Smart TVs Running Google TV Will Have a ‘Basic’ Option

An anonymous reader shares a report: If you go out and purchase a new TV today, it’s going to have smart TV features allowing access to streaming services and the internet. However, if that new TV is running on the Google TV platform, it’s possible to easily disable all the smart features during setup. The option to make your TV dumb…

Could an Ethically-Correct AI Shut Down Gun Violence?

The Next Web writes:
A trio of computer scientists from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York recently published research detailing a potential AI intervention for murder: an ethical lockout. The big idea here is to stop mass shootings and other ethically incorrect uses for firearms through the development of an AI that can recognize intent, judge whether it’s ethical use, and…

Why have so few Milky Way supernovae been observed over the last millennium?

Our galaxy hosts supernovae explosions a few times every century, and yet it’s been hundreds of years since the last observable one. New research explains why: It’s a combination of dust, distance and dumb luck. Source: https://phys.org/news/2021-01-milky-supernovae-millennium.html…

‘Will Remote Work Kill Innovation?’ Ask Silicon Valley Experts

Remote work “is here to stay,” argues a new article in Silicon Valley’s newspaper The Mercury News (also re-published in the East Bay Times). But they’ve also asked industry professionals around Silicon Valley whether this will hurt our ability to innovate. Software engineer/entrepreneur Joyce Park (who’s worked in Silicon Valley over 20 years): “Fast feedback is what we’re all about in…

Hydroxychloroquine Advocate Angry Donald Trump Took ‘Experimental Antibody Stupidness’

“A doctor notorious for claiming hydroxychloroquine is a ‘cure’ for COVID-19 has denounced White House doctors for not giving President Donald Trump the drug to treat his infection…” reports Newsweek. “Other unsubstantiated claims from Immanuel include declarations that fasting can cure those affected by ‘witchcraft,’ that having sex with demons while dreaming can cause gynecological problems and that certain medications contain…

10 proofs the Moon Landing was real, debunking conspiracy theories

How is the flag waving on the Moon? Why aren’t there any stars in the Apollo photos? EarthSky debunks these Moon Landing conspiracy theories and more. Source: https://earthsky.org/uncategorized/10-proofs-the-moon-landing-was-real-debunking-conspiracy-theories…

Google Offers Refunds After Smart Glasses Stop Working

Smart glasses company North has told customers that their $600 purchases will stop working in a few days’ time. The Canadian company, recently purchased by Google, says its Focals glasses will cease functioning on Friday. From a report: From then, owners will not be able to use “any features” of the glasses, or connect to the companion app. But the company…

Translation From VC-Backed PR Jargon To English of Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz’s Statement That He’s ‘Stepping Down’

From a company-wide memo sent by Rony Abovitz, the founder of Magic Leap, which has raised nearly $3 billion from high-profile investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Google, AT&T, NTT DoCoMo, Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, JP Morgan, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers: As we’ve shared over the last several weeks, in order to set Magic Leap on a course for success,…

Did ‘The SImpsons’ Accurately Portray STEM Education and the Gig Economy?

Long-time Slashdot reader theodp writes:
On Sunday, The Simpsons aired The Miseducation Of Lisa Simpson, an episode in which Marge — with the help of a song from John Legend (“STEM, it’s not just for dorks, dweebs and nerds / It’ll turn all your dumb kids to Zuckerbergs”) — convinces Springfield to use a windfall the town reaped by seizing shipwreck treasure…

Don’t Use the Word ‘Did’ Or a Dumb Anti-Piracy Company Will Delete You From Google

In 2018, the owner of Two-Bit History, a site dedicated to computer history, wrote a successful article about mathematician Ada Lovelace, who some credit as being the first computer programmer. Sadly, if you search Google for that article today you won’t find it. Some idiotic anti-piracy company had it deleted because it dared to use the word “did.” TorrentFreak reports: In…