Daily Bits

How the Hippies Saved Physics – It’s a Real Book and I Want One!

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How the Hippies Saved Physics
How the Hippies Saved Physics

Looking for a book to read? I am about to finish all of the books Orson Scott Card wrote about Ender Wiggin, and I am at a loss as to what to read next. Given that I am about to go on a week-long workation at the beach, I need a couple of books to take along for the inevitable lounging in the sun. There are ebooks, yes, but I have long since found out that electronics and the scorching sun are not friends.

Anyhow, in my quest to look for something new to read, I came across a relatively new book titled “How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival. I have to admit that while I did rather well in physics in school, the applied aspect seems to elude me more these days. Then again, that’s what books are for, right? Given the title alone, I am willing to bet that this book will be an entertaining read – at the very least.

Written by David Kaiser, the book is all about physicists in the 1970s, when the world was experiencing one of the most unique periods in history. Apparently, during the time of free love and anti-war protests, the world of physics was in a rut. In spite of the prevailing idea of conformity (I guess in the physics world), a group of physicists in Berkeley, California (where else?) decided to go against the flow. They named their group “Fundamental Fysiks Group” and approached physics in a whole new way. Applying ideas from Eastern mysticism and psychic mind-reading, these guys have influenced modern physics. Believe it or not, some of them even took LSD to tap into their wells of creativity even more. Funnily enough, thinking back, I can easily see my college physics professor being part of this group.

Keeping true to the creative spirit that fueled that group several decades ago, the book includes 46 black and white illustrations – maybe in case you don’t like books with too many words. 😉

The hardcover version is available on Amazon for $16.22. I doubt I’ll be able to get my hands on this before the weekend, but if any of you do read it, share your thoughts?

New Discovery: Birds Tweet Using Grammar

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Finches
Finches follow grammar rules when tweeting
That’s more than you can say for many of their human counterparts who tweet in the technological way, yes? 😉

All kidding aside, scientists have found signs that those cute little creatures with feathers have something that resembles grammar as we know. Based on a report published by New Scientist ((Source)), Bengal finches have their own syntax when they chirp, sing, tweet, or whatever you want to call it. While the birds do not have the same concepts that we humans (such as the parts of speech – nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.), they have syntactic structures.

By the way, syntax is defined as the ” is the study of the principles and rules for constructing sentences in natural languages.” ((Wikipedia)) Basically, the birds having a syntax of their own means that they have rules that govern their “speech”. Grammar falls under syntax.

I suppose that this is not a totally new concept and that, in fact, many people have suspected this for the longest time. The breakthrough is that researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have actually found some proof that this suspicion might be true. What the scientists did was to play various songs until the finches got used to them – or understood them. They then jumbled up the syllables in the songs and observed how the finches reacted. What they found out was that only one of the four jumbled up songs made the finches react in an adverse manner. The scientists say that based on the finches’ reactions, it seemed that the particular song broke the birds’ grammar rules – whatever those rules may be. And if you are thinking if it was just coincidence, give the researchers a little more credit, will you? They did the experiment on many birds and they had the same reaction – at least those birds who were exposed to other birds.

That last bit seems to support the idea that the grammar rules are not innate in the finches. They have to learn the rules – just like we humans do.

I don’t know about you, but I find the study – and its results – fascinating. Maybe these birds can teach humans to follow grammar rules a little more on Twitter. You know what I’m saying?

Learn How to Play an Instrument with PossessedHand

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Do you love music with a passion but unfortunately music does not seem to love you back all that much? There are countless people who would give an arm and a leg to be able to play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and the rest of the guitar legends. Others would love it dearly to be able to play the piano. Whatever instrument it is that you dream about, there just might be hope for you.

If this new technology succeeds, then maybe children will not have to be forced to go to piano lessons after school while their classmates played outside. (Yes, there is some regret in that statement, but I wish I had paid more attention to those lessons and actually practiced the piano in my spare time as a kids!)

Researchers in Japan have come up with a device that is supposed to teach people how to play a musical instrument by taking control of the hands. Yes, you read that right. Dubbed PossessedHand, the device works by taking over the user’s hands, and in the process, teach the person how to play a specific instrument. In spite of the name, the device does not involve spirits or possession, which I suppose many people might appreciate.

The project is a joint endeavor by the University of Tokyo, Japan, and Sony Computer Science Laboratories. With those two entities involved, I am already convinced. My brain is screaming, just give me the device already! I am daydreaming about playing the piano on a stage somewhere in Tuscany while Andrea Bocelli sings to my music…

Back to reality, though, the PossessedHand works by stimulating the muscles in the forearms with electricity. These muscles are the ones responsible for moving our fingers. So if you were to wear the device, your hand would look something like this.

PossessedHand
PossessedHand teaches you how to play an instrument

If you think that is a little freaky, then get ready for this: your hands will move on their own, without your brain telling them to. That’s how the electric impulses work – they control your fingers so that you can play a musical instrument even if your brain doesn’t understand how to. Can you imagine just how freaky that would be? Parts of your body moving without you controlling them.

As of now, the device is meant to help budding musicians learn (faster?). It is also meant to help those in need of rehabilitation. All I can say is that freakish or not, this device would be a welcome thing to play with. I do have this feeling that no device can replace musical talent, though. Still, a girl can try, can’t she?

Check out PossessedHands in action.


Via New Scientist

Japan Popstar Turns Out to Be CGI

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AKB48

It was bound to happen. Ever since I saw S1m0ne ((S1m0ne)), that Al Pacino movie about a computer-generated actress, way back in 2002 (or thereabouts), I was thinking why nobody had done it yet. The day has come, and there is really no surprise as to where – Japan.

Prior to the revelation of her real identity, fans believed Aimi Eguchi to be a “normal” 16-year-old from Saitama Prefecture (which is located North of Tokyo). However, Aimi Eguchi is nothing but a dream – a dream made possible by computers and inspired by the six other members of the girl band she belongs to – AKB 48. According to a report by the Telegraph, “Eguchi Aimi has been created using the hair and body of AKB48 band member Yuko Oshima, while her facial shape is taken from Takahashi Minami. She has Maeda Atsuko’s eyes, Watanabe Mayu’s eyebrows, Itano Tomomi’s nose and Shinoda Mariko’s mouth.” ((Source))

The idea of creating Aimi Eguchi came from Ezaki Glico, a confectionary company – obviously as a marketing ploy. I am not sure if the band’s management and the confectioner were meaning to disclose Eguchi’s real identity (they couldn’t possibly NOT have meant to, right?), but the management did go to great lengths to make people believe that the singer was real. Then again, they also left clues that, to the observant and to the real fan, would reveal that there was more than met the eye to the singer.

It’s not quite like S1m0ne, but the similarities are there. It just goes to show what technology can do! Here’s a video on the creation/making of Aimi Eguchi.

http://youtu.be/aIpYpRobez4

Other News

Japanese pop star Miyavi gets under the skin of brutal POW camp commander in Angelina Jolie WWII drama Unbroken

Japan-South Korea relations remain hostage to history

 

 

The History of Computing: Microsoft vs. Apple

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No, this is not an infographics site, and I know I just published an infographic yesterday. This one is too good to pass up on, though.

What is the first name, or brand, that comes to name when you think about computers/computing? Without a doubt, it is either Microsoft or Apple. ((You may have a different answer if you’re part of specific niches, but in general, I am willing to bet that it’s going to be either of the two.)) Arguably, these two companies have played the largest parts in the world of computers.

Computer geeks and number crunchers, here is the perfect infographic to waste spend some time on today. Go back in time and rediscover how computers as we know them today came into existence. Reaffirm your knowledge of the roles that Microsoft and Apple have played. And in case this is the first time that you are going to encounter these bits of information, then you’re going to have a blast.

Some of the more interesting points:

  • Windows XP still has the largest market share with 40.7 percent.
  • In the Internet browsers war, Microsoft one ups Apple with the Internet Explorer (48%).  Apple’s Safari only has 5%.
  • While the Apple iPhone seems to be the most popular phone these days, Microsoft still has a larger market share with Windows OS at 26%.  Apple’s iOS only has 7%.
  • When it comes to mp3 players, though, Apple is the undisputed leader with 76% market share.  Microsoft has a measly 1%.

For tons more info – numbers, dates, and what have you – scroll down and enjoy this immense infographic.

 

history-of-computing-full

    Nokia Is NOT Dead – Or Is It?

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    I still remember the days when owning a Nokia 5110 was the coolest thing ever. Then the Nokia 3210 came out – or it may have been another one of those models. All I know was that back then, Nokia kept spewing out mobile phones that every one wanted to get their hands own. In my part of the world, whether people admit it or not, having the “right” kind of mobile phone is a status symbol. Many years ago, it was a Nokia. Today, I am not entirely sure what the “right” kind of phone is, but I am pretty sure it is not a Nokia. ((Yes, yours truly has a several-years old Nokia.))

    The fact is that it is common knowledge that Nokia is dead. Or is it common knowledge, really? Those in the western countries – the US in particular – may not even know much about the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer anymore, but apparently, Nokia is still king of the mobile world – the Asia-Pacific mobile world. Believe it or not, they have 40 percent (well, almost) of the market share in this region. Now that I think about it, I still do see lots of Nokias here. ((Oh yeah, I do own a Nokia, old as it may be.))

    Don’t believe me? Check out this infographic below from InnerActive. ((Source))

    Nokia Is Not Dead

    It does seem that, far from being dead, Nokia is very much alive and kicking. Does this mean that the next phone I get should be a Nokia or should I go ahead and finally get the iPhone? What phone are you using?