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Operations menu Select a letter from this list, or X to exit: flfff Date: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 12:33am Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 678618 To: ** ALL ** *EXEMPT* Re: Hyper-Light (1 reply) Despite most scientifically literate people's beliefs that it is impossible to go faster than the speed of light, this is only true in the most rigourous definition. Yes, it is impossible to locally travel at velocities excceding the velocity of light, however, this says nothing about the possibility of traversing large distances in short times, since space is not flat, but curved, in all dimensions including time. The most well known theory of how the light limit could be bent is that of the warp gate; this has two main problems -- the first being the one shared by all extant real hyper-light theories: they all require the ability to manufacture strange matter, which we are not yet able to do. The second is that there's no way to stop time travel, which sets up serious problems with our universe-view (and exposes possible holes in our physics). I don't like this one, mostly because it means that while it would be possible to create tunnels which broke the light barrier, it would require that you cross the interviening space normally. A lesser known (but still provable) theory is that of the warp drive. Given this, you'd have a device made of strange matter whch would compress space and time in front of the ship, while expanding space and time behnd the ship, causing the ship to traverse great distances without achieving great velocity; the paper that I've seen has the advantage that the way it sets up the relativistic equasions does not allow for backwards time travel. Date: Sunday, February 25, 1996 1:29am Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 679931 To: ** ALL ** *EXEMPT* Re: VR (2 replies) So, anyone here have anyting they'd like to DO with virtual reality once it became viable (I've been to a VR show in the last year -- it isn't)? Certainly, I'd love to be able to pretend I was in a private room with friends over a thousand miles away, and I'd probably get adicted (at least for a while) to games which combined multiplayer interactivity with full virtual reality, but anything else? If you were on a VR-Net, would you use your own appearance? Your own appearance, but with your flaws removed? An aspect that didn't look at all like you, but was still recognisably human? Or something totally new and wacked out? Date: Sunday, February 25, 1996 1:35am Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 679932 To: ** ALL ** *EXEMPT* Re: Real-time maps (2 replies) As lots of you know, they now have maps which, with the help of radio satelite transmitters, will let you know exactly where you are, for a mere $300. Does anyone have any ideas of where this kind of thing will go, especially mixed with other new technologies? Mabye cars wil come equiped with maps which not only show you where you are, but give a pictoral view of the current traffic, give you an up-to-date view of the rest stops (with owners being able to register their stops on the net), and possibly even tell you when you are about to make a wrong turn? I'd say that ai cars were a possiblility (as soon as we reach AI, anyway), but lighter-than-air tech might eventually let us get private aircraft (fat chance) Date: Wednesday, November 20, 1996 6:42pm Forum: Technology From: Trapper Msg#: 723181 To: ** ALL ** Re: MODERN TECHNOLOGY (1 reply) Here it is 1996. We have all this knowledgeg, we can send a man to the moon, invent the computer,, ect. But no one can find a cure for the common cold Date: Thursday, November 28, 1996 10:28am Forum: Technology From: Walts Msg#: 723530 To: Trapper Re: MODERN TECHNOLOGY (Reply to #723181) (1 reply) ...or is it like the engine that can run on water? REgards, WaltS Date: Friday, November 29, 1996 8:08pm Forum: Technology From: Trapper Msg#: 723575 To: Walts Re: MODERN TECHNOLOGY (Reply to #723530, Reply to #723181) WA>...or is it like the engine that can run on water? WA>REgards, WaltS Just like the electric car. People come up with brillient ideas but they never get off the ground. Date: Wednesday, July 2, 1997 12:52am Forum: Technology From: Drpax Msg#: 738273 To: ** ALL ** Re: Cellular Modems?? (2 replies) Long time ago I used to wonder why, if they can have cellular phones, why can't they have cellular modems? I know that data transfer is more sensitive than voice transfer so the danger is losing the data and hence the connection by cellular means, but as the technology gets better, does anyone think such a thing as a cellular modem could work? Date: Wednesday, July 2, 1997 1:12pm Forum: Technology From: Rand Msg#: 738380 To: Drpax Re: Cellular Modems?? (Reply to #738273) In a message dated 07-02-97 Drpax wrote to ** ALL: D> Long time ago I used to wonder why, if they can have cellular phones, D> why can't they have cellular modems? I know that data transfer is more D> sensitive than voice transfer so the danger is losing the data and hence D> the connection by cellular means, but as the technology gets better, D> does anyone think such a thing as a cellular modem could work? Cellular modems already exist. There's wireless modem service via a standalone unit in certain cities, including Washington, DC (I'm not sure about NYC), and modems exist that plug into cellphones already. TANSTAAFL, Rand --- * TIMM 1.3 * I'm Pro-Choice on Everything! Date: Wednesday, July 2, 1997 5:08pm Forum: Technology From: Editor Msg#: 738391 To: Drpax Re: Cellular Modems?? (Reply to #738273) (1 reply) D >Long time ago I used to wonder why, if they can have cellular phones, D >why can't they have cellular modems? I know that data transfer is more D >sensitive than voice transfer so the danger is losing the data and hen D >the connection by cellular means, but as the technology gets better, D >does anyone think such a thing as a cellular modem could work? Megahertz (division of US Robotics) I think. There are some technological problems like tab A not fitting in slot B. Personally, that's a tad expensive for my tastes. $1.50/minute. --- þ WinQwk 2.0 a#0 þ Unregistered Evaluation Copy Date: Sunday, July 20, 1997 2:40am Forum: Technology From: Ronin Msg#: 739406 To: Editor Re: Cellular Modems?? (Reply to #738391, Reply to #738273) I've seen ads for systems that allow a laptop to be connected to a cell phone, and the phone then transmits data. In some systems, the phone is used only as a wireless fax transmitter. But I remember seeing one company (Motorola, I think) that used the phone as a wireless modem. Pricey, but very cool. A related technology is a satellite hookup for your modem. The system uses those new 18" dishes for download only. I understand that the download speed is supposed to be almost as fast as a T1 line. Date: Monday, July 21, 1997 10:00pm Forum: Technology From: Dna Msg#: 739520 To: ** ALL ** Re: ELISA (Copy by Calvin, Reply to #738898, Reply to #738882, Rep*) -------------< COMMENTS BY Calvin >-------------- TO: Editor ----------< END OF COMMENTS BY Calvin >---------- ELISA was a simple parser. There were several later Markov-chain type programs, the most notable was automatic Zen. Heck, entire USENET newsgroups are composed entirely of Write-Only Memory. Date: Wednesday, June 4, 1997 6:01pm Forum: Technology From: Vida Msg#: 741622 To: ** ALL ** Re: Clone text (Copy by Lythande) (1 reply) At the request of Deb, here's another post: *** Federal panel to back human embryo cloning A federal ethics panel will urge Congress to pass legislation allowing creation of cloned human embryos for research, but banning their use to make cloned human babies, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. The newspaper said under the commission's plan, privately funded scientists or doctors could make cloned human embryos for research purposes but could not implant them into women's wombs. Members of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission said the recommendations were sensible, given the ethical complexities and the need for immediate action. Date: Wednesday, October 15, 1997 1:31am Forum: Technology From: Dti Msg#: 741950 To: Vida Re: Clone text (Reply to #741622, Copy by Lythande) VI>At the request of Deb, here's another post: VI>*** Federal panel to back human embryo cloning VI>A federal ethics panel will urge Congress to pass legislation allowing VI>creation of cloned human embryos for research, but banning their use VI>to make cloned human babies, the Washington Post reported Wednesday. VI>The newspaper said under the commission's plan, privately funded VI>scientists or doctors could make cloned human embryos for research VI>purposes but could not implant them into women's wombs. Members of the VI>National Bioethics Advisory Commission said the recommendations were VI>sensible, given the ethical complexities and the need for immediate VI>action. ...and the absence of any requirement for actual human uterii to bring such invented persons to full term... I have to ask: where do I get my Soma? >9# --- * SLMR 2.0 * It Will All Be Over Soon... Date: Tuesday, February 3, 1998 11:20pm Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 744496 To: ** ALL ** Re: Self duplicating software (Copy by Calvin, Reply to #744459, Reply to #744440, Rep*) (1 reply) -------------< COMMENTS BY Calvin >-------------- TO: Editor ----------< END OF COMMENTS BY Calvin >---------- ED>Mhz isn't everything. We'll see wider fetches, better cache, pipeling and ED>more. Not to mention special instructions and coprocessors. Yes, this was the meaning of my "300 mhz chips that run 200 times as fast" comment -- As much as we are increasing the clock rate, that is far from the greatest caause of improvement. ED>Like I said, the most expensive thing today is the time spent analyzing the ED>problem and validating the software. Not the hardware. Every few years I ED>say that I am stunned and will no longer be impressed by new developments. ED>And then someone does something even MORE incredible, for LESS money, and ED>I'm stunned again. Though at some point, we're going to have a breed of software which is capable of writing/debugging code which duplicates its functionality, and then things will REALLY get interesting. Date: Thursday, February 5, 1998 8:55am Forum: Technology From: Editor Msg#: 744518 To: Conundrum Re: Self duplicating software (Reply to #744496, Copy by Calvin, Reply to #744459, Rep*) (1 reply) C >ED>Mhz isn't everything. We'll see wider fetches, better cache, pipeli C >ED>more. Not to mention special instructions and coprocessors. C >Yes, this was the meaning of my "300 mhz chips that run 200 times as C >fast" comment -- As much as we are increasing the clock rate, that is C >far from the greatest caause of improvement. C > C > C >ED>Like I said, the most expensive thing today is the time spent analy C >ED>problem and validating the software. Not the hardware. Every few ye C >ED>say that I am stunned and will no longer be impressed by new develo C >ED>And then someone does something even MORE incredible, for LESS mone C >ED>I'm stunned again. C > C > Though at some point, we're going to have a breed of software C >which is capable of writing/debugging code which duplicates its C >functionality, and then things will REALLY get interesting. Speaking of which, did you see the announcement on the 1000 Mhz chip? IBM is positively amazing. Some years ago, after watching CICS slowly crawl up out of the ground and come online I commented that IBM was incapable of writing software so bad that they couldn't build hardware to make it run well. --- þ WinQwk 2.0 a#0 þ Unregistered Evaluation Copy Date: Wednesday, February 11, 1998 11:54pm Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 744650 To: Editor Re: Self duplicating software (Reply to #744518, Reply to #744496, Copy by Calvin, Rep*) (1 reply) ED>Speaking of which, did you see the announcement on the 1000 Mhz chip? ED>IBM ED>is positively amazing. Some years ago, after watching CICS slowly crawl up ED>out of the ground and come online I commented that IBM was incapable of ED>writing software so bad that they couldn't build hardware to make it run ED>well. Sure; I saw it several places before I saw it here. Actually, as I recall, while they won the 1000 Mhz race, the others aren't much farther behind. Date: Thursday, February 12, 1998 10:00am Forum: Technology From: Editor Msg#: 744660 To: Conundrum Re: Self duplicating software (Reply to #744650, Reply to #744518, Reply to #744496, C*) (1 reply) C >ED>Speaking of which, did you see the announcement on the 1000 Mhz chi C >ED>IBM C >ED>is positively amazing. Some years ago, after watching CICS slowly c C >ED>out of the ground and come online I commented that IBM was incapabl C >ED>writing software so bad that they couldn't build hardware to make i C >ED>well. C >Sure; I saw it several places before I saw it here. C > C >Actually, as I recall, while they won the 1000 Mhz race, the others C >aren't much farther behind. I think the location of the finish line is more important than the winner, if you know what I mean. I've been waiting to hear the words "gigahertz" chip for awhile now. That's the next milestone. Next milestone is the cheap terabyte disks. I've heard grumblings about new technology in the disk arena. Too early to be sure. Picture within five years, a desktop PC for around $2,000 with a 2ghz CPU and a 1 terabyte disk. Not impossible. --- þ WinQwk 2.0 a#0 þ Unregistered Evaluation Copy Date: Friday, February 13, 1998 2:11am Forum: Technology From: Conundrum Msg#: 744664 To: Editor Re: Self duplicating software (Reply to #744660, Reply to #744650, Reply to #744518, R*) ED>Picture within five years, a desktop PC for around $2,000 with a 2ghz CPU ED>and a 1 terabyte disk. Not impossible. I can, and it's pretty scary, if only because of the abuses of bad design it will probably facilitate. But it's a definate possiblity. End of list! Select a Sysop option (R,W,F,T,S,M,E,A,O,X to exit or ? for menu):