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Underground > Laboratory >

Don't you care about your computer's feelings?

22:38 / 25.08.01

From the New Scientist :

quote:An international set of specifications for writing non-verbal human communications in computer code is being drawn up by a US web standards group.

Computer scientists backing the project believe that the language could improve cross-cultural communications and might eventually lend itself to virtual reality and artificial intelligence applications.

HumanMarkup Language (HumanML) will allow software engineers to write abstract, non-verbal human communications in computer code. This will give computer users the power to communicate their emotions and gestures to other computer users over the internet.

The language is designed to be compatible with eXtensible Markup Language (XML), a highly customisable computer language for designing web pages and internet applications.

Looks like this should be interesting. And since its native to HTML / XML, looks like we all might be able to use it too...gonna go give my computer a back massage now.

[ 26-08-2001: Message edited by: nEtbanshEE ]

21:28 / 28.08.01

No!

The Return Of Rothkoid

11:06 / 29.08.01

After the shit that mine's been giving me today? Not fucking likely. Reinstallation of everything ain't fun, and there's no way civility is going to come into my computer's life today.

12:41 / 29.08.01

quote:Originally posted by Rothkoid:
After the shit that mine's been giving me today? Not fucking likely. Reinstallation of everything ain't fun, and there's no way civility is going to come into my computer's life today.

Heh... If your computer does have feelings I doubt it enjoyed the reinstallation any more than you did. Having your hard drive wiped and then having all those programs installed is probably like the computer version of a catheter probe or some other unpleasant invasive procedure.

Or maybe it's more like a brainwashing session. Hell, I don't know but I'm sure that good communication would help you two to mend your differences. There's a twelve step group therapy session available starting next week.

16:18 / 29.08.01

...well, wasn't looking particularly for a computer failure rant...but...

What kind of systems does everyone use? Between that, the software, and the experience lies lots o' problems. Don't want to be too forward but I did quite a bit of tech support in my day and found either it was the Microsoft product or the person behind the screen...

On my end, had the same old upgraded mac clone shitbox for six years and it purrs like a kitten. Plus like I mentioned before, a good backrub is sometimes what they need.

But on the topic, does anyone think this language offers any possibilities? Saw the use of programmable puppets (think it was a failed avitar component to quicktime) a few years back but it was...um, stupid.

Does anyone think that with the current technology available to us that there's a better human interfacing component available? Any examples whether developing or available?

I do lots of interface work and concepting so any info on this helps...

18:54 / 29.08.01

But I got a big hammer.
He knows it.
He wouldn´t be so stupid to try anything

would you Mr.Flathead?

07:17 / 21.09.01

Ooooh, it reads exactly like the short story 'Lenny' by Asimov.....here we go again...

The Return Of Rothkoid

08:17 / 21.09.01

quote:Originally posted by Lothar Tuppan:
Heh... If your computer does have feelings I doubt it enjoyed the reinstallation any more than you did.Must've done - we've had two more since then. Actually, am now on my third computer in as many days. (Anyone know about BIOS-wiping virii on OS 9.2?) I wouldn't get so pissed off about it if the "Happy Mac" icon you get after a successful startup occasionally did something a little more diverting, like told me that it was fucked off about having to chunk through all those Quark documents, too.

But yes. When it works properly, I praise my computer. But when it doesn't... well, let's just say that I'm using a Macintosh Shithouse Bastard at those moments...

13:54 / 21.09.01

...not that it's the most appropriate way to change the icon, but since the very beginning if you place the little apple into open flame, you get a sad mac on it's face with a tombstone behind it...talk about programming for everything....

but um...there's no real bios on a mac...maybe the system/finder are damaged...run disinfectant, norton anti-virus...also when's the last time you rebuilt the desktop, zapped the pram, defragged the drive, etc. These are often forgotten but highly important to the computer's health...

The Return Of Rothkoid

14:32 / 21.09.01

Nup. Had done them all - do 'em pretty regularly. Disc shut down normally on Sunday, wouldn't boot twelve hours later. On top of that, the Mac then wouldn't boot from a CD or power up any USB ports (ie: the keyboard), even with the drive completely removed; that's why we kinda think it was a firmware problem. That, and it made a second Mac it was installed into crash with exactly the same problems (won't boot from CD at all..) - thoughts were that it somehow changes the firmware, or fucks up the disc controller.
Norton with defs updated yesterday found NOTHING. (Disc won't boot, but will be slaved and show everything up. No physical HD damage, either, according to NDD.)

So yeah, a possibly new hardware-buggering virus.

Either that, or it was voodoo. Which would be a lot cooler.

15:06 / 21.09.01

...what are the systems as far as hardware?

...also what wre the last big changes enabled on them...trying to help figure this one out...

The Return Of Rothkoid

15:50 / 21.09.01

First, a 400mHz G4, then a 450mHz G4. Both with about 256MB RAM. It's a 20G drive. It's now slaved to a 350mHz G3, but won't boot if made master. Was running OS9.2, now running 9.1. The last software installed, some time ago, was the Aliens vs Predator demo (yes, I suck.) and iGetter, the PR version. Though that only installs an url-grabber, nothing more. The last changes to the system folder would've been made by Software Update, I think.

Whatever the cause, I spent three days computerless and am now reformatting the rogue disc, having deleted all the applications on it, and reinstalling from originals all the stuff I need, onto the master disc. Sigh.

tom-karika nukes it from orbit

21:27 / 26.09.01

I know of a BIOS wiper that will almost kill outright a Mac machhine running any sort of unix variant. It's a case of new BIOS chip and hard drive for that one. I don't know if there's an equivalent for OS 9.1/2

01:52 / 28.09.01

I worry more about appeasing the demons that inhabit the Internet and cause all the glitches than I do about hurting my computer's feelings. We're on the brink of a war with subprocessorien entities and people are worried about feelings?

Geez. We're screwed, aren't we?

17:06 / 28.09.01

I try hard to keep those demons at bay too, Brenda. And yes, it's sad...but if I could take the energy produced in the interaction between this machine and I, and channel it to the rest of the world, it may be a surprisingly better place. I think there may be a connection to this kind of stuff in the future....would be great to feed the current world situation into a computer and have it spit out the most fair answer for us...just as long as it doesn't try to "end of line" the humans...that's all...

03:17 / 29.09.01

g=L(h)-p

The fastest solution to any problem is the nullification of passion. Making the statement "Logic is God" into an unassailable truth is the first step towards mechanized enlightenment. Perfection is Harmony.

No, I'm not sure I like that computerized world view.

*twitch*

would be great to feed the current world situation into a computer and have it spit out the most fair answer for us...just as long as it doesn't try to "end of line" the humans...that's all...

"Variables which cannot be subtracted from the equation have caused a program fault. Within the parameters of the current question, no fair solution could be reached. Please alter the parameters and restart."