What are February 14th, 15th, and 16th? We’ve known it was going to happen for a while , but now we know when to set our DVRs. A rack of servers — soaked with natural-language processing, armed with a battalion of esoteric pop culture knowledge, and “represented by a round avatar” — will face off against Jeopardy! millionaires Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter (both profiled in video after the break) for three days starting on Valentine’s Day 2011. We’re also hearing that Watson will sign autographs after it’s done decimating its opponents. It will then donate all its winnings to charity and spend the rest of its natural life dodging paparazzi on an undisclosed beach in the South Pacific. [Photo from Ben Sisto's flickr ] Continue reading IBM’s Watson supercomputer will play Jeopardy! on these dates IBM’s Watson supercomputer will play Jeopardy! on these dates originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Why is "Science is Real" by They Might Be Giants So Popular Now? (Video)
December 14, 2010 No Comment
I happened upon this great music video for kids, “Science is Real” making its way up the Most Popular list on Reddit. It’s by the alt rock band They Might be Giants, famous for their ‘Istanbul (Not Constantinople)’ tune and the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle. Anywho, it piqued my curiosity. Why was such a simple, cutesy conce… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Continue reading …What if the UN were charged with protecting neighborhoods from burglars, using the same methods it does to protect members of the international community from injustice from other nations? That’s the premise of this Upright Citizens Brigade video that lampoons the limits of the United Nation’s power in resolving internati… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Continue reading …Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order… from a karaoke bar (video)
December 14, 2010 No Comment
There’s not much to see right now, but it appears that Red MR is well on its way to becoming one of the most advanced (and probably the most amusing) karaoke bars in the world. Ahead of its Hong Kong debut this Saturday, said company has already installed six Surfaces in its two bars, and is aiming to fit more to fill up all 80 rooms — and that number could go up to 300 in the near future — once Microsoft has ramped up production. With Red MR’s customized software (still under wraps), customers will be able to pick songs, order food, watch TV, and play games on the Surface while listening to a drunk rendition of My Heart Will Go On . Oh, and there’ll also be a few Kinects dotted around the bars, but it’s not exactly clear whether they’ll be in the rooms as well. Anyhow, we’ll be flying out to Hong Kong to check it out later this week, so stay tuned. For now, you can watch a demo of the Surface’s Liar’s Dice game after the break. Continue reading Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order… from a karaoke bar (video) Microsoft lands its largest ever Surface order… from a karaoke bar (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Image credit: Permaculture Media We already know that swimming pools are a huge suck on natural resources , not to mention a possible source of allergies . But from Brooklyn’s repurposed dumpster pools to
Continue reading …Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video)
December 14, 2010 No Comment
So, you’ve celebrated the landing of yet another construction deal by giving the whole crew their own Motorola Defy (except for Derick, who’s saddled with a lowly i365 ), but there’s still one problem: on-the-job entertainment. Enter Ridgid’s Jobsite Radio, hailed as the first iPod-toting boombox designed to withstand just about anything. As you can tell, the device itself is encased in a ShockMount layer of protective armor, and we have to stress the “armor” aspect. Users simply flip down the lid in the front, slide their iPod in and then change tracks via on-board external controls or remote control from up to 25 feet away. Oh, and if Joe or Buck just so happens to bring their Zune HD into work, the 3.5mm auxiliary input will ensure that no one is publicly shamed. The unit is powered by a standard 120V or Ridgid 18V battery, and if you’re curious as to just how hardcore this thing is, there’s an enlightening video embedded just after the break. She’s all yours after dropping $149 at the Home Depot. [Thanks, Thomas ] Continue reading Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video) Ridgid Jobsite iPod Radio takes a beating, survives long enough to go on sale (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Raw video of the top nominations in the major motion picture categories. (Dec. 14)
Continue reading …Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast
December 14, 2010 No Comment
Using traditional conversion metrics, The New Yorker’s got ten pictures worth of words on Nintendo’s iconic designer Shigeru Miyamoto , arguably the father of modern video games whose cerebral impulses have spawned the likes of Mario and Legend of Zelda. Don’t expect any bombshell news (spoiler: the company’s hard at work on a portable, glasses-free 3D console ), but it’s definitely a thorough and entertaining read on the origins of Nintendo’s gaming interests and Miyamoto himself. Bonus: given how Miyamoto’s non-work time with exercise and gardening became the inspiration for WiiFit and Pikmin, feel free to overanalyze how his fixation with moving around his living room will turn into the next multi-platinum title. Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …
Image credit: Permaculture Media The BBC seems to have gotten on a permaculture kick lately. Not long ago the broadcaster aired a beautiful and big thinking documentary about peak oil, agriculture, and one farmers’ attempts to redesign her farm along permaculture principles . Now I’ve just come across a great video in which the BBC’s very own gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh explores a stunning forest garden created by two of the pioneers of permaculture in Britain. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
Continue reading …