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User: foniksonik

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  1. Re:This is cybernetics on Light Could Make Paralyzed Limbs Move · · Score: 1

    Missing the point. The thought is for machines to use this to gain muscles. There is a central nervous system, the CPU. It would direct light pulses to lab grown muscle tissue attached to artificial bone material with artificial vascular vessels to feed them nutrients.

    Completely artificial yet organic body controlled by a digital brain via optics.

  2. This is cybernetics on Light Could Make Paralyzed Limbs Move · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is technology that could drive real cyberorganisms. Artificial muscle and nerves coupled together with this light sensitive protein and an optical system controlled by an electronic brain (or quantum super computer if you prefer).

    We've even demonstrated glucose power cells. All that's left is a circulatory system to feed the tissue.

    Cool indeed.

  3. Who are the attackers? on Why Warriors, Not Geeks, Run US Cyber Command Posts · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If the attackers are warriors trained to infiltrate networks to look for or alter data then by all means use warriors to defend. Otoh if the attackers are geeks trying to disable or subvert the network itself use geeks to defend.

  4. Re:A rather small set of unit tests on Researcher Builds Machines That Daydream · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We define our emotions in much the same way. We have an experience, recorded in memory as a story and then define that experience as "happy" or "sad" through cross reference with similar memory/story instances.

    Children have to be taught how to define their emotions. There are many many picture books/tv series episodes/ etc dedicated to this very exercise. Children are shown scenarios they can relate to and given a definition for that scenario.

    The emotions themselves can not be supplied of course, only the definition and context within macro social interactions.

    What this software can do is create a sociopathic personality. One which understands emotion solely through observation rather than first hand experience. It will take more to establish what we consider emotions ie a psychosomatic response to stimuli. This requires senses and a reactive soma (for humans this means feeling hot flashes, tears, adrenalin, etc).

  5. Re:Not anywhere near ready for prime time on IBM Demos Single-Atom DRAM · · Score: 1

    The best place for data centers *IS* in orbit. We just need to perfect the communication between orbit and ground. Solar powered and vacuum cooled. Can't get much cheaper for operational expenses. Maitenance could be a pain though.

  6. Re:DRM on E-Books Are Only 6% of Printed Book Sales · · Score: 1

    Your arguments apply to all digital media. The entire Internet for example is exactly the same. Video, the same - even in analog format. Actually books aren't that easy to store and maintain either. They take up enormous amounts of space and are prone to mildew and rot.

    You have a perspective which can be valid in particular circumstances but it isn't universal.

  7. Needs work on First Human-Powered Ornithopter · · Score: 1

    Nice flight but needs work. As mentioned the wings need way more flex, really on the up stroke that should practically collapse and be pulled up sharply then extended again for the down stroke. Synchronized tension on both top and bottom during down stroke, then released tension on top with increased tension in a third "shoulder" joint to pull the wings up, followed by full tension across both top and bottom of the wings again to extend. Rinse and repeat.

  8. Re:Software is only part of the equation on Facebook Competitor Diaspora Revealed · · Score: 1

    In this case the user will switch service providers when the service sucks. It's very comparable to email. There are lots of email providers. Google may be the biggest but there are a million plus mail servers out there just doing their thing.

    I'm more concerned about spam when this becomes useful.

  9. Re:Who cares on Mozilla Unleashes the Kraken · · Score: 1

    Submit a story (an article would be best) where the topic is on your list. Media frame the questions and discussion. Or you could try Ask /.

  10. Re:YOUR tax dollars is paying for it on Pentagon Aims To Buy Up Book · · Score: -1, Troll

    I know you're trolling but I'll bite.

    The US is no longer on the Gold standard because Gold is worthless. What is valuable is debt aka IOUs or promissory notes aka US Dollars otherwise known as Government issued Reserve Notes. Debt is backed by labor or goods and services which have real intrinsic value. Gold is only useful in niche electronic components and fashion jewelry.

    FYI Reserve Notes are backed by Birth Certificates which have an economic value of ~$750000 - $1000000 for the lifetime of the individual, which is how much that Citizen is expected to contribute to the national economy in their lifetime in labor, services, intellectual property, etc.

    So to summarize we exchanged an economy backed by a semi-rare earth mineral for an economy backed by a population of contributing citizens and abstracted into a commodity by the vehicle of debt and debt reserve notes ( US Dollars).

  11. Re:Sounds flakey on Tap Tech Brings Touch To Dumb Phones · · Score: 1

    I never notice smudges on my iPhone unless the screen is turned off. It's a non issue.

  12. Games are just one form of engagement. on American Business Embraces 'Gamification' · · Score: 1

    What you need to sell is to create an emotional connection between the product and the consumer. Games and rewards are one way to do that. Exploration and discovery also engage people, as do video content (ie traditional commercials), contests, surveys, build your own tools, etc. Each of these methods is a way to get the user to self identify with the product or the community it is perceived to be used by. Once someone has said to themselves, this product is something I value - even if the value was created through an arbitrary game or other tool, all that is left is the price ( which often isn't an issue sue to credit.

  13. Re:I'll stick to my N900... why tablets, again? on Hands-on With the iPad Alternatives On Display At IFA · · Score: 1

    Tablets are for couch surfing at home and for meeting rooms in the office.

  14. Alternative to Blackberry on Hands-on With the iPad Alternatives On Display At IFA · · Score: 0

    I'm looking at these as eventual replacements for corporate blackberry devices. A small clean easy to use device with WiFi only - for corporate email and calendaring (read Exchange) with a good web browser and a note taking app. Viewing MS docs and PDFs is a bonus. Price it under $200 and my company would buy 500+

  15. Re:Consumer upgrade #4231844 on The Joke Known As 3D TV · · Score: 1

    BluRay will die and soon. Direct streaming will take over as services like FiOS gain household share and they will because people want instant access. Right now you can only get 720p HD streamed in volume but a year or two will see 1080p or more - and that's the kicker, ultra HiDef.

    There are Red Cameras that support it and most broadcast tv is even shot at that res, YouTube (Google) is venturing into it, 4k. Sure a BD format could come out but then you're asking everyone to re-buy once again. That's not going to happen and already isn't happening with BD vs DVD.

    So streaming is the future and disk media will cease to be used for anything as SSD gets denser.

  16. Re:What a load of beeswax mate. on Spammers Attack Apple's Ping Social Network · · Score: 1

    Google it, the market is already saturated.

  17. Re:Normal on Software (and Appropriate Input Device) For a Toddler? · · Score: 1

    Of course per a lot of recommendations here digital media is just a small part of a full day of activities. Bikes, scooters, soccer, blocks, painting, crafts, dolls and toy animals, train sets, cardboard puzzles, board games, lots of pretend.

  18. Re:Normal on Software (and Appropriate Input Device) For a Toddler? · · Score: 1

    My 2 and 3.5 yr old kids both use old iPhones 2g) to play games (educational). We swapped our sims into new 3GS phones and let the kids have fun with the old devices. They are like iPads for their hands. Keyboard is perfect for my older girl to learn typing. Great puzzle games, matching, basic hand eye coordination, etc.

    Anecdotally yours

  19. Re:Either that or on Ancient Nubians Drank Antibiotic-Laced Beer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Question should be: "what other kinds of mold grow on the plants being fermented which were not selected for due to their dangerous effects?" such as the mold that has LSD in it.

    There are many possible combinations that would not be good, so actively selecting one which is = cultivation of medicine, not randomness.

  20. Re:Using SSD as an HD cache / ZFS L2ARC on Native ZFS Is Coming To Linux Next Month · · Score: 2, Funny

    I seriously doubt that mounting /. As your filesyatem will help in any way. You'd end up just reading and commenting on each post and forget TFA altogether.

  21. Re:Not limited to logogram-based languages on Wired Youths In China & Japan Forget Character Forms · · Score: 1

    A medical doctor?

  22. Re:That's terrible on LucasFilm Sues Jedi Mind Over 'Jedi' · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Jedi as a term is only as old as Starwars. Anyone can use the idea you describe - they just can't call it Jedi. Call it Age Old Wisdom Courage Mind or whatever (I like KoolaidLouDobbsBirdLegsNinjaMonkeyTail myself ) just not Jedi.

  23. Set rates and publish them on National Park Service Says Tech Is Enabling Stupidity · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Start charging a fee for services. Set the rates make sure they are known in advance. Outsource to a private company to provide the service (can't have emergency personnel tied up on a catering run). Done and done

  24. Re:Luckily on Gaming Foursquare With 9 Lines of Perl · · Score: 1

    See the key point is not that you are away, it's how far away and for how long.

  25. Re:So don't buy a #@^&ing iPad. on Throwing Out Software That Works · · Score: 1

    My own anecdote is the opposite. People I know almost exclusively have iPhones. I don't see any feature phones, a few Android based phones and plenty of work only Blackberry phones.