as I can tell, there's no Web services interface. In fact, they seem to be going down the road of creating individual programming language SDKs. That's a mistake as far as I can see.
02:27 PM | Recommend This | Print This
Twelve Reasons for the Growth of Open Source
I was sorry to have missed the Open Source in eGovernment conference last week. Unfortunately that and OSBC were both scheduled the same week and I had to choose. Marc Adreessen was there and gave 12 reasons for the growth of open source:
- The Internet is powered by open source.
- The Internet is the carrier for open source.
- The Internet is also the platform through which open source is developed.
- It's simply going to be more secure than proprietary software.
- Open source benefits from anti-American sentiments.
- Incentives around open source include the respect of one's peers.
- Open source means standing on the shoulders of giants.
- Servers have always been expensive and proprietary, but Linux runs on Intel.
- Embedded devices are making greater use of open source.
- There are an increasing number of companies developing software that aren't software companies.
- Companies are increasingly supporting Linux.
- It's free.
08:57 AM | Recommend This | Print This
New Technorati Launches
Dave Sifry's been working hard on the new release of Technorati. Dave lists a number of improvements. I think the new look is cleaner and hopefully the new terminology will make it more accessible to non-techies. I use Technorati multiple times per day so I'm happy to see it improving.
08:31 AM | Recommend This | Print This
IT Portfolio Management
Charles Betz is talking about IT portfolio management, both top-down and bottom-up. As Charles points out, don't confuse application portfolio management with project portfolio management. The former is closely aligned with an enterprise architecture and probably changes only a little year over year, while the latter is about resource allocation and probably changes month over month.