Comment Re:really? (Score 1) 519
But it wasn't pirated. The authors put a fake one on the pirate site. So its still useless.
Third Blast At Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Plant 691
iamrmani was one of several people reporting updates on the Fukushima Nuclear plant that has been struggling following last Friday's disaster. A third explosion (Japanese) has been reported, along with
other earlier information. MSNBC has a story about similiar reactors in the US. We also ran into a story which predicts that there won't be significant radiation. But already Japan is facing rolling blackouts, electricity rationing, evacuating the area around the plant, and thousands dead already.
Comment Re:Misleading description (Score 1) 962
And you expected anything different from the NYT? That's like expecting FOX to come out in full support of anyone on the other side.
Comment Re:First troll! (Score 2) 137
The spec is 4 times the cable radius. So about 1" Sorry but all those manufactures have more than 1" bend area in their cable management arms.
Comment Like this story from before? (Score 5, Informative) 103
How To Index and Search a Video By Emotion
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robotsrule writes "Here's a a demonstration video of EmoRate, a software program that uses the Emotiv 14-electrode EEG headset to record your emotions via your facial expressions. In the video you'll see EmoRate record my emotions while I watch a YouTube video, then index that video by emotion, and then navigate that video by simply by remembering a feeling. The web page for EmoRate explains how I used Emotiv's SDK to build the software program, and how I trained the system by watching emotionally evocative videos on YouTube while wearing the headset."
Comment Re:Rife (Score 2, Insightful) 370
Thing is, CSR jobs have more turnover than McDonalds. You can get their name, ID, or extension number, but they probably won't be there in 6 months when your next problem occurs.
Comment Re:McDonalds already holds the patent... (Score 1) 181
For those that need a video explaining this patent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTSdUOC8Kac
Comment Re:Outdated? (Score 1) 468
Alas history books have changed. We edit out the parts that might offend people. Mustn't hurt anyone's feelings etc... My kids haven't had a text book in 4 years. They get handouts of 4-7 pages a week and do their homework from that. This is just making those handouts accessible from home which is nice. Saves gas for the buss since the 100+ students wont be carrying the 65 pounds of books each.
Comment Re:OLPC? (Score 1) 468
Another benefit. Makes it WAY easier to revise history when those pesky dead tree additions say otherwise.
Comment Re: Perhaps he is French? (Score 3, Funny) 378
Hey look at that S Car GO!
First-Person Shooter Modified For Fire Drill Simulation 158
Hugh Pickens writes "Researchers at Durham University have modified a video game and turned it into a fire drill simulator using the Source engine (the 3D game engine used to drive Half-Life 2), and created a virtual model of one of the university's departments. Dr. Shamus Smith said that although 3D modeling software was available, modifying a video game was faster, more cost effective, and had better special effects. 'We were interested in using game technology over a customized application and the Source Engine, from Half-Life, is very versatile,' said Smith. 'We used the simulation to see how people behaved in an actual fire situation and to train people in "good practice" in a fire.' The team says the virtual environment helped familiarize people with evacuation routines and could also help identify problems with a building's layout. One problem, however, was that while the simulation worked for most people, those who played a lot of video games did some unusual things when using the simulation. 'If a door was on fire, [the gamers] would try and run through it, rather than look for a different exit,' said Smith."
This makes me wonder to what extent entertainment software will fill the role of non-entertainment software as the tools and engines become more and more powerful. Ars mentions related news that the US Dept. of Naval Research is dumping millions of dollars into "virtual reality-like simulations of small-scale urban conflicts." It's unclear whether this is related to the US Army's similar program.
Google Search Flagging Everything As Potentially Harmful 407
dowlingw writes "It looks like for the moment at least, all Google results are failing the malware checks and being listed with a warning 'This site may harm your computer,' including all pages from Google themselves. Users trying to visit pages at search results will only be able to proceed via manual manipulation of the search result link to remove the Google click-through (which is also broken). Until Google fixes this bug, it looks Google web search is useless." Update: 01/31 at 15:16 GMT by SS: The problem now appears to be fixed.
Update: 01/31 at 22:01 GMT by KD : Google has now posted an explanation, apologizing and taking responsibility for the "human error" that led to the problem.
Update: 01/31 at 22:01 GMT by KD : Google has now posted an explanation, apologizing and taking responsibility for the "human error" that led to the problem.
Fundraiser For "White Male" Illness Dropped
241
gubachwa writes "The student association at Carleton University in Canada recently voted that Cystic Fibrosis was a charity unworthy of receiving money raised during orientation week fund-raising activities. The reason behind the decision, as given in the motion on which the student association voted, is that Cystic Fibrosis 'has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men.'" I'm speechless.
LucasArts, Bioware Announce Star Wars MMO 346
LucasArts and Bioware held a press conference today to confirm what has been suspected for a long time: they're working on a Star Wars MMO. It will be called Star Wars: The Old Republic, and it will be a continuation of the Knights of the Old Republic franchise. Further coverage is available at Gamespot, and IGN has some of the concept art. An official website for the game was launched as well.
"According to the game's official announcement, Star Wars: The Old Republic is set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, with the galaxy divided by war between the Empire and the Sith. That's about 300 years after the events of KotOR, a time frame that, according to Zeschuk, 'is completely unexplored in the lore.' Players can take the role of either a Jedi, a Sith or other classic Star Wars characters -- and, as perhaps can be expected from BioWare, Muzyka says story will be a major component, underlying and driving all of the player's actions."
