LocutusMIT - Slashdot User

Collective Intelligence in Action 53

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday February 18, 2009 @02:03PM from the read-all-about-it dept.

lamaditx writes "The book Collective Intelligence in Action shows you how to apply theory from Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Data Mining to your business. The goal is to create systems which make use of data created by groups of people — i.e. social networks — and abstract from these to gain new or additional information. Some of you might think "just another kind of Web 2.0." This is one application you might think of, but the input and output format do not matter that much. You can use these methods anywhere as long as the amount of data is big enough. You will find some examples related to the latest web technologies to explain methods, but the code is rather generic. Also, you won't find a lot disturbing details about HTML, HTTP and the like." Keep reading for the rest of Adrian's review.

Comment Re:tips (Score 1) 695

by LocutusMIT on Wednesday December 31, 2008 @03:34PM (#26283777) Attached to: Home Generators (or How DTE Energy Ruined My Holidays)

It is possible (but probably illegal) to back-feed your generator into your home. Improper backfeeding will send power back up the line, creating a danger to the line workers.

Depends on how the electrical system is wired in your area. There were a number of cases in California a few years back where people with solar panels were pushing power back into the system during very sunny months, and the power company credited them at the rates they'd normally be charged. If it weren't safe, I'd expect they'd be asked to stop instead.

You should definitely have an electrician check your wiring if you're planning on doing this, however.

Workings of Ancient Calculating Device Deciphered 268

Posted by timothy on Wednesday July 30, 2008 @03:40PM from the nearly-unbelievable dept.

palegray.net writes "Scientists have discovered new meaning behind the functions of the Antikythera Mechanism, which has been referred to as the oldest known analog computing device. In addition to providing a means to calculate the dates for solar eclipses, the device apparently tracked the four-year cycles of the Olympiad. From the New York Times article: 'Only now, applying high-resolution imaging systems and three-dimensional X-ray tomography, have experts been able to decipher inscriptions and reconstruct functions of the bronze gears on the mechanism. The latest research has revealed details of dials on the instrument's back side, including the names of all 12 months of an ancient calendar.'"

Submission + - Window Film Provides Tin-Foil Hat For Your House

Submitted by Kozar_The_Malignant on Tuesday June 26, 2007 @01:42PM

Kozar_The_Malignant writes: Scientific American is reporting on newly declassified window film that 'promises to block hackers' access to your wireless transmissions — and protect against EMP attacks and explosions, to boot.' The film shields against electromagnetic transmission in either direction from 10 hertz through the near infrared just shy of visible light. Although it is now available to the general public, it's not going to be at Home Depot anytime soon. You'll need to be rich as well as paranoid for this.

Submission + - Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil (newscientist.com) 1

Submitted by

CarrieSmith

on Tuesday June 26, 2007 @01:08PM

CarrieSmith writes: "A US company is taking plastics recycling to another level — turning them back into the oil they were made from, and gas. All that is needed, claims Global Resource Corporation (GRC), is a finely tuned microwave and — hey presto! — a mix of materials that were made from oil can be reduced back to oil and combustible gas (and a few leftovers). The story includes a video demonstrating how pulverised tyres are reduced to oil, gas, and carbon black — a powder used to make inks and dyes. http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/ dn12141"

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