Nicholas Carr wonders how long it will be before machines need to have ethical systems built in. Imagine, he says, that you’re happily tweeting away as your Google self-driving car crosses a bridge, its speed precisely synced to the 50 m.p.h. limit. A group of frisky schoolchildren is also heading across the bridge, on the pedestrian walkway. Suddenly, there’s a tussle, and three of the kids are pushed into the road, right in your vehicle’s path. Your self-driving car has a fraction of a second to make a choice: Either it swerves off the bridge, possibly killing you, or it runs over the children. What does the Google algorithm tell it to do?”
Author: neil
Skeuomorphism [Link]
Fairly often, we (I) come across words in the news that make me do a double take. The latest one, Skeuomorphism, has shown up several times in the last few weeks, in the context of some major staff movements at the Apple headquarters. If you don’t care to click that link, skeuomorphism simply refers to the imitation of a comfortable, well known design aspect of an old product in a new product. For example, for example when fabric upholstery is replaced with vinyl and includes simulated cloth stitching.
Silicon Savannah [Article]
How one man is driving the Kenyan information revolution
Dental flavouring [Article]
Why is toothpaste only available in mint-flavor, wondered Sara Davis, who had an allergy to mint. Interesting article on how the mind is fooled into freshness by the the abrasives in toothpastes or the alcohols in mouthwashes that do the dirty work.
Simply, science [TED]
A spectacular 7:32 talk by Adam Savage on TED, on how simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries.
Handle with Care [Article]
New research is looking at questions about the complex effects of antibiotics — on bacteria, on individual children and on populations — building on a greatly increased awareness of how powerful antibiotics can be, and how important it is to use them judiciously, writes Dr. Peri Klass
Black Friday, animal style [Video]
A pretty accurate description of Black Friday or Boxing Day sales.
Little acts of kindness [Video]
“Big” brother helps his little sister. Of course the (my) adult (I can’t be too sure of that either) brain screams why don’t you do something a lot more common-sensible, but that’s the whole point of this video!
Learning Language [Article]
An English-woman in Maryland (with apologies to Sting) shares her embarrassments while learning to speak American.
Hot Chick [Updated]
The link I pasted in yesterday was in error. Updated.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? A difficult question to answer, made worse by this hen who gave birth to a live chick, in Sri Lanka.