Abuzar - Slashdot User

Submission + - Bad FS Scandisc could lead to years of detention (allafrica.com)

Submitted by Ep0xi on Thursday August 16, 2007 @01:57AM

Ep0xi writes: Amnesty International researchers, recently returned from Nigeria, have expressed shock at the prison conditions they witnessed and the protracted delays in Nigeria's justice system.

"The circumstances under which the Nigerian government locks up its inmates are appalling. Many inmates are left for years awaiting trial in filthy overcrowded cells with children and adults often held together," said Aster van Kregten, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International. "Some prisoners are called 'forgotten inmates' as they never go to court and nobody knows how much longer their detention will last, simply because their case files are lost." http://allafrica.com/stories/200708150367.html

Submission + - stoners make better programmers/designers?

Submitted by mektronik on Thursday August 16, 2007 @01:40AM

mektronik writes: I have recently, albeit belatedly, come across a genera of music calling itself Nerdcore. It is essentially hip hop for geeks with rappers such as MCPlus+. The interesting part to note is that MOST of them talk about getting stoned while programming, this is something that I myself have long indulged in as have many friends of mine. On the other hand I have worked with a lot of programmers that do not. I generally find a strong correlation between stoners and better coders/designers, I have historically put this down to "thinking out of the box", but may in fact be a lot deeper. Am I totally off the mark? what do you think?

Submission + - Spyware - the latest weapon in domestic abuse

Submitted by Stony Stevenson on Thursday August 16, 2007 @12:37AM

Stony Stevenson writes: A woman, looking to get out of an abusive relationship, goes online to buy plane tickets for herself and her two small children, and then she e-mails a friend about her plan to leave. As she works to secretly put things in order, she doesn't realize her husband has downloaded spyware onto the computer and will soon know everything she's planning to do.

It's a scenario that security professionals and social workers say is happening more and more frequently. As high-tech tools become increasingly ingrained in our everyday lives, abusers and stalkers are increasingly using them to track and intimidate their victims, said Cindy Southworth, director and founder of the Safety Net Project.

Submission + - The NeoSemantic Online (neosemantics.com)

Submitted by

NeoSemantics

on Wednesday July 18, 2007 @11:13PM

NeoSemantics writes: "NeoSemantics.com, is the gateway to this holistic team of community websites. TheSynonym.com profiles top event organizers and things to do, while TheRetronym.com gets political with a review of hot topics, a must have for every newcomer to an area, and TheAntonym.com is quite handy with its list of places to worship."

Submission + - Computer Companionship Patented (vvdailypress.com)

Submitted by

Anonymous Coward

on Wednesday July 18, 2007 @08:49PM

Anonymous Coward writes: "Below is an article from a major Calif. print Publication: Victorville Daily Press; Date: Jul 12, 2007; Section: High Desert; Page: 9

Lucerne Valley Inventor Granted US Patent

By RYAN ORR Staff Writer

LUCERNE VALLEY — A Lucerne Valley man has been granted a U.S. patent (# 7,236,963) on a process that would create an artificial intelligence that could tell people jokes, answer phones and even read emotions.

The patent is on the process of how to build a computer companion. It can do more than just bring up information. It can tell riddles, profile criminals, act as a receptionist and know exactly what people's motives are.

It is John E. LaMuth's second patent since 2003, which was a similar program focusing more on commerce and straightforward business ideas. The second focuses on warmer human emotion.

He received an honorable mention last month on the History Channel's "Modern Marvels" inventor's contest in the category of ethical artificial intelligence.

LaMuth's next step is marketing the product to corporations that are willing to develop a product in which the process can be used.

LaMuth did not apply for patents in any other country, despite the process having international appeal.

"I want this for the world, too," said LaMuth. "I protected it so it could be built."

For more information, go to http://www.emotionchip.net/

# # #"

Slashdot Top Deals