CNM Short Takes

Education-related activites ever doneA recent Ipsos-Reid survey indicates high interest in education matters online. A survey of 1,000 online Canadians polled in mid-March 2002 finds that 26% of them have at least searched for education information online. It’s estimated that 59% of Canadian Internet users are likely to take an online course in future. Types of health-related web sites usedA recent survey by NFO CFgroup finds that portals such as Yahoo.ca and Sympatico.ca top the list of sources to which online users seeking health information turn. The study distinguishes between Canadians in search of prescription medication information (RX-Info Users in the chart below) and overall health information users. Predictably, according to the study, and as shown by the chart, prescription meds searchers are more active overall. StatsCan releases new household Internet use studyStatistics Canada says home Internet use took another big jump in 2001, but the rate of growth is easing off. In 2001, 49% of the 12 million households in Canada had at least one member that regularly used the Internet, up 9% from 2000. That’s a reduction in the rate of growth of 11% from 1999-2000. Further, 60% of all households had at least one member who used the Internet regularly, from the home or any other location – up from 51% in 2000. Three out of five households reported using the Internet for more than 20 hours a month or more, 25% more than in 2000. Half of regular home users had at least one household member in 2001 who used the Internet as a tool for formal education or training – with the bulk of those going online to do research for projects or assignments, or to solve academic problems. One-quarter of households use the Internet for work-related business. Almost one-fifth of regular home use in 2001 was by employees taking advantage of the Internet to work scheduled hours from home. As for regional differences, Alberta and B.C. had the highest rate of Internet use from any location at 65% of households. Quebec, Ontario and B.C. have the highest growth rates. Usage also rose across income groups. Full details are available at http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/020725/d020725a.htm. New economy offers better jobs, says federal studyAnother StatsCan study says that knowledge-base industry workers receive better wages, good fringe benefits, often have fitness and recreation subsidies or facilities and employee assistance programs. On the other hand, those employed in the sector work longer hours than in others, and those employed in the service sector rarely have access to a formal greivance system in their workplace. The findings are available in a new study, Better jobs in the new economy?, available from the bureau. The research compared jobs in industries that produce knowledge-based technologies, products and services with those in the rest of the private sector. In 1999, these industries accounted for just over 7% of employment in the private sector. Further details and findings may be found at: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/020718/d020718b.htm. ITAC calls for e-health papersThe Infomation Technology Association of Canada’s Ontario branch has issued a call for papers to its ElectronicHealthcare national video-conference series. The first conference will be held Sept. 17, and papers may be submitted by visiting http://www.longwoods.com/jobsite/ITBriefs.html. Feds nail "mod chip" distributorThe entertainment industry is applauding the conviction of an Ottawa man selling and distributing circumvention devices that allowed users to play counterfeit and pirated game CDs on Sony PlayStations. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and its trade association, Interactive Digital Software Association, laud the conviction as an important case. A media release, July 22, reads: "The U.S. Congress passed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in October of 1998 that made illegal circumvention devices that circumvent a technological measure designed to control access to a copyrighted work. Sony Computer Entertainment America has successfully argued that mod chips are illegal circumvention dvices under the DMCA in the United States, and the recent Canadian conviction recognizes that such devices violate copyright laws in other areas of the world." Canada currently has legislation similar to the U.S. DMCA on the table in discussions with stakeholders, and potential anti-circumvention laws have proven contentious (CNM, Apr. 19/02 & Sept. 20/01). Alliance moves to S&P’s broadcasting and cable TV sub-indexAlliance Atlantis Communications Inc. has moved from the movies and entertainment sub-index to Standard & Poor’s broadcasting and cable TV sub-index on the Toronto Stock Exchange. "This new classification is more in line with Alliance Atlantis’ strategic growth focus," Michael MacMillan, Alliance Atlantis’ chair and CEO, said in a July 22 media release. CANARIE taps Juniper for advanced CA*net 4 networkCANARIE Inc. has chosen California-based Juniper Networks Inc. to provide it with Internet routers for the next-generation CA*net 4 high-speed network. The gear will deliver IPv6 and multicast at line-rate across all interfaces, and connect 2,000 Canadian institutions. Members of Parliament missing interactivity on their sitesA study by the Ottawa-based Centre for Collaborative Government finds that only 27% of members of Parliament with web sites have built in interactive tools such as online feedback forms or surveys to solicit constituent opinion. The survey finds, however, that a full 58% of MPs do have web sites. Support staff in 71 of 301 MP’s offices say they have no plans to build an online presence. "MPs do not seem to recognize how much these tools are changing the way Canadians make decisions on important issues in their lives," says the centre’s director, Donald Lenihan, in a media release. "Citizens, businesses and interest groups all use the technology to get governnment information and services online, to build networks and coalitions online, and even to lead policy debate online. MPs that don’t take advantage of this run the risk of being left out of some very influential aspects of public life." In contrast to their American counterparts, Canadian politicians were also noted for not taking advantage of potential fundraising activities online. The centre is a division of Kaufman, Thomas & Associates Inc.. which provides advisory services to government, business and other public sector client groups. Makeup school soon-to-be resident in Atlantic Tech CentreThe Paramita Academy of Makeup Inc. will move into the Atlantic Technology Centre (ATC) in Prince Edward Island at the beginning of October. The academy was founded by Jessica Simmonds. It will offer courses in makeup geared toward the movie, film, music video, television, magazine, photography, Internet and other sectors. "I...realized there was a need (in P.E.I.) for instruction in makeup artistry, and the ATC is an ideal environment for my school, because of the television and new media companies and projects that will also be located in the facility," says Simmonds in a July 15 media release. Banff Institute launches new e-zine devoted to new mediaThe Banff New Media Institute has launched an electronic web magazine devoted to creative endeavours in new media. Access to the publication will be free, and subscriptions are available at http://www.horizonzero.ca.

CNM Short Takes

Broadcast | July 25, 2002

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