Category Archives: Computer Science

The Real Threat Is Machine Incompetence, Not Intelligence

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Michael Byrne

Forget super-AI. Crappy AI is more likely to be our downfall, argues researcher. Continue reading The Real Threat Is Machine Incompetence, Not Intelligence→

Big Data’s Unexplored Frontier: Recorded Music

Posted on January 8, 2017 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

The open-source Digital Music Lab aims to fill a hole in the Big Data frontier. Continue reading Big Data’s Unexplored Frontier: Recorded Music→

A Lesson in Random Number Generation from ‘Super Mario World’

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

Retro Game Mechanics Explained dives deep into SNES assembly code. Continue reading A Lesson in Random Number Generation from ‘Super Mario World’→

Someone Built a Working Four-Bit Computer Out of Cardboard and Marbles

Posted on November 26, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

You don’t need electricity to implement binary operations, though it certainly helps. Continue reading Someone Built a Working Four-Bit Computer Out of Cardboard and Marbles→

Programmers Made a Selfie Filter To Make You Look More Like You, Sorry

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Sarah Emerson for Motherboard

For anyone who’s feeling selfie-conscious. Continue reading Programmers Made a Selfie Filter To Make You Look More Like You, Sorry→

Good Ol’ C Tops the IEEE’s 2016 Programming Language Ranking

Posted on July 28, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

It’s like concrete winning a contest of building materials. Continue reading Good Ol’ C Tops the IEEE’s 2016 Programming Language Ranking→

Welcome to Null Island, a Non-Place Located at 0°N 0°E

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

Something that has no value is often very different than 0. Continue reading Welcome to Null Island, a Non-Place Located at 0°N 0°E→

Machine Learning Algorithm Spots Depression in Speech Patterns

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

It may wind up being a powerful tool in assessing difficult-to-diagnose conditions. Continue reading Machine Learning Algorithm Spots Depression in Speech Patterns→

New MIT Tool Boosts Computing’s Analog Fringe

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

Also: what the hell analog computing even is. Continue reading New MIT Tool Boosts Computing’s Analog Fringe→

Mathematical Models Suggest New Ways of Targeting Pro-ISIS Groups Online

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Michael Byrne for Motherboard

To break up large pro-ISIS groups, agencies should start small. Continue reading Mathematical Models Suggest New Ways of Targeting Pro-ISIS Groups Online→