Speaking of dead as a doornail, hair
products, like shampoo and conditioner are mostly useless and cannot
physically change your hair. The hair that is visible on the human
body is dead hair and live hair is beneath the surface of the skin.
Nothing you add to the visible hair can actually make it healthier.
Also, no hair products can repair split ends.
Some hair products may add the artificial appearance of shine or
color and for most, that is sufficient.
Jan 11, 2013
Computer Generated Books
The first book completely written
by computer was published in 2008, in Russia and was a love story.
Now, Philip M. Parker, Professor of Marketing at INSEAD Business School, has created a computer system that can write books about specific subjects in about 20 minutes. The patented algorithm has so far generated hundreds of thousands of books. Amazon lists over 100,000 books attributed to Parker, and over 700,000 works listed for his company, ICON Group International, Inc.
Although his work is more of a compiler rather than writer, the end result is written and published books. The book categories include specialized technical and business reports, language dictionaries, rare disease overviews, and crossword puzzle books for learning foreign languages. They are automatically generated by software.
The system automates this process by building databases of information to source from, providing an interface to customize a query about a topic, and creating templates for information to be packaged.
A US patent was issued in 2007. The invention provides for the automatic authoring, marketing, and or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors material. The material is automatically formatted into a desired format, resulting in a title material. The title material may also be automatically distributed to a recipient. Meta material, marketing material, and control material are automatically authored and if desired, distributed to a recipient. Further, the title may be authored on demand, such that it may be in any desired language and with the latest version and content.
To avoid copyright infringement, the system is designed to avoid plagiarism, but the patent aims to create original, but not necessarily creative works. In other words, if any kind of content can be broken down into a formula, then the system could package related, but different content in that same formula.
I looked at a number of the (expensive) books and they follow the same formula of headline lists followed by scores of reference sites. The problem is, as with all printed material the content is static as the world moves on. Think of the books as Google searches as of a specific date and time.
Now, Philip M. Parker, Professor of Marketing at INSEAD Business School, has created a computer system that can write books about specific subjects in about 20 minutes. The patented algorithm has so far generated hundreds of thousands of books. Amazon lists over 100,000 books attributed to Parker, and over 700,000 works listed for his company, ICON Group International, Inc.
Although his work is more of a compiler rather than writer, the end result is written and published books. The book categories include specialized technical and business reports, language dictionaries, rare disease overviews, and crossword puzzle books for learning foreign languages. They are automatically generated by software.
The system automates this process by building databases of information to source from, providing an interface to customize a query about a topic, and creating templates for information to be packaged.
A US patent was issued in 2007. The invention provides for the automatic authoring, marketing, and or distributing of title material. A computer automatically authors material. The material is automatically formatted into a desired format, resulting in a title material. The title material may also be automatically distributed to a recipient. Meta material, marketing material, and control material are automatically authored and if desired, distributed to a recipient. Further, the title may be authored on demand, such that it may be in any desired language and with the latest version and content.
To avoid copyright infringement, the system is designed to avoid plagiarism, but the patent aims to create original, but not necessarily creative works. In other words, if any kind of content can be broken down into a formula, then the system could package related, but different content in that same formula.
I looked at a number of the (expensive) books and they follow the same formula of headline lists followed by scores of reference sites. The problem is, as with all printed material the content is static as the world moves on. Think of the books as Google searches as of a specific date and time.
Wordology, Idiot
This word has its origins in the ancient
Greek word idiōtēs, meaning a private person, a person who is not
actively interested in politics. The word is now commonly used to
mean someone of relatively low intelligence.
It seems to have come full circle from its original meaning. Because of the word’s negative connotations, ‘idiot’ slowly changed how it is used today. Ironically, many people now use that word to describe politicians, who are always interested in politics.
It seems to have come full circle from its original meaning. Because of the word’s negative connotations, ‘idiot’ slowly changed how it is used today. Ironically, many people now use that word to describe politicians, who are always interested in politics.
Jan 8, 2013
Third World Countries
They are not primitive,
underdeveloped, or poor, as many believe. A third world country is
just a country that is not considered a capitalist country (first
world) or a communist country (2nd world). The terms “first world”
and “second world” virtually disappeared from usage after the fall
of the Soviet Union.
The terminology came about just after WWII with the “first world” countries that were aligned with the United States common political and economic structure (capitalists). Second world countries were those that aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of their political and economic structure (communists and socialists). Third world countries were the rest that were not aligned with either, whether poor or not.
Correct term to refer to poor or underdeveloped countries is “Developing World”.
The terminology came about just after WWII with the “first world” countries that were aligned with the United States common political and economic structure (capitalists). Second world countries were those that aligned with the Soviet Union in terms of their political and economic structure (communists and socialists). Third world countries were the rest that were not aligned with either, whether poor or not.
Correct term to refer to poor or underdeveloped countries is “Developing World”.
Pacemaker Origin
Wilson Greatbatch was working on a device
that would record human heart beats when he accidentally inserted an
incorrect resistor. It ended up perfectly mimicking the heart’s
rhythm and led to the first implantable pacemaker.
Two Shows One Screen
This week at the 2013 Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) Samsung announced a feature that allows two
people to watch completely different Full-HD content simultaneously
on the same TV screen with corresponding audio and controls.
The two viewers must wear special 3D glasses, which come with personal speakers built in to deliver the stereo audio directly to them. Bringing people together to share. . . the couch. Hey, did you see that play? Shut up you're ruining my movie.
The two viewers must wear special 3D glasses, which come with personal speakers built in to deliver the stereo audio directly to them. Bringing people together to share. . . the couch. Hey, did you see that play? Shut up you're ruining my movie.
Christmas Tree Reuse
The last seasonal item from the
holidays comes from a team of researchers in Allahabad, India that
are in the process of developing a compound derived from the needles
of the Douglas fir to help coat nano medical devices and combat
infection.
One of the largest hurdles for biomedical devices is that bacteria invade implant sites, prosthetics, and tissues. The bionanocomposite from the Douglas fir could potentially cover implants and ward off microbial growth. Combining an extract from from the Douglas fir needles with silver nitrate solution, the team has created silver nanoparticles that can make a coating. The needle extract serves as a natural chemical reducing agent that converts silver ions in the nitrate solution into tiny nanoscopic silver metal particles
One of the largest hurdles for biomedical devices is that bacteria invade implant sites, prosthetics, and tissues. The bionanocomposite from the Douglas fir could potentially cover implants and ward off microbial growth. Combining an extract from from the Douglas fir needles with silver nitrate solution, the team has created silver nanoparticles that can make a coating. The needle extract serves as a natural chemical reducing agent that converts silver ions in the nitrate solution into tiny nanoscopic silver metal particles
Jan 4, 2013
Happy Friday
The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in
our attitude toward them.
I mean to keep a positive attitude toward a Happy Friday!
I mean to keep a positive attitude toward a Happy Friday!
Time
The new year is a good time to think about time. In
1903, the Wright brothers performed their first successful flight.
In 1941, 38 years later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. (Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941).
In 1969, just 28 years after that, man landed on the moon. In 66 years man went from flight a few feet off the earth to flying to the moon.
In 2012, 109 years after the Wright brothers flight we landed a craft on Mars and it is communicating back to us with pictures.
Wikipedia lists the names of 41 people born during or before 1903 that are still living.
In 1941, 38 years later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. (Mount Rushmore was completed in 1941).
In 1969, just 28 years after that, man landed on the moon. In 66 years man went from flight a few feet off the earth to flying to the moon.
In 2012, 109 years after the Wright brothers flight we landed a craft on Mars and it is communicating back to us with pictures.
Wikipedia lists the names of 41 people born during or before 1903 that are still living.
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