Social networking sites are a growing phenomenon partly due to the way in which they increase the efficiency of users’ communication. Posted for the masses are members’ personal profiles that may take the form of text, images, and music for other members to enjoy, comment on, and share. Users can be social at the time of their choosing, independent of the initiating communicator. The one-on-one communication of email, text messaging, and phone is outpaced considerably by social networking platforms.

Black and White takes a look at recent massive South Korean political protests over a U.S.-South Korea beef import deal. The protests, highly effective and organized with the tools of text messaging on the populous 3G internet networks, have prompted public apologies by President Lee Myung-bak to South Korean citizens.

When all is said and done, 130 million Americans will receive more than $100 billion in tax-stimulus checks from the federal government. The theory is that once people start spending that money, the economy will start to rebound. But it’s unclear how this theory translates into practice.

Black and White takes a look at oil and gas prices in the U.S. and Europe, examines contributing factors to escalating prices, and reviews global sources of supply. The report explores the impact of current news on supplier costs and pump prices, as well as excessive oil and energy company profits.

Black and White speaks with George Davison, President & CEO of Davison, Inc.; Keith Grezelak, Chair of the IEEE-USA Intellectual Property Policy Committee; Chiara Orsini, Associated Director of Intellectual Property at University of Pittsburgh; Marc Malandro, Ph.D. Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Management and Commercialization at the University of Pittsburgh; and Jack Lasersohn from the Board of Directors of the National Venture Capital Association. Contributing statements were provided by co-sponsors of the bill Senator Arlen Specter (R - PA) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT); legislative strategist for the high tech industry Marc Isakowitz; and vice presidents for Dupont, Dean Oestreich and Uma Chowdhry.

The Patent Reform Act of 2007 promises to revitalize current patent procedures of the United States Patent and Trade Office. Although the bill has been heavily contested, it is currently making its way through the U.S. Senate. In a two part report Black and White explores the proposed changes, the USPTO’s placement among its counterparts in the world, and impact that the act could have on stakeholders.

Alan Kay is behind some of the most significant technology designs altering the Personal Computer Industry for the past 30 years. Kay— who has worked with Xerox PARC, Apple Computer, MIT Media Research Lab, and Hewlett Packard— is now running Viewpoints Research Institute. His latest involvement in the design of the OLPC XO machine is an indication of his vision for the future direction of the computer industry. He is out to change the landscape of the computer industry he helped create by introducing concepts and ideas that will affect the everyday lives of millions.

Ben Bowser reports on the Gigapan camera, a robotic platform that creates high-resolution panoramas using digital imaging. This beta-level technology has become exceptionally popular. The Gigapan is sponsored by Google, CMU and the NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group.