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Comment It can be done right. (Score 4, Informative) 206

by Ilyakub (#26439575) Attached to: Saving Journalism With Flash and Java

I've seen very helpful Flash visualizations on news websites that helped understand the story better.

For example, this interactive map of drug war related deaths in Mexico is very well done. It doesn't just clarify the conflict, but encourages the reader to analyze and research the topic independently in addition to linearly reading the text of an article.

Just reading an article, listening to the radio or watching a news program often gives the illusion of learning and understanding new information, whereas in reality very little is retained.

Innovative and interactive ways of presenting information solve this problem.

Comment Go ahead, block my ads (Score 1) 229

by Ilyakub (#26334095) Attached to: How Web Advertising May Go

I run an ad-supported website, but I don't see a problem with ad blocking software.

The reason? I get paid for ad clicks, and people who block ads are very unlikely to click them even if they they weren't blocked.

The site visitor is not obliged to click or view my ads.

Comment Quartz Composer (Score 5, Interesting) 201

by Ilyakub (#25905169) Attached to: Suggestions For Cheap Metrics Eye Candy Software?

If the LCD panel is connected to a Mac, you may want to try using Quartz Composer.

It's a flow-based programming language included in the developer tools package. You can use it to make just about any kind of animation (music visualizations, image filters, screensavers, etc.), and hook it up to live data.

I've set it up for my office, but didn't have time to write a very complex program yet, just a flashy 3D RSS feed of Twitter posts mentioning our product.
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How To Cut In Line and Not Get Caught 256

Posted by samzenpus from the no-cuts dept.
ewenc writes "A psychology study of hundreds of people waiting for front-row access to U2 concerts points to the best ways to cut in line and not get caught. 'Super-fans' are most irked by queue-jumpers. People were equally peeved whether someone cut in front or behind, and cutters who jumped beside a friend were less likely to attract scorn."
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How Vampire Bats Evolved To Live On Blood Alone 82

Posted by samzenpus from the I-vant-to-suck-your-blood dept.
New research has discovered some of the genetic changes that allowed vampire bats to live on a diet of pure blood. One of the bats' most important evolutionary traits is the ability to manipulate an anticoagulant protein in their blood and saliva. In humans similar proteins protect against heart attack by breaking up blood clots and clearing vessels.

New Solar Cell Sets World Efficiency Record 299

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the hot-tech dept.
asoduk writes to tell us that a new world record has been set for the most efficient photovoltaic device. Topping the scale at 40.8% efficiency, the new solar cell differs significantly from the previous record holder. "Instead of using a germanium wafer as the bottom junction of the device, the new design uses compositions of gallium indium phosphide and gallium indium arsenide to split the solar spectrum into three equal parts that are absorbed by each of the cell's three junctions for higher potential efficiencies. This is accomplished by growing the solar cell on a gallium arsenide wafer, flipping it over, then removing the wafer. The resulting device is extremely thin and light and represents a new class of solar cells with advantages in performance, design, operation and cost."

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