* Posts by gfrevivus

7 publicly visible posts • joined 18 May 2013

Before we lose our minds over sentient AI, what about self-driving cars that can't detect kids crossing the road?

gfrevivus

From memory I think there was a survey done of drivers way back in the 70s or 80s that found that drivers when driving consistently over estimated the distance from children . Apparently this was because in estimating distances we use the apparent size to work out how close something is.I also believe that this also was a reason amongst others that the Highway Code stressed more caution and reducing speed where children might be crossing unsupervised. As always comment open to correction or better citation.

Google wants to track your phone and credit card through meatspace

gfrevivus

Google and data

Simple answer don't use Google for anything including its OS. There are other search providers ( e.g. DuckDuckGo )or use a VPN. As regards card tracking there are RFID shields which block the signal from your card. Lobby your MP to stop Google taking your data as in Deep Mind and the NHS. My view of data protection is that the data you create is based on your personality and identity so taking your data for other than strictly limited and upfront purposes should be regarded as seriously as identity theft and the perpetrators charged and punished accordingly and directors of the company that does it classed as principals in the malfeasance.

Amazon drone tests in UK

gfrevivus

There has been an online report that Amazon will also be using their drones to scan the properties it flies over. Won't they need clearance from the ICO to do that ? Also wait for sales of BBC Microbit to increase as people decide that redirecting drones and disabling any tracking would be a good way to get free kit. Would a good excuse for non-delivery be the wind speed is too high today or the drone disappeared off the network and we can't find it ? Best solution use independent sellers to buy from.

Cheeky IT rival parks 'we're hiring' van outside 'vote Tory' firm Storm Technologies

gfrevivus

I must admit I did not find the email as posted to be humorous in wording. Perhaps an emoji might have made the humour more evident. The original sender of the email should post a copy of it to the Electoral Commission to see if they laugh . There is a PDF available from them which (paraphrased ) states that a person who inflicts or threatens to inflict injury damage or harm in order to prevent someone from freely casting their vote is guilty of exerting undue influence which is prohibited .

Boffins bust biometrics with inkjet printer

gfrevivus

Thank you for your courteous comment. I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner. I thought about this for a while as I wanted something that would look natural on a phone.

My suggestions would be either dual biometrics using the ear print (in the natural process of putting the ear to the phone) and the fingerprint together or within a very short time period of each other or random selection by the phone of one of the eight fingerprints (not the thumbprints) . In the first are mobile phone sensors up to the job? In the second the phone could display a graphic of the hand with the appropriate finger coloured to show which print to use.

These are only my suggestions but I am sure people with greater knowledge could come up with much better ideas.

gfrevivus

Fingerprints

Fingerprints have been copied since the 1930s. For an explanation of how a good start is the R Austin Freeman fiction book "The Red Thumbmark". In addition I remember that years ago there were allegations that police were using fingerprint lifts to transfer fingerprints from one surface to another to incriminate individuals. A fingerprint is a stamp impressed by your finger and like any other stamp it can be copied.

Don't use Google+? Tough, Google Glass will inject it INTO YOUR EYES

gfrevivus

Given my car driving experiences of individuals walking out into the road almost under my car wheels without looking when wearing mp3 players or using their mobile or cellphone or looking at their screen I hope this isn't literally going to be a killer app or end up featuring in the Darwin awards. I do agree with other comments that say that within a closed context e.g warehousing stock control and research it could be very useful. I certainly wouldn't want somebody wearing them when driving or out in a normal street environment.