Weird Science
Weird Science
I had an interesting experience the other day. My incoming emails started multiplying, so each message arrived about ten times, if not more. After running all the standard checks, I called my Internet server. The tech person listened, and said, "Wow, I've never heard of anything like that before," and then added, "I don't have a clue what you should do next." A second technical assistant gave more or less the same answer, without the humility. This after my having waded through a conversation with that cheery computer voice that pretends to be your friend in order to get to the trained professionals.
I thought the response from customer service an interesting sign, because increasingly, our lives are dominated by technology, and in most cases we like it.
However, few of us really understand this stuff, except in a theoretical fashion, and even fewer seem able to fix it. This has led to the plug and play mechanic, who will simply keep swapping parts until, by luck of the draw or law of averages, the problem disappears. Alternatively, the thing is never repaired. There are more than a few motor vehicles that have simply been condemned as lemons, and no one has the foggiest notion what's wrong or right with the beasts. This is not good, but has always been a danger.
Our ability to create something is far greater than the skill needed to maintain or modify it to any degree of satisfaction. Scary thought for some of today's high tech cars, isn't it? As an aside, anyone with ideas on the email thing, please get in touch.
Telemetry, or information gathering from a distance, has been part of racing for a while. In most cases, the systems can read every single thing the driver does, as well as the movement of each control, engine settings, temperatures, and tomorrow's TV guide. Some even download each time you drive down the front straight. When you pull into the pits, your interaction is with the engineer and a laptop computer.
This quickly puts an end to lines like, "No, I was flat on the throttle all the way through that section." A couple of blips on a printout can put a serious crimp in your ego. In this case the process is helpful, if put into context.
I suppose I should not have been taken aback when, during the computer debacle mentioned at the start of this piece, I was asked to send in an update of the problems the computer was experiencing. This was to go to an antivirus company, so it seemed a good idea. I was offered a chance to view the report before sending, and chose to do so. The amount of information that report had gathered on my computer was astonishing.
In the readout was a list of virtually every program loaded, the brand name, main server, and type of printer attached to the computer. I could go on, but that's scary enough. Anyone with a reasonable degree of paranoia probably wouldn't choose to drive an On Star-equipped automobile. Too late, anyhow, and in many ways truly sad. There is precious little privacy any more.
Many cars of today already know our personalities.
They remap the shifting to suit our driving styles, respond to voice commands, and in the future will adjust to us in many other ways. The next generation of motor vehicles will become more, not less, user friendly. Perhaps they will even have personalities and names, though we hope Hal is not one of them. I'm just not crazy about the spectre of all those calls to various tech centres where the person responds, "Wow, that's so cool ? no, I don't have a clue how to fix it."
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Microsoft Class Action Settlement in Minnesota - Submitting A Claim
Microsoft has settled a class action lawsuit with the state of Minnesota.
Based on this settlement software purchased between May 18, 1994 and March 17, 2003 may be eligible for a voucher that will provide additional monies to the claimant upon proof of both software purchase and a qualifying hardware or software purchase after July 1, 2004.
Windows or MS-DOS software is worth a $15.00 voucher while Microsoft Office and Excel is worth $23.00 Word, Works Suite, and Home Essentials 97 or 98 is only worth $9.00 The way it works:To submit your claim visit http://www.microsoftminnesotasettlement.com and file a claim either as an individual or business using either a standard form or a volume license form.
If you are lucky you will be filing an volume license form.
Simply fill in the information related to your company and a Claims Administrator will do all the research for you.
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Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) Pensacola Test TailWind Solutions Software for Offline Learning Application
San Mateo, California (ContentDesk) August 22, 2005 -- TailWind Solutions announced today that they have entered into a contract with NETPDTC in Pensacola, FL, to test a disconnected eLearning solution using the Tailwind product."We are very pleased that the Navy is evaluating our flagship software product, FieldSpace, for implementation in disconnected environments," said David Koehn, Founder and VP of Sales of TailWind Solutions. "Using FieldSpace, learning can be delivered, tracked, monitored, updated, and expired from any laptop throughout their fleet and to any number of Navy schoolhouses around the world."FieldSpace software will move offline any catalog of learning needed by users who operate in a bandwidth constrained or offline environment such as on a ship or submarine or remote geographical environment. The expectation is that implementing the Tailwind solution will expedite the deployment of learning to be provided to our fighting men and women around the world.NETPDTC chose...
Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC) Pensacola Test TailWind Solutions Software for Offline Learning Application
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Launch of My Yoga Online, the Innovative Website for Practicing Yoga, Pilates, and Meditation
Vancouver, BC (ContentDesk) August 3, 2006 -- Using the latest technology My Yoga Online (http://www.myyogaonline.com) brings the ancient science of yoga to a global audience. They offer a wide selection of professionally filmed, high quality videos of varying levels, styles, and lengths, for practice at home, at work, and while traveling.My Yoga Online classes are viewable in full screen, DVD quality.
With state of
the art streaming video, access to over fifty hatha yoga,
power yoga, Kundalini, and Pilates classes are available anytime, anywhere, on your computer, or by simply attaching your laptop or desktop to your TV.
With energizing mini-yoga flows for the morning, relaxing flows to encourage restful sleep, short seated stretches, and breath exercises with pressure point massage to encourage focus and clarity at work, this pre-eminent website boasts wide variety and adds new classes monthly
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Ion Technologies Increases Product Line in Response to Law Making Stand Alone COA's Illegal
Ion Technologies Corporation of Spring Park, MN, is announcing the expansion of their already extensive line of personal computer software and hardware products.
Due to the increasing national and international demand for OEM and Retail software products especially in the lines of Anti-Virus and Internet security, Ion Technologies will be adding over 200 software titles to their product line over the next month.
This is also in response to the new federal law recently passed, making the sale of stand -alone COA's illegal.Because of the new law, the demands for the Full OEM product have risen exponentially, due to the large amount of domestic companies that relied on the purchase and sale of stand alone COA's. Ben Solberg, Ion Technologies Operations Manager, feels that the expansion of the product line "will allow us to provide more software and hardware selection at continued competitive prices, and meet the demand that exists for a broad range of products at the wholesale...
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A Showcase of Women Artists Launch the Holiday Season for a Great Cause
San Jose, CA (ContentDesk) September 28, 2005 -- What do you get when you combine delicious Hawaiian-inspired chocolates with sleek, stylish laptop bags?
A not-to-be-missed fundraising event that promises fun, camaraderie, and glamour in a gorgeous setting.
Sound like new math? Lucky for us, it's a lot simpler than that.The event, which will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Belmont's sumptuous Ralston Hall on Friday, October 28, combines fun, celebration, community, and camaraderie with a wonderful way to give back to our community.
Skye and Sherri have enlisted the participation of other artists and vendors, who will bring their wares and their party hats to help you kick off the holiday season. After meeting in early 2005 and learning that they share a common vision, Skye Lee and Sherri Terao recognized that a multitude of artistic talent, nurtured in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, was a valuable local resource, waiting to be tapped into....
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New Personal Assistant Business Software ? The Answer to the PDA
Richmond, CA (ContentDesk) November 24, 2003 ?- LuluWest, a leading provider of business productivity applications for individuals and companies, this month announced the release of Personal Assistant Version 2.0 (PA).
Personal Assistant combines voice and video technology with sound business practices to create a software product that is both practical and easy to use. As an alternative to the PDA, Personal Assistant is the only video-based desktop/laptop application designed specifically for executives, office administrators and traveling professionals. Version 2 enhances the current functionality of PA by adding new videos to the Administrative Workspaces.
When a function is requested in the Projects, Planning, Tasks, Mail or Current Events Workspaces a vignette explaining the function is run before your PA either provides assistance or performs the function for you.
In addition to Workspace improvements, the Business Resources and Tips modules have also...
New Personal Assistant Business Software ? The Answer to the PDA
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How To Find The Best Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Lamps, Rugs, Beds, Mirrors, Sofas, Chairs, Dining Room Furniture And Tables
Furniture is something that every home needs to give it style and comfort. Patio furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture all help to add character and elegance to your home. One of the first things that guests notice when coming to your home is the style and quality of your furniture. Does it look nice? Is your furniture comfortable and relaxing? When choosing furniture for your home, remember to consider the decorating theme your using throughout your entire house. You'll find...
patio furniture How To Find The Best Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Lamps, Rugs, Beds, Mirrors, Sofas, Chairs, Dining Room Furniture And Tables Laptop
Laptop > How To Find The Best Furniture, Bedroom Furniture, Lamps, Rugs, Beds, Mirrors, Sofas, Chairs, Dining Room Furniture And Tables
Reviving Old Computer Games
Remember the good old days of gaming, when there were only 5 pixels in the protagonist and your imagination could turn them into a heroic figure of Schwarzenegger proportions? When the enemies and the heroes were distinguished by colour and you only needed one button on the joystick? Well times have changed and technology has moved on. Pulling my old Commodore 64 or Atari out of the back of the cupboard and setting them up often takes more time than the nostalgic pang lasts. I've also noticed...
Reviving Old Computer Games ink cartridges Laptop
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