The value (controversy) of Geo-Spatial Databases

This article in Newsweek is a good article on the topic.

An interesting website is listed in it.
Fundrace This uses the FEC's rule of logging campagin contributions to a map, allowing you to see who is contributing to whom and how much. I can now see what many of my neighbors do, get some idea on their financial background etc.

I know it goes against free speech and the principles of technology, but have we reached a stage where we need regulation (or atleast think about ) how & how much information can be interlinked?

-Ashish

HUMOR: What is the value of an admissions essay?

Found this here

Secure & Easy WiFi Setup & Usage - HowTo

Hey guys,

I want to setup WiFi connection in a new lab (a 30' x 20' lab). The connection needs to be:
1. Secure
2. Be a Closed Network
3. Need little configuration to connect to (from Win XP, Linux, OS X)

Req 1 & 2 are easy to fulfil & Apple's Airport does a great job & is easy to use & administer.
#3 is harder.

What I would like to do is identify 3 classes of users
One set of people whose MAC address I know in advance, so this guys whould be able to come in to this lab, open their laptops & get connected.
The second set of people could come to the lab, open a browser --> enter a user name & password (given in the lab) --> be connected (something like a WiFi hotspot, though with encryption; i don't think WiFi hotspot connections are usually encrypted).
A third set of users are those who cannot access the web but still access the internal networked resources of the lab. For them, there is a common user name & password.

SInce this connection could irk my school's computing admins, I will need to address their concern that outsiders could not just sit outside my lab and start using this connection. A connection which is secure, restricts access to those who are not inside the lab (the lab is controlled access), will probably address their concern.

Any ideas on how we setup such a secure & easy to use WiFi connection?

Ashish

Another test to check the html tags

Now that basic email posting is working. Let us try some tags
This is strong text

Now the most important tag blockquotes. Now the most important tag
blockquotes. Now the most important tag blockquotes. Now the most
important tag blockquotes. Now the most important tag blockquotes.

That is the end of test.

Test Post via Email

This is a test by Pankaj to test posting to celpec blog via email.

Pankaj

The Matrix is Here

The latest Harrow tech report talks of new advances in CyberKinetics (http://www.theharrowgroup.com/articles/20040607/20040607.htm)- an ability to plug the brain into a computer which recognises thought and coordinates motor functions.
I took the concept just one step ahead - the ability to plug a brain onto a computer network. Here's a list of applications that I came up with (I sent these to Jeff Harrow as well).
****
The more I think about the applications, I am convinced something quite like "The Matrix" would be possible. Imagine the possibilities, some of them frivolous, some extremely dangerous:
1. We wouldn't need to have meetings because we can simply "connect to" other people.
2. It would be possible to project what my eyes see to my family when I am out on a vacation without them. So 4 people get to "see" Paris for the price of one air ticket :)
3. Imagine malicious worms/ viruses - which can now enter people's brains and corrupt/ control/ read up their thoughts (shudder!).
4. And no, you wouldn't really always need to wire yourself up to the network - there'd be wireless cards for those on the go or those who seek competitive advantage 24X7.
As a corollary, if I walk into a superstore and have a wireless brain card - the superstore could transmit advertisements to my brain urging me to buy things.
5. Although we can digitize brain signals, our thoughts have an analog element outside of the thought pattern - intensity. The intensity of the motor reflex with which a fighter plot pulls away from an oncoming missile is very different from that of a disabled person who reaches out for a glass of water. This difference in intensity would have to be accounted for by the computer interfacing with our brain.
Now imagine a case where two people with different intensities of thoughts come in contact with each other - would one of them be able to dwarf the other's thoughts and push through his own ideas on the other? Will one of them be able to force the other's response?
We come across this all the time in our lives - if we have an argument, one side yells louder than the other and sometimes wins the argument. Would moving our argument from one medium (speech) to another (thoughts) further exacerbate this phenomenon?

I am convinced these advances can happen within my lifetime - it would be very interesting to see how humankind survives and adapts to these challenges. Many of these advances shall end up creating superhumans, but the architecting and developing of reliable systems would also need superhuman effort. Software always has bugs in it - it is inevitable. Just how comfortable would we be in installing buggy software directly into our brains? How would this industry be regulated? How do I setup spam filters on my brain? I can imagine many dilemma's and legal issues that can arise and would need answers that would have challenged the wisdom of Solomon.
****

Nilesh

Toys-for-Men etc

Sometime back, while visiting toys-r-us (I have a soft spot for legos - call me a geek, I could care less), I was wondering the viability of a toys-r-men store. This would be a store that targets men and only stocks gadgets, electronics etc. Not quite the run-of-mill compusa or circuit city, instead a store that focuses on gadgets and the kind of electronic toys that make most men (not just geeks) drool. These could be computer toys, car accessories, sport gadgets whatever.

Anyway, I am sure most of you do read David Pouge's coloumn in NYT - "Circuits." While a good article on tech, it does not do gadgets quite like wired does. Now I came across a section of wired magzine that only does gadgets. Check this out.

I esp like the idea of a USB powered cell phone charger See here . For $20 that is a lot of saved cables & is ideal when travelling. Planning to get one.

Joys of Indian Match making

After a visit from two of his yet single friends Naru muses over Indian Matrimony scene over at
Not Really Indian:

"According to a MIT literate friend they shud have reverse kundli facility also like if one is born on so and so date at so and so city, where and what period born spouse would be the best. Any body listening"

Ultra High Resolution Photography

This guy does not like of-the-shelf cameras so he builds one that does what he wants - take a digitally processed picture that is a whopping 2.6GB in size and captures details that make your jaw drop.

Check out this picture
and this picture


Also see the cnn story on this

-Ashish