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Platform-Independent Real-Time Speech Technology

Odin's Raven writes "Opera Software's R-and-D department today announced the discovery of a new technology dubbed 'Opera SoundWave' - a platform-independent speech solution for short- and medium-range interpersonal communication. Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending P2P speech technology uses analogue signals carried through open air, enabling users to communicate in real- time without the use of computers or mobile phones. Details (including link to tech preview) are available in their press release. I wonder how long it will be before a FOSS implementation of this technology emerges?"

139 comments

  1. April Fool's... by DeafDumbBlind · · Score: 1, Redundant

    It's a joke

    --


    Jesus used to be my co-pilot, but we crashed in the mountains and I had to eat him.
    1. Re:April Fool's... by REggert · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, really?

      --

      cp /dev/zero ~/signature.txt

    2. Re:April Fool's... by programmermatt · · Score: 1

      Slashdot: News For Nerds. Stuff that Matters. But don't expect crap on April first!

      --
      There are those...
    3. Re:April Fool's... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ya think??

    4. Re:April Fool's... by nomadic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's not a joke. Jokes are supposed to be funny.

    5. Re:April Fool's... by wernercd · · Score: 1

      http://www.technewsworld.com/story/41942.html Good article on this April Fools joke.

    6. Re:April Fool's... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      u r stupid.

    7. Re:April Fool's... by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

      My Submission 'Slashdotter gets laid' was rejected. CmdrTaco explained that no one would believe it.

      --
      See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
    8. Re:April Fool's... by aldousd666 · · Score: 1

      you're certainly not being sarcastic.

      --
      Speak for yourself.
    9. Re:April Fool's... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, and a too fucking obvious one at that... come on, we're geeks, can't we make a sophisticated April's Fools trickery?

    10. Re:April Fool's... by faitzy · · Score: 1

      Here I am sitting reading slashdot thinking that the jokes are over as it's well past noon (yah know it's bad luck for April fool's jokes past noon). But wait... it's only past noon in EST zone; we've got over 4 hours till some geek on a science vessel somewhere in the middle of the pacific frantically types out his post to Slashdot "gotta get in the last joke... gotta get in the last joke"

      --
      Score:-1, Zoom, right over moderator's head.
    11. Re:April Fool's... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > My Submission 'Slashdotter gets laid' was rejected. CmdrTaco explained that no one would believe it.

      Does CmdrTaco ever explain something to deceived submitters ?

    12. Re:April Fool's... by MyLongNickName · · Score: 1

      Yes. Doesn't he send you personal e-mails too? I'm still waiting for his annual Christmas card like my friends get.

      --
      See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
    13. Re:April Fool's... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, this day seems to be just a "one big joke"..

      So what about that this @ osdl!
      "Microsoft joins OSDL"...

      Ohhh wait:
      http://www.newsforge.com/articles/05/03/31/1219223 .shtml?tid=149

    14. Re:April Fool's... by kiddailey · · Score: 1


      At least that would have been funny!

    15. Re:April Fool's... by Peyna · · Score: 2, Informative

      Jokes are supposed to be funny, April Fool's jokes are not.

      --
      What?
  2. Voice? by BMazurek · · Score: 1

    Sounds like talking (short range) or yelling (mid-range) to me...

    *sigh* When will this all end?

    1. Re:Voice? by maotx · · Score: 1

      *sigh* When will this all end?

      Tomorrow?

      --
      I'm a virgo and on Slashdot. Coincidence? Yes.
    2. Re:Voice? by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Don't complain too much. The year they did dupes all day long was worse.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    3. Re:Voice? by Flendon · · Score: 1

      Don't worry. Next year you will only have to put up with dupes of all of this years jokes.

      --
      chown -R us ./base
  3. What'll they think of next? by Limburgher · · Score: 5, Funny

    VOIP-over-sneakernet?

    --

    You are not the customer.

    1. Re:What'll they think of next? by DarkMantle · · Score: 1

      Then it would be VOSN wouldn't it?

      --
      DarkMantle I been bored, so I started a blog.
    2. Re:What'll they think of next? by cyclopropene · · Score: 2, Funny
      VOIP-over-sneakernet?
      I think IPOV would be the logical extension in this case...
      --
      Shouldn't you be doing something useful?
    3. Re:What'll they think of next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh god, if I had mod points I would mod you up, this is pretty much the only time I laughed out loud from a slashdot comment.

    4. Re:What'll they think of next? by GileadGreene · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, it would still be VOIP - assuming of course that you actually used the IP in your Sneakernet transactions. Sneakernet merely provides the physical and datalink layers.

    5. Re:What'll they think of next? by corngrower · · Score: 1

      Is this related to long hall communications?

    6. Re:What'll they think of next? by hobbesx · · Score: 2, Funny
      VOIP-over-snerkernet?


      Can't wait 'til my deskmate gets my e-mail about this!

      --
      This rating is Unfair ( ) ( ) Fair (*) Funny
      Sigh... If only. Modding would be so much more fun.
  4. That's nothing. by FlyByPC · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm working on a platform-independent speech-to-text system, complete with OCR technology. It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

    --
    Paleotechnologist and connoisseur of pretty shiny things.
    1. Re:That's nothing. by GuardianAngus · · Score: 1

      In almost all cases, such efforts have only been successful as collaborative efforts - A typical generalization for the Slashdot crowd member is that we work alone, by choice or circumstance, in such matters. Perhaps it is just that you are new here.

      Either way, I wish you the best in your efforts.

    2. Re:That's nothing. by Ironsides · · Score: 1

      I'm working on a platform-independent speech-to-text system, complete with OCR technology. It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

      So where did you get the million monkeys from?

      --
      Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
    3. Re:That's nothing. by zarr · · Score: 1
      It's all based on a massively parallel implementation of biotech.

      I once did something similar, using a genetic algorightm to evolve a neural network. It didn't work very well though...

  5. Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending by oliverthered · · Score: 1

    Oh how I with there was a GPL for standards.

    I hope this isn't another, 'people use translators to talk to each other' so lets patent people use 'electronic' translators to talk to each other.

    --
    thank God the internet isn't a human right.
  6. Slashdot, you are really pushing by simgod · · Score: 2, Interesting

    it too far with this 1. April... :(

    1. Re:Slashdot, you are really pushing by ChaosCube · · Score: 1

      Lighten up a little. Situations we are faced with every day are, for the most part: total crap, a waste of time, not worth stessing over, useless, and total crap.

      Since our lives are filled with so much uselessness, realize that most of what goes on truly does not matter and laugh at things. You'll see your life getting better almost immediately.

      --
      BDR Gear
      Outdoor gear, MREs, and more!
  7. This is getting stupid... by tyroneking · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...I mean how many more april fools jokes do we have to put up with? Who the hell are Opera?

    1. Re:This is getting stupid... by ChaosCube · · Score: 1

      You, ma'am, are a truly sad individual if you cannot appreciate some simple humor. Did you actually read the article? It is quite obviously rediculous, but entertaining anyway.

      Let go of your stress, ma'am, as it clearly holds you prisoner.

      --
      BDR Gear
      Outdoor gear, MREs, and more!
  8. Cat got your tongue? (something important seems... by null+etc. · · Score: 1, Funny
    "Opera Software's R-and-D department today announced the discovery of a new technology dubbed 'Opera SoundWave' - a platform-independent speech solution for short - and medium-range interpersonal communication.

    How can someone "discover" a new technology that they actual developed? It's not like discovering a new element or planet.

    Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pending P2P speech technology uses analogue signals carried through open air, enabling users to communicate in real- time without the use of computers or mobile phones.

    I claim prior art! I've been using analogue signals carried through open air to communicate with users for the past 30 years!

  9. Enough already by int19h · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's call it a day.

    1. Re:Enough already by jez9999 · · Score: 1

      "April Fools'"?

    2. Re:Enough already by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      How about:

      The Feast of Maximum Occupancy

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    3. Re:Enough already by DrEldarion · · Score: 1

      Oh come on, is it too much to ask for one day of fun? Is the stuff posted on Slashdot really THAT important that you can't go a day without real articles?

    4. Re:Enough already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is the stuff posted on Slashdot really THAT important that you can't go a day without real articles?

      You don't read Slashdot much do you?

  10. At least make it Believable. by sglider · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Come on guys, now you are just wasting bandwidth.

    --
    War isn't about who's right. It's about who's left.
    1. Re:At least make it Believable. by youknowmewell · · Score: 1

      Not really. Have you seen the amount of comments for the last few news items? Have you seen the amount of moderation going on?

  11. Patent Pending? by deutschemonte · · Score: 3, Funny

    On Human to Human speech?

    I would laugh if I didn't think a corporation has probably already tried to patent this.

    --
    The preceding message was based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed.
  12. I'm using it to pirate music by bonch · · Score: 0, Funny

    I'm currently pirating my music collection to my friends using this brand-new technology, but they keep throwing things at me and telling me to stop hurting their ears with my singing voice.

    1. Re:I'm using it to pirate music by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank God that +funny mods don't get you any karma.

      Karma whore.

    2. Re:I'm using it to pirate music by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Angry that you ran out of mod points?

    3. Re:I'm using it to pirate music by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have no idea what you're talking about.

      BTW, nice to see you back at -1, jerk.

  13. Sounds like M$ has a case for prior art by eviloverlordx · · Score: 2, Funny

    I seem to remember The Balmer talking about MS Speech '90 a few years back. Sounds like a lawsuit to me.

    --
    'Loose' is when your pants are three sizes too big. 'Lose' is when you misuse 'loose'.
  14. Well then . . . . by failure-man · · Score: 1

    I'd better patent "writing documents without the assistance of electronic devices" and "interpersonal communication without the use of vibrations in a gaseous medium." Proving prior art on these would be more trouble than it'd be worth . . . .

  15. a related project by FidelCatsro · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was reading up on a company called sutech who had developed a short range communications transfer technology powerd by Dead plant matter .
    It involves superheating the matter and using a blanketing system to shape the output

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
    1. Re:a related project by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Hahah I get it now .. Smoke signals
      Thats all we need , another april fools joke

    2. Re:a related project by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      I'm working of this idea for sending signals across the galaxy. It involves modulating inhabited planets with a large space station. So far the project is stalled with the problem that the planet modulations tend to be "one shot". Also, the signal is usually received as millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror rather than the pin-drop we were aiming for.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    3. Re:a related project by FidelCatsro · · Score: 1

      The main problem i can see with this project is the so called "proton torpedo" effect which ports some exhaust design feedback issues, more than just being one shot , the space station will tend to explode in on itself after sending the inital shot , This tends to have some long term effects like the BOH and carbonite han problem and ussualy some empirocal damage .
      the worst of these problems though tends to be the "phantom menace effect" which is belived to be a coruption of the space time continuum , basicaly it is belived that it has a sucking effect on atleast 2 sequalar events (possibly 3)
      but good luck to you

      --
      The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  16. Gather ye Rosebuds by Mrs.+Grundy · · Score: 1

    Well opera should enjoy this discovery while they can. I predict in a matter of moments they will be getting the cease and desist letter from Microsoft who patented this technology in the 70s.

    1. Re:Gather ye Rosebuds by deutschemonte · · Score: 1

      When was Microsoft founded again?

      --
      The preceding message was based on actual events. Only the names, locations and events have been changed.
    2. Re:Gather ye Rosebuds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's for the lawyers to decide.

  17. Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems by ShadeEagle · · Score: 1

    I claim prior art more prior than yours. My Grandma's been using this method since the early 1920s.

  18. Done! by UWC · · Score: 1
    It's taken me all morning, but I think I've managed to reverse engineer Opera's implementation using common room-temperature air at approximately 1 atmosphere.

    I'll release it under the GPL. And I'll call it something catchy and commercially respectable, like Gnuvoc. Nah, that'll never work. Maybe Goice or Galk. Businesses everywhere will be Galking it up by year's end.

  19. Anouncement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    T5 T5 T5 T5 T5 T5N4N4T5 T5 T5 T5N4N4T5 T5FG36
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    1. Re:Anouncement by selfdiscipline · · Score: 2, Insightful

      sweet, succulent jesus!

      --


      -------
      Incite and flee.
  20. I don't mind the April Fool's Stuff by stlhawkeye · · Score: 1

    I mind that none of it is clever or funny. Much like this post.

    --
    "I have never won a debate with an ignorant person." -Ali ibn Abi Talib
  21. Keep the articles coming.. by hass · · Score: 1

    I love April Fools Day!

  22. You know it's only a matter of time before .... by KSobby · · Score: 5, Funny

    You know it's only a matter of time before some idiot comes along and figures out a way to amplify the signal and then start spamming us from a "soapbox" (TM - patent pending) with this crap.

    --
    "It's difficult to meditate on amphetamines." - Joe Walsh
  23. Look at todays date by Zaai · · Score: 1

    Hahaha, nice one :)

  24. Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems by sumdumass · · Score: 2, Funny

    well i have the binary prior art locked up too. just the other day my wife an i reverted to this special technoligy to discus how much it was going to takle to fix the car. she replied 1100.

  25. Eolas already has patented this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    realtime P2P speech w/o electronic assist, apparently it was developed back when Bill Joy was at UC Berkeley

  26. Port to Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hopefully they'll have it ported to linux soon. Then we can have the analogue signal for FREE!!!

  27. Incopatiblity issues by mochman · · Score: 2, Funny

    I tried using this once with the opposite sex. Who would have known she incorporated the Slap interface. Ouch.

    1. Re:Incopatiblity issues by game+kid · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately our Fairer Sex SDK, while freely available, can only be fully experienced by licensed customers. Our proprietary Slap interface secures Fairer Sex and protects our intellectual property rights, to ensure that our trusted licensees can enjoy their experience.

      Consider buying a commercial license today, or see the development platforms available to our subscribers.

      --Dr. Neil Clark Warren

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
  28. Ugh... by lcde · · Score: 1

    So. Just like typical slashot, there are a bunch of drones prawling the internet looking for stories. Grabbing anything that will get their names on the front page.

    --
    :%s/teh/the/g
    1. Re:Ugh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just like typical slashdot, there have to be bitchy comments from dorks who don't have anything better to do with their time than read slashdot complaining about it because they didn't think of it first.

    2. Re:Ugh... by lcde · · Score: 1

      hehe... cute AC.

      --
      :%s/teh/the/g
  29. Patent infringement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I developed it first, but until now my patent has been under NDA so I couldn't talk about it. Now I'm going to sue.

  30. It will be abused, no doubt about it by lildogie · · Score: 3, Funny

    Before long, the analog air waves will be clogged with sex-related content. And advertising.

    1. Re:It will be abused, no doubt about it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Best comment ever

  31. I didn't read the RTFA, but by ajlitt · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...can someone tell me what this SPEECH thing is? And why should I care? Sheesh, you people think everyone's heard of this terminology, but you're wrong.

  32. This on was the first... by stiebing.ja · · Score: 1

    ...one of todays jokes I liked, thanks.

    Sounds like a real good invention for most /.-ers, I think.

    --
    I lag
  33. Re: Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pendin by saintp · · Score: 1
    My GOD, man! If the calendar didn't tip you off, the last 10 stories should have.

    I swear, the people who consistently fail to get the jokes are even more annoying than the constant jokes.

  34. Great, more P2P tech for the courts to argue over by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In today's world, this will probably not be 'free'.

  35. Damn april 1st by Carlbunn · · Score: 0, Troll

    Anybody else Hates slashdot in april's fool? Hey, I'm all for the fun.. but, damn it, this is a news site!

  36. come on... by evoltap · · Score: 1

    I turned on my computer, looked at /., saw this article, was intrigued, read the article.....and got totally played......you guys need to jump start your sense of humor! I didn't remember it was april freakin fools.....i kept waiting like an idiot for them to explain how the hell it worked.

    1. Re:come on... by SkjeggApe · · Score: 1

      You obviously didn't try the demo:

      Soundwave Demo

  37. Long time coming by mr_z_beeblebrox · · Score: 1

    I wonder how long it will be before a FOSS implementation of this technology emerges?

    Since most FOSS developers lack "wetware" (stole that word I did) peers it will continue in its current proprietary state.

    1. Re:Long time coming by SmokeHalo · · Score: 1

      (stole that word I did)

      Hmm, English like Yoda you speak. :)

      --
      I'm not good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. - Q
    2. Re:Long time coming by renehollan · · Score: 1

      Oh, did they forget to patent the "Directional Organic Transducer?". There may be hope for a FOSS implementation then, necessary for this to work. I'll start on the "Movable Organic Universal Text Handler", or MOUTH, right away. Look for a Sourceforge project soon, and contribute!

      --
      You could've hired me.
  38. Re: Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pendin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I live in Japan you insensitive clod.

  39. Wrong... by TiggertheMad · · Score: 1

    It's a joke

    No it isn't. Jokes are funny.

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  40. I just patented... by Tablizer · · Score: 1

    ...stupid April Fool's e-jokes. Slashdot now owes me royalty payments :-)

  41. Tunneling by timlewis_atlanta · · Score: 2, Funny

    You can overcome the 100 foot limitation by tunneling it over traditional phone lines, or even VOIP lines, although you may require a speakerphone at the other end. Another tunneling option might be this http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt, but I suspect there may be some latency issues.

  42. Thank you King Canute by jfengel · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You can shout at the waves but they're not turning back. Give up for another twelve hours and come back tomorrow.

    At least this year they're linking to other people's jokes. A few years ago they did the deliberate dup gag and tell me THAT didn't get old fast.

  43. Inherently Vulnerable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Opera is certainly aware that this will be hacked in no time.

  44. Oooh! OOOOOH! *DROOL* *STUMBLE* *GASP* by rawyin · · Score: 1

    I hope they release the patent so everyone can use it! Oh this is so exciting.

    And here I've been throwing pieces of paper at my co-workers for years with little messages put on them. I wonder if I can patent that too.

  45. How does VOIPOSN work? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, do they just shout out:

    "one, one, zero, one ,zero, one ,one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one ,one, ..."

  46. Patent Pending?-SEX. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "On Human to Human speech?

    I would laugh if I didn't think a corporation has probably already tried to patent this."

    Just be glad no one's tried to patent Sex.

    Anyway, OSS Festival does really well in the speech department.

    1. Re:Patent Pending?-SEX. by TheRaven64 · · Score: 1
      Just be glad no one's tried to patent Sex.

      Oh, like that would affect the Slashdot crowd.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  47. HAHAHAHA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I fucking hate you guys.

  48. HEY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I mean, do they just shout out:

    "one, one, zero, one ,zero, one ,one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one, one, one, zero, one ,zero, one ,one, ..."

    YOU TAKE THAT BACK, OR ELSE!!

    1. Re:HEY!!! by DjMd · · Score: 1

      You were offended by...
      ×]u


      --
      DJMD - The fourth man - Planetary
    2. Re:HEY!!! by DjMd · · Score: 1

      Now I can see being mad about
      "zero, one, one, zero, zero, one, one, zero, zero, one, one, one, zero, one, zero, one"


      Thems fighting words ^H^H^H^H^H err letters...

      --
      DJMD - The fourth man - Planetary
  49. i knew it was fake by captainwinky79 · · Score: 1

    cause Opera supposedly made it. Only thing I've seen from them recently are ads embedded in their browser and a bad April fools joke.

  50. STOP WITH THE WHINING by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll just mod this myself so others don't have to.
    Score:-5, Flaming Trollbait

    I am SO sick of hearing people bitch on slashdot! If you have a problem, email the moderators or something, but I really don't want to sift through your repetetive crap every bloody time I read the commentary on an article. I'm looking for INSIGHTFUL, INFORMATIVE, and sometimes FUNNY comments... instead I see "Oh Michael did this again!! I so hate him!" It's like a bunch of damn school girls.

    All you negative posters pull the stick out of your ass, it's a bloody joke!! "Wah wah wah, I can't believe you post this crap." It's April Fool's Day, this is what happens on April 1st. If you don't like it then don't come to the site.

  51. Wow... by revery · · Score: 1

    I'm speechless...

    1. Re:Wow... by corngrower · · Score: 1
      I'm speechless...

      It appears that they've still got a bug or two to work out with this system.

  52. No Fucking Shit Day by first.last · · Score: 0

    We know.

    --
    Wishing I was a millionaire since 1969.
  53. Another way to increase the distance by corngrower · · Score: 1

    Here's a link to a device that can extend the range of communication. http://www.califone.com/product_info.php?cPath=40& products_id=99

  54. What next? by slickwillie · · Score: 1

    Geez, the next thing you know those wizards will invent some way to send speech over some kind of electromagnetic gizmo for long distances. Then comes the music and other stuff. Then comes the rightwing nutcase talk shows. Where will it all end?

  55. Sounds fine to me by Balaurul · · Score: 1

    The technical aspects seem to be sound and well spoken. But, I have my doubts. Anyway, What is today's date? ;)

  56. That's it. I'm quitting slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I wonder how long it will be before a FOSS implementation of this technology emerges?

    I wonder how long it will be before slashdot editors all die a horible death?

    First the Apple fan boys hijack this place. Then these April fool publicity stints from Big Corps. Slashdot isn't half of what it was back when men had backbones.

  57. Yeesh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So apparently we have to wait until noon Pacific time before we start getting actual articles...

  58. Got a frog in your pocket? by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 1

    we're geeks, can't we make a sophisticated April's Fools trickery?

    We? What you mean by we, kemo sabe?

    Or maybe you're just saving your special talents for another year.

  59. You said it best by first.last · · Score: 0

    "I am SO sick of hearing people bitch on slashdot!"

    "If you don't like it then don't come to the site."

    Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on your way out.

    --
    Wishing I was a millionaire since 1969.
  60. The un funny bit is... by NoMercy · · Score: 1

    When the US Pattent office grants the pattent on it to Opera :/

  61. They have finally discovered... by AaronBenage · · Score: 0

    ...Speech!
    analogue signals carried through open air, enabling users to communicate in real- time without the use of computers or mobile phones.

    --
    "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -
  62. What use is this to technologists? by Gax · · Score: 1

    It's a nice idea, but I can't see any practical implementations. Like many computer users, I avoid conversation by sending an e-mail or IM to people sitting across the room.

  63. Use whisper mode by marcus · · Score: 1

    They say that it uses the least bandwidth. However it only works over short distances and requires a good signal to noise ratio.

    OTOH, in addition to needing little bandwidth, it is also secure against all forms of "Man in the Middle" attacks without needing to resort to private key technologies.

    Another exciting form that is currently under test for the conventional vocalization mode is a range extending technology that consists of a resonating cavity at each node with the cavities attached together by a high efficiency molecular displacement transmission medium. This system is unique in that it can support both point to point as well as multi-point star configuration networks. The combination of the resonating cavities and the proprietary transmission medium improves the signal to noise ratio and thus the potential distance over which reliable data transfers can made. Several of these point to point or multipoint networks can coexist in the same physical environment(the engineers call it "being in earshot of each other") and still carry on simultaneous, independent "conversations" which would be impossible due to mutual interference if the standard "air" transmission medium was used. John E. Stroaker, CTO of QuikWrist Technologies, says this technology is expected to be especially useful for handheld applications since it uses no additional power to achieve the extended range.

    --
    Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement.
    - W. Wriston, former Citibank CEO
  64. This just in! by MHobbit · · Score: 1

    Slashdot has been taken over by a band of rabid monkeys in a successful coup d'etat attempt! Slashdot will now be a place where monkey pr0n will run rampant!

    And on other news, Microsoft has turned its back on commercial software, and is making Windows open-source!

    --
    Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Bugs are good for building character in the user.
  65. Wait! There's actually something funny here! by Parity · · Score: 1

    At first it looks like just another tired
    April Fool's press release, but if you click
    through to the demo...

    SoundWave Demo

    For a demo of SoundWave, Opera's P2P real-time voice technology, simply ask someone in your vicinity the following question:
    "What is today's date?"

    I found that refreshing, and worthy of a smile and
    a small snerk. That's more humor than anything else
    posted today has had!

    --Parity None

    --
    --Parity
    'Card carrying' member of the EFF.
  66. Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems by TheJavaGuy · · Score: 1
    How can someone "discover" a new technology that they actual developed? It's not like discovering a new element or planet.

    The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered during an R&D study to speech-enable Opera's e-mail client. One of Opera's desktop developers needed to find an alternative way to relay a message to his colleague at a time when the e-mail server was down, and was startled to notice that his verbal outcry was intercepted and understood immediately.

    --
    Opera Watch - An Opera browser blog.
  67. Discovered... by TheJavaGuy · · Score: 1

    The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered during an R&D study to speech-enable Opera's e-mail client. One of Opera's desktop developers needed to find an alternative way to relay a message to his colleague at a time when the e-mail server was down, and was startled to notice that his verbal outcry was intercepted and understood immediately. (From the press release).

    --
    Opera Watch - An Opera browser blog.
  68. And in related news... by projectVORTEX · · Score: 1

    "Opera Computer Techs Discover Outside"
    Opera's computer technicians made an amazing discovery today -- they learned that there actually exists an outside world beyond the one they know and inhabit. This outside world has blue skies with white fluffy clouds and green grass (ignoring the pavement, cars, etc.)

  69. Re: Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pendin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that doesn't mean its not april first.

  70. This one was actually funny by rve · · Score: 1

    Slashdot just makes them annoying by posting about a dozen such stories on one page every year

  71. I, for one... by Brazilian+Joe · · Score: 1

    ...welcome our new analog signals carried through open air Platform-Independent Real-Time Speech Technology overlords...

  72. That sounds like microsoft practice by noamsml · · Score: 1

    opera would take it from somewhere else, make it more famous, wait until it is implemented in every possible browser, and then claim they invented it.

  73. Any one of these articles would have been cute... by Sethseekstruth · · Score: 1

    but all day nothing but jokes strikes me as overkill

    --
    http://www.geocities.com/sethseekstruth/great_outd oors.html
  74. Remembrance by Klivian · · Score: 1

    This actually reminds me of first time I saw e-mail in use. We was doing a small programming part in a project (high school level, back in 89 or so:-) and need verification of some details concerning the protocol on a signal stream from a radar installation. Our teacher wrote and sent a mail asking, and about 2 minutes later we heard the one he mailed to yelling "Yes" from down the other end of the corridor. I recall I was rather impressed by this new technology at the time:-)

  75. I can't wait till by Some_Llama · · Score: 1

    they develop an interface for "non-standard" communication protocols so I can understand what the hell george bush is trying to say....

  76. Re:Cat got your tongue? (something important seems by null+etc. · · Score: 1
    The new SoundWave technology was accidentally discovered

    I hate to split hairs, but a technology cannot be discovered. A phenomenon can be discovered, and technology can implement that phenomenon, but unless you're discovering a technological implementation made by someone else, it's not discovery.

  77. it's not platform-independent by kryptik_79 · · Score: 1

    I was very disappointed when I tested this new technology under the "Quebec" platform...

    Although it appeared to be working properly on my end, the "Quebec" technologies where somehow incompatible.

  78. They better be careful..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They better be careful with the release - SCO or Microsoft has probably already filed for a patent....

  79. I have seen a similar project by ShivasEye · · Score: 1

    I am sure I have seen something similar, and it had a much better title than Opera Soundwave.. It was the Global Open Source Shared Independent Platform Evocation and Responder

  80. Re: Based on open standards, Opera's patent-pendin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Japan is +10, the USA is -7 that's 17 hours difference.

    So when it's 7am April the first in US, is April the 2nd in Japan. It is no longer April 1st.

    Select the box that says Afghanistan and press U three times.