Yeah, I can back that up, Sony stores have always been around in Edmonton, Alberta. 5 people I knew from high school worked at various locations. Prices usually higher than anywhere else, but they've got cool stuff. This has been like, forever, so I don't know why this would be news. Unless it's a different kind of store somehow? I don't see how really.
The device sends out "off" codes, it will not turn any TV on, ever.
Umm, did you happen to read the article, like all the way to the end? When they are told they better turn the TV back on, and they do, using the device. RTFA applies to the whole article, not just the first paragraph. Quoted from the very end of the Wired article, after having turned off a TV that a worker disagreed with:
At Fenway Park, Derek Jeter warmed up to lead off the ninth. The TV-lover had an angry set in her jaw. And TV-B-Gone served its less-publicized purpose -- it also turns on any TV.
As I already explained, even though it can turn the TV on, this is not its marketability, as it doesn't have enough buttons to do anything useful once the TV is on. But it has to be a toggle for maximum compatability with as many sets as possible, as that is a more commonly available command among makes and models. Anyhow that's why it's TV B Gone and not TV B Gone and Back in 60 Seconds...
Especially since this story is a couple of days old now, how the hell did you get it wrong with that much time?
attach a sensor to detect when the driver's head tilts forward
That's been out for years. I don't remember the product name, but I think you can still get it. It clips onto one of your ears, looks kind of like a hearing aid. I'm guessing there's a mercury switch in it, for if your head tilts forward for more than a second or two, a blaring alarm goes off in your ear, which stops once your head is back up again.
The interesting thing is that the effect is strongest for safety changes that make the chance of an accident lower (e.g. ABS breaking)
That reminds me of an amusing story (because nobody was badly hurt, just my stupid idiot father's pride), when my dad got a new pickup years ago. I had gone to catch a bus, but he stopped by and picked me up with his new truck, pleased as punch he was. It was winter, but he had on nice new winter tires, so he was driving like he always does. Which is to say, he drives like a complete asshole regardless of the road conditions. Anyhow, he was going on about what his new truck had, and I asked him if it had that new ABS thing. We were approaching a T intersection. Just as he answered, "Yeah, it's got all of that," he pulled a left turn way too fast, tried to brake, and went sideways into a big snowdrift. I rapped the side of my head on the door frame, but it was worth it man... The look on his face was priceless. And for his hurrying, he was rewarded by having to change a tire, for he had hit the curb with one of the passenger-side tires, with enough force to knock it right off the rim. Ah, the memories...
Too many people confuse this with an issue of privacy or civil rights, but I don't believe it to be.
I totally agree. When you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle you have an obligation to the public around you. Driving is a priviledge, not a right, and you certainly do not have the right to not pay attention. No rights are removed here. And if the camera is only watching your eyes, what's the privacy issue? Oh the insurance company might catch me picking my nose, boo hoo.
For a long time I've wanted there to be cameras in cars, that watch the driver's head orientation under certain conditions. You know the kind, the car is at a complete stop. The driver is waiting to make a right turn. The driver's head is to the left, watching traffic, and does not move the entire time, until their hole appears, and they pull into it, head still to the left and only coming back to forward after they're already moving. Meanwhile the pedestrian on the right has been wondering if they're ever going to get any eye contact from this driver, and should maybe just hoof it.. SPLAT.
I want a camera system that will stall the car if it has just been at a stop, signal lights are indicating a direction, but the driver is not actually looking in that direction as they turn the wheel and start to move the car. That should be an instant stall. Possibly with some mild engine damage as an object lesson.
...but I just can't respect an author that would change a finished work in response to the market.
I'm not familiar with his work, so I don't know what was changed, but it seems to me the change would not have to be significant. Just enough to show which version is which.
Possible original ending (street version): After the bus exploded, there just didn't seem to be any point in continuing.
Possible fixed ending (published version): With the bus destroyed, there just didn't seem to be any point in continuing.
I don't think it needs to be any more involved than that, and serves the intended purpose.
Yes, the article indicates that it is a power toggle, not specifically an 'off' button. The device is to be appreciated for the 'off' function rather than the 'on' side of it. If it was intended to be used for turning TVs on, you'd obviously want more buttons to do channels and volume. So even though it toggles, having only the one button it makes more sense that you'd just be using it for switching them off.
In addition, these turbines will probably use something a smidge cleaner than gasoline.
The article mentions diesel, which makes the whole thing sound like it will be messy and smelly. Changing cartridges you'd probably get some in the air, and it doesn't smell good. Using the device, then (because you're in a hurry, say) quickly sticking it in your shirt pocket while the engine is still winding down, you'd be smelling like diesel exhaust the rest of the day. Yuck...
I occasionally make use of a virus scanner when I have questions about a particular file from an untrusted source. The rest of the time, the scanner doesn't run, no auto-protect needed. Often there isn't even one installed on any of my machines, it's just pointless. When people ask me what I use for virus protection I point to my head, but that's where the conversation gets tricky. I wind up recommending NAV or PC-Cillin because the subject of careful computing goes a lot deeper than "don't just click on everything". I warn them that they are still at the mercy of their own silliness even with such automated protection, but beyond that I don't have time to really get into it with them. Is there an "Internet Security for Utter Fools" book out there that one can point to?
Different for entities like MS, if I convert a person to Linux, that doesn't help MS...
I'm not trying to troll here, but showing Linux to certain people *does* help MS. Linux still has a lot of work ahead of it before it's truly safe to expose various people to it. Do it now and a lot of them want to run away screaming.
I too, don't have much use for desktop managers. What I like is using a KVM switch, normally intended for 2 computers and 1 monitor, but I add a VGA splitter as well so that I can use 2 monitors, still only 1 mouse and keyboard. This way the second computer's output is always visible to the right side of my main display. Hit the switch and that secondary view is now right in front of me and under my control, and because it is split it's still on its 'native' monitor as well. Hit the switch and I'm back to looking at my primary machine, but the secondary is still there, to my right side, thanks to the splitter. Works great. Split tasks to different computers, never mind different desktops. That way if something crashes out one of the systems, your other bit of work is totally unaffected. Good for working and gaming at the same time.
Heh, I was thinking something like that at first, until I realized, that particular article, on a chinese website, does not at all mention that the sattellite went anywhere near anyone's dwelling. Interesting omission.
I went and tried the Windows Ultimate Boot CD based on the parent post, and I've gotta say, that disc is definitely going in my CD wallet. It was very easy to get all the needed files and build a disc. I'm booted in and posting from within it right now, with K-Meleon browser. It's not what I was expecting, it's actually much cooler. Give it a try people!
I almost wouldn't be surprised if he does release the unaltered remastered editions to get the rest of the available cash
He's been quoted as saying something to the effect of, (massively paraphrased) "I don't like those movies, the special edition versions are the ones I wanted. If you want the originals I'm sure you can dig them up on VHS somewhere, but it won't be coming from me."
This ignores Newton's law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I'm not trying to be mean here, but I've noticed a lot of people giving fairly simple and apparently obvious reasons why this won't work. I am fairly certain that the people involved in this idea are familiar with Mr. Newton and his Laws, and are thinking about and working on the problems they pose. It's just too obvious to anyone who's completed high school. So we should be picking on harder parts of the problem instead.
Didn't that recent X-Prize winner do just that? The craft was suspended from a jet which gradually climbed way up, then released the spacecraft. Using the principles of lift, you don't need so much power as trying to thrust straight up and away. It has already been shown to work, now let's get it honed out.
Well yes, it draws attention to the missing arm much better than an empty jacket-sleeve. On a few occasions I've been surprised to have been interacting with someone for several minutes before realizing they've got some fingers gone, or just one hand. They didn't have a prosthesis, and since I wasn't trying to see their hands specifically, it went totally unnoticed until I had been around them long enough for it to become obvious. Prosthetics always look dead and fake, and draw attention. That will change eventually, but for now, they are, for some people, a big flashing red sign that says, "Hey, look at the disabled guy!"
I would argue that many elderly people would be far more likely to fall walking than when cautiously riding a Segway.
I've got to agree, and the article seems to indicate users find it more comfortable to stand while getting around rather than sitting in a wheelchair. If you're stuck sitting without much ability to shift around, it gets painful after awhile. Old people have trouble walking, that's not the same as standing. Standing you can just, well, stand there. But walking is much more complicated, you've got to get a bunch of weight shifted, move some bones, keep the weight balanced while only one foot is on the ground, swing that weight along properly, land it right, shift weight the other way for the other foot... Plenty of opportunities to lose control and fall, and that's probably where more elderly falls come from. They don't just sort of keel over while standing still, generally speaking.
What we "need", is a phone that will switch into vibrate mode when it detects a signal. Easy.
Not picking on this post, just still a bit ticked about the other day... Some people would believe that this represents a security vulnerability in the phone. Wankers.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, I can back that up, Sony stores have always been around in Edmonton, Alberta. 5 people I knew from high school worked at various locations. Prices usually higher than anywhere else, but they've got cool stuff. This has been like, forever, so I don't know why this would be news. Unless it's a different kind of store somehow? I don't see how really.
The device sends out "off" codes, it will not turn any TV on, ever.
Umm, did you happen to read the article, like all the way to the end? When they are told they better turn the TV back on, and they do, using the device. RTFA applies to the whole article, not just the first paragraph. Quoted from the very end of the Wired article, after having turned off a TV that a worker disagreed with:
At Fenway Park, Derek Jeter warmed up to lead off the ninth. The TV-lover had an angry set in her jaw. And TV-B-Gone served its less-publicized purpose -- it also turns on any TV.
As I already explained, even though it can turn the TV on, this is not its marketability, as it doesn't have enough buttons to do anything useful once the TV is on. But it has to be a toggle for maximum compatability with as many sets as possible, as that is a more commonly available command among makes and models. Anyhow that's why it's TV B Gone and not TV B Gone and Back in 60 Seconds...
Especially since this story is a couple of days old now, how the hell did you get it wrong with that much time?
attach a sensor to detect when the driver's head tilts forward
That's been out for years. I don't remember the product name, but I think you can still get it. It clips onto one of your ears, looks kind of like a hearing aid. I'm guessing there's a mercury switch in it, for if your head tilts forward for more than a second or two, a blaring alarm goes off in your ear, which stops once your head is back up again.
The interesting thing is that the effect is strongest for safety changes that make the chance of an accident lower (e.g. ABS breaking)
That reminds me of an amusing story (because nobody was badly hurt, just my stupid idiot father's pride), when my dad got a new pickup years ago. I had gone to catch a bus, but he stopped by and picked me up with his new truck, pleased as punch he was. It was winter, but he had on nice new winter tires, so he was driving like he always does. Which is to say, he drives like a complete asshole regardless of the road conditions. Anyhow, he was going on about what his new truck had, and I asked him if it had that new ABS thing. We were approaching a T intersection. Just as he answered, "Yeah, it's got all of that," he pulled a left turn way too fast, tried to brake, and went sideways into a big snowdrift. I rapped the side of my head on the door frame, but it was worth it man... The look on his face was priceless. And for his hurrying, he was rewarded by having to change a tire, for he had hit the curb with one of the passenger-side tires, with enough force to knock it right off the rim. Ah, the memories...
Too many people confuse this with an issue of privacy or civil rights, but I don't believe it to be.
I totally agree. When you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle you have an obligation to the public around you. Driving is a priviledge, not a right, and you certainly do not have the right to not pay attention. No rights are removed here. And if the camera is only watching your eyes, what's the privacy issue? Oh the insurance company might catch me picking my nose, boo hoo.
For a long time I've wanted there to be cameras in cars, that watch the driver's head orientation under certain conditions. You know the kind, the car is at a complete stop. The driver is waiting to make a right turn. The driver's head is to the left, watching traffic, and does not move the entire time, until their hole appears, and they pull into it, head still to the left and only coming back to forward after they're already moving. Meanwhile the pedestrian on the right has been wondering if they're ever going to get any eye contact from this driver, and should maybe just hoof it.. SPLAT.
I want a camera system that will stall the car if it has just been at a stop, signal lights are indicating a direction, but the driver is not actually looking in that direction as they turn the wheel and start to move the car. That should be an instant stall. Possibly with some mild engine damage as an object lesson.
You're gonna sleep for a looooong time my friend. :)
...but I just can't respect an author that would change a finished work in response to the market.
I'm not familiar with his work, so I don't know what was changed, but it seems to me the change would not have to be significant. Just enough to show which version is which.
Possible original ending (street version):
After the bus exploded, there just didn't seem to be any point in continuing.
Possible fixed ending (published version):
With the bus destroyed, there just didn't seem to be any point in continuing.
I don't think it needs to be any more involved than that, and serves the intended purpose.
Can you say Battle of Helms Deep with every character being a real person?
I can see it now:
G1mli: I roxxor dude!! 27!
L3g0las: You teh suxxor!! 29!!!!
Gimlet: 38 over here!
Legolamb: Ph3ar me, 40!!
etc etc
Yes, the article indicates that it is a power toggle, not specifically an 'off' button. The device is to be appreciated for the 'off' function rather than the 'on' side of it. If it was intended to be used for turning TVs on, you'd obviously want more buttons to do channels and volume. So even though it toggles, having only the one button it makes more sense that you'd just be using it for switching them off.
In addition, these turbines will probably use something a smidge cleaner than gasoline.
The article mentions diesel, which makes the whole thing sound like it will be messy and smelly. Changing cartridges you'd probably get some in the air, and it doesn't smell good. Using the device, then (because you're in a hurry, say) quickly sticking it in your shirt pocket while the engine is still winding down, you'd be smelling like diesel exhaust the rest of the day. Yuck...
Yeah but a program shouldn't crash on bad data, it should figure out the data is bad and do something graceful about it.
I occasionally make use of a virus scanner when I have questions about a particular file from an untrusted source. The rest of the time, the scanner doesn't run, no auto-protect needed. Often there isn't even one installed on any of my machines, it's just pointless. When people ask me what I use for virus protection I point to my head, but that's where the conversation gets tricky. I wind up recommending NAV or PC-Cillin because the subject of careful computing goes a lot deeper than "don't just click on everything". I warn them that they are still at the mercy of their own silliness even with such automated protection, but beyond that I don't have time to really get into it with them. Is there an "Internet Security for Utter Fools" book out there that one can point to?
Different for entities like MS, if I convert a person to Linux, that doesn't help MS...
I'm not trying to troll here, but showing Linux to certain people *does* help MS. Linux still has a lot of work ahead of it before it's truly safe to expose various people to it. Do it now and a lot of them want to run away screaming.
I too, don't have much use for desktop managers. What I like is using a KVM switch, normally intended for 2 computers and 1 monitor, but I add a VGA splitter as well so that I can use 2 monitors, still only 1 mouse and keyboard. This way the second computer's output is always visible to the right side of my main display. Hit the switch and that secondary view is now right in front of me and under my control, and because it is split it's still on its 'native' monitor as well. Hit the switch and I'm back to looking at my primary machine, but the secondary is still there, to my right side, thanks to the splitter. Works great. Split tasks to different computers, never mind different desktops. That way if something crashes out one of the systems, your other bit of work is totally unaffected. Good for working and gaming at the same time.
Heh, I was thinking something like that at first, until I realized, that particular article, on a chinese website, does not at all mention that the sattellite went anywhere near anyone's dwelling. Interesting omission.
I went and tried the Windows Ultimate Boot CD based on the parent post, and I've gotta say, that disc is definitely going in my CD wallet. It was very easy to get all the needed files and build a disc. I'm booted in and posting from within it right now, with K-Meleon browser. It's not what I was expecting, it's actually much cooler. Give it a try people!
I almost wouldn't be surprised if he does release the unaltered remastered editions to get the rest of the available cash
He's been quoted as saying something to the effect of, (massively paraphrased) "I don't like those movies, the special edition versions are the ones I wanted. If you want the originals I'm sure you can dig them up on VHS somewhere, but it won't be coming from me."
you can always shoot them afterwards and get your money back.
Ah, but this is what takes time away from the Neopet addiction you could start working on. Just Findum, Fuckum, and Flee, so you can feed your pet.
This ignores Newton's law that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
I'm not trying to be mean here, but I've noticed a lot of people giving fairly simple and apparently obvious reasons why this won't work. I am fairly certain that the people involved in this idea are familiar with Mr. Newton and his Laws, and are thinking about and working on the problems they pose. It's just too obvious to anyone who's completed high school. So we should be picking on harder parts of the problem instead.
Didn't that recent X-Prize winner do just that? The craft was suspended from a jet which gradually climbed way up, then released the spacecraft. Using the principles of lift, you don't need so much power as trying to thrust straight up and away. It has already been shown to work, now let's get it honed out.
Well yes, it draws attention to the missing arm much better than an empty jacket-sleeve. On a few occasions I've been surprised to have been interacting with someone for several minutes before realizing they've got some fingers gone, or just one hand. They didn't have a prosthesis, and since I wasn't trying to see their hands specifically, it went totally unnoticed until I had been around them long enough for it to become obvious. Prosthetics always look dead and fake, and draw attention. That will change eventually, but for now, they are, for some people, a big flashing red sign that says, "Hey, look at the disabled guy!"
I would argue that many elderly people would be far more likely to fall walking than when cautiously riding a Segway.
I've got to agree, and the article seems to indicate users find it more comfortable to stand while getting around rather than sitting in a wheelchair. If you're stuck sitting without much ability to shift around, it gets painful after awhile. Old people have trouble walking, that's not the same as standing. Standing you can just, well, stand there. But walking is much more complicated, you've got to get a bunch of weight shifted, move some bones, keep the weight balanced while only one foot is on the ground, swing that weight along properly, land it right, shift weight the other way for the other foot... Plenty of opportunities to lose control and fall, and that's probably where more elderly falls come from. They don't just sort of keel over while standing still, generally speaking.
What we "need", is a phone that will switch into vibrate mode when it detects a signal. Easy.
Not picking on this post, just still a bit ticked about the other day... Some people would believe that this represents a security vulnerability in the phone. Wankers.
A slip in the translation is always possible. Maybe these 'manuals' are just player handbooks for a really early RPG. :)