http://mute-net.sourceforge.net/

MUTE File Sharing is an anonymous, decentralized search-and-download file sharing system. Several people have described MUTE as the “third generation file sharing network” (Napster => Gnutella => MUTE, with each generation getting less centralized and more anonymous). MUTE uses algorithms inspired by ant behavior to route all messages, include file transfers, through a mesh network of neighbor connections. Not only are IP addresses of sharing partners not visible in the user interface, they are not even used by the underlying infrastructure to search, upload, or download. Virtual addresses, which are generated randomly by each node, are used for routing. You only know the IP addresses of your immediate neighbors in the network.

U.S. President Bush has asked the Senate to ratify the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention, “a global agreement apparently created to help police worldwide cooperate to fight Internet crimes.” The treaty — which would override existing U.S. law — provides broad investigatory and surveillance powers to law enforcement authorities. It apparently also requires a high degree of cooperation between police of different nations. And it requires signatory nations to criminalize copyright infringement with a computer.

Articles on the subject are found at Alternet and CommonDreams.org.

You can read full text (in English or French) of the Convention on Cybercrime.

The U.S. Department of Justice has a FAQ on the Convention.

Privacy International has a detailed critique of the Convention (.pdf format).

Cooperative Linux

Cooperative Linux is the first working free and open source method for optimally running Linux on Microsoft Windows natively. More generally, Cooperative Linux (short-named coLinux) is a port of the Linux kernel that allows it to run cooperatively alongside another operating system on a single machine. For instance, it allows one to freely run Linux on Windows 2000/XP, without using a commercial PC virtualization software such as VMware, in a way which is much more optimal than using any general purpose PC virtualization software.

Orocos Version 0.10 Released

The first major Orocos
release in over a year is out and brings a lot of new features to
the package. The Open
Robot Control Software (Orocos) Framework
provides a real-time C++ infrastructure for creating standards-based
robot control software. Orocos is designed to run under Real-Time Linux
variants but will also run under conventional Linux distributions. The
Orocos API
includes a wide range of useful tools including kinematics, task sequencing, and
CORBA-based communications
primitives. Orocos is Free Software
licensed under the GNU GPL.

Viruses turn to peer-to-peer nets

Custom created peer-to-peer networks are finding favour with some computer virus writers.

EU’s mind ‘made up’ on Microsoft

Microsoft could soon be facing multi-billion euro fines and other sanctions for breaking European competition law.

Google bombing heating up

So-called ‘Google bombing’ is easily Google’s #1 problem. What is it? In general, Google bombing is the practice by which people “trick” Google into displaying search results much higher than they should be.

oh oh there goes google …

marc b�hlen

conceptual artist Marc Bohlen, UB assistant professor of media study. His medium is not oil or bronze, but robotics and site-specific data, and his practice combines the structured approach of scientific investigation with artistic intuition, spiced with a deliberate and effective dash of good or bad taste.

Visit his online archives at http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~mrbohlen/ and you will find hungry chickens chasing a motorized food supply, digital video cameras that monitor rare plant species and a conceptual electronic device that would measure the bad breath of carnivorous humans and also …

The Open Biometrics Project and its Keeper (2002 - )
(more…)

The Linux-powered Robots Quick Reference Guide

According to a fascinating article at TechNewsWorld, Linux is poised to play a central role in an emerging industry that many expect to overtake the PC industry in size: robotics. Japan is currently driving robot innovation, according to the article, impelled by a looming labor shortage. Consumer robots like the Sony Aibo and Honda Asimo make headlines, but ubiquitous, cheap, and practical utility robots are what most Japanese robot makers are focused on, and “carmaker Honda believes that robots will become its most important business,” according to the article.

This exclusive LinuxDevices.com “quick reference guide” offers an interesting glimpse into of some Linux-powered robots currently available or near production, and provides an extensive reading list with further information on Linux in robotics.

QRIO is an amazing robot developed by sony which can dance, walk, recognize peopel, has “emotions”, and can even jump!!!
movie of qrio running
movie of qrio dancing
QRIO’s press release
QRIO’s homepage