Friday, November 28, 2008

Wireless and Windows 2008 Server

You have to install Wireless LAN Feature under Server Manager to get a wireless card to work with Windows Server 2008.

You get to this feature by using Server Manager, Features, Add Features.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Can’t Connect Windows Mobile to Server 2008


 

Symptoms

My Samsung ACE phone has stopped synching to my laptop. I am not getting any error messages or anything. I did remove my Bluetooth card but it nevery worked with my phone. My laptop is a Dell 620 with Server 2008, 4 gigs of RAM.

Gathering Information

I found this document on Microsoft's site. I found out from this article that your should have a Microsoft Windows Mobile Remote Adapter in the network adapter in the device manager. I had a whole listing of unknown network adapters. You can download the new version of Microsoft Mobile Device Center 6.1 here.

The Microsoft document also stated that the firewall might be an issue and pointed me toward this document.

Hypothesis

I have the following hypothesis:

H1. Delete all the network adapters and reinstall the Windows Mobile device Center. (Failed)

H2. Turn off the firewall and it will work. (Successful)

Results

I think the issue was related to the firewall and the removal of a Bluetooth card. The firewall was also sent to block all inbound connections. This might have been related to my experiment with ZoneAlarm for a few days.

Reflections

I need to really stop install trail software on my personal PC. I have done this for years and it causes problems.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Free Courses and Courseware

The success of Linux has spawned free and open courseware movement. I have several links that might be helpful.

Carnegie Mellon University

Open Educational Resources

Open and Free Courses

The success of Linux has spawned free and open courseware movement. I have several links that might be helpful.

Carnegie Mellon University

Open Educational Resources

Hype Cycle

This is a very interesting way to look at technology from Gartner. Here is a quick summary:

What are the 5 phases of a Hype Cycle?


1. "Technology Trigger"
The first phase of a Hype Cycle is the "technology trigger" or breakthrough, product launch or other event that generates significant press and interest.

2. "Peak of Inflated Expectations"
In the next phase, a frenzy of publicity typically generates over-enthusiasm and unrealistic expectations. There may be some successful applications of a technology, but there are typically more failures.

3. "Trough of Disillusionment"
Technologies enter the "trough of disillusionment" because they fail to meet expectations and quickly become unfashionable. Consequently, the press usually abandons the topic and the technology.

4. "Slope of Enlightenment"
Although the press may have stopped covering the technology, some businesses continue through the "slope of enlightenment" and experiment to understand the benefits and practical application of the technology.

5. "Plateau of Productivity"
A technology reaches the "plateau of productivity" as the benefits of it become widely demonstrated and accepted. The technology becomes increasingly stable and evolves in second and third generations. The final height of the plateau varies according to whether the technology is broadly applicable or benefits only a niche market.

Click here for more.

Campus Computing Project

This is interesting:

Begun in 1990, The Campus Computing ProjectTM is the largest continuing study of the role of information technology in American higher education. The project's national studies draw on qualitative and quantitative data to help inform faculty, campus administrators, and others interested in the use of information technology in American colleges and universities. The US Campus Computing Project also provides the foundation for affiliated research projects in other nations, including Brazil Canada, China, and Hong Kong.

Each year some 600 two-and four-year public and private colleges and universities in the United States participate in the annual Campus Computing Survey, which focuses on campus planning and policy issues affecting the role of information technology in teaching, learning, and scholarship.


 

Minding the Gap

Friday's keynote was presented by Ellen D. Wagner. The presentation was by based on signs in the London Underground. Click here. The analogy was how to move forward and do training for jobs that currently do not exist. It is hard to get past the gap and we need to be aware of this. She sees five gaps: Innovation to implementation, Difference between research and practice, Difference between academic and corporations, differences between products and solutions, traditional elearning to emerge elearning.

Here is the abstract of her presentation:


This session explores the impact of technological innovations on emerging elearning practices. It reflects on the challenges facing learning advocates who strive to find the best balance between new and exciting technological developments with the demands of enabling learning, education, training and performance support solutions that engage and inspire.  It also considers the question: What will it take to drive real enterprise learning value while staying true to the needs of learning stakeholders, anytime anywhere?

Fixing Problems

I heard a Professor review Sources of Power yesterday, and I am planning on reading it. This professors noted that Firefighter tend to make decisions based on patterns in high stress situations. I have read similar statement before and I have to agree. When I am faced with computer problem, I seem to operate based on patterns and move in that area. This pattern recognition comes from years of experience, and I find that over the years I am getting better. This might be in my dissertation.

Patterns of Decision Making

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Room in Vegas

I sent this picture from my phone. It was just test to see if I could do it. I had to set my blog up to allow for publishing through email.

Easier that upload and then using a computer.

Personal Data Management

I heard a presentation about personal data management and I realized that I have a real need to manage my data (Barker, 2008). I have been going to school and I have so much data that I am overloaded. I have been using reference management software but that has limitations (Reference Works). The database is only setup to provide citations not searches. This might be an area for the future software development. I am wondering if I can use a blog but how long will it last.


 

References

Barker, P. (2008). Using wikis and weblogs to enhance human performance. E-Learning World Conference. Las Vegas.

New Learning Theory


 

I came across a new learning theory today. It is called connectivism. This is a theory by George Siemens. The theory is really trying to explain how learn in wired world and how they are all connected. I might come back to this later. Here is a link.