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Incorporating Machine Learning into Firefox 2.0?

Posted by Cliff on from the innovative-thinkers-wanted dept.

blakeross asks: "I will be doing research this summer at Stanford with Professor Andrew Ng about how we can incorporate machine learning into Firefox. As we work to finish up Firefox 1.0, we're also seeking ideas that will make Firefox 2.0 blow every other browser out of the water. People who come up with the best 3-5 ideas that involve the use of machine learning will win Gmail accounts, and if we implement your idea you'll be acknowledged in both our paper and in Firefox credits. Your idea will also be appreciated by the millions of people who use Firefox. We'll also entertain Thunderbird proposals. See my weblog post for more details; I'll read all comments posted in response to this story or to my weblog."

5 of 806 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I have a better proposal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Damn right!

    Looks like these guys are just looking for a place to dump their thesis after they finish.

    Thanks but no thanks.

    A browser doesn't really need machine learning as far as I'm concerned.

    If you want to waste a shitload of resources and bloat up some app add machine learning to emacs or something but not my browser!

  2. MOST IMPORTANT... by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 5, Insightful
    ...include an option to TURN IT OFF.

    I hate it when anything software tries to "predict". I don't want it. Please make sure it has an OFF button. Seriously. Thank you.

  3. Do you even know what machine learning is? by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Here's an example:

    Bayesian filtering

    Thunderbird wouldn't be the same without it. Does it drag your system to a halt? Nope.

    I'd be awfully surprised if anything real CPU intensive would ever be installed into Firefox by default. Give these guys some credit.

    --
    Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
    1. Re:Do you even know what machine learning is? by SpootFinallyRegister · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, I do know what machine learning is, and I have to agree with the original poster. Not because there aren't potential uses for machine learning in a web browser, but because this is a fundamentally wrong way to develop software.

      Useful solutions to problems arise by developing solutions to problems, not by developing solutions and trying to shoehorn them into existing solutions. Create what you need -- dont create need to fit your ideas.

      Carving a square peg and wandering around a city to see where it fits makes much less sense than finding teh hole you need filled, and carving the peg to match.

  4. remember username/password after successful by chocolatetrumpet · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't ask me if I want to remember a username/password combo until AFTER the login has been successful.

    --
    Spoon not. Fork, or fork not. There is no spoon.