billso.com

I’ve posted a PDF file with the syllabus and schedule for my online IS 6100-AO course. Just click the preceding link and look for the PDF file icon.

The course starts on Tuesday, 22 January 2008.

I’ll post a link to the Paper 1 assignment by then on the course web page. That assignment is a brief introduction paper that requires no textbook reading.

In the meantime, please check the syllabus. There are a couple of chapters to read before the end of the month. I’ll start posting some additional links and articles next week, too.

I do require students to sign up for TurnItIn.com. it’s a free service for HPU students. I use that system to receive and return assignments, as well as keep the gradebook. The service works with Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox browsers.

Students should send me an email indicating what email address they want to use as their log-in ID for TurnItIn.com. I recommend using a personal e-mail address that gets checked every day. Mobile email and webmail addresses are fine. Some students use their Pipeline accounts, and that’s OK, too.

Students who already have a TurnItIn.com account should email me their address, so I can add them to the TurnItIn.com section.

23 January 2008: I updated the syllabus – the wrong textbook was listed on page 11. We are using the 8th edition O’Brien & Markas textbook again this term.

We mentioned Netflix during our IS 7010-T class discussion last Thursday. According to USA Today, Netflix has changed some of the restrictions on its broadband movie rental service yesterday, in anticipation of Apple’s entry into the same market.

Netflix will allow most of its customers to view TV shows and movies from its 6000-title library without the old cap of 17 hours usage per month. I would assume that most Netflix customers were under these limits in the first place.

Apple will roll out a 1000-title online library next month, and renters will have 24 hours to watch their video before it expires in a puff of DRM.

Netflix uses an on-demand model that lets viewers watch the title at their own pace.

While Netflix charges a stable monthly fee, Apple will charge a fee for each title viewed. The Netflixpricing model seems much more flexible to me.

Apple’s service will use QuickTime and iTunes, so it supports MacOS, Windows and AppleTV boxen.

The Netflix service requires Windows Media Player 11 and a Windows OS – it’s possible to run this software suite on an Intel-based Mac with some help from Boot Camp, or perhaps an emulator solution like Parallels Desktop.

Keep in mind that online movie distribution requires a great deal of bandwidth. Pricing is one way to manage viewer demand, of course.