Hi-tech glasses offer alternative to bifocals I am sure that this the future trend. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45908565
World's longest sea crossing: Hong Kong-Zhuhai bridge opens. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-45937924
Driverless cars: Who should die in a crash? By Chris FoxTechnology reporter 26 October 2018 please log in to view this image Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES If forced to choose, who should a self-driving car kill in an unavoidable crash? Should the passengers in the vehicle be sacrificed to save pedestrians? Or should a pedestrian be killed to save a family of four in the vehicle? To get closer to an answer - if that were ever possible - researchers from the MIT Media Lab have analysed more than 40 million responses to an experiment they launched in 2014. Their Moral Machine has revealed how attitudes differ across the world. How did the experiment work? Weighing up whom a self-driving car should kill is a modern twist on an old ethical dilemma known as the trolley problem. The idea was explored in an episode of the NBC series The Good Place, in which ethics professor Chidi is put in control of a runaway tram. please log in to view this image Image copyrightNBC/THE GOOD PLACE Image caption In The Good Place, Chidi must make a moral decision If he takes no action, the tram will run over five engineers working on the tracks ahead. If he diverts the tram on to a different track he will save the five engineers, but the tram will hit one other engineer who would otherwise have survived. The Moral Machine presented several variations of this dilemma involving a self-driving car. please log in to view this image Image copyright MIT MEDIA LAB Image caption Moral Machine: Should a self-driving car save passengers or pedestrians? People were presented with several scenarios. Should a self-driving car sacrifice its passengers or swerve to hit: a successful business person? a known criminal? a group of elderly people? a herd of cows? pedestrians who were crossing the road when they were told to wait? Four years after launching the experiment, the researchers have published an analysis of the data in Nature magazine. What did they find? The results from 40 million decisions suggested people preferred to save humans rather than animals, spare as many lives as possible, and tended to save young over elderly people. There were also smaller trends of saving females over males, saving those of higher status over poorer people, and saving pedestrians rather than passengers. please log in to view this image About 490,000 people also completed a demographic survey including their age, gender and religious views. The researchers said these qualities did not have a "sizeable impact" on the decisions people made. The researchers did find some cultural differences in the decisions people made. People in France were most likely to weigh up the number of people who would be killed, while those in Japan placed the least emphasis on this. please log in to view this image The researchers acknowledge that their online game was not a controlled study and that it "could not do justice to all of the complexity of autonomous vehicle dilemmas". However, they hope the Moral Machine will spark a "global conversation" about the moral decisions self-driving vehicles will have to make. please log in to view this image "Never in the history of humanity have we allowed a machine to autonomously decide who should live and who should die, in a fraction of a second, without real-time supervision. We are going to cross that bridge any time now," the team said in its analysis. "Before we allow our cars to make ethical decisions, we need to have a global conversation to express our preferences to the companies that will design moral algorithms, and to the policymakers that will regulate them." please log in to view this image Image Copyright @spenley@SPENLEY Report Germany has already introduced a law that states driverless cars must avoid injury or death at all cost. The law says algorithms must never decide what to do based on the age, gender or health of the passengers or pedestrians
I would like the driverless car that I bought and paid for to have me as its number one priority A bit of warning and the chance to grab the wheel and make up my own mind would be the ideal though
The AI Doctor will see you now! Good episode of Horizon on BBC2 tonight..... Horizon2018: 12. Diagnosis on Demand? The Computer Will See You Now Could a machine replace your doctor? Dr Hannah Fry explores the incredible ways AI is revolutionising healthcare - and what this means for all of us. This film chronicles the inside story of the AI health revolution, as one company, Babylon Health, prepare for a man vs machine showdown. Can Babylon succeed in their quest to prove their AI can outperform human doctors at safe triage and accurate diagnosis? Artificial intelligence is starting to transform healthcare beyond recognition - and tech companies large and small see almost limitless commercial opportunity. The ultimate vision is for accessible, affordable, better healthcare for almost everyone with a phone. In Britain this is already radically changing how some of us see our GPs. And in a world with a chronic shortage of doctors, but where even the very poor own mobile phones, it could be truly revolutionary. To witness this revolution from the inside, this film has privileged, behind-the-scenes access to ambitious British tech start-up Babylon Health, whose CEO Dr Ali Parsa declares with complete conviction 'we're going to do with healthcare what Google did with information.' Babylon launched its GP at Hand app in London in late 2017 and has already persuaded 30,000 Londoners to quit their old GPs to register instead for this NHS 'digital first' service, where patients discuss symptoms with an AI chatbot and see a doctor in minutes 24/7 via their phone. But GP at Hand's arrival has proved controversial - with many traditional GPs worried about the disruptive consequences for them and their patients, and others seeking to thwart its expansion nationwide. As this film reveals, there is a fundamental culture clash at play - between the 'move fast and break things' world of tech, and the cautious, diligent, often slow-moving world of medical science. So how will both camps respond when Babylon's AI attempts to pass the diagnostic sections of the Royal College of GPs exam? Amazingly, the NHS is today the largest purchaser of fax machines in the world - and the British government are eagerly embracing AI as the remedy for our public health system's antiquated inefficiencies. British health secretary Matt Hancock is an unabashed evangelist for tech - boasting Babylon's GP at Hand as his GP. Yet some scientists are increasingly alarmed, questioning the current hype and asking where is the proof that AI health apps, now in widespread use, are effective and safe. How should they be evaluated and regulated? And what needs to happen before we all trust our health to AI? As well as following a tumultuous year inside Babylon, both in the UK and Rwanda, the film also explores how another British AI Health start-up, Kheiron Medical, has successfully used deep learning to train its AI to detect breast cancer and now outperforms human radiologists at spotting the tell-tale signs of cancer in mammograms. Horizon, 2018: 12. Diagnosis on Demand? The Computer Will See You Now: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bqjq0q via @bbciplayer
A simulation of what may have happened with LION AIR 737 Crash at Jakarta [Flight JT610] Warning: Do not watch if you are scared of flying or are about to fly. It must have been horrific to have been and board. May all the vicitms of this tragedy R.I.P.
Hundreds of buffaloes drown 'fleeing lions' in Botswana 2 hours ago Share this with Facebook Share this with WhatsApp Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE Image captionLocal people woke up to find hundreds of dead buffaloes in the Chobe River Hundreds of buffaloes have drowned in a river on the border between Botswana and Namibia. Early investigations suggest the herd was being chased by lions and ran into the river, say Botswana authorities. A local lodge owner told the BBC that it looks like the buffaloes then got stuck because the bank on the other side of the river was too high and that they panicked and stampeded. He has never heard of such a large group of buffaloes drowning before. Africa Live: More on this and other African stories Dozens of elephants killed near Botswana wildlife sanctuary The authorities in Botswana estimate that roughly 400 buffaloes died. People living in the area collected the buffaloes and took them home to eat. The river flows through the Chobe National Park, a major tourist attraction known for its huge numbers of elephants, giraffe, sable and buffalo. Simone Micheletti, who owns a lodge on the Namibian side of the river, said that the herd was unusually large - at roughly 1,000 buffaloes. He took photos of the scene: please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE Mr Micheletti told the BBC that he heard the lions roaring a lot on Tuesday night. When he went down to the river on Wednesday morning he saw hundreds of dead buffaloes. He added that it was cloudy on Tuesday night so he suspects the clouds blocked the moonlight, meaning the buffaloes couldn't see. Botswana's environment ministry released a statement saying that mass drownings are not unusual in the Chobe River, but Mr Micheletti says that the scale of the deaths is unheard of. The biggest mass drowning he has heard of before was around 50 buffaloes. He said that most of the bodies have been taken out of the river by people living nearby in order to eat them, something he said the authorities have given them permission to do. please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE please log in to view this image Image copyrightSERONDELA LODGE
I found this “ugly car” list quite interesting. http://topcarsmagazine.com/15-ugliest-cars-ever-made/16/ I actually liked quite a few of them!
What have the Vikings ever done for us? By Daniel BennettBBC Scotland please log in to view this image Sketch of a fleet of Viking ships on a raid Life as a Viking was never easy. Days were spent rowing longships, creating intricate art, or telling stories about duels between gods and giants. Their legacy, however, extends beyond the bloody and gruesome tales that have themselves become legend and synonymous with Viking identity. What, after all their raids and travel across Europe and the globe, have the Vikings ever done for us? please log in to view this image An example of Thor's hammer Mjollnir, was worn usually as a pendant. Who were they? Vikings were peoples from areas of Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden, and Norway - who planted crops in spring and raided towns overseas in summer. The Viking Age - when they were most active in their exploration and raiding - covers the period from the 8th Century until the 11th Century AD. Norse settlers were those from these countries who came following the raids to trade and settle. The Viking people were adept at using the land - many were farmers, in areas where the climate allowed them to grow crops. It was common to find barley, cabbage and turnips in a Viking larder. Art was another strong element of Viking identity. According to Davy Cooper of the Shetland Amenity Trust, jewellery had a practical use. "They displayed their religious affiliation through their jewellery. Many people wore Thor's Hammer," said Mr Cooper. Associated with a thunderbolt, it was believed that Thor defended the order of the gods against their foes using the might of the hammer. please log in to view this image Gokstad Viking ship showcased in the Viking Ship Museum in Norway. The Viking Expansion Trade became more varied as the Vikings made their way across Europe, bringing conflict and commerce where they went. One example was the Volga River in modern-day Russia. The Vikings who settled along the river, who were known as the Rus, gave Russia its name. The Volga Trade Route opened up Northern Europe to the possibilities and potential of trade with Arabic nations and the Byzantine Empire. According to Mr Cooper, the items plundered from monasteries along the way "allowed them to buy the things they couldn't produce on their own farms". These included goods ranging from salt and dyes to spices which were collected in exchange for honey, fur and slaves taken from the Viking raids. They travelled even further afield, arriving in modern-day North America towards the end of the 10th Century, where they are said to have had fractious relationships with native tribes in North America and Greenland. The Vikings termed them "Skræling", meaning "skin-wearer" or "wretched people". please log in to view this image A depiction of Norsemen landing on the coast of North America in the 11th century How did they get there? Viking technology was revolutionary. In particular, the marine technology they developed established them as world leaders, and feared anywhere there was water. Mr Cooper said: "[Their ships] were designed for speed, to carry the maximum number of men, and to go a fair way up river systems." He continued: "The shape of the boat meant it created bubbles on the edge of the planks [on the outside of the boat]. To all intents and purposes, a Viking ship rides on a cushion of air, and has far less resistance in water." And for navigation they had a "sun compass" which was, according to Mr Cooper, "a very simple circle with a pin in the middle" which is used to take a reading according to the height of the sun and time of day. But journeys sometimes had unexpected final destinations. "They tended to get blown places accidentally, but they knew what direction to sail going back," said Mr Cooper. "That meant they could find the place again, and they could tell someone else how to find it." Having used the natural world to provide food, the Vikings were able to utilise it in a novel way for navigation - in the form of crystals. Mr Cooper said: "They used a crystal that, when turned in a certain direction it goes dark, and when it goes in another direction it goes light. So when turned to a light source they discovered that it even worked in fog if they knew where the sun was - meaning they could figure out what direction they were travelling in." Doing their 'Thing' Viking society has been influential on modern life in numerous ways. Art and language derived from Viking cultures is still evident literally in the day-to-day - 'Thursday' itself comes from 'Thor', the Norse god of thunder. The Viking system of law contains elements which mirror the ethical codes of many cultures, along with a framework of ownership. Mr Cooper explained: "They are still some of the laws we use to this day; don't kill, don't steal. A lot of it related to property and respecting property." This loose set of guidelines and rudimentary laws were discussed at a gathering known as the Thing. At these, alleged criminals would be tried by a group of their peers and could be found innocent or guilty. If the latter was the final decision, people could be fined, semi-outlawed, or fully outlawed. In 930 AD, Vikings had established the 'Althing' in Iceland. It runs to this day, and is reported to be the world's longest running parliament. The thing has left a mark on local communities, their names being derived from these gatherings. Tingwall in Shetland was the site of the islands' local government until the 1500s. Another prominent location is Dingwall in the Highlands. Archaeological evidence was found in 2013 confirming it was the site of a Viking parliament, built on the instructions of a powerful Viking earl. Mr Cooper said: "The Viking system was almost like our current system still works. There was a local Thing, which was a local council. Then there was like, for example, a Shetland-wide Thing. Local Things would send representatives to that. Ultimately there was the King and court in Norway." please log in to view this image Icelandic Women's brooches, ornamented similarly to that from Viking Age Scandinavia. In ways, this structure filtered through into egalitarian aspects of Viking society. Mr Cooper said: "Women had rights in Viking times that they lost and didn't regain for 10 centuries. They could own land, they could inherit land, and they could speak at the Things. "They were a fair-minded race. Despite their reputation. they had rules to live by. "It's just that those rules didn't apply to anyone who wasn't a Viking."
Anyone for a pint of Tennants? Melbourne shipwreck beer back in Glasgow after 150 years 16 November 2018 please log in to view this image Jim Anderson now age 72 holds the bottle he found decades ago A diver who discovered a 150-year-old bottle of Tennent's off the coast of Australia has brought the stout back to Scotland. Jim Anderson sent the artefact back to the Glasgow brewery after finding it on a shipwreck in the 1970s. The bottle was on board The Light of The Age when its drunken captain caused the clipper to sink near Melbourne on 16 January 1868. It is thought to be the oldest bottle of beer in Scotland. 'Very special' Recalling the discovery, 72-year-old Mr Anderson said: "I could see the inscription Wellpark Brewery on it, and I set about finding where that was. "I found out it was in Glasgow, and I contacted Tennent's to see if they were interested in the bottle, which they were, and I was delighted. "Now people can look at it, and think about the connection between Australia and Scotland, too. It's very special." please log in to view this image The artefact is carefully handled before going on display The Light of The Age was carrying 42 people on a voyage from Liverpool, with a cargo of salt, slates, pipes, preserves and liquors including stout from Wellpark. The Scottish brewery had well-established agents in Liverpool and Australia, and regular shipments from Glasgow via Liverpool were common. However the captain, who was found to be drunk by a marine board investigation, took the ship off course and ran it aground. please log in to view this image The bottle top from the stout eroded after years under water The ship sank outside Port Phillip Heads near Melbourne - but the bottle of Tennent's survived. A member of the Geelong Skindivers Club, Mr Anderson discovered the bottle before Australian laws changed to protect wreck sites. He added: "It took a bit of clearance to get it to Glasgow because artefacts are protected in Australia and we need special authorisation for things like this to leave the country. "I sought all that, and it's amazing to see it back where it started, 150 years later, metres from where it started its journey." please log in to view this image Jim Anderson is a member of the Geelong Skindivers Club The stout and its story will be put on display at the brewery's new visitor centre opening on 22 November. Tennent's have also developed a commemorative edition of the stout after brewers researched the firm's old recipes. please log in to view this image Tennent's have developed a commemorative brew to celebrate the bottle's return Alan McGarrie, group brand director for Tennent's said: "Pre-dating Tennent's Lager, which was first brewed in 1885, the stout is one of the oldest bottles of beer in Britain, returned to Wellpark by the diver who found it. "Unlike the drunken captain who ran his ship aground close to Port Phillip Heads, Jim has ensured his historic cargo reached its final destination - by flying round the world to put it in place himself."
This might, or might not, interest a few posters. Wombat poop: Scientists reveal mystery behind cube-shaped droppings http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-46258616
