Sunday, July 1, 2001 Laredo Morning Times PAGE 17A
LOCAL/ENTERTAINMENT
Interactive TV brings privacy concerns
BY D. IAN HOPPER an unprecedented power to satellite companies or tor Ben Isaacson said. “We
AP Technology Writer collect customer data, from devices like TiVo or want to give self-regulation
how often you use the Microsoft’s UltimateTV, as much of an opportunity
WASHINGTON — Privacy remote control to which which use a phone line to as possible.”
advocates warn that the commercials you skip to connect with a central net- NCTA hasn’t yet taken a
gee-whiz technology behind how long you linger over an work. Earlier this year, TiVo position yet on whether
the upcoming interactive episode of “Baywatch.” said that it collected detailed viewers should have to vol-
television could also be Market research firm information about its sub- unteer to be tracked or have
used to invade your privacy. Carmel Group estimates scribers, like when they to opt out of tracking.
Jeff Chester, executive that there will be 61.5 million pressed the volume buttons The report identifies the
director of the Center for interactive television users on their remotes, but has top players in the burgeon-
Digital Democracy, said that by the end of 2006. stopped the practice. ing industry, including AT&T,
Internet privacy pales in A cable industry represen- The Association for Microsoft and Scientific-
comparison to how much a tative said Tuesday that a Interactive Media, which Atlanta, which makes digital
television can gather about 1984 federal law puts their represents interactive TV cable boxes.
viewers. industry under more scrutiny. companies, is trying to keep One of those companies,
Times courtesy photo “This is a device that peo- The law requires cable lawmakers from passing ACTV, has software that will
ESTUDIANTES: Michael Hetland, left, and Dr. Kimberly Folse, ple use regularly for seven providers to tell viewers what laws that require a viewer’s let advertisers target con-
right, pose with their host, Margarita Zavala, center. Hetland and to eight hours,” Chester information they’re collecting permission first. sumers after learning every-
Folse are part of a group of Texas A&M International University fac- said. “This is not a PC, this and give consumers the AIM spent $18,000 to lobby thing it can about them.
ulty and staff members studying Spanish in Guanajuato, Mexico. is a piece of furniture. chance to opt out. Washington in 1999, accord- The company’s statement
People rely on it.” “The fact that we’ve been ing to the most recent avail- to the Securities and
TAMIU faculty, staff Most television watchers
haven’t seen interactive
television yet, but a host of
dealing with that for the past
15 years actually gives us a
heightened sensitivity and
able information from the
Center for Responsive
Politics. AIM’s parent group,
Exchange Commission
reads, “We collect and
store personal information
study in Mexico companies are pushing to
bring it to the living room. It
could include Web access,
expertise to the issue,” said
Mark Smith of the National
Cable and
the Direct Marketing
Association, spent $360,000
in lobbying efforts that year
from users of our One To
One TV and HyperTV
applications and plan to
video on demand, shopping Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s and $1 million the year before. use such information to
A group of Texas A&M exploring a country rich in and targeted advertising Association. “No other “We’re trying to make sure develop our businesses
International University fac- culture and history. based on what’s known industry has been dealing that everyone knows that and generate revenues.”
ulty and staff members are “Guanajuato is a beautiful about the viewer. with this stuff like we have.” this group is working on
taking advantage of a colonial city, where many With those features come The law doesn’t cover this,” AIM’s executive direc-
unique exchange study pro- cultural and social activities
gram this summer to learn take place around the
Spanish at the University of ‘Jardin Union’, a plaza in
Guanajuato in Guanajuato, downtown Guanajuato. The
Mexico. staff of the University of
The Language Program Guanajuato has been most
for Faculty and Staff is a welcoming to the A&M
four-week intensive pro- International group, and we
gram designed for those are very much impressed
interested in learning with their hospitality,”
Spanish. Currently partici- García said.
pating in the program are The University of
Dr. Kimberly Folse, assis- Guanajuato, with which
tant professor of sociology; A&M International has an
Dr. Sean Chadwell, assis- agreement, was founded in
tant professor of English; 1732. Its Language School
and Michael Hetland, ser- offers courses in English,
vice specialist for Computer French, German, Russian,
and Telecommunication Japanese, Italian, Greek,
Services. Latin and Spanish.
The program consists of García said that a group of
language instruction includ- five University of
ing grammar, conversation- Guanajuato faculty mem-
al Spanish, Mexican history bers will visit A&M
and Latin American litera- International July 8 - Aug. 4
ture. for intensive English
Participants are hosted by lessons.
their Mexican host families For further information,
for the duration of their stay. please contact García at
Jannet García, director of 326-2566, visit offices locat-
the Office for International ed in Pellegrino Hall 312F
Programs, said the summer or e-mail
language program offers jannetg@tamiu.edu.
both faculty members and University office hours are
staff the opportunity to learn 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday
a new language while through Friday.
LISD hires former city
engineer in operations
Laredo Independent
School District recently
hired Alejandro Labrada,
former Laredo assistant city
engineer, as administrative
assistant for Operations.
Labrada will be in charge
of all LISD construction and
will supervise the manage-
ment of the Division of
Operations.
Born in Culiacan, Mexico,
on the Pacific Ocean near
Mazatlan, Labrada attend-
ed the Instituto
Technologico de Monterrey.
ALEJANDRO LABRADA
He lived in San Antonio for
10 years and attended the Public Works Service
University of Texas-Austin, Center. I was also involved
where he earned a degree in assisting other city engi-
in civil engineering and a neers in numerous other
master’s degree in con- projects.
struction management. “I am joining the Laredo
Labrada also attended Independent School District
Illinois University where he at a very challenging time
studied English. with the construction and
“My 10 years’ experience renovation of the district
with the city of Laredo were facilities. I feel confident
very fruitful as it related to that the experience, and
my profession,” Labrada knowledge gained over the
said. “I was the project engi- past 10 years with the city
neer for numerous projects, will help me carry out my
including the new airport duties with the LISD family,”
terminal, a new police sta- he said.
tion, the new main library, El Married to Diana Luisa, the
Metro Downtown Center couple has a 9-year-old
and the Department of daughter, Diana Victoria.
Aldrin, space tourist call for public
WASHINGTON (AP) — vate space efforts alike.”
Selling unused space Aldrin, who was on the
shuttle seats to tourists Apollo 11 mission in 1969,
could help the cash- said that NASA is “hostile”
strapped space program to space tourism and that
make ends meet, a for- Congress should intervene
mer astronaut told with the agency to encour-
Congress on Tuesday. age spaceflight for ordinary
Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, the citizens.
second man on the moon, He said trips to space
said that space tourism “can could be sold to the highest
be the solution to the prob- bidder or even offered to the
lem of high space costs that public by lottery.
plague government and pri-