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Jan 6 16 4:11 PM
Many UK parents find it easier to get their children to do homework, go to bed or have a bath than turn off their phones, laptops and TVs, a poll finds. A survey for the charity Action for Children found almost one in four mothers and fathers (23.1%) struggle to control their children's screen use.But just 10% found it hard to get them to do their homework, while 17.5% struggled to get them off to bed.Just under 5% found it difficult to get their offspring to have a bath.
Many UK parents find it easier to get their children to do homework, go to bed or have a bath than turn off their phones, laptops and TVs, a poll finds.
A survey for the charity Action for Children found almost one in four mothers and fathers (23.1%) struggle to control their children's screen use.
But just 10% found it hard to get them to do their homework, while 17.5% struggled to get them off to bed.
Just under 5% found it difficult to get their offspring to have a bath.
Read more @ http://www.bbc.com/news/education-35231455
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
Interact
Jan 7 16 10:12 PM
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/pa_woman_beaten_in_her_sleep_b.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link
Posts: 14317
Jan 8 16 6:04 AM
Jan 9 16 8:33 AM
icepick wrote:Yeah, a real winner. What would possess somebody to let an Internet acquaintance like that into their home?
Jan 9 16 8:34 AM
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-07/u-s-marshals-raid-hoverboard-booth-at-ces?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link
Jan 9 16 11:26 AM
http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2016/01/opening-the-james-bond-file/
Jan 10 16 4:35 PM
PeacefulSwannie wrote:icepick wrote:Yeah, a real winner. What would possess somebody to let an Internet acquaintance like that into their home? Probably loneliness.....
Jan 13 16 11:20 AM
The influence fiction has had on scientific achievement has been, at times, quite profound. Innumerable are the designs and innovations that were directly inspired by the minds of creative writers of speculative fiction, whose imaginations have spelled out the future of mankind’s advancement in short stories and novels over the years. In retrospect, when we watch a film like 2001: A Space Odyssey, we are met with a number of fictional elements which, resemblant though they are of modern technology, are a number of years–if not decades–behind. We see telecommunication in use aboard the Clavius Moon Base near the film’s outset, which bears striking similarity to modern video chatting systems like Skype. On the other hand, mankind is still many years away from manned missions to other planets like Jupiter, let alone the construction of a lunar base on Earth’s own modest little satellite. It might be argued, however, that Clarke’s actual vision of the 21st century would not have fallen in line with what we see in 2001. An interview with Clarke, conducted by the AT&T company in 1976, indicated what turns out to be a far more accurate vision the author had of what future life on Earth might afford us through technological innovation. Among Clarke’s predictions had been communications systems which, according to Clarke, would consist of “a high definition TV screen, and a typewriter keyboard,” through which any kind of information could be exchanged with others around the world.
The influence fiction has had on scientific achievement has been, at times, quite profound. Innumerable are the designs and innovations that were directly inspired by the minds of creative writers of speculative fiction, whose imaginations have spelled out the future of mankind’s advancement in short stories and novels over the years.
In retrospect, when we watch a film like 2001: A Space Odyssey, we are met with a number of fictional elements which, resemblant though they are of modern technology, are a number of years–if not decades–behind. We see telecommunication in use aboard the Clavius Moon Base near the film’s outset, which bears striking similarity to modern video chatting systems like Skype. On the other hand, mankind is still many years away from manned missions to other planets like Jupiter, let alone the construction of a lunar base on Earth’s own modest little satellite.
It might be argued, however, that Clarke’s actual vision of the 21st century would not have fallen in line with what we see in 2001. An interview with Clarke, conducted by the AT&T company in 1976, indicated what turns out to be a far more accurate vision the author had of what future life on Earth might afford us through technological innovation. Among Clarke’s predictions had been communications systems which, according to Clarke, would consist of “a high definition TV screen, and a typewriter keyboard,” through which any kind of information could be exchanged with others around the world.
Read more @ http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2016/01/from-telepathy-to-x-ray-goggles-how-science-fiction-becomes-science-fact/
Jan 14 16 3:36 AM
Jan 15 16 7:01 AM
There’s no doubt that the most amazing events during my lifetime have been in the areas of electronic technology. At the mid-20th century, most of us couldn’t imagine the communication devices that people take for granted today. Case in point: One of the most popular newspaper comic strips of the 1930s through the ’70s was about a fictional detective named “Dick Tracy.” Its creator, Chester Gould, had insights that were incomprehensible to his generation. His characters had such things as “two-way wrist radios and TVs.” They were about the size of today’s Apple Watch.I remember discussing these ideas with my dad. We both agreed that color television, a relatively new invention at that time, could never be made that small. I wrote to Mr. Gould, who lived in Chicago at the time, and discussed the impossibility of devices worn by his heroic characters. He thought enough of me to write back with the same pen and ink used for his drawings and expressed the view that his imaginary creations could well be in our future. Where is his letter today? Of course, buried somewhere in a Maryland landfill, thanks to my overzealous mother who loved to clean house and throw things away that she personally found useless. But I digress. Other things considered science fiction back then were personal computers, DVDs, global positioning devices, cheap cell phones, and of course, the Internet. The idea that a large room full of vacuum tubes, requiring its own power plant during the 1940s, could only do a tiny fraction of computations that hand-held devices do today — well, need I say more? The Internet is another amazing invention, which has revolutionized communication and distribution of information. I remember in high school, cranking out term papers on a Remington portable manual typewriter, using only information from encyclopedias or other limited data gathered from the local library. Never did I dream that someday, information rivaling the resources of the Library of Congress would be available on my PC or smartphone. So how did technology leap light years ahead in such a short period of time? Most likely, it was simply derived from several very intelligent people building on one invention and making new discoveries which led to another. But a man named Lt. Col. Phillip J. Corso had quite a different take on the subject. Corso was a career Army officer whose second to last assignment before retirement in 1963 was chief of the “Foreign Technology Desk” at the Pentagon. According to the colonel, “foreign technology” was a code term used for discoveries of hi-tech components found in crashed UFOs during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He claimed in his book “The Day After Roswell,” published in 1997, that under his direction, the FTD office covertly sent these discoveries to Bell Laboratories, among other defense contractors, for further investigation and development — a process otherwise known as “reverse engineering.” Because of this action, Corso stated that particle beam devices, fiber optics, lasers, integrated circuit chips and Kevlar material all became realities for earthlings.
There’s no doubt that the most amazing events during my lifetime have been in the areas of electronic technology.
At the mid-20th century, most of us couldn’t imagine the communication devices that people take for granted today. Case in point: One of the most popular newspaper comic strips of the 1930s through the ’70s was about a fictional detective named “Dick Tracy.” Its creator, Chester Gould, had insights that were incomprehensible to his generation. His characters had such things as “two-way wrist radios and TVs.” They were about the size of today’s Apple Watch.
I remember discussing these ideas with my dad. We both agreed that color television, a relatively new invention at that time, could never be made that small. I wrote to Mr. Gould, who lived in Chicago at the time, and discussed the impossibility of devices worn by his heroic characters. He thought enough of me to write back with the same pen and ink used for his drawings and expressed the view that his imaginary creations could well be in our future.
Where is his letter today? Of course, buried somewhere in a Maryland landfill, thanks to my overzealous mother who loved to clean house and throw things away that she personally found useless.
But I digress. Other things considered science fiction back then were personal computers, DVDs, global positioning devices, cheap cell phones, and of course, the Internet.
The idea that a large room full of vacuum tubes, requiring its own power plant during the 1940s, could only do a tiny fraction of computations that hand-held devices do today — well, need I say more?
The Internet is another amazing invention, which has revolutionized communication and distribution of information. I remember in high school, cranking out term papers on a Remington portable manual typewriter, using only information from encyclopedias or other limited data gathered from the local library. Never did I dream that someday, information rivaling the resources of the Library of Congress would be available on my PC or smartphone.
So how did technology leap light years ahead in such a short period of time? Most likely, it was simply derived from several very intelligent people building on one invention and making new discoveries which led to another. But a man named Lt. Col. Phillip J. Corso had quite a different take on the subject.
Corso was a career Army officer whose second to last assignment before retirement in 1963 was chief of the “Foreign Technology Desk” at the Pentagon. According to the colonel, “foreign technology” was a code term used for discoveries of hi-tech components found in crashed UFOs during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He claimed in his book “The Day After Roswell,” published in 1997, that under his direction, the FTD office covertly sent these discoveries to Bell Laboratories, among other defense contractors, for further investigation and development — a process otherwise known as “reverse engineering.”
Because of this action, Corso stated that particle beam devices, fiber optics, lasers, integrated circuit chips and Kevlar material all became realities for earthlings.
Read more @ http://www.lodinews.com/opinion/article_8710caf4-b96c-11e5-ba81-9fa825769834.html
Jan 18 16 8:39 PM
DISRUPTIVE labour market changes, including the rise of robots and artificial intelligence, will result in a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years in 15 leading countries, according to an analysis published in Davos. The projection by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is holding its annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort this week, assumes a total loss of 7.1 million jobs, offset by a gain of 2 million new positions.The 15 economies covered by the survey account for approximately 65 per cent of the world’s total workforce.The assessment highlights the challenges posed by modern technologies that are automating and making redundant multiple human tasks, from manufacturing to healthcare.
DISRUPTIVE labour market changes, including the rise of robots and artificial intelligence, will result in a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years in 15 leading countries, according to an analysis published in Davos.
The projection by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is holding its annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort this week, assumes a total loss of 7.1 million jobs, offset by a gain of 2 million new positions.
The 15 economies covered by the survey account for approximately 65 per cent of the world’s total workforce.
The assessment highlights the challenges posed by modern technologies that are automating and making redundant multiple human tasks, from manufacturing to healthcare.
Read more @ http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/five-million-jobs-will-be-gone-by-2020-in-15-leading-countries/news-story/548ef9e2aca8aae85b87be61583ae3fd
NEW research reveals that the majority of people have reached to check their phones when they’re not ringing.Phantom vibration syndrome tricks the brain into feeling a phone notification even when one doesn’t exist.A study carried out by Dr Michelle Drouin, from Indiana University-Purdue, found that 89% of university undergraduates had experienced the bizarre illusion.The theory has been supported by Georgia Tech School of Public Policy professor Robert Rosenberger, who believes it is caused by a “learned bodily habit”.He believes that when something brushes against a person’s leg or pocket area, they often mistake the sensation as a phone vibration, causing them to check their phone.In an interview with the BBC, Rosenberger explained: “The phone actually becomes a part of you, and you become trained to perceive the phone’s vibrations as an income call or text.
NEW research reveals that the majority of people have reached to check their phones when they’re not ringing.
Phantom vibration syndrome tricks the brain into feeling a phone notification even when one doesn’t exist.
A study carried out by Dr Michelle Drouin, from Indiana University-Purdue, found that 89% of university undergraduates had experienced the bizarre illusion.
The theory has been supported by Georgia Tech School of Public Policy professor Robert Rosenberger, who believes it is caused by a “learned bodily habit”.
He believes that when something brushes against a person’s leg or pocket area, they often mistake the sensation as a phone vibration, causing them to check their phone.
In an interview with the BBC, Rosenberger explained: “The phone actually becomes a part of you, and you become trained to perceive the phone’s vibrations as an income call or text.
Read more @ http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/how-your-smartphone-is-making-you-hallucinate/news-story/7d844252555abcc9825b4e48695f9973
While they have been designed to fit perfectly in your pocket, this might not be the safest place to store your mobile phone. New research suggests that keeping your phone that close to your skin greatly increases your susceptibility to the phone radiation. Dr Devra Davis started her research after noticing the trend of women keeping phones in their bras. She cited a medical case in which a young woman was found to have a mobile phone shaped tumour in her breast.
While they have been designed to fit perfectly in your pocket, this might not be the safest place to store your mobile phone.
New research suggests that keeping your phone that close to your skin greatly increases your susceptibility to the phone radiation.
Dr Devra Davis started her research after noticing the trend of women keeping phones in their bras.
She cited a medical case in which a young woman was found to have a mobile phone shaped tumour in her breast.
Read more @ http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/12/heres-why-you-should-never-carry-your-phone-in-your-pocket-or-bra-5617074/
Jan 20 16 12:52 PM
MACHINES that teach themselves, 3D printers and automated transport — your average office in the year 2020 could be quite the different place. That’s according to the Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum taking place this week, which claims a “fourth industrial revolution” will bring sweeping changes to virtually every field of work, from computer science to manufacturing.“In many industries and countries, the most in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even five years ago, and the pace of change is set to accelerate,” the report states.“By one popular estimate, 65 per cent of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist.”The detailed analysis is based on a survey of global companies from nine different industries covering 13 million employees.Results included the response of senior executives and chief human resource officers painted a picture of a world on the cusp of a “fourth industrial revolution” driven by technological developments and geopolitical changes.
MACHINES that teach themselves, 3D printers and automated transport — your average office in the year 2020 could be quite the different place.
That’s according to the Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum taking place this week, which claims a “fourth industrial revolution” will bring sweeping changes to virtually every field of work, from computer science to manufacturing.
“In many industries and countries, the most in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even five years ago, and the pace of change is set to accelerate,” the report states.
“By one popular estimate, 65 per cent of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist.”
The detailed analysis is based on a survey of global companies from nine different industries covering 13 million employees.
Results included the response of senior executives and chief human resource officers painted a picture of a world on the cusp of a “fourth industrial revolution” driven by technological developments and geopolitical changes.
Read more @ http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/careers/world-economic-forum-warns-of-major-changes-to-workplace-in-fourth-industrial-revolution/news-story/2987da5e9e9c9af24ad4c131ebe65cf3
HUMAN rights groups have uncovered a shocking truth behind our tech obsession and it’s not pretty.According to Amnesty International and Afrewatch, children as young as seven are being exploited by unscrupulous mining companies to extract the material used to make lithium-ion batteries that power our smartphones and tablets.The report found up to 40,000 children worked in mines across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2014. They often worked for up to 12 hours and got paid between one and two US dollars a day.And the authors claim the world’s major electronics companies, such as Apple, Samsung and Sony, are failing to stop it.In their report, This is what we die for: Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo power the global trade in cobalt, the agencies say they were able to link the sale of the material used to make the batteries, cobalt, to mines that used child labour.
HUMAN rights groups have uncovered a shocking truth behind our tech obsession and it’s not pretty.
According to Amnesty International and Afrewatch, children as young as seven are being exploited by unscrupulous mining companies to extract the material used to make lithium-ion batteries that power our smartphones and tablets.
The report found up to 40,000 children worked in mines across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2014. They often worked for up to 12 hours and got paid between one and two US dollars a day.
And the authors claim the world’s major electronics companies, such as Apple, Samsung and Sony, are failing to stop it.
In their report, This is what we die for: Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo power the global trade in cobalt, the agencies say they were able to link the sale of the material used to make the batteries, cobalt, to mines that used child labour.
Read more @ http://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/mobile-phones/amnesty-international-report-links-batteries-used-in-phones-to-child-labour-in-congo/news-story/85956ab52fe48ab93c6138cdf313569f
Jan 20 16 2:17 PM
Speaking ahead of his BBC Reith Lecture on black holes, Stephen Hawking discusses the danger inherent in progress and the chances of disaster on EarthThe human race faces one its most dangerous centuries yet as progress in science and technology becomes an ever greater threat to our existence, Stephen Hawking warns. The chances of disaster on planet Earth will rise to a near certainty in the next one to ten thousand years, the eminent cosmologist said, but it will take more than a century to set up colonies in space where human beings could live on among the stars. “We will not establish self-sustaining colonies in space for at least the next hundred years, so we have to be very careful in this period,” Hawking said. His comments echo those of Lord Rees, the astronomer royal, who raised his own concerns about the risks of self-annihilation in his 2003 book Our Final Century.
Speaking ahead of his BBC Reith Lecture on black holes, Stephen Hawking discusses the danger inherent in progress and the chances of disaster on Earth
The human race faces one its most dangerous centuries yet as progress in science and technology becomes an ever greater threat to our existence, Stephen Hawking warns.
The chances of disaster on planet Earth will rise to a near certainty in the next one to ten thousand years, the eminent cosmologist said, but it will take more than a century to set up colonies in space where human beings could live on among the stars.
Jan 21 16 10:05 AM
Jan 21 16 11:11 AM
icepick wrote:Hawking always has good points .................... but has he become fixated?
Jan 21 16 12:21 PM
Jan 21 16 2:50 PM
icepick wrote:Yes, I definitely take that into consideration. He is Stephen Hawking after all. But he has had ALS since 1963 too. That in itself is amazing.
Jan 22 16 12:54 AM
Jan 22 16 8:05 PM
icepick wrote:Whoa! That's really good. Israel eh? Now why does that not surprise me?
Jan 23 16 5:12 AM