Computers as Components 4th edition

The fourth edition of Computers as Components is now available.  A highlight of this latest edition is coverage of the Internet of Things: IoT devices, protocols, systems, and applications. You can find out more about the book here.

Internet Security Probes

Respected computer security expert Bruce Schneier reports here that many components of the core Internet infrastructure have been probed in a manner that suggests that some entity is trying to figure out how to take down the entire Internet. A complete Internet failure---even failure of a significant piece of the Internet---would pose many concerns. One of those concerns is the operation of critical infrastructure that relies on the Internet. Many agencies and companies are working to address critical infrastructure vulnerabilities; this latest report gives those efforts added impetus.

Puerto Rico blackout

7 News Miami reports here on a power blackout, apparently of the entire island of Puerto Rico. This blackout was due to a fire, not computer problems. But it does illustrate the challenges we face in providing reliable critical infrastructure.

U.S. DoT Policy on Automated Vehicle Development

The U. S. Department of Transportation releases here a statement on its policy on automated vehicle development.

Remote Hack of Tesla

Reuters reports here on a remote hack of a Tesla automobile.

Uber Driverless Vehicle Experiment

This article from the Associated Press, printed in the Houston Chronicle, reports on Uber's driverless car experiments in Pittsburgh.

NTSB Report on 787 Battery Fire

I just found this link to the NTSB report on the 2013 battery fire aboard a JAL 787.