Scientists think they can control the weather using #chaos theory
▻https://thenextweb.com/news/scientists-think-they-can-control-weather-using-chaos-theory
TNW
https://thenextweb.com
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I found out why metaverse avatars don’t have legs
▻https://thenextweb.com/news/metaverse-no-legs-meta-microsoft-analysisStory by
Ivan MehtaIt’s hard to escape the hype of the metaverse even if you can’t experience much of it. Last year, both Microsoft and Meta (rebranded from Facebook), demoed their virtual worlds of the future.
In the videos depicting these dreamlike spaces — where you could work with your colleagues or hang out and play games — I had a burning question about the avatars representing users: WHERE ARE THEIR LEGS?
After all, the characters in most games with a third-person view have legs. Is it especially hard to do that with virtual versions of ourselves?
A lot of that has to do with sensors. Currently, metaverse experiences are largely restricted to VR headsets; some are compatible with handheld controllers, like the Oculus touch controllers. However, there are hardly any commercially available sensors and controllers for our legs. That means your leg movement can’t be accurately detected and depicted in virtual environments.
One of the things these metaverses are trying to do is to place your real-life self in a virtual setting. Dr.Rolf Illenberger, managing director of VRdirect, an enterprise-focused VR platform company, said that misrepresenting users’ height in VR could annoy them:
In VR, the “physical height” of an avatar can be quite different from your real-life impression. So people might feel the Avatar is pretty small or unusually tall, which is one of the reasons many of these platforms avoid legs for the time being.
He also pointed out that in real life when you look down, you’re used to seeing your legs are at a specific distance away from your face, which you’re used to. But in the virtual world, if that situation is not replicated, it could cause you to feel nauseous. So until there are better sensors to avoid this on headsets, companies might avoid creating legs.
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What a 5MB Hard Drive Looked Like in 1956
▻https://thenextweb.com/news/this-is-what-a-5mb-hard-drive-looked-like-is-1956-required-a-forklift
‘In September 1956 IBM launched the 305 RAMAC, the first ‘SUPER’ computer with a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD weighed over a ton and stored 5 MB of data.’Déplacement d’un disque dur IBM de 5 Mo
▻https://ourfunnylittlesite.com/chacune-de-ces-rares-photos-v4/8
1956.
Cette énorme boîte contient un disque dur IBM de 5 Mo,(pas de crédits photographiques…)
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New research indicates the whole universe could be a giant neural network
▻https://thenextweb.com/neural/2021/03/02/new-research-indicates-the-whole-universe-could-be-a-giant-neural-networThe root problem with sussing out a theory of everything – in this case, one that defines the very nature of the universe itself – is that it usually ends up replacing one proxy-for-god with another. Where theorists have posited everything from a divine creator to the idea we’re all living in a computer simulation, the two most enduring explanations for our universe are based on distinct interpretations of quantum mechanics. These are called the “many worlds” and “hidden variables” interpretations and they’re the ones Vanchurin attempts to reconcile with his “world as a neural network” theory.
To this end, Vanchurin concludes:
In this paper we discussed a possibility that the entire universe on its most fundamental level is a neural network. This is a very bold claim. We are not just saying that the artificial neural networks can be useful for analyzing physical systems or for discovering physical laws, we are saying that this is how the world around us actually works. With this respect it could be considered as a proposal for the theory of everything, and as such it should be easy to prove it wrong. All that is needed is to find a physical phenomenon which cannot be described by neural networks. Unfortunately (or fortunately) it is easier said than done.
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Here’s what that WhatsApp privacy policy pop-up means for you
▻https://thenextweb.com/facebook/2021/01/06/heres-what-that-whatsapp-privacy-policy-pop-up-means-for-youIf you use WhatsApp, you probably spotted a pop-up on your phone sometime in the last 24 hours, suggesting that the service has updated its privacy policy — and promptly clicked the button at the bottom to proceed. If you read more closely, you’ll have learned that and users have until February 8 to read and agree to the new terms. Failure to do so would lead to WhatsApp deleting your account. You’re probably not the only one who may have skipped reading the new terms. However, changes in (...)
#Facebook #Messenger #Instagram #WhatsApp #données #conditions #publicité
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Apple apps on Big Sur bypass firewalls and VPNs — this is terrible
▻https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/11/16/apple-apps-on-big-sur-bypass-firewalls-vpns-analysis-macosDon’t worry though, #Apple really, really, really cares about your #privacy
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Amsterdam and Helsinki become first cities to launch open AI registers
▻https://thenextweb.com/neural/2020/09/28/amsterdam-and-helsinki-become-first-cities-to-launch-ai-registers-explaiThe registers could make the AI used in public services more transparent Amsterdam and Helsinki today became the first cities in the world to launch open AI registers that track how algorithms are being used in the municipalities. In a press release, the cities said the registers would help ensure that the AI used in public services operates on the same principles of responsibility, transparency, and security as other local government activities. “Algorithms play an increasingly important (...)
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British police to trial facial recognition system that detects your mood
▻https://thenextweb.com/neural/2020/08/17/british-police-to-trial-facial-recognition-system-that-detects-your-moodThe system can also spot people wearing hats or glasses A British police force is set to trial a facial recognition system that infers people’s moods by analyzing CCTV footage. Lincolnshire Police will be able to use the system to search the film for certain moods and facial expressions, the London Times reports. It will also allow cops to find people wearing hats and glasses, or carrying bags and umbrellas. The force has got funding from the Home Office to test the tool in the market town (...)
#algorithme #CCTV #biométrie #émotions #facial #reconnaissance #vidéo-surveillance #surveillance (...)
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Zuck thinks boycotting advertisers will return to Facebook — and he could be right
▻https://thenextweb.com/facebook/2020/07/02/zuckerberg-thinks-boycotting-advertisers-will-return-and-maybe-hes-rightMore than 500 advertisers are boycotting Facebook for not controlling hate speech. But Mark Zuckerberg is not worried. In an internal Facebook meeting, the company CEO said that “my guess is that all these advertisers will be back on the platform soon enough.” The Information got hold of a transcript of this meeting, where Zuckerberg addressed concerns of Facebook employees over major brands pausing ad spend on the social network. Despite the pushback from advertisers, Zuckerberg seems (...)
#Facebook #bénéfices #racisme #BlackLivesMatter #discrimination #publicité
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Amazon wants to turn Indian retail shops into digital storefronts — with QR codes
▻https://thenextweb.com/in/2020/06/26/amazon-wants-to-turn-indian-retail-shops-into-digital-contactless-storefAmazon has launched a new program in India called “Smart Stores” that will convert brick and mortar stores to “digital storefronts” through QR codes. The idea is that you can scan a QR code stuck on the front of the store, browse through their catalog on the Amazon app, and place an order without having to go inside the shop. That way, you can maintain social distancing till Covid-19 is around. This is a useful feature in a post-pandemic India as well, where a lot of shops are crowded on a (...)
#Amazon #QRcode #technologisme #domination #consommation #FoodTech
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Zoom won’t encrypt free calls because it wants to comply with law enforcement
▻https://thenextweb.com/security/2020/06/03/zoom-wont-encrypt-free-calls-because-it-wants-to-comply-with-law-enforceIf you’re a free Zoom user, and waiting for the company to roll out end-to-end encryption for better protection of your calls, you’re out of luck. Free calls won’t be encrypted, and law enforcement will be able to access your information in case of ‘misuse’ of the platform. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan today said that the video conferencing app’s upcoming end-to-end encryption feature will be available to only paid users. After announcing the company’s financial results for Q1 2020, Yuan said the firm (...)
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Amazon Engineer : ’Ring should be shut down immediately and not brought back’
▻https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/01/28/amazon-engineer-ring-should-be-shut-down-immediately-and-not-brought-bacAn Amazon software engineer named Max Eliaser is calling for the shutdown of Ring, the doorbell camera company Amazon paid $2 billion for in 2018. Hundreds of Amazon employees recently banded together to form Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, an organization dedicated to holding the company’s feet to the fire when it comes to taking the steps necessary to face the global climate crisis. The group published a post on Medium yesterday sharing its members’ views on climate change, but (...)
#Ring #Amazon #algorithme #backdoor #CCTV #Neighborhood #police #vidéo-surveillance #écoutes #surveillance (...)
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Why Amazon’s Ring and facial recognition technology are a clear and present danger to society
▻https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2020/01/31/why-amazons-ring-and-facial-recognition-technology-are-a-clear-and-prese“The deployment of connected home security cameras that allow footage to be queried centrally are simply not compatible with a free society.” Amazon engineer Max Eliaser The greatest threat posed to democracy in any free nation is that of ubiquitous government surveillance. Many countries today are struggling to find the proper balance between useful facial recognition and connected-camera technologies and those that threaten our privacy. We’re here to make it easy : Public-facing facial (...)
#Clearview #Google #Palantir #Ring #Amazon #Facebook #CCTV #Neighborhood #sonnette #police #vidéo-surveillance #data #écoutes #surveillance (...)
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China arrested a US university student for mocking its president in tweets
▻https://thenextweb.com/china/2020/01/23/china-arrested-a-us-university-student-for-mocking-its-president-in-tweeCensorship in China never ceases to baffle us, and the country has taken yet another surprising step by arresting a University of Minnesota student for posting ‘offensive’ tweets while he was in the US. According to a report by Axios, Luo Daiqing, a 20-year-old freshman in Minnesota, was arrested in July 2019 for allegedly posting cartoons that resembled China‘s president, Xi Jinping. The publication obtained court documents that suggested Luo was detained from his hometown of Wuhan for (...)
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Indian government orders mobile internet to be suspended in the capital, says Airtel
▻https://thenextweb.com/in/2019/12/19/indian-government-orders-mobile-internet-to-be-suspended-in-the-capital-Amid protests across the nation over new and upcoming citizenship laws in India, a major carrier called Airtel said in a now-deleted tweet that the government has ordered mobile data, voice, and SMS services to be suspended in some parts of the country’s capital of New Delhi. This is alarming because it illustrates that the country’s government is clamping down on citizens‘ efforts to voice their opinions on numerous issues plaguing India right now, and restricting their ability to coordinate (...)
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Facial recognition in schools leads to Sweden’s first GDPR fine
▻https://thenextweb.com/eu/2019/08/27/facial-recognition-in-schools-leads-to-swedens-first-gdpr-fineThe Swedish Data Protection Authority (DPA) has served a municipality in northern Sweden the country’s first GDPR fine — amounting to almost €19,000 (200,000 SEK) — for using facial recognition technology to monitor the attendance of students in school. The high school in Skellefteå conducted a pilot program last fall where the attendance of 22 students over a period of three weeks was taken with the help of facial recognition technology, instead of good ol’ fashioned roll call, according to (...)
#biométrie #algorithme #facial #vidéo-surveillance #[fr]Règlement_Général_sur_la_Protection_des_Données_(RGPD)[en]General_Data_Protection_Regulation_(GDPR)[nl]General_Data_Protection_Regulation_(GDPR) #surveillance (...)
##[fr]Règlement_Général_sur_la_Protection_des_Données__RGPD_[en]General_Data_Protection_Regulation__GDPR_[nl]General_Data_Protection_Regulation__GDPR_ ##étudiants
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#FairBnB is an ethical alternative to #Airbnb, coming [to Barcelona] in 2019
▻https://thenextweb.com/eu/2018/12/06/fairbnb-is-an-ethical-alternative-to-airbnb-coming-in-2019
How it’s fairer than Airbnb?
First difference is transparency and legality. We’re not just transparent, we foster transparency and we actually want to work with governments,” says Veracruz. “That’s why we’re strict on our ‘one host, one home’ policy. We also want to pay taxes at a local level and make the whole process as transparent as possible.” Before the pilot in January, Veracruz and his team will also verify that every single host is legally allowed to rent out his or her space according to local law.
“The second difference is that 50 percent of the commission will be used to fund community projects.” Prices on FairBnB should be comparable to Airbnb, but the commission will possibly be lower and its structure will be different. Only 50 percent of the commission will go to the platform’s management, while the other 50 percent will go into funding local community projects.
[...]
FairBnB’s third difference is perhaps the biggest: “We’re also conditioned by our third main difference, that we’re a cooperative. The platform is owned by a group of people contributing to the project, salaries in the cooperative are limited, and everything about the operation is transparent, such as salaries and membership.”
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Google is fixing gender bias in its Translate service
▻https://thenextweb.com/google/2018/12/07/google-is-fixing-gender-bias-in-its-translate-serviceGoogle Translate has previously displayed signs of gender bias by assigning genders to certain adjectives and words describing occupations. Thankfully, the company’s rolling out an update to fix this. The company said that after the update, Google translate will provide both feminine and masculine translations for gender-neutral words : Historically, it has provided only one translation for a query, even if the translation could have either a feminine or masculine form. So when the model (...)
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The US Army is developing AI that can recognize faces in the dark and through walls
▻https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2018/04/18/the-us-army-is-developing-ai-that-can-recognize-faces-in-the-dark-and-thThe US Army is developing a machine learning method for identifying faces from thermal imagery. Soon the American government will be able to film people from outside of buildings, using cameras that can see through walls in near-total darkness, and an AI will recognize the people in the images. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) scientists Benjamin S. Riggan, Nathaniel J. Short, and Shuowen Hu recently released a white paper detailing military efforts to develop a method for applying facial (...)
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Cryptocurrency malware will pop up in ’most unexpected places’ in 2018
▻https://thenextweb.com/hardfork/2018/02/15/cryptocurrency-malware-scripts-miningOne of the more unfortunate trends that shaped up as a result of the massive blockchain boom last year was the sudden proliferation of crypto-jacking scripts – malware designed to steal your CPU power to surreptitiously mine cryptocurrency. And new research suggests the trend is here to stay in 2018.
A study conducted by ad-blocking service AdGuard indicates that so-called crypto-jacking threats will likely continue “to be found in the most unexpected places” over the course of this year.
Previous AdGuard research had discovered that there are over 33,000 infected websites on the internet, accumulating a total of one billion visits and over $150,000 in mining rewards.
The study further notes this new epidemic partially has to do with the dwindling effectiveness of ad monetization.
“The code of mining scripts was being found on websites, in apps, games, browser extensions, and of course in advertising banners and other elements,” the researchers write. “Ads often get infected with malware or mining scripts by hackers that break into ad networks, so even ads of well-known and reliable advertisers can be dangerous.”
