Technology
Incentives for Commercial Companies to build an open-source database – RonDB
In the news we’ve seen that Redis will no longer be open source. RonDB has been open source since MySQL 4.1 released in 2004. RonDB is based on MySQL Cluster that is developed by Oracle and they maintain and develop it for the community and for many customers. There is no part in the MySQL …
Interview: Vernor Vinge [LWN.net]
Did you know…? LWN.net is a subscriber-supported publication; we rely on subscribers to keep the entire operation going. Please help out by buying a subscription and keeping LWN on the net. December 10, 2008 This article was contributed by Bruce Byfield Science fiction writer Vernor Vinge is best-known for novels like A Fire Upon the …
Skeuomorphism
Summary: Skeuomorphism involves designing digital interfaces that imitate physical elements, reducing the learning curve for unfamiliar interactions. Design trends are constantly changing and influencing the way we interact with technology. One such trend from the past is skeuomorphism. While it has since been criticized for its excesses, it brought a sense of familiarity from the …
China’s Sulfur LK99 Room Temperature Superconductor Variant Has Increased Meissner Effect Signal
Chinese researchers have published a new non-peer reviewed paper on their sulfur copper doped led apatite room temperature superconductor. They have increased the Meissner effect signal. Supplemental material from the China researchers. This describes the precise work done show they did not make measurement errors. Background Context In mid-2023, the Original Korean researchers discovered the …
US battery storage smashes deployment records in Q4 2023
Photo: Mortensen The US battery storage market shattered deployment records across all segments in Q4 2023 – a 101% increase from the previous quarter. The US battery storage sector saw 4,235 megawatts (MW) installed in Q4 2023, according to Wood Mackenzie and the American Clean Power Association’s (ACP) latest “US Energy Storage Monitor” report. For the …
Why You Should Have (at Least) Two Careers
Do you dream about switching to a career that’s drastically different from your current job? Many people do. But they never make the leap: the costs of switching seem too high, and the possibility of success seems too remote. The answer isn’t to plug away in your current job, unfulfilled and slowly burning out. The answer …
How Spammers, Scammers and Creators Leverage AI-Generated Images on Facebook for Audience Growth
Text-to-image models such as DALL-E and Midjourney can produce impressive, at times even photorealistic, images. Past research by the Stanford Internet Observatory has covered the very serious implications for child safety and nonconsensual intimate imagery. Researchers and policymakers have expressed fears that they could be misused to inject false information into political discourse. In a new preprint …
Safe-T-Cam daylight saving glitch proves costly for truckie
The truckie says drivers everywhere should be aware of the potential glitch in the camera system. Image: Alf Wilson The failure of a SA Safe-T-Cam system to correctly adjust for daylight saving changes ended in a surprise court summons and a costly legal bill for a distraught veteran interstate truckie. Adelaide-based Kym Ottey has since …
Preface :: Dive Into Systems
In today’s world, much emphasis is placed on learning to code, and programming is touted as a golden ticket to a successful life. Despite all the code boot camps and programming being taught in elementary schools, the computer itself is often treated as an afterthought — it’s increasingly becoming invisible in the discussions of raising the next …
Massive ‘Apex Legends’ Hack Disrupts NA Finals, Raises Serious Security Concerns
Apex Legends Respawn Something rather terrifying has disrupted the North American Finals of Apex Legends, and players are now starting to potentially worry about their own accounts and the overall safety of the game. Respawn and EA have postponed the North American Finals in the wake of the “competitive integrity” of the game being compromised. …
