Bell Labs scientists find potential improvements to optical lenses... Researchers at Bell Labs may have discovered a new way to design lenses for optical networks and thereby boost traffic speeds. The skeleton of the brittlestar, an invertebrate starfish, contains calcite crystals that both provide structural support and act as optical receptors for the starfish.

Sony unleashes robotic puppies... This is the latest evolution of Sony's original Aibo robo-dog, which created a sensation and sold out in 20 minutes in Tokyo when it first went on sale for $2,500 in 1999. "The idea is to expand the appeal to a broader demographic," said Stuart Wallock, director of marketing and business planning at Sony's Entertainment Robot America unit. (MSN Tech & Gadgets)

As Big PC Brother Watches, Users Encounter Frustration Although the use of cookies is generally benign, the fact that they can be used for detailed tracking of Web users and their activities has upset many consumers. But when it comes to protecting privacy online, most consumers still do not even know where to start. (NY Times)

Consumer Privacy—A Free Choice Approach... Privacy is one of the most contentious issues that the 107th Congress and state legislatures are considering. The pressure is mounting for legislators to act, but hasty reactions to polls and privacy doomsayers could lead policymakers down the wrong path. Since privacy demands fluctuate widely among individuals and different situations, it is essential that privacy remains a matter of individual choice. (Pacific Research Institute)

Study: Who Needs Privacy Laws?... The PRI study lauds privacy-protecting technologies -- call it the "self help" approach -- such as Anonymizer.com, SafeWeb, Pretty Good Privacy and Zero Knowledge's Freedom software, saying those are better at protecting privacy than laws and don't suffer from the same negative side effects. (Wired)

Scripting News:Is Education The Next Revolution- - - "... the role of computers in education is simple. Make the tools available to students, teachers, administrators and families. Teach them how to use the tools (there's something educators should be able to do!) and kick back and just let them use them. See what skills each of the tools develops and provide that information to the people who create the software." (Dave Winer)

Distance Learning Yet to Hit Home... The University of Phoenix Online, the nation's largest private university serving working professionals, tops the list of survivors. Other thriving ventures include DeVry and Renaissance Learning, which both address real needs among the vocational and K-12 markets. (Wired)

A Tale of Two Classrooms... Scoble : Yeah, I gotta admit, "real" classrooms do teach, but I've found that my best learning was done either outside of the classroom, or in an innovative way inside the classroom (For instance, I'll never forget the day -- or the lessons from -- a couple of Holocaust victims visited my classroom in high school).

SatireWire | THE TOUGHEST DECISION: Assisted Computing Facilities... It is often the most difficult and painful decision you will face: to accept that a co-worker or a loved one — a parent, a spouse, perhaps a sibling — is technologically impaired and should no longer be allowed to live independently, or come near a computer or electronic device without direct supervision. The time has come to place that loved one into the care of an Assisted Computing Facility. But you have questions. So many questions. We at Silicon Pines want to help. ROTFLOL

The Color Wheel... The Color Wheel shows how colors are related. Red, yellow and blue are primary colors. Orange, green and purple are secondary colors made by combining two primary colors. All colors are made from some combination of white, black and primary colors. Other terms explained and demonstrated: related colors; complementary colors; neutral colors.

Big Brother Logs On... Police departments, government agencies, banks, merchants, amusement parks, sports arenas, nanny-watching homeowners, swimming-pool operators, and employers are deploying cameras, pattern recognition algorithms, databases of information, and biometric tools that when taken as a whole can be combined into automated surveillance networks able to track just about anyone, just about anywhere.

CHIPS AND CHEATING... Teachers are looking out for tech-assisted academic dishonesty, even using software to detect plagiarism.

Class keeps cyber-sleuths current... People in computer forensics can earn $200 to $500 an hour, or up to $200,000 a year for hard-working full-timers