The Natural Stupidity of Artificial Intelligence by A. Michael Noll

18 Jun 2018

The Natural Stupidity of Artificial Intelligence by A. Michael Noll

2018-06-18
William Dutton
Blog, engineering, Opinion, Quello Center, telecommunications

The Natural Stupidity of Artificial Intelligence A. Michael Noll June 17, 2018 © Copyright 2018 AMN Clearly, the future is coming, but at times we seem mostly to be chasing the past. Artificial intelligence is today’s “new” rage. But I think it is mostly hype and faith, coupled with a blind, and perhaps deliberate, ignorance of what was done decades ago. In the 1960’s, digital computers were programmed and used at Bell Telephone Laboratories (Bell Labs) to “compose” music. Today the same algorithmic approach is called artificial intelligence. Digital computers were also programmed in the early 1960s at Bell Labs […]

08 Jun 2018

New Director of the James H. and Mary B. Quello Center: Professor Johannes M. Bauer

2018-06-08
William Dutton
Announcement, Blog, Department of Media & Information, economics, Media and Information Department, Quello Center

True to news in the digital age, we’ve been scooped by the Internet and Twitter, specifically. But if you have not seen the news yet, we are most pleased to report that Johannes M. Bauer has accepted an offer from the College of Communication Arts & Sciences to serve as the next Director of the Quello Center, and the new Quello Chair in the Department of Media and Information. His appointment is effective August 16, 2018. Professor Bauer has been affiliated with the Quello Center since its inception in 1998, and during his tenure as Chair of the Department of […]

21 May 2018

The Innovation Garden by A. Michael Noll

The Innovation Garden A. Michael Noll May 20, 2018 © Copyright 2018 AMN Long before Silicon Valley invaded California, there was an “Innovation Garden” flourishing in New Jersey. Which easily qualified as the Invention State. Thomas A. Edison and his laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey cemented New Jersey’s role in innovation. Many smaller manufactures of electrical equipment became located in New Jersey, all wit their on innovations. RCA Laboratories in Princeton, New Jersey was formed in 1942 and a host of inventions resulted, including color television. One of the more famous R&D facilities in New Jersey was Bell Telephone […]

16 May 2018

The Danger of Talking about ‘Junk’ News

Discussion of so-called fake news is gradually – maybe rapidly – shifting to the concept of ‘junk news’, and I fear this could be a dangerous move. I agree that the concept of fake news has many downsides, not the least of which is the degree it has been politicized. However, the shift to junk news might have even worse implications. My main concern is that it provides more of a rationale for blocking or filtering news, as if it were spam, for example. This evening, the science reporter at PBS, Miles O’Brien, delivered an informative story about ‘Junk News‘. […]

16 May 2018

An Interview with Vint Cerf at MSU

2018-05-16
William Dutton
Blog, engineering, Interview, Net Neutrality, Quello Center, speech

On May 10th, 2018, Google’s ‘father of the Internet’, Vint Cerf gave the Quello Lecture at MSU, entitled ‘The Unfinished Internet’. Before the interview, he was interviewed by Scott Pohl of WKAR public radio. Here is that interview: http://wkar.org/post/googles-father-internet#stream/0

16 May 2018

AT&T’s Tarnished Brand by A. Michael Noll

2018-05-16
William Dutton
Blog, Opinion, policy, telecommunications

AT&T’s Tarnished Brand A. Michael Noll May 16, 2018 © Copyright 2018 AMN The payment by AT&T of over $1/2 million to President Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen has tarnished AT&T’s reputation and brand. It also raises concerns about the wisdom and competence of AT&T’s senior management. Decades ago, the AT&T brand meant a lot to most consumers in the United States. AT&T owned the Bell System, which supplied telecommunication service as a regulated monopoly. In those old days, AT&T took its responsibility to the public strongly to supply quality service at affordable prices. However, AT&T was broken up and went […]

01 May 2018

Vint Cerf Speaking at MSU on 10 May @ 3:30PM

2018-05-01
William Dutton
Announcement, Blog, Department of Media & Information, engineering, FCC, Media and Information Department, Net Neutrality, policy, Quello Center, speech, telecommunications

THE QUELLO CENTER PRESENTS INTERNET PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE BY VINTON CERF THURSDAY, MAY 10TH @ 3:30 PM // COMM ARTS RM. 147 The Internet grew out of a successful US Defense Department experiment in packet switching and became a platform upon which a wide range of new applications have evolved. New technologies such as smart phones have reinforced the utility of the Internet by spreading access to it at increasing bandwidths and geographic scope. The Internet is estimated to have reached about 50% of the world’s population. As this decade comes to a close, what challenges remain and what […]

26 Apr 2018

Smart Devices – Foolish Users by A. Michael Noll

2018-04-26
William Dutton
Mobile Policy and Regulation, Opinion, telecommunications

Smart Devices – Foolish Users A. Michael Noll April 26, 2018 © Copyright 2018 AMN It seems we have become slaves to our computers and smart phones, with near constant updating, synching, and battery recharging. The devices might be considered “smart,” but the users seem to be “foolish” and perhaps even “stupid.” We are slaves to these devices. We need to feed them electricity to keep them charged, and groom them with updates. They disturb us with interruptions and demands for our attention. We become mesmerized and perhaps hypnotized by what they display to us on their screens. We discover […]

23 Apr 2018

Notes on the RSA Cybersecurity Conference, San Francisco, by Ruth Shillair

2018-04-23
William Dutton
Department of Media & Information, policy, Quello Center, research

[Written by Quello’s Ruth Shillair and posted by Bill Dutton, with her permission] I was honored to be selected as one of the 50 cybersecurity scholars from around the world to attend the annual global RSA cybersecurity conference. It is a gathering of 50,000 cybersecurity professionals and researchers held in San Francisco. The theme this year was “Now Matters” and cybersecurity issues certainly something that we need to address “now” rather than in the future. The overwhelming theme that I saw was that cybersecurity has gotten over the “silver bullet” fantasy. We realize there will be no killer app or […]

19 Apr 2018

Reflections, Visions, and Challenges: Discussions of the 20th Anniversary of the James H. and Mary B. Quello Center

2018-04-19
William Dutton
Announcement, Blog, broadcasting, Department of Media & Information, FCC

Reflections, Visions, and Challenges: Discussions of the 20thAnniversary of the James H. and Mary B. Quello Center On 12 April 2018, the Quello Center celebrated the 20thAnniversary of its founding with an open house at the Center and forum that engaged friends and associates of the Center in reflecting on its past and future with short presentations on key challenges on the road ahead. The day was similar to many academic events in showcasing informative presentations about the issues of policy and regulation in the digital age, but unusual in creating a stronger sense of responsibility to ensure the realization […]

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