Posted April 29, 200915 yr http://www.tomshardware.com/news/IBM-Watson-Supercomputer-Jeopardy,7640.html IBM's Supercomputer to Compete on Jeopardy! Next news 11:21 AM - April 28, 2009 by Jane McEntegart Does this count as cheating at Jeopardy? IBM yesterday revealed its plans to build a question answering (QA) computing system – codenamed Watson – that can understand complex questions and answer with enough precision and speed to compete on Jeopardy!. After two years of development IBM's researchers plan to put Watson to the test by pitting it against human contestants on the hit show. This isn’t the first time Big Blue has put machine against man; in 1997 IBM defeated World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov by building a computer that could calculate 200 million chess moves per second based on a fixed problem. Watson is a little different, says IBM. According to Dr. David Ferrucci, leader of the IBM Watson project team, who spoke to PCWorld, Watson spent a lot of time studying. "The system would have 'read' many, many natural language texts -- books, reference materials, all kinds of information -- and tried to analyze and organize that information in such a way that it can see the meaning of the question and try to figure out what are likely answers," Ferrucci said. Addressing the issue of self assurance, Ferrucci said determining the confidence is a really big part of the challenge. "Humans can know what they know very rapidly. This is something the Watson computer is working very hard to do." http://media.bestofmicro.com/ibm-watson-david-ferrucci,G-4-207940-13.pnghttp://m.bestofmedia.com/i/presencepc/design/loupe.gifDr. David Ferrucci and IBM's Watson While it all sounds like a lot of fun and game shows (i.e., a huge but interesting waste of money), IBM says the research behind Watson is expected to vastly improve computer intelligence and human-to-computer communication. The company says it intends to use the technology being developed for Watson to help clients across a wide variety of industries answer business questions quickly and accurately. “Progress on the underlying QA technologies enabling Watson will be important in the quest to understand and build ‘intelligent computing systems’ capable of cooperating with humans in language-related tasks previously out of reach for computers,” added Dr. David Ferrucci, leader of the IBM Watson project team. Source : Tom's Hardware US Edited April 29, 200915 yr by Heat-seeker There comes a time in every musician's life when they must decide what instrument they should master. Few. If any are ever worthy enough to master. The cowbell.
April 29, 200915 yr Author Uh-oh . . . looks like if they combine it might endup being Skynet Mk 0.1b . . . http://www.tomsguide.com/us/iPhone-App-Missile-Launcher,news-3841.html Launch Missiles with iPhone/iPod Touch By Kevin Parrish, published on April 28, 2009 at 4:40 PM With a just-released iPhone app and the USB Missile launcher, you too can terrorize co-workers without "theoretically" breaking the law. http://media.bestofmicro.com/dream-cheeky-missile-launcher,G-D-207949-1.jpghttp://m.bestofmedia.com/i/presencepc/design/loupe.gifZoomEver felt the need to blow up that co-worker sitting across the room, or the colleague chatting away in the adjacent cubicle? If so, those thoughts are best kept to yourself. However, employees can relieve a little in-house-generated stress with Dream Cheeky's three USB missile launchers widely available for sale on the Internet. Ranging from $35 USD to $59 USD, all three versions plug into a local USB port and allows the end-user to aim and fire three foam missiles. Additionally, the launchers come loaded with pre-recorded sound effects, however consumers can download additional, home-made sound effects into the launchers' controller software. Compatible with Windows XP and 2000, the regular $35 Dream Cheeky missile launcher shoots up to twenty feet "at an extremely fast rate." The wireless $45 version, on the other hand, only shoots up to ten feet, however the device doesn't require a direct connection to the PC, using a USB-powered transmission dish to transmit instructions remotely to the launcher's dish. Want to take the firepower to the next level? Take a look at the MSN Missile Launcher, offering consumers a built-in webcam and somehow works through Microsoft's MSN Messenger chat client. Out of the three, this one fires in the medium range, shooting up to fifteen feet. However, the MSN Rocket Launcher is the only "weapon" of the trio to offer compatibility with Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Vista. http://media.bestofmicro.com/Newo-iLauncher,G-C-207948-1.jpghttp://m.bestofmedia.com/i/presencepc/design/loupe.gifZoomAccording to Newo Corporation, there is an Apple iPhone / iPod Touch application currently on Apple's App Store that will enable users to control the standard $35 Dream Cheeky missile launcher from the mobile devices. Called the iLauncher, users must download and install a free Windows-based desktop application in order for the iPhone App to communicate with the launcher. Unfortunately, the iPhone application isn't free, costing potential missile-assailants a measly $2.99 USD. The App works by wirelessly connecting to the Windows program running in the background via a local IP address and port number (provided by the software). Once a link is established, the iLauncher App pulls up a control screen displaying a virtual thumb pad. Consumers can position the launcher up, down, left, right, and then hit the nuke button in the center in order to annihilate the enemy target. Granted there are probably better things to do than send foamy projectiles across the office floor, the Dream Cheeky missile launcher and the iPod application may actually prove fun during working hours as well as at home. At the time of this writing, Newo did not specify if the iPhone application will work on Dream Cheeky's Wireless or MSN missile launchers, or if there are plans to support the devices in the future. There comes a time in every musician's life when they must decide what instrument they should master. Few. If any are ever worthy enough to master. The cowbell.
April 29, 200915 yr thats awsome, i wants one. Love to have four of those at work, four ppl obviously.... :(When swimming in sh!t, best keep your chin up! http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii300/3D_Gimp/bDSig2014_zpsbfe88bfb.png
April 29, 200915 yr Author yeah i'm still trying to work out a business case for the cap-ex . . . mine would have to be gps guided tho as all my workmates are in different offices (we have NO cubicles, only offices so everyones important . . . . pppffffffhhahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahhaahhaha!!!!!) There comes a time in every musician's life when they must decide what instrument they should master. Few. If any are ever worthy enough to master. The cowbell.
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