Computing
Oldest Adults May Have Much to Gain from Social Technology: Feeling Less Lonely, More Satisfied and Physically Fit
When Tamara Sims started the research, she didn't expect to find much of a correlation between technology use and well-being because adults over 80 are considered to be the most unfamiliar with these technologies and are least likely to use them. "Part of me wondered whether the use of technology would make much of a difference for this population because pervasive stereotypes characterize this age group as technologically inept, in addition to being physically and cognitively frail." more »
Denial-of-Service Cyberattack Poses Policy Dilemma; What Happened on October 21? And, Does It Occur Again?
Stanford cybersecurity expert Herb Lin says the Oct. 21 cyberattack that snarled traffic on major websites reveals weaknesses in the Internet of Things that need to be addressed. But stricter security requirements could slow innovation, cost more and be difficult to enforce. "It was a distributed denial-of-service attack on a major internet services provider. The company [Dyn] operates much of the internet's infrastructure. It's not a consumer-facing company, but is in between the user and a company like, say, Amazon." more »
What Do You Know About Capturing End-of-Life Preferences in Electronic Health Records?
The Pew Trusts has commented on this issue as part of new regulations governing the EHR Incentive Program, asking Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure that doctors are aware of patients' advance care plans and can easily locate them. Pew also endorsed the recently introduced Personalize Your Care Act 2.0, which includes a provision requiring the secretary of HHS to establish standards for advance care planning documentation in EHRs. Although EHRs have been widely adopted — thanks in large part to financial incentives from the federal government — there is no common place for medical staff to note patients' end-of-life wishes.
Although electronic health records have been widely adopted, there is no common place for medical staff to note patients’ end-of-life wishes.
Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to dramatically increase physi… more »
Life After the Dinosaurs: ENIAC Couldn't Telephone, Skype, or Text, Search for Pokemon, Make Travel Reservations or Warn of Tornadoes
Rose Madeline Mula writes: Today's kids don't have to struggle with typewriter ribbons, correction tape, Wite-Out, carbon paper, mimeograph stencils, Ditto machines, and a myriad other medieval instruments of torture that plagued secretaries of old. What's a secretary? It was a woman (never a man) who munched a brown-bag sandwich at her desk as she typed, while her boss, who made more than ten times her salary, was out enjoying expense-paid 'business' lunches and martinis with other bosses. If I sound bitter, it's because I am. I was born way too soon I envy all who weren't. more »