I don't think you understand what is really going on here. This device does not present data that is interpreted by consciousness, like you would by seeing street signs or looking at a GPS. The user isn't deliberately sensing the signals and thinking 'ok, now THAT buzz means i'm going north'. Rather the user senses north in what is better described as 'instinct'.
You don't shiver (move muscles to generate heat) when it is cold because your consciousness thinks "oh, I sense cold--- i should jiggle my muscles to warm up a little". You shiver without control, your are uncontrollably forced to do so by instinct.
The body is an amazing thing. The brain, too. I was recently reading about a camera device that sends signal data to a 'lollipop' that is placed on the tongue of blind people. In short time, the people's brains began to interpret the signals (which are not the same as optical signals at all) as to what it truly was --- and the patients began to see. http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/08/22/2035256
It really amazes me at the ability of the brain to start with some from of stimulus (beit natural or induced) and decipher its relevance.
The difference in what qualifies 'sensory organ' may well be semantics; or maybe we need new definitions to describe these novel apparatus.
In contrast, neurons are not in direct connection, either; neurotransmitters span a space between them called the synaptic cleft. Those neurotransmitters are chemical stimuli; these 'buzzers' are electronic stimuli. There are some differences and none are very clearly understood, but as far as I know we might accomplish the same by 'buzzing' with small and rapid doses of neurotransmitters instead of buzzing.
It is our cultural perception of fun that needs to change, not the foundation of science. Science is shitloads of fun to me --- I get a kick from understanding life to the molecular level and the implications of biotechnology.
My culture told me to like Greenday, watch MTV, and go to school to become a lawyer or a doctor. I'm glad I fought my culture to be myself. My culture is distracted by petty garbage.
My (our) culture is sick, and sadly we're all paying for it.
It's easy to make science-related careers more popular: pay scientists more than poverty-level. Having passion for a career is one thing, but at the end of the day, passion doesn't put food on the table. The paycheck does.
We could also get rid of the monetary system, but the fools we call 'majority' are way too indoctrinated to see out of that complex cloud.
Highly educated and knowledgeable people are waiting like cocked-guns to come up with a better means for coexistence and interaction on Earth; sadly, the money that perverts us is the money that buys guns and lawyers to kill and shut us up.
Education is a major player in the path to utopia and peace.
yeah, and Christian religions aren't promoting hatred around the world either... (other religions promote divisions and hatred too, so don't get all butt hurt here)
I'll make sure and turn a blind eye to reality when I look in the mirror, too. Every time I do wrong, I'll just say 'that's not the real me'.
I"m sick of the extreme minority of 'good' Christians making excuses for the majority by claiming that they aren't christian. I saw them go in your church; they said they are Christian. You are what you are; own it or fix it -- quit pretending it's not real.
I'm not a creationist, but looking at the people around me, I see very little evidence that mankind has evolved.
You don't look at a same species for evolution unless you're looking at minor genetic mutations; you look at histories of change between ancestral and present species.
Look at algae to see evidence of evolution as compared to yourself. Look at other primates and the differences between you and them.
We've definitely evolved beyond algae. And despite the attempt of your joke, I'd like to think that our intelligence is an evolutionary product that distinguishes us from other primates.
As the world continues to make scientific progress (albiet more slowly than theoretically possible, but that is acceptable), it will slowly become increasingly difficult for the unintelligent and uneducated to survive.
All things and people being equal, your point might actually be true. However, with the way that western societies have been doing anything and everything to ensure the survival of the weakest, laziest, most unfit of it's citizens at the expense of the rest of the population, I doubt your premise will come true while those states continue on their march towards socialist, nanny state policies. While social welfare programs tend to give folks a big warm and fuzzy, in the long run, it squeezes any incentive for trying to get ahead in life out of all but the most motivated of individuals. While it is definitely admirable that some individuals will continue to excel regardless of the social structure they find themselves in, this policy will eventually lead to downfall of western civilization as it takes more than just a few girders to hold up an entire bridge.
Can I mod you 'tired old false meme' -1?
And no, no facts for ya this time. I'm sick of telling self-interested pricks whose foundation was built on benefit from community and society, why they should give a shit.
Maybe we're too spoiled to see all the positive things we've gotten from science: cancer therapies, cell phones, the internet, wifi, better foods, better medicines, plastics, medical technology... etc etc etc etc ETC ETC etc etc..
Try not being oversensitive to the facts that question your own belief system -- it is forcing you to miss the actual point -- a point that you have given clues to actually understanding (that all major media in the US, but most largely Fox, is full of b.s. to control perception).
Go back, quit being defensive, and read. This is an amazing post and its a shame you got so upset simply because a part of you was a part of it.
Our first response to someone calling us an asshole is to get angry; it would be nice if instead it was to say 'why?'
I'd say science is not popular because ignorance is easy and science can be inconvenient. It's hard to actually learn things; people are lazy, no doubt. And when those things to learn aren't what you want to hear, that makes it *that* much harder to like.
In today's culture: Science is the 'thing' that keeps making cool things for us to benefit from (convenient). It is also a 'thing' that seems to give contrast between feelings and reality (inconvenient).
We widely accept and trust science when it gives us food, services, and products to enjoy. Now, when the pursuit of truth (science), is not in agreement with the goals of big business (corporations, religions, etc), then we see it ignored.
One way to promote rational thought and keep people in logic is put critical thinking in the K-12 spectrum instead of the college education; make logic/rationality standard education.
Some say to go one step further and consider preventing the influencing of children from being told irrational stories at young ages that will drastically impact their decision-making and ability to be rational.
Ironically, its the people who care very little about the environment that are using the arguments of those short sighted environmentalists to shoot down things like wind-power and hydroelectric generation concepts!
Slashdot Mirror
Sure will be fun watching all those people who won't eat a GM tomato line up for gene therapy that fixes the particular problem they have...
... i know... the ignorance amazes.
nuff' said
suck it and you'll see the light.
I don't think 12 year olds and passive agressive green weenies were the target audience.
oh... I thought it might be pertinent to promote exercise and clean transportation in a country of lazy obese and environmentally reckless people.
I guess your assumptions tell me where you fit in, lazy ass fatty. Am I passive still?
I don't think you understand what is really going on here. This device does not present data that is interpreted by consciousness, like you would by seeing street signs or looking at a GPS. The user isn't deliberately sensing the signals and thinking 'ok, now THAT buzz means i'm going north'. Rather the user senses north in what is better described as 'instinct'.
You don't shiver (move muscles to generate heat) when it is cold because your consciousness thinks "oh, I sense cold--- i should jiggle my muscles to warm up a little". You shiver without control, your are uncontrollably forced to do so by instinct.
China, a country, broke into a hotel room and stole blackberrys?
please reword...
didn't you mean 'stick it on our bikes'???
The body is an amazing thing. The brain, too. I was recently reading about a camera device that sends signal data to a 'lollipop' that is placed on the tongue of blind people. In short time, the people's brains began to interpret the signals (which are not the same as optical signals at all) as to what it truly was --- and the patients began to see. http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/08/22/2035256
It really amazes me at the ability of the brain to start with some from of stimulus (beit natural or induced) and decipher its relevance.
The difference in what qualifies 'sensory organ' may well be semantics; or maybe we need new definitions to describe these novel apparatus.
In contrast, neurons are not in direct connection, either; neurotransmitters span a space between them called the synaptic cleft. Those neurotransmitters are chemical stimuli; these 'buzzers' are electronic stimuli. There are some differences and none are very clearly understood, but as far as I know we might accomplish the same by 'buzzing' with small and rapid doses of neurotransmitters instead of buzzing.
Dude, just admit you're wrong and move on. There is no shame in being corrected; shame is for those who will not be.
This sounds to have the promise of unlocked ECUs for better tuning!
awesome.
I know the guy who made the blue frog on the Azureus startup screen.... and it wasn't for Azureus.
lol.
I read this blog yesterday on physorg.com and I can tell you straight up that the title here on slashdot is very misleading.
It sounds a little too exaggerated.
I guess you didn't see out of the cloud either.
Money perverts humanity.
It is our cultural perception of fun that needs to change, not the foundation of science. Science is shitloads of fun to me --- I get a kick from understanding life to the molecular level and the implications of biotechnology.
My culture told me to like Greenday, watch MTV, and go to school to become a lawyer or a doctor. I'm glad I fought my culture to be myself. My culture is distracted by petty garbage.
My (our) culture is sick, and sadly we're all paying for it.
It's easy to make science-related careers more popular: pay scientists more than poverty-level. Having passion for a career is one thing, but at the end of the day, passion doesn't put food on the table. The paycheck does.
We could also get rid of the monetary system, but the fools we call 'majority' are way too indoctrinated to see out of that complex cloud.
Highly educated and knowledgeable people are waiting like cocked-guns to come up with a better means for coexistence and interaction on Earth; sadly, the money that perverts us is the money that buys guns and lawyers to kill and shut us up.
Education is a major player in the path to utopia and peace.
yeah, and Christian religions aren't promoting hatred around the world either... (other religions promote divisions and hatred too, so don't get all butt hurt here)
I'll make sure and turn a blind eye to reality when I look in the mirror, too. Every time I do wrong, I'll just say 'that's not the real me'.
I"m sick of the extreme minority of 'good' Christians making excuses for the majority by claiming that they aren't christian. I saw them go in your church; they said they are Christian. You are what you are; own it or fix it -- quit pretending it's not real.
I'm not a creationist, but looking at the people around me, I see very little evidence that mankind has evolved.
You don't look at a same species for evolution unless you're looking at minor genetic mutations; you look at histories of change between ancestral and present species.
Look at algae to see evidence of evolution as compared to yourself. Look at other primates and the differences between you and them.
We've definitely evolved beyond algae. And despite the attempt of your joke, I'd like to think that our intelligence is an evolutionary product that distinguishes us from other primates.
As the world continues to make scientific progress (albiet more slowly than theoretically possible, but that is acceptable), it will slowly become increasingly difficult for the unintelligent and uneducated to survive.
All things and people being equal, your point might actually be true. However, with the way that western societies have been doing anything and everything to ensure the survival of the weakest, laziest, most unfit of it's citizens at the expense of the rest of the population, I doubt your premise will come true while those states continue on their march towards socialist, nanny state policies. While social welfare programs tend to give folks a big warm and fuzzy, in the long run, it squeezes any incentive for trying to get ahead in life out of all but the most motivated of individuals. While it is definitely admirable that some individuals will continue to excel regardless of the social structure they find themselves in, this policy will eventually lead to downfall of western civilization as it takes more than just a few girders to hold up an entire bridge.
Can I mod you 'tired old false meme' -1?
And no, no facts for ya this time. I'm sick of telling self-interested pricks whose foundation was built on benefit from community and society, why they should give a shit.
So I'll just say STFU and move on. STFU.
Maybe we're too spoiled to see all the positive things we've gotten from science: cancer therapies, cell phones, the internet, wifi, better foods, better medicines, plastics, medical technology... etc etc etc etc ETC ETC etc etc..
etc all day.
You missed the point.
Try not being oversensitive to the facts that question your own belief system -- it is forcing you to miss the actual point -- a point that you have given clues to actually understanding (that all major media in the US, but most largely Fox, is full of b.s. to control perception).
Go back, quit being defensive, and read. This is an amazing post and its a shame you got so upset simply because a part of you was a part of it.
Our first response to someone calling us an asshole is to get angry; it would be nice if instead it was to say 'why?'
I'd say science is not popular because ignorance is easy and science can be inconvenient. It's hard to actually learn things; people are lazy, no doubt. And when those things to learn aren't what you want to hear, that makes it *that* much harder to like.
In today's culture: Science is the 'thing' that keeps making cool things for us to benefit from (convenient). It is also a 'thing' that seems to give contrast between feelings and reality (inconvenient).
We widely accept and trust science when it gives us food, services, and products to enjoy. Now, when the pursuit of truth (science), is not in agreement with the goals of big business (corporations, religions, etc), then we see it ignored.
One way to promote rational thought and keep people in logic is put critical thinking in the K-12 spectrum instead of the college education; make logic/rationality standard education.
Some say to go one step further and consider preventing the influencing of children from being told irrational stories at young ages that will drastically impact their decision-making and ability to be rational.
Interesting. I see what you mean.
I suppose the problem is in prioritization --- understanding what concerns have the most value.
Ironically, its the people who care very little about the environment that are using the arguments of those short sighted environmentalists to shoot down things like wind-power and hydroelectric generation concepts!
Oh! The birds!! Lets just stick with oil...