“People must accept that the Internet infrastructure is faulty and will remain so for the foreseeable future.” — Paul A. Strassman, distinguished professor of information science, George Mason University, and former director of defense information for the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Find out what he’s talking about here in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine, available online.

Apps for your printer? Yup.

HP has an Internet-connected printer—the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One printer—that comes with pre-loaded apps that have something for everyone. The Google Maps app lets users enter their destination and print out a map. Families can stay on track by printing out everyone’s weekly schedules with Google Calendar. Through the DreamWorks Animation app, movie fans can view upcoming movie trailers without logging on to the computer. Apps from Coupons.com, USATODAY.com, Nickelodeon, Fandago and more are also available. HP says that people will be able to create their own apps later this year. Visit HP’s Web site to learn more about the printer and HP apps.

What app can’t you live without? Got a favorite app you want to share? Let us know in the comments.

“Those are the things that lead us to say that threats are growing…It is growing because of our behavior, the things we do every day.” — Richard Schaeffer, director of the NSA’s Information Assurance Directorate

What’s he talking about? Find out in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine, online now.

I spend every summer eagerly awaiting the approach of fall for one reason: Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte. (Then I anticipate the holiday season for the gingerbread latte.)

Thanks to iCoffee, addicts like me can keep track of how much money they spend on these delicious treasures. The app also features full Starbucks menus, information about local stores, nutrition facts and more. It’s available for iPhone at Apple.com.

What app can’t you live without? Got a favorite app you want to share? Leave a comment or send us an e-mail at newmedia [at] afcea [dot] org.

Anyone who spends time on the Internet is well aware of the benefits that Web 2.0 provides. U.S. Forces Korea recognizes these attributes and is transforming its decision-making capabilities by employing Web tools, according to authors Maj. Vincent W. Lau, USAF, and David P. Martin in Command Takes Leap To Web-Centric Knowledge Sharing, published in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine.

Even though U.S. Forces Korea adopted a command-wide communications strategy to foster collaboration, the authors point out that it still had to deal with huge quantities of fragmented data stored throughout its systems.

Col. Russell Wilson, USAF, chief of the U.S. Forces Korea Knowledge Operations and Initiatives Division (KOIN), describes the command’s initial efforts at online knowledge sharing:

Early on, there was no single, overarching strategy for our knowledge management, so units just posted their data on the networks anywhere and everywhere they could.

Leaders recognize that the power of Web 2.0 on defense C² networks is in making warfighters more effective. It provides tighter decision-making loops and more relevant information through collaboration and networking.

Success in this arena, the authors point out, will be based on two principles: authoritative data enabling users to trust that their information source is the definitive source from which all collaboration and work are based; and data availability anywhere, under any condition, ranging from peacetime to war.

U.S. Forces Korea’s commander, Gen. Walter L. Sharp, USA, sought to fulfill this vision:

I would like to go to a place on [our C² networks] where data is authoritative and accessible to people who want to get it. [I asked my staff to] identify ubiquitous and authoritative information flow [to] flatten the organization.

From the Virtual Knowledge Wall’s (VkW’s) versions, U.S. Forces Korea has moved to the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) because it offers advanced Web 2.0 capabilities.

With KOIN leading the way on the knowledge management front, U.S. Forces Korea has positioned itself–using a platform such as MOSS–to tackle the paradigm shift swiftly and smartly, moving quickly from static to dynamic Web portals across all the networks.

The command will add to the capabilities of its C² networks as a force multiplier to give U.S. Forces Korea even more ability to “fight and win tonight.”

We welcome you to share your thoughts here in the comments below, or you can read the full article here.

“One of the DNI’s goals is to work to restore trust for the intelligence community and to be as transparent as we can about what we do. That way, we can earn back the trust of the American people.” — Linda Millis, director of Private Sector Partnerships in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Want to know what she’s talking about? Find out in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine.

We’re starting a new feature here at SIGNAL Scape: a weekly post focusing on cool apps.

Our inaugural post features an app for you multitasking on-the-go folks: Torch Project Management. Torch lets you keep in touch with customers, coworkers and suppliers with one easy tool. You can attach messages, files, Google Docs, invoices and more to your projects. You can also track time and expenses, bill clients, and import data. There are two versions: the full-powered one and a faster offline version. To learn more, visit the Web site.

What app can’t you live without? Got a favorite app you want to share? Leave a comment or send us an e-mail at newmedia [at] afcea [dot] org.

“If we want to be aggressive about technology, we must be willing to make mistakes. We are playing not to lose instead of playing to win, and there is a cost for that.” — Lt. Gen. Keith J. Stalder, USMC, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

Want to know what he’s talking about? Find out in the current issue of SIGNAL Magazine, available online now.

The defense sector is all a-Twitter about this and other social media platforms, with many organizations restricting how and if their employees can access the tools during working hours.

Authors Maj. Daniel Ward, USAF; Maj. Gabe Mounce, USAF; and Carol Scheina discuss the impact of these restrictions in their article “Twitter Is Mission Critical.” The article generated a lot of conversation when it was presented in excerpted form last month, and you can read those comments here.

The complete version of Twitter is Mission Critical is in this month’s issue of SIGNAL Magazine. And it’s worth another look to see what else the authors had to say.

The Defense Department currently denies access to social networking sites from many unclassified department networks, isolating the defense work force from Twitter, one of the biggest engines of social, economic and technological change. This policy is outdated, the authors say.

They stress that blocking access to social media restricts warfighters’ ability to collaborate and innovate. Many defense employees are knowledge workers, which requires connections with people and exposure to emerging ideas. Social media enables all of these things.

Social media communities such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are self-selected and interest-driven. They are not limited to those who wear the same uniform, work on the same projects or have the same background. Social media extends beyond the military-industrial complex, encouraging collaboration and jointness.

Arguments against using Twitter include network security fears, bandwidth constraints and the perception that social media wastes time–none of which are strong enough reasons to preclude using these tools. The authors point out that blocked sites do not represent a unique threat; Twitter is not a bandwidth hog; and monitoring employee usage is a leadership issue.

It is time for the Defense Department to embrace the next evolution of technology–social media–and to acknowledge the change that is transforming the world, the authors argue. It cannot be ignored and should not be blocked.

You can read and comment on the full article here, or you can share your thoughts here at SIGNAL Scape.

The first American Heroes Challenge will take place in Las Vegas Nov. 7-8, 2009. The event features four-man teams comprised of military, law enforcement and security personnel who will compete in a six-stage, live-fire firearms and tactics competition. Each stage is named in honor of a fallen American hero. The contest is designed to test technical, tactical and physical skills as well as the ability to evolve with the mission. 

The American Heroes Challenge organization is a nonprofit created to benefit and honor members of the military, law enforcement and first-responder communities through the challenge event. All proceeds will go toward the goal to raise $1 million in 2009. That money will be donated to the construction of a veteran’s memorial in Las Vegas.

More information about the event, the troops after whom stages are named, sponsorships, donations, team applications and the entry fee is available on the Web site.