If you are a geek like I, then you just have to get the greatest periodic chart ever created
Month: November 2006
Robots adapting, learning – to better rule the world?
I used to think the zombies would take over the world first, and then be wiped out by the robots. Now, as I study advances in zombie technologies and robot technologies, I’ve come to the irrefutable conclusion that the zombies will not have a chance to wipe us out first. In fact, with the latest technology the robots are getting, the day of the robot uprising will happen so quickly, we’ll all be wiped out so completely that there will be no corpses available for the zombies to seed their own uprising.
Nothing can possibly go wrong … go wrong … go wrong … The truth behind the old joke is that most robots are programmed with a fairly rigid “model” of what they and the world around them are like. If a robot is damaged or its environment changes unexpectedly, it can’t adapt.
So Cornell researchers have built a robot that works out its own model of itself and can revise the model to adapt to injury. First, it teaches itself to walk. Then, when damaged, it teaches itself to limp.
Soon, the robots will be able to adapt better to injuries. The technology starts with learning locomotion strategies after injuries. What next? And what happens when the robots decide to experiment on humans to see how we adapt? Ahhhh, the fear this should install.
I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.
[tags]Robots gaining self-awareness, Robots learn to compensate for injury, I for one welcome our new robot overlords[/tags]
Freecell tips
Video showing how to win at Freecell every time
Backyard roller coaster
I don’t have the back yard to build it. I don’t have the skills to pull it off. I don’t have the time to work on it. I don’t have a wife who would in any way support my working on it. I don’t have the money for the materials nor the tools for building it. But I have 2 kids who would get a kick out of it, and a personal love of coasters that just makes me wish I could build this coaster (or really, just something like it) for my own personal use.
[tags]Backyard roller coaster, Personal roller coaster[/tags]
You call that a knife?
…and she said “You call that a knife?” (thanks Bill)
Target recalls toys
This one might be worth checking out. Target has recalled 190,000 children’s toys. The toys in question were made with lead paint or have sharp points which are likely to injure the children in the age group for which the toys are made.
The recall involves “Kool Toyz” brand toys, including sets containing die-cast cars, playground set, doll house set, dinosaurs, trucks, boats and planes. The packaging is primary blue and has the “Kool Toyz” logo is on the upper left corner of the packaging.” If you have these toys, take them away from children and bring them to Target for a full refund.
So check out the recall details and see if you have some toys which need to be returned to Target. Pictures of all involved products are on the government agency’s web site. (via The Consumerist)
[tags]Target children’s toy recall[/tags]
Rock pillows
Human genetic differences – an order of magnitude greater
Listening to NPR on the way home, I heard a very interesting news bit on the latest in human genetic make-up studies. For the longest time, scientists have said that humans are 99.9% identical genetically. Now it seems that we differ at least 10 times more than previously believed.
Scientists have shown that our genetic code varies between individuals far more than was previously thought.
A US-led team made a detailed analysis of the DNA found in 270 people and identified vast stretches in their codes to be duplicated or even missing.
A great many of these variations are in areas of the genome that would not damage our health, Stephen Scherer and colleagues told the journal Nature.
. . .
…researchers have developed the molecular “tools” to focus on medium-scale variations of the code – at the scale of thousands of DNA letters.
Continue reading “Human genetic differences – an order of magnitude greater”
High-tech gadget guide
For the geek in your life – a High-Tech Gift and gadget guide
US Mint still trying to get Americans spending dollar coins
I have to admit that I think dollar coins are pretty cool. I like them, and think the US following Canada’s lead in replacing one dollar bills with dollar coins is a good idea (as much as I hate to let Canada lead the US in anything). The government seems mystified as to why the dollar coins aren’t catching on. In case any government official with any power in this struggle reads my site, here’s the answer:
Continue reading “US Mint still trying to get Americans spending dollar coins”
Robot pr0n?
Oh man, are robots even infiltrating our pr0n industry?
Scientists are using ‘mating’ robot fish to verify whether early humans had flexible ‘rods’ instead of backbones. They say robot tadpole sex might help shed light on how our early ancestors evolved backbones, reports LiveScience.
OK, I guess out naughty movie bits are safe for now. Still, how often do you get to hear scientists are dealing with mating, humans, robot fish, and flexible ‘rods’ all in one sentence? And people say scientists have no fun!
[tags]Robot pr0n?, Robots and their flexible ‘rods’, Robots mate to help scientists understand the secrets of early life and evolution[/tags]
Robot uprising – marching closer every day
Consider avoiding Florida in the not-too-distant future. The University there is working on a $3.64 million project for the Army, creating robots capable of engaging enemies on the battlefield alongside our human military men and women.
The one-year deal would lay the foundation for creating “a combat force of humans and robots” and investigating “how robots and soldiers might work together” more effectively in the battlefield, project officials said.
Continue reading “Robot uprising – marching closer every day”