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The Internet

Meet NELL, the Computer That Learns From the Net 272

Posted by CmdrTaco from the nell-like-lolcat-pew-pew dept.
bossanovalithium writes "Carnegie Mellon University has taught a computer how to read and learn from the internet. According to Dennis Baron at the Oxford University press blog, the computer is called NELL and it is reading the internet and learning from it in much the same way that humans learn language and acquire knowledge. Basically by soaking it all up and figuring it out. NELL is short for Never Ending Language Learner and apparently it is getting brainier every day."
Displays

Canon Abandons SED TV Hopes 120

Posted by Soulskill from the upgrade-path-delayed dept.
angry tapir writes "Canon has decided to liquidate a subsidiary developing a flat-panel display technology called SED, effectively bringing to an end once high hopes that the screens would replace LCD panels and plasma displays in living room TVs. Development of SED (surface-condition electron-emitter display) screens began in 1986 at Canon and was joined in 1999 by Toshiba. SEDs combine elements of both CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display) technologies. As with CRTs, electrons hit a phosphor-coated screen to emit light. But instead of being shot from an electron gun, electrons are drawn out of an emitter through a slit that is only a few nanometers wide. The result is a picture that is as bright as a CRT and does not suffer a time lag sometimes seen on LCD panels with rapidly moving images."

Comment Re:Did anybody post this yet? (Score 4, Insightful) 878

by Slightly Askew (#33007306) Attached to: Google Engineer Decries Complexity of Java, C++

How incredibly arrogant. I would totally hire a semiskilled carpenter to put up a tool shed in the back yard. Not so much a NYC high rise. I would also gladly hire an apprentice electrician to put in a new overhead light fixture, but not to wire up my 440v industrial machinery.

There's nothing dangerous about semiskilled programming, providing they are doing work that is appropriate for semiskilled programmers. I'm no more going to hire Thomas Knoll to write my company's Human Resources app than I'm going to personally apply for a job writing the next version of whatever the NYSE is using.
Image

Verizon Charged Marine's Widow an Early Termination Fee 489

Posted by samzenpus from the literal-charges dept.
In a decision that was reversed as soon as someone with half a brain in their PR department learned about it, Verizon charged a widow a $350 early termination fee. After the death of her marine husband, Michaela Brummund decided to move back to her home town to be with her family. Verizon doesn't offer any coverage in the small town so Michaela tried to cancel her contract, only to be hit with an early termination fee. From the article: "'I called them to cancel. I told them the situation with my husband. I even said I would provide a death certificate,' Michaela said."
Image

Happy Towel Day 122

Posted by samzenpus from the wringing-out-the-wit dept.
An anonymous reader writes "While Douglas Adams continues his attempt to set a new record for the longest extended lunch break, geeks all over the universe pay tribute to the beloved author by celebrating the tenth edition of Towel Day. Towel Day is more alive than ever. This year Richard Dawkins, one of Adams' best friends, has tweeted a Towel Day reminder to his numerous followers. The CERN Bulletin has published an article on Towel Day. There has been TV coverage and there will be a radio interview. The Military Republic of the Deltan Imperium, a newly formed micronation, has recognized Towel Day as an official holiday. In Hungary several hundreds of hitchhiker fans want to have a picnic together in a park. And there's a concert, a free downloadable nerdrap album, a free game being released, the list goes on and on."

Comment Re:To everyone complaining about the positive revi (Score 2, Interesting) 237

by Slightly Askew (#32078834) Attached to: The Laidoff Ninja

I recently rated a Dean Koontz book 1 out of 5 stars, and hated it so much I was driven to write my first product review ever on Amazon. People think anyone who gives a super low rating are just bitter people, so I broke it down as to why it sucked so bad.

It was worth finishing because the suckage came at the end, and it was worth reviewing for the same reason it's worth taking the time to post a "Danger - Quicksand" sign.
Privacy

Canada Supreme Court Broadens Internet "Luring" Offense 596

Posted by timothy from the should-get-together-with-the-cctv-folks dept.
An anonymous reader points out this report that a Canadian Supreme Court has broadened its interpretation of an existing law designed to punish adults who attempt to meet children online for criminal purposes; under the court's interpretation, says the article, that would now "include anyone having an inappropriate conversation with a child — even if the chats aren't sexual in nature and the accused never intended to meet the alleged victim." The story quotes Mark Hecht, of the organization Beyond Borders, thus: "If you're an adult and if you're having conversations with a child on the Internet, be warned because even if your conversations aren't sexual and even if your conversations are not for the purpose of meeting a child and committing an offence against a child, what you're doing is potentially a crime."

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