The KITTY (Keyboard Independent Touch Typing) Project is another new entry into the world of portable computing. The end result is a glove-like device that attaches to a something akin to a watch—which uses wireless technology to transmit keystrokes recorded by your fingers to a computing device. They've got a Flash demo of how the device works. Seems like it would be uncomfortable to type that way for long periods of time, but I already have carpal tunnel, so maybe that has something to do with it.
As expressed by Dr. Mehring from UC Irvine, the new device tries to give glove-based or finger-mounted systems a new shot at the portable input device market by taking advantage of the existing skills of its potential users. As of today, user acceptance for newly developed ultra-portable input devices which can provide high rates of data-input required for ever more powerful pocket computers is limited by the requirement imposed on the user to learn new ways of data input.
Robi posted a cool entry about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. His quotes come from FuturePundit.com, but I'd go read what Robi has to say. It's all very cool. Here's a quote:
Allan Snyder, director of Centre for the Mind at the University of Sydney is using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to slow down or speed up various parts of the brain and by doing so appears to be able to unlock savant intellectual abilities dormant in many minds.
As remarkable as the cat-drawing lesson was, it was just a hint of Snyder's work and its implications for the study of cognition. He has used TMS dozens of times on university students, measuring its effect on their ability to draw, to proofread and to perform difficult mathematical functions like identifying prime numbers by sight. Hooked up to the machine, 40 percent of test subjects exhibited extraordinary, and newfound, mental skills. That Snyder was able to induce these remarkable feats in a controlled, repeatable experiment is more than just a great party trick; it's a breakthrough that may lead to a revolution in the way we understand the limits of our own intelligence -- and the functioning of the human brain in general.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Tuesday that Web loggers, web site operators and e-mail list editors can't be held responsible for libel for information they republish, extending crucial First Amendment protections to do-it-yourself online publishers.
Online free speech advocates praised the decision as a victory. The ruling effectively differentiates conventional news media, which can be sued relatively easily for libel, from certain forms of online communication such as moderated e-mail lists. One implication is that DIY publishers like bloggers cannot be sued as easily.
I think it's good that bloggers can be free to quote sources without having to worry about repercussions if the source is wrong, but this means you really have to research blogs you read to ensure that you feel that the information the blogger reports is trustworthy.
This really isn't any different than it has been w/the web, but I think many people new to the culture have a tendency to trust the information they read on the web as being accurate. I think we become somewhat accustomed to trusting things we see in print as being automatically accurate. However, you can't make that assumption with the web. You really need to research what you read and eventually you'll start to form opinions on what sources you can trust and which ones you can't.
Four new categories designed to specify different types of violence have been added to video game ratings.
Effective immediately, "cartoon violence" will be defined as when "a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted." "Fantasy violence" is when the actions involve "characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life."
While I definitely think it's worth having some rating system, it doesn't seem like enough parent's pay attention to it. While I think Grand Theft Auto series is great (Vice City is awesome,) it's definitely a game that should be only played by adults. I've seen way to many kids convince their parent's there's nothing wrong with it. My kids will probably hate me, because I'll know as much about the games they want as they do. :)
The Popovich's came in to town Sunday—they're going to be staying at the Gazvoda's for the week. Since Jenn & I were out and about all day Sunday, last night was the first time I got a chance to visit with them. (Honestly, I wouldn't have contacted them on Sunday anyway, I'm sure they just wanted to kick back and relax for the day.) Eric & Krista were already over at Todd & Monica's house when Todd called me. Jenn had some reading to do and Tuesday's are here long day (w/work and then school right afterwards,) so she decided to stay home.
Nathan was already asleep when I got there, but Nicholas was still up. When I walked in the room, Nicholas' eyes just let up and he got this huge smile. There's something about a baby smile that can wipe away even the worst of moods—not that I was in a bad mood yesterday, I wasn't, but those smiles make you forget about everything else on your mind. Jennifer Popovich, Krista and Monica were all in the living room together.
Monica was giving him his bottle when I came in. I ended up taking over the feeding—which itself is so sweet and innocent. When you give him his bottle he holds your hand (or finger) with one hand and then he gently caresses your arm with the other—you can just tell he's going to be very empathetic, caring and kind to others. He then would also put his fingers up to mind—he seemed to be comparing the differences in the size of our fingers. First, he'd put his finger against mine length-wise, then he'd just push his finger tip to mind. You could just tell he was processing something.