This could work only for a small subset of problems. Namely, a captcha needs to be
Solvable in about 5-10 seconds by a typical human being
Generated randomly
Embedded in a typical web page
The problem with this is that most such problems (typically handwriting, image or audio recognition tasks) can already be solved with a high enough degree of accuracy using well-known methods.
Many problems which are considered "hard" for a computer program to solve are either too hard for the average human as well (e.g. Go), impossible to solve in a short period of time (e.g. summarizing an article) or impossible to implement on a website (e.g. driving a car). In short, what I meant to say is, CAPTCHAS can (and already are) be used to increase the accuracy of pattern recognizers, but not much more than that. Although it would be interesting to see an Flash-based driving game as a CAPTCHA:).
After digging around in their website it appears that they do include ads among the standard widgets. From their FAQ:
# Why are there widgets in my channels that I didn't add?
These are special Chumby Network widgets from Chumby Industries (like tips on how to use your chumby) and from partners with offers on music, games, movie previews, new products, and more. Sharing these promotional widgets with you is how the Chumby Network stays FREE.
If you delete a promotional widget, another one will be delivered in its place.
What a pity. Well, I guess that the hardware costs have to be recouped in some way.
Well, I'm not against advertising per se, it's just that I think that $180 is too much to pay for something that could turn into a mini-billboard in a couple of months.
You know, this sounds like a neat little thing to play around with when you have some free time. However, this quote on the manufacturer's website made me wary:
Access to the Chumby Network is FREE. No subscriptions to pay, no plans to sign up for. It's paid for by Chumby Industries and by sponsor companies who will be sending you widgets such as music, games, movie previews, customized alarm clocks, and special offers for products and prizes (called "Chumbooty" -- coming soon), and who knows what else the future holds? Chumby Industries is 100% dedicated to keeping your widget channels new, intriguing, fun and FREE.
The "sponsor companies" part could mean that they intend to include advertisement widgets in a future update. Definitely made me think twice about getting one.
Well, I would imagine that the lack of crew lets the designers make the boat more robust - e.g. you can keep the hull completely watertight, as you don't need a cabin, portholes, hatches etc.
Also, if they design the boat with a heavy enough keel I would imagine that it would be resistant to capsizing.
No, they are simply following the traditions of the Star Wars universe.
After all, the Millennium Falcon did make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Ah, yes. A robotic factory would be a great solution to this problem indeed. In order to cut the costs to a bare minimum I recommend we order the robots from China.
Well, the SDK for Android is already available, so my guess would be that even if Google doesn't include an email client (which, IMO, is unlikely) 3rd party clients would be easy to come by.
Having talked to some people around here (UK) it seems to me that Apple would sell many more Iphones by ditching the carrier lock-in it is plagued with currently. Seriously. I can get any phone on the market without having to sign any contracts - except for the Iphone.
Now, O2 is not a particularly bad carrier, but I travel a lot and I would really like to be able to use my phone abroad without paying the quite extortionate roaming fees.
It's seamless - just like switching between two 2G towers.
The only interruption occurs if it is a video call, as the video feed cuts off and it turns into a simple voice call, but that's about it (but then again, the Iphone probably wont have video calling capabilities, so this is a mot point).
And I think that Project Gutenberg is one of the best initiatives on the Internet.
Where else could you get, for free, electronic versions of books in the public domain? And they provide multiple file formats as well.
Do we still need the.com domain?
Why not use the country TLDs instead?
I think that using country TLDs would have some advantages over using the generic.com,.net etc. domains. For example, when I want to get to the non-English version of say, apple.com, I don't know whether I should go to www.apple.$COUNTRY_TLD, or www.apple.com/$COUNTRY_CODE. Therefore I have to go to www.apple.com and look for the language/region selection box.
Using the country TLDs exclusively would mitigate these problems. To access the French version of the page, one would go to www.apple.fr. Russian? Go to www.apple.ru etc.
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry, here's the correct link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/13/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-japan
The Guardian's live blog is usually up-to-date with developments: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-earthquake-tsunami-nuclear-crisis
Aha! So THAT'S how Microsoft got Australia to mandate OOXML. Sharks (with possible lasers on their heads)!
Right, but I just cannot see what keeps the propeller turning once the cart hits windspeed, as at that point the apparent wind would be 0.
They can, but not directly downwind - which is what the article claims the cart can do.
Well, that kinda makes sense. There shouldn't be a way of obtaining the card information short of reading it off the actual credit card.
The problem with this is that most such problems (typically handwriting, image or audio recognition tasks) can already be solved with a high enough degree of accuracy using well-known methods.
Many problems which are considered "hard" for a computer program to solve are either too hard for the average human as well (e.g. Go), impossible to solve in a short period of time (e.g. summarizing an article) or impossible to implement on a website (e.g. driving a car). In short, what I meant to say is, CAPTCHAS can (and already are) be used to increase the accuracy of pattern recognizers, but not much more than that. Although it would be interesting to see an Flash-based driving game as a CAPTCHA :).
They just saw that the EU completed the LHC world wonder so they are building a Space Elevator wonder to prevent a cultural victory.
Well, I'm not against advertising per se, it's just that I think that $180 is too much to pay for something that could turn into a mini-billboard in a couple of months.
Well, I would imagine that the lack of crew lets the designers make the boat more robust - e.g. you can keep the hull completely watertight, as you don't need a cabin, portholes, hatches etc. Also, if they design the boat with a heavy enough keel I would imagine that it would be resistant to capsizing.
No, they are simply following the traditions of the Star Wars universe. After all, the Millennium Falcon did make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Ah, yes. A robotic factory would be a great solution to this problem indeed.
In order to cut the costs to a bare minimum I recommend we order the robots from China.
Well, the SDK for Android is already available, so my guess would be that even if Google doesn't include an email client (which, IMO, is unlikely) 3rd party clients would be easy to come by.
Having talked to some people around here (UK) it seems to me that Apple would sell many more Iphones by ditching the carrier lock-in it is plagued with currently. Seriously. I can get any phone on the market without having to sign any contracts - except for the Iphone.
Now, O2 is not a particularly bad carrier, but I travel a lot and I would really like to be able to use my phone abroad without paying the quite extortionate roaming fees.
Also, no 3G (yet).
It's seamless - just like switching between two 2G towers. The only interruption occurs if it is a video call, as the video feed cuts off and it turns into a simple voice call, but that's about it (but then again, the Iphone probably wont have video calling capabilities, so this is a mot point).
There is a PayPal link on the main site: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
And I think that Project Gutenberg is one of the best initiatives on the Internet.
Where else could you get, for free, electronic versions of books in the public domain? And they provide multiple file formats as well.
That's because the world is going to end in 2012.
Didn't you get the memo?
Do we still need the .com domain?
.com, .net etc. domains. For example, when I want to get to the non-English version of say, apple.com, I don't know whether I should go to www.apple.$COUNTRY_TLD, or www.apple.com/$COUNTRY_CODE. Therefore I have to go to www.apple.com and look for the language/region selection box.
Why not use the country TLDs instead?
I think that using country TLDs would have some advantages over using the generic
Using the country TLDs exclusively would mitigate these problems. To access the French version of the page, one would go to www.apple.fr. Russian? Go to www.apple.ru etc.
"Since the beginning of time, man has yearned to destroy the sun."
I would definitely welcome another competitor in the video card market.
Goatse in HD.