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I SNews about nformation systems throughout M I T

Inside! Schedules of Hands-on Training Courses and Free Computer Events

IS Offers Short-Term NetworkConnectivity for MIT Guests . . . . . . . 2

Software SpotlightIS Releases Customized Version of Netscape 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Network NotesIS Supports New Versions ofFileZilla and Fetch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Bits and Bytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

MCC/Computer CurrentsBack to School Means SpecialPricing on Notebook Computers . . . . 5

Keep RSI at Arm’s Length withStretch Break Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Tech Tips: TechTime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

New Online Campus Map LetsYou Search in Multiple Ways . . . . . . . 6

Publishing PointersTap into MIT PublishingResources Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Charge It! Ecommerce for MITMerchants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Surf Sites: Distributed Computing . . 8

Teaching Computers the Stuff We All Know• Robyn Fizz

our computer may calculate with astonishing speed, but it

lacks common sense. While Big Blue can beat chess masters at their own game, there’s no computer in the world that can comprehend a children’s story the way a three-year-old can.

This situation underscores one of the core problems in the field of artificial intelligence (AI): how to give computers the ability to do basic reasoning – what we refer to as common sense.

AI’s Core ProblemPush Singh, a Ph.D. student in the

department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, is one of a handful of people currently tack-ling the problem of giving computers common sense. Singh heads a project called Open Mind Commonsense at the Media Lab. His advisor and mentor, Marvin Minsky, has this to say about the problem:

Common sense thinking is actually more complex than many of the intel-lectual accomplishments that attract more attention and respect, because the mental skills we call “expertise” often engage large amounts of knowl-edge but usually employ only a few types of representations. In contrast, common sense involves many kinds of representations and thus requires a larger range of different skills.

Y

Giving computers common sense has long been seen as too difficult, due to the scale and diversity of knowledge involved. For years, this problem has taken a back seat to building expert systems or robots that can do one thing extremely well, such as play chess or design airplane engines. Today, though, there’s a new sense of promise, as AI researchers begin to make inroads using the Web, natural language pro- cessing, and improved inference tools.

Pieces of the Puzzle As Singh describes it, the key task

is to program computers with knowl-edge about many different realms: physical, social, sensory, psychological, and so on. Each of these areas requires its own specialized methods of reason-ing. Common sense relies on associat-ing these diverse types of knowledge to reach a conclusion or solve a problem.

Singh sees two large pieces to this puzzle. First, computers need to be able to mine a large repository of everyday knowledge. He estimates that in order for such a knowledgebase to be useful, it should contain at least a million mun- dane items, along the lines of “most people sleep at night” and “grass is green in the summer.”

The second piece of the puzzle is building an architecture of the mind: one that organizes all that knowledge into a system that can think effectively about situations. As Singh observes, even the simplest interactions involve an immense amount of thinking.

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MIT Information Systems

Managing EditorRobyn Fizz

Writer/EditorLee Ridgway

i/s is published six times a year. MIT faculty and staff receive copies through campus mail; i/s is also available in lobbies around campus. Individuals at MIT may subscribe by contacting the managing editor.

Send comments or subscription requests to:MIT Room N42-290B, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307Phone: (617) 253-0540Electronic mail: <fizz@mit.edu>

i/s is published online athttp://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/

The IS web site also offers frequent news updates on its home page or athttp://web.mit.edu/is/news/

All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers.

© 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

TEACHING COMPUTERS

continued from page 1

IS Offers Short-Term Network Connectivity for MIT Guests

IS now offers short-term network service to campus guests. Guests are allowed up to fourteen days of network service when they register on MITnet.

To get their personal machine con- nected to the MIT network, campus visitors need to have a wireless net- work card or a wired Ethernet card and an Ethernet cable.

For wired machines, visitors need to plug the Ethernet cable into their computer and an MITnet network drop. This drop will likely have a green MITnet sticker. For wireless machines, visitors need to make sure the wireless card is on and enabled. In both cases, the machine needs to be configured for DHCP (obtaining an IP address automatically). Many machines come with their network cards configured for DHCP by default. If the machine is running firewall soft- ware, it will need to be disabled until the registration process is complete.

Once their equipment is ready, visi-tors should open a web browser and point it to any web page. After select-ing Visitor registration, the returned page will display the MITnet Rules of Use, followed by a registration screen, requesting the visitor’s contact infor-mation, number of days of connectivity, and the event for which they are on campus. Visitors can register between one and five (consecutive) days at a time, up to fourteen days per year. The network connection takes about ten minutes to activate, and remains active for the number of days selected.

New students arriving on campus can still set up their machines with per- manent access, using the instructions athttp://web.mit.edu/is/help/dhcp/dhcpstud.html

Alumni also have their own net- work registration area, similar to that for campus visitors.

For more information on connecting to the network, see http://web.mit.edu/is/topics/network/ ø

Open Mind Commonsense About three years ago, Singh started

a web-based project called Open Mind Commonsense to tackle the first prob- lem: creating a database with millions of pieces of ordinary knowledge. (Or, as the tagline goes, “Teaching comput-ers the stuff we all know.”)

The Web has made a crucial differ- ence in developing this kind of open source database at very low cost. Vol- unteers from the general public pop-ulate the knowledgebase through a simple exercise. They are asked to write five things that someone should know to understand a given event, such as “The apple fell from the tree.”

A recent snapshot of the database shows that over 575,000 sentences have been entered. That effort is ongoing; you can add to the database by going tohttp://commonsense.media.mit.edu

Making MeaningThe second piece of the puzzle is

to represent and make associations between different types of knowledge, from social rules to spatial relationships to the lessons implicit in stories. As in life, the information at hand may be

ambiguous or even wrong. But with the right tools and a large pool of knowl- edge, computers can make inferences.

Along with Hugo Lio, Singh has created OMCSNet, an open source semantic network. Built on the Open Mind Commonsense database, OMCS-Net has a set of 25 or so associative links such as “used for,” “located in,” and “has effect.” Programs mine the Open Mind database for these types of links. For example, shampoo is “used for” washing hair and “is located” in the shower, while washing hair “has effect” of clean hair. Through these associative links, computers can begin to make sense of how the world works.

Fledgling ApplicationsComputers are still far from exhibit-

ing common sense. But a few fledgling applications are using the Open Mind database and natural language parsing techniques to achieve a semblance of reasoning. When you type an e-mail message, Empathy Buddy displays a face that reflects the emotional content of the text through simple chains of reasoning.

ARIA (Annotation and Retrieval Integration Agent) links text in e-mail to a user’s photo database. It improves associations beyond keyword matching by extracting roles from text, such as “who, what, when, where.”

GOOSE (Goal-Oriented Search Engine with Commonsense) is a search engine interface that parses a user’s search goal and tries to translate it into an appropriate query. For example, typ- ing in “My cat is sick” might return a listing of local veterinarians.

Applications of this sort are not yet ready for prime time. But they are likely to grow more robust as the Open Mind knowledgebase and its web of associations expand.

Related ProjectsOpen Mind Commonsense is one

of several complementary Open Mind projects. Others include 1001 Questions, Word Expert, and Trellis Lite, an argu- mentation site. You can contribute to these projects by starting athttp://learner.media.mit.edu/

Singh is also excited about a new web site coming this fall: Open Mind Experiences. It will be available at http://omex.media.mit.edu/

This database of stories will be built by volunteers filling out simple templates based on their past experiences. Singh believes that this database will provide a rich source of analogies – yet another type of knowledge that computers can mine to “reason” and solve problems. ø

S o f t w a r e S p o t l i g h t

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IS Releases Customized Version of Netscape 7 • Lee Ridgway

nformation Systems recently re- leased MIT Netscape 7, a version of

Netscape 7.02 that’s been customized for Windows and Macintosh users at MIT. IS supports only the Netscape Navigator web browser, even though other components are included with the MIT installer (Mail & Newsgroups, Instant Messenger, Composer, and Ad- dress Book). On Macintoshes, Netscape is the only browser that is compatible with MIT personal web certificates.

Upgrade RecommendedIS recommends that all Netscape

users upgrade to Netscape 7.02, especi- ally those still on Netscape 4.78, which is no longer supported. Testing in the MIT environment found 7.02 to be more reliable and faster than earlier versions. Once you’ve installed Netscape 7.02, IS recommends that you not revert to 6.2.3.

Operating System RequirementsNetscape’s minimum requirements

on Windows machines are Windows 98/98SE or later, running on a 233MHz or higher Pentium-class processor, with 64MB RAM and 52MB of free disk space.

Minimums for the Macintosh are Mac OS 8.6 or higher, running on a 266 MHz PowerPC or higher, with 64MB RAM and 72MB of hard disk space. Netscape 7.02 runs in native mode in Mac OS X.

Note that MIT’s recommended sys- tems exceed Netscape’s minimums. Also be aware that IS no longer supports the following: Windows 98/98SE, Me, NT 4.0, and Mac OS 8.6, 9.0.4.

Navigator’s New FeaturesTabbed Browsing lets you set up tabs

to shift between multiple web pages in a single window. The simplest way to open a tab for a web page is to right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac- intosh) on a link. From the drop-down menu, select Open Link in New Tab. To open an untitled tab, press Control-T (Windows) or Command-T (Macintosh), then enter the URL in the Location bar. To customize tabbed browsing, go to Preferences>Navigator>Tabbed Browsing.

In conjunction with Tabbed Brows-ing, you can create Bookmark Groups.

When you have a group of web pages set up on tabs in a Navigator window, go to the Bookmarks menu and select Bookmark This Group of Tabs. You will be prompted to name the bookmark. When you want to open the group, select it from the Bookmarks menu.

With click-to-search you can select a word or group of words on a web page, then right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) and select Web Search for... from the pop-up menu. Netscape uses the default search engine, which you can specify in Preferences>Navigator>Internet Search.

To save whole web pages, including graphics, go to the File menu and select Save Page As..., then choose Web Page, complete from the Format drop-down menu before clicking Save.

On Windows, Netscape 7.02 offers Popup Window Controls, which lets you suppress popup advertising. Open Preferences>Privacy & Security> Popup Window Controls. Note that suppressing popups may prevent im- portant features of some web sites from working, such as login windows for banks. And even with popups sup-pressed, some may still appear.

MIT CustomizationsMIT’s Netscape installers incorpo-

rate settings preconfigured for MIT use. These include the MIT Certificate Au-thority (CA) certificate, a Sidebar panel for the MIT home page, and MIT book- marks. Several Netscape functions are disabled by default in the MIT installer, including auto-forms and password saving. These and other disabled func- tions are not supported by IS or not recommended for normal MIT use.

For a complete list of MIT custom-izations and changes, see the Readme file that comes with the installer, or check the Netscape at MIT page athttp://itinfo.mit.edu/product?name=netscape

Known IssuesInstallation of Netscape 7.02 on

systems running Windows 2000 or XP requires administrative privileges. On Mac OS X, Netscape can be installed under an Adminstrator account or a User account, in which case it must be installed in that user’s home directory.

On Mac OS 9, if upgrading from Netscape 4.78 to 7.02, MIT personal certificates do not migrate. You should install Netscape 7.02 first, then obtain a new personal certificate in it. Also, pro- files are not converted automatically when upgrading from 4.78 to 7.02 on Mac OS 9.

When using Netscape 7.02, you may be prompted to download an upgrade to 7.1 from the Netscape web site. IS rec- ommends that you not upgrade at this time. Netscape 7.1 has not been tested in the MIT environment and is not sup- ported by IS. You can turn off prompt-ing for Netscape updates by opening Preferences… In the Category panel open Advanced>Software Installation and uncheck Check for updates.

IS is aware that AOL, Inc., the parent corporation for Netscape, recently an-nounced changes with regard to Net- scape’s development. IS is assessing the situation as it relates to MIT, but in the meantime Netscape remains a supported browser.

Download and SupportYou can download MIT’s custom-

ized Netscape 7.02 installer from the MIT Software Distribution site at http://web.mit.edu/software

The IS Computing Help Desk offers support for Netscape Navigator. You can contact the Help Desk at <computing-help@mit.edu> or x3-1101. Netscape’s extensive, built-in Help and Support Center, under the Help menu, is the place to look for information on fea- tures not supported by MIT. ø

Navigator’s Tabbed Browsing lets you set up tabs to shift between multiple web pages in a single window.

N e t w o r k N o t e s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B i t s a n d B y t e s

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Advice Regarding Security PatchesRecent Windows vulnerabilities have underscored the importance of apply- ing systematic updates to computers across campus. IS would like to remind the community about its position on vendor-released patches and updates.

IS recommends that computer users apply all critical updates and patches – with the exception of service packs – when they are released by the vendors. IS does not have the resources to test every critical update in various test environments in a timely way. However, IS is committed to testing and reporting known issues on the major updates, such as service packs and major Mac OS X upgrades.

Microsoft and Apple have update tools in place to automatically check for and apply updates. IS recommends that, at a minimum, you configure your machine to check for updates once a week, and preferably daily. For more about setting this up, go to these sites:Windows 2000 & XPhttp://web.mit.edu/net-security/www/one-sheets/winhack.html

Mac OS Xhttp://www.info.apple.com/support/downloads.html

If you are supported by local IT staff, check with them regarding plans for applying patches and upgrades. When feasible, critical updates should be ap- plied to a test machine a day or two before a department-wide update to ensure that there are no significant negative impacts.

IS Releases Virex 7.2.1Virex 7.2.1 is the new version of McAfee’s anti-virus software for Mac OS X. Virex 7.2.1 can detect Macintosh, Windows, and Microsoft Office macro viruses.

New features include an improved user interface and faster scanning speed, as well as the ability to scan many new types of files. For more information on new features and known issues, as well as a link for downloading Virex, start at http://itinfo.mit.edu/product?name=virex ø

IS Supports New Versions of FileZilla and Fetch • Mary Ellen Bushnell and Al Willis

nformation Systems recently re- leased FileZilla 2.1.9 for Windows

and Fetch 4.0.3 for the Macintosh. Both of these file transfer protocol (FTP) pro- grams let you securely transfer files to and from Athena and other FTP ser- vers. Both programs rely on Kerberos, which was developed at MIT to provide secure authentication and communica-tion over open networks. Neither a user’s password or data can be read while in transit over the network.

At MIT, FileZilla and Fetch enable you to:• Put web pages on a web server• Perform maintenance tasks, such as

renaming, moving, deleting, and changing the permissions of files and creating new directories on a remote web server

• Move files between computers and also specialized equipment such as medical imaging machines, image editing systems, and photo process-ing equipment.

Filezilla 2.1.9With this version, FileZilla provides

support for Windows XP as well as SFTP (secure FTP). In addition, some bugs in earlier versions have been fixed. • Very long filenames (>256 characters)

no longer crash the application. • Large files can be transferred to

and from GSS-enabled servers. • The directory listing parser can now

parse OS2-style directory listings.• The language setting no longer

resets to English when changing other settings.In order to use FileZilla you need to

have Kerberos for Windows 2.1.1 (KfW 2.1.1) installed, since MIT now requires all file transfers to be secure. For more on KfW and a download link, go tohttp://itinfo.mit.edu/product?vid=538&platform=Windows

The MIT installer provides custom-ized FileZilla settings and preferences for the MIT community. Among these are Kerberos/GSS (generic security service) settings, enabled by default, and a server profile for Athena

(athena.dialup.mit.edu). The installer also prompts you to add a FileZilla icon to your Windows Quick Launch tool- bar, which you can ignore if you choose.

FileZilla comes with a detailed on- line help system. For more information on FileZilla 2.1.9, such as system re- quirements and how to obtain, seehttp://itinfo.mit.edu/product?name=filezilla

Fetch 4.0.3Fetch 4.0.3 runs on all versions of

the Mac OS that IS currently supports – Mac OS 9.1, 9.2.2, and Mac OS X 10.2. It provides improved compatibility with Mac OS X.

When you install Fetch for the first time, you are prompted for your user- name, which creates a shortcut named Athena. When you run Fetch for the first time, you are presented with a dialog box containing your login infor- mation for connecting to your Athena home directory. Once you click the OK button, Fetch connects to your home directory, where you can upload or download files.

Fetch 4.0.3 has several new features, including:• Support for GSS (including Kerberos

5) security• Drag-and-drop transfers from

server to server• A Mirror command to synchronize

local and remote folders, allowing one-click web site updating

• A View Media File command to pre- view images, sounds, and movies

• The ability to create and edit remote text and image files with BBEdit and Graphic Converter

• Contextual menus (Control-click to see a list of relevant commands)

• The ability to resume downloads even after Fetch quits or your machine crashes

• Support for transferring files larger than 2GB.For full details on Fetch 4.0.3, see

http://itinfo.mit.edu/product?name=fetch

SupportIf you need help installing or using

FileZilla 2.1.9 or Fetch 4.0.3, contact the IS Computing Help Desk. You can reach a consultant at <computing-help@ mit.edu> or x3-1101. ø

I

This column presents announcements about IS-supported software. For more information about recent releases, see http://web.mit.edu/swrt/

M C C / C o m p u t e r C u r r e n t s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Back to School Means Special Pricing on Notebook Computers• Kathleen Moriarty

endors are offering special pricing on notebook computers for the

back-to-school season. Although these laptops are recommended for incoming students, other MIT students, faculty, and staff can take advantage of these deals. Participating vendors include Apple, Compaq, Dell, and IBM. Three models are included from each vendor – lightweight, mid-range, and high-end.Apple • 12.1-inch PowerBook G4• 15.2-inch PowerBook G4• 17-inch PowerBook G4

Compaq• 12-inch nc4000• 14-inch N620c• 15-inch N800c

Dell • 12.1-inch Latitude D400• 14.1-inch Latitude D600• 15.4-inch Latitude D800

IBM• 12.1-inch ThinkPadX31 • 14.1-inch ThinkPad T40• 15.1-inch ThinkPad R40All three PowerBooks come with Mac OS X 10.2; only the 15-inch model can be booted into Mac OS 9.2.2. The Com- paq, Dell, and IBM laptops come with Windows XP Professional.

Tech SpecsTo get technical specifications on

the back-to-school laptops, go tohttp://web.mit.edu/is/topics/hardware/notebooks.html

where a chart lists key features for each model, such as processor, RAM, hard drive, ports, weight, warranty, and the like. For complete specifications on a model, click on its link in the chart. This will either open a specification sheet in PDF (which requires the free Adobe Reader) or take you to the vendor’s web page for that model.

Advice Before BuyingIf you’re buying a laptop to replace

a desktop computer, focus on a high-end model. These have a large screen,

fast processor, and maximum storage capacity, as well as many expansion options. Laptops in this category weigh about seven pounds and include inter- nal media devices such as CD-RW/DVD optical drives. The bays in these note- books are modular, so that you can swap devices in and out.

A mid-range model is a good bet if you are cost-conscious and willing to compromise a bit on speed at one end and portability on the other. Mid-range models weigh a couple of pounds less than high-end models: the trade-off is a screen size that’s an inch or so smaller, measured on the diagonal. Modular media devices are common, although there may be fewer options than on high-end models.

Lightweight models have slower processors and smaller displays and keyboards. Expansion capabilities and connectors are more limited and media devices are usually external. The main advantage is portability – these laptops can weigh as little as 3.5 pounds. You may not want to rely exclusively on a machine this size, but they are ideal to bring to meetings.

Note: There are exceptions to these guidelines. For example, the IBM Think- Pad T40 offers high-end performance and display, and an integrated media bay, while weighing only 4.5 pounds.

For presales help in choosing a laptop to meet your needs, contact the MIT Computer Connection at x3-7686 or <mcc@mit.edu>.

Pricing and PurchasingYou can price and purchase Apple,

Compaq, and IBM products – including the back-to-school laptops – through the GovConnection catalog for MIT athttp://web.mit.edu/ecat/govconnection

You can order Dell products directly from Dell athttp://web.mit.edu/ecat/dell ø

Apple’s largest PowerBook G4 features a 17-inch screen.

Keep RSI at Arm’s Length with Stretch Break Pro• Mary Ziegler

nformation Systems has released two new versions of Stretch Break,

an ergonomic stretching and break timer program: • Stretch Break Pro 5.5 for Windows

2000/XP• Stretch Break Pro 4.1 for Mac OS 9

and OS XStretch Break 5.5 is now compatible with Windows XP; Stretch Break 4.1 is compatible with Mac OS X 10.2.

What and Why Stretch Break reminds you to take

periodic breaks from your computer and provides ergonomic information.

IS recommends Stretch Break for all computer users to aid in the prevention of repetitive strain injuries (RSI). It is especially helpful for anyone experienc- ing strain from computer use or who has trouble remembering to take breaks.

New FeaturesStretch Break Tracker monitors use

patterns for the program. You can now set the break window to launch at 1- to 120-minute intervals (the default is 30 minutes). You can cancel breaks or delay them for 1 to 5 minutes.

ErgoHints provides guidelines for setting up an ergonomically correct workstation and tips on how to avoid injuries when using your computer.

Windows only: An optional Smart Timer modifies the time between stretches based on mouse and key-board activity. Six standing stretches have been added, as well as the ability to have music play during a break.

Support IS recommends that you read the

documentation, including installation instructions, before installing Stretch Break: Windowshttp://itinfo.mit.edu/product?vid=575&platform=Windows

Macintoshhttp://itinfo.mit.edu/product?vid=537&platform=Macintosh

These web pages include a Download link to the Stretch Break installer.

If you need assistance with install-ing or using Stretch Break, contact the Computing Help Desk at <computing-help@mit.edu> or x3-1101. ø

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New Online Campus Map Lets You Search in Multiple Ways • Suzana Lisanti

n updated version of the online campus map, available from the

MIT home page, offers many features to the community and to visitors. It provides an easy way to• Locate an MIT building, depart-

ment, office, or other location• Get directions to MIT • Create custom maps for use on

other web sites• Print a PDF version of the map• Show wireless coverage informa-

tion for MIT buildings• Display a custom aerial photo of

the MIT campus

Click, Zoom, Search Clicking on the map image re-

centers it and zooms in. At the closest two levels of zoom, you can select a building using your mouse. The map then provides details about that build- ing, including address and architect information, a listing of what’s in the building, and a photo if available.

You can also search the map by selecting from the category listings in the navigation bar. Categories range from building name or number, to courts and green areas, to streets and landmarks. Once you’ve selected a cate- gory, you can make a specific selection via a scrolling menu.

Alternatively, you can type depart- ment names, programs, building num- bers, or keywords such as “library” or “Admissions” into the search field. Your query will generate a map that highlights the requested features.

Over 400 labs, departments, centers, and groups are listed with their corre- sponding buildings.

Custom MapsYou can use the online map on your

web site by linking to map selections of your choice. When visitors to your site click on that link, they will get the latest version of the map with your selections highlighted. To obtain a customized

version of the map for your publica-tions, contact the MIT Publishing Services Bureau at <psb@mit.edu>.

BackgroundThe previous campus map linked

from the MIT home page was devel-oped by IS in 1997. The map images were created by the MIT Planning Office using AutoCAD software and manually processed as GIF images.

This semi-automated method was a reasonable solution in 1997 and has served the Institute well. However, recent software developments enable images to be served in real time from the official maps maintained by the Department of Facilities. These maps are backed by geographic information systems (GIS) data, resulting in a more accurate mapping system.

Flying HighThe MIT Home Page Team and the

Department of Facilities continue to work on enhancements to the map. This fall, for example, the map will display new aerial photos of the campus.

You can access the map athttp://whereis.mit.edu

or click on the campus map link on the MIT home page. ø

Q

T e c h T i p s : T e c h T i m e

Last winter, MIT announced support for TechTime, a web calendar based on Oracle Calendar (see the January/Febru- ary 2003 issue of i/s). At the end of July, the TechTime web client was upgraded to the latest version from Oracle. For more about TechTime, including how to activate your account, go tohttp://techtime.mit.edu

In the daily and weekly views, is there a way to show a wider

range of times than 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.?

This wasn’t possible in the pre- vious web client, but in the new

version you can display up to 24 hours per day. Open TechTime and on the Toolbar click Preferences. On the Edit Preferences page, click the Display tab.

Select your Start and End hours from the drop-down menus on the right side.

I know that TechTime users can view each other’s calendars – or

agendas in TechTime parlance. What is revealed when a TechTime user views another’s agenda?

Each TechTime user has complete control over what other users can

see, by setting an access level when creating a Meeting, Day Event, Note, or Task, and then by defining each access level for each kind of entry.

There are four access levels, defined by default as follows.

Normal and Personal: For Meetings, Events, and Notes, another user sees only the time and the word Busy; for Tasks, nothing is shown.

Confidential: For all entries, nothing is shown.

Public: All details are available to other users, who can also copy the entry into their own agendas.

To change these defaults, click on Edit Access Rights on the Toolbar.

Further information is also avail-able in TechTime’s online help.

My monthly calendar prints out on two pages. How can I get it to

print on one page?

Sounds like you may be too busy! Seriously, how web pages print

depends on how the web application – in this case, TechTime – interacts with your browser and printer. Before printing, click on the link Printer-friendly format at the right side of the page above the calendar. This displays your calendar in a format that is better laid out for printing.

You may need to experiment with your browser’s Page Setup (under the File menu) or printer settings, such as percentage reduction, or shrink to fit. Or try printing in landscape mode instead of portrait.

This column presents answers to frequently asked technology questions. For more Q&As, check the IS Stock Answers database athttp://itinfo.mit.edu/answers/

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Tap into MIT Publishing Resources Online• Kathleen Thurston-Lighty

ublishing is now easier at MIT thanks to a trio of web sites that

gives the community access to an im- pressive array of resources. The MIT Publishing Services Bureau (PSB), in collaboration with Information Sys-tems, has developed this online toolkit for staff, students, and faculty who produce print and online media. You can access the three web sites from http://web.mit.edu/psb/portal/

These online resources are designed to support both first-time publishers and seasoned communications profes-sionals. You can go to them for in-depth guidance on producing print and elec- tronic media, to order stationery online, or to download MIT’s graphic symbols for use in print and web publications.

PSB Web SiteThrough the PSB’s web site, you can

access the group’s storehouse of com-

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munications knowledge and resources – presented in a clear, organized format. This site provides guidance on virtu-ally all issues involved in planning a print or electronic project, from estab-lishing schedules to examining proofs. It also features actual case studies and a kit of essential resources including templates, forms, and a photo library. http://web.mit.edu/psb/

MIT Graphic Identity Web Site The quest to develop MIT’s new

award-winning logo is chronicled here, but the site will probably be most pop- ular for its practical tools, including

an array of logo downloads for print and the Web. Visitors

to this site can even get expert color advice at the Logo Lab or download templates that correspond to the Insti- tute’s new stationery designs. The site also offers tips on choosing fonts and guidelines on when and how to use the MIT seal. http://web.mit.edu/graphicidentity/

ECAT Stationery Web SiteThe PSB and IS have collaborated

with Minuteman Press of Cambridge to provide a streamlined process for ordering MIT stationery and business cards online. At this easy-to-navigate site, you can input and store ordering information, view proofs, and submit orders with just a few quick clicks.

The new system offers three designs of coordinated letterhead, envelopes, and business cards. Turnaround is a speedy seven days. Because MIT has negotiated a group discount for web orders, departments will also reap a financial benefit from ordering online.http://web.mit.edu/ecat/minutemanpress/

Although the online system is de- signed to be accessible to individuals at all skill levels, you can also take advantage of a free Quick Start class offered by the PSB. It covers how to order MIT stationery online, how to download the MIT logo, and guide-lines for its use. The class will be held on August 28 from noon to 1 p.m. in the N42 Demo Center. ø

P u b l i s h i n g P o i n t e r s

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Charge It! Ecommerce for MIT Merchants• Lee Ridgway

any MIT organizations and de- partments act as merchants for

goods and services, and many would like do their business over the Web. Thanks to the work of the MIT ecom-merce project, MIT merchants can now set up a web storefront and accept credit card payments over the Web. The project is a joint effort between the Controller’s Accounting Office and IS.

Eligibility as an ecommerce merchant extends to departments, labs, centers, and other Institute-recognized faculty, staff, and student organizations. The goods and services sold using MIT’s name or facilities must be related to In- stitute business and conducted on behalf of MIT and not for personal gain. MIT’s ecommerce solution is not intended for internal MIT sales, which are covered by requisitions and journal vouchers.

The MIT ecommerce web site athttp://web.mit.edu/ecommerce/

gives detailed information on setting up a web storefront. Prospective merchants should first read the Ecommerce Guide- lines. These cover the prerequisites for bank accounts, merchant IDs, sales tax collection, privacy statements, and other general business and web-related guidelines. Then review the Process, a step-by-step outline for startup, imple- mentation, ongoing operations, and termination. A glossary provides defi- nitions of terms specific to ecommerce transactions and activities.

At all stages of getting set up for ecommerce, new merchants will work with a member of the ChargeMIT team. The ChargeMIT representative will as- sist with analyzing needs and defining merchant processes, as well as helping with configuration and testing.

ComponentsMIT ecommerce operations depend

on three technical components.1. The storefront is the web site where

people go to buy your goods or ser- vices. It can be a simple online pay- ment form or a sophisticated catalog site with a virtual shopping basket.

MIT supports several options for storefronts, including ShopSite soft- ware for building catalog product pages and shopping baskets. For storefronts with few products or ser- vices, a web form usually suffices.

2. Back-office operations rely on OMARS (Order Management and Reporting Services). Merchants’ staff use this set of web-based tools to enter, man- age, and report on credit-card orders.

3. Transaction processing sends data to MIT’s banks to verify and process payments on customers’ credit cards. MIT has selected ClearCommerce software for this function.For details on these, especially op-

tions for storefront development, and for costs, select the Supported Software link on the MIT ecommerce web site. IS maintains servers for ecommerce mer- chants and, at an additional cost, can help develop and configure merchant web sites and forms.

Interested?For more information, visit the MIT

ecommerce web site or send e-mail to <merchantservices@mit.edu>. ø

G e t t i n g H e l p

MIT Information Systems

i/s is printed with soy inks on recycled paper, and can be recycled in MIT’s “mixed paper” bins.

S u r f S i t e s : D i s t r i b u t e d C o m p u t i n g

If you don’t know where to get help for your computer, network, or telephone problems, dial one of the help lines listed to the right.

If you prefer to use e-mail, you can send your questions to the cor-responding e-mail addresses on the far right. (When logged into Athena, you can also use the olc command to send questions to Athena’s online consultants.)

For a complete list of services offered by Information Systems, see http://web.mit.edu/is/services/

climateprediction.nethttp://www.climateprediction.net/

Distributed Proofreadershttp://www.pgdp.net/

DMOZ: Open Directory Projecthttp://www.dmoz.org/

Grid Computing Projectshttp://www.grid.org/

mindpixel: Digital Mind Modeling Project http://www.mindpixel.com/

SETI@Home: The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligencehttp://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/

Teach Computers (links to several Open Mind projects)http://learner.media.mit.edu/

For help with… Dial… Or send a message to…

General computing questions 3-1101 computing-help@mit.edu(Macintosh, Windows, and network/connectivity)Administrative applications 2-1177 business-help@mit.eduAthena Computing Environment 3-4435 olc@mit.eduComputer and printer repairs 3-0815 hardserv@mit.eduComputer pre-sales consulting 3-7686 mcc@mit.eduDisabilities and computing 3-7808 atic@mit.eduTelephone repairs 3-4357 3help@mit.eduUnix (by subscription) 3-1103 unix-vms-help@mit.eduVoice mail 3-3677 vmail@mit.edu

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Distributed computing tries to solve computationally intensive problems by giving small parts of a problem to many computers. These projects depend on volunteers who actively participate, as in Open Mind Commonsense (see lead article), or who volunteer spare cycles of their computer. Internet connectivity has fueled these projects, which range from looking for extraterrestrial radio signals to seeking better drugs for cancer.

The list to the right provides exam-ples of distributed computing projects. For an overview of the topic, seehttp://www.aspenleaf.com/distributed/