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computer vision + toilet; spellcheck.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Sat, 28 Dec 2013 23:06:56 -0500
parents 8e9e811d3f76
children 8fa830f0bed4
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79:c3570ed77c8d 80:f6a551af68ff
29 #+begin_quote 29 #+begin_quote
30 There's no end to what a man can accomplish if he doesn't care about 30 There's no end to what a man can accomplish if he doesn't care about
31 getting credit. 31 getting credit.
32 #+end_quote 32 #+end_quote
33 33
34 - smart toilets :: Instead of using indirect measures like infrared
35 detectors of the presence of a person, use computer
36 vision to directly measure whether the toilet needs
37 to be flushed. I think a lot of things will end up
38 going this way as we get better computer vision.
39
34 - validate chemopreservation :: chemopreservation is difficult to 40 - validate chemopreservation :: chemopreservation is difficult to
35 validate because it destroys the functionality of a brain, and 41 validate because it destroys the functionality of a brain, and
36 brain simulation will take a long time to mature as a 42 brain simulation will take a long time to mature as a
37 technology. However, one very powerful way to validate 43 technology. However, one very powerful way to validate
38 chemopreservation would be to have a person/animal learn 44 chemopreservation would be to have a person/animal learn
39 something with high complexity such as a number or the solution 45 something with high complexity such as a number or the solution
40 to a maze, or a flashbulb memory. Then you perserve their brain 46 to a maze, or a flashbulb memory. Then you preserve their brain
41 chemically, slice it up, and reat /that specific memory/ from the 47 chemically, slice it up, and read /that specific memory/ from the
42 detailed brain scan. Much more difficult, but much more doable. 48 detailed brain scan. Much more difficult, but much more doable.
43 49
44 - candy screw :: edible candy screw with candy nuts that you can screw 50 - candy screw :: edible candy screw with candy nuts that you can screw
45 as well. 51 as well.
46 52
47 - better bibliography :: when writing a thesis or paper, have the 53 - better bibliography :: when writing a thesis or paper, have the
48 biblography not just be an opaque list of resources, but have it 54 bibliography not just be an opaque list of resources, but have it
49 be a list of /summaries/ and /qualities/ that each paper has in 55 be a list of /summaries/ and /qualities/ that each paper has in
50 the context of the paper being written. When examaning a 56 the context of the paper being written. When examining a
51 biblography, I want to know if reading the papers in the 57 bibliography, I want to know if reading the papers in the
52 bibliography are worth my time, and I also am probably also 58 bibliography are worth my time, and I also am probably also
53 interested in exactly the things that are being discussed in the 59 interested in exactly the things that are being discussed in the
54 paper I'm reading. The bibliography is the perfect place to 60 paper I'm reading. The bibliography is the perfect place to
55 provide information about the referenced papers from the 61 provide information about the referenced papers from the
56 author's perspective. I will use this biblographic form in my own 62 author's perspective. I will use this biographic form in my own
57 thesis. 63 thesis.
58 64
59 - digital inter-library loan :: libraries at universities already do 65 - digital inter-library loan :: libraries at universities already do
60 interlibrary loans for books, so why not do the same for access 66 inter-library loans for books, so why not do the same for access
61 to stupid paywalled digital papers? All the universities could 67 to stupid paywalled digital papers? All the universities could
62 allow access to articles for registered students to all the files 68 allow access to articles for registered students to all the files
63 available through any participating university. This could be 69 available through any participating university. This could be
64 achieved by sending requests through proxies at participating 70 achieved by sending requests through proxies at participating
65 universities. Each university would decide who at the university 71 universities. Each university would decide who at the university
125 - mirror toilet :: a toilet with a square basin made or mirror instead 131 - mirror toilet :: a toilet with a square basin made or mirror instead
126 or porcelain. That way, you can see how good of a 132 or porcelain. That way, you can see how good of a
127 wipe job you have done / watch how your excretion 133 wipe job you have done / watch how your excretion
128 system works. 134 system works.
129 135
130 - test dummies :: why don't we clone encephalic humans and use then to 136 - test dummies :: why don't we clone anencephalic humans and use then to
131 test /in vivo/ human organ systems and drugs? It 137 test /in vivo/ human organ systems and drugs? It
132 would be ethical as long as there are women who are 138 would be ethical as long as there are women who are
133 willing to host the clones, and it would be a 139 willing to host the clones, and it would be a
134 tremendous resource for studying the human body. I 140 tremendous resource for studying the human body. I
135 see nothing wrong with it morally, since no one is 141 see nothing wrong with it morally, since no one is
137 more advanced technology. 143 more advanced technology.
138 144
139 - X-ray telepresence :: given that a doctor is operating on a patient 145 - X-ray telepresence :: given that a doctor is operating on a patient
140 via telepresence, one cool things you can do is shine X-rays into 146 via telepresence, one cool things you can do is shine X-rays into
141 the patient to view the insides during real time. If the system 147 the patient to view the insides during real time. If the system
142 was coupled with a Baysean model of the layout of the structure, 148 was coupled with a Bayesian model of the layout of the structure,
143 and the x-rays were only fired whenever the uncertainty of the 149 and the x-rays were only fired whenever the uncertainty of the
144 model reached a certain threshold, then the radiation damage 150 model reached a certain threshold, then the radiation damage
145 and surgery risk could be minimized. 151 and surgery risk could be minimized.
146 152
147 - superfluid vascular system :: I wonder what would happen if you 153 - superfluid vascular system :: I wonder what would happen if you
200 some other uses for the EEG data as well. 206 some other uses for the EEG data as well.
201 207
202 - image compression :: use a library like gimp or opencv to process an 208 - image compression :: use a library like gimp or opencv to process an
203 image to make it have less entropy, then store the reverse of 209 image to make it have less entropy, then store the reverse of
204 those operations along with the compressed simpler image as a 210 those operations along with the compressed simpler image as a
205 super-compressed image file (possibly sccapting some 211 super-compressed image file (possibly accepting some
206 lesses). Trades file size for decompression time, and allows one 212 losses). Trades file size for decompression time, and allows one
207 to cheat by using information in gimp/opencv to compress the 213 to cheat by using information in gimp/opencv to compress the
208 image. 214 image.
209 215
210 - fixed cryopreservation :: why not use a fixative to buy enough time 216 - fixed cryopreservation :: why not use a fixative to buy enough time
211 to ramp up cryoprotectants to an acceptable level at room 217 to ramp up cryoprotectants to an acceptable level at room