I don't see why this is being called DRM. it has nothing to do with protecting copyright and everything to do with protecting corporate secrets.
This kind of system is already in use in some high security installations, generally by marking secure documents with a distinctive symbol that document management systems recognize. Photocopyers, particularly modern units that fax and scan to email, are a big way that secrets can make it out of a corporation accidentally. This technology isn't supposed to stop anyone that's intentionally trying to sneak documents out, it's to stop the real user that makes a mistake (doesn't realize a document is sensitive, takes the wrong paper to send, hits the wrong button on the machine...). It's just a simple system to make users with a document that is potentially sensitive stop and think before emailing it to the bank/aunt ellis/nigerians. When this sort of system is implemented it requires oversight to work effectively, because there will be many false positives. It's just the cost of the added security. No doubt the PDFs sent to a monitor will be used more often to make it easier to put through an authorized false positive (email the PDF instead of having to scan the doc again) than to find someone to punish.
The mass transit authority of Portland OR, TriMet, offers a full-featured API including GTFS (Google Transit Feed) feeds and XML interfaces for scheduled arrival times, live predicted arrival times (TransitTracker), locating stops close to coordinates, and even finding a route between two points (TripPlanner). This can all be accessed by any software with an API key, and registering for an API key is free. As a result there are a plethora of third-party apps available (I know of at least 4 iPhone apps for arrival times).
It seems like this is good for everyone. TriMet's riders are happier because they have a range of options (TriMet's own automated hotline for arrival times, portable apps, desktop apps, both TriMet and third-party websites, etc...) to get the info they need on schedules and routes. this further opens things up for mashups that integrate TriMet's data in to other systems (perhaps the best example being Google Maps), which draws all the more riders.
Even if they can claim copyright to stop other people using the predictions, it seems like a losing move.
What you seem to be missing is the fact that this is not a matter of distractions in class, this is a matter of residents on the campus being banned from a site. how would you feel if your ISP suddenly decided you weren't allowed to check your e-mail? the fact is, many people at colleges get all of their internet access from the college, and so it's ridiculous to entirely ban a site from college networks. it could be banned selectively in classrooms, but not in dormitories, apartment buildings, and libraries/labs that offer computers for non academic purposes. a lot of people maintain communication with family and friends through social networking systems, so for many people banning myspace from their home is like takeing away their telephone.
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DRM?
I don't see why this is being called DRM. it has nothing to do with protecting copyright and everything to do with protecting corporate secrets.
This kind of system is already in use in some high security installations, generally by marking secure documents with a distinctive symbol that document management systems recognize. Photocopyers, particularly modern units that fax and scan to email, are a big way that secrets can make it out of a corporation accidentally. This technology isn't supposed to stop anyone that's intentionally trying to sneak documents out, it's to stop the real user that makes a mistake (doesn't realize a document is sensitive, takes the wrong paper to send, hits the wrong button on the machine...). It's just a simple system to make users with a document that is potentially sensitive stop and think before emailing it to the bank/aunt ellis/nigerians. When this sort of system is implemented it requires oversight to work effectively, because there will be many false positives. It's just the cost of the added security. No doubt the PDFs sent to a monitor will be used more often to make it easier to put through an authorized false positive (email the PDF instead of having to scan the doc again) than to find someone to punish.
MTAs doing it right
The mass transit authority of Portland OR, TriMet, offers a full-featured API including GTFS (Google Transit Feed) feeds and XML interfaces for scheduled arrival times, live predicted arrival times (TransitTracker), locating stops close to coordinates, and even finding a route between two points (TripPlanner). This can all be accessed by any software with an API key, and registering for an API key is free. As a result there are a plethora of third-party apps available (I know of at least 4 iPhone apps for arrival times).
It seems like this is good for everyone. TriMet's riders are happier because they have a range of options (TriMet's own automated hotline for arrival times, portable apps, desktop apps, both TriMet and third-party websites, etc...) to get the info they need on schedules and routes. this further opens things up for mashups that integrate TriMet's data in to other systems (perhaps the best example being Google Maps), which draws all the more riders.
Even if they can claim copyright to stop other people using the predictions, it seems like a losing move.
Re: Its College
What you seem to be missing is the fact that this is not a matter of distractions in class, this is a matter of residents on the campus being banned from a site. how would you feel if your ISP suddenly decided you weren't allowed to check your e-mail? the fact is, many people at colleges get all of their internet access from the college, and so it's ridiculous to entirely ban a site from college networks. it could be banned selectively in classrooms, but not in dormitories, apartment buildings, and libraries/labs that offer computers for non academic purposes. a lot of people maintain communication with family and friends through social networking systems, so for many people banning myspace from their home is like takeing away their telephone.