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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Library Resources in Turkey

Vast Knowledge of Ottoman Scholar Accessible Online

Zeynep Esra Koca | September 21, 2015


The ‘Farabi Digital Library' project is transferring the vast archive of Islamic History, Art and Culture Research Center onto a digital database which will enable the world to gain access to work of esteemed scholars.

Source: http://e-library.ircica.org/about/ [About: IRCICA FARABÄ° digital library is a software Project developed through great care and effort of our expert crews. The project took three years in the making and the updating and the maintanence of the project still continues with ever increasing zeal and vigor. Our software is developed as a stand alone software enabling it to work as a software package in other digital libraries as well, fort he dorementioned purposes any instution that requests can install and setup FARABÄ° digital library software.]
Since its foundation, the library of Islamic History, Art and Culture Research Center (IRCICA) has adopted the latest technologies and made a name with its initiatives. In 1980, the library began to run "ILIS," Turkey's first library automation program as part of a project to computerize parts of its library. The IRCICA is now working on a new project to digitize its Ottoman materials.

<more at http://www.dailysabah.com/books/2015/09/22/vast-knowledge-of-ottoman-scholar-accessible-online; related links: http://www.dailysabah.com/life/2015/09/28/phone-library-used-by-165000-people-so-far (Phone Library used by 165,000 people so far. September 27, 2015) and http://www.dailysabah.com/life/2015/09/12/libraries-istanbuls-underused-treasures (Libraries: Istanbul's underused treasures. September 12, 2015)>

Baidu Translations into Minority Languages

Baidu Translates Education Resources into China’s Minority Languages for Millions of Learners

Michael De Waal-Montgomery | September 15, 2015


China’s Internet search giant Baidu was earlier this year accused by Chinese writers of copyright infringement, but that hasn’t stopped it pushing ahead with new ideas for its Baidu Library service.
The company announced Monday that it plans to build “Chinas’s largest online education resource platform for minority nationality languages,” including Uyghur, Tibetan, Kazakh, Mongolian, and even Korean, with more than 4,000 volunteer translators already lending a hand.

In Xinjiang, Uyghur remains an official language, alongside Chinese. Inner Mongolia (with about 25 million people, as of 2010) and Tibet (with three million people, as of 2014) are, of course, two other prime examples of regions where the language is dominated by local variants. Source: http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/15/baidu-translates-education-resources-into-chinas-minority-languages-for-millions-of-learners/

<more at http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/15/baidu-translates-education-resources-into-chinas-minority-languages-for-millions-of-learners/; related links: http://wenku.baidu.com/huyanglin ([Google translation] Baidu Populus welfare plan. 2015, Baidu library to carry out community projects poplar, to build national language online educational resource library dedicated to Uygur, Kazak, Tibet, Mongolia, North Korea national language to provide educational resources. Baidu library plan will be put into a special welfare fund poplar, praise and share your point would be the best support for the national language educational resource library.) and http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-baidu-copyright-idUSTRE72F2QJ20110316 (Chinese writers slam Baidu for copyright infringement. March 16, 2011)>

Oldest Eyeglasses

The World’s Oldest Surviving Pair of Glasses (Circa 1475)

Open Culture | September 28, 2015


Above, we have what The On-Line Museum and Encyclopedia of Vision Aids believes is the world’s oldest surviving pair of glasses. Dating back to the 15th century, the glasses belonged to the Eighth Shogun, Yoshimasa Ashikaga, who reigned from 1449 to 1473, during the Muromachi period of Japanese history. Both the glasses and their accompanying case were made of hand-carved white ivory.

Source: http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/the-worlds-oldest-surviving-pair-of-glasses.html
<more at http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/the-worlds-oldest-surviving-pair-of-glasses.html; related links: http://www.antiquespectacles.com/people/people_earlier.htm# (Spectacles of Well Known People in History (Part One). [Blogger's note: There are seven parts in all to this series. See links at the end of Part One for where to find the remaining parts.]) and http://www.museumofvision.org/exhibitions/?key=44&subkey=4&relkey=35 (Museum of Vision. Timeline of Eyeglasses)>

Eye-Tracking from your Phone

The Phones That Track Our Eye Movements

Advertisers are aiming to target where we look when we use the camera on our phone

Daniel Glaser | September 27, 2015


[Blogger's note: Although this discussion of eye-tracking by advertisers is new, the topic has been around for some time, at least as far back as 2010.]
[...]Advertisers are developing ways of tracking our eye movements through the forward-facing camera on our phones. When that happens, there will be nowhere to hide: what you look at gives away what you’re really interested in. It’s even possible to predict the spot the eyes are heading to and plant a nice juicy advert there for when they arrive. This could make for a very uncomfortable browsing environment.

Eyephone: New Cellphone Software Tracks Users' Eye Movements for Control. May 24, 2010. Source: http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-05/eyephone-new-cellphone-software-tracks-users-eye-movements 

<more at http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/27/phones-that-track-our-eye-movements; related links: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/samsungs-new-smartphone-will-track-eyes-to-scroll-pages/ (Samsung’s New Smartphone Will Track Eyes to Scroll Pages. March 4, 2013) and http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150521-how-the-eyes-betray-your-thoughts (How the Eyes Betray Your Thoughts. Look closer at eye movements and you can find out what’s happening inside somebody’s head. May 22, 2015)>

Law Enforcement Extremes to Break Encryption

White House Considered Bypassing Encryption with Malware Disguised As Updates

Russell Brandom | September 24, 2015


How do you serve a warrant on an encryption algorithm? For 20 years, governments have been struggling with that question, putting pressure on tech companies to build backdoors into security systems as the companies increasingly tell them it simply can't be done. The tension has grown particularly strong after the Snowden revelations caused companies to tighten up, leading the government to look for ever more creative ways to break the deadlock.

How the NSA Plans to Infect 'Millions' of Computers with Malware. Source: https://theintercept.com/2014/03/12/nsa-plans-infect-millions-computers-malware/

<more at http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/24/9393091/white-house-break-encryption-updates-working-group; related links: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-administration-ponders-how-to-seek-access-to-encrypted-data/2015/09/23/107a811c-5b22-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html (Obama administration explored ways to bypass smartphone encryption. September 24, 2015) and http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/world/read-the-obama-administrations-draft-paper-on-technical-options-for-the-encryption-debate/1753/ (Read the Obama administration's draft paper on technical options for the encryption debate
Over the summer, a government working group on encryption developed a draft memo including policy principles and an analysis of technical approaches that companies might use to provide law enforcement access to encrypted data. Obama administration quietly explored ways to bypass smartphone encryption. September 23, 2015[?])

Pre-Crime Unit?

Hitachi Says it Can Predict Crimes Before They Happen

Minority Report

Amy x. Wang | September 29, 2015


What if the future of law enforcement doesn’t involve faster, more forceful responses to crime—but rather, a surefire way to predict it?
Hitachi, the Japanese tech giant that makes everything from elevators to security systems, seems to have faith in the latter. It announced today (Sept. 29) that it’s developed a robust new technology that can pinpoint where and when a crime will occur. 


A competing product called PredPol. Source: http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/203862-the-computer-that-detects-felonies-before-they-happen-and-a-camera-that-can-sense-guilty-consciences-the-ten-wildest-crime-fighting-techniques-of-the-future.html

<more at http://qz.com/513125/hitachi-says-it-can-predict-crimes-before-they-happen/; related links: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1218023/Hitachi-software-predict-crimes-happen.html (Hitachi software 'can predict crimes before they happen'
HVS integrates any video and data sources to predict and anticipate crimes before they happen. (+Video). September 30,2015) and http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/203862-the-computer-that-detects-felonies-before-they-happen-and-a-camera-that-can-sense-guilty-consciences-the-ten-wildest-crime-fighting-techniques-of-the-future.html http://www.georgianewsday.com/news/regional/203862-the-computer-that-detects-felonies-before-they-happen-and-a-camera-that-can-sense-guilty-consciences-the-ten-wildest-crime-fighting-techniques-of-the-future.html (The computer that detects felonies BEFORE they happen and a camera that can sense guilty consciences: The TEN wildest crime-fighting techniques of the future. January 6, 2014)>

Technology and the Liberal Arts Degree

Why the Tech World Highly Values a Liberal Arts Degree

Valerie Strauss | August 30, 2015


Cecilia Gaposchkin is an associate professor of medieval history at Dartmouth College and assistant dean of faculty for pre-major advising, as well as a Public Voices Fellow. Gaposchkin wrote in an e-mail that people who work at at liberal arts institutions often do “a terrible job” educating their students about their value, and so, she has written this as a “historical explainer” about the purpose and value of a liberal arts education as well as why a degree from one of these schools has, perhaps counter-intuitively, become a hot ticket into the high-powered world of technology.

Source: http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/are-liberal-arts-degrees-useful/ (April 5, 2012)

<more at https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/08/30/why-the-tech-world-highly-values-a-liberal-arts-degree/; related links: http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2015/07/29/liberal-arts-degree-tech/ (That 'Useless' Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech's Hottest Ticket. July 29, 2015) and http://chronicle.com/article/To-Save-the-Humanities-Change/149513/ (To Save the Humanities, Change the Narrative. October 20, 2014)>

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Largest 3D Printer...Ever?

The 'World's Biggest' 3D Printer Will Build Emergency Houses

Andrew Tarantola | September 24, 2015


The design team at WASP (World's Advanced Saving Project) will unveil what is being billed as the world's largest 3D printer on Friday in Rieti, Italy. Dubbed the "Big Delta," this enormous device stands roughly 40 feet tall with a 20 foot diameter. But despite its size, the Big Delta is extremely efficient and uses only 100 watts of power. Its oversized design allows the Big Delta to quickly and easily print low-cost disaster-relief housing. What's more, it can do so using locally-sourced materials (read: dirt and mud) which also acts to minimize construction costs. The WASP team also foresees employing this printer for non-disaster-related home building. According to a company release, the Big Delta help accommodate the estimated 4 billion people worldwide that will lack adequate housing by 2030.

Rieti, Italy. Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/24/worlds-biggest-3d-printer/


Qingdao, China. Source: http://www.3dsystemprinter.com/3d-building-printer.html

<more at http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/24/worlds-biggest-3d-printer/; related links: http://www.3ders.org/articles/20140625-china-building-world-largest-3d-printer-to-construct-houses.html (China building world's largest 3D printer to construct houses. June 25, 2014) and >

Light-Based Memory Chip

First Light-Based Memory Chip Puts SSDs on Notice

Steve Dent | September 28, 2015


Researchers have created the first optical-only chip that can permanently store data, a discovery that could lead to storage devices that leave SSDs in the dust. Non-volatile flash memory currently relies on electronic chips, which are speed-limited by the heat and resistance generated by colliding electrons. Light-based circuits don't have that problem, but so far "nano-photonic" chips created by the likes of IBM are volatile (need to be powered), making them a non-option for permanent storage. 

A New Light-Based Memory Chip Could Change the Fundamentals of Computing. Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-new-light-based-memory-chip-could-change-the-fundamen-1731307674 

<more at http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/28/first-nano-photonic-memory-chip/; related link: http://www.gizmag.com/first-all-optical-permanent-on-chip-memory/39523/ (All-optical permanent on-chip memory paves the way for faster, more efficient computers. September 27, 2015) and http://gizmodo.com/a-new-light-based-memory-chip-could-change-the-fundamen-1731307674 (A New Light-Based Memory Chip Could Change the Fundamentals of Computing. September 21, 2015)>

Interesting Library Places

Abbey Library of Saint Gall

This is not only one of the oldest collections in Europe, but also possibly the most beautiful
Saint Gallen, Switzerland

See: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/abbey-library-of-saint-gall-2 (below)



Kansas City Public Library Parking Garage

America’s Most Beautiful Public Library. Rebecca Joines Schinsky. February 25, 2013. See: http://bookriot.com/2013/02/25/americas-most-beautiful-public-library/

KC library parking garage

National Library of Israel

See http://rafisegal.com/national-library-of-israel/ and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-teicholz/heaven-is-a-library-the_b_8155634.html (Heaven Is a Library (The National Library of Israel. September 17, 2015)





Garbage Collector Rescues Books for Colombian Children

See: http://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/garbage-collector-rescues-books-for-colombian-children-1.2533455


Garbage collector sets up own library in Colombia


How Technology Responds to an Aging Workforce

Aging Workers, New Technology

The number of workers over 65 is growing fast. Technologists see a big business in helping the aging workforce.

George Anders | September 28, 2015


The American tradition of retirement at age 65 is crumbling. As older workers stay on the job longer, challenges ranging from eyestrain to aching joints become increasingly prevalent. In response, technologists and ergonomics experts are rethinking working conditions.


This influx of workers aged 65 or older accompanies a shift in the type of work schedule most commonly used. Older workers are employed in full time, rather than part-time jobs. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthyagingatwork/data.html
As recently as 1992, less than 3 percent of the American workforce consisted of people age 65 and over. Today that proportion has nearly doubled, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and it’s expected to reach 8.3 percent by 2022. Most of these 13.5 million older workers will be between 65 and 74, but nearly 2.6 million will be 75 and over.

<more at http://www.technologyreview.com/news/541541/aging-workers-new-technology/; related link: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/healthyagingatwork/data.html (Healthy Aging at Work. Data and Stastistics) and http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/computer_glasses.htm (Computer Glasses: 
Relieving Computer Eye Strain)>

Google Bringing WiFi to India

Google is Bringing Free WiFi to Train Stations in India—But There’s a Catch

Alice Truong | September 28, 2015


To help connect the nearly 1 billion Indians who lack internet access, Google plans to install high-speed WiFi access points at 400 rail stations in India.
The announcement comes on the heels of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Google’s headquarters on Sunday. One of the big themes of his Silicon Valley tour—which also included stops at Facebook and San Jose’s SAP Center—is connecting all 1.25 billion people in India to the internet, part of his Digital India initiative. In the past year, 100 million people in India accessed the web for the first time.

Google has brought good news for Indian Rail passengers as under ‘Project Nilgiri’ they collaborated with Indian Railways to provide free wifi across 400 Indian Railway stations across the country. Source: http://motivateme.in/googles-free-wifi-400-railway-stations-in-india/#
[...]And while the WiFi will be “free to start,” that’s not part of the long-term vision. Pichai notes the plan is to make the project “self-sustainable,” so it can expand to other places. It’s unclear when the transition will happen or what access will cost, but it’s possible the internet might continue to be out of reach for the very people Google and Modi’s Digital India initiative are trying to connect.

<more at http://qz.com/512656/google-is-bringing-free-wifi-to-train-stations-in-india-but-theres-a-catch/; related links: http://motivateme.in/googles-free-wifi-400-railway-stations-in-india/# (Google’s Free WiFi: 400 Railway Stations in India. September 12, 2015) and http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/01/google-is-offering-free-wi-fi-in-india-but-only-to-access-its-own-sites/251289/ (Google Is Offering Free Wi-Fi in India—But Only to Access Its Own Sites. January 12, 2012)>

French Artists in 1899 Predict How the Year 2000 Will Look

How French Artists in 1899 Envisioned Life in the Year 2000: Drawing the Future

Open Culture | September 24, 2015


Atomic physicist Niels Bohr is famously quoted as saying, “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” Yet despite years of getting things wrong, magazines love think pieces on where we’ll be in several decades, even centuries in time. It gives us comfort to think great things await us, even though we’re long overdue for the personal jetpack and, based on an Isaac Asimov interview in Omni Magazine that blew my teenage mind, interchangeable genitals.

France_in_XXI_Century._Farmer
Source: http://cdn8.openculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/23233410/France_in_XXI_Century._Farmer.jpg

800px-France_in_XXI_Century._Electric_scrubbing
Source: http://cdn8.openculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/23233315/800px-France_in_XXI_Century._Electric_scrubbing.jpg


<more at http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/how-french-artists-in-1899-envisioned-life-in-the-year-2000.html; related links: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805001204/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0805001204&linkCode=as2&tag=openculture-20&linkId=TC4CD67BIKTEHLF4 (Futuredays: A Nineteenth Century Vision of the Year 2000 Paperback – November, 1986. by Isaac Asimov) and http://www.openculture.com/2013/12/ladies-home-journal-publishes-28-predictions.html (In 1900, Ladies’ Home Journal Publishes 28 Predictions for the Year 2000. December 13, 2015)>

Facebook Providing Internet Access in Refugee Camps

Facebook Will Help the UN Bring Internet Access to Refugee Camps

Jon Fingas | September 28, 2015


Refugees already have a hard life, but that's made worse by the typical lack of internet access at refugee camps -- unless you resettle, you may never get online. Facebook isn't content with this state of affairs, however, and is promising to help the United Nations bring internet access to those camps. Company chief Mark Zuckerberg (who revealed the plans at a luncheon) didn't explain how and where this would take place, but it won't be shocking if Facebook relies on its upcoming internet drones to connect these sometimes remote places.

Source: http://www.10news.com/newsy/facebook-to-help-un-provide-internet-to-refugee-camps
<more at http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/28/facebook-will-help-un-connect-refugee-camps/; related links: http://www.10news.com/newsy/facebook-to-help-un-provide-internet-to-refugee-camps (Facebook To Help UN Provide Internet To Refugee Camps. September 28, 2015) and http://fortune.com/2015/09/28/facebook-zuckerberg-internet-refugee/ (Mark Zuckerberg is bringing the Internet to refugee camps. September 28, 2015)>

Monday, September 28, 2015

Flying Machines Weaving a Bridge

Watch Flying Machines Weave a Rope Bridge You Can Walk on

Hallie Siegel | September 18, 2015


Using quadrocopters and some rope, researchers have woven together a bridge strong enough to walk across.  Made at the ETH Zurich Flying Machine Arena in Switzerland, the bridge joins two scaffolds, and is the first full-scale load-bearing structure autonomously built by flying machines. The feat represents one more step in the field of robotic aerial construction...



<more at http://robohub.org/watch-flying-machines-weave-a-rope-bridge-you-can-walk-on/; related links: http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/19/watch-these-drones-build-a-rope-bridge/ (Watch these drones build a rope bridge. September 19, 2015) and http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-09/21/drones-build-a-rope-bridge (Watch drones building a suspension bridge. September 21, 2015)>

Women in Robotics

Five Women Robotics Experts from Silicon Valley Share Their Stories

Andra Keay | April 29, 2015


Melonee Wise, Erin Rapacki, Katherine Scott, Steffi Paepcke, Dale Bergman. What do these five women have in common? Aside from robotics, not much – they are all role models in robotics in quite different ways. (And that means that there are many opportunities for other women to make robotics their area.)


A woman working in robotics is the best-selling image of the collection in China. "There is such a dearth of women in STEM industries worldwide," says Pam Grossman. Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/20/business/surprise-women-prefer/
<more at http://robohub.org/five-women-robotics-experts-from-silicon-valley-share-their-stories/; related links: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/20/business/surprise-women-prefer/ (Surprise! Women prefer positive images of women. June 23, 2014) and http://robohub.org/talking-machines-women-in-machine-learning-wiml-with-hanna-wallach/ (Talking Machines: Women in Machine Learning (WiML), with Hanna Wallach. February 12, 2015)>

PaperBack [software, free] Serious Software That Started As a Joke

PaperBack v1.00

Oleh Yuschub | 2007


1. What is PaperBack?
PaperBack is a free application that allows you to back up your precious files on the ordinary paper in the form of the oversized bitmaps. If you have a good laser printer with the 600 dpi resolution, you can save up to 500,000 bytes of uncompressed data on the single A4/Letter sheet. Integrated packer allows for much better data density - up to 3,000,000+ (three megabytes) of C code per page.

Options dialog
Installation options for PaperBack. Source: http://ollydbg.de/Paperbak/
You may ask - why? Why, for heaven's sake, do I need to make paper backups, if there are so many alternative possibilities like CD-R's, DVD±R's, memory sticks, flash cards, hard disks, streamer tapes, ZIP drives, network storages, magnetooptical cartridges, and even 8-inch double-sided floppy disks formatted for DEC PDP-11? (I still have some). The answer is simple: you don't. However, by looking on CD or magnetic tape, you are not able to tell whether your data is readable or not. You must insert your medium into the drive (if you have one!) and try to read it.
[...] 
Paperback is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
PaperBack is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/

<more at http://ollydbg.de/Paperbak/; related links: http://www.i-programmer.info/news/85-humour-/4662-paperback-joke-or-not.html (Paperback - Joke or Not? August 17, 2012 "Most of us will have at some point talked about taking a paper copy of important documents, but it’s unlikely you’ve ever considered taking backups onto paper with the expectation of being able to use them on a computer at some point in the future.  Think again - a free application that can do just that.
Oleh Yuschuk developed the application as a joke, but it really works.The program isn't new but it seems to have suddenly been reported on a number of websites - for reasons that are difficult to guess at other than its a really fun idea.") and http://www.ollydbg.de/ (OllyDbg)>

The Importance of Journalism about Machine Learning

Why We Need Journalism about Machine Learning

Talking Machines | September 25, 2015


Talking Machines is in the process of raising funds to defray the cost of producing our first season and to help us start production on our second season. On the show we’ve talked about how we’ll use the money (to pay for studio time, editing, and the cost of travel to get our great interviews). But we haven’t gotten to the heart of the question yet: Do we even need journalism about machine learning?

[RoboHub: ] "In episode 20 we chat with Pedro Domingos of the University of Washington, who has just published a book The Master Algorithm: How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World. Source: http://robohub.org/

We need journalism about machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science desperately. Not just to calm the public conversation, which always seems to be full of hype on these topics, but to make sure that work in our field is sustainable. And no one is going to make the case for our industry unless we do it ourselves.

<more at http://robohub.org/why-we-need-journalism-about-machine-learning/; related links: http://www.poynter.org/news/mediawire/361585/how-newsrooms-are-using-machine-learning-to-make-journalists-lives-easier/ (How newsrooms are using machine learning to make journalists’ lives easier. August 5, 2015) and http://techjaw.com/2015/02/01/machine-learning-for-journalism-at-the-new-york-times/ (Machine Learning For Journalism at The New York Times. February 1, 2015)>

Consumer Robot-As-a-Service Business

Japanese Telcos Vie for Share in Consumer Robot-As-a-Service Business

Hallie Siegel | July 29, 2015


Yesterday a second Japanese telecommunication firm entered the consumer robot-as-a-service market when the state-owned Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) announced it would partner with its subsidiary NTT Data and robot maker Vstone to develop a tabletop companion robot that can talk and communicate with smart devices. NTT joins Softbank in the move to market networking and cloud computing services to a massive existing consumer base using consumer robotics. 



<more at http://robohub.org/japanese-telcos-vie-for-share-in-consumer-robot-as-a-service-business/; related links: http://futurescope.co/post/125852220249/future-life-with-pepper-ok-i-dont-understand-a (Futurescope: Future Life with Pepper. August 4, 2015) and http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sarcos-to-debut-first-of-its-kind-snake-robot-300132816.html (Sarcos to Debut First-of-its-Kind Snake Robot
Guardian S Robot, the Ultimate Unmanned Ground Vehicle for Security, Inspection and Non-Destructive Testing, to be Made Available in a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) Offering. August 25, 2015)>

Anti-Virus Tools Can Make You Vulnerable

Security Wares Like Kaspersky AV Can Make You More Vulnerable to Attacks

Products often open computers to hacks they otherwise wouldn't be vulnerable to.

Dan Goodin | September 23, 2015


Antivirus applications and other security software are supposed to make users more secure, but a growing body of research shows that in some cases, they can open people to hacks they otherwise wouldn't be vulnerable to.

What these tools do is a widespread method. They install a root certificate into the user's browser and then they perform a so-called Man in the Middle attack. They present the user a certificate generated on the fly and manage the connection to HTTPS servers themselves. Superfish and Privdog did this in an obviously wrong way, Superfish by using the same root certificate on all installations and Privdog by just accepting every invalid certificate from web pages. What about other software that also does MitM interception of HTTPS traffic? Source: https://blog.hboeck.de/archives/869-How-Kaspersky-makes-you-vulnerable-to-the-FREAK-attack-and-other-ways-Antivirus-software-lowers-your-HTTPS-security.html
The latest example is antivirus and security software from Kaspersky Lab. Tavis Ormandy, a member of Google's Project Zero vulnerability research team, recently analyzed the widely used programs and quickly found a raft of easy-to-exploit bugs that made it possible to remotely execute malicious code on the underlying computers. Kaspersky has already fixed many of the bugs and is in the process of repairing the remaining ones. In a blog post published Tuesday, he said it's likely he's not the only one to know of such game-over vulnerabilities.

<more at http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/09/security-wares-like-kaspersky-av-can-make-you-more-vulnerable-to-attacks/; related links: http://www.thegeekbyte.com/6028/kaspersky-av-makes-you-more-vulnerable-to-attacks/ (Kaspersky AV makes you more vulnerable to attacks. September 24, 2015. "Any Antivirus is created to make users more secure, but Kaspersky antivirus is doing the opposite. According to Tavis Ormandy, a member of Google Project Zero team, Kaspersky antivirus makes you more vulnerable to attacks.") and [A Rebuttal:] http://usa.kaspersky.com/about-us/press-center/in-the-news/5-myths-virtualization-security-you-may-be-more-vulnerable-you-thi  (5 Myths of Virtualization Security: You May Be More Vulnerable Than You Think. "Businesses increasingly are relying on virtual machines to handle more critical data and tasks than ever before. The reality is that virtualization is growing as a platform for managing customer data, financial transactions and the applications that businesses use. Simply put, virtualization is a core component of today's mission-critical IT infrastructure. However, while the increased reliance on virtualization is very real, many businesses are misguided about their security needs in this environment. There are several myths that have serious consequences that can impact performance and leave organizations vulnerable to an attack. Understanding these issues can help you make smarter decisions about your business' virtual environment. Read more.">

Send Your Robot to Shop for You

Why Wait in Line for an iPhone When You Can Send a Robot?

Mona Lalwani | September 24, 2015



You can now wait in line for an iPhone 6S without leaving your bed at an unearthly hour. At Apple's flagship store in Sydney, Australia, a telepresence robot (essentially an iPad on Segway-style wheels) is standing in for Lucy Kelly. The robot showed up at 5am and is currently fourth-in-line to get a new iPhone. As the robot continues to wait overnight in a tent where it can stay charged for the final phone transaction, Kelly has been using an app to log in and communicate with humans in line from the comfort of her home.

President Obama greets Alice Wong via robot
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/21/obama-white-house-telepresence/

<more at http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/24/why-wait-in-line-for-an-iphone-when-you-can-send-a-robot/; related links: http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/21/obama-white-house-telepresence/ (President Obama welcomes telepresence robots into the White House. July 21, 20145 and http://www.doublerobotics.com/ (Double. Work from anywhere. Your Double telepresence robot gives you a physical presence at work or school when you can’t be there in-person.)>

Friday, September 25, 2015

3D Hubs Student Ambassadors

Student Ambassadors to Bring Universities Aboard 3D Hubs’ 3D Printing Network

Michael Molitch-Hou | September 23, 2015


3D Hubs Mayors have long served to organize 3D printing events in their local communities, but, now, the world’s largest distributed 3D printing network has launched a new program to spread 3D printing on college campuses.  With the new 3D Hubs Student Ambassador Program, students in the US, the UK and Canada can host campus events devoted to their favorite technology, educating their classmates about 3D printing and earning some 3D Hubs goods in return.

3D Hubs Student Ambassador 3D printing program
Source: http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/09/23/student-ambassadors-to-bring-universities-aboard-3d-hubs-3d-printing-network/

<more at http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/09/23/student-ambassadors-to-bring-universities-aboard-3d-hubs-3d-printing-network; related links: https://www.3dhubs.com/talk/thread/3d-hubs-student-ambassador-program-now-live (The 3D Hubs Student Ambassador Program is Now Live) and https://jobs.lever.co/3dhubs/f1d3c6c0-2722-4e6c-9cb8-d5cda5505a14 (University Campus Ambassador. Apply for this Job)>

Mechanical Fido

Google's Robotic Dog is in Basic Training for Marine Corps (+Video)

Ryan Bushey | September 23, 2015


Boston Dynamics, a robotics company owned by Google, has its robotic prototype called Spot attending basic training camp with the Marines in Quantico, Virginia.
The Marines are currently testing a series of robotic creations to gauge how well they will perform in the field.




Spot is a “hydraulically actuated quadruped” that weighs 160 pounds, reports Ars Technica. It can be safely controlled through a wireless game-controller hooked up to a laptop. The operators can stand as far away as 500 feet without interfering with the signal.

Spot And Marines At Quantico
Source: http://www.popsci.com/marines-test-robot-dog-for-war

<more at http://www.rdmag.com/videos/2015/09/googles-robotic-dog-basic-training-marine-corps; related link: http://www.popsci.com/marines-test-robot-dog-for-war (Marines are testing a robot dog for way. Cry 01101000 01100001 01110110 01101111 01100011 00001010 and let loose the robodogs of war. September 22, 2015) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr-wBpYpSfE (AlphaDog, U.S. Marines Robot Pack Animal - Legged Squad Support System. Published June 12, 2013)>

Soft Exoskeletons

Soft Exoskeletons Tested by Army (+Video)

Greg Watry | September 25, 2015


Trudging through the Maryland woods, the soldier carried a bulbous pack. He held a gun in his hands. But something was different. Cables hung around him, extending from his pack to his pants.


ReWalk_Deseret-News1
A trampoline accident left Kollin Galland paralyzed. But thanks to his very own exoskeleton, which cost $65,000, he’s able to sit and stand, and do things with family and friends. Someone has to be with him at all times. Here his father, Gary Galland, walks behind him to make sure he’s OK. In Sugar House, Monday. Feb. 2, 2015. Source: http://rewalk.com/quadriplegic-teen-walks-again-thanks-to-exoskeleton/

At the Aberdeen Proving Ground, scientists are performance testing a battery-powered soft exoskeleton.

<more at http://www.rdmag.com/videos/2015/09/soft-exoskeletons-tested-armyhttp://rewalk.com/quadriplegic-teen-walks-again-thanks-to-exoskeleton/ (Quadriplegic teen walks again thanks to exoskeleton. April 20, 2015) and http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/walking-again-with-the-next-generation-exoskeleton/vi-BBlY6aZ (Walking again with the next generation exoskeleton. August 21, 2015); further: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-09/24/brain-link-walking-system (Brain translator lets paraplegic man walk with own legs again. September 24, 2015)>

"Reading Someone's Mind" Will Change in Meaning

Brain-to-Brain Interface Suggests Mind Reading Is Possible

Jessica Firger | September 24, 2015


It may be possible to really know what another person is thinking—at least with the aid of new experimental technology. Researchers at the University of Washington have figured out a way to connect the brains of two people via the Internet and play a game of “20 questions” without even speaking.


An example of how the brain to brain interface demonstration would look. Source: http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/11/05/uw-study-shows-direct-brain-interface-between-humans/

<more at http://www.newsweek.com/brain-brain-interface-suggests-mind-reading-possible-376422http://gizmodo.com/were-getting-closer-to-brain-to-brain-interfaces-1732966279 (We're Getting Closer to Brain-to-Brain Interfaces. September 25, 2015) and http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/11/05/uw-study-shows-direct-brain-interface-between-humans/ (UW study shows direct brain interface between humans. November 5, 2014)>

Censorship Will Not Depart

Content in Moderation: Is Digital Censorship Messing with the Arts?

Algorithms cannot do the work of the morally outraged

Kate Solomon | March 30, 2015


For anyone who spent their youth staring wistfully through the windows of record shops, longing for Saturday's trip to the library or taping films from the TV, the smorgasbord of culture available at our fingertips is literally a dream come true. But for some, it causes the internet's biggest problem. If lack of funds isn't a problem and there's no human gatekeeper to ID or refuse service, how can parents be sure their children aren't watching, reading or listening to explicit films, music and books?

This article is part of the spring 1987 issue of the global quarterly Index on Censorship magazine. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
This article is part of the spring 1987 issue of the global quarterly Index on Censorship magazine. Source: https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2015/09/my-book-and-the-school-library-norma-klein/  
It's a question that is being answered in various ways, all of which come with their own set of problems. In the UK, ISP-level website blockers are now in place to stop children stumbling across adult sites - you can turn them off but you'll have to ask. Netflix has a gated "just kids" section featuring only child-friendly films and TV shows. Most TV services come with a PIN number system to stop curious young minds from accessing potentially disturbing shows on demand. Social networks rely on a combination of automated processes, human moderation and users flagging up inappropriate content.

<more at http://www.techradar.com/us/news/world-of-tech/content-in-moderation-is-digital-censorship-messing-with-the-arts--1289740https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2015/09/my-book-and-the-school-library-norma-klein/ (My book and the school library: Norma Klein. Norma Klein, the American writer of children's books, describes how she successfully defended her Confessions of an Only Child before a school board meeting. September 23, 2015) and http://www.cnet.com/news/support-banned-comics-on-humble-bundle/ (Support censored comics with this deal for Banned Books Week. Name your price for banned and challenged titles by Alan Moore, Wendy Pini, Garth Ennis, Julie Doucet and more, as part of the Forbidden Comics Humble Bundle. September 24, 2015)>

Maps at the Library of Congress

Making Connections Between the World's Newest and Oldest Maps

An interview with John Hessler, a cartography expert at the Library of Congress and one of the people behind the new book, Map: Exploring The World.

Mark Byrnes | September 22, 2015


Few people in the world know their way around a map like John Hessler does. The Library of Congress’s “Specialist in Modern Cartography and Geographic Information Science” can look at a Renaissance, bit matrix, or Minecraft map and explain what each signifies and how they all relate.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Map-Exploring-World-Phaidon-Editors/dp/0714869449/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443195248&sr=1-1&keywords=map+exploring+the+world
Hessler and a team of contributors have put together a stunning cartographic encyclopedia titled, Map: Exploring The World ($59.95, Phaidon). In it, 300 maps tell the story of 5,000 years of human history, just not in chronological order. Map’s layout draws connections between eras, places, and themes with each turn of the page.

<more at http://www.citylab.com/design/2015/09/making-connections-between-the-worlds-newest-and-oldest-maps/406495/; related links: http://www.esri.com/esri-news/arcnews/winter1314articles/history-of-gis-and-early-computer-cartography-project (History of GIS and Early Computer Cartography Project. By John Hessler, Cartographic Specialist, Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress. Arc News, Winter 2013/2014) and http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/article/containing-the-ebola-outbreak-the-potential-and-challenge-of-mobile-network-data/ ([Ebola maps.] Commentary: Containing the Ebola Outbreak – the Potential and Challenge of Mobile Network Data. September 29, 2014)>