This blog has found a new home at www.unrestingtechnologist.net.
Relevant content will be gradually moved to the new site.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Blekko has been acquired by IBM
Computer industry giant IBM apparently has acquired the search engine startup blekko and shut down the website, only stating that blekko's technology will be integrated into IBM Watson.
This acquisition is eerily similar to Apple's deal with FoundationDB, an open source NoSQL database where all download sources were removed with the acquisition by Apple.
Blekko, which generated revenue through the sale of custom SEO statistics, used to donate vast URL collections to the non-profit Common Crawl project, which aims to develop open source search engine components and methods for efficient information retrieval.
As of now, there is no mention of the blekko acquisition on the Common Crawl website, however one might rightfully wonder whether URL donations are to continue.
Another search engine, Cuil, shut down in 2010, had donated crawl collections to the Internet Archive; however, the collections do not seem to be accessible as of writing.
Google announced plans to shut down Freebase, a knowledge base project it acquired in 2010, within six months after December 2014.There is, however, an open successor project named BaseKB.
All these incidents should remind us that we currently do not have a large enough, open, search infrastructure and that work needs to be done to move forward in that direction, despite big companies laying their hands on open information and locking it up in the process.
This acquisition is eerily similar to Apple's deal with FoundationDB, an open source NoSQL database where all download sources were removed with the acquisition by Apple.
Blekko, which generated revenue through the sale of custom SEO statistics, used to donate vast URL collections to the non-profit Common Crawl project, which aims to develop open source search engine components and methods for efficient information retrieval.
As of now, there is no mention of the blekko acquisition on the Common Crawl website, however one might rightfully wonder whether URL donations are to continue.
Another search engine, Cuil, shut down in 2010, had donated crawl collections to the Internet Archive; however, the collections do not seem to be accessible as of writing.
Google announced plans to shut down Freebase, a knowledge base project it acquired in 2010, within six months after December 2014.There is, however, an open successor project named BaseKB.
All these incidents should remind us that we currently do not have a large enough, open, search infrastructure and that work needs to be done to move forward in that direction, despite big companies laying their hands on open information and locking it up in the process.
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Pakistan power blackout
After terrorists destroyed a transmission tower in Baluchistan, Pakistan, nearly 80% of Pakistan's population - or more than 140 million people - were left without power for hours. (see Bloomberg article)
Just like India, which I mentioned in a post related to a power outage in 2012, Pakistan would hugely benefit from a distributed, resilient grid.
Just like India, which I mentioned in a post related to a power outage in 2012, Pakistan would hugely benefit from a distributed, resilient grid.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
A year with the VAUDE Luke messenger bag
About a year ago, I was looking for a suitable replacement for my assortment of backpacks I had used until then to transport my laptop, folders, documents and other utensils I needed to have with me every day.
While browsing for an ergonomical solution that would allow me to carry my stuff when riding my bike in the city, I became aware of the disadvantage of backpacks I had been using for much of my high school years: heavy rain would soak them to the point where the content would sometimes get wet. This was something I wanted to avoid this time.
Soon I remembered that a friend had bought a messenger bag for uni, so I dug up some more information on them.
Of the various messenger bags I checked out, the VAUDE Luke L clearly stood out. It is made from very durable, water-proof tarpaulin, and comes with an adjustable should strap and removable pad.
The bag delivers a remarkable volume of 19 liters, which is more than enough for my daily needs.
One thing the VAUDE Luke makes superior when compared to other messenger bags, is the belt that stops the bag from moving around too much when you are riding a bike.
A padded compartment allows you to transport a laptop without having to worry about damaging it. On campus, I usually keep a laptop, a large, heavy folder, books and a Nalgene bottle all in the messenger bag.
Another unique feature is the handle that allows you to carry the Luke L instead of using the shoulder strap.
The bag can also be used for travel, can be attached to the handle bar of a trolley and, at 37 x 48 x 14 centimeters, is compact enough to be used as cabin baggage.
On occasion, I have used the VAUDE Luke L on a city trip, packing some clothes and little more than a toothbrush along with my laptop.
So far, I could not be happier with my choice of the messenger bag over a conventional backpack.
While browsing for an ergonomical solution that would allow me to carry my stuff when riding my bike in the city, I became aware of the disadvantage of backpacks I had been using for much of my high school years: heavy rain would soak them to the point where the content would sometimes get wet. This was something I wanted to avoid this time.
Soon I remembered that a friend had bought a messenger bag for uni, so I dug up some more information on them.
Of the various messenger bags I checked out, the VAUDE Luke L clearly stood out. It is made from very durable, water-proof tarpaulin, and comes with an adjustable should strap and removable pad.
The bag delivers a remarkable volume of 19 liters, which is more than enough for my daily needs.
One thing the VAUDE Luke makes superior when compared to other messenger bags, is the belt that stops the bag from moving around too much when you are riding a bike.
A padded compartment allows you to transport a laptop without having to worry about damaging it. On campus, I usually keep a laptop, a large, heavy folder, books and a Nalgene bottle all in the messenger bag.
Another unique feature is the handle that allows you to carry the Luke L instead of using the shoulder strap.
The bag can also be used for travel, can be attached to the handle bar of a trolley and, at 37 x 48 x 14 centimeters, is compact enough to be used as cabin baggage.
On occasion, I have used the VAUDE Luke L on a city trip, packing some clothes and little more than a toothbrush along with my laptop.
So far, I could not be happier with my choice of the messenger bag over a conventional backpack.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Need to make a tough decision? Don't think in your native language!
This is something that many of you probably had noticed subconsciously before, but only now a new study published in the Psychological Science magazine shed some more light onto it. (Sorry if I'm not linking directly to it, the paper is not openly available)
Thinking in a language other than your native language improves decisions,
Wired sums up the ongoing research. In part, it is because thinking in a foreign language breaks up your habitual thought process that has manifested itself through cultural influence etc. over the years.
The method of using another language for thought can also be used when writing, even if you are just jotting down a list of groceries you need to shop for. Using the foreign language requires you to think more thoroughly about whatever you are going to do, which results in a better decision, according to the experiments done by the researchers.
Even more profound effects are evident when it comes to personality: immersing oneself in another language has the power to change certain personality traits while using the foreign language.
Thinking in a language other than your native language improves decisions,
Wired sums up the ongoing research. In part, it is because thinking in a foreign language breaks up your habitual thought process that has manifested itself through cultural influence etc. over the years.
The method of using another language for thought can also be used when writing, even if you are just jotting down a list of groceries you need to shop for. Using the foreign language requires you to think more thoroughly about whatever you are going to do, which results in a better decision, according to the experiments done by the researchers.
Even more profound effects are evident when it comes to personality: immersing oneself in another language has the power to change certain personality traits while using the foreign language.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Environmental impact of meat consumption
For the majority of the world's population, insects are an important part of their diet. Countless varieties of beetles, their larvae, crickets, ants or locusts are consumed in Asia, Africa and the Americas.
People of the western hemisphere however have been reluctant to add these creatures to their meals, though casu marzu can serve as a noteable exception for entomophagy in Europe.
In the face of a changing climate and a world population that has surpassed 7 billion, it seems a necessity to consider insects as protein sources in addition to meat.
In fact, there are already some companies that sell snacks made from insects. What is now needed is an increase of production and marketing of these foods.
The point is, cattle and pigs, our sources of red meat, all emit methane when they digest what they are fed. Methane acts as a greenhouse gas and is about 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide.
These emissions can in part be mitigated by choosing the right food for the livestock in order to influence digestion processes in their guts; however, farmers still need to feed a significant multiple of what they will end up with as actual meat.
An often-quoted number is the ratio of 54:1 in energy input required to produce a particular output of protein for cattle, whereas for insects, the number is as low as 4:1.
What this means is, you need fifty times less energy to produce protein from cattle than you need for the same amount of meat from cattle.
Costs associated with insect meat are therefore significantly lower, as resources needed to breed the tiny creatures like water, food crops and energy for lighting can be used more economically.
Another more recent report linking food production and energy consumption can be found here.
Including insects as sources of animal protein has implications for land use, too. Meal worms for example can be kept in boxes that allow for higher density in usable protein per cubic meter than conventional livestock. This results in more efficient transport, lowering greenhouse gas emissions even further, as production can be optimized for smaller-scale, localized shops.
To give you an idea, see this site with pictures and a very comprehensive list of edible insects at this page.
Of course, we should be aware that reducing our overall meat consumption is a viable option. Some alternatives based on soy sound pretty interesting.
People of the western hemisphere however have been reluctant to add these creatures to their meals, though casu marzu can serve as a noteable exception for entomophagy in Europe.
In the face of a changing climate and a world population that has surpassed 7 billion, it seems a necessity to consider insects as protein sources in addition to meat.
In fact, there are already some companies that sell snacks made from insects. What is now needed is an increase of production and marketing of these foods.
The point is, cattle and pigs, our sources of red meat, all emit methane when they digest what they are fed. Methane acts as a greenhouse gas and is about 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide.
These emissions can in part be mitigated by choosing the right food for the livestock in order to influence digestion processes in their guts; however, farmers still need to feed a significant multiple of what they will end up with as actual meat.
An often-quoted number is the ratio of 54:1 in energy input required to produce a particular output of protein for cattle, whereas for insects, the number is as low as 4:1.
What this means is, you need fifty times less energy to produce protein from cattle than you need for the same amount of meat from cattle.
Costs associated with insect meat are therefore significantly lower, as resources needed to breed the tiny creatures like water, food crops and energy for lighting can be used more economically.
Another more recent report linking food production and energy consumption can be found here.
Including insects as sources of animal protein has implications for land use, too. Meal worms for example can be kept in boxes that allow for higher density in usable protein per cubic meter than conventional livestock. This results in more efficient transport, lowering greenhouse gas emissions even further, as production can be optimized for smaller-scale, localized shops.
To give you an idea, see this site with pictures and a very comprehensive list of edible insects at this page.
Of course, we should be aware that reducing our overall meat consumption is a viable option. Some alternatives based on soy sound pretty interesting.
Friday, August 3, 2012
The connection of myopia and education
A huge majority of highschool graduates in Southeast Asia shows symptoms of short-sightedness. Levels have reached 80 - 90 percent compared with 20 to 30 percent after WW2.
Recent studies (article in German) suggest increased evidence for a connection between the time spent outside and a decreased risk for myopia. As Asians are cramming under increased educational pressure, myopia is spreading like an epidemic. Growth of the eyeball is inhibited by dopamine, the production of which is influenced through exposure to direct sunlight.
Another article suggests that exposure to blue light lessens myopia in chicken.
In the face of this, it might be worthwhile looking at newly developed window coatings that let higher amounts of the blue spectrum through the glass.
If blue light does not only have effects on melatonin levels in humans but also results in decreased myopia, this would be an additional benefit for the time we increasingly spend indoors.
Recent studies (article in German) suggest increased evidence for a connection between the time spent outside and a decreased risk for myopia. As Asians are cramming under increased educational pressure, myopia is spreading like an epidemic. Growth of the eyeball is inhibited by dopamine, the production of which is influenced through exposure to direct sunlight.
Another article suggests that exposure to blue light lessens myopia in chicken.
In the face of this, it might be worthwhile looking at newly developed window coatings that let higher amounts of the blue spectrum through the glass.
If blue light does not only have effects on melatonin levels in humans but also results in decreased myopia, this would be an additional benefit for the time we increasingly spend indoors.
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