Category Archives: Lemonisms

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Distributed memory spaces for distributed applications …
One of the key requirements for an effective distributed application is a distributed memory space … something discussed by David Gelernter in Mirror Worlds.

This particular implementation has some interesting twists … an XML version tuplespace, implemented as a SOAP service. A very cool idea!

Rogue Wave release XML tuple space implementation. Ruple
is a technology that allows disparate applications to collaborate,
and is an implementation of Linda tuple spaces. [xmlhack]

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Virtual Keyboards for data input …
These are two examples of the amazing leaps in technology in the area of man-machine interfaces. Both of these companies are using various techniques to detect the physical characteristics of the hand during typing. By detecting what your hands and fingers are doing, these devices can “guess” which keys you are typing!

I really have to say that I like the Senseboard better than the Samsung unit … but I’m going to guess that we will be seeing more and more of these types of devices being worn by the people around us!

PC World: Virtual Keyboards Let You Type in Air. Call it air guitar meets computer keyboard. Two firms here at Comdex, Samsung and Senseboard, are showing off gizmos that attach to your hands and track your finger movements so you can type without a keyboard to input data into a personal digital assistant or other handheld device. [Tomalak’s Realm]

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Interesting “virus-free” Internet Cafe solution …
I was thinking of various solutions for securing Internet Cafe computers from viruses and trojan-horses. This is an issue for both the owner of the computer and the customer using it.

When a customer walks in to use the computer, they are expecting a system that is ready to use, and one that does not contain any viruses or software which might compromise their security. The issue is that viruses and trojan-horses can be installed by other customers – either by accident or by malicious intent.

What would happen, however, if I took my own operating system on my own CD-ROM into the cafe and booted it? I could then be reasonably assured that the entire computer would be running my OS and applications … on a storage medium that can not be infected. If my data is all stored out in the net, I would be able to access all of it.

Of course, this does not take into account the possibility of a ‘hacked’ keyboard or BIOS … but it’s getting much better!

Lnx Bootable Business Card 1.618 (development). A bootable rescue CD cut to the size and shape of a business card. [freshmeat.net]

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Hot Spots vs. the Cellular Carriers … one possible scenario …
I was sitting here tonight reading, and started to wonder if the slow and limited data bandwidth that the cellular carriers are going to provide is simply going to be used to locate the next high-speed 802.11x Hot Spot that you’re going to use … 😉

WLAN Hotspots to Grow Fast: Report. Says handhelds will benefit most [allNetDevices Wireless News]

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Art and Music … very cool article and site …
This is a “must keep” web site … this guy is extremely creative. Not only is he modifying toys and other sounds producing devices in artistic ways, he is adding jacks and pitch controls so that they can be used by bands! You too can plug a noisy kids toy into your amp and add a whole new dimension of sound to your bands music!

Tech Toys Become Modern Instruments [Slashdot]

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Web Services and Information availability …
I really liked reading about this project since it truly shows the level of information that can be obtained via the web. This raw information, and making raw information available, is what will allow wide ranges of web services to be made available … and whole new generations of distributed applications to be created.

Imagine the web service that uses this weather data to automatically suggest outdoor (or indoor) activities in a city based on the temperature and weather. Or even forecasting the likelyhood of star gazing that evening, and suggesting what to wear.

Web services are going to be massively distributed applications which build on the raw data, and eventually provide a user interface – through a browser or other visual/audible notifications. In between these two ends will be more services built on top of other services and raw data … massive networks of objects communicating with each other using standardized protocols.

So this is a cool raw data source … 😉

GoWeather 2001.10.24. Graphically displays current conditions and 5-day forecast for a location. [freshmeat.net]

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More mapping software …
As location based services become more and more a part of our lives we are going to want to know where important things are located – including ourselves!

I like this project due to the “moving map” capabilities, and also the support for BSB charts. These are a format used in the Marine Navigation market … something that I love … being out on a boat!

Hugo 1.2.1. GPS-capable moving map software. [freshmeat.net]

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Lapse from posting …
I have been swamped lately … living in complete overwhelm. With the various consulting opportunities that I have, and creating a 802.11 wireless network, and creating a digital identity application, and assisting with some local conferences, AND continuing my R&D into memetics and ontology … I have been quite busy. In addition, I am committed to my house and my family.

So as of today I am continuing my reading and posting … and I also promise to update to Radio v8 soon … within the next week or so.

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And so Gattica begins …
For anyone who has not seen the movie Gattica, I can only suggest they they rent it and watch. It includes a wide range of very interesting perspectives on the implications of our advances in understanding genetics, and some of the social and community issues that will develop. One of the core conflicts is that of unstoppable genetic discrimination …

We are on the verge of having some of the technology to create many of the scenarios that are shown in Gattica … at one point in the movie they even show a “corner store” that provides instant genetic analysis. Although this seems sophisticated and a ways off, the ability of a corporation to do this type of analysis – even if it takes days – is just around the corner. The article below shows that this is something coming quickly … and Gattica explains why these types of laws are going to be difficult to enforce. Go rent the movie …

Insurers barred from using genetic tests. The Times Oct 23 2001 6:32PM ET [Genetics news]