Comment Phone is for talking (Score 5, Insightful) 320
The number ONE question should have been:
Can you comfortably phone someone or receive phone call without resorting to earplug?
Comment Re:The wrong way around (Score 2, Insightful) 151
How about when you are not admin? Installing software, especially drivers, are not always appropriate or even possible.
Comment Re:but (Score 1) 71
Pushing bits in a more packing way is of course important, but latency matters too. Optical circuits are more responsive.
Submission + - The keyboard that pops out of a tablet screen (pcpro.co.uk)
Barence writes: "PC Pro reports on an extraordinary tablet keyboard that physically emerges from the touchscreen of a tablet or smartphone.
The Tactus screen includes what the company describes as a "tactile layer" that uses liquid to expand the surface of the screen, creating little bumps under each key that effectively create a physical keyboard. When the keyboard isn't needed, the liquid pressure is reduced and the screen returns to its normal flat state.
PC Pro has recorded a video of the keyboard in action."
The Tactus screen includes what the company describes as a "tactile layer" that uses liquid to expand the surface of the screen, creating little bumps under each key that effectively create a physical keyboard. When the keyboard isn't needed, the liquid pressure is reduced and the screen returns to its normal flat state.
PC Pro has recorded a video of the keyboard in action."
Comment Nothing to do in the middle of trip? (Score 1) 145
Give them meaningful works that could only be done on space. Else boredom kills.
Comment Re:Uhhhh (Score 1) 204
You don't expect non-Physicists know what is "Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution", do you?
Comment Temperature (Score 1) 909
Personally I found degree F annoying. Change that first!
For length and weight measurement, at least I can multiply it a fixed ratio to convert, which is within the capacity of mental calculation/estimation when done often. However, degree F conversion to degree C is a nightmare. 32F for water melting point? 212F for water boiling point? This is crazy! In all other places on Earth, we have 0C for water melting point and 100C for water boiling point. Simple
Comment Re:This is no Space Shuttle, its better. (Score 2) 111
SpaceX does provide 'some' cargo return capability. http://www.spacex.com/crs1.php
Of course it is nothing compared to space shuttle, but when is the last time that a space shuttle bring back anything huge? Or, has it ever done so?
Comment No Electronic Gadgets for below 3 (Score 1) 311
There should be nothing, nothing with screen given to children below 3 years old. They are harmful to one's attention span and concentration ability. If you let any baby/toddlers access them, you've just brain damaged the children.
Comment There are better ways than LinkClick.aspx (Score 1) 75
For those who said such an implementation has its legitimate use:
It is stupid. Period.
Write a simple "onclick" javascript, and the webpage can ping back all external links to its own server for whatever statistics purpose. Using redirect links for statistical purpose is NEVER necessary.
Also, waiting for those slow servers to reponse and redirect their redirection link is annoying. Just give me the site I am going to anyway please!
Comment Re:Not a good idea at all (Score 1) 352
it takes far less energy to brake a car than it does to break it up
That depends on how fast it's going. .
True when the car is rock solid.
Comment Re:As ususal, the answer is... (Score 1) 201
(Yes, I hate superman movies, as when a lorry hits him, he should be moved backwards, unless he's of enormous mass, in which case he should collapse any floor he walks upon, etc. etc.)
Superman can fly with no air pushed backward. So he is using his mystical flying power, not his mass, to stop the lorry.
Comment Re:Flywheel (Score 4, Informative) 52
Flywheel is less efficient weight-wise. To re-balance a 8kg robot (or even heavier model later) falling upside down, how heavy / how fast must the flywheel be?
Tail can be further improved by giving it more angles of freedom. We can also let it be able to coil up. Hard to beat tail.
Comment Re:Does grammar matter anymore? Yes. (Score 1) 878
"This agreement shall be effective from the date it is made and shall continue in force for a period of five (5) years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five (5) year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party."
Rogers Communications believed the placement of the second comma stated the contract was good for at least five years, while Bell Aliant said the comma indicated the deal could be terminated before if one year's notice was given.
It is an example of why long sentences are bad. If a sentence is too long for verbal conversations, it is likely also too long for written materials, if one care clarity.
Comment Re:Grammar and Spelling Rules are Nonsense Anyway (Score 1) 878
The inconsistency of English grammar is also its strength. While English grammar is indeed a hybrid monster, it is also "familiar enough" for everyone from the world to adopt.
Meanwhile, "simplified Chinese" is definitely a stupid move forced upon peoples by the Chinese Communist Party. The non-phoenetic nature of Chinese writing is what glues the East Asia peoples together over 2 millieniums. Everyone can read a piece of writing in their own topographs without feeling alienated, even if some of them are incomprehensible to each other. Combining "hour" and "our" is stupid. Yes, chairman Mao is stupid.
