The Birth of Modern Computing
The history of warfare has been a history of data as well as of violence - knowing your enemies' movements and plans has always been vital; keeping track of supplies and reinforcements crucial. But the...
View ArticleWhatever happened to High Definition?
What if you held a party and nobody came? Backers of each of two rival high definition video formats must be feeling just like that right about now. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open...
View ArticleWhy the iPhone makes 2008 seem like 1968 all over again
Early attempts to engineer a hand-held computer finally come to fruition with the Apple iPhone. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet....
View ArticleWhy you might end up paying for privacy
The emergence of Phorm, the targeted advertising company, has given ISPs and internet users a stark choice between privacy and price. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to...
View ArticleThe day the music stops
BluRay wins the DVD war - but PlaysFor Sure customers must face the day the music stops Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet. First...
View ArticleHas Sony killed the book as we know it?
Mike Richards suggests that eBooks have some way to go before the printed page is doomed Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet. First...
View ArticleQuis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Mike Richards takes a detailed look at the complex world of Internet censorship Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet. First published...
View ArticleNot so much 'Thank-you for the Music' as 'Money, Money,...
Can consumers be expected to obey copyright law if they work in favour of the individual copyright holder? Mike Richards looks at the complexities of the current laws. Mike Richards. Mike Richards...
View ArticleRise of the zombie army
Following the arrival of the Conficker worm, Mike Richards give us several good reasons why we should keep our computer antivirus software up to date Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open...
View ArticleCan Kangaroo bounce back?
An update by Mike Richards on the Kangaroo (video-on-demand) project, currently put on hold by the Competition Commission Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial...
View ArticlePiracy is definitely illegal
With The Pirate Bay losing its Swedish court battle, is piracy now, definitively, illegal? Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet....
View ArticleA fatal bug? Did computers cause the Air France disaster?
We may never know why did the Air France Airbus A330 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. Here we take a look at the interim report in to the disaster Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University...
View ArticleHappy Ada Lovelace Day!
An intriguing story of Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, and their role in the 19th century development of the computer. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial...
View ArticleA short history of Bitcoin
It's origins may seem unclear but Bitcoin could be a practical demonstration of an electronic currency that shows us the future of money. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in...
View ArticleHow Bitcoin works
Everything you need to know to get started with Bitcoin. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet. First published on Mon, 27 Oct 2014...
View ArticleMining new Bitcoins
New Bitcoins are introduced to the system by a computationally intensive process known as 'mining'. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the...
View ArticleIs Bitcoin legal?
Most of the world’s largest economies allow Bitcoin transfers without restriction but others have outlawed the currency. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial...
View ArticleIntroducing rootkits
Why do people use rootkits and what are they intended for? Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over the Internet. First published on Tue, 28 Oct 2014...
View ArticleSpam, phishing and spoofing
Learn how to protect yourself against those who attempt to lure you to disclose confidential information. Mike Richards. Mike Richards joined The Open University in 1996 to help trial teaching over...
View ArticleThe Internet: It's not all bad
Don’t be afraid of the Internet; be wary, be cautious, but keep on using it. By taking some simple steps you can greatly reduce the risk to yourself and to your family. Mike Richards. Mike Richards...
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