Cool Engineering From Around the World
Some people find architecture and different types of buildings absolutely fascinating. It may just be an appreciation for their sheer beauty. Or, just the incredible feat of engineering involved in creating them successfully.
Continue reading “Buildings and Society: Here’s What Local Architecture Says About a City”
Although the first self-driving cars were invented in the early 1980s, it wasn’t until the mid-2010s that they really started to become popular. Of course, they’re still unusual, but the idea of a self-driving car no longer feels like a sci-fi fever dream.
Also known as autonomous vehicles, self-driving cars make use of highly advanced technology to monitor their external environment and make decisions accordingly. They use sensors, cameras and computer algorithms to be able to avoid obstacles, adhere to traffic signals and signs and even make decisions about the fastest and best routes to take.
While the idea of a completely self-driving car may still be a little scary for some, especially if you’ve watched Transformers, there are loads of benefits just waiting to be unleashed.
Here are some of the top advantages of using self-driving cars.
One of the most frustrating things about being a driver on the roads in a busy city is having to deal with traffic and congestion. Of course, there are already several applications and ways in which drivers can monitor how busy the roads are and decide which routes are best to take. However, self-driving cars are able to take this one step further.
Since they’re able to communicate with other vehicles, self-driving cars have the potential to be able to organise and coordinate themselves in such a way that reduces traffic – all without humans having to make a decision. Of course, the problem with humans trying to avoid traffic is that sometimes people don’t know alternative routes, or, everybody tries to take the quicker route. With self-driving cars, this can all be made far more efficient and could result in shorter travel times, reduced fuel consumption and even lower carbon emissions.
One of the leading reasons for road accidents is human error – whether it’s drivers being tired, distracted, speeding or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With self-driving cars, these variables can be completely removed, significantly improving road safety.
Under ordinary circumstances, like acquiring a skill before doing darts betting, driving a car requires skill, a license and a certain degree of physical ability. With self-driving cars, it would become possible for people who are currently unable to drive, due to being disabled or elderly, to regain their independence.
The two main thoughts when it comes to cost are parking and damage to the roads. With regards to the former, self-driving cars would negate the need for parking lots near destinations, as the cars could simply drop the passengers off and travel to a more conveniently located parking. As for the latter, they would also decrease the number of human-related accidents, decreasing the money required to be spent on road maintenance.
With self-driving cars, we would no longer need to waste hours of our day sitting behind the wheel on our way to work, and so on. Instead, we’d be able to use our time far more productively as passengers, whether it’s working, reading or even sleeping.
Software development is always evolving. It’s there in the name of the discipline: development. At the moment, the adage “every company is a software company” is now truer than ever before. As organisations pursue their digital transformation efforts so that they are able to keep up with customer demand and compete for the brightest talent, IT leaders need to stay attuned to the trends.
Continue reading “Some Of The Latest Advances In Software Development”
When you hear the term artificial intelligence, often the first thing people think of is sci-fi movies depicting robots taking over the world and other horrifying situations of the sort. While this is, admittedly, a rather terrifying prospect, is it really something we need to be afraid of or have we simply been watching too many movies?
Essentially, artificial intelligence, commonly abbreviated to AI, refers to the idea of technology and computer systems being able to perform tasks that normally require specific types of human intelligence. That is, being able to replicate human intelligence – that special quality that we can’t quite explain.
This includes things like being able to translate between languages, decision making, recognition and understanding of speech as well as visual perception. In other words, it is the ability to perceive, synthesize and infer information.
Discussing the risks of artificial intelligence is very much a subjective discussion, based completely on opinions. However, that doesn’t mean these risks should be ignored.
Sure, this is the plot from loads of early-2000’s sci-fi flicks, but it’s still something to be aware of. AI is all about enabling systems and programs to develop human-like intelligence, but what if humans, as their creators, lose control over what they’re able to learn?
Well, in theory, they could potentially have ability to ability to learn whatever they need to gain control. And that leads us to our next point.
This certainly is the ultimate fear – that machines and computer systems are able to develop in such a way that they actually end up being more intelligent than humans. If they can do that, humans would, in theory, lose control and we’d be at the mercy of robots, which is a rather frightening thought.
Of course, something to consider is always the potential of humans taking advantage and using computers to achieve their own goals. This could involve political issues and so on – for instance, getting involved in elections and even wars.
From a practical standpoint – with regards to things control and even legal issues – who knows where we’d even start!
Unfortunately, a very real concern is that machines and robots becoming highly intelligent and capable will mean that they’re able to do things that only humans were capable of before. That being jobs and other important tasks.
The natural progression seems to be that it’s very likely that humans would simply stop working and putting in the effort, and just leave it to the machines. Nobody really knows how this would end, but it seems fair to hypothesise that this wouldn’t have great repercussions for human intelligence and the progressions and development thereof.
Unlike getting offers in Microgaming pokies, it’s a bit harder to predict what will happen in the future. However, although these things don’t necessarily seem to be happening anytime soon, we should probably maintain awareness. With controls in place, hopefully we’d be able to prevent anything crazy from happening.
Almost a century ago, scientists figured out that it’s possible to release enormous amounts of energy by splitting atoms. Initially, this was done as a means of building more powerful weapons to try and turn the tide during World War 2. But the energy sector quickly realised that not only could nuclear energy be used for destruction, but it could also be used for powering our cities and homes.
Continue reading “World-Changing Developments In Nuclear Energy”
With engineering continuously progressing, the world is seeing more and more awesome inventions and mind-blowing innovations in technology and engineering. With creativity flourishing and technological advancements progressing simultaneously, it’s no wonder that innovators all around the world are continuing to produce incredible feats of engineering.
Continue reading “The 5 Coolest Engineering Accomplishments Around the World”
Age has a lot more to it than the number of years you’ve been alive. Factors such as stress, diet, illness, sleep, and a whole host of other aspects, all influence your health, and inevitably how long you’re around for.
The basic idea behind aging clocks is that, because the DNA contains the entirety of person’s genetic information, it can be used to analyse, track, and predict age. It can also be used to detect external factors that damage or alter cells and DNA and contribute to aging.
With the help of AI, predictions can then be made about potential outcomes, as well as the factors leading to them, and perhaps even suggesting possible interventions.
Otherwise, the general aim of the clocks are to act as a sort of speedometer, giving people a much better idea of their ‘biological youth’.
Generally, aging clocks estimate a person’s biological age based on patterns in certain chemical tags, called methyl groups, layered onto DNA. Known as ‘epigenetic markers’, these patterns change as we age, and with the help of computers and AI, their progress can be accurately mapped and predicted.
Though predicting a person’s overall age can be tricky, what aging clocks have proved highly accurate and useful for already, is predicting organ age. When it comes to the health and deterioration of tissue and cells, epigenetic markers and patterns generally tend to be very consistent and predictable. Scientists have successfully applied aging clocks to accurately predict the organ age of both human and animal subjects in wide range of studies and experiments.
The first epigenetic aging clock was developed in 2011 by Steve Horvath at the University of California. In 2013 he developed the Horvath clock, which is still amongst the best-known clocks today. Since then, Horvath, and his colleagues, have developed several other aging clocks for specific uses.
Daniel Belsky of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has developed a different type of clock that involves blood samples.
Although the idea of aging clocks has been around for some time, practically implementing it, however, has not been an easy task. Only now, with the help of AI, and computers with faster and more powerful processing, are scientists and engineers able to make the idea a viable reality. However, while aging clocks are getting closer by the day, accurately predicting a person’s eventual lifespan is yet to be achieved.
For the time being, the clinical markers supplied by a person’s medical history remains the most reliable means of prediction. Soon though, aging clocks will likely be used to significantly enhance clinical data.
Over time, technology has changed everything to the way we think about time even the methods to playing real money pokies. Now, tech is steadily being produced that helps predict and protect us from a growing number of risks and hazards in daily life. Though much of what contributes to aging, and death, is unavoidable, technology such as aging clocks could lead to many people living longer, healthier, and happier lives.
Our journey into the stars began after the end of World War 2, when we had begun to refine rocket technology along with the creation of entirely new organisations aimed at helping the human race progress collectively.
The Space Race, which took place between the USA and the USSR, saw the first animals and people go into space, and effectively ended when the USA was able to put astronauts on the moon.
The topic of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) often stirs up complex emotions, but the fact is, it’s nothing to fear. The thought of digital beings is more mundane than you may imagine. The term digital human refers to a digital avatar. This allows users to use a digital identity. This can either use 3D technology or create your very own character with a scripted identity.
Continue reading “Simplifying The Future With AI-Powered Human Technology”
The Internet is considered by many to be the greatest achievement of the human race. Not only does it give us access to the collective information of the human race, but it allows us to communicate instantly, consume any media of our choosing, keep up to date with all the latest news in the world, and to continually grow a powerful network of computers and servers from across the globe.
