Technorama

An omnibus of tech posts by a Futurologist on software development primarily.

Wednesday 26 October 2016

IoT is biggest threat to internet

IoT devices like printers and webcams are being sold on a "sale and forget" basis. Sold with default passwords, and no security updates. They're then compromised and used to flood popular websites.

We need manufacturers to commit to update security and patches ever 24hrs if they are to meet acceptable consumer quality standards for sale.

posted by 東京 # 10:50 0 Comments

Monday 24 October 2016

Multi Focus Depth Of Field camera

Love this new camera Light L16. Ever looked at a photo, and seen a blurred tree in the background, or sign, and wished you could focus on it? (like we do in real life). Well this could be the thing..

We can focus on 3D environments and pick up details in the distance easily, by re-focusing our eyes - we can't do that at present with photos.

An intermediary effect, could be achieved, by storing 16 different depth of fields, or 16 different photos focused on different objects. Eventually we will be able to take photos with thousands of depths. Of cause, our 8MP cameras (storing around 4MB image files), if storing 16 different depths, may use more memory, but not 64MB, because compression will probably mean they are around 30MB. Not too bad, for the ability to move the mouse around the image, and focus in on different details (or finger on a smart phone)

posted by 東京 # 18:04 0 Comments

Cambridge Train Station Ticket Machines

Sunday 23 Oct 2016
3 of 8 machines broken.

Please introduce software competency procedures and provide technicians (remote and local) to resolve issues?

posted by 東京 # 09:51 0 Comments

Saturday 22 October 2016

TV rental format idea

We have a lot of TV programmes, following couples buying first homes. Relocating out if the city, selling up and moving abroad.

We should have a rental version, taking couples around their viewings, and haggling over the rent :-)

posted by 東京 # 12:56 0 Comments

Topographical London Tube Map improvements

Topographical tube map is great. However, there are some massive divergences from the real map.

I feel it should be nudged closer to geographically accurate map.

St John's Wood appears to be 6 stops from Maida Vale. However it is only a 10 min walk.

Paddington is not on the NW corner of circle line, Notting Hill is. That corner of the Circle line should be re-laid to be closer to reality. Closer to the shape of Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park

Steps

1. Nudge Edgware Road Bakerloo right by around 2 cm (it should be adjacent to Edgware Road Circle line, as it is only 2 min walk).
2. Move Paddington and Bayswater right by around 2 cm
3. Place Notting Hill on corner of circle/district line

NB, for (3), may need to make it a diagonal corner.

While were here, why not build a tunnel under A40 Westway linking both Edgware Road tubes?

posted by 東京 # 11:24 0 Comments

switch_var() modern switch() statement

C does't have a way to put expressions in switch statements. I propose to add switch_var(), which will allow logic statements within the case.
Note, no "break" keyword required, there is no way to run into the next statement

switch_var(value)
{
case ((value >= 0) && (value < 10)):
{
cout << "0-9" << endl;
}
}

posted by 東京 # 11:21 0 Comments

Thursday 20 October 2016

Safer C priogramming

Checked C, run-time instrumented builds

Simply tack on params with data sizes on to each function call. or have them globally available. Then assert before each access.

Need not just address load randomisation, need complete function randomisation, nothing predicable.

One easy way, is to have a variation of compilation and optimisation settings. If everyone had a randomised input for the local compilation of a binary, there would be 100 different versions, and no cracker would be sure.

Programs should be run in multiple threads, and isolated address spaces.

Isolating risky areas in a separate thread address space, which is deleted after use.

posted by 東京 # 17:26 0 Comments

Monday 17 October 2016

Syria needs an Armistice

Syria needs an Armistice, a truce, like North and South Korea have had since 1953.

Any aggression from either side must meet a response.

A no fly zone for Syrian Government forces, which if broken would receive a tit-for-tat strike on their own military radar facilities. Enforced by naval assets in the Mediterranean.

I don't think shooting down Russian Airforce jets is a good idea, however out of such a tragedy / repercussions, a renewed keenness for peace might be forthcoming from all parties.

posted by 東京 # 14:19 0 Comments

Saturday 15 October 2016

Time for a clean brexit?

Hard brexit may be best?
UK is biggest grower this year in G7. Missing in the Euro area. Overall UK economy is growing.

Banks are rushing to move to the UK. ING is relocating all banking functions from Amsterdam to London.

posted by 東京 # 17:46 0 Comments

Monday 10 October 2016

Brexit blueprint

Repeal communities act
Convert all existing EU legislation
Introduce work permits, with a cap. Plenty of capacity for the roles we need (doctors, engineers, nurses, fruit pickers, care workers, etc etc)
It's time to improve a generation of working people's opportunities. Those that have been left behind.
If EU member states don't accept a free-trade deal, stick to regular WTO, and impose tariffs on EU products to recoup any losses.

posted by 東京 # 22:41 0 Comments

Continual Monitoring Of Services

Have you noticed that websites have forms that don't work, and email addresses that aren't valid listed?

That's because the forms aren't monitored and tested daily. Same with email addresses.

Websites need a testsuite that continually monitors functions such as these.

posted by 東京 # 18:36 0 Comments

Android SMS message retry

I'm using Android 7 on Google LG Nexus 5X, noticed it still doesn't have an SMS retry mechanism. SMS is neglected, because lots of people use email and whatsapp etc.

All apps that are on smart devices with intermittent data connection need retry mechanisms. Message can't send? No data? Just try again when connection refused. Like WhatsApp and gmail do.
Please add google!

posted by 東京 # 09:01 0 Comments

Saturday 8 October 2016

EU Brexit deal

Quoting

David Bloom, head of foreign exchange research at HSBC:

"It is becoming clear that many European countries will come to the negotiation table looking for political damage limitation rather than economic damage limitation. A lose-lose situation is the inevitable outcome."

It will be a real shame if the EU bureaucrats and political leaders put their own survival ahead of the EU economy. Shooting themselves in the foot by striking a bad deal with UK is the worst they can do for the continent!

But, if you told Turkeys about Christmas, and let them decide, how many would vote for it?

posted by 東京 # 09:36 0 Comments