Gizmodo: Switzerland

Open Source Switzerland Network Testing Tool Catches ISP Throttlers In the Act

Jack Loftus — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT

As part of an effort to thwart future ISP infractions, á la Comcast, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released Switzerland, an open source software tool for "testing the integrity of data communications over networks, ISPs and firewalls." If you've been following Comcast for any amount of time over the past year or so, you know exactly what that means.

It's available for download now, but be warned: this is an alpha release command line tool (read: newbies need not apply just yet). Serious code monkeys are encouraged to download and kick the tires a bit to see if it does as advertised. Mainly, that means detection of packet modifications or injections as they travel over IP networks. Past culprits in this category include anti-P2P tools from Sandvine (Comcast vs. BitTorrent), AudibleMagic, advertising injection systems like FairEagle, and censorship programs like those used in China.

Here's a little bit more on Switzerland from the EFF:

The software uses a semi-P2P, server-and-many-clients architecture. Whenever the clients send packets to each other, the server will attempt to determine if any of them were dropped, forged, or modified [...] Switzerland is a much more sophisticated successor to the pcapdiff software that we released last year. It automates many of the things that had to be done by hand with the earlier code.

One advantage this architecture has over other network testing tools is that it can spot arbitrary kinds of packet modifications in any protocol — it doesn't assume that the interference comes in the form of TCP reset packets or web page modifications, and it isn't limited to BitTorrent or any other specific application.

[EFF]

Sakku Solar Bags Made From Recycled Sails

Elaine Chow — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Solar bags are a great way to charge all your gadgets while out and about, but Switzerland-based bag maker Sakku one ups the green aspect by making its bags out of recycled sails. Each Sakku Buddy comes stamped with a “story” listing the name of the lake or sea which the boat that used the sail is located. Each bag has a 2.5W solar panel and is big enough to contain a 17” notebook. Currently only available in Europe, the Buddy costs either $275 or $385, depending on whether you get the chargeable battery option. [Sakku US page via Coolest Gadgets]

Swiss Swimming Pool Warmed by Surplus Server Heat and Alliteration

Kit Eaton — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:57:22 EDT

There's clearly something going on with the Swiss and hot water: first "extreme jacuzzi-ing" on top of Mont Blanc, and now they're going to use waste energy kicked out by servers to warm a swimming pool. It's a simple concept: take the heat from the server room air-conditioners at a new data center, and direct it through heat exchangers to the water in the town pool. The town, Uitikon, will get a hot pool and all they had to pay for was some of the connecting gear since the heat would otherwise have been vented. Cool! ... or rather, hot! Darn eco-friendly too. [Sydney Morning Herald]

Lifebag Saves Lives in Avalanches, Doubles as Halloween Costume

AddyDugdale — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:00:46 EDT

Aimed at winter sports enthusiasts, the Lifebag is a nifty refillable backpack. Weighing in at less than three pounds, its 150-liter capacity tank fills with gas in just three seconds when inflated manually, protecting the head and upper body of the wearer. But this Swiss invention could be so much more than just a life-saver, don't you think?

Forget inflatable sumo, how about inflatable football?
If you ever wanted to go as the headless giant to a Halloween party, now's the time.
Standard issue for shorter-than-normal club doormen.
Fashion, darling.

The Lifebag costs $1,100 and won't be available in the US until December 2008. [Snowpulse via Cool Hunting]