I think that humans should focus on getting off this planet. There are millions of earth-like worlds out there, just waiting for us. As long as we're stuck here on Earth, we have all our eggs in one basket.
Personally, I think that this will happen in my lifetime. With nanotech gaining speed, it won't be long before the first space elevator is built. That technology will facilitate space-based research in biosphere technologies: hydroponics, solar energy, and efficient recycling.
I don't doubt that an asteroid would collide with Earth. Hopefully the inhabitants of the planet won't be at war at the time and will be able to properly respond to the threat and prevent the destruction of humanity's birthplace. But by that time, I imagine humans will be living in hundreds of worlds - still at war with each other, but not vulnerable to a single asteroid.
HighLift Systems has a design of a 100,000 km long cable that has a density of 7.5 kg/km. That is 750,000 kg total for the cable. Consider the enormous amount of tension that such a cable must withstand. There would be very little difference between a cable that can only support itself and a cable that can support a payload.
I suggest you read the HighLift Systems website. They have a lot of really good information:
I must have missed it before, but I'm glad I read the article now. Perhaps this is what is wrong with my web server. It has experienced debilitating hardware problems twice now. It has an ABIT KT7E that was purchased in Sep 2001.
In the United States it is legal to create computer viruses and worms. It is illegal to infect someone else's computer with one if you do not have their permission.
Re:What a load of tripe.
on
Shattering Windows
·
· Score: 2, Informative
The problem is that WM_TIMER is handled incorrectly by the Windows common control library. This means that every program that uses a standard Windows edit box, button, or scroll bar is probably vulnerable to this shatter exploit. Comctl32.dll IS part of Windows and hence it IS Microsoft's fault.
Dropping all WM_TIMER messages means that your cursor will no longer blink. Tooltips won't work anymore. Also other things like IE downloads and status bar updates probably will stop working.
The original poster is incorrect about WM_TIMER messages being automatic. Every Win32 application chooses what to do with EVERY message. Most call the DefWinProc() which then calls the timer function - but this is not a requirement for a Win32 application.
Filtering Win32 messages is pointless because every application has its own proprietary messages that are exploitable. Code snippets like this are common:
#define SPECIALSUPERMESSAGE (WM_USER + 2)
The only solution to this is for Microsoft to make a future version of Windows with a more rigid security model. One solution would be to require that the owner of the desktop be the owner of all attached processes. Of course this would require privelaged services to exist in a separate process from their configuration programs. Such separation makes good sense for reliability purposes - but the shoddy programmers of Symantec and other corps won't like it one bit.
MS could fix it... but only in future versions of Windows. They probably won't though.
-Mike_L
Legal Linux drivers?
on
nForce2 Preview
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I'm still waiting for Linux drivers that can legally be linked into the kernel. nVidia forces me infringe on the GPL when I use their nvnet driver. It would also be nice to have the nforce drivers in the kernel distribution.
The equipment in the house removes some of the oxygen to simulate the oxygen levels found at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The air pressure remains the same, however.
I can see this technology as being very useful for double sided DVDs and CDs. It would let you use the whole disk area for a label instead of just the little ring in the center.
Now I wonder when we'll see high contrast disks...
I'm an American that grew up in Ghana. This article is entirely correct. I lived in Tamale, a small city in the northern part of Ghana. The phone system in Ghana is really bad. To get online I would set my computer to dial 10 times with a 10 second delay between retries. During the busiest times (8-10am and 4-6pm), it was nearly impossible to call anywhere. You could hit redial on your phone for 30 minutes and then finally get through.
But even with the problems, it is a big advancement from the way things were 10 years ago. It used to be that in order to call the US from Tamale, you needed a HAM radio, extraordinary atmospheric conditions, and a HAM in the US to call on his phone and patch you through. Even then you had to talk in turn and say "Over" to let the other person talk. Now you can just pick up your phone and dial anywhere in the world directly. Calling out of Ghana is a lot easier than calling into Ghana. Anyway it all comes down to money. You have to have the money to buy the phone line and repair it when it breaks. You have to pamper the telephone repair people by bringing them cold water and cookies. =) And you must have the money to pay your bill when it does come (every 1 - 6 months).
Poverty is the biggest problem in Ghana. The economy is very weak. Because it is so hard to make money in Ghana, most of the educated people leave. If you go to the US Embassy in Accra, you will see the hundreds of Ghanaians sitting on benches outside, each holding their papers and number, waiting for their immigration interview.
When the most educated people leave a nation, the education of the children suffers. Ghana will eventually rise out of poverty. It will rise up and become the shining example of West African prosperity. But this will only happen when the children are educated. Education will bring jobs, and jobs will bring prosperity. But you need money for good education. This is the catch 22 that takes time to overcome.
I think that organizations like the Geek Corps, Peace Corps, Opportunity International, and the many other organizations provide an invaluable helping hand to less industrialized societies. Also the companies that provide those $3/day jobs are neccessary too.
-Mike_L (All winter I longed for the warmth of West African Sun. Now that it's summer I long for the daily cool rains.)
Why don't Dell, HP, Compaq etc. put StarOffice as default on their PCs? I'm sure Sun would love that. Many customers would probably love it too.
The problem is that StarOffice is not refined like MS Office. MS Office has bugs and UI problems, but StarOffice has more. No one in my company would want to switch to StarOffice. The problem is that StarOffice tries to emulate MS Office instead of aiming to just be a product that is excellent on its own terms.
This is an exploitation of a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer allows JavaScript to start programs automatically. The user is not prompted. It's just like how a MS HTML Help file is able to run programs (regedit, Device Manager, etc.)
When malicious javascript is able to execute applications on your computer, there is no way to protect your data. In Windows, IE runs with the permissions of the user. If the user is on the Internet and NetBIOS is not blocked by a firewall, the malicious javascript can cause a program to be executed directly from the attacker's samba share: \\12.34.56.78\ieback\crack.exe
This is the most obvious technique because it is built into the operating system. There are many other ways to get an EXE file into the OS's filesystem namespace.
Just like in Linux, if a cracker is able to run code on your system, your security has been compromized.
There IS a science of UI design and usability. Jef came to his conclusions through years of development and scientific testing.
Usability tests are psychological tests. Gather a diversified group of test subjects. Split it into your control group and your test group. Set up your application and tasks identically for each group. Carefully choose the independant variable (UI element). Perform the test and then analyze the data. One can then use statistics to determine the relationship between the independant variable and the dependent variable (time to complete the task).
Jef Raskin is a scientist. I highly recommend his book. Yes, he sounded arrogant in the interviews, but the opinions he expressed are grounded in logic and years of study.
A few years ago my parents bought this audio series for me on cassette. It is excellent. I've listened to it a few times and it kept me awake on the long drive home for the holidays. I must say that this radio-series is a lot truer to Tolkien's books than the new movie. Also all voices have authentic British accents. =)
Voice recognition is the next major advancement in computer user interfaces. Lip reading will increase the accuracy of voice recognition software. It is exciting that Intel is furthering the field of cybernetics.
I look forward to the day when I can dictate to my PC by just mouthing the words. Voice recognition and touchscreens will save the office worker from Repetetive Stress Injury and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Lipreading will make voice recognition practical for large offices and many other areas.
The Linux kernel has grown dramatically since 2.0. There are certainly more bad bugs lurking in 2.2. I refuse to even try 2.4 until 2.5 is well on its way.
UI consistency is a problem with Linux apps. Install difficulty is NOT. I support Windows PCs at work. Many of the problems I fix every day are caused by users installing crap on their PCs.
It is my opinion that users should USE SOFTWARE and administrators should install software.
Applying access control to system configuration is an effective way to reduce management costs.
Linux wins big in this area.
I feel that what is holding back Linux is not the UI it presents to the users. What holds back Linux is the visually oriented IT staff that make the software decisions. Unix and its lookalikes are intuitive for literary type people. Linux will need good visual administration tools before it can win the hearts of the prolific visual point-and-click IT staff.
The question that comes to mind is, "Do we want to shoehorn visual people into a literary OS?"
"The PC will be protected from theft, thanks to an advanced biometric scanner that can recognize your fingerprint. "
A fingerprint scanner means that you would have to "log in" to your computer before using it and "log out" to protect it from misuse. Unfortunately this was not mentioned in the article. With a voice activated computer wouldn't it just recognise your voice? It seems more likely that the computer of 2010 will scan your retina with an invisible laser. The computer will recognise you if you just glance at it from across the room.
"A virtual keyboard can be momentarily created on the tabletop, only to disappear when no longer needed. Now you see it, now you don't."
Personally the thought of typing on a flat solid surface is very uncomfortable. Although a voice activated computer sounds pleasant, some people will always need a REAL keyboard. Programmers and accountants come to mind.
"With such capacity, you'll be able to store every ounce of information about your life. But beware. If your computer is stolen or destroyed, you might actually start wondering who you are."
Will the computer of 2010 lack a backup device? Will it not be subscribed to a backup service? With the increases in bandwidth and encryption technology I would be surprised if the concept of the PC will still exist as it does today. In the near future I see the PC being replace by the Terminal. Your data and applications will be stored at your ISP. Your ISP will encrypt and backup your data to numerous locations around the globe. All communications between your terminal and your ISP will be encrypted. In fact I would be surprised if the "computer" didn't become as every day as the telephone. You can pick up a phone anywhere in the world, dial in to your office, and check your voicemail. I can see the computer of 2010 being just a terminal with a slot for your smartcard. Insert your card and the terminal connects to your ISP - all encryption going through the card. If your smartcard is stolen it can be invalidated with a phone call to your ISP. It is also possible with advances in cybernetics that an individual will have an encryption device implanted in the body. The device will communicate with the terminal with radio signals.
The future holds many advances in technology and personal computing. In that future I cannot see anyone carrying their PC home from work and plugging it into their desk. Nowadays people carry pagers, cellphones, and PDAs - let's not add another thing to the list.
My company will soon be providing technical support for corporate PC users. We are considering using the commercial Track-IT software package to manage trouble tickets and PC inventory. I am wary of the package because it runs only on Windows and is not customiseable.
I have looked at the MOT package and it seems to have a lot of potential. Unfortunately the included job tracking database is incomplete. Specifically it is lacking report features. I would love to use MOT and develop the job tracking database. Unfortunately our management is leaning toward the rigid uncustomiseable Track-IT system.
MOT stands for Ministry Of Truth - a clever project name I must add. Has anyone deployed MOT in a production environment?
Slashdot Mirror
I think that humans should focus on getting off this planet. There are millions of earth-like worlds out there, just waiting for us. As long as we're stuck here on Earth, we have all our eggs in one basket.
Personally, I think that this will happen in my lifetime. With nanotech gaining speed, it won't be long before the first space elevator is built. That technology will facilitate space-based research in biosphere technologies: hydroponics, solar energy, and efficient recycling.
I don't doubt that an asteroid would collide with Earth. Hopefully the inhabitants of the planet won't be at war at the time and will be able to properly respond to the threat and prevent the destruction of humanity's birthplace. But by that time, I imagine humans will be living in hundreds of worlds - still at war with each other, but not vulnerable to a single asteroid.
HighLift Systems has a design of a 100,000 km long cable that has a density of 7.5 kg/km. That is 750,000 kg total for the cable. Consider the enormous amount of tension that such a cable must withstand. There would be very little difference between a cable that can only support itself and a cable that can support a payload.
I suggest you read the HighLift Systems website. They have a lot of really good information:
http://www.highliftsystems.com/
From the fourth page of that article:
* Display
15.3" LCD Wide Aspect Ratio
WXGA (1280x768)
1280x768 seems very reasonable to me. The $1599 pricetag isn't as reasonable though.
I must have missed it before, but I'm glad I read the article now. Perhaps this is what is wrong with my web server. It has experienced debilitating hardware problems twice now. It has an ABIT KT7E that was purchased in Sep 2001.
In the United States it is legal to create computer viruses and worms. It is illegal to infect someone else's computer with one if you do not have their permission.
The problem is that WM_TIMER is handled incorrectly by the Windows common control library. This means that every program that uses a standard Windows edit box, button, or scroll bar is probably vulnerable to this shatter exploit. Comctl32.dll IS part of Windows and hence it IS Microsoft's fault.
Dropping all WM_TIMER messages means that your cursor will no longer blink. Tooltips won't work anymore. Also other things like IE downloads and status bar updates probably will stop working.
The original poster is incorrect about WM_TIMER messages being automatic. Every Win32 application chooses what to do with EVERY message. Most call the DefWinProc() which then calls the timer function - but this is not a requirement for a Win32 application.
Filtering Win32 messages is pointless because every application has its own proprietary messages that are exploitable. Code snippets like this are common:
#define SPECIALSUPERMESSAGE (WM_USER + 2)
The only solution to this is for Microsoft to make a future version of Windows with a more rigid security model. One solution would be to require that the owner of the desktop be the owner of all attached processes. Of course this would require privelaged services to exist in a separate process from their configuration programs. Such separation makes good sense for reliability purposes - but the shoddy programmers of Symantec and other corps won't like it one bit.
MS could fix it... but only in future versions of Windows. They probably won't though.
-Mike_L
I'm still waiting for Linux drivers that can legally be linked into the kernel. nVidia forces me infringe on the GPL when I use their nvnet driver. It would also be nice to have the nforce drivers in the kernel distribution.
-Mike_L
The equipment in the house removes some of the oxygen to simulate the oxygen levels found at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The air pressure remains the same, however.
-Mike_L
The correct URL is:l
http://www.rocketguy.com/rocket/032702_status.htm
-Mike_L
I can see this technology as being very useful for double sided DVDs and CDs. It would let you use the whole disk area for a label instead of just the little ring in the center.
Now I wonder when we'll see high contrast disks...
-Mike_L
I'm an American that grew up in Ghana. This article is entirely correct. I lived in Tamale, a small city in the northern part of Ghana. The phone system in Ghana is really bad. To get online I would set my computer to dial 10 times with a 10 second delay between retries. During the busiest times (8-10am and 4-6pm), it was nearly impossible to call anywhere. You could hit redial on your phone for 30 minutes and then finally get through.
But even with the problems, it is a big advancement from the way things were 10 years ago. It used to be that in order to call the US from Tamale, you needed a HAM radio, extraordinary atmospheric conditions, and a HAM in the US to call on his phone and patch you through. Even then you had to talk in turn and say "Over" to let the other person talk. Now you can just pick up your phone and dial anywhere in the world directly. Calling out of Ghana is a lot easier than calling into Ghana. Anyway it all comes down to money. You have to have the money to buy the phone line and repair it when it breaks. You have to pamper the telephone repair people by bringing them cold water and cookies. =) And you must have the money to pay your bill when it does come (every 1 - 6 months).
Poverty is the biggest problem in Ghana. The economy is very weak. Because it is so hard to make money in Ghana, most of the educated people leave. If you go to the US Embassy in Accra, you will see the hundreds of Ghanaians sitting on benches outside, each holding their papers and number, waiting for their immigration interview.
When the most educated people leave a nation, the education of the children suffers. Ghana will eventually rise out of poverty. It will rise up and become the shining example of West African prosperity. But this will only happen when the children are educated. Education will bring jobs, and jobs will bring prosperity. But you need money for good education. This is the catch 22 that takes time to overcome.
I think that organizations like the Geek Corps, Peace Corps, Opportunity International, and the many other organizations provide an invaluable helping hand to less industrialized societies. Also the companies that provide those $3/day jobs are neccessary too.
-Mike_L
(All winter I longed for the warmth of West African Sun. Now that it's summer I long for the daily cool rains.)
If the school's intro programming course teaches QBasic... run away! Far away!
(This is why I refuse to take any CS courses at my school... fear and loathing)
-Mike_L
Don't forget the $104.62 in shipping and handling for those Pricewatch orders. =)
The trade federation in The Phantom Menace was making fun of the Chinese government, not the Japanese.
-Mike_L
This is an exploitation of a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer allows JavaScript to start programs automatically. The user is not prompted. It's just like how a MS HTML Help file is able to run programs (regedit, Device Manager, etc.)
When malicious javascript is able to execute applications on your computer, there is no way to protect your data. In Windows, IE runs with the permissions of the user. If the user is on the Internet and NetBIOS is not blocked by a firewall, the malicious javascript can cause a program to be executed directly from the attacker's samba share: \\12.34.56.78\ieback\crack.exe
This is the most obvious technique because it is built into the operating system. There are many other ways to get an EXE file into the OS's filesystem namespace.
Just like in Linux, if a cracker is able to run code on your system, your security has been compromized.
-Mike_L
There IS a science of UI design and usability. Jef came to his conclusions through years of development and scientific testing.
Usability tests are psychological tests. Gather a diversified group of test subjects. Split it into your control group and your test group. Set up your application and tasks identically for each group. Carefully choose the independant variable (UI element). Perform the test and then analyze the data. One can then use statistics to determine the relationship between the independant variable and the dependent variable (time to complete the task).
Jef Raskin is a scientist. I highly recommend his book. Yes, he sounded arrogant in the interviews, but the opinions he expressed are grounded in logic and years of study.
-Mike_L
mike@NOSPAM.tamale.net
A few years ago my parents bought this audio series for me on cassette. It is excellent. I've listened to it a few times and it kept me awake on the long drive home for the holidays. I must say that this radio-series is a lot truer to Tolkien's books than the new movie. Also all voices have authentic British accents. =)
Amazon has it for $41.96/ qid%3D/103-3685064-5132664
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553472283
-Mike_L
Voice recognition is the next major advancement in computer user interfaces. Lip reading will increase the accuracy of voice recognition software. It is exciting that Intel is furthering the field of cybernetics.
I look forward to the day when I can dictate to my PC by just mouthing the words. Voice recognition and touchscreens will save the office worker from Repetetive Stress Injury and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Lipreading will make voice recognition practical for large offices and many other areas.
-Mike_L
The Linux kernel has grown dramatically since 2.0. There are certainly more bad bugs lurking in 2.2. I refuse to even try 2.4 until 2.5 is well on its way.
-Mike_L
From The Takeda Foundation: "Each award will be accompanied by a monetary prize of 100 million yen."
The XE.com Universal Currency Converter yields these figures:
This is $275,300 USD for each of the awardees.
UI consistency is a problem with Linux apps. Install difficulty is NOT. I support Windows PCs at work. Many of the problems I fix every day are caused by users installing crap on their PCs.
It is my opinion that users should USE SOFTWARE and administrators should install software.
Applying access control to system configuration is an effective way to reduce management costs. Linux wins big in this area.
I feel that what is holding back Linux is not the UI it presents to the users. What holds back Linux is the visually oriented IT staff that make the software decisions. Unix and its lookalikes are intuitive for literary type people. Linux will need good visual administration tools before it can win the hearts of the prolific visual point-and-click IT staff.
The question that comes to mind is, "Do we want to shoehorn visual people into a literary OS?"
-Mike_L
The future holds many advances in technology and personal computing. In that future I cannot see anyone carrying their PC home from work and plugging it into their desk. Nowadays people carry pagers, cellphones, and PDAs - let's not add another thing to the list.
-Mike_L
My company will soon be providing technical support for corporate PC users. We are considering using the commercial Track-IT software package to manage trouble tickets and PC inventory. I am wary of the package because it runs only on Windows and is not customiseable.
I have looked at the MOT package and it seems to have a lot of potential. Unfortunately the included job tracking database is incomplete. Specifically it is lacking report features. I would love to use MOT and develop the job tracking database. Unfortunately our management is leaning toward the rigid uncustomiseable Track-IT system.
MOT stands for Ministry Of Truth - a clever project name I must add.
Has anyone deployed MOT in a production environment?
Mike_L