The making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function.
Questions tagged [technology]
176 questions
7
votes
1 answer
Are Germans buying anti-rape "safety shorts"?
From The Express: Safe shorts to STOP women joggers suffering SEX ATTACKS in Germany are sold out, January 1 2017:
AN ENTREPRENEUR from Germany has created trousers with the aim of protecting women from possible sex attacks while they are out…
Andrew Grimm
- 38,859
- 36
- 141
- 342
7
votes
0 answers
Did an IBM manual say: "Undetected errors are ignored"
On the Funny Things Seen In Source Code And Documentation page at the WikiWikiWeb I ran into the following:
Legend has it that the following is found in an ancient IBM manual:
Single bit errors are detected and corrected
Double bit errors are…
Daniël van den Berg
- 179
- 2
7
votes
2 answers
Is there such a thing as a “GPS ID card” or GPS tracking on an ID card?
The Wikipedia article Human rights in Saudi Arabia#Women's rights cites an article from The Peninsula. The article is no longer available, but the claims Wikipedia sources thus are (emphasis mine):
In April 2010, a new, optional ID card for women…
gerrit
- 17,636
- 17
- 84
- 137
7
votes
1 answer
Do photovoltaic solar panels need replacement after 20 years?
Many manufacturers of photovoltaic solar panels offer some sort of warranty that is valid for 15 to 25 years. Many people suggest that after that period of time, a replacement of the panels is necessary
For example:
The lifetime of solar panels…
humanityANDpeace
- 179
- 5
7
votes
0 answers
Is Coltan the main cause of conflict in Congo since 1997?
This PDF (i saw a translated version) has been brought to my attention.
it claims that Coltan is the main cause of a conflict which has claimed the lives of four million
people since 1997 and as also caused the disappearance of several populations…
Duralumin
- 1,673
- 1
- 15
- 20
6
votes
0 answers
Can some people beat roulette wheels using "visual ballistics"?
In the past, people beat roulette wheels using machines that measure ball speed and predict where the ball will land. That is discussed in the question Is it possible to gain an edge in roulette through physics?.
However, nowadays such machines are…
Riemann
- 679
- 4
- 11
6
votes
0 answers
Was the ELIZA effect real?
ELIZA is an oft referenced early chatbot developed in the 1960's. The legend behind it is that the simplistic chatbot was so convincingly human to early users that they supposedly forgot it was a computer and spilled their deepest secrets to it.…
Physical Mathematics
- 251
- 2
6
votes
1 answer
Has ExxonMobil sequestered over 40 percent of all captured CO2?
From ExxonMobil's website on carbon capture and storage (CCS):
With a working interest in approximately one-fifth of the world’s total carbon capture capacity, ExxonMobil is a leader in one of the most important next-generation low-greenhouse gas…
Barry Harrison
- 14,093
- 4
- 68
- 101
6
votes
1 answer
Does the tipping function on Instacart pay the company instead of the shopper?
A local news story reports the following:
Workers behind Instacart, the grocery delivery company and app, say they’re getting punished for getting a tip.
People who shop and deliver for the app say the higher the tip, the less wage they make – and…
Avery
- 44,313
- 16
- 183
- 179
6
votes
1 answer
Have people died by being shocked through the headphone cord of their cell phone?
The headline of an article in Vice magazine claims that "A 16-Year-Old Has Died After Being Electrocuted by His Headphones"
Last week, a teenager was electrocuted to death while listening to headphones from a plugged-in cell phone. Sixteen-year-old…
Adam
- 1,089
- 2
- 7
- 14
6
votes
0 answers
Did Safeway help Seattle catch unlicensed dogs?
From a backpacker's forum:
In Seattle, authorities bought a list of every Seattle resident who
regularly bought dog food. The authorities then compared this list to
the list of people who had licensed a dog. If you regularly bought dog
food…
WGroleau
- 419
- 2
- 10
6
votes
1 answer
Is it possible to gain a "new sense" of where north is?
In many videos, both by makers and commercial companies alike, such as this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJMKOzLnIA
The claim is made that by using a gadget that makes you 'feel' where north is by vibrating on the north side of your body…
Ben
- 1,243
- 8
- 20
6
votes
0 answers
Are two thirds of CEOs in Silicon Valley from South Asia or Asia?
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s chief strategist, said last year that people from Asia or South Asia are heavily represented in CEOs in Silicon Valley:
When asked if he agreed, Bannon responded: “When two-thirds or three-quarters of the CEOs in…
Andrew Grimm
- 38,859
- 36
- 141
- 342
6
votes
2 answers
Was the Australian Bureau of Statistics website "attacked"?
Last night (August 9th) was census night in Australia. Conveniently, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) have a website where you can enter your household's statistical information.
If you work in IT, you can probably see the potential issue…
Coomie
- 8,509
- 12
- 46
- 79
6
votes
1 answer
Which typically comes first: basic science or technological advance?
Matt Ridley claims in The Evolution of Everything: How New Ideas Emerge (and also in an article in the Wall Street Journal):
In his book he argues:
Again and again, once you examine the history of innovation, you find scientific breakthroughs as…
matt_black
- 56,186
- 16
- 175
- 373