Posts by Jim Lewis
69 posts • joined Sunday 11th November 2007 12:02 GMT
Signal to computer that you're gesturing at it
I think the obvious answer to how will the computer know your waving is intended for it would be to define a clear signal, 'message send'.
Something so unlikely to be within your normal gesture vocabulary that it couldn't be mistaken.
Given the on/off symbol is a circle and a line this seems an obvious choice.
Give the 'OK' diving sign with one hand and hold one finger up on the other, combining both to make a capital phi figure.
Once acknowledged by a lamp switching on, (send message), the next 10 seconds whatever sign you make will be interpreted as an instruction.
Simples.
Posted in The UK's copyright landgrab: The FAQ
Case in point. Warner sued over use of Nyan Cat
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22397446
Why should the originators of what has become a valuable franchisable icon not be protected from being ripped off?
I wholeheartedly agree. I can't help feeling that the younger generation have been sold a pup on this one.
We are of the age that regarded the pursuit of better and better sound quality a worthwhile thing to do, hence the apogee of CD sample rates.
Once convenience trumped this goal all was lost. 'Look i've got 200 albums on this iPod', 'sure, but the quality is pish'
Can it be coincidence that music today really is shite when what people listen to it on is incapable of revealing that fact? Or indeed that 'lo-fi' became a thing around the same time?
Slightly less puerile...
It could also be a picture of a telescope.
it would have to be configurable within limits to ensure vital info is always displayed somewhere.
Also, drivers are already dangerously distracted by SatNav/mobile/texting/entertainment etc.
First we need computer driven cars, then more distractions.
Posted in LOHAN ideas..
'Gastric band' pressure switch
Another way to connect balloon burst to electrical switching would be to put a band around the lower part of the balloon containing a pressure switch; closed due to the pressure of the balloon acting on it.
At balloon burst the switch would open, providing the required signal to the electronics to fire.
I think you've alleviated some of the difficulty in making a choice of publication...
In fact i'd say you've given us Manual Relief
(Surprised you didn't use that as the headline in fact!)
Assange can be accused of many things and probably should.However, the 6 finger thing is just lazy slander as far as I can tell. Attack the issues not the man fer chrissakes!
'Bing, people have seen is a better search product', than what? not searching???
Microsoft must have quietly got ahead of Google Glasses 'cos Gates seems to be viewing the world in a very strange way!
@ Oh4FS
you sir, are a tool
Please...
...can you try to use English, not Americanisms such as 'gotten'.
got is bad enough, when there are so many other words you could use, but gotten has to be one of the worst words in the English lexicon. It's just ugly and redundant.
1. One of the aspects of iDevices that the fans point to the most is the usability. IE the target market is for the less tech savvy consumer.
2. Less tech savvy people may not regularly use/have access to a PC. I have friends in this category who hadn't sent an email prior to owning an iPhone
3. Given that for such users the iDevice is the only platform available to shop from it's hardly surprising the data reflect this.
4. I use an Android phone, and do use it for browsing, usually via wifi, when i can't be arsed to fire up my PC. However, with a PC in front of me during working hours it is this that I use for the majority of my transactions.
Worth making sure it's an automated system you're talking to and not just an answering machine.
My local doctors had inadvertently left the answering machine on during office hours meaning that when I called to make an appointment I got a message saying if it's an emergency call this number, otherwise hang up.
I got pretty frustrated and vented, not realising that my invective was played loud and clear to the full waiting room and receptionist. (who was busily trying to switch the thing off).
I received a call from them pretty soon after i'd left my message from an apologetic, but obviously unimpressed receptionist and my welcome was decidedly cool when I went to my appointment!
I previously didn't expect to hear anything of much sense from Felix, but now I realise he is in fact a wise and insightful man.
As he has literally benefited from a perspective few other people have I think it is right that he expresses the view that this planet we are currently hell bent on destroying is our only home and will remain so for a very long time.
Hear hear Felix!
'The man did not find his laptop and no explanation has emerged of how it ended up in the skip to being with'
Given that he did not find it, one can assume it did not end up in the skip to *begin with.
You could ask why he thought it might have ended up in the skip.
body temperature in mammals
I wonder then if that is why we are designed to function at 37.5deg C? Maybe mammalian life developed at ambient temperature and then just had to work to maintain it as the global temp dropped?
Posted in Mac gamers a-gog as GOG goes Mac
office bullshit bingo
'going forward' did you mean to write, 'in the future', by any chance FFS!
@ Jason Bloomberg
You have a naively touching conception of how being the subject of a monarch works.
IE you work for them, never the other way around!
Nix-ed
Surprised no-one has predicted how this will end in tears.
Literally nixed by the aptly named moon.
It might be pertinent to know that Mein Kampf sells like hot cakes in India, where people, (with no sense of apparent irony), make remarks like, 'Hitler is an inspirational historical figure'.
http://rt.com/news/mein-kampf-sales-india/
I'm almost certain that yes, Sky has outsourced their support to India and that Abbas is unaware that calling Germany 'Hitler's country' was anything other than a statement of fact.
It's certainly an interesting lesson in where people choose to take their offences and why the argument that, 'the PC brigade is out of control', is a difficult one to make. If you cause someone to take offence, you have offended them, whether you intended to or not. The extent to which this can be prevented as opposed to apologised for is arguable, but that's what cultural sensitivity is supposed to be about.
do you know why this has been launched?
because just yesterday I bought one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Entourage-Pocket-Edge-4GB-Wi-Fi-7in-Black-/108338103
arses!
Given the soaring price of commodities such as copper i'm surprised it isn't cost effective to pull the cable, sell it and replace it with fibre from the proceeds.
what am i missing?
NFC? why would a standard bluetooth keyboard for Android not work:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220751/3_Bluetooth_keyboards_for_Android_tablets_
Not quite the scenario
@ Michelle Knight
'A load of wankers crying "protect the children!" '
I'm pretty sure we're trying to protect the children FROM the wankers
KLM much worse since Air France tie-in, I wonder why?
Since KLM and Air France 'merged' the customer service line for frequent flyers has begun to automatically cut people off after a certain amount of waiting time.
I find this incredible, the message 'we value your loyalty...', is eventually followed by 'there's no one here to take your call, goodbye!'.
I don't like to stereotype too much, but this does seem to be the result of adopting a French attitude to customer service!
...with the resulting failing eyesight and having only one hand free, entering the wrong target coordinates is an accident waiting to happen
Good item on this on the beeb:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17040699
so, assuming that apparently the average is four new addresses each, we can probably conclude that around 250,000 cynical old-timers have resigned themselves to MS 'new' Outlook offering as a price for getting an email address at least close to their own name for the first time in a while.
Will they use them as their main email accounts?, not really.
Is this move yet another example of just how out of touch with their user base MS is?
Absolutely!
Even if they solve the problem, can you imagine the temptation for hoodlums, (as well as unintended accidents), to put ANY conducting material in the vicinity of a 5kW delivering system.
Just watch the ensuing mayhem as the material melts/explodes ruining the system and probably a significant part of the roadway in the process.
Power lines are that high for a reason!
Did you look at what other people are doing?
EG: http://www.natrium42.com/halo/flight2/
If they have any sense at all, (and I won't be surprised to learn they don't), the manufacturers would realise that this in fact will lead to wider uptake of their products by people otherwise locked into a particular 'system'. IE those previously constrained to Lego will look at other options and those in other systems like Fischer Technic might look at Lego.
If anything this should boost sales.
(the argument that in fact this will just cannibalise sales is unsound as people at a limit within one system are not likely to spend more on it, but having the opportunity to branch into other, (now compatible), systems will encourage ADDITIONAL spend).
Minority report? see Person of Interest
For a more relevant example of what the Govt's new project will likely bring see 'Person of Interest'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person_of_Interest_%28TV_series%29
Perhaps not as watchable as Minority Report, but probably closer to science fact than fiction and closer to being realised than we might wish to believe.
Posted in Starship Voyager dumped into skip
There are lots of cheap shipping containers around. Why not buy a couple and reinstall the stuff in those. they'd make pretty good travelling displays for fun-fairs etc.
Posted in Ten... inkjet photo printers
cost per print?
Your analysis is all well and good, but you give no indication of the total cost of ownership. (Ie cost of replacment ink), and consequent cost per page of printing.
Given that for example HP seem to follow a 'loss leader' approach with their printer pricing, to lock you into buying their expensive ink refills, the price of the printer is a small proportion of the cost over the life of the device.
@Hoi!
No it's not, it's hoist.
Tit.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hoist%20by%20your%20own%20petard.html
workplace comforts
Here in Norway, (working for a large American oilfield services company), we have a bowl of fruit provided in the office every morning.
There is also a couch on which to nap when necessary.
The canteen is a bit pants though, so we tend to head to the nearby client's office to use their discounted canteen.
If you treat people like children or animals, you can expect them to behave like it.
Respect them as individuals with specific needs however, and you will see them take pride and perform to the best of their abilities.
Posted in Cops slap ticket on Street View spycar
Revenge on cops
I shopped a copper the other day for parking on double yellow lines while he nipped into a convenience store.
After speaking to the assistant chief constable I was assured that all officers would be reminded of the importance of them being seen to obey the rules they are so keen to enforce.
Experiencing freedom
I was recently in South Africa. If you listen to just about anyone they'll tell you that SA is a dangerous and lawless place, where the unwary white man is liable to have his throat cut at any moment for a trifling sum.
I admit I felt uncomfotable in Johannesburg, but for the most part people were friendly and open, in a way I haven't experienced in the UK in years.
One aspect of life there that was particularly refreshing was the total lack of a sense of being monitored. No CCTV, no police in evidence in most places. People just didn't care what you were up to.
Clearly there is a down side to this, and I am possibly being naive, but the sense of relief and of the weight being lifted of constant surveillance was almost palpable.
For all practical purposes I am a law abiding citizen, why am I constantly observed and monitored in the UK?
I am seriously considering relocating to SA. I give up on the UK, it is rapidly falling into the hands of people who deserve nothing better than the open prison they seem determined to create for us.
Decentralised production reduces demand
One of the major benefits of PV Solar and micro generation in general is that the power is produced much closer to where it is used.
This is very important as a large proportion of the electricity generated, (and hence how much you pay for your electricity), is actually wasted in transmission.
An example is traditional coal fired power stations. At best they turn around 30% of the energy in coal into electricity.
At the point where you use it, a further 8% of that energy has been lost in transmission, IE coal delivers only around 22% of its energy to you home.
Clearly generating power where you use it reduces the demand dramatically, and reduces the need identified in this report for massive wind farms or whatever.
His biggest mistake is not recognising that far from reducing our usage of electricity, (which is acheivable as mentioned by other posters above), the much bigger issue is mking our distribution more efficient and decentralised.
Guess why the big power firms aren't very keen on this approach?
For information about practical application of micro generation on a large scale please visit the Woking counci site.
By using community sized space heating and PV solr this authority has made real inorads into achieving reductions in CO2 emissions in line with Kyoto agreements.
http://www.woking.gov.uk/environment/climate/Greeninitiatives
As someone else said, wading into the debate with misinformation dressed up as serious scientific research does little to progress the issue.
Back to the AI lab sir.
interim technology?
I am a bit confused as to the interest in hydrogen technology.
We generate electricity, to electolyse water, to make hydrogen, which is used to make electricity to drive the car.
Surely battery technology must be getting near the point where filling your car with electricity directly is the better option?
No distribution of gas, no complicated fuel cell technology, no risk of explosion etc.
Wikipedia-balance
Those of you slating Wikipedia as a flawed concept have obviously not taken the trouble to actually think about what you're saying.
A trend which seems to be on the rise in comments on El Reg lately, but I digress.
Wikipedia entries must NOT be opinion and MUST reference published work.
True some entries don't meet these criteria and might not immediately be flagged as such, but eventually someone will notice and mark the entry as needing citations or re-editing.
In cases where people continually revert the edit, the item can be locked, or certain users can be blocked from editing.
If people use Wikipedia with the understanding that it is a quick way to find links to authoritarian publications then the misconception that wikipedia is the fastest way to a wrong answer will go away.
Wider implication
Whatever your feeling about the right or wrongness of this person and her actions, I still find it incredible that we simply accept that you will be put on the DNA database for getting arrested, IE before any charges are put forward, whether you are innocent or not.
If I believed in the DNA database, I could just about accept putting details on of convicted criminals.
How is this not an infringement of my rights?
I'm innocent until proven guilty, (allegedly), and yet my right to anonymity is gone simply for getting nicked. (But of course only guilty people get arrested!)
Posted in Odeon kicks Rambo in the 'nads
Hollywood Films
I may be slightly behind the ball here, but I heard some Hollywood insider explaining that they regarded their largest target market as 15 to 17 year old boys.
This is due to the fact that in most households, 15 to 17 year olds are obnoxious and the other family members wish them to be elsewhere, (and indeed the youths themselves no doubt wish to be out exploring their nascent adulthood).
As a consequence a large proportion of Hollywood films are designed to appeal to this group.
I can't remember the last time I saw a Hollywood film that was anything other than vacuous garbage, oh I just did, fight club, and that's cutting it fine.
Don't let your guard down
I am always cheered by news of another nail in the coffin of the ID card scheme.
I dearly hope the whole rotten plan will be dropped once and for all.
However, I am deeply apprehensive that one way or another such marking and monitoring of the population will be introduced for our own good.
No matter how certain the demise of this scheme seems, please continue to support www.NO2ID.net campaigns until we can be certain that those in power have abandoned this terrible idea.
Just another cymnical ploy to raise film revenue
So, by acknowledging, nay celebrating, talentless performances etc. these awards drive those foolish enough to be sucked in, to go and see the films in question just to see how bad they are.
The Hollywood machine is so efficient it even makes us want to pay for it's self-acknowledged crap product.
Wouldn't it just be better all round to ignore these self-important idiots and do something more constructive?
Posted in Lightsaber voted top movie weapon
not a mention of...
the Australian from 'Delicattesen', although you do have to know how to use it, (as the guy at the end doesn't!).
Posted in Remembering the Commodore SX-64
@ John Benson:Experimentation
I agree with your sentiments John. Computers have spoilt us into requiring a GUI and for most people this is a barrier to understanding what's actually going on behind this.
One area that I think does offer an avenue of this kind of exploration though is PICs, which require an understanding of the principles of using writing and compiling simple code and using actual pin outs on chips to control ciruits.
As most people probably feel uncomfortable messing around with their actual PC it allows them to experiment knowing that at worst they'll fry a £2 chip.
These are pretty well supported for use in schools etc. too.
EG See:
http://www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pictutorial/picmain.htm
@Iglethal
I can help you out there:
"Good guys", people that can afford them
"Bad guys", people that can't
So just another tool to maintain the status quo then.
not real so doesn't matter...
is demonstrably a fallacious argument in connectin with countless studies of child behaviour. (The classic is called the Bobo doll experiement), there is broad consensus in Psychology that children learn by imitating observed behaviour, they are then much more likely to exhibit violent behaviour having been exposed to it, (on screen).
Frankly I believe we need much greater 'censorship' of such violent images.
The ASA is also legendary for it's almost total uselessness. It very, very, rarely acts, nd due to the requirement that someone makes a complaint before it can do, it often acts after the event anyway, (eg the Benetton advert outcry of the 80's).
That it felt compelled to do so indicates that for once the limits had been so far exceeded that it had no alternative.
I agree that those adults who wish to engage in violent activities in a fantasy world should have the right to do so, (although I believe that even in adults such activities damage their judgement and behaviour), but I feel that much stronger measures should be in place to prevent children being exposed to such material.
The ASA was bang on here. For a change.
