Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Meet Bandit, Your New Robotic Personal Trainer]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/meet-bandit-your-new-robotic-personal-trainer/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/meet-bandit-your-new-robotic-personal-trainer/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/22/meet-bandit-your-new-robotic-personal-trainer/#commentsFiled under:

With the holiday season just coming into full swing, everyone's gonna be looking for new ways to shed that extra turkey tummy that we'll inevitably be accumulating pretty soon. And though personal trainers may be a popular choice among a certain demographic, why spend hours with an actual human being when you can spend quality time with your own robotic workout coach?

USC's Viterbi School of Engineering has designed a robot named Bandit that can do just that (video after the break). Unlike most personal trainers, Bandit's not there just to make you feel fat -- he can actually lead you through your exercise routine and even watch you to mimic your every move (see the video below). But, like most personal trainers, Bandit can also be sort of a jerk. He'll drop the occasional sarcastic remark about how much fun it is to sit and watch you work out in a chair, and wax poetic about how great it is to work up a sweat with you (full disclosure: he's not actually sweating).

Continue reading Meet Bandit, Your New Robotic Personal Trainer

SwitchedMeet Bandit, Your New Robotic Personal Trainer originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>robotstopSun, 22 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/20/chrome-os-or-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-cloud/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chrome OS: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud
Yesterday, Google finally took the cover off Chrome OS and, in so doing, gave a bunch of foamy-mouthed tech journalists an idea of what to expect once consumers are able to get their hands on it late next year. There weren't many surprises in the announcement. Chrome OS is a tweaked Chrome browser running on top of a streamlined version of Linux -- exactly what most were expecting. We can already play games, watch movies, create spreadsheets, and send IMs -- all without leaving the comfort of any number of browsers. Chrome OS just seeks to remove the middle man.

The highly customized version of Linux is designed to run on Google-certified hardware. By specifying what components can comprise a Chrome OS netbook, Google is able to strip away many "unessential" parts of the OS, making it boot and run faster. Even in this early stage (a year away from release), it only takes 10 seconds to go from pressing the power button to browsing the Web. There are some trade-offs to this design, however. Chrome OS will not support traditional hard drives, meaning you can forget about keeping your giant music collection on one of these babies. Instead, it will only feature smaller, faster, solid-state drives (SSD) and rely on the cloud to store documents and photos. It will, however, recognize and open whatever USB drives and cameras are plugged into it.

Continue reading Chrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud

SwitchedChrome OS, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome osChromeOscloudcloud computingCloudComputingNetBooktopFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Store Employees (Electric) Slide to Humiliating New Lows]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/microsoft-store-employees-electric-slide-to-humiliating-new-lo/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/microsoft-store-employees-electric-slide-to-humiliating-new-lo/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/microsoft-store-employees-electric-slide-to-humiliating-new-lo/#commentsFiled under:


Being forced to use moronic terms like "paradigm," "outside-the-box," and "proactive" can be depressing for corporate employees. But suffering through humiliating and soul-crushing corporate rituals can be even more debilitating to one's sense of individuality and autonomy.

While reeducation camps corporate retreats and orchestrated events are popular among big businesses, very few companies attract as much publicity as Microsoft does for its ridiculous and embarrassing stunts. Apparently hell-bent on eradicating the sense of self-worth in its employees, Microsoft recently forced workers at the inaugural Microsoft Store in California to perform a (somewhat) synchronized electric slide dance routine (video after the break). The incredibly uncomfortable display, which features a heavy dose of overweight white dudes (and awkwardly faded jeans), doesn't appear spontaneous at all and lasts for an intensely painful four minutes and 44 seconds.

Continue reading Microsoft Store Employees (Electric) Slide to Humiliating New Lows

SwitchedMicrosoft Store Employees (Electric) Slide to Humiliating New Lows originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnymicrosoftmicrosoft storeMicrosoftStoretopviral videoViralVideoweirdWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Kitty Brain Simulated By IBM, but Not Just for Adorable-ness]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/kitty-brain-simulated-by-ibm-but-not-just-for-adorable-ness/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/kitty-brain-simulated-by-ibm-but-not-just-for-adorable-ness/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/kitty-brain-simulated-by-ibm-but-not-just-for-adorable-ness/#commentsFiled under:

Maru goes in the box. Maru goes out of the box. Maru goes back into the box, again. Not exactly genius (adorable, but not genius), though apparently scientists say there is something about the feline brain that may help advance the "thinking computer." A machine that can replicate basic human cognition -- abstract concepts, emotional data -- is still pretty distant, but IBM researchers in Portland, Oregon have scaled it down a bit. Using a kitty cortex as a model, these neuro-computer scientists have claimed to have replicated a cat's thinking pattern.

This doesn't mean that Maru, or Mittens, or any other kitten, is dumb: the computer operates using 147,456 processors (while the average computer uses just a handful) and 144 terabytes of memory, and it is still 100 times slower than the way a cat thinks. The senior author of the findings, Dharmendra Modha, suggests that by creating a program based on the way a brain works, the emphasis is moved from "structured" data (say, adding numbers) and is placed on weighing different factors (like identifying an image, even if its blurry). So even though it is slow, the Portland supercomputer is apparently a breakthrough in cognitive computing.

Continue reading Kitty Brain Simulated By IBM, but Not Just for Adorable-ness

SwitchedKitty Brain Simulated By IBM, but Not Just for Adorable-ness originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainscatscognitioncognitive computingCognitiveComputingcomputerIBMtopWed, 18 Nov 2009 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Computer Company Displays 'Mona Lisa' Made From Motherboards]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/computer-company-displays-mona-lisa-made-from-motherboards/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/computer-company-displays-mona-lisa-made-from-motherboards/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/computer-company-displays-mona-lisa-made-from-motherboards/#commentsFiled under:

There aren't too many mysteries left out there, but the 'Mona Lisa' endures. We still might not know what, exactly, makes her smile, but this recreation of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous 'Mona Lisa' sure did put a grin on our faces. According to Neatorama, this piece of art isn't in a museum. Instead, it's placed in the lobby of ASUS International, a computer parts manufacturer in Taipei, Taiwain, and is composed entirely of old computer motherboards and the like.

This got us thinking about other examples of technology and art colliding in wonderful ways. We've seen salvaged PCs made into sculptures of biological viruses and an impressive collection of techno-art at Royal Pingdom, but our favorite has to be Palo Alto, California's enormous egg, constructed of old circuit boards.

Leonardo could draw, paint, and sculpt, but let's see him work with circuit boards, hard drives, and other components. The results, we think, might've been a little different. [From: Neatorama]

SwitchedComputer Company Displays 'Mona Lisa' Made From Motherboards originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcomputermona lisaMonaLisamotherboardtopweirdTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's Gone Rotten With Patent for Ad-Supported Macs?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/apples-gone-rotten-with-patent-for-ad-supported-macs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Advertisements have been a constant nuisance since the Web's inception, but their continued proliferation has recently become nearly unbearable. Even on some pay sites where every amount of available space is devoted to ad banners, members have to sit through a 30-second spot every time they want to watch a three-minute video.

Apple, though, reportedly believes that all those pop-ups, videos, and obscuring banners just aren't sufficiently irritating. According to the New York Times, the company is developing a terrifying and absolutely disgusting patent that would basically give Apple the right to shill anything on any of its devices at absolutely any time.

Hidden behind the unassuming name of 'Advertisement in Operating System,' the sinister plan would enable Apple to run unstoppable and unavoidable ads on the operating system itself. The ads could even lock a gadget or computer until the spot is completed, or in some infuriating cases, lock the device until the user interacts with the bogus interruptions.

Apple claims that the so-called "enforcement routine" would only be enabled for people who actually agree to being constantly bothered. But, the program is still considerably troubling, particularly coming from a company that takes pride in its trendy, hipster image. If Apple does carry out this despicable plan, it should probably change those already annoying TV ads: "I'm a Mac hypocrite." [From: The New York Times and Download Squad]

SwitchedApple's Gone Rotten With Patent for Ad-Supported Macs? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingAppleoperating systemOperatingSystemosxtopTue, 17 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Head Massager Looks Crazy, but Feels Oh-So Good]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/head-massager-looks-crazy-but-feels-oh-so-good/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/head-massager-looks-crazy-but-feels-oh-so-good/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/head-massager-looks-crazy-but-feels-oh-so-good/#commentsFiled under:

There may be no better feeling in the world than a good scalp massage, but unfortunately, nobody wants to sit around and massage our noggins all day. But we've found the perfect solution. It's called Headtime by South Korean company Kinatech, and this over-sized silver helmet will melt away all your worries and stress. According to Engadget, the device uses 29 silicone balls and 34 ceramic balls to gently massage your scalp. While you're being treated, a built-in speaker pipes nature sounds (singing birds, bubbling creeks) into your ears. There's even a temperature control that makes sure your head stays warm and relaxed.

There's only one downside to this product: It looks like a weird cross between a 'Jetson's' helmet and a beauty salon hair dryer. In other words, you'll want to use the Headtime in the privacy of your own home. Despite the potential for humiliation, having your own personal massaging device is worth every second. It's a good thing Christmas isn't too far away. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedHead Massager Looks Crazy, but Feels Oh-So Good originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizarrebodyheadhealthmassagerelaxrelaxationtherapytopTue, 17 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[After the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/15/after-the-hype-technologies-that-never-lived-up-to-their-promis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The hype machine is a cruel, cruel beast. It builds us up, only to let us down. For every piece of technology that's taken off, there's another handful that failed to live up to the buzz. To honor these fallen ideas, CNET UK has compiled a "Whatever Happened to..." list of the past's most remarkably unremarkable tech.

Remember Sony's MiniDisc? Yes, the colorful plastic cartridge promised that it would become the best, most portable way to listen to music. Well, it didn't. Blame the MP3, if you like. Or go further back, to Apple's LISA. The bulky $10,000 computer was one of the first to use a graphical interface, but it never took off, either. On the bright side, Apple did learn from its mistakes, and certainly knows how to push product these days. There's also the doomed Amstrad Emailer, which arrived about five years too late, and Motorola's Rokr E1, which was promptly owned by the iPhone. Although it's not included on CNET's list, we couldn't go without mentioning Sega's Dreamcast console. We still shed a tear when thinking about what might've been if gamers had only supported the platform.

It's fun to reminisce, but in most cases, we're better off without these failed technologies. Don't believe us? Trade in your iPod for a MiniDisc player, or your iPhone for a Rokr -- just for a day. [From: CNET UK]

SwitchedAfter the Hype: Technologies That Never Lived Up to Their Promise originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellphonecomputerfailurehypelistmicrosoftsonytechnologytopSun, 15 Nov 2009 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot Fighter Jet Shot Down After Malfunction]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/robot-fighter-jet-shot-down-after-malfunction/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/robot-fighter-jet-shot-down-after-malfunction/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/robot-fighter-jet-shot-down-after-malfunction/#commentsFiled under:


Proving that we might not be quite ready to enter into the space age of modern warfare, a robot-controlled U.S. fighter jet went haywire in Afghanistan Sunday, and had to be shot down to prevent disaster. According to USAFCENT Public Affairs, the plane was "flying a combat mission when positive control of the MQ-9 was lost." That can't be good. Before the rogue robot could get too far afield, though, a good, old-fashioned human-controlled jet was called in to shoot it down to earth.

Causes of the military mishap aren't yet clear, though the Register humorously speculates:
"It wasn't clear from the US military announcement whether the erratic death-bot had turned on its masters and was planning an attack on critical US logistics bases located north of the Afghan border, or whether it had sickened of reaping hapless fleshies like corn and was hoping merely to escape. Alternatively the machine assassin may merely have succumbed to boredom or - just possibly - a mundane, non-anthropomorphic technical fault of some kind."
It's a good thing it was quickly resolved. We all know the kind of worldwide doom and destruction that "going rogue" can bring upon the world. [From: The Register, via Geekologie and io9]

SwitchedRobot Fighter Jet Shot Down After Malfunction originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airforceairplanefighter jetFighterJetmilitaryrobottopweirdSat, 14 Nov 2009 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Chips N'Kicks: Artist Immortalizes Nike With Circuit Board Sculpture]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/chips-nkicks-artist-immortalizes-nike-with-circuit-board-sculp/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/chips-nkicks-artist-immortalizes-nike-with-circuit-board-sculp/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/chips-nkicks-artist-immortalizes-nike-with-circuit-board-sculp/#commentsFiled under:


Everybody knows Nike sneakers will never go out of style. So when artist Gabriel Dishaw decided to embark on a series of sneaker sculptures, the Swoosh was the obvious place to start. The result, sure to please both Kanye West and Bill Gates, are called the "Blazer Pentium 1.0" (Dishaw apparently has talent and wit). Made from an old circuit board and weighing about 15-pounds, these chip-heavy kicks (they come in a suitcase tricked out in circuit boards) are available on Dishaw's site, along with some of his other work.

While any good geek (and probably some art-school kids, too) would obviously drool over Dishaw's sneakers, we still don't think they hold a candle to Nike's Marty McFly throwbacks. Face it, there's no way you could zip around on a hoverboard with these clunky things on your feet. [From: Gabriel Dishaw, via: Engadget]

SwitchedChips N'Kicks: Artist Immortalizes Nike With Circuit Board Sculpture originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artgeek chicGeekChicnikesculptureshoestopFri, 13 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Schools Shun Kindle Due to Lack of Accessibility to the Blind]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-shun-kindle-due-to-lack-of-accessibility-to-the-blind/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-shun-kindle-due-to-lack-of-accessibility-to-the-blind/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-shun-kindle-due-to-lack-of-accessibility-to-the-blind/#commentsFiled under:

Despite a function on the Kindle that reads text aloud, two universities and an advocacy group for the visually impaired adopted a staunch anti-Kindle stance Wednesday. According to an Associated Press report, the University of Wisconsin - Madison and Syracuse University won't invest in more electronic readers for college students because the audio feature is too difficult for a visually impaired person to activate. To engage the feature, a user must navigate a series of onscreen menus -- a process requiring a degree of sightedness that many of the United States' 1.3 million legally blind simply don't have.

A spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind applauded the schools' efforts. "These universities are saying, `Our policy is nondiscrimination, so we're not going to adopt a technology we know for sure discriminates against blind students'," Chris Danielsen told the Associated Press. With such strong words, it's no wonder that universities aren't ready to invest in the burgeoning e-book market. But Amazon.com, Inc. spokesman Drew Herdener said he hopes to change that. The company is working on improving the Kindle so that everybody can easily use it. Just how that'll happen, though, remains unclear.

For the record, we're rooting for the Kindle. Take it from former college students, the potential of having cheaper, digital textbooks is enough to make a starving student's mouth water. [From: Associated Press, via Newsvine]

SwitchedSchools Shun Kindle Due to Lack of Accessibility to the Blind originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityamazonblindbookscollegeebookereaderkindlereadingschooltopuniversityThu, 12 Nov 2009 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Schools of Swimming Robots to Study Ocean Currents]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-of-swimming-robots-to-study-ocean-currents/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-of-swimming-robots-to-study-ocean-currents/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/schools-of-swimming-robots-to-study-ocean-currents/#commentsFiled under:

Robot Swarms to Study Ocean Currents
If you happen to notice a swarm of robots floating past your beachfront home, don't panic; it's not the first wave of the SkyNet invasion. Aided by funding from the National Science Foundation, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) is planning to deploy fleets of autonomous robots, possibly numbering in the hundreds, to study localized oceanic environments.

High on the list of phenomena to study is the way in which tiny sub-currents affect small organisms like plankton and their abilities to survive and move about the ocean. The robots, called "autonomous underwater explorers" (AUEs), will also provide important data about the spread of dangerous environmental toxins that arise from disasters like oil spills and harmful algae blooms.

Continue reading Schools of Swimming Robots to Study Ocean Currents

SwitchedSchools of Swimming Robots to Study Ocean Currents originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologynatureoceanresearchrobotssciencetopThu, 12 Nov 2009 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultrasound Could Protect Pacemakers From Hackers]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/ultrasound-could-protect-pacemakers-from-hackers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/ultrasound-could-protect-pacemakers-from-hackers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/ultrasound-could-protect-pacemakers-from-hackers/#commentsFiled under: ,

You never want your wireless device open to attacks, but if that device is implanted inside your body, security becomes even more important. With pacemakers and other medical devices being controlled and monitored from afar, scientists say it's time to step up protection. Those concerns in mind, a group of researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control have developed a new safety net.

According to Technology Review, the system uses ultrasound waves to measure the distance between a medical device and the wireless reader trying to communicate with it. This could prevent potential hackers from wirelessly gaining access to private information stored on the device, draining its battery, or causing it to malfunction. With the ultrasound system, access to the device would be restricted to the physical proximity of the communicator. In the plan proposed by senior researcher Claude Castelluccia and his team, you'd need to go through a series of authentication steps and be within 10 meters of the device in order to gain access.

Continue reading Ultrasound Could Protect Pacemakers From Hackers

SwitchedUltrasound Could Protect Pacemakers From Hackers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhealthmedicalpacemakerresearchsciencesecuritytopultrasoundwirelessWed, 11 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Women More Likely to Call Tech Support, Survey Shows]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/women-more-likely-to-call-tech-support-survey-shows/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/women-more-likely-to-call-tech-support-survey-shows/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/women-more-likely-to-call-tech-support-survey-shows/#commentsFiled under: ,

Proving that it's no longer restricted to the domain of toilet seat treatment, the great gender divide has extended to the world of technology, as well. The BBC reports that women are substantially more likely to read the instruction manual for a given product before calling for assistance, according to a recent survey conducted by the phone tech-help service Gadget Helpline.

The survey of 75,000 calls received between September 25th and October 23rd reveals that 64-percent of male callers had not read the manual prior to placing their SOS phone calls, compared to just 24-percent of women who had bothered to put up instructions before dialing out. Furthermore, 12-percent of male and 7-percent of females just had to plug in the device in question to solve their problems. The majority of the questions revolved around syncing devices up with each other, as well as newly released and unfamiliar gadgets.

Continue reading Women More Likely to Call Tech Support, Survey Shows

SwitchedWomen More Likely to Call Tech Support, Survey Shows originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>helplinesurveytech supportTechSupporttopTue, 10 Nov 2009 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Parents Plan 24/7 Webcast of Disabled Daughter]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/parents-start-24-7-webcast-of-disabled-daughter/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/parents-start-24-7-webcast-of-disabled-daughter/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/parents-start-24-7-webcast-of-disabled-daughter/#commentsFiled under:

Video cameras are everywhere. Whenever you're in public, whether it be a subway station or in front of an ATM, chances are that there's a device somewhere capturing your every move. And everyone's pretty cool about it, for the most part. But when Big Brother unexpectedly moves into the private sphere, people get mad. But a couple in France are testing the limits of privacy with a proposed webcast featuring their disabled and uncommunicative daughter.

Anne Lamic, a 32-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, spends most of her days in bed at her family's home in southeastern France, and can neither speak nor walk. Her parents, though, want to bring her daily struggle to the Internet by way of a webcast. The entire initiative, The Huffington Post reports, is part of an effort to raise awareness about the plight of the handicapped in a country that trails the U.S., Canada, and the Nordic countries when it comes to disabled citizens' rights and accommodations. The webcast has stirred up some controversy in France, though, as some have questioned its ethicality, since Lamic, obviously, can't really have her own say in the issue. Her father, Didier Lamic, contends that the webcam "will allow people to see handicaps in ways that are real, everyday and familiar," adding that the videos "must be watched with tenderness and love."

Continue reading Parents Plan 24/7 Webcast of Disabled Daughter

SwitchedParents Plan 24/7 Webcast of Disabled Daughter originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameradisabledmedicaltopwebcastTue, 10 Nov 2009 07:32:00 EST<![CDATA[What's the Best iMac for Basic Creative Tasks?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/whats-the-best-imac-for-basic-creative-tasks/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/whats-the-best-imac-for-basic-creative-tasks/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/whats-the-best-imac-for-basic-creative-tasks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Question: I'm finally ready to move to Mac, especially with Apple's latest iMacs. I really like the design and simplicity. But which one should I get? I was thinking I should get the base model for $1199, but the big 27-incher is pretty tempting, too, even though it's another $500. Or should I spend the extra money and get the upgraded versions of the iMac? So confusing -- I thought Apple was easy! I'll be using it for a little bit of everything, but my high-end needs will include a little video editing, music writing, and graphic design with Photoshop.
Answer: Apple certainly likes to tout its simplicity and plug-and-play usability, but try telling that to someone switching to Mac for the first time. On the surface, it looks as though Apple has two new iMacs out: the 21.5-inch and 27-inch. Simple. Done. Right?

Not so much. Let's take a quick trip to Apple shopping land (otherwise known as store.apple.com).

Continue reading What's the Best iMac for Basic Creative Tasks?

SwitchedWhat's the Best iMac for Basic Creative Tasks? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecreativefeaturesimacjusttellmewhattogettopMon, 09 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[How to Truly Browse in Private]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/how-to-truly-browse-in-private/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/how-to-truly-browse-in-private/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/how-to-truly-browse-in-private/#commentsFiled under: ,

Private Browsing? Not So Private.
All the modern browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc...) come with what has affectionately been dubbed "porn mode." Though it goes by different names in different browsers (InPrivate, Private Browsing, Incognito), the idea is the same; they keep your online journeys hidden by deleting or rejecting cookies, not tracking history, and emptying the cache when you quit. Unfortunately, these tricks only solve part of the privacy equation, and dedicated snoops could still see what sites you're visiting. Geeky productivity blog Lifehacker has put together a great guide that exposes how these private browsing modes fail to truly cover your tracks, and how to better hide your browsing habits (for whatever reasons you might have).

The big problems are the DNS cache and Flash cookies, neither of which are covered by browsers' privacy controls. DNS, which is often described as the Internet equivalent of a phone book, translates Web site names (such as Switched.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 127.0.0.1). These IP addresses are saved locally to speed up access to those pages in the future. Private browsing modes don't clear this cache, which means that somebody could tell what sites you'd been visiting just by looking at locally stored IP addresses, even if you'd cleared your browser history.

Continue reading How to Truly Browse in Private

SwitchedHow to Truly Browse in Private originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>incognitoInPrivateprivacyprivate browsingPrivateBrowsingtopSat, 07 Nov 2009 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: The Vision One Computer Workstation]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Vision One Computer Workstation (Gamer, Under $2,500)

There are desks, and then there's the V1 ($1,700 starting price), an uncompromising workstation aimed squarely at appeasing the ergonomic needs of the seasoned PC gamer. The standard and corner-room configurations come in 35 colors like solid blue, metallic silver, and "rainbo" -- yep, you read right -- with finishes that include racing stripes and even flames. An adjustable-height monitor stand holds up to three displays while padded elbow rests support your arms; four speaker uprights surround the user so that you're always in the sweet spot. Colors aside, the V1 customization options are plentiful, from the table tops down to chair. If you've got the extra cash, spring for the cushy leather Porsche seat. Why? Because you (and your back) deserve it.

SwitchedGift Guide: The Vision One Computer Workstation originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesdeskfurnituresgamingaccessorieshgghgg-2500hgg-gamerhouseholdv1Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Large Hadron Collider Clogged by Bird's Baguette Bomb]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/bird-drops-baguette-shuts-down-large-hadron-collider/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/bird-drops-baguette-shuts-down-large-hadron-collider/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/bird-drops-baguette-shuts-down-large-hadron-collider/#commentsFiled under:

Every now and then, something will randomly fall out of the sky into an extremely insular environment, and chaos and confusion will erupt. Those consequences, as Chicken Little will tell you, can be devastating.

Something along those lines recently happened at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) when a bird dropped a baguette on the giant particle accelerator as it was flying overhead, nearly shutting the whole thing down in the process. The Register reports that the LHC, located at CERN laboratories in Switzerland, saw temperatures in parts of its accelerator circuits rise rapidly as a result of this baguette-bombing bird. (We're gonna go out on a limb and guess it was French.) Luckily, the LHC wasn't in operation, because if it had been, the incident would've likely suspended all further activity. Dr. Mike Lamont, who works in the CERN control center, reassured everyone that the LHC's safety net would have been strong enough to withstand the attack, especially in light of its significant upgrade in September.

Continue reading Large Hadron Collider Clogged by Bird's Baguette Bomb

SwitchedLarge Hadron Collider Clogged by Bird's Baguette Bomb originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animalsbirdsCERNfunnylarge hadron colliderLargeHadronColliderLHCnaturesciencetopFri, 06 Nov 2009 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Agri-Nerd Programs Classic 'Hello World' Code... in a Wheat Field]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/agri-nerd-programs-classic-hello-world-code-in-a-wheat-fiel/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/agri-nerd-programs-classic-hello-world-code-in-a-wheat-fiel/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/agri-nerd-programs-classic-hello-world-code-in-a-wheat-fiel/#commentsFiled under:

The intricate and wondrous designs of crop circles have mystified and enthralled generations of global spectators from all walks of life. A new, unique crop design, which is actually a square, has recently appeared and is specifically designed for geeks and nerds (particularly those who happen to be brilliant programmers).

Ben Hopfeng-Aertner, a German programmer, has mowed a huge grassy pattern in Semacode, which is a "machine readable," visual programming language. According to Ars Technica, once the agricultural code is translated by a machine, the 'Tetris'-looking pattern literally reads, "Hello, World!" Ben has also created an explanatory Web site that boasts numerous features, including a series of photos detailing the extensive work required to cut the crop code.

Continue reading Agri-Nerd Programs Classic 'Hello World' Code... in a Wheat Field

SwitchedAgri-Nerd Programs Classic 'Hello World' Code... in a Wheat Field originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben hopfeng-aertnerBenHopfeng-aertnercrop circlesCropCirclesfunnyprogrammingprogramminglanguagesemacodetopweirdFri, 06 Nov 2009 09:26:00 EST