Peter Ray Allison
Freelance writer and journalist
Freelance journalist, media critic and author.
PROJECTS
computerweekly.com
The next stage in quantum key distribution
The internet has become a fundamental part of our society, allowing us to communicate with people around the world instantaneously, as well as enabling us to share information with colleagues and perform seamless banking transactions. However, the internet is not as secure as we would like...
BBC
A buggy built for a mission millions of miles away
Travelling to Mars is comparatively easy, as a question of time (approximately seven months) and resources. However, what happens when astronauts arrive there presents a new challenge.
computerweekly.com
Has collaboration software wrought perilous communication overload?
The collaboration tool Slack now counts eight million daily users, whilst Microsoft’s Team chat app is used in over 200,000 organisations. Popular as such tools are, do they really improve productivity as much as is claimed?
alphr.com
Are algorithms making us W.E.I.R.D.?
From what we see in our internet search results to deciding how we manage our investments, travel routes and love lives, algorithms have become a ubiquitous part of our society. Algorithms are not just an online phenomenon: they are having an ever-increasing impact on the real-world. Children are being born to couples who were matched by dating site algorithms, whilst the navigation systems for driverless cars are poised to transform our roads.
BBC
Will we ever colonise an asteroid?
The science-fiction series The Expanse is set 200 years in the future: humans have established colonies on the Moon and Mars, and have begun colonising the asteroid belt.
There are compelling reasons why we might wish to colonise the asteroid belt, but the predominant one is mining. Unlike the Earth, where precious metals tend to be buried underground, there is an abundance of metals like gold and palladium on the surface of asteroids.
computerweekly.com
Encryption is under attack, says Venafi CEO Jeff Hudson
Encryption is one of the core foundations of the internet. It enables the trusted exchange of information between two entities on the web, as well as protecting the identity of those online.
computerweekly.com
Application and device security under the spotlight
Until recently, device security has been of minimal concern. However, recent events – such as hundreds of thousands of IoT devices being co-opted into a botnet and the American casino that had data leaked through a smart fish tank – have highlighted the necessity for robust device security measures...
computerweekly.com
Business needs to keep up with Investigatory Powers Act
In a recent High Court case regarding the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA), judges ruled that the government’s surveillance regime is unlawful. Although this judgement pertains to legislation that is no longer in force, it could have major implications for its successor, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
computerweekly.com
Network security in the age of the internet of things
The internet of things (IoT) is a comparatively recent invention. Ten years ago, we only worried about protecting our computers, and it was only five years ago when we needed to protect our smartphones. Now we need to consider protecting our fridges, heating systems and industrial machines in order to safeguard company networks.
alphr.com
How video games like The Witcher are saving Slavic folklore
Folktales from the Slavic countries (primarily Central and Eastern Europe) form one of the richest and most diverse mythologies in the world. Traditional Western European fairy tales may have become watered down and sanitised over countless retellings and interpretations, but Slavic mythology still retains its bite.
BBC
Will we ever have satellites that can control the weather?
From Star Trek to The Jetsons, one of the hallmarks of an advanced civilisation is seen as the ability to control the weather. More recently, the film Geostorm portrayed a network of satellites designed to prevent catastrophic storms. The idea of tweaking the weather from afar is not as far-fetched as it sounds.
computerweekly.com
How secure are smart energy grids?
As the UK’s energy infrastructure becomes more network-connected and smart meters are adopted in homes, smart grids are becoming an increasingly viable form of energy infrastructure. But, how secure is this technology?
alphr.com
Will killer robots make us safer?
In 1942, Isaac Asimov published the short story “Runaround”, containing the now-iconic Three Laws of Robotics. Coming in at number one is: “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
computerweekly.com
Content filtering a potential challenge in digital single market
The digital single market is a new directive currently being debated within the European Commission, intended to harmonise e-commerce throughout the European Union (EU). It has been estimated that this new legislation could potentially contribute €415bn a year to the EU economy, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
BBC
Anti-ageing: Is it possible, and would we want it?
In the 1850s, the average life expectancy in the US at birth was only 40 years old. Now, the average American can expect to live until at least 78. Recent medical research has teased us with the promise of extending human life further. But, what are the implications of this new medicine and what consequences would it have upon society?