Today is time for doing some research on predictive text input systems on Mobile phones.
I have used most mobiles phones available from different vendors. Didnt know that Nokia and others use the same algorithm (T9) but Nokia didnt use the name. Have used Motorola iTap too and found that quiet better.
Info about few systems...
T9 -
http://www.t9.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T9_%28predictive_text%29
iTap
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITap
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/mackay/itprnn/itap/
LetterWise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LetterWise
BTW, Do you remember the Infinite Monkeys Theorem, there is a cool site that relates to it and actually tries to find if it can be put to use :-)
http://www.infinitemonkeyproject.com
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
Moonwatch
Moonwatch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Omega Speedmaster)
The Omega Speedmaster, the legendary "Moonwatch", selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions.Launched in 1957 by Omega, the Moonwatch is a type of Omega Speedmaster watch which was selected by the NASA for the Project Apollo. As such, they became the first watches worn on the Moon, gaining the nickname.
The Speedmaster passed NASA's numerous tests, which included exposure to extreme temperatures, vacuum, intense humidity, corrosion, shock, acceleration, pressure, vibration and noise [1], whereas the Rolex, Breitling, Bulova, Longines and TAG Heuer, notably, all failed.
The Speedmaster is the only watch to have been worn on the moon (except for the Waltham Watch Company wristwatch worn by Dave Scott after the crystal had popped off his Speedmaster), and the only watch flight-qualified for EVA use by NASA. It is the watch chosen for use in outer space by the Russian space agency NPO Energija.
History
Back of the Omega Moonwatch.When the step-by-step procedures of the Project Gemini space-walks were first mapped out, NASA realized that they had overlooked the requirements for specialized personal timekeeping devices for the Astronauts. NASA did not have an approved wristwatch for space travel.
The normal procedure of soliciting bids for the design, manufacture and testing of special “Space Proof” wristwatches was a time consuming process. To save time, NASA sent two systems engineers into downtown Houston “incognito” to purchase several reputable “off-the-shelf” chronographs to be tested for possible use in space.
Five different brands of chronographs were purchased and returned to NASA for testing. After the first round of tests, two of the five brands were disqualified. After the second round of tests, only one wristwatch, the “Omega Speedmaster”, survived. NASA ordered several more watches of each of the brands tested, including twelve Omega Speedmasters.
The tests were completed on March 1st, 1965. At the completion of the tests, three of the chronographs from different manufactures were still running, but only the Speedmaster had passed without any of the serious discrepancies encountered with the others. The Omega Speedmaster was adopted by NASA as the “Officially Certified Wristwatch For All Manned Space Missions.” At this point, Omega was completely unaware of these activities.
The first Omegas were issued to the Gemini 3 crew, Grissom and Young. The watch was worn on the outside of the pressure suit with a long black Velcro band. On Gemini 4, Edward White left the space capsule with an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist to become the first American to walk in Space.
The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to be worn on the Moon with Apollo 11. In April 1970, it was used to manually time the secondary rocket burns to bring the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft back to Earth.
The Omega Speedmaster was re-certified in 1972 and in September 1978, for the Space Shuttle missions.
Today, all NASA-issued wristwatches are government property and must be turned in once the astronauts return to Earth. Astronauts are permitted to check the watches out before launch and take them home to familiarize themselves with the watch’s operation.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Omega Speedmaster)
The Omega Speedmaster, the legendary "Moonwatch", selected by NASA for all the Apollo missions.Launched in 1957 by Omega, the Moonwatch is a type of Omega Speedmaster watch which was selected by the NASA for the Project Apollo. As such, they became the first watches worn on the Moon, gaining the nickname.
The Speedmaster passed NASA's numerous tests, which included exposure to extreme temperatures, vacuum, intense humidity, corrosion, shock, acceleration, pressure, vibration and noise [1], whereas the Rolex, Breitling, Bulova, Longines and TAG Heuer, notably, all failed.
The Speedmaster is the only watch to have been worn on the moon (except for the Waltham Watch Company wristwatch worn by Dave Scott after the crystal had popped off his Speedmaster), and the only watch flight-qualified for EVA use by NASA. It is the watch chosen for use in outer space by the Russian space agency NPO Energija.
History
Back of the Omega Moonwatch.When the step-by-step procedures of the Project Gemini space-walks were first mapped out, NASA realized that they had overlooked the requirements for specialized personal timekeeping devices for the Astronauts. NASA did not have an approved wristwatch for space travel.
The normal procedure of soliciting bids for the design, manufacture and testing of special “Space Proof” wristwatches was a time consuming process. To save time, NASA sent two systems engineers into downtown Houston “incognito” to purchase several reputable “off-the-shelf” chronographs to be tested for possible use in space.
Five different brands of chronographs were purchased and returned to NASA for testing. After the first round of tests, two of the five brands were disqualified. After the second round of tests, only one wristwatch, the “Omega Speedmaster”, survived. NASA ordered several more watches of each of the brands tested, including twelve Omega Speedmasters.
The tests were completed on March 1st, 1965. At the completion of the tests, three of the chronographs from different manufactures were still running, but only the Speedmaster had passed without any of the serious discrepancies encountered with the others. The Omega Speedmaster was adopted by NASA as the “Officially Certified Wristwatch For All Manned Space Missions.” At this point, Omega was completely unaware of these activities.
The first Omegas were issued to the Gemini 3 crew, Grissom and Young. The watch was worn on the outside of the pressure suit with a long black Velcro band. On Gemini 4, Edward White left the space capsule with an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist to become the first American to walk in Space.
The Omega Speedmaster was the first watch to be worn on the Moon with Apollo 11. In April 1970, it was used to manually time the secondary rocket burns to bring the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft back to Earth.
The Omega Speedmaster was re-certified in 1972 and in September 1978, for the Space Shuttle missions.
Today, all NASA-issued wristwatches are government property and must be turned in once the astronauts return to Earth. Astronauts are permitted to check the watches out before launch and take them home to familiarize themselves with the watch’s operation.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Bullworker anyone???
Hey folks!
does anyone of you remember Bullworker??????
while travelling home today my friend had a book with him in the train. It was about workouts, especially ones that involve own bodyweight rather than actual weights.
I remembered having a Bullworker at home when i was in KG....dunno where it gone..Not sure if its still available in market...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullworker
http://india-today.com/btoday/20020804/books.html
does anyone of you remember Bullworker??????
while travelling home today my friend had a book with him in the train. It was about workouts, especially ones that involve own bodyweight rather than actual weights.
I remembered having a Bullworker at home when i was in KG....dunno where it gone..Not sure if its still available in market...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullworker
http://india-today.com/btoday/20020804/books.html
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Where illiterates help teach!
It was first journey by train yesterday after recovering from fracture, after more than a month. My roomy, Buddy was along with me. Due to the train burning incident a day ago, train was not crowded. Most had preferred to stay back home.
As train approached Karjat, two girls entered the compartment as usual. They were trying to sell something along with other tea-coffee and food vendors. When they approached my seat, I could see what they were trying to sell.
The girls looked homeless. They wore handmade Indian skirt n top and sported typical Indian styled pony on head. There was a dull look in their eyes, which apparently is ever present in numerous homeless people trying to make up their lives in the world.
They had a bunch of small brightly coloured sketchbooks and English alphabet books in their hand, each being sold for Rs.10. Few were bothered to take a look at them and those who did, would just browse through most of them, buy 1 and return rest. While people browsed books, the girls would either stand next to them or take the other bunch to next aisle. The person next to me checked out few of the books and chose to buy A sketchbook with Tom n Jerry on the front cover. As he kept it aside for buying, I could notice that the both girls looked at each other, smiled and one of them said "Tom n Jerry!".
While they were in the train, other kids might be wearing designer cloths, funky hairstyle, watch Cartoon Network and sip their favourite chocolate drink before they go to bed. Or yet many more like these two girls are trying to sell something and make money on streets.
I wondered if the girls go to school or are privileged to actually have fun watching those cartoons on tv. I wonder if they knew how to spell ABCD at least! Nevertheless, books were helping to earn them a days bread.
Can I say they were teaching world how to color something, how to write ABCD and on top of that, strugle in life to live each day!
As train approached Karjat, two girls entered the compartment as usual. They were trying to sell something along with other tea-coffee and food vendors. When they approached my seat, I could see what they were trying to sell.
The girls looked homeless. They wore handmade Indian skirt n top and sported typical Indian styled pony on head. There was a dull look in their eyes, which apparently is ever present in numerous homeless people trying to make up their lives in the world.
They had a bunch of small brightly coloured sketchbooks and English alphabet books in their hand, each being sold for Rs.10. Few were bothered to take a look at them and those who did, would just browse through most of them, buy 1 and return rest. While people browsed books, the girls would either stand next to them or take the other bunch to next aisle. The person next to me checked out few of the books and chose to buy A sketchbook with Tom n Jerry on the front cover. As he kept it aside for buying, I could notice that the both girls looked at each other, smiled and one of them said "Tom n Jerry!".
While they were in the train, other kids might be wearing designer cloths, funky hairstyle, watch Cartoon Network and sip their favourite chocolate drink before they go to bed. Or yet many more like these two girls are trying to sell something and make money on streets.
I wondered if the girls go to school or are privileged to actually have fun watching those cartoons on tv. I wonder if they knew how to spell ABCD at least! Nevertheless, books were helping to earn them a days bread.
Can I say they were teaching world how to color something, how to write ABCD and on top of that, strugle in life to live each day!
Friday, December 01, 2006
Something worth reading on World AIDS Day
From MID-DAY
Having HIV, holding hope
Shabana Patel
When my husband tested positive, his family threw him out and he died due to lack of medical support. A month later, I realised I too was HIV positive…
My husband was tested positive in 1998. Unfortunately, back then, there was not much information on HIV or AIDS — even the doctors were scared to treat the infected and the government was not running as many programmes as it does today.
To make matters worse, there was a social stigma attached to the illness. Neither of us realised how crucial confidentiality was and spilled the beans. While my parents were supportive of us, my in-laws and a few relatives boycotted us. They cut all ties with us. My husband, as a result, did not receive the much-needed medical and emotional support and succumbed to his illness in October, 1998.
I was still recuperating from the shock when a month later my family revealed that I too had been tested positive. I had been tested in August but my father who had kept the fact hidden from me for he thought it will be too much for me to take. I sought medical aid but was told that I would not survive beyond a few months. I panicked, but like before, my family extended their full support and stood by me.
After stigma, society showers you with sympathy…I wanted to show the world that apart from a virus, there was no difference between me and a regular person…
In 1999 I approached Asha, a BMC programme that works to prevent STDs. I was told that though I am HIV+, I am not suffering from AIDS and will definitely not die in a few months. I was relieved. But the next stage was that of sympathy. People would look at me with that sympathetic look in their eyes. They would treat me like someone who is suffering from a contagious disease and expected me to be bedridden. This irked me and made me want to prove it to them that apart from a virus that I am harbouring in my body, there is absolutely no difference between them and me.
We started as a group of nine, today our organisation does work in 22 districts of Maharashtra…
It was during one of the counselling sessions that I came across another infected person. Over a period of time we realised that we shared the same goal — helping the affected. By the end of 1999, I was informally working with the affected, helping those who were in need by counselling them and their families to help them cope and accept the reality.
By 2001 we were a group of nine (all HIV+) and we formally launched the Mumbai Network of Positive People (MNP+). We knew we were in a better situation to help people since we had ourselves been through the same hell.
The biggest challenge in our work is dealing with families of the affected. It breaks our hearts to see that people succumb to the misconceptions and ill-treat the affected. A few days back a village couple came for counselling. They also brought their two children along who were not affected. During the session I approached one of the children and took him in my arms. The couple started crying! I got scared and asked them if I did something wrong. They told me that in their village their children are treated as untouchables!
Our organisation has now been around for five years and cover 22 districts all over Maharashtra. Though there is a lot that still needs to be done, we are glad to see that government is taking a serious stand on the issue and working towards it. It's a long and tough journey but I'm glad that there are people who are willing to tag along.
As told to Dipti Nagpaul
How to cope with the stigma
Dr RN Jerajani, psychiatrist and founding member of WHARF, an association that develops programmes to educate the health care fraternity about AIDS, has been working with HIV/AIDS patients for over 25 years now. Here's what he has to say…
There are four stages of reactions once a person comes to know that he/ she is affected. First is that of denial — they don't want to accept the fact that they're affected. Then comes anger, where the person asks himself/herself 'Why me?' The third stage involves questions like 'How long will I live?' and 'Will I be able to sexually relate with my partner?' This is followed by depression. The affected fluctuates between these four stages till s/he accepts the situation. And it is at the acceptance stage where healing begins. But to reach the acceptance level, one needs to understand and remember the following:
* Every AIDS and HIV infected person is not going to die immediately. Today, given the research and medical facilities, an affected can live reasonably longer and lead a normal life.
* These infections are chronic manageable illnesses like diabetes or arthritis, which do not have a cure but where a proper plan can keep the illness under control.
* One does not have to feel guilt or shame since one is capable of leading an otherwise normal life.
* Why think about the illness? Think about health and focus on a proper and disciplined diet and exercise plan as that is what will help you living longer and healthy.
Help’s at hand
Here’s a list of a few AIDS and HIV helpline numbers:
* MNP+ Helpline: 952515634939
* PSI Saadhan Helpline: 23892222
* Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS): 24100088/24100099
* GLAXO: 24983444
* Salvation Army (HIV testing and counselling centre): 23093566
* Kripa Rotary Helpline: 26429158.
Having HIV, holding hope
Shabana Patel
When my husband tested positive, his family threw him out and he died due to lack of medical support. A month later, I realised I too was HIV positive…
My husband was tested positive in 1998. Unfortunately, back then, there was not much information on HIV or AIDS — even the doctors were scared to treat the infected and the government was not running as many programmes as it does today.
To make matters worse, there was a social stigma attached to the illness. Neither of us realised how crucial confidentiality was and spilled the beans. While my parents were supportive of us, my in-laws and a few relatives boycotted us. They cut all ties with us. My husband, as a result, did not receive the much-needed medical and emotional support and succumbed to his illness in October, 1998.
I was still recuperating from the shock when a month later my family revealed that I too had been tested positive. I had been tested in August but my father who had kept the fact hidden from me for he thought it will be too much for me to take. I sought medical aid but was told that I would not survive beyond a few months. I panicked, but like before, my family extended their full support and stood by me.
After stigma, society showers you with sympathy…I wanted to show the world that apart from a virus, there was no difference between me and a regular person…
In 1999 I approached Asha, a BMC programme that works to prevent STDs. I was told that though I am HIV+, I am not suffering from AIDS and will definitely not die in a few months. I was relieved. But the next stage was that of sympathy. People would look at me with that sympathetic look in their eyes. They would treat me like someone who is suffering from a contagious disease and expected me to be bedridden. This irked me and made me want to prove it to them that apart from a virus that I am harbouring in my body, there is absolutely no difference between them and me.
We started as a group of nine, today our organisation does work in 22 districts of Maharashtra…
It was during one of the counselling sessions that I came across another infected person. Over a period of time we realised that we shared the same goal — helping the affected. By the end of 1999, I was informally working with the affected, helping those who were in need by counselling them and their families to help them cope and accept the reality.
By 2001 we were a group of nine (all HIV+) and we formally launched the Mumbai Network of Positive People (MNP+). We knew we were in a better situation to help people since we had ourselves been through the same hell.
The biggest challenge in our work is dealing with families of the affected. It breaks our hearts to see that people succumb to the misconceptions and ill-treat the affected. A few days back a village couple came for counselling. They also brought their two children along who were not affected. During the session I approached one of the children and took him in my arms. The couple started crying! I got scared and asked them if I did something wrong. They told me that in their village their children are treated as untouchables!
Our organisation has now been around for five years and cover 22 districts all over Maharashtra. Though there is a lot that still needs to be done, we are glad to see that government is taking a serious stand on the issue and working towards it. It's a long and tough journey but I'm glad that there are people who are willing to tag along.
As told to Dipti Nagpaul
How to cope with the stigma
Dr RN Jerajani, psychiatrist and founding member of WHARF, an association that develops programmes to educate the health care fraternity about AIDS, has been working with HIV/AIDS patients for over 25 years now. Here's what he has to say…
There are four stages of reactions once a person comes to know that he/ she is affected. First is that of denial — they don't want to accept the fact that they're affected. Then comes anger, where the person asks himself/herself 'Why me?' The third stage involves questions like 'How long will I live?' and 'Will I be able to sexually relate with my partner?' This is followed by depression. The affected fluctuates between these four stages till s/he accepts the situation. And it is at the acceptance stage where healing begins. But to reach the acceptance level, one needs to understand and remember the following:
* Every AIDS and HIV infected person is not going to die immediately. Today, given the research and medical facilities, an affected can live reasonably longer and lead a normal life.
* These infections are chronic manageable illnesses like diabetes or arthritis, which do not have a cure but where a proper plan can keep the illness under control.
* One does not have to feel guilt or shame since one is capable of leading an otherwise normal life.
* Why think about the illness? Think about health and focus on a proper and disciplined diet and exercise plan as that is what will help you living longer and healthy.
Help’s at hand
Here’s a list of a few AIDS and HIV helpline numbers:
* MNP+ Helpline: 952515634939
* PSI Saadhan Helpline: 23892222
* Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS): 24100088/24100099
* GLAXO: 24983444
* Salvation Army (HIV testing and counselling centre): 23093566
* Kripa Rotary Helpline: 26429158.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Don't blame the lovers!
An interesting post from a newspaper reader Siddhant L on Mumbai Mirror (29th Nov 06)
Every third day we read about someone committing suicide and everyone opines that it may have been a love affair. I think, these people need to be left alone with placing the blame on them. Maybe the reason is the lack of love? Maybe it's because the parents are not understanding or appreciative of the kids? I know of a man, who gets annoyed with his family because they speak their mind. And because of this reason, the son has become short-tempered and ends up in some or the other brawl all the time - because of the years of suppression that he went through. A polite correction or explanation could work wonders. But most people are too preoccupied to have time for their families, especially working parents. God forbid, if the son would have been lead to take such drastic steps, then would that make the father happy? Why do parents think that the children are better of fighting the world without their support? Why can't the father and son both be on the same side? Why challenge the other all the time? If the atmosphere at home is peaceful, then there would never be anything unpleasant in our society and daily life and especially, no hurt.
Every third day we read about someone committing suicide and everyone opines that it may have been a love affair. I think, these people need to be left alone with placing the blame on them. Maybe the reason is the lack of love? Maybe it's because the parents are not understanding or appreciative of the kids? I know of a man, who gets annoyed with his family because they speak their mind. And because of this reason, the son has become short-tempered and ends up in some or the other brawl all the time - because of the years of suppression that he went through. A polite correction or explanation could work wonders. But most people are too preoccupied to have time for their families, especially working parents. God forbid, if the son would have been lead to take such drastic steps, then would that make the father happy? Why do parents think that the children are better of fighting the world without their support? Why can't the father and son both be on the same side? Why challenge the other all the time? If the atmosphere at home is peaceful, then there would never be anything unpleasant in our society and daily life and especially, no hurt.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Hacked it!
Today I continued the search in void about the telnet hack on Netgear...
I didnt get the windows binary file for enabling the server but had the C source code. Now problem was that I didnt have a Linux box. so it was time to get a minimum Linux box for the job. I quickly dug out my CDs and found triplet of Redhat 8.0.
Within 30 mins the box was ready. I installed Lynx RPM and dloaded the code from net and required headers. This was infact the first time I used wget to do this.
The code was embedded in a HTML file so it was a quick vi job to strip down the extras. First attempt to create the binary resulted in number of errors..not a pretty sight! But then realised that the code had HTML codes insted of <, > and ampersand...so had to clear them.
The code was ready and I transferred it to my Windows box. But alas! the code wont run gracefully and result in error. It was time read the docs again, this time quiet carefully :-)
I realised my mistake, the binary was Linux binary and not Windows as I had been thinking :O) And while reading I also found that I had overlooked the mirror to get the Windows Binary :-$
Voilla! downloaded the binary and quick execution unlocked the telnet console on router...finally..the search that started yesterday ended in success...felt good!
I didnt get the windows binary file for enabling the server but had the C source code. Now problem was that I didnt have a Linux box. so it was time to get a minimum Linux box for the job. I quickly dug out my CDs and found triplet of Redhat 8.0.
Within 30 mins the box was ready. I installed Lynx RPM and dloaded the code from net and required headers. This was infact the first time I used wget to do this.
The code was embedded in a HTML file so it was a quick vi job to strip down the extras. First attempt to create the binary resulted in number of errors..not a pretty sight! But then realised that the code had HTML codes insted of <, > and ampersand...so had to clear them.
The code was ready and I transferred it to my Windows box. But alas! the code wont run gracefully and result in error. It was time read the docs again, this time quiet carefully :-)
I realised my mistake, the binary was Linux binary and not Windows as I had been thinking :O) And while reading I also found that I had overlooked the mirror to get the Windows Binary :-$
Voilla! downloaded the binary and quick execution unlocked the telnet console on router...finally..the search that started yesterday ended in success...felt good!
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