ITEMS DVD Descriptions


Pirates of Silicon Valley
CMS DVD0016

The revolution came when we weren't looking. It happened in a garage, in a dorm room. In endless hours of effort, imagining and intrigue. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates were changing the way the world works, lives and communicates. Jobs and Gates in this chronicle of the fierce and often hunorous battle to rule the fledgling personal computer empire. 97 minutes/color/DVD


Technocops
CMS DVD0101

Law enforcement has changed dramatically over the last decade, and technology is a major reason. This program looks at several cutting-edge systems and devices currently in use by police departments and federal agencies around the country. Some of the crime-fighting technologies featured are fiber-optic surveillance cameras, facial reognition scanners, robotic chassis for bomb disposal, and Shotspotter, a network of acoustic sensors that triangulates the location of gunfire. Among those interviewed is inventor Mike O'Dwyer, whose VLE handgun is the first electronic "smart gun," a pistol that recognizes its owner and can fire lethal and nonlethal rounds. A discovery channel production. DVD/color/Not Rated


Innovation life
CMS DVD0131

Part of a four-part series that tells the stories behind the technological breakthroughs that are changing lives around the world. In this series the minature electronics, precision surgical techniques, and an ever-increasing understanding of the human body are making it possible for medical researchers to turn science fiction into science fact. Covering sophisticated leg prostheses, remarkable artificial vision systems, and astonishing advances in brain signal translation, this program examines the complex and futuristic research that is melding human and machine. 57 Minutes / Color


Cybercrime: The Invisible Threat
CMS DVD0132

It is estimated that by 2005, on billion people - a sixth of the world's population - will use the Internet: with such widespread access, how vulnerable to online sabotage are banks, government agencies, nuclear plants, utilities, and hospitals? This program examines the Internet's exponential growth and evaluates risks posed by groups and individuals bent on crime or terrorism. Experts from the FBI, the Pentagon, and private companies, and even a self-confessed hacker comment on the dange of online fraud and "denial of servie" attacks as well as on anti-hacking and biometric identification as ways of protecting the World Wide Web - and perhaps the world itself. 53 Minutes / Color


Email Alert
CMS DVD0155

Every day, hundreds of millions of emails are sent, answered, and forwarded. This immense volume, combined with the candor that so pervades the medium, has stirred up trouble for computer users at every level - even Bill Gates himself. In this program, Internet legal expert Dr. Michael Geist, computer forensics specialists and others explain how deleted emails are retrieved and how those indiscreet bits of e-evidence are influencing litigation and causing consternation for companies throughout North America. The bottom line? Think before you hit send or failing that, hire the best lawyer you can afford Color/10 min


Cyberstalker: Hard Lessons Of Internet Safety
CMS DVD0168

Few think of it in these terms, but logging onto the Web can be like letting strangers walk into your living room. Hosted by Dan Rather, this program explores the very real dangers of the Internet through a number of eye-opening examples, including coverage of Operation Blue Ridge Thunder, a task force that patrols the Internet for pedophiles; the tragic story of Amy Boyer, a 21-year-old woman whose murderer posted his plan to kill her on his Web page; and two cases that illustrate the promise and perils of online dating. Produced by CBS NEWS. 43 mins / color / DVD


Time Frenzy: Keeping Up With Tomorrow
CMS DVD0169

One of the ironies of the ubiquitous technologies now in use is that they were supposed to save time and improve the quality of life. What went wrong? This cautionary program examines the social and ethical consequences of the increasingly fast pace of life in the U.S. It contrasts the American 24/7 work ethic with the business traditions of other countries and, in the process, examines the impact of technology on personal relationships, education, health, and the environment. 59 min / color / DVD


Discovery Channel University: Science of Special Effects
CMS DVD0230

Filmmaking is an art, but special effects are all about science. This program explores the dynamic link between the sciences-from astronomy to zoology-and the film industry's finest special effects. Leading innovators explain many of their techniques, illustrated with footage from dozens of movies and TV programs, including Stuart Little, Fight Club, and The X-Files. Experts include Stan Winston, Academy Award-winning creature creator whose work includes, Alien, Terminator II, and Jurassic Park; Phil Tippett, special effects supervisor for Jurassic Park; Professor Donald Hoffman, who specializes in cognitive and computer science; and Nick Foster, software engineer for Antz. DVD/51 minutes/color


Peter Jennings: No Place To Hide
CMS DVD0242

This is a report about one of the most important and least understood results of the tragedy on September 11th. In a one-hour primetime special, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings examines the government's effort to harness technology in the name of security, and the price we might pay if we fail to balance security and freedom in the digital age. It's getting harder all the time to be lost in the crowd, but the ever-present video cameras in our daily lives are only a small part of the story. Today an overwhelming number of our daily transactions can be electronically monitored by private companies, the results of which are very often sold to or otherwise absorbed by the government. The most amazing artificial intelligence programs sift through our data trail to make judgments about us - and detect unusual behavior. "Peter Jennings Reporting: No Place to Hide" is a collaboration with The Center for Investigative Reporting and Washington Post staff reporter Robert O'Harrow. Peter Bull is the producer of "No Place to Hide." Tom Yellin is the executive producer of "Peter Jennings Reporting."


An Introduction to Web Site Design
CMS DVD0442

What do online retail outlets, electronic newspapers, blogs, and search engines have in common? They're all Web sites! This video gives viewers a comprehensive introduction to the basic principles of Web site design- a great first step toward becomming a webmaster or an interactive media designer. It explains how to identify the target audience, determine the site's core purpose, apply Ben Schneiderman's eight golden rules of GUI design, address technological issues and matters of visual appeal, and carry out an ongoing test/evaluation/update cycle. Interviews with two successful web site designers are also included, to illustrate how it all comes together in the real world. Color/25 minutes