SubGhandi - Slashdot User

Google's Streetview Seen As Culturally Insensitive In Japan 524

Posted by timothy on Sunday August 10, 2008 @02:42AM from the so-don't-look dept.

Jim O'Connell writes "Global Voices has a translation of an excellent open letter to Google by Osamu Higuchi, explaining that Street view is too invasive for Japanese traditional values when used in residential areas. Having lived here for ten years, most recently in an older residential area, I can attest to its accuracy — Living in such close proximity to your neighbors, it becomes necessary to 'not look' at everything that you might be able see from a place such as the street, where you may have a legal right to be. The cultural boundaries are simply different than those of the US."

Submission + - Time measuring

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 11, 2007 @06:19PM

An anonymous reader writes: We all know computers can measure time in seconds and milliseconds. But how precise can computers be when measuring time? microseconds? nanoseconds? picoseconds? femtoseconds? attoseconds? zeptoseconds? yoctoseconds? How precise can you measure time on a x86 / home PC? How precise can you measure time on a computer? How do scientists measure time when accuracy and precision is very important?

Submission + - VIPeR: Israel's Killer Robot

Submitted by Guy Yernisberg on Friday March 09, 2007 @03:47AM

Guy Yernisberg writes: Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems has just completeted the final model of its new VIPeR autonomous defense robot. It's armed with an Uzi submachine gun and can throw grenades. It has an onboard camera for aiming and identifying possible targets. The problem is, once armed, it shoots at everything it can see. It's supposedly intended for use against Palestinian and Lebanese guerilla fighters — but they live amongst the civilians and not in "combat zones" as the IDF claims. Releasing a killing machine in the middle of a city might not be such a good idea after all.

Submission + - Balancing One-Wheeled Scooter

Submitted by

Keyboard Hacking Guy

on Friday March 09, 2007 @03:05AM

Keyboard Hacking Guy writes: "Via HackaDay: Want to make a cheap Segway yourself? Here is a selfmade one-wheeled balancing scooter / skateboard. Using it is very similar to a snowboard to ride, requiring no user input other than the movement of your body mass. Leaning forwards and backwards controls the velocity and moving your weight from heal to toe controls the turn radius. It's easy and very intuitive to ride. See video on YouTube."

What are the Best Cell Phone Services in the US? 239

Posted by Cliff on Friday March 09, 2007 @01:29AM from the and-what-is-it-about-them-that-you-like dept.

James Hewfanger asks: "Cnet.co.uk has run an article on the five best cell phone services in the UK. These include a text-based service that gets you the number of a licensed cab company in London, Google Maps and Gmail on your phone, a service that can tell what artist and song you're listening to, an online service that backs up all your cell phone contacts and a text-based service that answers any question you can throw at it. What, however, are the five best cell phone services in the US?" Wirefly's cell phone plan comparison tool gives a good up-to-date look of all cell phone plans on the market.

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