bl00d6789 - Slashdot User

Buildings Could Save Energy By Spying On Workers 195

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Monday April 30, 2007 @06:07PM from the tracking-everyone-driving-down-that-particular-sidewalk dept.

Galactic_grub writes "In the future, your place of work (or apartment) may very well spy on you. But that doesn't mean it'll be able to name and shame you for all your nasty habits. Researchers at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratory (MERL) have devised a 'dumb' surveillance system that monitors the movements of workers without identifying them individually. The idea is to have a computer system automatically configure the air-conditioning to save money, or illuminate the most appropriate escape signs in an emergency."

Postgres Engine for MySQL Released 78

Posted by CmdrTaco on Sunday April 01, 2007 @12:23PM

SlashRating^©
11.9
slashdottit! ^tm

krow writes "One of the unique qualities of the MySQL server is its ability to have multiple storage engine operate concurrently. Companies like Oracle and Solid have contributed their own storage engines to the open source project. With 5.1 MySQL has added the ability to now do this in a loadable fashion, allowing dynamic engines in the same manner as Apache with its modules. Now PostgreSQL can add its self to the list of databases who have contributed a storage engine to MySQL. I'm releasing today a plugin so that you can now plugin the Postgres database engine into MySQL and have it work natively along side other engines."

Bionic Bugs To Fight Terrorists 417

Posted by Zonk on Friday November 17, 2006 @12:54PM from the really-strong-swatter dept.

dptalia writes "Israel is looking to create a small robot, no larger than a hornet to follow, film, and kill terrorists. It's just one of a series of weapons the country is considering as an alternative to conventional technologies. Other ideas floating around include gloves that would give their user 'bionic strength', and ultra-miniaturized sensors to detect explosives on suicide bombers." From the article: "The research integrates nanotechnology into Israel's security department and will find creative solutions to problems the army has been unable to address, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres told Yedioth Ahronoth. 'The war in Lebanon proved that we need smaller weaponry. It's illogical to send a plane worth $100 million against a suicidal terrorist. So we are building futuristic weapons,' Peres said."

Comment Google's deep pockets? (Score 1) 438

by bl00d6789 on Thursday November 02, 2006 @08:34AM (#16686951) Attached to: Utube Sues YouTube

So now Utube is suing YouTube seeking a cease and desist on the youtube domain (I wonder if they think Google's pockets might be deeper that the previous owners)

If all they're seeking is a cease and desist order, then Google's big pockets are not a perk. It's the exact opposite. If they're just seeking injunctive relief and not damages, then Google's deep pockets just mean a harder, longer and much more expensive fight.

Top 10 Strangest Gadgets of the Future 174

Posted by CowboyNeal on Saturday May 27, 2006 @09:28AM from the hadn't-thought-of-that dept.

Anonymous Cow writes "This week, the editors of TechEBlog have compiled a list of the 'Top 10 Strangest Gadgets of the Future,' from solar powered LEDs to memory LCD screens, it's all there." Urinal gaming stations! How did no one implement this sooner?

Net Neutrality Voted Down in U.S. House Committee 354

Posted by CowboyNeal on Friday April 28, 2006 @12:39AM from the multi-lane-internets dept.

Ana10g writes "Business Week provides a look at the recent vote by the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, in which the FCC would have been given the power to prohibit discrimination of Internet traffic. The battlefield seems to be centered around which group has the better funded lobbyists, with companies such as Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and many others competing against the well funded Telecommunications lobbysts. The committee voted the amendment down, 34 to 22."

Deep Brain Stimulation as Depression Treatment 273

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday April 27, 2006 @01:35AM from the there's-something-wrong-with-my-brain dept.

Neopallium writes "Medtronic, today announced its intentions to pursue a major clinical trial of the company's deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology in the treatment of severe and intractable depression, a disabling form of the psychiatric disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. "While not a cure, DBS has allowed these patients to return to much more functional and happy lives," said Dr. Rezai, who represented an international working group of physicians that has been studying the application of DBS therapy in the treatment of intractable depression and OCD in collaboration with Medtronic."

Livejournal Bans Ad-Blocking Software 434

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday April 20, 2006 @02:01AM from the no-blocking-for-you dept.

Anonymous Emo writes "The community/blogging site LiveJournal recently introduced ads on some pages for free users. More interestingly, they also added a new restriction to their TOS (XVI 17 b.) banning users from using or providing ad-blocking software. The new TOS also permits them to immediately terminate the account of anyone they catch doing this."

PayPal Brings Mobile Payments To U.S. 130

Posted by Zonk on Sunday April 16, 2006 @08:27PM from the lol-i-pay-kk dept.

An anonymous reader writes "PayPal is bringing the eastern use of the cellphone as a payment method to the United States. The company's mobile service aims to use secure text messages as a payment method for direct-marketing initiatives and other 'on-the-spot' mercantile opportunities." From the article: "To the extent that digital money doesn't feel like real money, it may increase spontaneous purchasing ... " This story offers more details on a discussion we had last month.

Military Secrets for Sale on Stolen USB Drives 225

Posted by samzenpus on Thursday April 13, 2006 @05:03AM from the find-the-battleship dept.

nTrfAce writes "Per a BBC Article, "US forces in Afghanistan are checking reports that stolen computer hardware containing military secrets is being sold at a market beside a big US base. Shopkeepers at a market next to Bagram base, outside Kabul, have been selling memory drives stolen from the facility, the Los Angeles Times newspaper says.""

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