Affective computing
Interesting Washington Post article: Human Responses to Technology Scrutinized. Summarizes various affective technology products and research, like Amtrak's computerized phone operator, "Julie," or virtual teachers that can detect and adapt to waning student interest. Cliff Nass discusses subtle techniques such as flattery that computer interfaces can employ to ingratiate themselves to their users (um, look at me with the anthropomorphization!): according to him, people prefer a spellchecker that occasionally congratulates them on getting a tough word right. (God help my computer if Clippit ever praised my spelling!)Caterina Fake, over at misbehaving.net, highlighted this quote from the article:
A German carmaker recalled an automobile with a computerized female voice issuing navigation information -- because many men refused to take directions from "a woman."saying it's "interesting that a super-compressed identity signifier such as a gendered voice can trigger such a strong response." Those men deserve to get lost.
RIAA "computer glitch" bringing lots of Whitney to your library
As recompense for inflating CD prices, the RIAA agreed in a 2002 anti-trust settlement to distribute thousands of CDs to public libraries. Little did those libraries know they'd each end up with 148 copies of "Entertainment Weekly's Greatest Hits of 1971" and 430 singles of Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner at the 1991 Superbowl. A computer glitch ("allocation formula error") was blamed. (full article, via Boing Boing)Portland's green roofs
Ketzel Levine, NPR's affectionately-titled "Doyenne of Dirt," toured several Portland "green roofs" this morning. Covered in sedums and other native low-water plants, these roofs are an impressive solution to groundwater runoff from metro development. (More cement = less soil to absorb rain water.) Several of the buildings are open to the public; hours and locations (PDF) are online.Microexistentialism
I'd been thinking about getting an ant farm for my office, but according to multiple reviewers at Amazon the only value of the plastic death traps is to emotionally scar toddlers. Selected samples:Uncle Milton's Giant Ant Farm is a fun, interactive way to teach children ages 5 and up about unceasing, backbreaking toil and the cold, inescapable reality of death.
This area we have termed "the mortuary."
It's amazing how the ants take care of their dead.
Children are assured the chance to contemplate the inescapability of their own mortality and the whole family will be reminded that the spectre of death hangs over every creature on this Earth.Now I really want one.
Did I mention I love working in a library?
So, I was Googling a certain odd recipe this afternoon in preparation for a bridal shower I'm giving this weekend. And, sadly, the closest thing I could find was sponsored by Kraft. No way is that vile plastic food produced by an heinous, small-village-pillaging conglomeration touching our table. The thing was topped with marshmallows! What self-respecting adult eats marshmallows outside of a s'mores context? Not us. But, after what felt like ages of searching, I found a good recipe. Sounded faintly exotic, but yummy and comforting enough for guests. But no picture was to be had. Just a side box with a vague warning about not letting children near knives. But . . . the recipe was from a common magazine on this side of the country. And I checked our catalog, and of course we have it. So I moseyed downstairs, found the issue, and look! A picture of the finished product. Hooray for libraries.
RIP, favorite water bottle
Our very nice custodian at work threw away my favorite water bottle last night. He was apologetic (and probably feels as remorseful as I am sad). Did I mention I'm about to cry? It had great industrial design: a brightly colored, stylishly ribbed cap, elegant length just right for gripping, and the label was all in German. Voslaeur "Balance" wasser. Mineral water with peach and ginger flavor. After tasting it at my departing airport gate, I made an extra twenty-minute trip through security to return to the convenience store for a second one (watermelon cilantro). Though they've long since held boring tap water, the bottles are still beautiful. So, farewell, my stylish plastic friend. May you frolic with chartreuse Nalgene and well-worn Odwalla bottles at the dump.
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