By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Video Toolbox: 150+ Online Video Tools and Resources
This is a huge list of online video resources, including tools that support live video communications, online video how-tos, online video editors, video converters, video sharing sites, video hosting sites, video management, vidcat and vlogging tools, video mashup tools, mobile video, video search, video downloading services, and online television. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. What'S Wrong with the Patent System? Fuzzy Boundaries and the Patent Tax
Article that highlights the issues caused by the current patent system. The core of the article identifies four areas of fuzziness: patent claims are hard to interpret, the can be hidden, can be issued without an actual invention, and are flooding the marketplace. It's virtually impossible to avoid infringing on a patent these days - or at least, to be accused of an infringement - and so the cost of patent litigation is essentially a tax that has been imposed by lawyers on innovators. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Vendor-Driven Misperceptions About Web 2.0 in Schools
"Educational technology staff are probably the greatest single enemy of Web 2.0 connectivity and collaborative tools in schools." So says The Education Bazaar, looking at the "misinformation" being spread about these technologies in publications such as Computerworld. Why such misinformation? Well, it could be the companies that profit by it - companies like IBM who want to sell proprietary versions of Web 2.0 technology ("the new Quickr 8, Lotus Connections and Info 2.0 products are part of IBM's new 'Web 2.0 Goes to Work' initiative) and need to scare organizations off the open source stuff available now. Or it could be the people quoted by these magazines, such as Vijay Sonty, not only "CIO for Broward County Public Schools in Sunrise, Fla." and "this year's Withrow Award for Educators" but is also "on the IBM Customer Advisory Panel" and who "says that Web 2.o tools are not ready for schools" - at least, not in comparison to the IBM tools. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Podcasting Legal Guide for Canada
If you are podcasting in Canada, this guide from Creative commons helps map the landscape. "More than just an adaptation of the original U.S. Guide, this version required an almost complete rewrite of the copyright sections to describe Canadian law, as well as substantial changes to the discussions of trade-marks and publicity rights." More from Nichael Geist, who writes, "After reading the guide, many podcasters may well conclude that the law is in dire need of reform, as its complexity remains a significant challenge for many future Canadian podcasters. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Local Search... Patented! Again!
Another case of patenting the obvious. They have to fix this system - meanwhile, though, I was reading in University Business that some universities are opposing patent reforms. Left hand, shoot right foot. Also from TechDirt, see this item on how patents make innovation more difficult and more expensive. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Needed Skills for New Media
I guess my main reaction to this list is that it is a set of 2.0 skills described as though they were 1.0 skills. For example: "Play - the capacity to experiment with one's surroundings as a form of problem-solving." Um, no, that might make the business perople happy, but I would say 'play' is 'the capacity to mess around with something just for fun'. Or "Multitasking - the ability to scan one's environment and shift focus as needed to salient details." The 'shift focus' definition is very reassuring to pre-net-gen people who only focus on one thing at a time. I would say 'multitasking' is 'the ability to work on two tasks at the same time'. Or "Networking - the ability to search for, synthesize, and disseminate information." This is a definition for people who don't want the messiness of things like connections or emergent knowledge. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Advancing Sustainability of Open Educational Resources
From the InSite conference, as summarized by Alja Sulcic. "This paper discusses the concept of Open Educational Resources (OERs). The discussion then shifts to OER sustainability, a fundamental element essential for the success of OER. Special attention is given to the following as they relate to the OER sustainability: instructional design and presentation; cost of production and maintenance; support; and OER communities of practice as relate to scalability". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Have You Watched Blogging: In Their Own Words Yet?
Christian Long writes, "Wonderful to hear students and teachers talk candidly about the impact of blogging on their academic lives. Certainly more striking (and relevant) than yet another (me, included) edu-blogger trying to trumpet the message on their virtual own". More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Supreme Court Rules Against Student in Bong Hits 4 Jesus Case
The school principal prevails as the court rules that the event was like 'being in school' and that the banner - which read 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' - advocated the use of illegal drugs. Andy carvin analyzes the verdict, observing that a 'school sanctioned' website might in the future be ruled to be like 'being in school' and thus subject to school rules. More...

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Watch Out Second Life: China Launches Virtual Universe with Seven Million Souls
The past tense used in the headline is misleading; the story is only about an announcement that a Swedish company has been hired by the Chinese to build a massive 3D world capable of hosting seven million people at a time. More...