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ktallett

791 karma · joined July 30, 2015

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ktallett··on A Eureka machine that thinks like nature and explores what AI cannot
They have replicated a neuromorphic algorithm (brain like) on a FPGA, but this implementation at this scale is doubtful to have any improvement over a brute force effort. Quite a few companies feel this is the way forward, although the end goal would be potentially better using photonic chips than qubits and obviously better than an fpga.

The title is especially buzzword based with minimal meaning for the actual paper.

ktallett··on A Eureka machine that thinks like nature and explores what AI cannot
This is not especially related to quantum computing. Neuromorphic computing uses an algorithm that tries to replicate how the brain works and then in this case implements it and runs it on an FPGA. There are quite a range of papers on this concept and multiple companies are doing just this to show their work. It is often used as it should theoretically avoid such a brute force approach.
ktallett··on MIT president: Why so many optimistic scientists are losing heart
Working in academic research, I can say clearly that it can be hard to self motivate at times. Especially whereby everything is focused on IP and hence a profit. We have gone beyond the stage of science to widen our knowledge and we are moving closer to industry. On the whole we avoid letting each other get too far ahead by sharing enough to show off and get more funding but not enough that others can replicate it.

In my view, you need to have two projects going on; one that satisfies funders and pays the bills, possibly the latest buzzword. Then alongside that a more theoretical project in an area that you are passionate about. Plod along in the background with the latter to make the former easier.

Satisfying the task masters who are often very stuck in their ways and risk adverse is the hard part. Pushing the boundaries to give out a little more than they would like is essential.

ktallett··on What Gets Kept
I've read all his works and I was a big fan. But I do still believe it does attract a specific age. Orwell had some excellent work, and I didn't insult him. However I am wary of romanticising a way of life. His early works were based on his real experiences but I can't promote essays or books based on a brief entrance into that life for research as it's not quite the same. I believe all forms of media are best when they are based on your real lived experience and not roleplayed. Especially music and literature. Oasis are a particularly great example of this; you can't really write songs about a life of poverty and hope when you no longer live that.
ktallett··on Gemini, Gophers, and Fingers. Oh My Alternative Internets Beyond HTTPS
I have started to try and always develop Gopher versions of my sites for my research work. I try and promote that version especially to those who live in countries where internet access is costly relative to income or internet access is limited. Usually the key differences are diagrams become ASCII based.
ktallett··on What Gets Kept
Jack Kerouac has always felt like a gateway for early 20 year old guys looking to be seen as literary explorers. Similar to how Orwell seems to be commonly found around your mid teens (15-17) and many are seem reading 1984. I guess it's almost a right of passage.

I know many will say those are stereotypes or tropes but having worked with people from 15-28 over the course of many years in a range of roles, it's very much an observation at this point. Orwell especially I suspect comes from required reading.

ktallett··on Dropbox CEO Drew Houston to step down
Teams being free doesn't make teams good. Just like Google Drive and OneDrive being packaged in for cheap doesn't make them good. It is clear why they are lower value.
ktallett··on Dropbox CEO Drew Houston to step down
I don't see the need to become bloated like slack and a one size fits all application. They do a great job with the product they have. Is there anything wrong with just being what you are? Why does the lack of a second act need to be a bad thing if your first product is great and still extremely valuable?

I would also if anything put Zoom in with Dropbox, they have a product that is by far the most enjoyable to use in that space, but any other offshoot is not worth it.

ktallett··on IBM Spins Off the First Pure-Play Quantum Chip Foundry
The superconducting approach is great in principle but has so many issues that need to be solved, from cooling, to energy to cool, to max number of qubits before you can't cool to operating temperature, before optimal connectivity to rest of system and so on. I am of the view photonics is the way forward but as you say, it will depend on the task at hand partially.
ktallett··on IBM Spins Off the First Pure-Play Quantum Chip Foundry
It massively depends on what type of quantum chip it is, so often the confusion is that there is no one specific method. Especially as we are too early in the development cycle to have a clear winner (although Photonic computing is gaining traction).
ktallett··on Ferrari Luce – Designed with Jony Ive
It would be a great looking Hyundai but it is a dreadful looking Ferrari. The cost of such a car will be far higher than it deserves. Ferrari for me is synonymous with genuinely beautiful curvaceous cars that have a gorgeous, slightly old looking interior. This is not it, nor is it take Ferrari into the modern day.
ktallett··on US's big bet on quantum computing may not be legal
The big issue with quantum computing and Photonic computing research is that almost everyone is off on a different path hiding IP, overinflating, and sometimes just lying about their findings to gain more funding. So tbh, it sounds like Trump would fit in beautifully.

I would be shocked if anymore than 1% of the startup quantum and Photonic companies in existence now actually end up creating a useful, real world repeatable, successful usable devices or parts of a device.

ktallett··on The four-day workweek in Australia: insights from early adopters of 100:80:100
How does that differentiate from a boss or a company philosophy stating a 5 or 6 day week is better? With no reliable metric on better, other than ancedotal evidence. It's not as if it's repeatable experimentation.
ktallett··on Australia Four-Day Work Week Study Data Shows Boosted Productivity
In what metric do they get ahead? I think this is the key. What many visualise as getting ahead primarily seems to be fund raising or having a higher monetary value. Especially in startups where the largest mouth, the biggest blagger, or the quickest to mention a buzz word gets you more funding. Being closer to your end goal, with an adoptable product that improves society, is really the only metric that matters.
ktallett··on The four-day workweek in Australia: insights from early adopters of 100:80:100
Basically every study shows a four day week works best. The issue is why we never go with what the study shows.
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
I can assure you that Mexicans (where football is the main sport and has been for years) would, Hondurans, Panamanians, and many others. If you simply mean the USA and Canada say so. Football is the most watched sport comfortably, with the odd anomaly like the US.
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
There have both been fraud, which I find is more often the case recently along with money laundering. However, one of the Woodward brothers was charged and convicted with distributing copyrighted material, hence piracy.
ktallett··on Air France and Airbus found guilty of manslaughter over 2009 plane crash
Well yes of course they have to be checked by a regulator, but you should still have the thought of, we must do this, no matter the cost as safety matters above everything else in this industry.
ktallett··on Air France and Airbus found guilty of manslaughter over 2009 plane crash
It's not that black and white. Airbus will be responsible for educating Air France too and giving appropriate training. These planes are not purchased by Air France without significant documentation and access to support.
ktallett··on Air France and Airbus found guilty of manslaughter over 2009 plane crash
Do we want airlines that only put in fixes for safety issues once they are forced to?
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
The whole internet wasn't blocked but a significant percentage was taken down due to the attempt to take down la liga streams. As explained, some banks, some payments systems, and a few other things stopped working due to the governments attempt at blocking streams. The government are clearly trying to exercise control over the people in a way that just doesn't work. It's no surprise though as the government has always been too heavily involved in football in Spain, especially Real Madrid and Barcelona.
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
They didn't mean to, just they were incompetent. Also considering Spanish league is spread over the full long weekend a waste of time.

However this is why infrastructure and connection method is needing to be removed from the government by creation and adoption of alternatives such as mesh.

ktallett··on Spanish Court Declines to Fine NordVPN over LaLiga Piracy Blocking Order
The opposite would be foot ball. Although both are petty as anyway both are called it because it is played on foot with a ball. Not because you use your foot to kick a ball.
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
Considering web addresses are easily changed, it was a futile suggestion to say block LaLiga streams. Good on Nordvpn. As a football fan, the owners of the leagues have too much power. Like in the UK people have gone to jail for piracy, which should never happen.
ktallett··on Spanish court declines to fine NordVPN over LaLiga piracy blocking order
You mean other than Berlin, Malmö, Paris, London, Munich, and many others. Europe doesn't have so many huge companies but that's not a bad thing. We do have a lot of companies doing key work that may benefit society as a whole.
ktallett··on Deepfakes Tore a High School Apart
That is a hard one, as how do you know they aren't real? I mean I think I know but that is just because I know already.
ktallett··on Why Japanese companies do so many different things
The one key thing that is completely incorrect is there is no horizontal hierarchy. Everyone has a boss, a boss that you must not suggest is wrong. I'm very fond of visiting Japan but having worked there, found it impossibly challenging to get anything done. When things work well it is great and the focused culture produces some great things, but when it fails it leads to catastrophe as no one is able to voice early in the process. Issues are only discovered once they are serious.
ktallett··on Tristan Davey's Punch Card Archive
I have basically no real knowledge on the history of punch cards bar how they work, but this is why the internet is still special, these niche websites.
ktallett··on The Hardware Lottery
There are far more localised versions of this in research facilities whereby budget, and available hardware is determining the focus of research far more than idea and it being right.

This is where open source hardware is key

ktallett··on Deepfakes Tore a High School Apart
This is sadly becoming very common and they are worringly good enough for people to assume they are real. I had a friend who had this issue, she has tried to ride it off as no clue who made them or shared them but I know it can't be easy for her. There needs to be appropriate laws for this the same way there is for revenge porn etc.
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