How To Test If We’re Living In A Computer Simulation
Physicists have long struggled to explain why the universe started out with conditions suitable for life to evolve. Why do the physical laws and constants take the very specific values that allow stars, planets and ultimately life to develop? The expansive force of the universe, dark energy, for example, is much weaker than theory suggests …
Nonprogrammers Are Building More Of The World’s Software – A Computer Scientist Explains ‘No-Code’
Traditional computer programming has a steep learning curve that requires learning a programming language, for example C/C++, Java or Python, just to build a simple application such as a calculator or Tic-tac-toe game. Programming also requires substantial debugging skills, which easily frustrates new learners. The study time, effort and experience needed often stop nonprogrammers from …
Cybercrime Insurance Is Making The Ransomware Problem Worse
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was another outbreak in cyberspace: a digital epidemic driven by ransomware. Several organisations worldwide fell victim to cyber-extortionists who stole data either to sell to other criminals or held it as a ransom for a profit. The sheer number of attacks indicates that cyber security and anti-ransomware defences did not …
What Scrum Masters Can Learn From Dancing
Like dancing, being a scrum master takes coordination, verbal and nonverbal communication, and cooperation. Many scrum masters have an obsession with quickly turning their teams into what they want them to be. Once their expectations are not met within some arbitrary time limit, or someone resists their ideas, then the fight begins. But the …
Ethereum Blockchain Slashes Energy Use With ‘Merge’ Software Upgrade
The Ethereum blockchain has undergone a major software upgrade, drastically reducing its energy usage, its inventor and co-founder tweeted on Thursday. The new system will use 99.95% less energy, according to the Ethereum Foundation. The upgrade, which changes how transactions occur and how ether tokens are created, could give Ethereum a major advantage as it …
Remixing Linux For Blind And Visually Impaired Users
Fegora, a Fedora project, is an unofficial Linux distribution aimed at visually impaired users. When I was around 5 years old, my father brought home our first computer. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in computers. I haven’t stopped hanging around them since. During high school, when considering which …
The Biggest Chip In The World
The silicon chip, or integrated circuit (IC), is one of humankind’s most magnificent, complex, and transformative creations. The IC itself is a silicon sandwich made up of many transistors (little switches) wired together into electrical circuits. Since Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby’s coinvention of the IC in 1958-59, relentless improvements in transistor density have taken …
Ofcom Launches Investigation Into Tech Giant’s Cloud Computing Dominance
Ofcom set to investigate tech players’ dominance in key areas of tech. Ofcom has launched a large-scale investigation into Amazon, Google and Microsoft’s dominance of the cloud computing industry. The regulator will be examining the companies to ensure their hold over cloud computing, messaging and smart devices is working effectively for individuals and businesses in the UK, the watchdog said. …
Can Electric Vehicle Batteries Be Recycled?
Between 2000 and 2018, the number of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) manufactured was multiplied by 80. In 2018, 66% of them were used in electric vehicles (EVs). The planned development of electric mobility will increase demand for batteries, with the International Energy Agency estimating that between 2019 and 2030, battery demand will grow 17-fold. This situation …
5 Tactics to Increase Your Odds Of A Great Software Match
There are many obstacles to getting a great match on business software. The biggest obstacle is the huge number of software options in the market today. With a huge pool of software to choose from, it is easy to get duped by unscrupulous software developers. Another notable obstacle is the ambiguity of software features, which …