While I enjoy the typical kill 'em all games (e.g. UT and Starcraft), I like Nintendo for the reasons you don't. I appreciate knowing that almost any game I buy or rent for the N64 will not be gory, nor will it have offensive language. I like the furry creatures; they are often used to good effect in clever and amusing ways. But I also like the non-fuzzy games, like Star Wars, 1080, Wetrix, ExciteBike, KI:Gold, Vigilante 8, etc.
But it's all an matter of taste. But I hope Nintendo maintains the strict content standards for the new system.
Oh my...WaveRace for the new Nintendo. Excellent! I would have been happy to see a new WaveRace using the 1080 improvements. Of course, I really want a new 1080 utilizing the new tricks from ExciteBike 64.
Oh man...I'm starting to quiver with anticipation of all three of those games for the new Nintendo. I think I need to lie down. -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
That's interesting - my reaction was, (mumble grumble) looks like the stupid PS controller (grumble). In my limited experience with PS's, I found the PS controller to be very awkward (and with way too many buttons), whereas I think the N64 control is very comfortable. Perhaps it's just a matter of what getting used to it. I really hope Nintendo didn't take a step backwards with their controller design. -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Hear hear! I've always preferred Nintendo games over those for other consoles. I find the games to be more fun overall.
With this system, I don't care if it isn't as powerful as the PS2 or X-Box, so long as they sell games like Mario 64, Wetrix, 1080, and Star Wars Rogue Squadron. Those games have pure, undistilled fun injected into each cartridge at the factory by Santa's elves (during the slow summer months). If those elves can make the fun injectors work with the new disks, then I'm getting me one (Nintendo console, not elf). -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
While it sides like a great idea, I think it would be extremely difficult to implement:
1) How to arrange the fibers to cover the body? You need to capture any light incident light with a certain position and angle and route it to where it would propagate had there not been a body in the way.
2) There would likely be significant signal loss problems. High efficient fiber coupling, such as used for telecom requires good optics and precision positioning. This is because
2a) A small portion of light incident on the front glass surface is reflected away (think glare on a monitor screen) so you want make efforts to reduce that.
2b) Fibers have a maximum input angle for incident light, above which the light is lost during propagation through the fiber. This angle is ballpark 30.
2c) Finally, ray orientation will be lost during propagation through the fiber. Thus, output direction != input direction. That may be a problem.
2d) Transmission properties are wavelength dependent. Not a huge deal, but another minor factor.
3) Finally, optical fiber bundles used for imaging, such as in endoscopes, are known for their mediocre image quality. Fibers are not generally a good tool for analog image transmission.
This is simpler. SEP usually requires a large amount of pink paint, and a couple of batteries. Now, all you need is sufficient glycerol. -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Rumor has it that my advisor had a grant from the army some years ago to research just that. Of course, it's prety much impossible, so we all have a good laugh about the army:) -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
I thought glycerol was closer than that to water, but gettind a dn (delta-index) of 0.3 (air to water). That difference is probably one of the limiting factors in the transparency depth. I hope they describe better what's going on. I want to see if my theory is right:)
On a different note: while this is pretty cool, I would think you'd lose a lot of info - if it's transparent, you can't see it. Unless it's a way to see below the layer. So, if you could dynamically control the transparency depth, you'd be in fat-city!
Of course, this has to compete with other technolgies, such as OCT (Optical Coherent Technology), which has the potential to allow full-body scanning using visible or IR light and relatively low cost equipment. (no radiation from X-rays; no magnetic fields and huge, claustraphopic machines like MRI and Catscans) -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
It's interesting you mention that. I've read that you can repair minor CD scratches using car-polish. I tried it without success, though. I have polished out small scratches with toothpaste, though:) -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Your point is on target, (one of my minor nitpicks with Hollow Man), but to be an annoying scientist, I'll suggest there's no fundamental reason you couldn't build a camera out of glass.
You just need to make sure that you use the right combination of glass materials so that the film is not exposed until photo time, and that the lens performs adequately. (to help out your design - look to catadioptric lenses: they are solid glass lenses).
Of course, now, the camera is probably no longer transparent:). So which is better, an invisible blind with a visible camera, or a visible man with a non-functional invisible camera? -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
At first, I said, "Whoa!" in my best Keanu Reeves voice. After reading the article, it seemed like a rather simple technique.
I think they are just doing index matching. Glycerol has an index of refraction close to that of water. Since cells are mostly water, filling all the inter-celluar areas with something of similar index will allow rudimentary index matching to be accomplished. With the index of refraction much closer throughout the volume, scattering will be much reduced, allowing better light propagation, and consequently, better imaging results.
This process is commonly used to test moderately polished glass optics, by immersing them in an oil of equivalent index. Since it's usually bad form to inject living things with mineral oils, a different substance was needed: hence glycerol.
To observe the effect:
- Take a clear piece of hard plastic
- Rough one or both surfaces (sandpaper is good)
- It should now be translucent or even opaque depending on how much you damaged the surface.
- Immerse in water. You should be able to see through it much better.
Anyhow - that's my guess on the basics of this technique. -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Re:Journalism, history of sci & tech, comp sci
on
Computer Historian?
·
· Score: 2
Here are a few random thoughts:
I can't find any references to it, but I heard on NPR some time ago that historians were concerned about losing a lot of historical info when the new President is elected, with new staff, computers being modified/erased/upgraded. So they want to quickly get it, take all the hard-drives, and archive all the emails.
"Learn the history of science and technology...it will put the history of computers and related technologies into perspective." Great point. This field could involve sociology & anthropology. We could really use people who understand the impact of technology on societies hundreds and even thousands of years ago. We often boggle over the wonder of the internet and think it is oh so new, but forget about the impact of similar technologies such as CB-radio, shortwave radio, telephone, telegraph. Knowing how our predecessors were affected by inventions can help us deal with them.
It could also dwell with aspects of cognitive science: The history of computers is a tied to a history of inventors. And that is tied into a study of how people "invent."
Don't forget the crazy connections between computers and other technologies and aspects of life. The building of the trans-continental railroad in the U.S. had a huge impact on the lifestyles of both the american people and native americans. That was totally unforseen 50 years prior. Looking back, what unexpected results will see that computers brought on us?
I recommend pursuing the major that you enjoy the most. Even if that isn't History you can take some classes in it and write papers about the history of technology. Perhaps a column in the school paper about interesting connections between what students use now and what they used 100 yrs. ago. Perhaps you'll end up a programmer who writes articles for a tech magazine on the side. Or maybe you'll get your PhD in history and teach. Perhaps your essays will pave the way to books that explain history for the masses in an engaging manner, like Ambrose or Burke.
"Information isn't powerful. Information isn't power.... Hey, who's got the most information? Librarians do! It's hard to imagine a group of people with less power than librarians." - Cliff Stoll -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
I must confess, that I liked Blind Fury. Of course, I saw it on video in college with Rutger Hauer fans, so that prob helped -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
According to an alternate-management-styles documentary I saw a while back, the company that makes SAP, in NC, has a fairly strict 9-5 schedule.
According to the show, they have some rather nice policies:
- 9-5; no late-night coding sessions. The Pres. believes tired coders write bad code, and spend even more time fixing their bugs the next day
- On-site physician, so employees can get to a doctor more easily, keeping them happy, and increasing productivity
- full-time landscaping staff. The company is located on a few 10s of acres that are maintained year round.
- half the management is women; many married with children. Meeting times are generally flexible, to accomodate those who need to leave at odd times to pick up kids from school, go to a little league game, etc.
- I think they have on-site daycare
- Generally open, comfortable, attractive workspaces for employees.
The pres. also said something like, 'We spend and extra $5 million a year to keep our employees very happy, and save $15 million by increased productivity, and low-turnover." -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
What I got from the author's essay, and your statements too, is that he (and perhaps you) worked for companies that didn't value the ideas of its employees, nor did they work to establish a corporate culture where new ideas could be heard, evaluated, and implemented if helpful.
This is not so much a Bazaar v. Cathedral, as it is a non-perfect management issue. -----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Re:PC is hardly dead - but it may not be very well
on
Vanishing Game Genres
·
· Score: 3
I read the RTS analysis, and skimmed 1/2 the posts, and was surprised to not see the comments I'm about to make:)
The basic argument of the article, which you reiterate, is, "most of these are clones of games which have been around for years."
If recycling ideas lead to the death of a genre, then the entire entertainment industry should be radically different than it is now. The past 50 years alone in the U.S. show that cloning ideas is the way to *make profits*, not die out.
Another aspect to consider: those of you who have been gaming for years (decades) and are tired of same-old same-old may very well give up gaming. But it doesn't matter, because there is a whole new generation of young-in's who have never seen these ideas/concepts before, and to whom they are fresh and innovative. And they will buy these games.
It's the same for movies. I'm tired of "Arnie" flicks. I go now for more 'intelligent' movies. I'm also about 30, and have been watching action movies for 15 yrs (at least). But there's a whole new group of teens & college students that are not yet tired of mindless action flicks.
When someone disses a major product from a different section of their own company, my first thought is they have some sort of juvenile ego issue. I translate his statement as, "Those Win98 guys were picking on us Win2k guys, so I'm gonna say petty things to outsiders to get even. Nyah nyah nyah!"
Thanks, I didn't know that (ooh...and it's up to date). If I can get Office, then I'm halfway there:)
As for the whether the Linux crowd should "chase" after users like me (as others commented on) -- if Linux supporters want to see their OS remain a niche item for l33t d00ds, that's fine. But if they want to expand the market, they need to give consumers solutions.
"Who cares? Exactly who is going to buy MS Linux?"
I think that people like me are interested in such a thing.
Show me an OS that is more stable & friendlier than Win98, but still lets me use the tools I need, and send files to people I need to, and I'll show you a new convert.
MS may realize this; they may also see an untapped revenue market for selling apps (office, developement, web design, etc.), and they may even be able to sell their Linux "upgrades" for a profit too.
Will this come to pass anytime soon? Doubtful, but I think that if MS really wanted to, they could pull it off. Sic those eager beaver 'softies on the problem, with some fat bonuses for rapid milestone completion, and juicy stock perks in a new MS-Linux division, and you'll see it get done in a year or two.
I think I fall in the next class of people that Linux folks should be targeting: computer savvy professionals, capable and willing to work with new tools, can deal with file translations, etc., will evangelize useful tools to friends & colleagues. But I am not interested in playing with something like that for its own sake. I've got things to do, and need tools to do them.
For both personal and professional work, I need MS Office, a stable browser (read: IE 5.0), Mathematica, Igor Pro, Adobe Illustrator, a PC-only optics app, Starcraft:) and assorted freeware.
A couple of those I could get by with using substitutes, but most of it is necessary and not available for Linux. If Office & IE get ported, half my reasons for not using Linux are gone.
But until Linux solves my problems, and doesn't constrain me by its problems, it's of no use to me.
The hard-core geeks use Linux. But IMHO, if Linux is too much hassle for us mid-level geeks, who are willing to endure new problems and pain for neat (useful) tools, no way will the masses use it, who have much lower thresholds for dealing with pain different from what they are already used to.:)
I briefly considered what would happen if the selling of votes was truly considered treason, since treason can be punished by death.
It was a scary mental image.
But isn't treason basically an action that undermines the integrity and governing principle of the nation. That's what vote-selling does, so I don't view it too highly.
(though realistically, the $1000 fine Maryland imposes is reasonable. Most people who would do it, I'm guessing just want some quick cash, and wouldn't make a good voting decision anyway)
This is the "Civil Society Statement"
on
ICANN Elections
·
· Score: 2
Slashdot Mirror
Zeal: "Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, an ideal, or a goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. See Synonyms at passion."
:)
Being zealous for something involves working towards furthering its goals. Thus, evangelism is a side-effect of zeal.
So, am I now a Definition Nazi?
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
While I enjoy the typical kill 'em all games (e.g. UT and Starcraft), I like Nintendo for the reasons you don't. I appreciate knowing that almost any game I buy or rent for the N64 will not be gory, nor will it have offensive language. I like the furry creatures; they are often used to good effect in clever and amusing ways. But I also like the non-fuzzy games, like Star Wars, 1080, Wetrix, ExciteBike, KI:Gold, Vigilante 8, etc.
But it's all an matter of taste. But I hope Nintendo maintains the strict content standards for the new system.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Oh my...WaveRace for the new Nintendo. Excellent! I would have been happy to see a new WaveRace using the 1080 improvements. Of course, I really want a new 1080 utilizing the new tricks from ExciteBike 64.
Oh man...I'm starting to quiver with anticipation of all three of those games for the new Nintendo. I think I need to lie down.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
That's interesting - my reaction was, (mumble grumble) looks like the stupid PS controller (grumble). In my limited experience with PS's, I found the PS controller to be very awkward (and with way too many buttons), whereas I think the N64 control is very comfortable. Perhaps it's just a matter of what getting used to it. I really hope Nintendo didn't take a step backwards with their controller design.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Hear hear! I've always preferred Nintendo games over those for other consoles. I find the games to be more fun overall.
With this system, I don't care if it isn't as powerful as the PS2 or X-Box, so long as they sell games like Mario 64, Wetrix, 1080, and Star Wars Rogue Squadron. Those games have pure, undistilled fun injected into each cartridge at the factory by Santa's elves (during the slow summer months). If those elves can make the fun injectors work with the new disks, then I'm getting me one (Nintendo console, not elf).
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
While it sides like a great idea, I think it would be extremely difficult to implement:
:)
1) How to arrange the fibers to cover the body? You need to capture any light incident light with a certain position and angle and route it to where it would propagate had there not been a body in the way.
2) There would likely be significant signal loss problems. High efficient fiber coupling, such as used for telecom requires good optics and precision positioning. This is because
2a) A small portion of light incident on the front glass surface is reflected away (think glare on a monitor screen) so you want make efforts to reduce that.
2b) Fibers have a maximum input angle for incident light, above which the light is lost during propagation through the fiber. This angle is ballpark 30.
2c) Finally, ray orientation will be lost during propagation through the fiber. Thus, output direction != input direction. That may be a problem.
2d) Transmission properties are wavelength dependent. Not a huge deal, but another minor factor.
3) Finally, optical fiber bundles used for imaging, such as in endoscopes, are known for their mediocre image quality. Fibers are not generally a good tool for analog image transmission.
Ok, class over
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
This is simpler. SEP usually requires a large amount of pink paint, and a couple of batteries. Now, all you need is sufficient glycerol.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Rumor has it that my advisor had a grant from the army some years ago to research just that. Of course, it's prety much impossible, so we all have a good laugh about the army :)
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Ugh. Meant to say that dn0.3. Not sure what happened.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
I thought glycerol was closer than that to water, but gettind a dn (delta-index) of 0.3 (air to water). That difference is probably one of the limiting factors in the transparency depth. I hope they describe better what's going on. I want to see if my theory is right :)
On a different note: while this is pretty cool, I would think you'd lose a lot of info - if it's transparent, you can't see it. Unless it's a way to see below the layer. So, if you could dynamically control the transparency depth, you'd be in fat-city!
Of course, this has to compete with other technolgies, such as OCT (Optical Coherent Technology), which has the potential to allow full-body scanning using visible or IR light and relatively low cost equipment. (no radiation from X-rays; no magnetic fields and huge, claustraphopic machines like MRI and Catscans)
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
It's interesting you mention that. I've read that you can repair minor CD scratches using car-polish. I tried it without success, though. I have polished out small scratches with toothpaste, though :)
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Your point is on target, (one of my minor nitpicks with Hollow Man), but to be an annoying scientist, I'll suggest there's no fundamental reason you couldn't build a camera out of glass.
:). So which is better, an invisible blind with a visible camera, or a visible man with a non-functional invisible camera?
You just need to make sure that you use the right combination of glass materials so that the film is not exposed until photo time, and that the lens performs adequately. (to help out your design - look to catadioptric lenses: they are solid glass lenses).
Of course, now, the camera is probably no longer transparent
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
At first, I said, "Whoa!" in my best Keanu Reeves voice. After reading the article, it seemed like a rather simple technique.
I think they are just doing index matching. Glycerol has an index of refraction close to that of water. Since cells are mostly water, filling all the inter-celluar areas with something of similar index will allow rudimentary index matching to be accomplished. With the index of refraction much closer throughout the volume, scattering will be much reduced, allowing better light propagation, and consequently, better imaging results.
This process is commonly used to test moderately polished glass optics, by immersing them in an oil of equivalent index. Since it's usually bad form to inject living things with mineral oils, a different substance was needed: hence glycerol.
To observe the effect:
- Take a clear piece of hard plastic
- Rough one or both surfaces (sandpaper is good)
- It should now be translucent or even opaque depending on how much you damaged the surface.
- Immerse in water. You should be able to see through it much better.
Anyhow - that's my guess on the basics of this technique.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
- I can't find any references to it, but I heard on NPR some time ago that historians were concerned about losing a lot of historical info when the new President is elected, with new staff, computers being modified/erased/upgraded. So they want to quickly get it, take all the hard-drives, and archive all the emails.
- "Learn the history of science and technology...it will put the history of computers and related technologies into perspective." Great point. This field could involve sociology & anthropology. We could really use people who understand the impact of technology on societies hundreds and even thousands of years ago. We often boggle over the wonder of the internet and think it is oh so new, but forget about the impact of similar technologies such as CB-radio, shortwave radio, telephone, telegraph. Knowing how our predecessors were affected by inventions can help us deal with them.
- It could also dwell with aspects of cognitive science: The history of computers is a tied to a history of inventors. And that is tied into a study of how people "invent."
- Don't forget the crazy connections between computers and other technologies and aspects of life. The building of the trans-continental railroad in the U.S. had a huge impact on the lifestyles of both the american people and native americans. That was totally unforseen 50 years prior. Looking back, what unexpected results will see that computers brought on us?
I recommend pursuing the major that you enjoy the most. Even if that isn't History you can take some classes in it and write papers about the history of technology. Perhaps a column in the school paper about interesting connections between what students use now and what they used 100 yrs. ago. Perhaps you'll end up a programmer who writes articles for a tech magazine on the side. Or maybe you'll get your PhD in history and teach. Perhaps your essays will pave the way to books that explain history for the masses in an engaging manner, like Ambrose or Burke. "Information isn't powerful. Information isn't power.-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
I must confess, that I liked Blind Fury. Of course, I saw it on video in college with Rutger Hauer fans, so that prob helped
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
Yes, you're right. I had those two confused.
Thanks.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
According to an alternate-management-styles documentary I saw a while back, the company that makes SAP, in NC, has a fairly strict 9-5 schedule.
According to the show, they have some rather nice policies:
- 9-5; no late-night coding sessions. The Pres. believes tired coders write bad code, and spend even more time fixing their bugs the next day
- On-site physician, so employees can get to a doctor more easily, keeping them happy, and increasing productivity
- full-time landscaping staff. The company is located on a few 10s of acres that are maintained year round.
- half the management is women; many married with children. Meeting times are generally flexible, to accomodate those who need to leave at odd times to pick up kids from school, go to a little league game, etc.
- I think they have on-site daycare
- Generally open, comfortable, attractive workspaces for employees.
The pres. also said something like, 'We spend and extra $5 million a year to keep our employees very happy, and save $15 million by increased productivity, and low-turnover."
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
What I got from the author's essay, and your statements too, is that he (and perhaps you) worked for companies that didn't value the ideas of its employees, nor did they work to establish a corporate culture where new ideas could be heard, evaluated, and implemented if helpful.
This is not so much a Bazaar v. Cathedral, as it is a non-perfect management issue.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
I read the RTS analysis, and skimmed 1/2 the posts, and was surprised to not see the comments I'm about to make :)
The basic argument of the article, which you reiterate, is, "most of these are clones of games which have been around for years."
If recycling ideas lead to the death of a genre, then the entire entertainment industry should be radically different than it is now. The past 50 years alone in the U.S. show that cloning ideas is the way to *make profits*, not die out.
Another aspect to consider: those of you who have been gaming for years (decades) and are tired of same-old same-old may very well give up gaming. But it doesn't matter, because there is a whole new generation of young-in's who have never seen these ideas/concepts before, and to whom they are fresh and innovative. And they will buy these games.
It's the same for movies. I'm tired of "Arnie" flicks. I go now for more 'intelligent' movies. I'm also about 30, and have been watching action movies for 15 yrs (at least). But there's a whole new group of teens & college students that are not yet tired of mindless action flicks.
And so the trend continues.
-----
http://movies.shoutingman.com
When someone disses a major product from a different section of their own company, my first thought is they have some sort of juvenile ego issue. I translate his statement as, "Those Win98 guys were picking on us Win2k guys, so I'm gonna say petty things to outsiders to get even. Nyah nyah nyah!"
But perhaps he is just being honest.
Thanks, I didn't know that (ooh...and it's up to date). If I can get Office, then I'm halfway there :)
As for the whether the Linux crowd should "chase" after users like me (as others commented on) -- if Linux supporters want to see their OS remain a niche item for l33t d00ds, that's fine. But if they want to expand the market, they need to give consumers solutions.
"Who cares? Exactly who is going to buy MS Linux?" I think that people like me are interested in such a thing. Show me an OS that is more stable & friendlier than Win98, but still lets me use the tools I need, and send files to people I need to, and I'll show you a new convert. MS may realize this; they may also see an untapped revenue market for selling apps (office, developement, web design, etc.), and they may even be able to sell their Linux "upgrades" for a profit too. Will this come to pass anytime soon? Doubtful, but I think that if MS really wanted to, they could pull it off. Sic those eager beaver 'softies on the problem, with some fat bonuses for rapid milestone completion, and juicy stock perks in a new MS-Linux division, and you'll see it get done in a year or two.
I think I fall in the next class of people that Linux folks should be targeting: computer savvy professionals, capable and willing to work with new tools, can deal with file translations, etc., will evangelize useful tools to friends & colleagues. But I am not interested in playing with something like that for its own sake. I've got things to do, and need tools to do them.
:) and assorted freeware.
:)
For both personal and professional work, I need MS Office, a stable browser (read: IE 5.0), Mathematica, Igor Pro, Adobe Illustrator, a PC-only optics app, Starcraft
A couple of those I could get by with using substitutes, but most of it is necessary and not available for Linux. If Office & IE get ported, half my reasons for not using Linux are gone.
But until Linux solves my problems, and doesn't constrain me by its problems, it's of no use to me.
The hard-core geeks use Linux. But IMHO, if Linux is too much hassle for us mid-level geeks, who are willing to endure new problems and pain for neat (useful) tools, no way will the masses use it, who have much lower thresholds for dealing with pain different from what they are already used to.
I briefly considered what would happen if the selling of votes was truly considered treason, since treason can be punished by death.
It was a scary mental image.
But isn't treason basically an action that undermines the integrity and governing principle of the nation. That's what vote-selling does, so I don't view it too highly.
(though realistically, the $1000 fine Maryland imposes is reasonable. Most people who would do it, I'm guessing just want some quick cash, and wouldn't make a good voting decision anyway)
Answered my own question :)
Civil Society Statement at the CPSR website