Slashdot Mirror
Evolving the Social Network
arantius writes "An article on BottomQuark points to a new development: Here's a story about a new start-up Huminity, referred to as the technology of the year. The software they produce combines instant messaging, chat, and social networking. After burning through over $30k of personal funds, the team has now raised millions for their company. We've heard about Friendster recently, but somehow this seems more interesting."
Jamie adds:
Social networking was
in the news
recently because
this patent
apparently covers much of it. It was bought for $700K by the two underdogs and may be used to beat up on Friendster. Don't worry, the guy who wrote
Slashdot's friend-of-friend code
doesn't think we're affected :)
And, for /.ers, we'll have anti-social networking (esp. for the gnaa, goatse.cx, penisbird, and tubgirl trolls :-)
you must be using friendster.
Finally an interface where slower throughput is good...too bad firmware revisions don't last too long!
"Navigating 6 degrees of communication with Huminity's Technology of the Year represents a complete paradigm shift regarding the nature of the net and human social interaction. Exploding the boundaries of what we've know as 'community' thus far in human evolution..."
Admit it, you miss Katz, just a little bit.
:]
Operator, give me the number for 911!
I like it that they're asking us to get naked with them. I guess that's a fast way to get to know new people.
Cease and Desist! You are in violation of the DMCA, and your terror will end now, violator! The lawyers will be knocking on your door in 3... 2...
This is my sig. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
is internet liquor, something that makes you and other people seem wittier and more atractive online than you or they are in real life. You could call it eGoggles, and make it like a forum, only allow people to select questions and responses from a list of quotes by really witty people, and avatars of really attractive people. Then you might have something.
(I can't take credit for this. My brother wrote it)
I think I've come up with a system which will
solve Friendster's database problems:
First you get 2500 chimpanzees, and arrange them
in a 50x50 grid. Each monkey is sitting in front
of a chute which dispenses ripe bananas. Whenever
the Friendster server needs to retrieve a piece
of data, bananas will be dispensed across the
grid in a pattern that represents the parameters
of that database query. Monkeys who do not get
bananas will begin flinging feces at the monkeys
who do get them, and an array of overhead
cameras, connected to an advanced video analysis
system, will extrapolate the vectors and
distribution of said feces.
In another room, these vectors are fed directly
into the cerebral cortex of a stoned teenager in
a Slipknot T-shirt, who is playing Excitebike.
His NES, which has been augmented with
sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms
and has achieved consciousness, uses the input
from the game controller to infer the appropriate
response to the database query, and
telepathically transmits this information to Miss
Cleo.
At this point the user will be prompted to call
Miss Cleo, who will tell them the answer in
highly inauthentic Jamaican patois. This will
cost $2.99 per minute, but there will be several
Kingston rude bwoys standing by Miss Cleo who
will roll 3d6 every time someone calls. If the
result is less than Miss Cleo's saving throw, the
rude bwoys will gang-rape her at knifepoint.
I think this will be a much more efficient system
than whatever the fuck they're doing now.