Blog Archives
…Make A Move
Rock, Paper, Scissors has long been the decision maker for many an indecisive pair or group. Whether it’s a single game or best out of 13, we all seem to agree it’s a fair and fun way to determine a winner (unless you’ve got a cheater).
Well, no more. The fun has officially been sucked out of it. The game is no longer fun when you have no chance of winning. The Janken robot (courtesy of Japanese scientists) is unbeatable.
What purpose could a Rock, Paper, Scissors champion robot serve? Well, I’m sure there are thousands of applications for a robot with lightning quick reflexes (such as world domination), right now, I’m calling it out—cheater!
The robot’s unbeatable strategy disgards logic and chance for waiting to see what its opponent’s move is first.
Brush it off as a cute little trick now, but you won’t be smiling when your new robot leaders seem to be just one millisecond ahead of you.
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More on the Story: LA Times
…just for fun:
…watch your back
...don't give me those eyes...
In a world of distractions, it seems almost everyone needs a little help winding down at the end of the day.
Lucky for us, the sound machine is there to help us nod off. But what sounds do most of us prefer?
Chirping crickets, rolling waves, and gentle breezes all sound lovely and serene, but according to a recent study, one in five adults found the sound of monkeys (and other jungle creatures) the most helpful when drifting off to sleep.
…and that’s just how they want it.
Sure, it’ll start out innocently enough, listening to the sounds of cute little monkey’s to help you catch some Zzz’s.
It is admittedly more exciting than counting sheep.
Next thing you know you’re drifting off at the ape house…understandable.
...we know what you're plotting...
Then one day you wake up from your peaceful slumber to find yourself living in a world where apes and primates rule over the whole of humanity…then what?!?!?
Thank goodness we don’t find zombies soothing.
Don’t think these apes act alone.
Those sleep machines didn’t program themselves…or did they?
A robot recently unveiled in Japan can learn from past experiences.
It uses memory from previous tasks to learn for itself how to complete new ones.
With the help of the monkeys who knows what kind of world they could create?
It’s horrible to even imagine.
So tonight as you set your sleep aid device, take a moment and consider your options and ask yourself, “A world ruled by monkey’s or crickets…which future do I want?”
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“To Fall Asleep Faster, Listen to Monkeys”: MSNBC
“Robot Learns from Experience”: MSNBC
…bi-daily smile…
Happy 100th Birthday Lucy!
…Walk It Off
The robots are officially coming after us.
Last week, Ranger (a robot) set a record for the longest distance walked without needing to recharge or have anyone hold its hand. It went 40.5 miles in about 30 hours and 49 minutes.
Those responsible for Ranger, a group from Cornell University, are hoping to use robotics to explain how people walk in terms of Newton’s laws.
So, instead of studying people they decided to teach the technology to walk, on its own. Great plan.
Sure, at this point the zombie army will probably be able to catch up with their grueling pace of just over a 45 minute mile.
But once they gang up with the laptops, iPads and smart phones we are in some trouble.
The bright side? Those researchers will have a great opportunity to observe how human’s run.
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More on the Story: Robot Walks Over 40 Miles
…just for fun:
…Deceive
Anyone with money down on the destruction of human kind coming about by evil robots, I have some good news (sort of).
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taught robots how to deceive.
Which begs the question—WHY?
We already have enough problems with the honest technology. Why would you create something that can actively conspire against us?
It’s a proven fact that no good ever comes from lying, cheating robots. Anyone who’s watched one of the “Transformers” films can tell you that.
Deception is the only advantage that we have over robots and technology in general (or had).
Before you know it your computer will be faking a virus just because it doesn’t feel like working today.
And from there it’s just a hop, skip and a jump to full on robot apocalypse.
If ever there was a time to stop and question new technology, this is it. What are the positives? Do they out weigh the negatives? Will it murder us in our sleep?
Plus, if we wait too much longer we won’t know it we’re getting an honest answer.
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More on the Story: Lying, Cheating Robots
…just for fun:
…give a little nudge
...they're coming
Welcome to your weekly dose of oil spill news, aka the BP chronicles.
Throughout this whole ordeal in the Gulf there’s one issue that has been swept to the side.
Many have just looked the other way. Pretending it’s not there.
I am of course talking about robot sabotage.
It’s real my friends. Think back to May.
Remember back when they stopped trying to plug the hole with trash and made the shocking revelation that they actually had diamond saw wielding robots.
You may recall that attempts to cap the leak back then were stalled by a certain robot jamming their encrusted sword in the pipe.
Well, this past week the artificial intelligence has struck again. More specifically, one of them “accidentally nudged” the containment cap off of the leak.
Not to worry, the cap has been replaced, but the fact remains that our environmental fate lies in the cold metal hands of machines.
And really…what do the little metal machines have to lose? They don’t need clean water, air, or those pesky humans in their way. Plus it’s so much easier to place blame on inanimate objects.
I think it’s time to make nice with your appliances…that means no shouting at your computer, iPod, television, toaster, microwave, etc…someday you may be working for them.
…other takes
more WSJ
…bi-daily smile…
Zer
Stephanie
The2Women
