Anastasia

Why I Hate Twitter

Social networking is a wonderful way to find old friends, classmates or colleagues or even  connect with other people of other cultures. That's why I so enjoy communicating with my friends on Facebook. However, I am a curious person in the positive sense of the word, this is why I thought I'd try Twitter. I still have an account there, but so far I've been bitterly disappointed.  Here's why I hate Twitter.

• Character limit

My illustrious ancestors - the Spartans - said: " To lakonizin esti filosofia" - meaning "Brevity is a Virtue". But they meant words, not characters. To my mind, setting a narrow character limit to a tweet (140 characters) is most frustrating! How can you really communicte with your friends in 140 characters? Is this an advance of technology? It would be an understatement to say that the whole concept of limiting Twitter to 140 characters is obnoxious!

• Hash Tags

I really can't understand...hash tags. Why is there a search bar, then? 

• Tweets and theit Content

Most tweets contain bad language and terrible grammar as well as boring content! Who cares if you've just answered the phone, gone out for a walk, or fed your cat?

• Trending Topics

I'm not against trending topics on Twitter in so far as they hold the reader's interest. Unfortunately, most trending topics on Twitter lack interest and tend to be boring.

• Twitpics

Pointless tweets are often replaced by pointless twitpics. A good pic is said to be worth 1000 words. However, a twitpic is usually worth 0 words.. How sad! As far as I am concerned, I don't care the least if Lady Gaga has just had a session with her personal trainer or if you have just been to your favourite hair salon! What a terrible loss of time to read such tweets.  It's ok for celebrities , I guess. They have the luxury of posting silly twitpics and get thousands of tweets back!! Their fans are like sheep in a flock, aren't they?!

What I also did not like was that a person I really liked and followed on Typepad kept posting her ...tweets every 5 minutes! As a result, my dashboard was filled with her tweets which were meaningless to me. So, I had to unfollow her.

What do you like or dislike about Twitter?

Magic Mirror on the Wall.....

In Grimm's well known fairy tale, the new Queen - Snow White's step mother - has a magic mirror which is an animate object. Being beautiful and vain, the Queen often asks her Mirror: " Magic Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" The Magic Mirror would always answer:"You are the fairest of them all." But when Snow White turned 18, the Mirror said: "Snow White is much fairer than you."

In the year 2012 and the era of advanced technologies, very young girls no longer trust their mirror or what their friends and family tell them. They'd rather upload themselves on You Tube and ask their viewers exactly the same question Snow White's stepmother asked her magic mirror in Grimm's fairy tale. "Am I pretty or ugly?" followd by "Please comment" The wording is different, the meaning is exactly the same. The anonymous commenters are just like the "magic mirror on the wall". They feel free to say anything ranging from flattering comments to nasty and hurting remarks. The girl in the video below received more than 6,000 comments. Naturally, I didn't read them all but I did browse through and came across some really nasty comments which I wouldn't like to quote here.

 

What really saddens me is that these young girls - aged 11-13 - crave for comments, negative or positive. Surely, they lack self-esteem and self-confidence and they rely on total strangers to know whether they're pretty or ugly. But this is not what it boils down to. These kids seek to attract the  attention they lack in their own home.

Nikon J1 and V1 Interchangeable Lens Cameras

Nikon has been extremely tight-lipped about their newest camera system, but tonight they pulled back the curtain and unveiled a pair of interchangeable lens compact cameras that bring the company full-force into the ILC war.

The guts of both cameras revolve around a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor in what Nikon is calling the CX size. That's 13.2mm x 8.8mm which makes it smaller than its four thirds competition, but bigger than the upcoming Pentax Q system. That gives it an overall crop factor of 2.7, which comes into play when using the F-mount adapter (more on that in a minute). 

One of the main talking points for Nikon about the sensor is its ability to do focal plane phase detection AF at hugely fast speeds. When phase detection is wrong for the shooting situation, it automatically switches to contrast AF for speed. First impressions from technical editor, Phil Ryan suggest that it's fast, but not really noticeably faster than Micro Four Thirds in terms of AF. It also helps that it has 73 AF points in phase detection mode. That's a serious array -- more than any other interchangeable lens camera according to Nikon.

Image processing is handled by the Expeed 3 processor, which allows for a burst rate up to 10 fps with AF tracking.

One of the big new stories here is the introduction of the Nikon 1 lens mount. At launch, the J1 and the V1 will have the 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 1 NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8 and 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM. The FT1 mount adapter will allow you to slap any F-mount lens on a 1-series body, which may be a substantial advantage considering their current user base.

There are two models to choose from: The V1 and the J1. The V1 is the higher-end model and includes an integrated electronic viewfinder with 140k dots of resolution. It covers approximately 100% of the frame. It also has a 921k dot TFT LCD display, a mechanical shutter and a flash sync speed of 1/250th of a second. All of that is wrapped up in a magnesium alloy body tougher than that of the J1.

The J1 loses the integrated viewfinder and drops the resolution of the LCD display to 460k dots. It also has an electronic shutter, to help keep the price down.

The V1 also has the advantage of an accessory shoe into which you can plug a flash -- neither have one built-in -- or a GPS module, neither of which have received official pricing info yet. The J1 has a pop-up flash to make up for its lack of shoe.

Nikon has also spruced up the shooting modes in their new little cameras, some of which blur the line between photography and video capture. Both cameras can capture 1080p video at 60i with simultaneous still image capture at full-resolution.

The Motion Snapshot mode records "about a second" of video footage surrounding the shutter press. It's recorded at 60fps and plays back at 24fps. It actually sounds a lot like a non-repeating cinemgraph. 

Both cameras will be available October 20th. The cheaper J1 will cost $649 and come packed with the 10-30mm zoom lens. The V1 will cost $899 packaged with the same lens.

We'll have more info and some hands-on impressions with the new cameras tomorrow, so stay tuned for a lot more about Nikon's new babies.

via www.popphoto.com

I am an amateur photographer and truly enjoy taking pictures of anything that catches my eye. Being a Nikon fan, I was very excited to read about this new Nikon technology. I'd love to have both! V1 is very expensive and right now I can't afford it - $899 = €663 but I'll save up for J1 (€478) and hopefully get it for Christmas. I won't forget to put it down on my letter to Santa!

Do you enjoy taking pictures? What kind of camera have you got?

BrainDriver: A Mind Controlled Car

Imagine you could drive your car using only your thoughts. German researchers have just made that possible -- and they have the video to prove it.

Following his recent interview on the Robots Podcast about autonomous vehicles, Raúl Rojas, an AI professor at the Freie Universität Berlin, and his team have demonstrated how a driver can use a brain interface to steer a vehicle. Here's what the researchers say about the project, which they call the BrainDriver:

After testing iPhone, iPad and an eye-tracking device as possible user interfaces to maneuver our research car, named "MadeInGermany," we now also use Brain Power. The "BrainDriver" application is of course a demonstration and not roadworthy yet, but in the long run human-machine interfaces like this could bear huge potential in combination with autonomous driving.

To record brain activity, the researchers use an Emotiv "neuroheadset," an electroencephalography, or EEG, sensor by San Francisco-based company Emotiv, which design it for gaming. After a few rounds of "mental training," the driver learns to move virtual objects only by thinking. Each action corresponds to a different brain activity pattern, and the BrainDriver software associates the patterns to specific commands -- turn left, turn right, accelerate etc. The researchers then feed these commands to the drive-by-wire system of the vehicle, a modified Volkswagen Passat Variant 3c. Now the driver's thoughts can control the engine, brakes, and steering.

To road test their brain-controlled car, the Germans headed out to the former airport in Berlin Tempelhof. The video below shows a driver thought-controlling the car, Yoda-style. "Don't try this at home," the narration says, only half-jokingly.

via spectrum.ieee.org

Would you dare to drive a mind controlled car? Well, I wouldn't! I'm not a daredevil, after all, and want to have full control of my car!

The Future of Computers

The history of computers and computer technology thus far has been a long and a fascinating one, stretching back more than half a century to the first primitive computing machines. These machines were huge and complicated affairs, consisting of row upon row of vacuum tubes and wires, often encompassing several rooms to fit it all in.

As anyone who has looked at the world of computers lately can attest, the size of computers has been reduced sharply, even as the power of these machines has increased at an exponential rate. In fact, the cost of computers has come down so much that many households now own not only one, but two, three or even more, PCs.

As the world of computers and computer technology continues to evolve and change, many people, from science fiction writers and futurists to computer workers and ordinary users, have wondered what the future holds for the computer and related technologies. Many things have been pictured, from robots in the form of household servants to computers so small they can fit in a pocket. Indeed, some of these predicted inventions have already come to pass, with the introduction of PDA's and robotic vacuum cleaners.

Beyond these innovations, however, there are likely to be many, many more. One of the most important areas of research in the world of computers is that of artificial intelligence. When many people think of artificial intelligence, they may picture fully aware machines, complete with emotions, and the problems that can arise from them. Even though this remains the goal of many artificial intelligence researchers, in fact artificial intelligence technology is already in place and already serving the needs of humans everywhere.

One of the most powerful uses of artificial intelligence thus far is in the world of speech recognition. This powerful technology is already in place in call centers, banks, brokerage centers, insurance companies and other businesses throughout the world. While speech recognition is still imperfect, it has improved greatly in recent years, and in the future many routine, and even non-routine, phone calls and telephone inquiries may be handled completely without human intervention.

Robot technology has also come a long way, but it still has a long way to go. Robots in the future are unlikely to take human form, expect in a few specialized applications. Instead, robots are likely to do a great deal of work that is simply too dangerous for humans to accomplish. From spaceflight applications to search and rescue, robots are likely to continue down the learning curve they have already entered, further enhancing human lives and providing valuable services for a fraction of the cost of today's robot helpers.

Quantum computers are also likely to transform the computing experience, for both business and home users. These powerful machines are already on the drawing board, and they are likely to be introduced in the near future. The quantum computer is expected to be a giant leap forward in computing technology, with exciting implications for everything from scientific research to stock market predictions.

Nanotechnology is another important part of the future of computers, expected to have a profound impact on people around the globe. Nanotechnology is the process whereby matter is manipulated at the atomic level, providing the ability to “build” objects from their most basic parts. Like robotics and artificial intelligence, nanotechnology is already in use in many places, providing everything from stain resistant clothing to better suntan lotion. These advances in nanotechnology are likely to continue in the future, making this one of the most powerful aspects of future computing.

And if history is to be any guide, some of the most powerful advances in the world of computers and computer technology are likely to be completely unforeseen. 

 

via www.cbtplanet.com

In the 1970s, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that computers could "think" He went on to add that there was practically no possibility that human beings would ever be "controlled by machines". Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performance, I believe that  they will always need detailed instructions from human beings in order to be able to operate. Whatever the future of the computers may be, they'll never lead independent lives or make decisions of their own. And they'll certainly never "rule the world." As far as I am concerned, I guess I'll always need a pencil and a rubber.

Do video games help shy youngsters build social skills?

 

Photo Credit

Hong Kong - Scientists have found that children who spend hours playing online games may be developing friendships and nurturing vital social skills, a news report said Tuesday.

Rather than causing them harm, playing computer games can help boost the self-esteem of shy youngsters and increase their satisfaction with life, the South China Morning Post reported.

The benefits of online games were similar to those of making friends in the real world, the researchers from the Chinese University in Hong Kong concluded.

More than 600 primary school children were interviewed for the study, which found they spent an average of 67 minutes a day playing online games and 44 minutes using hand-held game consoles.

Nearly one-fifth of the pupils interviewed said they played for three hours a day or more, according to the newspaper.

Dr Angel Leung of the university's psychology department said: "Online friendship is ... especially important to those who are extremely shy or introverted - those who have difficulties making friends in real life."

However, she conceded that playing online games too much could adversely affect their academic results with English the subject most affected by game playing, the report said.

Copyright DPA

via www.earthtimes.org

If you ask me, online games and more specifically these interactive video games can eventually turn out to be detrimental to a child's physical condition and psychological growth. They contribute greatly to child obesity and to aggressive personalities. I really don't think they can help shy children build social skills. On the contrary, they tend to cut off children from the real world by making them unfriendly and anti-social while their grades can drop dramatically- not only in English but in all other school subjects. What's worse, these games can become terribly addictive for the child who gradually begins to live in a virtual world of make believe. Children need to go out and play, run, jump, skip, meet their friends, practise sports and take up creative hobbies. That's how they can develop real social skills.

On the other hand, technology is part of both adults and children's lives. Some online games can be really fun for children and can help them develop creative skills, yet, even in this case, parents should, by all means supervise their children, set time limits and stick to them and, most importantly, talk with their children in order to make them realise that real life doesn't work the way they see it in their online games. In this way, children will be able to see the difference between the virtual, unreal world of a video game, and the many benefits they can gain in the real world.

Ipad Vs Blackberry

The Upcoming Blackberry Tablet PC is codenamed "Cobalt"

Photo Credit

I've been recently considering getting an ipad which happens to be quite expensive over here (about €700 / $925 ). So, before making up my mind, I wanted to know how the latest ipad version compares to Blackberry. After having done some research online and consulted some friends who - unlike me - are very much into computers and electronic gadgets, I decided that the latest  ipad version (the Apple ipad) does more or less what my Blackberry Bold 9000 does! AND the Apple ipad hasn't got a keyboard! I don't like touch screens. The only touch screen I really like is the one of my new microwave oven!! 

Well, I may be a bit confused right now but, on second thoughts, I'd rather wait for the Blackberry Tablet PC - alias Cobalt.