New territory for Oracle

Oracle is expected to enter the emerging market for content management software towards the end of the year, reports CNET.

The report says Oracle is expected to announce a new product code-named Tsunami at its OpenWorld conference in December. Industry analysts predict Tsunami will integrate enterprise content management (ECM) functions into Oracle`s main suite of business products.

ECM software typically consists of a server application for logging and managing access to documents, images, e-mail messages and other non-numerical content or unstructured data stored on a central server.

CNET says an Oracle executive has confirmed the company`s general plans but offered few details.

Aircraft maker Boeing is to issue a set of radio frequency identification (RFID) specifications to its suppliers in the first half of 2005.

Computer World says the specifications will detail Boeing`s technical standards relating to frequency, memory capacity and size of RFID tags and labels. Suppliers that ship parts to Boeing will eventually need to label their components with RFID tags that meet the specifications.

The report says Boeing`s plan to RFID-enable its supply chain echoes moves being made by companies such as Wal-Mart Stores and Boeing`s European rival, Airbus.

IBM has struck a deal with Eastman Kodak to make digital image sensors for use in digital cameras and camera phones, reports USA Today.

The report says the deal gives Kodak an assured source of supply for crucial digital camera components as it aims to take on Asian camera makers, many of which operate chip factories of their own. For IBM, the deal propels the computer maker`s contract chip manufacturing business into the consumer electronics field.

Kodak says when combined with technology acquired from National Semiconductor, the IBM sensors will allow it to develop consumer products that can offer multi-megapixel image-quality and 30-frame per second video under low-light photographic conditions.

Canadian inventor Dmitry Gorodnichy of the Institute of Information Technology in Ottawa has developed a nose-steered mouse or "nouse", reports New Scientist.com.

The report says in addition to giving people a change from the keyboard and traditional mouse, the inventor hopes his nouse will make using a PC easier for people with disabilities.

The nouse uses Webcam technology and tracking software that monitors the image from the Webcam to work out where a user`s nose is pointing, and generates signals that move the cursor round the screen. Meanwhile, motion detection software works out which eye is blinking to simulate a mouse click.