Technology
Google Blames Human Drivers for Self-Driving Cars Accidents
Following the storm of coverage about their self-driving cars being involved in accidents Google has said human drivers are to blame
If you follow the tech industry closely then you’ve probably seen all the stories covering the accidents involving Google’s self-driving cars. Creating a media storm about how safe the cars really were that blew up faster than anyone could have predicted. Google has admitted that in the six years since starting the project their cars have been in 11 minor accidents; four of those have happened in the last 9 months. Now Google spokesman Chris Urmson has another key piece of information for the public about those accidents.
According to Urmson none of those accidents were caused by Google’s self-driving cars. In a blog post Urmson says that the self-driving cars have been sideswiped “a couple times”, rear ended seven times, and nailed by a car running through a stop sign. None of the accidents caused injuries and any other data is hard to come by. Minor accidents are usually not reported to the police giving the DMV no data to analyze.
That makes it that much more difficult for Google and car manufacturers to improve their self-driving car programs to lower the number of accidents. Despite that Urmson says “We have a detailed review process and try to learn something from each incident, even if it hasn’t been our fault,” Although much of that information isn’t made available to the public, the majority of what we know comes from an [highlight]AP report [/highlight]saying that two of the four recent accidents happened when the car was in self-driving mode.
The other two incidents happened while a person was driving, obviously putting the blame on human error instead of the program. If Google’s data is to be believed that should come as no surprise, since the company blames human error for all of the accidents. Citing that their fleet of 20 self-driving cars have sensors to help them detect and avoid obstacles like people or other cars. The cars also sport GPS tracking, radar, and software that recognizes and reacts to street signals and signs.
Using all of the data their self-driving cars have collected Google claims they’ve identified a number of dangerous human driver patterns. Programing their cars to react to things like lane drifting, people running red lights, and lane cutting. None of that means these vehicles are incapable of causing an accident. Self-driving cars may be safer than human drivers in many ways but we are a long ways from making them perfectly safe.
Technology
A significant advancement has been made towards the development of a computer that is inspired by the human brain
Brains and computers may share some functions, such as calculation and organization, but they possess fundamental differences. And their differences are purely structural. Could computers ever be built to mimic the complexity of the human brain? This concept has been in circulation for some time, and scientists have recently made a significant advancement. They created a device that functions similarly to a synapse.
Just like a microbiologist, it’s important to note that the central nervous system is primarily composed of neurons, or nerve cells. They communicate with each other through synapses, which are connections between neurons where information is transmitted and processed. They play a crucial role in the functioning of the brain.
Synapses accomplish this by utilizing ions, which are electrically charged particles or molecules, dissolved in water. Recent research demonstrates the feasibility of developing a synthetic synapse that effectively interacts with water and salts. At the heart of this is a compact device known as an iontronic memristor, which is as narrow as two sheets of paper.
Despite its intricate name, the shape and behavior of this organism are easy to understand. The shape resembles that of a cone and contains a solution composed of water and salts. When an electrical impulse is received, the ions in the water undergo movement, resulting in a change in salt concentration. This is similar to how a genuine brain synapse functions.
“It is truly remarkable that we have been able to achieve the processing of complex information using water and salt, a breakthrough that was previously only possible with solid materials,” stated Tim Kamsma, a graduate researcher at Utrecht University. “We are successfully emulating neuronal behavior using a system that utilizes the same medium as the brain.”
Scientists from South Korea developed the ionotronic memristor, and a fortuitous meeting with Kamsma resulted in a fruitful collaboration. They both recognized the potential of utilizing the device as a computational synapse. It’s fascinating to see how this non-functional computer could potentially pave the way for the development of a device that closely mimics the behavior of our own synapses.
“This is a significant step forward in the development of computers that can not only imitate the communication patterns of the human brain but also utilize the same medium,” Kamsma stated. Maybe this will eventually lead to computing systems that can better mimic the incredible abilities of the human brain.
The study has been published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Astronomy
The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is occurring this month, and its peak can be observed at a specific time
Currently, Earth is undergoing one of its three most active meteor showers. The Eta Aquariids, remnants of Halley’s comet, are observed during the month of May. During this period, Earth approaches the comet’s orbit at a distance of approximately 9.7 million kilometers (6 million miles), which is close enough to collect residual dust particles.
The Eta Aquariids exhibit a frequency of up to one meteor per minute, although this level of activity is limited to individuals residing near the equator and in the southern tropics. For the rest of the population on Earth, it is anticipated that there will be a more moderate but still highly respectable rate of 10 to 30 meteors per hour. The optimal time in the Northern Hemisphere is during the pre-dawn period when the sky is at its maximum darkness, particularly in areas located away from urban centers. The midnight hours are also favorable in the Southern Hemisphere.
Allow approximately 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt; thus, it is important to take this into account. The duration of the meteor shower spans from April 19 to May 28 annually. The zenith of meteor activity is anticipated to occur during the nights of May 5th and 6th; however, there is a high probability of observing numerous meteors throughout the entire week.
Our orbit intersects with the orbit of Halley’s comet twice annually. In May, this event results in the occurrence of a meteor shower. In October, the remnants form the Orionid meteor shower. The Eta Aquariids derive their name from their origin at the star Eta Aquarii.
Halley’s comet exhibits significant luminosity and possesses a comparatively brief orbital period, completing one revolution around the sun every 76 years. For a period of more than 2,250 years, humans have been engaged in the act of observing it. The earliest documented sighting of this phenomenon occurred in 240 BCE and was recorded in the Book of Han by Chinese astronomers in 12 BCE. The year 1066 witnessed the depiction of this event in two significant historical records: the Bayeux Tapestry, which documented the Norman Conquest of England, and the petroglyphs created by the Chaco, indigenous Americans in present-day New Mexico.
The appearance of a comet in 1301 inspired Giotto di Bondone to depict the Star of Bethlehem as a comet, which had a lasting influence on its portrayal for the next seven centuries. Although observations had been made for thousands of years, it was not until 1705 that Edmond Halley discovered the periodicity of them.
The most recent observation of the object from Earth occurred in 1986, and it is expected to return to the inner solar system in 2061. Currently, it is returning to its original position after reaching its maximum distance from the sun in December.
Ah, Google, the second most popular website globally. A highly beneficial instrument that can turn into a complete nightmare if misused.
Certain individuals have acquired this knowledge through difficult experiences, sparing you from having to go through the same. Here are a few words that individuals who have searched them on Google advise against searching.
We can verify that this is something you will regret searching for, should you come across any of the images. Oral myiasis is a condition where larvae can invade the mouth.
Several medical case reports have documented instances where insect larvae have infested the mouths of unfortunate patients. One letter published in the British Dental Journal described the situation as follows: “The room was filled with the strong odor of decaying flesh.”
Yet another medical term that is unnecessary to familiarize oneself with. If you have experienced degloving, you will be acutely aware of it.
“An acquaintance of mine was employed at a summer camp.” He had responsibility for, among other tasks, overseeing the climbing wall. One of the regulations stipulated the prohibition of wearing any form of adornment, yet many adolescent females chose to disregard this directive. “Prior to allowing them onto the wall, he would verify their readiness, often noticing a ring on their hand,” remarked a Redditor, should you require further persuasion.
“If they failed to comply with his second request to remove any jewelry, he would inquire if they were familiar with the concept of degloving, which invariably they were not.” Subsequently, he would promptly retrieve his mobile device and display an image depicting a hand with a ring finger that had been stripped of its skin. Instantly, their level of cooperation would significantly increase.
The opioid drug desomorphine acquired the nickname “krokodil” because illicitly produced batches frequently contain toxic substances, resulting in severe skin damage and a resemblance to a crocodile’s appearance for those who inject it. That encompasses all the essential information regarding the subject.
There are numerous unfortunate surnames, but one must sympathize with the Fourniers, who bear a name associated with a specific bacterial infection known as necrotizing fasciitis, which specifically affects the genital area.
The Medical Dictionary explains that this severe and potentially fatal type of cellulitis commonly affects patients who have experienced injuries in the perineum area and patients with diabetes mellitus.
This piece of information is simply valuable guidance.
Occasionally, this phenomenon can occur in male infants, seemingly without significant cause for alarm. Nevertheless, if you wish to avoid being included in a list, it is advisable to consult other parents, a healthcare professional, or a physician for any concerns rather than seeking advice from a large technology company.
It appears to be mathematical in nature. It lacks mathematical complexity.
Harlequin ichthyosis is an uncommon hereditary dermatological disorder that impacts infants, resulting in the formation of dense, fissured plates on the skin. Infants afflicted with this condition necessitate intensive medical attention, with historical data indicating a low likelihood of survival.
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