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Domain: fraser.name

Stories and comments across the archive that link to fraser.name.

Stories · 7

  1. Google Blogger: Vietnamese HS Students Excelling At CS

    Developers · Education · · posted by timothy · from the pho-great-justice dept. · 291 comments
    An anonymous reader writes "A Google engineer visiting Vietnam discovered a large portion of Vietnamese high school students might be able to pass a Google interview. According to TFA (and his blog), students start learning computing as early as grade 2. According to the blogger and another senior engineer, about half of the students in an 11th grade class he visited would be able to make through their interview process. The blogger also mentioned U.S. school boards blocking computer science education. The link he posted backing up his claim goes to a Maryland Public Schools website describing No Child Left Behind technicalities. According to the link, computer science is not considered a core subject. While the blogger provided no substantial evidence of U.S. school boards blocking computer science education, he claimed that students at Galileo Academy had difficulty with the HTML image tag. According to the school's Wikipedia page, by California standards, Galileo seems to be one of the state's better secondary schools."

  2. Stuck Knob Causes Serious Window Damage To Atlantis

    Science · Nasa · · posted by timothy · from the for-want-of-a-nail dept. · 291 comments
    FTL writes "While in orbit a metal knob floated between a window and the dashboard of Atlantis. Once back on Earth, the shuttle contracted, wedging the knob firmly in place and damaging the window. Initial attempts to free the knob have failed and engineers may need six months to disassemble that section of the orbiter. Given that the shuttle program will probably end next year anyway, such a delay might mean scrapping Atlantis early rather than repairing it. Efforts to remove the knob using less invasive techniques continue."

  3. SETI Predicts We'll Find ETs by 2020

    Science · Space · · posted by michael · from the or-they'll-find-us dept. · 780 comments
    FTL writes "Based on the Drake Equation, Moore's Law, and the Allen Telescope, a new prediction has been made that Earth will make first contact with aliens within 20 years. Of course once we find the first aliens there's the question of can we decode their signals, would they spot our reply, and what's the lag time."

  4. 3D Mouse

    Hardware · Hardware · · posted by CmdrTaco · from the and-it-fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand dept. · 203 comments
    FTL writes "Turn an ordinary wheel mouse into a 3D pointing device. All one needs is some string, some hot melt glue, and a lot of math. 3D mice have been floating around for a while, what will it take to get people to use them?"

  5. 3D Mouse

    Hardware · Hardware · · posted by CmdrTaco · from the and-it-fits-in-the-palm-of-your-hand dept. · 203 comments
    FTL writes "Turn an ordinary wheel mouse into a 3D pointing device. All one needs is some string, some hot melt glue, and a lot of math. 3D mice have been floating around for a while, what will it take to get people to use them?"

  6. Mechanical Computing

    Hardware · Hardware · · posted by timothy · from the meccano-punk dept. · 149 comments
    FTL writes "Tim Robinson has built a computer capable of solving polynomial equations -- using Meccano. His difference engine (mirror) uses a similar approach to Babbage's design. He's also created a differential analyzer (mirror) complete with a GUI. Both could be scaled up indefinitely to handle larger problems. 'Computing by steam' is possible."

  7. Orbital Space Plane Problems

    Science · Space · · posted by michael · from the two-tickets-to-the-moon-please dept. · 352 comments
    FTL writes "NASA's next big step in space (after getting the remaining Shuttles flying again) is the construction of the Orbital Space Plane. It is a small vehicle designed to transport people to and from ISS. Jeffrey Bell takes a close look at OSP in this article and comes to the conclusion that it will result in yet another crippled vehicle. Sounds like what people were saying about the Shuttle's problems back when it was being designed."