In the early days of TV, it was routine to tape over the recording medium after the initial air-date, which means that no video record exists of many of the pioneering moments in television. (more…)
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Print of "lost" britcom discovered in Nigerian basement and restored with X-rays and laser-cutters
theodp writes: The State of Arkansas will be handing out cash to high school students who pass an Advanced Placement test in computer science. “The purpose of the incentive program is to increase the number of qualifying scores (3, 4, or 5) on Advanced Placement Computer Science A exams, ” explained a press release for the Arkansas Advanced Placement Computer Science A Incentive Program (only 87 Arkansas public school students passed the AP CS A exam in 2016, according to College Board data). Gov. Asa Hutchinson added, “The Arkansas Department of Education’s incentive for high scores on the AP Computer Science A exam is a terrific way to reward our students for their hard work in school. The real payoff for their hard work, of course, is when they show their excellent transcripts to potential employers who offer good salaries for their skills.” The tiered monetary awards call for public school students receiving a top score of 5 on the AP CS A exam to receive $1, 000, with another $250 going to their schools. Scores of 4 will earn students $750 and schools $150, while a score of 3 will result in a $250 payday for students and $50 for their schools. The program evokes memories of the College Board’s Google-funded AP STEM Access program, which rewarded AP STEM teachers with a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift card for each student who received a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam. DonorsChoose.org credits were also offered later by tech-bankrolled Code.org and Google to teachers who got their students coding. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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Arkansas Will Pay Up To $1,000 Cash To Kids Who Pass AP Computer Science A Exam
Projection mapping is one of the most profound visual effects that computers can generate; themepark fans will have seen it in effect on the revamped opening scene to the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland and in the night-time shows that involve painting the whole castle with light (projection mapping is also used to generate the rear-projected faces of the animatronic figures in the new Snow White ride). (more…)
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Projection mapping on a moving surface with a high-speed projector
dcblogs writes from a report via Computerworld: The University of California is laying off a group of IT workers at its San Francisco campus as part of a plan to move work offshore. Laying off IT workers as part of a shift to offshore is somewhere between rare and unheard-of in the public sector. The layoffs will happen at the end of February, but before the final day arrives the IT employees expect to train foreign replacements from India-based IT services firm HCL. The firm is working under a university contract valued at $50 million over five years. This layoff affects 17% of UCSF’s total IT staff, broken down this way: 49 IT permanent employees will lose their jobs, along with 12 contract employees and 18 vendor contractors. This number also includes 18 vacant IT positions that won’t be filled, according to the university. Governments and publicly supported institutions, such as UC, have contracted with offshore outsourcers, but usually it’s for new IT work or to supplement an existing project. The HCL contract with UCSF can be used by other UC campuses, which means the layoffs may expand across its 10 campuses. HCL is a top user of H-1B visa workers. Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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University of California Hires India-Based IT Outsourcer, Lays Off Tech Workers
If you think you had a hard time filling out pages of algebra at school, spare a thought for the three mathematicians who have just published the world’s largest ever proof. It takes up 200TB of storage space. Read more…
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The World’s Biggest Ever Math Proof is a Whopping 200TB
The numbers in this study are very back-of-the-envelope and assume a worst case: widespread adoption of Bitcoin and not much improvement in Bitcoin mining activity, along with long replacement cycles for older, less efficient mining rigs. Even the best case scenario has Bitcoin consuming a shocking amount of electricity. (more…)
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Bitcoin transactions could consume as much energy as Denmark by the year 2020
Neural networks are increasingly taking on jobs that used to be the preserve of the human brain . So Erik Bernhardsson decided to see what would happen if he threw 50, 000 fonts at a neural network and left it to chew through them. The results, it turns out, are pretty interesting. Read more…
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This Is What Happens When You Let a Neural Network Design Fonts
It makes perfect sense. The sensors that capture images for a digital camera and the sensors that convert light into electricity for a solar cell rely on the same technology. So why not build a device with a sensor that does both, and create a self-powered video camera? Some Columbia University researchers did just that . Read more…
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The World’s First Self-Powered Video Camera Can Record Forever
iOS: 1Password for iOS got an update today that drastically improves the extension and makes it easier to use 1Password with other apps. It’s now about as feature-packed as the desktop extension. Read more…
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1Password for iOS Gets Extension Improvements for Faster Logins
Software engineering is one of the most in-demand and best paying careers, but learning computer science can also pay off even if you don’t do it professionally. Google has a guide on the courses and experiences future software engineers should consider. Read more…
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The Tech Skills and Courses Google Recommends for Software Engineers