CONNECT:IF YOU thought Facebook was the preserve of wacky virtual gifts, ridiculous quizzes and "friend requests" from people you have spent 20 years avoiding, think again.

Facebook helped to create almost 5,200 connections between Israelis and Palestinians in one 24-hour period this week, as part of the Peace Dot initiative being led by Stanford University.

The social networking site is using its technology to enable people from different backgrounds to connect and share ideas and is publishing the stats daily on its site.

http://peace.facebook.com

Don't believe (all) the hype on tech trends

READ: TECHNOLOGY ANALYSTS have a worrying habit of hyping up the technologies they cover (see Net Results on the facing page for their track record on e-books).

However, the top 10 technology trends for 2010 is an interesting read and covers everything from green technology (solar-charged mobile, above) to data centres, and social computing to mobile trends. But don't bet they'll all transpire next year.

http://bit.ly/TFwpi

41/2 minutes and 5 tips reveals Windows 7

WATCH: IF YOU have had your head turned by Windows 7 and are thinking of upgrading your PC, watch this 4½-minute YouTube video first.

Ellie Rountree, technology correspondent with the Rocketboom video blog, provides her top five practical tips for installing Windows 7.

Helpfully, links to all the resources she mentions are provided in the More Information sidebar.

http://bit.ly/phepc

Making air traffic control look . . . simple

BOOKMARK: IF YOU have ever had an inkling of being an air traffic controller, Casper, a clever mash-up using Google Maps and data about flight movements around Amsterdam's Schipol airport, may satisfy your desires. Watch in real-time as aircraft circle around the Netherlands, and click on a plane's icon for flight number, type of aircraft, altitude, airspeed and route information.

http://bit.ly/CRREh