INFORMATION * TECHNOLOGY

The following are personal reviews from newspapers and other reliable sources.  Please bear in mind that these are merely issues of general interest and it is not meant to be in any way, brutal or insulting to any of the readers.  My special applause to The Strait Times (Spore) for their coverage on some of the best issues around.

Read from The Straits Times (Spore) Sat, June 15, 2002

"Coming your way soon: Wireless Net on the go"

Wireless Internet in Singapore Soon ..

The wireless communication via laptop/ personal digital assistant is reviewed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).  Among wireless methods that will be used locally includes Bluetooth, 802.11b and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). 

Through Bluetooth method, the laptop's cable modem can be accessed around the public vicinities of Lau Pa Sat, Coffee Club and Olio Dome and the student vicinities like the Fullerton, the Oriental Singapore, Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University.  Laptops must be equipped with wireless format software like NetSeal, and a wireless card in order to function accordingly.  The GPRS-enabled phone can be used more widely.  It must be equipped with subscription from designated service providers.  The 802.11b method is used within office buildings called "Internet Zones".  Currently, there are still plans to work out the subscription fees for public users.

Internet users are expected to see the success within a year.  Let's have a big applause for telco companies that are involved, to revolutionize Internet surfing and mobile phone usage.

Read from Computer Times July 3, 2002 

“Easy Home Networks – Technologies like wireless and powerline 

communications gives homes an affordable networking option.”

Home Wireless Networks

In 802.11b wireless network, a user will need to connect 2 personal computers within the same building, i.e. your home.  The effective distance is 50m anywhere around your home.  The networking devices include a gateway (~ $400), wireless access card (~ $180) and broadband modem for Internet access. 

Read from The Star April 18, 2001

Just Java Talking

 Java Foundation Classes (JFC) consists of 5 sets of Application Programming Interface (API) classes. 

1. JAVA 2D API is a set of classes for device-independent and & resolution independent 2D graphics such as text and image.  It allows event handling such as rotation and scaling of such objects.  There is JAVA 3D API which has to be downloaded separately.
2. Accessibility API includes screen readers, screen magnifiers and speech recognition for computer users with physical impairments.  For example, icons, AWT robot, tables and easily accessible applets like JAVA Access Bridge.
3. Drag and Drop API can be used in association with 2 entities like icons and panels in the GUI.  It enables data transfer both across Java and native applications, or between Java applications, or even within a single Java application.
4. SWING API extends the original AWT classes.  For example, class JComponent extends from Component class, and will inherit the original characteristics.  As a result, there are widgets like tree, splitter panes and tabbed panes.  With this enhancement, Java applications can switch from the looks of a Solaris to a Windows without restarting.

widget – graphical component such as button, scrollbar or text field

Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE) defines the standard for developing multi-tier enterprise applications.  It gives write once, run anywhere portability, JDBC API for database access, Corba technology for interaction with existing enterprise resources, and a security model that protects data in Internet applications.

It supports Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), in turn supports application server vendors like Oracle, IBM, Bluestone, etc.

updated on 10 July 2002