![theatlantic:
Homeland Security’s ‘Pre-Crime’ Screening Will Never Work
The U.S. Department of Homeland security is working on a project called FAST, the Future Attribute Screening Technology, which is some crazy straight-out-of-sci-fi pre-crime detection and prevention software which may come to an airport security screening checkpoint near you someday soon. Yet again the threat of terrorism is being used to justify the introduction of super-creepy invasions of privacy, and lead us one step closer to a turn-key totalitarian state. This may sound alarmist, but in cases like this a little alarm is warranted. FAST will remotely monitor physiological and behavioral cues, like elevated heart rate, eye movement, body temperature, facial patterns, and body language, and analyze these cues algorithmically for statistical aberrance in an attempt to identify people with nefarious intentions. There are several major flaws with a program like this, any one of which should be enough to condemn attempts of this kind to the dustbin.
Read more. [Image: Paleofuture]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2mk2c62RB1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
Homeland Security’s ‘Pre-Crime’ Screening Will Never Work
The U.S. Department of Homeland security is working on a project called FAST, the Future Attribute Screening Technology, which is some crazy straight-out-of-sci-fi pre-crime detection and prevention software which may come to an airport security screening checkpoint near you someday soon. Yet again the threat of terrorism is being used to justify the introduction of super-creepy invasions of privacy, and lead us one step closer to a turn-key totalitarian state. This may sound alarmist, but in cases like this a little alarm is warranted. FAST will remotely monitor physiological and behavioral cues, like elevated heart rate, eye movement, body temperature, facial patterns, and body language, and analyze these cues algorithmically for statistical aberrance in an attempt to identify people with nefarious intentions. There are several major flaws with a program like this, any one of which should be enough to condemn attempts of this kind to the dustbin.
Read more. [Image: Paleofuture]
Self-publishing: it’s exploding in popularity, we all know that, with self-published authors selling millions via Amazon’s Kindle, pushing traditionally published authors out of the top spots on new ebook charts, etc etc. But did you know that self-publishing websites are attracting more than 40% of all China’s internet users every month? I didn’t, and I am reeling, a little, from the statistic.
These aren’t Authonomy-esque, publish-and-be-encouraged-by-fellow-writers sorts of sites, though, or even collections of self-published novels. The websites host what is being dubbed “freemium” publishing. Publishing Perspectives has more details: a growing number of self-publishing websites host thousands of free-to-read web serials – anything from historical epics to sci-fi – posted by their authors. As a serial gathers critical mass, the author is invited to become a “VIP”, and readers have to pay for the new instalments – only a few yuan, but these micropayments from readers can number in the millions: China Daily reports that one author, the 26-year-old Huang Wei, makes more than more than Y1m a year (£100,000).
“It’s pure entertainment, written, downloaded, read and deleted all at top speed,” says Beijing-based literary translator and publishing consultant Eric Abrahamsen, who also writes for the Chinese publishing industry newsletter Paper Republic. “Basically all of this writing is genre fiction. It is produced by young writers and aimed at young readers.”
» via The Guardian
this is the coolest thing ever. it can hold keys, usb drives, led lights, etc. totally buying one.
(via quisqualate)
MIT researchers develop self-programming AI video game
What if programming a video-game AI could use an algorithm to figure things out for itself, extrapolating from a few decisions made by players — and even reuse those lessons from one game to the next?
”Robotany,” a game prototype from the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, wants to answer those questions. Set in a garden, the game features small, robot-like creatures that take care of plants
Full Story: Kurzweil
How to: Securely Wipe Your Data from Any Phone on Any Platform
It’s phone upgrading season, and if you’re industrious, you might be looking to sell your phone on eBay or craigslist or pass it on to your snot-mouthed little brother. Whatever, it’s going; it’s gone; fare thee well, you old piece of junk!
But please oh please oh please don’t forget to wipe your data before your phone changes hands. Here’s a quick guide for anyone who might need it, so you’re not fumbling through options and settings for half the day.
Whether you’re an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone user, you’re gonna wanna know this info! read|more
Photo Credit: (Gizmodo)
Fortune Magazine Facebook Vs Google Cover.
- Fortune magazine says its a Battle For The Web between Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Larry Page.
This XD Design Solar Window Charger, with big USB and small USB output, is easily attachable to your window. The outside of the charger catches sunlight, while the smooth designed inside spices up your interior and charges your electronic equipment.
