Several problems have already been mentioned, like using the whole laptop like this defies the original reason ot have a motion sensor - to protect the hard disk -; plus, it's a bit heavy too.
Still, an input device like this would be cool, but I'd rather have it integrated in my (separate) keyboard or mouse.
Re:Never mind the message. Just get their attentio
on
How To Talk To Aliens
·
· Score: 2, Informative
They'll come us, study us and use our language.
At least, that's what I would do if I would be interested in talking to an ant on an anthill: just spray some pheromones and see how it responds.
In that case, given their obvious technological superiority, it's more reasonable to assume that they'll come to us and spray a good deal of pheromones, to see how we respond...
It'll be interestin to see how publishers deal with this if demand for these books declines.
That's a very big if indeed - I wouldn't want to read a 300-page book from screen if it's still available in print. The decrease in sales to people who would (will) do so, could very well be compensated by the increase in sales from people who wouldn't have known about a certain book otherwise.
I used to be able to hear a TV quite well (but not so loud that I'd call it 'unbearable'). Getting older 'cured' this just fine, so there's still hope for you... As for the 60 Hz monitor flicker, this annoys me too (72 Hz is acceptable, 80 and above is all the same to me). For this I don't notice any difference over time - except for LCD screens becoming more common, that is.
I would not expect people to behave differently. What I was trying to point out is that communism, as a political system, is flawed because it is based on the unrealistic assumption that people won't behave as efficient/selfish as they appear to do in practice. Likewise, capitalism is flawed, because it is based on an equally unrealistic assumption about the behaviour of corporations. Unless forced to do so, Microsoft won't play fair. It's simply not realistic to expect them to do so voluntarily.
Call me ignorant, but why would any company NOT want to stop competition?
In an ideal capitalist world (how's that for a contradictio in terminis) companies would only compete 'fairly', that is, on the value of the goods they provide, thus creating the greatest customer value possible.
If my company saw a(n) (legal) opportunity to stop or hinder the competition, we'd grab it with both hands and do whatever we could to exploit that opportunity.
Which is a nice example on why there is no such thing as an ideal capitalist system. Under a communist system, you (and most other people) would try to get away with working as little as possible.
I'm not a big fan of Microsoft, but I'm getting a bit tired of the whole "it's Microsoft so it must be evil" mindset.
It does indeed get tiring sometimes. But it can be frustrating to see Microsoft bullying around companies or organizations making products or technologies you'd like to see having a fairer chance on the market, instead of competing with them 'fairly' against them.
I would focus on explaining them what programmability is. Lego Mindstorms has already been mentioned and is indeed a very nice way of demonstrating this. A somewhat simpler idea, maybe more suitable for younger kids, is using a programmable car. My kids had one a few years ago, it was called a "Turbo Z RoughRider" (sorry, couldn't find a better link). It had some buttons on top you could use to enter a simple program, like 'fast forward, fast forward, turn right, turn right, turn on lights, backward, stop" and then run that. Much more fun than a car with a remote control, if you like programming, and a very good way to demonstrate what it means for a thing to be programmable.
That's HDTV resolution. Making a HDTV screen larger just gives you larger pixels. So it's pretty useless in your living room (unless it's way larger than mine, that is).
The point that I was trying to make, in a cynical way, is that if/when people really want to get something in, they will. Compare it to the 'war on drugs': it may have had an influence on the price of drugs, and the prisons may be a bit fuller, but that's about it. Everything is still available, if you're willing to pay the price. And the price won't be an issue in the case of plutonium.
Regardless of how harmful these muons are when passing through your body, there is certainly no *added* harm in this detection method, because the muons used are the ones from space that has passed through you anyhow.
I think what they're trying to patent is the idea of detecting viruses by first scanning for suspect pieces of code, and when suspect code is found, running it in a 'sandbox' environment to find out if it is indeed trying to misbehave.
It's a bit unfair the company is now being criticized for an error in the article in the Hindu Times. Clearly, the claim of 120 watts per square inch is bogus. But then again, I couldn't find this claim on their website, so it could simply mean the reporter made an error here. If I understood correctly, it's the output they claim from one whole panel. Which isn't that impressive, but would still be interesting if the price is right.
Seriously, solar power is ridiculously overrated. The energy density of sunlight at the earth's surface is simply too low to be practical. Way too much real estate would have to be used to make any realistic amounts of power, and at those scales, upkeep becomes prohibitively expensive.
Houses need roofs anyhow. If only a significant of the energy consumption could come from solar powers on rooftops at a competitive price, this would still be a valuable contribution. We know the (claimed) efficiency, but unfortunately, there's no price indication on the website, so we can't really do the math...
Thanks for showing us the light. Unfortunately, there's no desert anywhere near where I live. Would it be acceptable if, in the interest of civilized society, I drowned myself in a nearby lake instead?
Impact: Updates Java to address an issue where an untrusted applet could gain elevated privileges and potentially execute arbitrary code. Description: A vulnerability in the Java Plug-in may allow an untrusted applet to escalate privileges, through JavaScript calling into Java code, including reading and writing files with the privileges of the user running the applet. Releases prior to Java 1.4.2 on Mac OS X are not affected by this vulnerability. Further information is available in Document ID 57591 from Sun.
'Keystrokes per minute' sounds like a crappy measurement for productivity to me. It could, for example, also be interpreted as MSN-ing a lot. Same goes % of corrections for accuracy. It could be sloppy typing, but it could also be not noticing or caring about mistakes made.
Slashdot Mirror
Several problems have already been mentioned, like using the whole laptop like this defies the original reason ot have a motion sensor - to protect the hard disk -; plus, it's a bit heavy too.
Still, an input device like this would be cool, but I'd rather have it integrated in my (separate) keyboard or mouse.
They'll come us, study us and use our language.
At least, that's what I would do if I would be interested in talking to an ant on an anthill: just spray some pheromones and see how it responds.
In that case, given their obvious technological superiority, it's more reasonable to assume that they'll come to us and spray a good deal of pheromones, to see how we respond...
It'll be interestin to see how publishers deal with this if demand for these books declines.
That's a very big if indeed - I wouldn't want to read a 300-page book from screen if it's still available in print.
The decrease in sales to people who would (will) do so, could very well be compensated by the increase in sales from people who wouldn't have known about a certain book otherwise.
The way these buttons should be labelled is obvious.
The right button, you'd call the right button.
The other one, you'd call the wrong button.
I used to be able to hear a TV quite well (but not so loud that I'd call it 'unbearable'). Getting older 'cured' this just fine, so there's still hope for you...
As for the 60 Hz monitor flicker, this annoys me too (72 Hz is acceptable, 80 and above is all the same to me). For this I don't notice any difference over time - except for LCD screens becoming more common, that is.
I would not expect people to behave differently.
What I was trying to point out is that communism, as a political system, is flawed because it is based on the unrealistic assumption that people won't behave as efficient/selfish as they appear to do in practice. Likewise, capitalism is flawed, because it is based on an equally unrealistic assumption about the behaviour of corporations. Unless forced to do so, Microsoft won't play fair. It's simply not realistic to expect them to do so voluntarily.
Call me ignorant, but why would any company NOT want to stop competition?
In an ideal capitalist world (how's that for a contradictio in terminis) companies would only compete 'fairly', that is, on the value of the goods they provide, thus creating the greatest customer value possible.
If my company saw a(n) (legal) opportunity to stop or hinder the competition, we'd grab it with both hands and do whatever we could to exploit that opportunity.
Which is a nice example on why there is no such thing as an ideal capitalist system. Under a communist system, you (and most other people) would try to get away with working as little as possible.
I'm not a big fan of Microsoft, but I'm getting a bit tired of the whole "it's Microsoft so it must be evil" mindset.
It does indeed get tiring sometimes. But it can be frustrating to see Microsoft bullying around companies or organizations making products or technologies you'd like to see having a fairer chance on the market, instead of competing with them 'fairly' against them.
You could win an iMac G5, among other things. If there was a Segway section, it should go under there as well.
I would focus on explaining them what programmability is. Lego Mindstorms has already been mentioned and is indeed a very nice way of demonstrating this. A somewhat simpler idea, maybe more suitable for younger kids, is using a programmable car. My kids had one a few years ago, it was called a "Turbo Z RoughRider" (sorry, couldn't find a better link). It had some buttons on top you could use to enter a simple program, like 'fast forward, fast forward, turn right, turn right, turn on lights, backward, stop" and then run that. Much more fun than a car with a remote control, if you like programming, and a very good way to demonstrate what it means for a thing to be programmable.
'm not sure [Hypercard] it's still made, or if there is a reasonable facsimile for Windows.
Hypercard itself has been discontinued, but not after most Hypercard users had switched to Supercard anyhow I guess.
The articles states "Ageia tells us that we should see boards out by the end of this year.". So indeeds it's still in the vaporware stage.
That's HDTV resolution. Making a HDTV screen larger just gives you larger pixels. So it's pretty useless in your living room (unless it's way larger than mine, that is).
Point taken.
The point that I was trying to make, in a cynical way, is that if/when people really want to get something in, they will. Compare it to the 'war on drugs': it may have had an influence on the price of drugs, and the prisons may be a bit fuller, but that's about it. Everything is still available, if you're willing to pay the price. And the price won't be an issue in the case of plutonium.
... for the muon-detector-industry.
As for delivering delivering plutonium to the US, it seems using trucks isn't necessary at all, this seems much more practical.
Regardless of how harmful these muons are when passing through your body, there is certainly no *added* harm in this detection method, because the muons used are the ones from space that has passed through you anyhow.
I think what they're trying to patent is the idea of detecting viruses by first scanning for suspect pieces of code, and when suspect code is found, running it in a 'sandbox' environment to find out if it is indeed trying to misbehave.
the Republicans are all about SMALLER gov't, people.
Indeed, and about BIGGER corporations...
Why oh why do the moderators only seem to read at a level of +3?
I was reading at -1, but:
a) I can't both reply to question *and* moderate;
b) I can't moderate as 'cute'.
It's a bit unfair the company is now being criticized for an error in the article in the Hindu Times. Clearly, the claim of 120 watts per square inch is bogus. But then again, I couldn't find this claim on their website, so it could simply mean the reporter made an error here. If I understood correctly, it's the output they claim from one whole panel. Which isn't that impressive, but would still be interesting if the price is right.
Seriously, solar power is ridiculously overrated. The energy density of sunlight at the earth's surface is simply too low to be practical. Way too much real estate would have to be used to make any realistic amounts of power, and at those scales, upkeep becomes prohibitively expensive.
Houses need roofs anyhow. If only a significant of the energy consumption could come from solar powers on rooftops at a competitive price, this would still be a valuable contribution. We know the (claimed) efficiency, but unfortunately, there's no price indication on the website, so we can't really do the math...
Thanks for showing us the light. Unfortunately, there's no desert anywhere near where I live. Would it be acceptable if, in the interest of civilized society, I drowned myself in a nearby lake instead?
Impact: Updates Java to address an issue where an untrusted applet could gain elevated privileges and potentially execute arbitrary code.
Description: A vulnerability in the Java Plug-in may allow an untrusted applet to escalate privileges, through JavaScript calling into Java code, including reading and writing files with the privileges of the user running the applet. Releases prior to Java 1.4.2 on Mac OS X are not affected by this vulnerability. Further information is available in Document ID 57591 from Sun.
This is, indeed, a Dutch expression translated too literally.
Maybe '1984' was just a deadline that slipped a little...
'Keystrokes per minute' sounds like a crappy measurement for productivity to me. It could, for example, also be interpreted as MSN-ing a lot.
Same goes % of corrections for accuracy. It could be sloppy typing, but it could also be not noticing or caring about mistakes made.