AnyDVD 6.4.6.7 Beta / 6.4.6.6
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Decrypt CSS encrypted DVDs on the fly!
Moo0 ConnectionWatcher 1.29
A useful tool for monitoring the network traffic and the programs that exchange information via the network
September 16, 2008
September 14, 2008
Visually Impaired Access to computers
By Roberto Garabelli
Some people may be surprised to find out that the blind and visually impaired are about as likely to be on the internet as a sighted person. It can seem like a daunting task to learn to use a computer system, but the fact is, there are plenty of easy ways for the visually impaired to get online.
A common method for computer access for the blind and visually impaired is a screen reader. There are many screen reader programs available, the most common is the JAWS screen reader. A screen reader takes the output from Microsoft Windows and converts it to speech. The screen reader will tell you that you are currently in the Internet Explorer browser, and it will read to you the contents of the web pages. With time, and practice, a blind or visually impaired user can become very proficient at using a computer system. Screen Readers offer a great degree of flexibility, you have full control over your computer. However, the screen readers are often difficult and time consuming to learn. Each program generally has different button combinations to access different menus and systems. These button combinations must be memorized. There are, literally, hundreds of possible key combinations which provide a great deal of control, but can be very daunting to learn.
Another method for computer access is to use an assistive technology device that simplifies the Windows operating system down to a few common workflows. There are a few devices on the market which do this. The SpeakEasy Media System is one such device. It is a system that comes with hardware and a preconfigured e-mail address. The system provides simple, menu driven access to e-mail, typed documents, news articles, podcast audio shows, encyclopedia entries, dictionary entries, and more. The SpeakEasy does not provide as much control over the system as a screen reader, however it is an excellent option for easy access to the most common functions that the blind and visually impaired will use.
Lastly, there are also machines specifically designed for reading typed documents. These reading machines will take a typed document and convert it into speech. They do not provide any access to the internet, nor do they support any function beyond simply reading a document. However, they are very simple to operate. There are a number of standalone reading machines on the market, one such machine is the Simon reading machine.
The options discussed provide a good cross section of the available access methods to computers for the blind and visually impaired. Screen Readers provide the most functionality, but are also the most difficult to use. Reading machines are simple to use, but lack most functionality. The media system provides most functionality of a screen reader, and also provides an ease of use experience similar to a reading machine.
Chad Jones is a market analyst for New Designs Unlimited, LLC and has worked with Computer for the Blind
Learn How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work
By Daniel Millions
Geothermal heat pumps harness the heating and cooling powers of the earth in an energy efficient system that is friendly to the environment. The geothermal heat pumps are considered environmentally friendly since the technology uses the earth as a heating and cooling source of energy. Geothermal heat pumps save consumers money because one geothermal heat pump can be used to heat and cool a building.
The geothermal heat pump does not need to burn fuel for heating or cooling. A geothermal heat pump transfers the earth heat into the home for heating purposes and absorbs heat from the home to cool it off. This system works ground pumps that collect the heat in underground pipes. The heat is concentrated and stored in these pipes until it is needed. These same pipes will send the heat into the building upon command.
When the home is hot, the same heating pipes are used to draw the heat from the home. The heat air is cooled underground and sent back to the home. The geothermal heat pumps can be modified for use in radiant floor heating, water heaters and to melt snow along walkways in the winter.
The system provides a steady stream of heat or cooled air into the home. Unlike other heating systems, the geothermal heat pump does not send particles into the air when it is working. Geothermal heat pumps also provide silent service which is a welcome change from noisy air conditioners or heating systems. The system is activated by a wall mounted thermostat which can be used to heat or cool the home.
A geothermal heat pump may be either a closed loop or open loop system. Households generally use a closed loop system. A closed loop system uses an underground pipe filled with a liquid solution to conduct heat or cool air. The open loop system uses ground water or the earth to transfer the heat or cool air.
The geothermal heat pumps require an annual cleaning. Cleaning means that an acid based wash will be used on the pipes. With regular maintenance, the system will work well with infrequent need to replace parts. The air filter should be checked and cleaned as often as once a month. A technician can provide any further details about the operation and care of the geothermal heat pump.
Owners of geothermal heat pumps can save money on their heating and cooling bills. Despite the cost of buying and installing the system, owners report significant savings from using the geothermal heat pumps in comparison to heating or cooling the home with more traditional systems. Since the temperature of the ground and ground water remains between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, it allows the geothermal heat pump a continual source of warm or cool air. Fans of the geothermal heat pumps claim that they save almost half the money that they would have otherwise spent on their heating bills and up to 30% on their costs to cool their home.
Geothermal heat pumps are used in homes, commercial and industrial buildings. Their ability to save on heating and cooling costs is a tremendous attraction for many consumers. As an alternative heat source, the geothermal heat pump has a great future.
If you are considering installing a geothermal heat pump to save money on your heating bills check out out geothermal heat pumps guide.
September 13, 2008
Playing Video Games With A Wireless Controller
By Victor Epand
One of the best video gaming system accessory on the market today has to be the wireless controller, which is available for most video gaming systems no matter which one you own. With a wireless controller, video gamers no long have to worry with troublesome wires getting in their way during game play.
Most wireless controllers have an off and on switch built right in, which enables the gamer to turn their video gaming system off and on where ever their controller is. The majority of the wireless controllers being produced have a range of thirty foot so that gamers can move away from the console to answer the door or phone if needed. Also, the majority of these wireless controllers require two AA batteries in order to work and will last for up to forty hours. The advanced hardcore gamer really needs to be prepared to either buy extra batteries or to go ahead and put the extra money into their effort and purchase rechargeable batteries. One great feature with most of these wireless controllers is that they have a built in feature to let gamers know when the batteries are getting low, which allows the gamer time to pause the game they are playing and change out the batteries.
These wireless controllers are designed to fit the gamers hands much more comfortably and the buttons are easier to use as well. Most wireless controllers have the capability to plug in a headset, which allows the gamer to communicate vocally with other gamers throughout the world. Most video gaming systems have the capability to allow up to four wireless controllers to be connected to one gaming console at one time. When gamers get together and play each other in a video game battle, most the time they get in a big mess with their wires getting tangled up together. However, the advantage of using wireless controllers is that gamers never have to worry with getting their wires tangled up together again.
Some wireless controllers that are being produced may seem bulky and heavier than others due to having to put batteries into the controller itself. When gamers decide to purchase a wireless controller there are several on the market to choose from. Some wireless controllers have vibration feedback that the gamer can adjust, which can give the batteries a longer life time. When the vibration is adjusted the gamer will have the ability to feel a car as it slides across the track or flips over and over. These wireless controllers can be purchased at any local video gaming supply store, most toy stores, and on-line at a variety of web sites.
With a wireless controller, gamers no longer have to worry about getting too excited while playing their video games and pulling their video gaming console system off the shelf or the controller itself out of the video gaming console. Now gamers will have the ability to sit down, lay down, stand up, or jump up and down if they desire while playing their video games and never ever have to worry again about damaging their video gaming console system when getting overly excited.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, dolls, and video games. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, dolls, and used video games at these sites for kids toys, dolls, and wireless controllers.
Neuromorphic Chips to Replace Brain Cells
By Robert Webb
Is society moving towards a future where people will be able to replace their biological neurons with computer chips or artificial neurons? Some researchers think that having implantable neural prostheses may be just around the corner. This currently science fiction scenario may actually not be that far off. There has been a continuing development of neural prostheses that are implantable in the brain. This type of implant will signal in a totally new era in bioengineering and also neuroscience research. Researchers have increasinglly made better intracranial implants of devices that are able to communicate with the brain. They can be used for a variety of brain disorders in order to restore either motor, sensory or cognitive functions.
In the future, neuromorphic chips may eventually serve as a replacement for biological neurons. There are quite a few researchers who are working on this. Neuromorphic basically refers to a computer chip that mimics biological neurons such as the firing patterns and connectivity. Neuromorphic chips may be able to function as brain implants for a variety of different people who have brain disorders such as brain damage or stroke. A neuromorphic chip could in theory replace the brain matter that is missing as a result of brain damage.
What about those people who only want to replace their brain matter with something that is more durable? In the future, scientists may eventually create neuron sized robots or maybe even smaller nanorobots that will enable the replacement of biological neurons. The futurist Ray Kurzweil has discussed this possiblity for some time. These nano sized robots may eventually be able to precisely position themselves inside a person’s brain. The nano sized robot could replace all of the relevant synaptic connections and then function as a total replacement for the biological neuron. This could be replicated for every single neuron in the brain until the whole brain had been replaced by non-biological neurons or a neuromorphic type chip.
Having a neuromorphic brain brings up quite a few interesting questions. One is how much of a neuron do we actually need to simulate in a chip to get a good representation? There may be a lot of the information inside a real neuron that may actually be quite superfluous. However scientists really don’t know enough why an aggregate amount of atoms inside a person’s brain can sustain a unitary conscious experience. It is really not that clear how much information inside the neuron is really needed to functionally replicate all of its processes.
Will a neuromorphic chip be able to replicate our current experience of consciousness? Consciousness is actually a really complex emergent function of several aspects of brain processes at multiple levels. It is currently at all not clear if consciousness can really be replicated merely by having a model of all of the computational capacity in the brain via a bunch of artificial neurons and also synaptic connections.
What would be the actual benefits of having a brain replaced by artificial neurons? Well, for one thing this would be a much more durable substrate that would likely be much less susceptible to damage. Currently our biological neurons are fairly fragile. They often die off over the course of our lifetimes. So having these artificial neurons might be beneficial for extreme life extension as your brain would be able to last quite a bit longer. Overall, though, there might be some enormous benefits to replacing your biological neurons with a functional artificial chip equivalent.
See my blog treatments for depression and
depression treatments and finally
treatment depression for more information about neuroscience and neurotechnology.
September 11, 2008
New Computer Technology
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New Computer Technology
EnasniVampire
1 min - Mar 23, 2008
New Computer Technology - WalKnDude - www.planetnetopia.com
September 9, 2008
Reporter at Apple’s “Let’s Rock” Event SF 9/9/08
anitakhart posted a photo:
Well, I was working during the action. This is what was left.