h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Off limits for me. Semi-secret society...alarm bells...sorry folks this stuff gives me the "willies"

I belive its fact

It can't do any of that sweat/blink/breath/pulse/voice analysis stuff! It doesn't have any input aside from the keyboard! I couldn't possibly program any of that stuff in, and the equipment/coding techniques would be far too sophisticated. It runs entirely on a terminal window in DCS.

I'd like to be able to detect lying through inconsistancy. There are so many dead ends and so many possible avenues. Such as consistancy checking, truth probability (based on past experience)... And then there's the meta-level, i.e. the next level of abstraction - the probability of a general, miscellaneous user telling the truth... It's all getting a bit out of hand!

- Jordan

Jordan. I'm afraid that if you want this project of yours to function as a human expert would, you're on a hiding to nothing! The one thing computers can't do is make the same default assumptions as those that arise from living a human life; or even a dog's life! For the most part, we aren't even aware of what these assumptions are. The conscious mind has enough to do without also being conscious of every commonplace assumption. Yet we would notice soon enough if, for example, a person appeared in two places at the same moment, even though the fact that they can't isn't in the front of the mind as an explicit rule.

The approaches you suggest bring to mind the early work using LISP and PROLOG. I know these have been used for 'expert systems' and devising (sometimes novel) proofs of logical theorems.

The neural network approach might be feasible, or the restriction of the project to a limited knowledge domain. My current view is that voice input will soon become commonplace and the 'gold standard' for this kind of thing. Of course, I'm largely guessing at quite what the aim of your project is. Good luck with it, anyway.

toxx

Hi pdante and az. This gives a whole new perspective to the famous Christmas wail: "Batteries not included"! If you also had to wait for the 'space' shop to open in order to deploy a gift or anything else, there could be worldwide panic. One imagines the shop contracting imperceptibly as the space for a microchip is traded. Then again, the delivery van would roll up as a huge juggernaut and return to the space factory as a sort of Dinky toy! Surrealist or what?

toxx

Welcome Mindbits and Pdante,

As you can see we've recently passed the 15,000th posting on this evergreen subject. So why do you think it's a fact, and which God do you refer to?

On this thread you'll find christians (every flavour), muslims, a hindu and buddhist or two, a few witches, a druid, lots of humanists, rationalists, atheists and agnostics.

They are a friendly lot by and large, but the debate here can turn into a bit of a rough and tumble, so don't be put off .

We look forward to you injecting some new blood into the fun!

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Hi Gang,

Opus Dei are as mad and bad a bunch of fascists as you are likely to bump into. They may not wear brown shirts or shout 'Mein Fuhrer' but they are still into genocide and repression.

Where do you think the Vatican got its "condoms are porous" argument. An argument they are using to condemn millions to a slow an painful death from AIDS.

They are the Vatican's right wing think tank and its most aggressive advocates in the countries whose political structures they infest. I personally rate them as dangerous as the Freemasons, and a close second to the Bilderbergers.

As a discordian by nature I feel it is necessary to expose these medieval goons wheresoever I can.

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

for Math,

Yes, I agree with you completely about Opus Dei. I just wondered how many people knew about them here and thought I would pass on some information about them. They seem to be everywhere these days.

Now I am off to have breakfast out (see above) on this beautiful sunshiny Sunday morning.

az

Thank Malt..my gut reaction was right about this Opus thing.

Hi, Math. I fear I seem to have missed your extended opinion on the Freemasons. Do you have a reference to one of your posts here, or to an external site? I had assumed that they were at least accommodating to various faiths. I might not end up agreeing with you, but I would value reading what you have to say.

Cheers, toxx.

az

For comedy: "Quote, Unquote" and "The news quiz" are brilliant. There are others on different issues which are good, such as "All in the mind" and (IIRC) "Cross continents" which examines complex ethical questions to do with reporting in various countries in the world.

"They generally only get one go at it, after all hitting the runway at 200 knots doesn't really give them a lot of chance for error. And after half a dozen have had a go the tarmac gets pretty greasy."

Hmmm. Where's that runway? I could do with free pork.

In East Anglia there was a simple way of getting free pheasant. Appratenly the witless birds enjoyed bread soaked in port and tended to get legless, whereupon the poacher quickly brought out the mallet...

"there is a very powerful right-wing Catholic organization that was founded in Spain called the Opus Dei. Has anyone else heard of them?"

Yes. Can't recall the details but it's enough to make anyone shudder. The Vatican's secret service. Very powerful politically.

"On this thread you'll find christians (every flavour), muslims, a hindu and buddhist or two, a few witches, a druid, lots of humanists, rationalists, atheists and agnostics."

You left out the Heathens, Math! If you put us in as 'witches', I object - my religion is more important to me than the very occasional bit of spellcraft.

az, there's some good stuff on Radio 7.

Toxx ISIHAC is the second most listened to programme on radio.

I'm listening to the News Quiz @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/comedy.shtml?newsquiz

Alji

Alji,



Am now listening to the news quiz!

az

Toxx, did you listen to 'Old Harry's Game'?

az, let me know what you think of it.

Alji

hi Alji,

I totally loved the news quiz! Gosh, it's been awhile since I laughed out loud so much. Very good. Very clever. Very funny.

Have spent the morning putting up fairy lights around my balcony windows and decorating the place. It's looking quite festive now!



az

Alji. Yep, I enjoyed OHG. Not a very plausible depiction, but the prof was amusing. James Grout from 'King Street Junior'!

Alji. Didn't you find 'People like us' absolutely hilarious? I sure did. 'Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off', isn't a patch on it.

toxx