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New Yorker

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Ancient Tech

Latest New Yorker Cover was Created in Photoshop 3.0 on Mac OS 7

You probably assume that most major magazine covers are designed on top-of-the-line systems with the most advanced software available. Most of the time, you'd be right. But this week's New Yorker cover was created by Bob Staake on some pretty ancient technology: Mac OS 7 and Photoshop 3.0. Mac OS 7 was released in 1991 and Photoshop 3.0 was released in 1994. Good lord. More »

2:45 PM on Mon Oct 6 2008
By Adam Frucci
22,303 views, 95 comments

Latest by ferroptic: I agree completely - how else would the New Yorker end up on Gizmodo? more »

Robot Takeovers

New Yorker: Why We Won't Have Fully Conversational Robots

John Seabrook wrote a recent feature in The New Yorker about interactive-voice-response systems (I.V.R.) commonly used with customer service and tech support telephone hotlines. Seabrook spent time at B.B.N. Technologies watching these systems transcribe callers' words and analyzing the tone of voice for emotions present. While breaking down the history of automated telephone services and voice recognition innovations, he attempts to tackle the larger question of whether or not we can create a fully conversational, quasi-conscious robot, akin to 2001: A Space Odyssey's Hal 9000. Judging from the number of experts interviewed for the piece, the answer is a resounding no. More »

7:50 PM on Tue Jun 24 2008
By Adrian Covert
6,003 views, 39 comments

Latest by 001: i didnt read the article, but of course marvin is not fully conversational, he's a pain to converse with. But it's more »

retromodo

Flying Cars, Cloud Cities and Other Forgotten Inventions of Buckminster Fuller

Buckminster Fuller might best be known for the molecules named after him and dome designs that inspired structures such as the Epcot center. But even more impressive is The New Yorker's rundown of Fuller's life and forgotten inventions, such as his three-wheeled, all-terrain car with a periscope, cities designed to float in the clouds or bathrooms designed like refrigerators. Here are a few of my favorite "Bucky" facts from the article: More »

11:00 PM on Mon Jun 2 2008
By Adrian Covert
15,387 views, 37 comments

Latest by jackmon: @BLTC: Interesting about the name 'Spaceship Earth'. I was originally going to be annoyingly pedantic and point out more »

weapons

Fun with Pain Rays, Sound Cannons and Other Non-Lethal Weaponry

This week's New Yorker (yep, you heard me right) has a cool piece on the development of non-lethal weapons for military and police. You can tell the writer, Alec Wilkinson, had a good time reporting it. The story focuses on Charles Heal, a badass part-time Marine and part-time LA Sheriff's Department officer known in some circles as "Mr. Non-Lethal Weapons." As a product evaluator and consultant, Heal has helped create about 25 different non-lethal weapons, including: More »

11:00 AM on Wed May 28 2008
By Wilson Rothman
6,494 views, 34 comments

Latest by Bokusatsu_Tenshi: No matter what are the arguements, this is a step in the right direction. Yeah, we might have some of what more »

elevators

Things You Don't Know About Modern Elevators

Earlier today we posted on a New Yorker piece about a man trapped in an elevator for 41 hours. But the real gem of the article was the mountain of "Did you know..." facts laced throughout. Like that Door Close button you're always pushing? Yeah, it doesn't work. Here's the full list: More »

10:40 PM on Wed Apr 16 2008
By Adrian Covert
81,588 views, 133 comments

Latest by B: @dhlt25: "how do people get accidents on a escalator?" Didn't you see Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure? They warned Socrates to be more »