exploits

Usually on this website, we use to point out news, generally technological and surprising news, we understand them, we eventually translate them and we provide the result, here, in light version.

Today, it's gonna be a little bit different.
The news is surprising, ok.
But we did not understand it. At least, not totally.

And it looks so absurd that we give you first the link to the source, for credibility reasons : nature.com, february.

Onur Hosten and its colleagues from the university of Illinois have created a computer that works while it's switched off, a computer that finds a element in a database .. but without really looking at it!

This computer uses the laws of quantum mechanic to execute a lot of operations in one shot, where a classical computer should execute them one by one.
It's possible by the fact that the quantum objects, like atoms or photons, can be in states of superposition, a mix of states which are mutually exclusive in ordinary objects. For example, a quantum switch could be simultaneously ON and OFF !

This is the key of the quantum computer : it can be in superposition of 2 states : on and off. The "on" state sets a footprint in the historical data of the "off" state, the first can influence the latter.

Before looking for an aspirin, try this :
some people prefer talking about 2 different universes : in one universe, the computer is running, in the other one, he's not. Switched off, we can think than the computer is running, but in another parallele universe.

There are still problem. For example the fact that the result of a quantum process cannot be fixed accurately, but just with probabilities. It's like saying that the computer finds the answer quickly, but that it can be wrong :)
To correct that and influence the probabilities, the scientists use another well-known quantum phenomenon, the quantum zeno effect : the result changes because it is observed !

We told you....

another article, in french: techno-sciences, february

Labels: exploits

navigation

A few days ago, we told you it's possible to make Baracus enter in my car.
Now, you can make enter more people :
Terminator, Clint Eastwood, Austin Powers' Dr Evil, Georges Bush, Patsy Stone (Absolutely Fabulous), Marilyn Monroe, Michael Caine, Ozzy Osbourne and many others...

Thanks to VoiceSkins, you can download vocal themes for your navigation system on PDA. You install their software VoiceChoice, you buy and download a VoiceSkin (a theme) and you switch from a voice to another one, even if your navigation software is running!

Compatible products : TomTom Navigator 2 and 3, TomTom Go, CoPilot and PrymeNav.
Soon compatible : Navman and CoPilot for smartphone. (Note they announce it since February at least)

And now, only for you hOwGee's readers, a best-of :

Dr Evil :



Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) :



Terminator (Arnold) :



and the rest is here ...

Labels: navigation

automotive


A few days ago, we talked about the future Opel Vectra 2008, a car that can drive for you.
Sooner and more realistic : the new Honda Accord ADAS, on sale since May at 25,880 pounds (or 48,000 dollars).

This car is able to drive alone on the motorways (only on motorways). The driver switchs on the automatic driving and the car changes gear ratios and turns in the curves. But the driver can't go for a sleep : every 10 second, he has to press a button on the steering wheel to inform the car that he's still there !
Ouf.

The car is based on 2 systems : ACC and LKAS.

ACC = Adaptive Cruise Control = a sensor behind the Honda badge, which detects the others cars and the obstacles, and acts on the speed.
LKAS = Lane Keep Assist System = a camera near the interior rear view mirror which detects the white lines on the left and on the right, and acts on the direction.

source : physorg.com, February and Carpages, May.
for those which do not know: ADAS = Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, every system that helps you to drive, increase your security in the car or on the roads.

Labels: automotive

Labels: automotive

internet

Eurostar, the railways company that links Europe and UK, have lost the possibility to buy the domain name Eurostar.eu because a small Belgian diamond cutter, Eurostar Diamond Traders, first introduced the request.

Eurostar, SNCF and SNCB asked the cour (tribunal de commerce de Paris) to force the diamond cutter to withdraw its request, but no success.

According to Eurid, the rule is clear and the distribution of the names is done in the order of arrivals. Actually, the diamond cutter made the request the same day than the railways company, but 6 minutes before.

This post exists just for this conclusion. Eurostar : 6 minutes too late.

for those which do not know :
EURID is in charge of the domain names "eu".
source : lesoir.be, January

Labels: internet

computers


One good idea of the beginning of the year.
Toshiba proposes a laptop with a detachable display that continues to work thanks the WiFi connection (between keyboard and screen).
Then you can use it as a Tablet PC, with the remote computing power.

It could be a solution for future...

source and more pictures: engadget, January

Labels: computers

Labels: navigation

Labels: arts

internet


Since last month, you can give a cheap call with skype from anywhere, and without a computer!

All you need is Wifi access point to the Internet.
You surely have a small wireless router? or your neighboor ?

Netgear is a small company specialized in networks, with or without wires. She was the first to propose this Skype phone, of the same size than a small classic mobile phone. Same for the weight (90g).

When you switch it on, it connects to your Skype account. Your contacts appear, up to you to contact them as you do usually ... for free if they are on their computer (or like you, with a NetGear phone!)
And if you call on this good old classic phone, you pay the SkypeOut rate.

for those which do not know :
Install a Wifi network
Siemens proposes another solution, a good one apparently, since more than one year !

Labels: internet