Monday links
- Spaun, the most realistic artificial human brain yet
A group of neuroscientists and software engineers at the University of Waterloo in Canada are claiming to have built the world’s most complex, large-scale model simulation of the human brain. The simulated brain, which runs on a supercomputer, has a digital eye which it uses for visual input, a robotic arm that it uses to draw its responses — and it can pass the basic elements of an IQ test—ExtremeTech - Staples Announces In-Store 3-D Printing Service
Pretty soon you’ll be able to print your 3-D projects at the local Staples.A new service called “Staples Easy 3D” will allow customers to upload their designs to Staples’ website, then pick up the printed objects at their local office supply megastore, or have them shipped to their home or business — not unlike the photo- and document-printing service the company already offers—Wired - The Scourge Of The Web: Fake Reviews & How To Spot Them
“User reviews” are actually a pretty recent phenomenon. Before the prevalence of the Internet, user reviews were called testimonials, and you’d only see them on TV commercials and product pages. Nowadays, anyone can write anything on any product – and there’s no filter for what you can say. Enter the problem of fake and falsified user reviews—MakeUseOf discusses how to spot fake reviews - Microsoft’s next tablet priced to gather dust
Premium pricing not likely to appeal to consumers— Therese Poletti at MarketWatch - The Death Of Paper
At TechCrunch, Ryan Lawler notes the many ways that electronic devices are being used to replace paper documents and wonders if it will affect the duration of records - Elgan: I want a military smartphone
The most innovative and important consumer electronics company isn’t a company at all. It’s the Pentagon—Mike Elgan at Computerworld
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Microsoft’s next tablet priced to gather dust
Wow. And they’ve made life so very easy for all their partners that are also putting out tablets (not). Great way to push Win8, eh? I can’t wait to see the long term outcome.
My take is that MS has finally, actually and really gotten too arrogant. First they put out software that not only gets in your freaking way (bouncing idiot paper clips etc), but now it dictates how you can and can’t work (see latest versions of office which I refused to buy any of for my home machines). Now they think they can take their “We’ll tell you what you can and can’t do as you work” attitude to a whole new level. And in Win9 we’ll all need to be standing on our heads in order to run it.
I’m sure it’s all brilliant and futuristic and visionary. And in one of those alternate time line sci fi novels, it might even be a smashing success. But in this time line, I think not so much.