Computer Expert Predicts Future of Networking Farber Says That the Proposed Tufts Upgrade Not Extensive Enough He Said
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~ ~ THETUFTS DAILY Volume XXXVIII, Number 55 [Where You Read It First Thursdav, April 22,1999 I Computer expert predicts future of networking Farber says that the proposed Tufts upgrade not extensive enough he said. Though he supported the proposed upgrade, he expressed by JEREMY WANGIVERSON trust lawsuit and is nationally bedroom or study. point, but other factors might im- doubts as to whether it was exten- Daily Editorial Board known for his “Interesting People Farber also spoke about the pede their development. sive enough. After 40 years of watching the mailing list,”adaily e-mail which potential dangers of powerful “Technology is easy; society “It’s being advertised as amajor field develop and grow, Univer- updates 25,000 readers on news telecommunications devices. isrough,”he explained,citingtaxes, leap,”he said. “It’sanice incremen- sity of Pennsylvania professor and on the technology front. Currently, anyone can be easily culture, and law as the major tal step in capability,” he added. computer science pioneer David Wiredmagazine wrotethat“his pinpointed every time they use a hurdles inhibiting technological TCCS Telecommunications Di- Farber has a unique perspective technical chops and the public credit card, ATM, or even a Tufts advancement. rector Lesley Tolman and associ- when it comes to predicting the spirit’’ make Farber the “Paul Re- ID. This ability to track people, Farber also discussed Internet ate Wilson Dillaway explained the future of the Internet. vere of the Digital Revolution.” he said, will be enhanced with 2, which Tufts is proposing as a advantages of the faster network. Farber spoke to nearly 50 Farber spoke for an hour before every improvement in technol- long-awaited upgrade to campus “Students will be able to use people, primarily faculty and staff, answering questions, centering ogy * network technology. As previ- faster, newer applications such as last Thursday as part of the Aus- his presentation around a com- “Although no [government] ously reported in the Daily, Tufts virtual communication,” Dillaway tin Lecture Series. Besides dis- puter slide show entitled, “Pre- administration has been too prob- remains the only university in said. cussing possible technological dicting the Unpredictable.” ing, there’s no assurance a future US News & World Report’s top Students will also be able to advancements, Farber also dis- Technology’s march forward one won’t,’’ he said. 25 that does not support Internet use remote instrumentation and cussed the Internet 2 project, a “is rough to predict. It’s sensitive Addressing privacy rights and 2. significantly larger data sets,” nationwide network initiative that to the invention of new technol- fears inspired by George Orwell’s According to Farber, the gov- Tolman added. provides users with connections ogy.” While 56,000-baud modems 1984, Farber commented on the ernment currently has a surprising Dillaway said that there are 100 times faster than those cur- are now the standard, he recalled environment which could be cre- technological edge in a country unforseen advantages to the net- rently in place. Tufts is currently in a time when 300-baud modems ated by an online world. where universities are usually work that will not be identified the midst of implementingthepro- were thought to be the pinnacle of “I could see a future Joe much closer to the forefront. until the network is in place. m. speed. McCarthy who wasn’t drunk and Though he supported the pro- Though the upgrade is being Representatives from Tufts “[There was] a big leap in semi could be more effective,” he said. posed upgrade, he questioned touted as a research project, Computingand Communications conductors,” he said, “which Farber told the crowd that his whether it was extensive enough. Dillaway said that both education Services (TCCS) who attended the opened the door to faster technol- predictions could easily come to “If [universities] are to be at the and research concerns are equally meeting said that the first Tufts ogy inconceivable before.” fruition from a technical stand- edge, Internet 2 doesn’t hack it,” represented. connections to Internet 2 will be Farber believes the next break- made over the summer, but dorm throughs will come in wireless room hook-ups will not be avail- communication. He hypothesized able for several years. that he would someday be able to Farber, who graduated from dial his cellular phone - which Stevens Institute of Technology would be a tiny ear piece -from in 1956, first worked at Bell Labs apalm top computer.The desktop for 1 1 years, where he developed computer, according to Farber, with the first electronic switching sys- its space-consumingmain unit and tem and the programming lan- hard drive, would be kept in the guage named SNOBOL. He testi- basement by the furnacewhile the fied in the recent Microsoft anti- monitor would be placed in the Campus show will raise funds for Kosovars A charity show featuring several campus performing groups will be held tonight, with the proceeds benefitting Kosovar refugees. The Kosovo Benefit Supershow will include performances by Cheap Sox and Traveling Treasure Trunk, along with Tufts a cappella groups the Amalgamates, the Beelzebubs, and Shir Appeal. The show begins at 8 p.m. in the Granoff Family Hillel Center. The production was organized by the Hillel Social Action committee, which holds an annual benefit show. Each year, all proceeds are donated to a different cause according to need. Social Action co-chairs Paul Fridman and Laura Sheppard-Brick arranged the logistical aspects of the show. The performing groups are donating their time and energy to help the Kosovo cause. Fridman appreciatedthe commitment ofthe performers, say- ing, “It’s great to see that these high-caliber groups on campus are willingto comedown andvolunteertheirefforts.”He saidhis committee chose the Kosovo refugee cause because they saw it as the most pressing concern. “Thousands of refugees are being persecuted and forced out of their homeland,” Fridman said. “It’s very important that we react and send aid and support to set up camps to help re- establish people’s lives ... their problems won’t end once the bombing ceases - people need to rebuild.” The committee wishes to donate the money raised from the benefit show to long-term resettlement for the Kosovo refugees. ~~ Fridman was optimistic about tonight’s show, saying, “The concert this year is going to be better than in past years due to the attention of the cause we are supporting, as well as the great Chiapas Media Project to visit campus today lineup of groups that we have for the event. “The concert is a great way for students to do something for The Chiapas Media Project -a touring panel organized by the Mexico Solidarity Network and the community while having a lot of fun,” Fridman continued. sponsored by Vision of Tibet -will show a video at 7 p.m. tonight in the large conference room at Concerning expected collections, he said that normally the the campus center. committee raises about $1,000, an amount which they are hoping Chiapas is the most resource-rich state in Mexico, exporting coffee, corn, cocoa, cattle, to exceed this year. hydroelectric power, and oil. Under the rule ofthe Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), the Tickets to the show are $5, and may be purchased at the door, state’s schools, hospitals, and basic services have eroded substantially over the past 65 years. or in advance at Hillel or the information booth in the campus A militant group of indigenous peoples known as the Zapatistas are fighting a low-intensity center. The money raised will be given to the American Red revolution against PRI rule in hope of increasing their role in government. The video will be Cross, which is active in the Kosovo cause. followed by a question-and-answer period. -Jonathan Dworkin -WillKinlaw 2 THETUFTS DAILY April 22,1999 The Daily Weather Forecast Today I Friday I Saturday Pentagon to bar air Mostly cloudy, chance of Showers showers (steadiest High: 60; Low: 46 Sunny force exits if reserves rain to the south) High: 58; Low: 44 I Hiah: 58: Low: 45 I ~~~~ ~ A warm front will make a run at us today, bringing with it clouds and periodic are called showers. Temperatures will be in the 50s to near 60. Tonight will feature a de- WASHINGTON- Active-duty Air Force men and women will pressing combination of drizzle and fog, but the front will retreat south of campus be barred from leaving the service if President Clinton does the by Friday, giving us another mostly-cloudy day with a chance of showers. The expected and calls up reservists for Kosovo, Pentagon officials weekend is looking sunny, but on the cool side with highs near 60. disclosed Tuesday. - Weather forecast by Daily Editor Andrew Freedman “There will be acall-up,” Defense Secretary William Cohen said at the White House. The working number at the Pentagon remains about 30,000 reservists. Most would be needed from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to fly and support the 300 US aircrafiGen. Wesley Clark, NATO commander, has requested to intensify the air war against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. But senior Pentagon officials are privately questioning whether Clark has exaggerated the need for the call-up, given the mounting All Proceeds go to the aircraft congestion at US air fields in Albania, Italy, Germany, and Head Programs England. Start Date: Sunday, April 25th “Nobody can figure out why Clark needs so many additional Of Medford and Somerville aerial refueling tankers,” said one planner reviewing the general’s request. IfClark iswillingtosettleforfewertankersandotheraircrafi, Time: IO AM registration :he planner said, the reserve call-up could be reduced to under 30,000, especially ifmore reservists volunteer.