The political furore surrounding the location of Osama bin Laden’s not-so-hidden compound has rightly taken most of the headlines since his demise at the hands of US Special Forces last week. However, as analysts pore over the finer details of these dramatic events, they will be struck by the consistency with which technology appears as the critical success factor throughout this meticulously planned operation.

The storming of the Abbottabad compound involved up to four helicopters, 40 highly-trained Navy SEALS from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and a huge array of ICT-enabled technologies. Remarkably, the event was relayed throughout cyberspace in real-time by two Pakistani Twitter users oblivious to the exact target of the operation.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Add new tag, bin Laden, Biometrics, ISTAR

We all know that technology is evolving faster than we can keep track of; for example, web 2.0 solutions are just being implemented across the economy on a wider scale, but ‘techies’ are already developing and debating web 4.0. No doubt the future will enable us to do so much more with the help of technology. However, part of this future depends upon reliable and tested identity management processes. I, for one, do not want four other “Jon’s” running around using my identity and money simply because technology enables them to.

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Biometrics, identity managemnt, the future

No doubt a few of you will recognise this extract from Back to the Future II, courtesy of IMDB:

Marty McFly: [showing the two boys how to play the shoot 'em up video game] I’ll show you, kid. I’m a crack shot at this.
[shoots a perfect score with the electronic gun]
Video Game Boy #1: You mean you have to use your hands?
Video Game Boy #2: That’s like a baby’s toy!

Poor old Marty; he was using outdated technology in a futuristic age. I can’t help thinking we might all be feeling like this as we tap our keyboards in the not-too-distant-future if some exciting ventures in utilising voice recognition come into fruition. In the last week, I have heard of two which particularly caught my imagination.
(more…)

Technorati Tags: Biometrics, Financial Services