Select a result to preview

TLDR 69

Too Long; Didn't Read Issue 69

Published: 2016-10-28 • 📧 Newsletter

Welcome to issue 69 of the TL;DR Newsletter. In TL;DR I'm synthesizing what I read and learned this week in literacy, technology, and education. Hallo!!!

This week we consider that, for better or worse....the internet isn't trying to kill you.

You can review archives of the newsletter. Alternatively you can also check out TL;DR on Medium. I'm also testing the reposting of these issues after a short delay on LinkedIn to see what happens.

This week I worked on the following:

🔖 Key Takeaways

📺 Watch

Awesome video detailing how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in the process of "style transfer" as we turn our photos and videos into new works of art. The computer science is fascinating as they look at deep neural nets used to identify patterns, layers, and styles in your photo and other exemplars.

📚 Read

Late last night the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) delivered a landmark ruling in favor of online privacy here in the U.S. The FCC approved new rules to ensure that your internet service provider (ISP) is not abusing their use of your app usage and browsing history to sell to others. This is a big step forward in building a future in which citizens of the web have an opportunity to control their private data.

What remains to be seen is what happens when the government requests your information, or your communication company (AT&T) creates a business providing it to them. We also need to be concerned about how other businesses (Google) may be tracking us online as well.

Last week you may or may not have noticed that the internet was broken for a short period of time. In short, this was a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attack. This is a cyber attack in which a malicious entity organizes a massive amount of bots, computers, or internet connected machines to all target and load one website. Think about millions and millions of these attackers all knocking on the door of the Target.com website. When you type in the web address and try to load the page...nothing will happen. This is because the website is being overrun with millions of others all trying to get in.

This latest DDoS is said to be organized around IoT (Internet of Things) devices. This means that internet connected televisions, thermostats, routers...any thing that is online potentially could be used as a bot in these attacks and you would never even know it. If your device is connected to the internet, and you cannot change a password to control it...you have to wonder what it is doing when you're not looking. I'm really concerned about the potential ramifications.

This post from Stacy Higginbotham sets the record straight about where our concerns should be directed. She indicates that we should be a bit more concerned about security when we plug in our devices. We also need a much more granular understanding of what we mean by "security."

As noted in this post from the Mozilla blog, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and FBI Director James Comey have been seen to cover up their webcams when not in use. I also regularly see my students come into class with tape over their webcam. I've recently been thinking about covering up as well.

Marshall Erwin, Head of Trust and Privacy at Mozilla indicates this isn't a perfect solution as your microphone could also be hacked. If you cover up the camera and don't see an indicator light, you'll never know if someone is listening in.

The post provides the following guidance:

I'm a big fan of Tim Ferriss, his 4-Hour Workweek book, his podcast, and his new book based on what he learned during the podcasts. His guidance is one of the main reasons why I've decided to start branching out into other domains in my work. I was first introduced to Ferriss by good friend Doug Belshaw.

Because of these reasons, I'm definitely interested in this post by Bradford Wolf, a student of Don Wettrick's unlearning class.

I think this post is an interesting piece to share with students in high school or early in their post-secondary work. Please do share, have them complete a quick write to capture their feelings...and then let the discussion begin.

This new Horizon Report from NMC focuses on digital literacy in classroom instruction. Specifically the report explores the advancement of these new and digital literacies and how best to prepare students for the demands of a global, technological economy.

The report indicates several recommendations for improving digital literacy, but I was most intrigued by their framing of "three models of digital literacy":

🔨 Do

If you checked out the video up at the beginning of TL;DR, you're probably interested in playing with apps that will transfer styles in your photos. I've been playing with the Prisma app for iOS and Android and it is definitely a lot of fun.

I recommend taking a photo that you really like, and then spending about 10 minutes and applying the different filters. I quickly ended up with 10 modified versions of the original that I liked. I then showcased these with my Wife and kids to see what they liked the best.

I'm interested in testing out video soon to see how it all works.

🤔 Consider

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher." — William Wordsworth

This week: the internet isn't trying to kill you.

Digital portfolios domain of one's own eportfolios BadgeChain digital identity, StoicWeek 2016 on negotiating positive negative resilience preparation adversity view from above meditation. AI style transfer selfies deep neural nets patterns layers - awesome video computer science is fascinating. FCC privacy rules landmark ruling ISPs not abusing browsing history - big step forward citizens control private data, what happens when government requests or AT&T provides or Google tracking. DDoS attack internet was broken IoT devices - I'm really concerned about potential ramifications, wonder what devices doing when you're not looking, need granular understanding of security. Should you cover webcam - Zuckerberg and Comey do, I also see my students with tape, I've recently been thinking about covering up as well, microphone could also be hacked. Tim Ferriss 4 hour work week student edition - I'm definitely interested, his guidance one main reason I've decided to branch out, introduced by Doug Belshaw, interesting piece for high school students. NMC Horizon Report digital literacy - I was most intrigued by three models universal creative and literacy across disciplines. Prisma app art filtered video - I've been playing with it definitely a lot of fun, I'm interested in testing out video soon.

Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.

Previous: TLDR 68 • Next: TLDR 70 • Archive: 📧 Newsletter

🌱 Connected Concepts:

Part of the 📧 Newsletter archive documenting digital literacy and technology.