What do you think about Amazon's Cloud Browser??

Amazon annouced its new browser... Silk.  The difference from other browsers such as Internet Explorer, Chrome or Mozilla is that Silk will filter all traffic through Amazon's cloud in order to create a faster web experience for end users.  This sounds great right?? But what does it really mean??  So if Amazon now filters traffic what information will they have on us?  Amazon may now know what information we search for, which places we like to shop, where we do banking or how much we pay for things we order online.  What will they do with this information?  Can they sell it?  This may change the way we do online shopping or do price comparisons.  What if they are hacked?  Can we trust Amazon enough to provide security with our transaction and personal information? 

On the flip side, this may revolutionize the way we use traditional browsers.  For now, this will only be available on the Kindle Fire but it could spread to smart phones, ipads or computers.   Maybe this is the browser of the future?  Could it be that the entire browser would become virtualized and all our favorites and history could be accessed regardless of the type of pc we are using?  This certain seems where we are headed with technology and the use of cloud services.  As with any new and emerging technology there are risks that consumers have to consider before using the technologies.  Do the pros outweigh the cons?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/29/tech/gaming-gadgets/amazon-silk-browser/index.html

Get Ready for Your Infections to... Glow?

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in the U.K have developed a gel that will glow under ultraviolet light.  How does it work?  The article says when the gel comes in contact with a bacteria such as E Coli, it attaches to it which changes the shape of the bacteria.  This allows it to glow under the ultraviolet light.  You're probably wondering why this is important, but the time savings of being able to detect such things quickly as opposed to sending it to the lab and waiting for results is certainly beneficial.

This is an emerging technology that should be explored but what comes to mind are the side effects.  Will this gel do any harm to me in the long run?  Sure it will detect the bacteria faster, but will it cause any issues such as accelerating the time it takes to spread to other areas of the body?  I can see this being used in detecting viruses or could it just become a gel or spray that could do at home detection?  Could this be used to see the amount of bacteria on produce before it is sent to stores for mass consumption?  Would it be able to be used on furniture or machinery to detect bacteria before it spreads further?  Maybe this would become a safety requirement? 

In addition, what areas would it brush off into... it may become a safety requirement or standard in workplaces or by the CDC.  If it is detected, what would consumers do?  Would a whole line of cleaners or wipes be created to remove the bacteria?  Or would a company need to come in and remove?  This is a very interesting idea but I believe there are still a number of questions that need to be answered before consumers will trust using such a gel although the benefits could be life saving!

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-20107403-76/get-ready-for-your-infections-to-glow-in-the-dark/?tag=mncol;title

New Sprint App Shuts Down a Drivers Phone

Very interesting article because I think it hits on a topic many of us discuss on a daily basis.   I know I drive down the road every day to find people with one hand on the steering wheel, the other on their smart phone and their eyes... well I sure hope they are on the road.  According to the National Safety Council, 28% of accidents were attributed to hand held mobile devices in 2008.

There have a been a number of technologies to try to prevent drivers from becoming distracted such as speaker phones, headsets, blue tooth headsets, integration with car speakers, voice recognition, etc.  But has that really stopped people from texting and driving?  This is a great idea and one I completely agree with for drivers however will people use it?   Seems like the focus is on teenagers which would certain help (not eliminate) parent's fear but how will it work for adults that can simply turn it off as soon as they want to send a text?  There are a lot of outstanding questions but I feel this is a step in the right direction to hopefully reduce the number of accidents so that we can create a safer environment for everyone.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/sprint-app-shuts-down-drivers-phone/?ref=technology