Article covering the UK's notorious DNA database and the mistakes it contains. Gives examples of how the database has been successfully used as well as explaining how some of the errors might have arisen. Raises interesting questions about the wisdom of collecting such data and storing it about people even if they are acquitted of any crime.
"Stanford Hospital discovered last month that a contractor had posted a private database containing medical records of 20,000 patients to a public homework assistance Website in search of help on how to create bar graphs."
A number of issues are raised here: lack of policies, privacy, security. Also combines technologies: use of databases to create examples of charts in spreadsheets; medical records. It's a great article to build on some terms/technologies and introducing more.
Interesting class discussion topic regarding the pros cons and applicable technology. Sensors, databases, keeping data up to date etc cost benefit analysis.
"Gary Flake demos Pivot, a new way to browse and arrange massive amounts of images and data online. Built on breakthrough Seadragon technology, it enables spectacular zooms in and out of web databases, and the discovery of patterns and links invisible in standard web browsing."
When a malaria research project in Uganda was expanded into a full-fledged malaria case-tracking effort across the country in 2006, health officials saw the move as a great opportunity to save lives... But after starting with such promise, the project quickly became mired in a series of technology shortcomings... It finally all came together this spring after the introduction of a few key high-tech tools -- a modern relational database, nine smartphones and a remote-access software application that was originally meant for a completely different use.