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Archive for the 'Research' Tag
56 post(s) are associated with this Tag
Climate Change: Germanwatch presents Global Climate Risk Index 2010
The climate and development organization Germanwatch has today published its Global Climate Risk Index 2010. The Global Climate Risk Index analyzes to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, floods, heatwaves etc.).
The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) developed by Germanwatch analyzes the quantified impacts of extreme weather events in terms of people that have died from them, as well as economic losses that occurred. It is based on data from Munich Re´s Nat-CatSERVICE® which is one of the most reliable and complete data bases on this matter. While it does not take into account aspects such as sea-level rise or glacier melting, climate change is an increasingly important factor for the occurrence and intensity of these events. The CRI can therefore provide an indication of levels of exposure and vulnerability to extreme events which countries should see as a warning signal to prepare for more severe events in the future. The fifth edition of the CRI looks particularly at the impacts of extreme weather events from 1990 up until the most recent available data – 2008…
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Innovations: IBM’s Next 5 in 5
The third annual “IBM Next Five in Five” is a list of innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next five years. The Next Five in Five is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBMs Labs around the world that can make these innovations possible.
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Research: MS SecondLight
With the new Secondlight prototype Microsoft has added another dimension to its touchscreen technology called Surface.
The two build-in projectors allow to display different images in a way that looks simultaneous to the eye. Microsoft presented the new technology during the PDC and has provided some additional technical details earlier this month.
While one image is displayed onto the large screen and can be manipulated with gestures the second projector can create an independent image on a flat or 3D surface like a piece of paper or a Plexiglas cylinder.
Microsoft provided some very interesting sample applications like…
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Computer Interfaces: Interactive Mirror
This is a patent pending touch capable mirror features proximity sensors, gesturing, and both near-field and far-field infrared. Conceptualized by Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios and Sam Ewen of Interference Inc. Designed/constructed by Alpay Kasal.
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AI: Autonomous Helicopters teach themselves to Fly Stunts
Finally someone has adapted human learning approaches and used them within AI.
Called “apprenticeship learning” and build into AI Algorithms by Stanford University students, they created an autonomous helicopter system that learns to fly stunts by watching human pilots.
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Climate Change: Canada we’re coming
Risk advisory firm Maplecroft has published a “Climate Change Risk Report” looking into the vulnerability of 168 countries to the impact of climate change. The study does not review the severity of the threats in general, but instead evaluates the ability of each of the countries to adapt and withstand potential change.
The report includes a vulnerability index and comparable country scorecards with risk indices, risk indicators, maps and graphics.
Not unsurprising the developed nations with…
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CNCI - A new cybersecurity program
It’s G.W. Bush’s single largest request for funds in the 2009 intelligence budget and its a “highly classified, multiyear, multibillion-dollar project“.
It goes by the name CNCI aka “Cyber Initiative” and the director National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, calls it a pro-active measure to protect the US Government computing infrastructure and in the future potentially also the computing environments of (US) private entities.
While the secrecy surrounding the program does not even provide specific funding figures or a breakdown, the House Intelligence committee in its report on the program “recognizes” that “…it will be imperative that the government also take into account the interest and concerns of private citizens, the US information technology industry, and other elements of the private sector…“.
They call it a public-private partnership and outlined how the oversight should happen by a panel of lawmakers, executive branch officials and some private sector representatives. And the House has already approved 90% of the requested budget.
So far so good, sounds all nice and positive - a fresh start, “unlike any model currently existing“, well, well, well if your memory in that branch of IT goes back long enough (10 years+) then you will say together with us: Nice words but we have heard them before and when we acted within the scheme we got heavily burned and a bunch of gov. crooks around the world filled their pockets with Billions of Dollars.
So if its a “fresh start” back up your words with actions!
Demonstrate that you have learned from the past mistakes and…
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Space: Gaja calling
f “Contact” with Jodie Foster was your kind of movie then you should have a look at the real-life version of sounds and noises recorded in space.
Watch the video for the sounds Gaja sends out into space that might be heard by other “aliens” on their planets…
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NASA: ISS 360 Virtual tours
If you always wanted to have a look around inside the International Space Station and your uncle is not the new president of a former communist country or a Billionaire - here’s your chance:
The NASA has put up a web site dedicated to the ISS with introduction videos, external and internal 360 tours and much more…
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Microsoft Health Future Vision
A video providing some insights into Microsoft’s vision on the future of health care. The video has recently been used by Bill Gates on conferences and is also shown to visitors of the “MS Executive Briefing Center”.
Outstanding pictures like always from that shop and some rather good ideas. But there’s still a long way to go - particular with the IS/IT features.
More information at the…
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