Daily Bits – Page 9

What Kind of Hacker Are You?

August 4, 2023 by noemi

Hacking and its proponents have been in the forefront lately, what with hacking “groups” being more active and aggressive in their activities. The general public probably does not have an accurate idea as to what hacking really entails and what hackers really are like. Then again, I think that I am correct to assume that you know a tad more than your average joe. You might even have an experience or two to back you up. If this is the case, then you will definitely be interested in finding out just what kind of hacker you are. (Using the term rather loosely, I know.)

Well, wonder no more as the guys at IEEE Spectrum ((Source)) have done their utmost best to provide the only hacking chart you’ll ever need. That is, a hacking chart that will help you determine whether you are involved in activities that are good, bad, or neutral.

This chart is the result of the consolidation of the 25 biggest (and best) stories about hacking that have been published at IEEE Spectrum. They took both the good (those who hack to express themselves creatively without doing harm to others) and the bad (motivation: money, power, politics, and mischief), and of course, the ones that fall in between. They identified two parameters: innovation and impact. Using these parameters, they came up with this chart.

In the chart above, you can see the complete range of hacking activities covered by the site. In case you only want to do good, here is a simplified version, with only the good hacks displayed.

You can visit the site and play around with the options (even though there are only three). Now, you have to realize that the chart has been created by people with their own perspectives and opinions, so you might not necessarily agree with their assessment of the activities. In any case, you are totally free to let them know what you think about their assessment.

The bigger question is this: given that chart, where do you think your activities (if any) fall? Care to share?

Avoid Traffic Jams with the Terrafugia Flying Car

August 4, 2023 by noemi

What do you get when you combine the design of an airplane and the design of a car? The Terrafugia flying car, of course! This “roadable” aircraft is for real and not just a creation of an imaginative mind immersed in the world of science fiction. Neither is it a mere concept car.

The Terrafugia Transition is a light airplane that can take to the roads just like normal cars do. Imagine this. You are late for work, together with everyone who lives in the area. You have a presentation to give, which can make or break your career. You absolutely have to get to the office but the traffic is as thick as molasses. You can either take a hike – literally – or be late. That is, if you do not own a Terrafugia.

If you have one of these babies, then you can simply fly over the masses stuck in rush hour traffic. Zoom in the air without the limitations of the roads and laugh at them suckers for having regular cars.

First, you have to wait for the roadable aircraft to be manufactured, though. They were supposed to be delivered in 2009 but you know how it is with new things. Delays are inevitable, and the Terrafugia is not exempt. A new batch of test machines are being built and the manufacturer says that this year, we might just see production start.

There is the issue of price, of course, as one vehicle will cost you $250,000. Then again, for a vehicle that can hit the pavement as well as fly in the air, the price is not so bad, is it?

There is another problem, especially for those who are looking for a means of transportation that can carry several people. The Terrafugia can fly with a maximum weight of 330 pounds. That includes the passengers AND the payload. Look to your right. Now look to your left. Do you think you and your co-workers can work out a carpooling scheme? 330 pounds isn’t a lot these days!

In spite of the issues, the Terrafugia might just become the granddaddy of flying cars that future generations will take for granted. In the meantime, start saving money and losing weight to make sure the Terrafugia works out for you when it comes out!

Via The Register

Out with Plastic, In with the New Water Soluble Bags from Puma

August 3, 2023 by noemi

How often do you go shopping? How many plastic bags do you end up lugging around and stowing in some dusty cabinet at home? In our household, we tend to collect lots of plastic bags as they are often the default packaging that shops here use. We do try to make the best of the situation by re-using the plastic as trash bags, so we rarely have to buy trash bags. I know it is not the best solution, but it is better than throwing away all the “unused” plastic.

If Puma’s new idea takes off, though, shopper might not be burdened by excess plastic bags anymore. While many shops have resorted to paper bags, Puma has decided to do something clever. Now I am not against paper bags – I have my own collection as well – but this invention is pretty ingenious.

Puma is now using biodegradable shopping bags called Clever Little Shopper. The bag is made primarily from cornstarch, and all other materials are also 100 percent biodegradable. After use, the bag can be placed in a compost heap. The bag will then decompose naturally in the period of about three months. Now if you are not a very patient person, you can actually speed up the process by dissolving the bag in water!

There is the worrying idea of the bags melting away in rain, or perhaps water condensing on a cold bottle. The last thing that anyone wants is a melting bag with stuff falling all over the place! They say, however, that the bags will NOT dissolve in cold water and that hot water is needed for the material to disintegrate.

In any case, this could be one solution to the over use of plastic bags which only add to the problem of non-biodegradable waste. Here’s a video about this clever little thing.

I have to admit, though, that I have my doubts as to whether the idea would quickly catch on. I suppose it will all boil down to cost and consumer demand. What do you think of the concept? Spread the word if you think it’s worth it!

Via psfk

How the Hippies Saved Physics – It’s a Real Book and I Want One!

August 3, 2023 by noemi

Looking for a book to read? I am about to finish all of the books Orson Scott Card wrote about Ender Wiggin, and I am at a loss as to what to read next. Given that I am about to go on a week-long workation at the beach, I need a couple of books to take along for the inevitable lounging in the sun. There are ebooks, yes, but I have long since found out that electronics and the scorching sun are not friends.

Anyhow, in my quest to look for something new to read, I came across a relatively new book titled “How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival. I have to admit that while I did rather well in physics in school, the applied aspect seems to elude me more these days. Then again, that’s what books are for, right? Given the title alone, I am willing to bet that this book will be an entertaining read – at the very least.

Written by David Kaiser, the book is all about physicists in the 1970s, when the world was experiencing one of the most unique periods in history. Apparently, during the time of free love and anti-war protests, the world of physics was in a rut. In spite of the prevailing idea of conformity (I guess in the physics world), a group of physicists in Berkeley, California (where else?) decided to go against the flow. They named their group “Fundamental Fysiks Group” and approached physics in a whole new way. Applying ideas from Eastern mysticism and psychic mind-reading, these guys have influenced modern physics. Believe it or not, some of them even took LSD to tap into their wells of creativity even more. Funnily enough, thinking back, I can easily see my college physics professor being part of this group.

Keeping true to the creative spirit that fueled that group several decades ago, the book includes 46 black and white illustrations – maybe in case you don’t like books with too many words. 😉

The hardcover version is available on Amazon for $16.22. I doubt I’ll be able to get my hands on this before the weekend, but if any of you do read it, share your thoughts?

New Discovery: Birds Tweet Using Grammar

August 3, 2023 by noemi

Finches follow grammar rules when tweeting

That’s more than you can say for many of their human counterparts who tweet in the technological way, yes? 😉

All kidding aside, scientists have found signs that those cute little creatures with feathers have something that resembles grammar as we know. Based on a report published by New Scientist ((Source)), Bengal finches have their own syntax when they chirp, sing, tweet, or whatever you want to call it. While the birds do not have the same concepts that we humans (such as the parts of speech – nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.), they have syntactic structures.

By the way, syntax is defined as the ” is the study of the principles and rules for constructing sentences in natural languages.” ((Wikipedia)) Basically, the birds having a syntax of their own means that they have rules that govern their “speech”. Grammar falls under syntax.

I suppose that this is not a totally new concept and that, in fact, many people have suspected this for the longest time. The breakthrough is that researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have actually found some proof that this suspicion might be true. What the scientists did was to play various songs until the finches got used to them – or understood them. They then jumbled up the syllables in the songs and observed how the finches reacted. What they found out was that only one of the four jumbled up songs made the finches react in an adverse manner. The scientists say that based on the finches’ reactions, it seemed that the particular song broke the birds’ grammar rules – whatever those rules may be. And if you are thinking if it was just coincidence, give the researchers a little more credit, will you? They did the experiment on many birds and they had the same reaction – at least those birds who were exposed to other birds.

That last bit seems to support the idea that the grammar rules are not innate in the finches. They have to learn the rules – just like we humans do.

I don’t know about you, but I find the study – and its results – fascinating. Maybe these birds can teach humans to follow grammar rules a little more on Twitter. You know what I’m saying?

Learn How to Play an Instrument with PossessedHand

August 3, 2023 by noemi

Do you love music with a passion but unfortunately music does not seem to love you back all that much? There are countless people who would give an arm and a leg to be able to play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and the rest of the guitar legends. Others would love it dearly to be able to play the piano. Whatever instrument it is that you dream about, there just might be hope for you.

If this new technology succeeds, then maybe children will not have to be forced to go to piano lessons after school while their classmates played outside. (Yes, there is some regret in that statement, but I wish I had paid more attention to those lessons and actually practiced the piano in my spare time as a kids!)

Researchers in Japan have come up with a device that is supposed to teach people how to play a musical instrument by taking control of the hands. Yes, you read that right. Dubbed PossessedHand, the device works by taking over the user’s hands, and in the process, teach the person how to play a specific instrument. In spite of the name, the device does not involve spirits or possession, which I suppose many people might appreciate.

The project is a joint endeavor by the University of Tokyo, Japan, and Sony Computer Science Laboratories. With those two entities involved, I am already convinced. My brain is screaming, just give me the device already! I am daydreaming about playing the piano on a stage somewhere in Tuscany while Andrea Bocelli sings to my music…

Back to reality, though, the PossessedHand works by stimulating the muscles in the forearms with electricity. These muscles are the ones responsible for moving our fingers. So if you were to wear the device, your hand would look something like this.

If you think that is a little freaky, then get ready for this: your hands will move on their own, without your brain telling them to. That’s how the electric impulses work – they control your fingers so that you can play a musical instrument even if your brain doesn’t understand how to. Can you imagine just how freaky that would be? Parts of your body moving without you controlling them.

As of now, the device is meant to help budding musicians learn (faster?). It is also meant to help those in need of rehabilitation. All I can say is that freakish or not, this device would be a welcome thing to play with. I do have this feeling that no device can replace musical talent, though. Still, a girl can try, can’t she?

Check out PossessedHands in action.

Via New Scientist