Slashdot Mirror

garibald gave us the link to an article in the electronic Telegraph about researchers at MIT who have built an interactive AI robot called "Kismet" that is as cute as any George Lucas character, and is supposed to function on the emotional level of a human two-year-old. The cuteness is not gratuitous. As the article makes clear, there is a sound, scientific reason for it. (For pictures, and more technical depth than the Telegraph story, you may want to go directly to Kismet's Web Page.)

Alistair Cunningham writes "The Sunday Telegraph is reporting that the British government is planning to allow voters to vote online at the next general election, in 2001. They hope to use this to overcome voter apathy. I wonder how secure this will be? " I can't wait for this to happen in the US. Voting is a pain- I want to click my way through the election and not have to wait in lines.

irix writes "Interesting point and counter-point about how far game AI has come along. " Or not, as the case maybe. There are times that I'm really impressed with how well computer games can "reason" things out, like Dungeon Keeper for example, and others', like the original Starcraft where I just shake my head. My biggest complaint still comes in how "not-smart" games are with just moving characters in the most efficent path on the screen - if they could just get my movement right, I'd be so happy, I'd scream.

irix writes "Interesting point and counter-point about how far game AI has come along. " Or not, as the case maybe. There are times that I'm really impressed with how well computer games can "reason" things out, like Dungeon Keeper for example, and others', like the original Starcraft where I just shake my head. My biggest complaint still comes in how "not-smart" games are with just moving characters in the most efficent path on the screen - if they could just get my movement right, I'd be so happy, I'd scream.

Several Folks wrote in to send us a link to this British Telegraph article where you can read an article scientists that have been using brain impants to control computers. Currently its just for the handicapped folks willing to take a risk, but someday... wow. Who needs a mouse when I can just will the cursor around. Yum.

Charlie Stross wrote in with this link where you can read about the million dollar replica of Babbage's Difference Engine. Should handle one process per second. We should get a DES2 client for it.