If the new requirements give some companies "image problems" it could actually succeed in reducing tantalum usage.
There is probably some relationship here with the current trend of high valued ceramic capacitors. You can easily find 100 uF ceramic caps in a form factor smaller then the same value tantalum and the cost is comparable.
The end result here (as always) is consumers paying more for some products.
The problem with cash is the number of places that accept this form of payment is shrinking rapidly. I see a day in the near future where your only 2 options for Highway/Bridge tolls are Tolltag and Pay-By-Mail (They photograph your plates and mail you the bill).
But no matter how you pay, you are still being photographed, not only as you approach and depart, but also while you pass the toll booth. Check out those vertical cameras at ALL of the SF Bay toll plazas.
> its like the idiots who think the supermarkets are tracking them personally with the loyalty cards. stores want aggregate data and > purchase bundles to do loss leader promotions. they really couldn't care what you buy personally
Agreed, the supermarkets are interested in aggregate data. But they also keep the individual purchase data. This came out recently in a food poisoning case where the authorities used loyalty card data to narrow down what food was contaminated and the source (Medscape.com).
Just because aggregate data is the current stated goal, new data uses could easily appear. Then what?
I agree with the parent, reaction time is only a single measure of driver "effectiveness". I can't help but wonder if we are asking the wrong questions in these studies. A better study would compare the accident rates in locations that have hands-free/no-text laws with those that don't.
One study by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicates a slight increase in accidents after no-texting laws are introduced. One possible explanation is that with the new laws, drivers continue to text but with the phone below the window sightline, causing the driver to look away from the road for longer periods of time.
What if "security" is not the main goal of the change? Knowing your phone number goes a long way to identifying who you really are. It is unlikely that you have an alias associated with your cellphone account.
I would like to see a model similar to YouTube. It allows for you to skip advertising after watching the first 5 seconds. I will skip ads that do not apply, but generally watch interesting ads at least once. For videos that do not allow skipping, its more time efficient to flip to a different window while the ad plays.
Not sure how to translate this model to popup style ads.
Insurance companies currently have this as an "op-in choice", while evaluating the technology and statistically determining if it is a usable predictor of accidents. If it is successful for that task, I fully believe an active electronic vehicle monitor will become mandatory in order to get (affordable) insurance in the not too distant future.
The situation is (somewhat) similar to Telephone bandwidth. In the U.S., before modems became widespread, the phone company could easily offer unlimited service for a fixed price. This was possible because they had reasonably good usage models and could predict the infrastructure needed to provide some level of service.
When the internet exploded, people drastically increased their modem usage and some people were literally using the link 24/7. This left the phone companies with far larger hardware requirements than predicted and no easy way to increase revenue (based on the old pricing model contracts).
Today, with the significant increase in broadband traffic, ISP's find themselves faced with similar problems are are attempting to address them in several different ways. BT throttling is one of them.
One point missing from most of the "cloud" discussions is the fact that word processing REQUIRES an internet connection. While business up-time is generally pretty good, home based interenet connections have far worse relaibility. By using the subscription model, you are dead if something happens to your internet connection. Worse, if your data also happens to be sitting in the cloud.
Assume you could cover the entire top surface(s) of a small car with solar panels and let them charge batteries all day while the car is parked at work. Assume battery charging is 100% efficient:
Panel Area ~4 m^2 (liberal, but I'm trying to make a point)
Panel Efficiency 20.4%
Time in sun 8 hours
Sun angle derate 50%
Solar input ~1kw/m^2
Then the batteries get charged with 1*4*8*0.5*0.204 ==> ~3.26 KWH A small car engine is rated at ~200 KW (i.e. Ford Focus Spec at 223 KW) If you average using only 1/4 the available power ===> 50 KW The saved energy in the battery will move you for 60min*3.26/50 ===> ~4 minutes
So, you run out of juice about the time you hit the on-ramp of the freeway.
The point being, this isn't going to work unless you have more efficient cells, more efficient vehicles, more solar panel area, or a combination of all three.
I also used a Dynabee in the Early 80's. Worked out a routine for 15 min/wrist, 3 times a week. I believe it significantly Improved my wrist strength. Also got very good at getting it spinning. First time through it is a bear to get started.
Trying to use 'todays' internet with Java disabled is not a viable option. A realistic estimate is that over 70% of all common websites require Java to function correctly.
It is unfortunate that so many web developers use Java in places where it just isn't required. While I agree that Java Script does provide needed functionality in some situations, that is not the case in many (most) applications.
If this latest SNAFU gets developers to rethink using Java (or any similar tool), it may actually be a benefit to the web.
Listening to this discussion reminds me of the 'Airplane on a Treadmill' internet debates from long ago. There are 2 sides to this discussion and (at least) one side is not listening to the other. As I see it:
Side 1 The Z-crank is a simple change in geometry from straight crank arms. If you assume a rigid body, then the shape makes NO DIFFERENCE to the torque/energy transfer characteristics. The larger mass will likely have a higher rotational inertia and an increase in total bike weight, but these effects are assumed negligible for the purpose of this discussion.
Side 2 These folks assume the crank is not rigid, yielding some spring energy storage at certain positions in the crank rotation and giving it back when the cranks is in a different position. It is quite plausible that this happens, the question is: Is this energy storage significant and beneficial to the rider.
It would be nice to see arguments on the relative merits of each and do away with all the finger pointing.
I use an old IBM "clicky" keyboard. Not quiet, but I like the feel and use it every day. Probably difficult to find a replacement with the same key pressure requirements. When this one dies, will likely need to spend some "quality" time at the Goodwill computer store in order to find a replacement.
Oh, and don't forget a battery. The MOST likely part to fail in the lifetime of the device. Might be nice to squeeze a couple of more years out of it by replacing the battery (but not at the Apple repair shop which will charge you $149.95 for the service
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If the new requirements give some companies "image problems" it could actually succeed in reducing tantalum usage.
There is probably some relationship here with the current trend of high valued ceramic capacitors. You can easily find 100 uF ceramic caps in a form factor smaller then the same value tantalum and the cost is comparable.
The end result here (as always) is consumers paying more for some products.
The problem with cash is the number of places that accept this form of payment is shrinking rapidly. I see a day in the near future where your only 2 options for Highway/Bridge tolls are Tolltag and Pay-By-Mail (They photograph your plates and mail you the bill).
But no matter how you pay, you are still being photographed, not only as you approach and depart, but also while you pass the toll booth. Check out those vertical cameras at ALL of the SF Bay toll plazas.
But couldn't they have used the VASI (Visual Approach Slope Indicator) lights as a backup to indicate the correct glide slope ?
So he's lying, but is he wrong ???
> its like the idiots who think the supermarkets are tracking them personally with the loyalty cards. stores want aggregate data and
> purchase bundles to do loss leader promotions. they really couldn't care what you buy personally
Agreed, the supermarkets are interested in aggregate data. But they also keep the individual purchase data. This came out recently in a food poisoning case where the authorities used loyalty card data to narrow down what food was contaminated and the source (Medscape.com).
Just because aggregate data is the current stated goal, new data uses could easily appear. Then what?
I agree with the parent, reaction time is only a single measure of driver "effectiveness". I can't help but wonder if we are asking the wrong questions in these studies. A better study would compare the accident rates in locations that have hands-free/no-text laws with those that don't.
One study by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicates a slight increase in accidents after no-texting laws are introduced. One possible explanation is that with the new laws, drivers continue to text but with the phone below the window sightline, causing the driver to look away from the road for longer periods of time.
Exactly the opposite result as the law intended!
What if "security" is not the main goal of the change? Knowing your phone number goes a long way to identifying who you really are. It is unlikely that you have an alias associated with your cellphone account.
So how long will it be until business starts leaving MA in significant numbers, similar to what is happening in CA?
I would like to see a model similar to YouTube. It allows for you to skip advertising after watching the first 5 seconds. I will skip ads that do not apply, but generally watch interesting ads at least once. For videos that do not allow skipping, its more time efficient to flip to a different window while the ad plays.
Not sure how to translate this model to popup style ads.
Mod parent up !! This point is missed in most discussions on this topic
Insurance companies currently have this as an "op-in choice", while evaluating the technology and statistically determining if it is a usable predictor of accidents. If it is successful for that task, I fully believe an active electronic vehicle monitor will become mandatory in order to get (affordable) insurance in the not too distant future.
Yes, but they are VERY light photons
The situation is (somewhat) similar to Telephone bandwidth. In the U.S., before modems became widespread, the phone company could easily offer unlimited service for a fixed price. This was possible because they had reasonably good usage models and could predict the infrastructure needed to provide some level of service.
When the internet exploded, people drastically increased their modem usage and some people were literally using the link 24/7. This left the phone companies with far larger hardware requirements than predicted and no easy way to increase revenue (based on the old pricing model contracts).
Today, with the significant increase in broadband traffic, ISP's find themselves faced with similar problems are are attempting to address them in several different ways. BT throttling is one of them.
From years ago in Texas, hot chick in a red vet:
License Plate ==> QQQQ
One point missing from most of the "cloud" discussions is the fact that word processing REQUIRES an internet connection. While business up-time is generally pretty good, home based interenet connections have far worse relaibility. By using the subscription model, you are dead if something happens to your internet connection. Worse, if your data also happens to be sitting in the cloud.
Do the math on a solar powered car.....
Assume you could cover the entire top surface(s) of a small car with solar panels and let them charge batteries
all day while the car is parked at work. Assume battery charging is 100% efficient:
Panel Area ~4 m^2 (liberal, but I'm trying to make a point)
Panel Efficiency 20.4%
Time in sun 8 hours
Sun angle derate 50%
Solar input ~1kw/m^2
Then the batteries get charged with 1*4*8*0.5*0.204 ==> ~3.26 KWH
A small car engine is rated at ~200 KW (i.e. Ford Focus Spec at 223 KW)
If you average using only 1/4 the available power ===> 50 KW
The saved energy in the battery will move you for 60min*3.26/50 ===> ~4 minutes
So, you run out of juice about the time you hit the on-ramp of the freeway.
The point being, this isn't going to work unless you have more efficient cells, more efficient vehicles, more
solar panel area, or a combination of all three.
I also used a Dynabee in the Early 80's. Worked out a routine for 15 min/wrist, 3 times a week. I believe it significantly Improved my wrist strength. Also got very good at getting it spinning. First time through it is a bear to get started.
Trying to use 'todays' internet with Java disabled is not a viable option. A realistic estimate is that over 70% of all common websites require Java to function correctly.
It is unfortunate that so many web developers use Java in places where it just isn't required. While I agree that Java Script does provide needed functionality in some situations, that is not the case in many (most) applications.
If this latest SNAFU gets developers to rethink using Java (or any similar tool), it may actually be a benefit to the web.
Listening to this discussion reminds me of the 'Airplane on a Treadmill' internet debates from long ago. There are 2 sides to this discussion and (at least) one side is not listening to the other. As I see it:
Side 1 The Z-crank is a simple change in geometry from straight crank arms. If you assume a rigid body, then the shape makes NO DIFFERENCE to the torque/energy transfer characteristics. The larger mass will likely have a higher rotational inertia and an increase in total bike weight, but these effects are assumed negligible for the purpose of this discussion.
Side 2 These folks assume the crank is not rigid, yielding some spring energy storage at certain positions in the crank rotation and giving it back when the cranks is in a different position. It is quite plausible that this happens, the question is: Is this energy storage significant and beneficial to the rider.
It would be nice to see arguments on the relative merits of each and do away with all the finger pointing.
Thats funny, I see no 50Hz signal at all. Only 60Hz
I use an old IBM "clicky" keyboard. Not quiet, but I like the feel and use it every day. Probably difficult to find a replacement with the same key pressure requirements. When this one dies, will likely need to spend some "quality" time at the Goodwill computer store in order to find a replacement.
And its not even April 1st !!
Sure, you can run Windows XP without virus protection and still be safe.
How can this be.......? Just don't connect to the internet.
Thats how older, dedicated lab machines get away without running AV.
Not that I can think of any other application where this would be
useful, it's the exception that proves the point.
Yes, PIC's are cheap, but have an absolutely hideous instruction set.
I'll take an Atmel processor any day, even if the cost is 75 cents more.
Oh, and don't forget a battery. The MOST likely part to fail in the lifetime of the device. Might be nice to squeeze a couple of more years out of it by replacing the battery (but not at the Apple repair shop which will charge you $149.95 for the service