Regulatory challenges raised by an increasingly wireless world Essay

Regulatory challenges raised by an increasingly wireless world - Essay Example This popularity is attributed to the recent discoveries and accomplishments done in the field of mobile communications such as mobile phones. Private firms are expected to invest at least 18 million in the United to States for the development of the next step in cutting edge wireless and mobile technologies (Frieden). One example that provides consumers of wireless communications a wide variety of advantages is the use of prepaid call cards. Like credit cards, prepaid cards eliminate the need to carry around cash often. It also allows the consumer to control his or her cell phone service expenditures. Advancement in wireless technology is "climate proofing", where wireless communication devices are designed to fit the climatic conditions of the country they are to be distributed and marketed to ("A social ecology of wireless technology"). Currently, the U.S. is still far away from its dream of being the wireless communication heaven that it envisions around the turn of the 21st century. Wireless communications today is not just limited to voice calls and the introduction of SMS, MMS and IM have already gained some leverage in significant market spots as well as providing consumers more communication options. Other wireless options aside from SMS, MMS and IM available are mobile games, MP3's and other non-communication applications are popular today ("U.S. Wireless Business Users.."). Type of Device Wireless Users Expect to Use Device Next 12Months Next 24 Months Data-centric 39% 19% Voice-centric 43% 72% Desktop/Notebook PC 10% 4% Other 9% 5% Source: ResearchPortal.com Furthermore the advent of convergence all over the world has spurned several useful applications. Among these is the ability to avail of different communication services across several formats and platforms. These leaps and bounds in technology has been sped up by the liberalization of international trade which permitted the advancement of international digital communications networks which puts forward several services and options beyond their national limits (Gillwald). The need for regulating the wireless world Breakthroughs and advancements in technology start with the inventor developing his invention in the hopes that he can sell it for profit. When the development of the new technology is successful, the new product is eventually introduced in the market and several trade and intellectual laws and regulations are applied to it. The acquisition of a paten may take a long time or may only be possible under certain circumstances. Today, the digital work is in constant risk of being attacked by unscrupulous people, particularly hackers who deliberately alter or destroy crucial data as it please them. Hacking may lead into bigger conflicts,

Examination of Major Epistemological Constraints Essay

Examination of Major Epistemological Constraints - Essay Example Similarly, it is fundamental to comprehend these terminologies for reasons of building a strong argument and supporting points with regards to the subject matter. A precise definition of epistemology is the study of nature, limits of the human understanding and origin of concepts and logical framework of various ideologies. However, there are some key points to note in epistemology for instance the possibility of various pulls of knowledge. Additionally, the kind of knowledge that is in question. It further seeks to find out whether some knowledge is in born or all knowledge is acquired (Fumerton 2006, p.66). History, on the other hand, is the study and analysis of past chronological events, facts and knowledged that has either been documented or is evident in various aspects. One of the most significant way of predicting the future happenings is by using past historical events (Neustadt & May 1988, p.25). Similarly, in the intelligence, world history has been used greatly to learn t he behavior and the reactions various armies, kingdoms, dynasties and empires. However, in as much as history is playing a major role in the development intelligence, and further act as a learning tool, it also has various applicational limitations. There are several underlying factors that contribute to limiting history as a learning tool with regards to intelligence (Butterfield 1965, p.35). In the United Kingdom (UK), for example, the intelligence unit was termed as the invincible man by both government and the general public. Additionally, most of these operations were not heard of. It was a silent movement, and most of its work was a secrete. Due to the high level of secrecy of the United Kingdom (UK) Secret Service, most of its operations were never documented hence limiting history as a tool for learning. In the early 20th century, most countries had spies who were responsible for gathering intelligence in a foreign country on behalf of their country. Due to this kind of oper ations it made documentation of the secret service strategies and operations extremely vulnerable. If this kind of information would leak to another country through spying, then it could put the whole United Kingdom (UK) in jeopardy. As a consequence of this documented history of previous operations, it is very difficult to find hence cannot be used as a historical tool for learning purposes. The existence of the secret service was a major secret to a point that even the UK government denied the very exixtance of this unit in order to protect it from foreign spies and foreign units who sort information in the UK. Another major limitation to using history as a tool of learning in regards to intelligence is that, in the United Kingdom, the documents that were used by the secret service were never kept by the Public Records Office (PRO). These records were exempted from storage by the Public Records Act of 1958. These records were famously know as the blanket exception records (Neustad t & May 1988, p.38). Similarly, the Act grants the chancellor exemption power to withhold these documents that were related to intelligence. The death of basic or primary sources of information posed a great challenge and limitation to historians and other people who would want to use this form of history as a tool of learning and for scholarly purposes. The main aim for this secrecy was to intensify operational security and eliminate any prospects of external