Journal

Week #3 Journal Assignment

Chapter 7

Transportation has long been a necessity since the founding of our 200 year old nation. From the days of the first horseback riders delivering necessary information, medical supplies, food etc. As our country has continued to develop into a shining example for the world, we have made significant improvements in our transportation means from horseback to early cars, trains, airplanes, etc. But with the introduction of the technology age our country has had some hiccups long the way. The most glaring in recent times has been the continued use and danger of mobile devices while driving. Cellphones have become such a vital part of our culture that most people can’t go a minute without checking their phones for the newest text message from friends, latest status update via social networking sites, or phone calls. While the invention of cellphones has connect our country in ways that were previously thought impossible, the inability to put those devices down while driving has met with some disastrous results. According to the article, http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/14/business/la-fi-cellphone-ban-20111214 the first ever documented car crash attributed to the usage of cell phones while driving occurred in 2002 and resulted in the death of 5 people. The increase in crashes that have been attributed to distractions by cellphones has drawn enough attention from the National Transportation Safety Board, that they have urged each state to issue a national safety ban on the use of cellphones while driving. Since this article publishing in 2011, I know that a lot of states including Florida has to some extent adopted the ban on cellphones while the cars are in motion. All done in hopes to lower the number of accidents and fatalities attributed to cellphone usage. I agree that a ban should be placed on the use of cellphones while driving after having almost been involved in a number of accidents myself that would’ve been caused by others looking at their phones instead of paying attention to the roads. I’m hoping that more and more people start to put their phones down until reaching their destinations and prove to the world that the cost of one human life is not worth checking that next text message.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/14/business/la-fi-cellphone-ban-20111214

Week #3 Journal Assignment

Chapter 8

“$67 billion is up for grabs. That’s how much companies were expected to spend last year on computer security.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/technology/upstarts-challenge-old-timers-in-lucrative-computer-security-field.html?_r=0)

If that number isn’t enough to grab your attention, then you must not have a pulse. And that was the expected estimate for LAST YEAR! Cyber security has without a doubt become one of the most profitable industries in the world in a relatively short period of time. With the ever present dependence of companies on the internet and technology in general to continue to stay on par with the surrounding environments and consumer demands for newer, faster, and quicker delivery of goods and services, companies are always looking to spend top dollar on the newest, latest, and safest cyber watchdogs out there. Within the next 3 years, the market for cyber security is expect to swell to over 87 billion, and they’re plenty of startup companies in the field looking to grab as much of that share as possible. Established companies like Symantec and its longtime rival McAfee are still expected to gain the lion’s share of the market. But more and more, younger upstarts such as FireEye and Palo Alto Networks are competing with those long established cyber security networks and they argue that the old ways of protecting the systems are outdated and slow.

“Symantec is still, by a pretty long stretch, the biggest in a growing pack of tech security companies. But like Microsoft, Mr. Bennett’s company is sometimes viewed as an aging, if still wealthy, outfit that can’t keep up with a new generation. And no one in the technology industry likes being labeled the old, slow rich guy.” (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/technology/upstarts-challenge-old-timers-in-lucrative-computer-security-field.html?_r=0)

The newer upstart companies are pushing their technologies as being able to not just react to virus attacks from unknown sources, but also being able to anticipate attacks and stop them before they even have a chance to attack. I’m eager to see just how effective these new upstart companies will be and how the established companies will adapt to the ever changing world of cyber security.

And I’m more than certain that if companies are willing to spend billions to be protected, the government is watching and waiting to select newer companies as well to help sure up gaps in their own security networks.

WC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/technology/upstarts-challenge-old-timers-in-lucrative-computer-security-field.html?_r=0