#Computer Vision System Project Help

[nasa]

Hubble Space Telescope: Exploring the Cosmos and Making Life Better on Earth

In the 35 years since its launch aboard space shuttle Discovery, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided stunning views of galaxies millions of light years away. But the leaps in technology needed for its look into space has also provided benefits on the ground. Here are some of the technologies developed for Hubble that have improved life on Earth.

Image Sensors Find Cancer

Charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors have been used in digital photography for decades, but Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph required a far more sensitive CCD. This development resulted in improved image sensors for mammogram machines, helping doctors find and treat breast cancer.

Laser Vision Gives Insights

In preparation for a repair mission to fix Hubble’s misshapen mirror, Goddard Space Flight Center required a way to accurately measure replacement parts. This resulted in a tool to detect mirror defects, which has since been used to develop a commercial 3D imaging system and a package detection device now used by all major shipping companies.

Optimized Hospital Scheduling

A computer scientist who helped design software for scheduling Hubble’s observations adapted it to assist with scheduling medical procedures. This software helps hospitals optimize constantly changing schedules for medical imaging and keep the high pace of emergency rooms going.

Optical Filters Match Wavelengths and Paint Swatches

For Hubble’s main cameras to capture high-quality images of stars and galaxies, each of its filters had to block all but a specific range of wavelengths of light. The filters needed to capture the best data possible but also fit on one optical element. A company contracted to construct these filters used its experience on this project to create filters used in paint-matching devices for hardware stores, with multiple wavelengths evaluated by a single lens.

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[mariacallous]

Next year will be Big Tech’s finale. Critique of Big Tech is now common sense, voiced by a motley spectrum that unites opposing political parties, mainstream pundits, and even tech titans such as the VC powerhouse Y Combinator, which is singing in harmony with giants like a16z in proclaiming fealty to “little tech” against the centralized power of incumbents.

Why the fall from grace? One reason is that the collateral consequences of the current Big Tech business model are too obvious to ignore. The list is old hat by now: centralization, surveillance, information control. It goes on, and it’s not hypothetical. Concentrating such vast power in a few hands does not lead to good things. No, it leads to things like the CrowdStrike outage of mid-2024, when corner-cutting by Microsoft led to critical infrastructure—from hospitals to banks to traffic systems—failing globally for an extended period.

Another reason Big Tech is set to falter in 2025 is that the frothy AI market, on which Big Tech bet big, is beginning to lose its fizz. Major money, like Goldman Sachs and Sequoia Capital, is worried. They went public recently with their concerns about the disconnect between the billions required to create and use large-scale AI, and the weak market fit and tepid returns where the rubber meets the AI business-model road.

It doesn’t help that the public and regulators are waking up to AI’s reliance on, and generation of, sensitive data at a time when the appetite for privacy has never been higher—as evidenced, for one, by Signal’s persistent user growth. AI, on the other hand, generally erodes privacy. We saw this in June when Microsoft announced Recall, a product that would, I kid you not, screenshot everything you do on your device so an AI system could give you “perfect memory” of what you were doing on your computer (Doomscrolling? Porn-watching?). The system required the capture of those sensitive images—which would not exist otherwise—in order to work.

Happily, these factors aren’t just liquefying the ground below Big Tech’s dominance. They’re also powering bold visions for alternatives that stop tinkering at the edges of the monopoly tech paradigm, and work to design and build actually democratic, independent, open, and transparent tech. Imagine!

For example, initiatives in Europe are exploring independent core tech infrastructure, with convenings of open source developers, scholars of governance, and experts on the political economy of the tech industry.

And just as the money people are joining in critique, they’re also exploring investments in new paradigms. A crop of tech investors are developing models of funding for mission alignment, focusing on tech that rejects surveillance, social control, and all the bullshit. One exciting model I’ve been discussing with some of these investors would combine traditional VC incentives (fund that one unicorn > scale > acquisition > get rich) with a commitment to resource tech’s open, nonprofit critical infrastructure with a percent of their fund. Not as investment, but as a contribution to maintaining the bedrock on which a healthy tech ecosystem can exist (and maybe get them and their limited partners a tax break).

Such support could—and I believe should—be supplemented by state capital. The amount of money needed is simply too vast if we’re going to do this properly. To give an example closer to home, developing and maintaining Signal costs around $50 million a year, which is very lean for tech. Projects such as the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany point a path forward—they are a vehicle to distribute state funds to core open source infrastructures, but they are governed wholly independently, and create a buffer between the efforts they fund and the state.

Just as composting makes nutrients from necrosis, in 2025, Big Tech’s end will be the beginning of a new and vibrant ecosystem. The smart, actually cool, genuinely interested people will once again have their moment, getting the resources and clearance to design and (re)build a tech ecosystem that is actually innovative and built for benefit, not just profit and control. MAY IT BE EVER THUS!

[yorutsuki]

「 ✦ Isekaied Reversed Pt. 4 ✦ 」

↳ Its been a few days since the Yaksha, Xiao, came home. During his stay, you've been busy trying to teach him modern etiquette, technology and as well, fashion. Surprisingly he learns quite quickly although, at points his stubbornness can be an obstacle.

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<; Day 1 >

The day after your fantasies became a reality, you decided it was time to teach him about the modern era. For the first day, you decided that it was important to inform him how bland this world actually was. For instance, visions, monsters and rulers. At first the usually all-knowing adeptus was quite confused and lost.

How could their be no Archons? Why didn't people own visions even though there was a God? If there weren't any monsters, why did they need excessive police?

So as a helpful world-guide, you informed him of all the answers to his questions and doubts.

"So in summary..you're world is overruled by a God instead of Celestia. Instead of seven nations, you have 195 nations..which then have uh..countries—Cities? And their ruled by different leaders who aren't Gods..?"

You nodded, scratching your neck tiredly, "Yep, but thats not even half of it all. Theres more politic factors that play into this world and it's system.." You sighed, already knowing that explaining all of it would be a pain. "—and not to mention, some of their systems suck a-" You cut your mumbling off, clearing your throat.

"Anyways, we can get into the deeper stuff later, today is just about the basics—like currency and some basic laws."

Xiao shook his head as he crossed his arms. "Tell me how all of this would help in returning me back?"

You eternally groaned as you had briefly forgotten about that problem. "Well, finding a way to send you back isn't an overnight project—it will probably take time. In the meanwhile, you need to know how this world works in order to er-fit in? And trust me, you'd want to cause right now, you stick out like a polar bear in the summer."

The adeptus gave you a questioning look but shook his head once more, deciding it would be best to keep his mouth shut.

< Day 2 >

When the second day arrived, you began to teach him about modern technology. You showed many examples such as cars, Tv's, microwaves, temperature remotes as well as showing how to use different devices. Seeing him struggle turned to be much more amusing than you originally thought to be.

"A computer...? So you're saying someone can just do...anything on it?" Xiao quizzed, inspecting the bright screen of the device. You nodded proudly, "basically, it's like the terminal akasha." You compared, thinking of the best possible way that would make sense.

"Anyways, yes, you can do anything on it that's virtual. Unless you use the device itself as a weapon then well uh.."

Xiao nodded, "I see."

...

You quite regretted showing Xiao the physics of a computer as you could hear it playing videos and random sounds all night. You would've scolded him if it weren't for the fact you remembered that adeptus' didn't need sleep much like humans.

Eternally groaning, you rolled over and stuff your face into the comfort of your pillow.

...

The next morning, you had a small mental crises on how horrendous you looked—puffy eyes, dark eye bags, frizzy hair..

Dear God..

< Day 4 >

Yay! You skipped a day! If you're wondering why then heres the summary;

For the whole of the third day you couldn't get the yaksha to divert from the computer or TV. When you eventually managed to persuade him away from it, he'd ignore your whole existence with a pout. So thus, you took the day off from teachings and let him do his thing.

However on day 4, when Xiao finally regained his sense of duty and why he was even here, you started teaching up about fashion which ultimately led to...Mall trip!

'Hah...my bank account's decreasing every day...'

"Alright err...Xiao?" Was it informal to address him by his name? Ehhh you'll figure that out later.

"Alright, we're at the mall. In summary, a mall is a big plaza with many stalls but more modern."

"Oh! And don't worry about spendings, it's on me." You smiled as the guardian nodded.

You sighed as your head looked to the ground. "-but you'll need to repay me with a fixed door." You muttered grudgingly.

Xiao merely nodded once more before starting to walk around the area, ignoring the minor judgemental and simpful stares that stray his way.

It wasn't long until a group of teenage girls with an array of cropped and baggy clothing came rushing towards the two of you—well, more towards Xiao.

You couldn't help but feel anxious—one could even say jealous, as you watched the adeptus get swarmed by the needy high school fangirls who were gawking over him.

"Can we get a picture with you? Your cosplay is slaying so hard-" One of them asked, smiling like as if she won the lottery.

Xiao furrowed his brows in discomfort. "No, sorry. I'm busy as at the moment." He retorted sternly, not wanting to be center of attention. "Oh my God! You even sound and act like him!" The same girl replied, ignoring his clear discomfort.

Not wanting to socialize but seeing that he'd have barely any way out of it as, concerningly, people are much more narcissistic and persistant these days.

Thus you went over towards the group, interrupting their one sided conversation as you cleared your throat. "I see the shop over there, we probably should get going." You pointed towards the modern silver font sign with the metal letters of, 'H&M'. The adeptus, seeming to get the que, nodded as he walked towards you, not sparing the girls one glance.

As you walked one of them just had to say something.

"Jeez, she didn't have to be so bitchy, kinda a pick me honestly..." one of the girls muttered to her friends who you faintly heard chuckle.

You just rolled your eyes, not wanting to continue the conflict. "Such cowards, can't even say it to my face." You huffed following beside Xiao.

The adeptus glanced at your irritated state though only shook his head. "You mortals are weird. Why should you care about their opinions, especially if it's one coming from a little shit?" He questioned, his gaze staying in front of him.

You paused, looking at him wide eyed.

The adeptus, noticing your absent presence beside him turned a slight and saw your shocked expression. "What?"

"You just sweared?" You stared dumbfounded.

Xiao looked confusingly before understanding, shaking his head. "well in Teyvat, we have will to swear and say profanities but many refrain from doing so, and i'm guessing the 'gum-play' and code? From this world may also be a benefiting factor."

You made a 'ah' sound before shrugging. "probably."

The two of you entered the store as your journey for clothing has finally begun.

'i'm officially going broke...'

...

After a few painful yet inquisite long hours in the mall, the both of you were heading back to your car, ready to leave.

Unfortunately, your hands were struggling halfway out of the mall as the bags' weight was started to wear down your strength.

Your hands felt quite sore and you swore you saw a finger turn a dark hue of magenta..

"Give one to me."

You looked over to your side as Xiao held out his hand.

You rolled your eyes, "nuh uh, you already have a bag. Plus, I offered to get this stuff so in courtesy. i'm carrying it." You informed, a grin etching your face but soon was replace with struggle.

While shopping, you may have gotten a bit side-tracked and bought more than what you needed—overall, ending up with the both of you having to carry 3 bags in total.

Xiao huffed, "it's not a offer, you look like you're struggling and it will only make you slow." He informed, his brows furrowing.

'thanks for the confidence.' You mentally rolled your eyes once more before reluctantly handing over one of the bags.

...

Finally arriving home, you settled your new buys down and offered to clean the yaksha's clothes. More or less because you didn't want him stinking up the apartment/house and dragging dirt throughout it.

He hesitantly agreed before trying to change into the new clothes. Keyword, trying.

Somehow he managed to tangle himself with the shirt and you having to help him, but of coarse, you averted your eyes away from the scene and gave him verbal instructions.

...

Setting down the plates, you then unfroze the left over foods in the microwave.

Once the food was hot and steamy, you set it down on the table as the adeptus stared at it, puzzled. "What is this?"

"It's called pizza." You informed him, taking a slice for yourself.

"Pi-tza?" He questioned, staring at the slice of cheese and tomato covered crust.

"mhm-" Your head shot up, "wait, can you even eat flour—tomatos or cheese? You questioned. In game the only food he could have, lore wise, was almond tofu.

(HELP- I haven't played genshin in so long, I forgot exactly if he couldn't eat other things or if he just was doing it by his own preference...Oh well for plot purpose)

The adeptus nodded a yes, before hesitantly picking the slice up—taking a bite.

It was nothing like he ever tasted—almost on par with almond tofu. Actually, it's been so long since he had something other than the same dish which was most likely why the food's taste was enhanced. Either way, he loved it, the sauce gave off a perfect acidity while the cheese creamed it down. The crust was cooked just right and the toppings just brought the whole thing together.

You felt quite happy as his eyes lit up, practically munching the whole thing down.

"Jeez, slow down, theres more slices, plus you can choke" You chuckled.

...

As the day came to an end, you couldn't help but realized how happy you felt. It's been a while since you had company over so the change was nice.

Looking over towards Xiao who was peacefully sitting outside, a small smile graced upon your lips. How you wished this feeling could last forever...

.

.

.

.

A/N: Jeez, I need to post more often :(..Sorry for not posting, i've been busy lately with being sick and then having missing assignments and then having a busy weekend after. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!! It was quite long :')

Please, if you have any, leave any feedback as it could really help me improve. And, especially if the stories going to fast or the relationship between the two is too quick, please let me know so I can try amking alterations.

With that being said, thank you so much for reading and have a good day/night! ^^

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{ <- Previous Part }

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[ Masterlist ]

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker Then Blood (Part 98)

N was first, climbing down into a small hole in the ceiling, using night vision to make sure the room was safe.

There was flesh piled in the corner, crawling up the wall to reach nearly the ceiling, black tendrils lie dormant all across the floor like living tripwires. One wrong touch and…

Uzi's head poked from the ceiling.

“Can I come down or what?”

N scanned the rest of the room, the control room screens were still online by some miracle, though several of them were busted and several more were tangled in a web of eldritch goo however, let's hope that wouldn't be an issue.

“H-hang on, if you touch the floor we'll trigger a reaction.” He flew up to come face to face with her, “Let me carry you.”

She reached out for him, landing into his hold as her tail lit up the room in a purple glow, taking in the room.

“Damn. This place will be gone in a couple days. We better get out of here fast.” She pointed out, eyelights training on the faintly glowing console. “Bring me over yeah?”

He nodded, hovering over to where she could leap onto the control panel without touching the floor.

[SYSTEM LOCKDOWN : ENTER PASSKEY]

Read the slightly cracked, incredibly dusty monitor and Uzi sighed, mumbling under her breath. “Yeah of course it's on lockdown…”

She pressed a few buttons, getting an error noise on each touch- the entire control panel was completely unresponsive.

“I'm going to have to plug in. Make sure my body doesn't fall.” She turned back to her boyfriend, who ceased his paranoid looking around to meet her eyes; worry creased his frame.

“Uzi this computer has been out here for ages… who knows what sort of virus it has. Plus…” He gestured to the black, slimy tendrils snaking up some of the monitors. “Who knows what this stuff does to computers.”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“But the keyboards locked up, and we need the data off this old thing. What other choice do we have?”

“I-I could-”

“No.” Uzi interupted him. “If these things trigger you're the only one that can burn it away. We'd both be sitting ducks.”

He sighed heavily, the knowledge that she was right didn't help his nerves any, his core yanked painfully in protest.

No it's dangerous.

She could get hurt, the kit could be hurt.

Don’t let her go.

“Hey. I got this. You trust me?” She asked, cocking her head with a confident smirk, God, how long had it been since he'd seen that? It's been so much exhaustion and doubt lately…

“Of course I do.” He replies, hovering close just to give her a quick kiss on the lips before parting. “Just be careful, okay?”

She nods. “Duh.” And she reaches for the port above her core, forcing the hatch open, “Ow! Agh… that's not meant to come open without prep I guess.” She hissed under her breath, and fished around in her pocket for a linking cable. “There you are.”

She plugged one end into herself before hunting for an interface port on the console, taking a moment to find it.

She does, it's next to a big red button that was currently pulsing red- she made a mental note to avoid touching it.

“Wish me luck.” Was the last thing she said before she plugged herself into the control panel, body locking up as code crashed into her firewall. Her body winced. She barely felt N keep her steady as she was hit with a flood of errors.

Plugged into another drone, the experience was euphoric, you were connected to another conscious, a soul. But this computer wasn't sentient; and what little AI it possessed was broken beyond the point of functioning. So all the sensation she felt was just her own- and the faint screaming of a dying AI.

ERROR- MEMORY FAILING

ERROR- DATA BACKUP FAILED

ERROR- HARDWARE FAILURE

“Yeah, no shit.” She mumbled, feeling her mouth move as she refocused. Okay, the information had to be in here somewhere…

She began to push through the ocean of errored code, feeling the system push back hard against her firewall. N was right, this thing probably had a thousand viruses it was itching to share with her, let's just hope her firewall held up.

She felt her consciousness leave the confines of her physical body, leaving it behind as she searched through poorly organized files; some were completely corrupted, others were fine, just not useful.

Time lost meaning, the system of the console was incredibly vast, and it quickly became clear she was searching for a needle in a haystack, a dot of purple among a sea of white.

She began to worry, perhaps the information they were looking for had already been corrupted?

That is, until she ran into an encrypted wall of cascading code, denser then the scattering of loose data she'd been able to access thus far.

She pushed against it, purple meeting default white, as strings of encryption appeared on her visor, N watching over her diligently.

[ENTER PASSKEY]

She sighed- or whatever passed for an entirely digital equivalent, beginning to work through the encryption with her own hardware, the solver aiding in her speed.

1s and 0s turned to scrambled letters and white space made to make any unwanted guest have trouble finding the passkey, but a mixture of determination and robotic advantage let Uzi make quick work of it.

P-A-S-S-W

“Oh for- the password is password, I could've just guessed it!” Her body suddenly shouted, startling N and then making him laugh. “Pfft-haha!”

Refocusing, she was able to push her code through the systems firewall, it wasn't entirely painless but she got through.

There was only a single file.

Transmission- Classified [TITANUM-28]

The file was an audio recording, with a set of coordinates attached. She played it, beginning a download into her own system.

“This is Doctor Rosemont, Transmitting from Lab 18. Something… happened.” There was screaming in the background- and a colossal roar.

“The genetic experiments have been a success, modifications to our old C.R.I.S.P.R technology has allowed us a greater range of genetic wiggle room…” There's a crash, and the sound of rapid- panicked gunfire.

“U-Unfortunatly, Subject 5 has uh… escaped.”

There's the sound of shattering glass, and low, feral growling. “If you receive this message, know that Titanium-28 is compromised! I repeat! Titanium-28 is-” The transmission ends with a blood curdling scream and a roar.

The coordinates to the planet are attached labeled very clearly with [QUARANTINED]

A single image is also attached, a satellite view of a planet covered in red and green trees and a canopy so thick you couldn't even see through it from orbit, like images she'd seen of earth, a good portion of the planet was covered in water.

She felt N start to shake her, his voice muffled from the distance her code was from her body.

“UZI! WE GOTTA MOVE!”

Next ->

[fluffystuffies]

New Installations [TSAMS]

Summary: Solar has been overworking himself and the Computer has had enough of it. Luckily, it has gathered some strategies on getting Solar to take a break. And the new limbs definitely help.

Words: 6385

Inspired by the amazing and adorable artwork by @lover-of-cuteness! Artwork being this lovely piece: https://www.tumblr.com/lover-of-cuteness/737495211989729280/figured-id-post-something-again-fuck-you?source=share

...so I decided to finally make a ticklefic-and this time with tsams!

I don't usually do these so I was kinda nervous making it-so there's like 2k words of exposition and an additional 1k of I guess buildup? So the tickling part doesn't start right away jfhsjfs-I've also only written these two briefly before so I hope I get them right jsfhs-

Anyways enjoy! :D

-------

It was probably common knowledge that headaches were meant to be a human thing. Especially headaches that derived from staring and squinting at screens for so long that it seemed like the words on the monitor were burned into the eyes of the person looking at it.

Solar was pretty sure he was the exception to that apparent rule. Or part of the group of exceptions with how many problems Sun and Moon dealt with on a near-daily basis.

At least for the moment, his was limited to his overuse of screentime. It even felt like the computer he was using was running slower.

He could feel the aching in his head getting worse by the moment, but he still couldn’t tear his eyes away from the screen. It wasn’t like what he was working on was that important. It was just an automatic shelving system so he could stock the items behind the theater counter easier. Because apparently he was expected to use a ladder every time he needed to shelve something.

Of course, that meant he needed to make proper blueprints and work out any kinks that could result in the items rocketing out from behind the counter.

Again, it wasn’t a difficult project by any means. Solar had made much more advanced pieces of technology before. 

It was more so the fact that he had been working on multiple projects in the same day and this was definitely past the fifth one of that day. So he should have expected the strain of having to make that many blueprints and adjust them as he saw fit.

But even so, his hands worked and typed of their own accord and the screen schematics ran past his vision at an almost sluggish rate. Sometimes he wondered if the workaholic part of his mind had spontaneously gained a sentient consciousness and forced his body to do ridiculous amounts of work against his body’s wishes to rest. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time an occurrence like that took place with the record of celestial-themed animatronics.

Something came into his vision.

Wait, what?

Solar blinked rapidly, then groaned as the object that interrupted his vision also interrupted the workzone that was preventing him from acknowledging his headache. He held a hand to his head as he closed his eyes, seeing faint images of numbers burn into his closed optics despite the fact that that shouldn’t have been physically possible.

Now to see what had come up in his vision.

Solar opened his eyes to the confusing sight of three…arms(?) dangling in front of his screen. Each arm had three, narrow-tipped fingers sprouting from the ends and appeared to be made of…well, something decidedly not metal, but metal-looking at the very least.

“What…?” Solar questioned quietly. Maybe he was working himself harder than he thought. Maybe he was looking at blueprints and mechanisms for so long he was starting to hallucinate them.

“Hello, Solar.” That was Spaniard. 

“Computer?” Solar paused. “...can I ask what these things are?” He had been sitting down so he slowly got up, glad that being an animatronic meant less cramps and no muscles to even get sore. He tilted his head as he observed the arms. 

“They are my new arms,” Spaniard responded, monotone as ever. Seemingly as a demonstration, the arms moved to make a waving motion after it spoke.

“Uh-huh. And where did they come from, if I might ask?” Solar was usually the mechanic who was called for these sorts of upgrades and unless he had a bout of amnesia, he didn’t remember installing any kind of arms for the computer.

“Moon gave them to me. He referred to them as a ‘Christmas gift’.” The arms performed ‘quotation mark’ motions with the last two words. “I have no desire for leisurely material possessions and my only purpose is to assist, so Moon decided to give me something that would allow me to physically assist you all.”

“So he gave you a Christmas present…sure, that checks out. But why am I only seeing you with them now?” Christmas had passed several days ago, so if Spaniard had received the arms on Christmas, then Solar should have seen them installed much sooner.

“Well, as I am sure you are aware, several events have transpired during and after Christmas that left Moon quite irritable. He did not have the functional and rational capacity to install them before now. I was not intending to bother him during that period of time,” Spaniard explained. 

“So he only recently installed them?” Solar asked, walking around to the front of the desk and looking up. The arms seemed…rather long, going all the way up to the ceiling rafters much like Moon’s wire would if he ever used it. Which he didn’t.

“Correct.”

“You could’ve asked me to install them if Moon wasn’t in the mood to,” Solar told it. He was actually kind of confused that he wasn’t asked to install the arms. He was normally the animatronic everyone went to if they had a mechanical issue or if they needed something made.

“You do enough as is. I was not intending to bother you, either,” the Computer responded simply.

Solar huffed out a small laugh. “I am kind of the mechanic of this place. Wouldn’t be any different from anything else anyone’s had me do.”

“I stand by my point. You do enough. In fact, I interrupted you to…in vague terms, have you do…less of that.” Well, at least it made it clear that the phrasing was meant to be vague.

“You can just say it,” Solar said, putting one hand on the front of the security desk area. His other hand held his face. The headache was…going away somewhat. It was definitely still there, but it was letting up slightly. He was sure that meant something, but he wasn’t keen on admitting it.

“Very well. I interrupted you so you would take a break,” Spaniard replied bluntly. “You have been working for…” It paused as it probably calculated the time frame. “22 hours straight.”

“That’s pretty standard for me,” Solar mumbled to himself, knowing immediately after that that was most likely not the right thing to say. 

“Many of the others have advised that you should integrate more breaks into your schedule,” the Computer stated, one of the arms moving downwards to type…something onto the keyboard.

“Yeah well, old habits die hard,” Solar said distractedly, leaning over the front of the desk slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Preparing for the shutdown of this program for the time being. I am saving it, so it will not erase your progress,” Spaniard told him.

Despite the assurance, Solar felt the smallest spike of anxiety shoot through him at the thought of the blueprints not immediately appearing in front of him when he would turn the computer on. He had worked for too long on those. “You don’t need to do that.”

“If I do not turn off the program now, you will not rest.”

“I don’t need to rest. The most I’d probably need is an occasional recharge,” Solar said, hoping that he wouldn’t have to admit that he hadn’t stopped to charge for the entire time he had been working.

“You have not taken the breaks to do that. And if I had not stopped you, you would have continued with that pattern.” Spaniard paused. “If I may ask, Solar, what is your battery percentage?”

“Can’t you just scan me and find that out?” Solar questioned, not wanting to admit that either.

“I want you to tell me.” Despite the fact that the Computer’s vocal tone hardly ever changed, Solar could sense the slightest hint of sass peeking through. To add to it, he looked up and saw two of the arms in a makeshift ‘crossed arms’ position.

Solar sighed, knowing that the Computer wouldn’t drop the topic even if he tried to change it. “...10%.” It wasn’t the lowest percentage he had gone down to in his workzone haze, but it certainly wasn’t high by any means. It would’ve probably been fine if he had a more upgraded body like Sun or Moon, but despite his own modifications, the body he had currently was still old. If he tried to get to the charging area in Sun and Moon’s room, he would most likely shut down before he reached it. And then he would have to wait for someone to find him before he could get back online again.

Spaniard did not speak for several seconds. And the arms did not move.

Solar could practically see the face of disappointment if the Computer had a face. But it didn’t and never had, so he settled on interpreting the attitude of the stilled arms.

“Look, even if I tried to go and charge, I wouldn’t make it up there anyways without shutting down first. So I might as well get those blueprints figured out while I’m down here.” Maybe Solar was just trying to find an excuse to keep working so he could finally finish that shelving mechanism, but if anyone asked, that wasn’t the case. Even if the headache was seemingly going away the longer he was distanced from that screen.

“I can carry you,” the Computer stated as if it were a normal, everyday statement for it to make. It was not.

In fact, Solar felt himself blink several times as his CPU attempted to catch up with the almost out-of-pocket statement the Computer had made. “You what???” he questioned incredulously.

“I have arms now. And they can travel throughout the daycare, including into Sun and Moon’s room. So I am able to carry you up to the balcony if need be,” Spaniard explained, which only made the idea slightly less odd. “Would you be alright with that?”

“Uh.” Solar hesitated. He…wasn’t entirely sure how that would look and he wasn’t keen on being cradled like a baby or carried like an eagle’s fresh kill. But…if it meant he would be able to charge sooner and not have to wait for someone to find his lifeless body to get back to work, then he…supposed he could deal with it. “Sure? I guess?”

“Very well,” the Computer replied, the arms moving forward and pausing once they were within Solar’s reach. 

Solar was about to question the hesitation before two of the arms suddenly grabbed onto his sides, stopping any words that might have escaped in that moment. He felt himself tense up a considerable amount as he struggled not to make any loud vocalizations.

“Are you alright, Solar?” Spaniard asked. Of course it would have noticed the sudden tenseness.

Solar took a breath to calm his voice. “...yeah. Fine.”

“...is this position uncomfortable for you? I can adjust if need be,” the Computer offered, lightening its grip slightly.

“No, it’s-it’s fine. It just feels weird is all. Do whatever you want.” Any other position would just be awkward, unless the Computer decided to lift him by his arms. Yes, he was ignoring the feeling and he was not going to address it.

“Very well.” Spaniard assumed its tighter grip on Solar’s sides. And maybe he was being a little paranoid, but he could have sworn it paused a little too long when he flinched at the contact.

Then the arms lifted him up, causing his shirt to bunch up slightly, and it wasn’t long before he was being rather unceremoniously dropped onto the balcony.

Solar grunted as he stumbled slightly upon landing. “Thanks for that…” he muttered, smoothening out his shirt and moving over to the plugin area while keeping an eye on his draining battery.

“I apologize, Solar. I have not had time to properly adjust to my new arms,” Spaniard responded, somehow sounding apologetic despite its lack of tonal change.

“Yeah. Fair enough, I guess,” Solar replied as he fumbled to plug himself in. Once he did, he looked up towards the balcony to see if the Computer’s arms would slither their way through the entrance. His assumption was proven incorrect when the arms came in through corners in the room’s ceiling, one arm for each corner. Which meant that there was now another arm.

“How many arms do you have?” Solar questioned. For some reason, there was a pit of…nervousness(?) in his stomach region at the thought of there being that many mechanical arms coming through the ceiling. Nervousness???

Maybe it was a phobia thing. Or whatever.

“I have four in total,” Spaniard told him simply. “I do not believe I need more than that.”

“Alright…” Solar acknowledged, allowing the conversation to end there unless the Computer wanted to continue it.

And turns out, it did.

“After you have completed your charging cycle, are you going to take a break?” Aaand of course they were back to this.

“Isn’t this already a break of sorts?” Solar questioned, watching his percentage go up minute by minute. He was just glad his battery seemed to charge quicker than it drained.

“No. This is a charging cycle. This does not constitute as a break,” Spaniard said. 

“I’m not working.”

“Correct. But you are planning to return to what you were doing directly after this charging cycle,” the Computer stated, not leaving any room for a question to be squished in.

Solar hesitated. He had been planning to go and finish the blueprints at the very least. “...yeah?” he told it despite that. “Why does this matter to you so much?”

The Computer seemed to pause slightly before speaking. “I have observed you over the course of several days and I have concluded that your work schedule is…unhealthy. And if I am not mistaken, your headache has lessened in your time away from work, which only proves my point.” How did-?

“So now you decide to scan me.”

“I have scanned you in both instances. I simply wanted you to relinquish some of your stubbornness in the first case.”

“I’m not that stubborn.”

“Yes, you are.”

Solar sighed. He had nothing to say in his defense to that.

“I am simply…concerned. I insist that you take a break.” Well, it was clear that the Computer was not going to drop the subject. “If it helps, it would be beneficial in the long-run for future work.”

“Look, I can take a break after I finish working out any issues with the blueprint I was working on,” Solar offered as a compromise in the hopes that the Computer would take it and let him work. The concern was…confusing. Sweet, but confusing. He knew that was probably due to…some kind of trauma or whatever, but still confusing.

Spaniard didn’t respond immediately. “...Solar, if you do not take a break after your charging cycle has completed, I will have to use…unorthodox methods to get you to do so.” Wait, what???

Solar lifted his arms slightly, unsure if he meant to position them in a defensive manner or not. “...what do you mean ‘unorthodox’?” he questioned, nervousness lightly breaking his tone.

“Do not worry, Solar. I promise I did not mean that in a threat of harm. If you wish, I can tell you what I intend to do,” the Computer amended. 

Solar glanced at his percentage, finding it to be at a decent amount. Still, he wouldn’t move until it was done. The Computer would see to that as well. 

He considered what the Computer said. Then sighed. “...yeah. Sure.” He glanced at the arms stationed around the room, noting that they were all facing his direction. He felt another firecracker of nervousness set itself off in his stomach region. He wasn’t sure if it was good or bad (it felt…more ‘good’ than not).

“Very well. I have observed some of your sessions as well as your talks with Earth about your exposure to positive touch.” Solar felt the nervousness increase when he heard that. Though, now that he was thinking about it…it was probably more akin to ‘anticipation’ than direct ‘nervousness’. “I have also noted Earth’s methods when enacting this prospect upon you-”

“Can you just say it already?!” Solar burst out, then instantly felt guilty. “...sorry.”

“Well, it would appear that you are already aware of my plan, so there is no need to elaborate further.” Was the Computer…teasing him???

“Oh, you-”

“It is your choice, Solar. Either you take a break, or I enact my ‘unorthodox’ method.” As if on cue, the fingers of the arms clawed the air in front of Solar a few times. “Though I have–as they say–a ‘feeling’ of what you will choose.”

Solar felt himself curl up ever so slightly at the sight of the arms. Ah…so that’s what that was.

“I will wait,” the Computer stated, almost smugly.

And then Solar was forced to wait as his battery gradually charged itself, getting closer and closer to fullness.

Well…the Computer planned to tickle him until he took a break. That was–

Solar forced down the anticipatory shudder that would have run through him the more he thought about it. Though he knew Spaniard probably sensed it. And would be looking smugly at him if it had a face.

It wasn’t like he was…against it. He had had some sessions with Earth on it after his initial overwhelmed reaction to Lunar tickling him the first time and she had gently introduced him to it until he was used to it. Something with ‘knismesis’ or whatever. After that, well…he had been more involved with it, but definitely not all that much. Really only Earth had done it on occasion (he suspected that Lunar stopped because of his previous reaction, which he still felt kind of guilty about).

But he definitely wasn’t against it.

…which was embarassing as all hell.

And he knew the Computer knew it as well. 

Which was probably why every few seconds, the fingers of the arms would move slightly to grasp at the air, sometimes even coming a little closer to him. And Solar felt himself die just a little, tiny bit on the inside when he flinched at the actions.

And while his imagination wasn’t the greatest at times, for some godforsaken reason, it was reeeal easy for him to imagine those narrow-tipped fingers scribbling and clawing at his sides and back while he-

He groaned, extending his charging cord just slightly as he covered his face and practically slid down the wall behind him like some kind of cliche movie scene.

“Is something wrong, Solar?” Spaniard asked and–oh, the little shit knew what it was doing. To make matters worse, it decided to wiggle its fingers right as Solar peeked through his hands to look. “I have not touched you yet.” The ‘yet’ part was not helping.

“...I’m fine,” Solar muttered quietly. “I know what you’re doing.”

“Of course you do. And based on my recollections of your sessions with Earth, you are already attempting to…predict my methods.” If the Computer had a proper laugh, Solar was positive it would be chuckling at him. “So I am not surprised that it does not take much.” It paused. “What is your percentage?”

“You know what it is,” Solar grumbled while glancing at his battery life.

“I want you to tell me.” The arms once again inched closer, one getting much closer much quicker than he thought and making him flinch violently. He was going to ignore the strangled noise that he made in response to it, choosing instead to glare at the offending limb.

Solar shuddered, then grumbled. “...72%,” he muttered.

“Then it would appear you have some time left to think on my advice,” Spaniard said simply. “...or think on other things. I know which one you are doing.”

“Shut up,” Solar groaned, bringing a hand to his face. “And stop doing that.”

“You will have to be more specific, Solar,” the Computer said, the smug bastard. As it spoke, it brought one of its arms closer to Solar’s face while wiggling its fingers, making him move his head away. “I cannot answer if you do not specify.”

“Y-yes, you can,” Solar responded with a brief stutter, which he mentally slapped himself for.

“No, I cannot. I am afraid you will have to be more specific. And I will need details, of course. I want you to tell me exactly what I am doing so I can be more helpful in my response.” There was definitely more smugness in that statement than not.

“You don’t need that,” Solar said a little too quickly for his liking. He was not specifying shit. “I don’t need to tell you anything.”

“Then I cannot stop what you want me to stop. Whatever it may be, it will continue to happen,” Spaniard replied with an air of casualness as it continued to wiggle and scratch and claw at the air around Solar, seemingly getting closer with every motion.

And good God, was his endurance for it dwindling.

He had never had this much…anticipation targeted at him all at once. Earth at least been…well, quick with what she planned to do. She never made him wait long.

But this? This was torturous.

His endurance was getting so low that the next time the arms came too close, he felt laughter that had already been bubbling up inside of him burst out. A loud, raspy burst of laughter.

Well. He wanted to die then and there.

The Computer actually seemed to pause at that–and dear God, did that not help at all. “...I have not touched you.” It sounded like more of an observation than a tease. “...that is intriguing.”

“Th-there’s nothing to be ‘intrigued’ about, trust me,” Solar said in an attempt to distract the Computer from its own processing unit. Which was…admittedly impossible. He wasn’t sure why he even tried.

“...what is your percentage?” Spaniard asked, not directly responding to Solar’s words.

And Solar knew what kind of response he would get if he asked why the Computer didn’t just use its scans of him.

He paused as he glanced at his percentage. “...99%.” How long had the Computer been-?!

…he was starting to regret the charging upgrade he gave himself, if only for this moment.

“Well then…have you made your decision, Solar?” Spaniard asked, almost innocently despite his knowledge that it was being anything but that.

Despite literally being threatened with tickles until he took a break throughout his entire charging process…Solar returned back to his previous compromise. “L-look, I just need to finish the blueprints for the shelving unit and then I’ll take a break.” He then unplugged himself from the wall.

If the Computer had more advanced forms of vocal expression, then it probably would have sighed or hummed. Instead, all it said was, “Incorrect answer, Solar.”

And it was then that the arms finally ceased in their teasing charade and attacked Solar.

“WaitwaitWAHEHEHEHEHEHEIT-” Solar burst out as two of the arms came to his sides and began clawing and scratching as they had done previously to the air and–oh God, the sharper fingers were so much worse than he thought.

“I think you have had enough ‘wait’ time, Solar. You chose this, as suspected.”

“IHIHIHI SAHAHAHAHAHAHAID I WOULD TAKEABREAHAHAHAHA-” Solar was cut off by a much more intense bout of laughter as one of the arms found one of his rays, scritching rapidly and continuously at it. “NOHOHOHOHO-TOOHOHO MU-HAHAHAHA-” Thanks to Earth, he had learned pretty early on that his rays were a really fucking bad spot. He grabbed onto the arm in an attempt to make it stop, but he only succeeded in holding onto it as the three arms continued to tickle their chosen spots. 

“Oh, my apologies.” 

The arms suddenly let up slightly, though they didn’t move at all from their places. Now it wasn’t as intense, but it still tickled.

“I forgot you are only used to prolonged exposure to gentler tickles. I will try not to remain intense the entire way through.”

“Yohohohohou caHAHAn’t fohohohorgehehehet like thahahahat,” Solar protested slightly, laughter only rising in pitch when the fingers on his ray sped up momentarily.

“Perhaps. Perhaps I simply wanted to test for myself. But I am sure you did not mind.”

“I dohohohohohon’t knohohohow whahahat yohoHOHOu’re tahahahalking abOAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOUT-snort-NAHAHAH-” Solar felt one arm sneak its way up the back of his shirt while the Computer had been talking, feeling narrow fingers run up and down his spine, all whilst they wiggled lightly with each movement. 

“From what I am understanding, this is another quite sensitive spot for you. Not that you have many that are not.”

“Shuhuhuhuhuhut uhuhuUHUHAHAHAP! STAHAHAHAHA-snort-HAHA-” He snorted once again as his eyes squeezed shut. The arm tickling his back continued its assault as the two on his sides seemed to pause. Then one of them moved upwards on his left while the other moved down on his right and–oh.

If he wasn't snorting with laughter before, he definitely was now.

The upper arm now had its claws under his arm and through the sleeve of his shirt, gently scribbling at the space where part of his endoskeleton was exposed between his body and his upper arm. “Nohohononono-snort-HOHOHO-” He then tried to grab the arm that was attacking his own, only to have the arm that had been previously tickling his back retreat from his shirt and grab his own before he could. Then his arm was stretched above his head, giving the Computer’s own arm full access to his armpit. “-snort-NAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHOHO-” 

“Thank you for the access.”

Despite the tease, Solar felt the fingers on his ray let up and the lower arm remain still. Then he felt another set of fingers join the one on the left, targeting the more exposed side alongside his armpit. Now he had fingers doing the same thing that had been done to his back, wiggling up and down his side all while another set was still scribbling almost delicately at his pit.

Now Solar knew why the Computer had stopped the other attacks on his body because this combination tickled more than he thought he was ready for.

“THIHIHIHIHIHIHIS ISN’T NE-HAHAHAHAHA-NEHEHEHEHECESAHAHAHARY!!”

“It is if it means you are to take a break.”

“I DOHOHOHOHOHON’T NEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEEEK-! NEHEHEHEED ONE! I JUHUHUHUHUST NEHEHEHEHEHEHEED TO CHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHARGE!!” Solar protested, refusing to admit that he squealed when the arm on his side began a sort of squeezing action, moving its fingers in little swirly motions with each prolonged squeeze. His legs began sliding back and forth to his person on the floor, not quite kicking but not quite not.

The fingers suddenly slowed in their motions, giving Solar a small break as his prevously loud laughter was reduced to raspy giggling.

“I thought we had established that charging did not count as a break.”

“Ahahahahand I thohohohohohohought I saheheheheid thahahahat I wohohohohohohould take a breheheheheak lahAHAHater,” Solar responded as best he could with the ticklish sensations still covering his left side.

“And I thought you were aware that I intended for you to take a break imminently. It would appear there was quite a lot of miscommunication between us. Regardless, I am not hearing a ‘I will take a break now, Computer’, so I see that I will have to continue my persuasion method.”

“Yohohohohohohu dohohohohohon’t neheheheheheed t-mmhehehehehe-” Solar began, then cut off his words to be replaced with mindless giggling. He wasn’t sure why he di-actually, he knew exactly why, but he wasn’t going to admit that to himself. Instead, he just let the arms continue their gentle swirling motions on his casing and endo.

“Care to repeat that, Solar?”

“Mmehehehehe…nohohohoho…” No way in hell he was going to repeat anything that would dig him a deeper embarrassed hole than he had already made in his mind.

And…he was starting to feel strangely relaxed now that the more intense tickling had ceased. The circular actions felt more…soothing now than anything else. 

…God, even that was embarrassing to admit to himself.

“Oh. I was under the impression that you were about to take my advice. That is quite a shame. I suppose you will need more persuasion then.”

Solar felt the arms leave him aside from the one still holding his arm up (though now it was more so simply holding it rather than forcing it upwards). For a moment, he felt strangely…disappointed(?) as he opened his eyes slightly while his giggling continued.

Then the odd disappointment vanished when the other arms returned, this time aimed towards his face and head. He flinched when one set of fingers began lightly scratching at one of his rays, setting off a more intense bout of giggles. They just increased when more fingers found the moon side of his face and began scribbling at his chin and cheek area.

Solar instantly started squirming much more than he was before, all while giggling and throwing his head around as if that would get rid of the ticklish sensation. “Whahahahahat-why thehehehehehehere?”

“I simply wanted to test a theory. And I was proven correct.”

“Whahahahahahahat theheheheheheheheheory???” While this tickling definitely was a lot less intense than before, it was almost just as bad with how borderline anticipatory the gentler tickles were. Not to mention, he felt like laughter was leaving his mouth more than words were.

“Moon has the same set of reactions when this area is tickled and I was wondering if you shared the same mannerisms. Which you do. It is quite amusing.”

Solar wasn’t even sure if the Computer was teasing him at that point or if it was simply making observations, but either way he couldn’t help the embarrassment that coursed through him at those words. “Ihihihihi dohohohon’t thihihihihihihnk sohoHOHOHOhohoho…” He thrashed his head around again when the arm focused on his face began gently circling his cheek, setting off another clump of giggles.

“Well, I do. And in our current situation, I believe I hold the higher power here. So I am not counting your opinion.”

Solar felt the scribbling on his ray increase in speed momentarily, ripping a surprised hiccup out of him accompanied by slightly louder laughter. “NahahaHAHAHA-”

“It would appear that you also share some traits with Sun, which would also make sense.”

Good God, this was torturous.

“Cahahahan yohohohohohou stahahahahahahahap?!” Solar pleaded, feeling the fingers slow down once more and leaving that absolutely torturous feeling of having one of his worst spots and one of his milder spots being tickled at the same intensity. Which wasn’t a lot.

“I am afraid I do not know what you mean. Once again, I implore you to be more specific, Solar.”

“Stahahahahahahap t-mhmehehehehe-dohohohohoing thahahahahahat so lihihihihihightly!” Solar cursed his strange inability to say the word ‘tickle’ in most situations. He had never been sure as to why, but he always felt a little too much embarrassment when attempting to say it, so he usually stopped himself before he did. Maybe it was the childishness of it or maybe it was just the embarrassment and flusteredness of being the target of that word. He wasn’t sure but it was hard for him to say it before and it was hard for him now.

“I am afraid I did not quite hear that, Solar. Please repeat yourself. Clearer this time, if you will.”

“I juhuhuhuhuhust wahahahahahant yohohohohohohohohou to stahahahahap ti-mhehehehehe…” Solar used his other hand to try and cover his face, forcibly pushing off the arm of the Computer so he could do so. It didn’t stop that arm from finding another tickle spot, this time lightly wiggling its fingers on his stomach region. “I cahahAHAHAHAhahahahahan’t…”

“Well, I would say you can, but from what I have seen from your sessions with Earth, along with other recordings, you appear wholly incapable of saying the word ‘tickle’ in any circumstance. So I suppose I can grant you the smallest fraction of mercy in that regard. In everything else, however, I will not.” It paused. “Unless, of course, you tell me you will take a break.”

“Ihihihihi alreheheheheheheady sahahahaid I wohohohohohould!”

“Now?”

“...mgehehehehe…” Solar knew it was probably a mistake not to respond but…

“That was not a ‘yes’.”

Solar let out a loud burst of laughter when the wiggling of the fingers on his stomach turned into rapid clawing and the ones on his ray shift to wiggling into his neck. Then he felt the arm holding his own let go and the other arm both grab onto his hips and begin squeezing.

“NAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAOHOHOHOHO-WAIEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHET-I DIHIHIHIHIDN’T-” Solar absolutely cackled at the multiple spots being viciously targeted at once, using both of his free hands to grab at the two attacking his hips, but ultimately being unable to do anything as he simultaneously tried to hunch his shoulders and prevent the one from tickling his neck.

Eventually, he just leaned to the side in an attempt to lessen the intensity of the tickles he thought he was going to be able to handle (and as it turns out, he was not). This led to him falling on his side, which did nothing to stop the Computer in its focused tickle attack. In fact, due to one of the sets of fingers on his hips being somewhat crushed, he felt the other ones seemingly try to make their chosen spots tickle more. Now the claw on his stomach began a set of squeezing motions, stopping occasionally to dig its narrow fingers at individual speeds on any part of the area they could. And the one on his neck didn’t let him get used to one area being attacked, wiggling and scribbling momentarily at one point then abruptly stopping and changing spots.

He then rolled onto his back and tried to hug himself, which he wasn’t sure what would accomplish in that moment. All he knew was that it tickled and he needed to do something with his hands. His legs were already doing enough with how much stomping they were doing.

“COHOHOHOHMPUHUHUHTER!”

“Yes, Solar?”

“STAHAHAHAHAHAP! LESS! LEHEHEHEHEHESS!”

Immediately, Spaniard ceased most of the tickles, removing two arms and moving the other two to lightly vibrate on his sides and good God why was that a feature???

“NeheheheHAHAHA-Ihihihihihimm…mehehehehehe…” Solar found himself unable to think of any proper wording in his situation. Worse of all, he began hiccuping in laughter again, ending a couple with a squeak if the lightly squeezing and rapidly moving fingers happened to hit a particularly sensitive spot.

“I think I have made my point,” Spaniard said in what was most definitely a smug tone. “I have also noticed that you have taken multiple alternate avenues to have me continue tickling you. I believe you also continued being stubborn so this would occur.”

“Nnnohohohoho…thahahahat’s nahahahahat whahahahat I meheHEHEHEheheant…”

“It is exactly what you meant. And it was also expected.”

“Nahahahohoho…” Good God, even if it wasn’t that bad, Solar could still feel the ghostly tickles doing their jobs on the parts of him that had already been attacked, leaving him sensitive and anticipating any other tickles.

The Computer seemed to pause, then Solar felt the arms retreat, in which he immediately melted onto the floor, rolling over onto his stomach and just…laying there. He was still giggling, still feeling the ghosts of the tickles from before, but eventually he was able to recover enough for them to leave him almost completely.

Then he sighed and lifted himself up to sit on his knees. He felt the familiar heat of embarrassment kick into his systems as he curled up slightly, leaning back into the wall.

“So…once again, I believe I have made my point clear?” This time, the statement was phrased as a question.

Solar sighed again, grumbling to himself. “Y-yeah. Sure. You made your point or…whatever,” he muttered, the flustered feeling not leaving.

“I can still very well continue if I have not made myself clear.” The Computer brought up its arms once more and flexed its fingers.

Solar flinched, leaning further into the wall and hugging himself. “Uh-no, I think we’re alright.” Then he paused as he realized something. “I…didn’t agree to what you wanted me to.”

“I am aware. However, I have forced you to take a break with this chain of events, so to speak. And I know that now you are more tired than not.”

That was…true. Solar could still feel his fans on high-blast in an attempt to cool his body down and despite charging beforehand…he could admit he felt tired. “Hm. So that was your plan all along.”

“Correct. And as I calculated, it worked. I win.”

Solar chuckled. “You ‘win’?” he questioned.

“Yes. I win. And as a bonus, you had fun as well. We both win.”

Solar let out a choked noise, then groaned and thunked his head on the wall behind him, closing his eyes. “Shut up,” he grumbled out.

“I have this event recorded should you need evidence of my claim.”

Solar’s eyes then snapped open at that, stiffening and sitting up straight. “You what?!” he exclaimed. Did-did the Computer plan to use that as blackmail??? He groaned, covering his face. “Please don’t show that to anyone. Neither Moon nor Lunar will let me live that down…”

“Do not worry. It is part of my personal folder for my own observations. And as a reminder of what will happen if you decide to overwork yourself in my presence and do not take my advice.”

“Okay, okay! I got it…” Solar slowly slid his hands off his face, sighing and staring at the couch in the room. He knew that he could very well walk over to the couch and lay down but he was tired. “The others probably won’t like it if I decide to sleep here. But whatever. I’m tired.”

“...I can carry you,” Spaniard offered in a wonderful bout of deja vu.

Solar huffed out an amused laugh. “Sure, Computer. And why don’t you tuck me in while you’re at it?” he joked lightly.

“As you wish.” 

Solar felt the arms lift him again, this time in a more…cradled fashion. He watched with lidded eyes as another arm went…somewhere and returned with…a blanket.

“Wait, Computer, I was joking-I was joking, Computer!”

“I am aware. I am playing a joke of my own. Suffer.”

And Solar just groaned and laid back, accepting his fate of being tucked in by a goddamn computer.

[santoschristos]

Kin 95 Men – Blue Auto Existing Eagle - 15.4 Reigning Planet: Jupiter Family: Polar Clan Chromatics : Blue Quinta Forza: Kin 221 – Drago Cosmico Rosso – 1.13 Galactic Signature/Mantra Kin: “I Define to Create Measuring the Mind Seal The Output Of The Vision with the Self-Existing Tone of Form I'm Guided@ by the Power of Magic I am a Polar Kin, Converting the Galactic Spectrum Blue. “ Glyphic Keywords: Mind / Create / Vision Tone Keywords: Measure / Form / Define Expect Light: Vision Corresponds to Action – Act the Vision / Determination / Grace and Power / 360 Degrees Viewing of Things / Flight – Life, Stable. “Message”: When the Self-Existing Blue Eagle, Kin 95, Appears to You in the Form of an Archetype and/or Number, It May Want to Communicate to You that,... “Absolute Mentis Form of its own Univocal and Broad Vision, which presses to Descend and find its purpose, in the right Measure in the Cre-Active Planetary Universe: from the High Mind or Sky Mind, down to the Senses, Body and Earth, to Become FreeMind RealizzAbile. Unique, indispensable and irreplaceable tool / desktop computer, as an Active Third Eye (internal receiver of Light/Divine Information), it will help us to disperse and flourish the fertile soil: Conscious Plan, of Dreams and Projects (Unconscious Plan), that from higher and parallel Dimensional Spheres, wait and yearn to re-connect to us, crossing those bridges that had separated us so far, finding Home again, that is: Balance and Order lost Primitive Genetics. Understanding the use of Magic Tools that are useful in reading, translating and interpreting Signs, we will achieve and gain the Expansion of Sensory Perceptive States beyond Human comprehension. Waking up, the long-awaited Psychonauts Road will open for us: to travel therefore our Psyche/Mind, from and through us, in the direction of unveiling and decoding complicated, different, and unknown to us systems: Interdependent Intelligence forms and ReUnifying CosmicMind - Open Transmission with our Galactic Brothers -. ” Shadow Expectations (to be Transformed): Square Mindset, actually Ancient Way of Thinking / Egoic Mind / Far from Earthly Life – Dysfunctional Detachment / “Flying” Too High: Impact - Devastating Fall. 1.13 11.11 Taken from: - TZOLKIN MAYA AND HIS 260 PERMUTATIONS - Harmony of a Life Drawing, to Surf the Galactic Language and Live in Synchronicity Our Daily Life, According to the Natural Course of Time 13.20 - Book + Oracle Deck ... Prox. te

Blue Self-Existing Eagle Image by Mahaboka

[teqful]

How-To IT

Topic: Core areas of IT

1. Hardware

• Computers (Desktops, Laptops, Workstations)

• Servers and Data Centers

• Networking Devices (Routers, Switches, Modems)

• Storage Devices (HDDs, SSDs, NAS)

• Peripheral Devices (Printers, Scanners, Monitors)

2. Software

• Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)

• Application Software (Office Suites, ERP, CRM)

• Development Software (IDEs, Code Libraries, APIs)

• Middleware (Integration Tools)

• Security Software (Antivirus, Firewalls, SIEM)

3. Networking and Telecommunications

• LAN/WAN Infrastructure

• Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi, 5G)

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

• Communication Systems (VoIP, Email Servers)

• Internet Services

4. Data Management

• Databases (SQL, NoSQL)

• Data Warehousing

• Big Data Technologies (Hadoop, Spark)

• Backup and Recovery Systems

• Data Integration Tools

5. Cybersecurity

• Network Security

• Endpoint Protection

• Identity and Access Management (IAM)

• Threat Detection and Incident Response

• Encryption and Data Privacy

6. Software Development

• Front-End Development (UI/UX Design)

• Back-End Development

• DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines

• Mobile App Development

• Cloud-Native Development

7. Cloud Computing

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Serverless Computing

• Cloud Storage and Management

8. IT Support and Services

• Help Desk Support

• IT Service Management (ITSM)

• System Administration

• Hardware and Software Troubleshooting

• End-User Training

9. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• AI Algorithms and Frameworks

• Natural Language Processing (NLP)

• Computer Vision

• Robotics

• Predictive Analytics

10. Business Intelligence and Analytics

• Reporting Tools (Tableau, Power BI)

• Data Visualization

• Business Analytics Platforms

• Predictive Modeling

11. Internet of Things (IoT)

• IoT Devices and Sensors

• IoT Platforms

• Edge Computing

• Smart Systems (Homes, Cities, Vehicles)

12. Enterprise Systems

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

• Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)

• Supply Chain Management Systems

13. IT Governance and Compliance

• ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

• COBIT (Control Objectives for Information Technologies)

• ISO/IEC Standards

• Regulatory Compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX)

14. Emerging Technologies

• Blockchain

• Quantum Computing

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

• 3D Printing

• Digital Twins

15. IT Project Management

• Agile, Scrum, and Kanban

• Waterfall Methodology

• Resource Allocation

• Risk Management

16. IT Infrastructure

• Data Centers

• Virtualization (VMware, Hyper-V)

• Disaster Recovery Planning

• Load Balancing

17. IT Education and Certifications

• Vendor Certifications (Microsoft, Cisco, AWS)

• Training and Development Programs

• Online Learning Platforms

18. IT Operations and Monitoring

• Performance Monitoring (APM, Network Monitoring)

• IT Asset Management

• Event and Incident Management

19. Software Testing

• Manual Testing: Human testers evaluate software by executing test cases without using automation tools.

• Automated Testing: Use of testing tools (e.g., Selenium, JUnit) to run automated scripts and check software behavior.

• Functional Testing: Validating that the software performs its intended functions.

• Non-Functional Testing: Assessing non-functional aspects such as performance, usability, and security.

• Unit Testing: Testing individual components or units of code for correctness.

• Integration Testing: Ensuring that different modules or systems work together as expected.

• System Testing: Verifying the complete software system’s behavior against requirements.

• Acceptance Testing: Conducting tests to confirm that the software meets business requirements (including UAT - User Acceptance Testing).

• Regression Testing: Ensuring that new changes or features do not negatively affect existing functionalities.

• Performance Testing: Testing software performance under various conditions (load, stress, scalability).

• Security Testing: Identifying vulnerabilities and assessing the software’s ability to protect data.

• Compatibility Testing: Ensuring the software works on different operating systems, browsers, or devices.

• Continuous Testing: Integrating testing into the development lifecycle to provide quick feedback and minimize bugs.

• Test Automation Frameworks: Tools and structures used to automate testing processes (e.g., TestNG, Appium).

19. VoIP (Voice over IP)

VoIP Protocols & Standards

• SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)

• H.323

• RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol)

• MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol)

VoIP Hardware

• IP Phones (Desk Phones, Mobile Clients)

• VoIP Gateways

• Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs)

• VoIP Servers

• Network Switches/ Routers for VoIP

VoIP Software

• Softphones (e.g., Zoiper, X-Lite)

• PBX (Private Branch Exchange) Systems

• VoIP Management Software

• Call Center Solutions (e.g., Asterisk, 3CX)

VoIP Network Infrastructure

• Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration

• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) for VoIP

• VoIP Traffic Shaping & Bandwidth Management

• Firewall and Security Configurations for VoIP

• Network Monitoring & Optimization Tools

VoIP Security

• Encryption (SRTP, TLS)

• Authentication and Authorization

• Firewall & Intrusion Detection Systems

• VoIP Fraud DetectionVoIP Providers

• Hosted VoIP Services (e.g., RingCentral, Vonage)

• SIP Trunking Providers

• PBX Hosting & Managed Services

VoIP Quality and Testing

• Call Quality Monitoring

• Latency, Jitter, and Packet Loss Testing

• VoIP Performance Metrics and Reporting Tools

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for VoIP Systems

Integration with Other Systems

• CRM Integration (e.g., Salesforce with VoIP)

• Unified Communications (UC) Solutions

• Contact Center Integration

• Email, Chat, and Video Communication Integration

[aionlinemoney]

Saudi Arabia Aims to build $100 Billion Dollar Artificial Intelligence Giant

Saudi Arabia is a famous tourist country and the second-largest Oil production supplier in the world. It is located in the Middle East. Currently, Saudi Arabia is preparing a new project related to artificial intelligence with the support of $100 Billion US Dollars to develop a technological hub and make it superior in AI.

This country plans to invest heavily in data centers and startups to develop Artificial intelligence in Saudi Arabia and make the country a technological hub. The name of this Project is said to be ‘’Project Transcendence’’. This Project will encourage Tech Companies to invest their resources in the Country.

Saudi Arabia is working on a challenging project to use Artificial intelligence to transform different parts of its economy. This effort is part of their Vision 2030 plan, Their aim is to build a modern and innovation-based economy. By focusing on AI, Saudi Arabia hopes to become one of the world’s top technological leaders.

Why 100 Billion Dollar? The Scale of Saudi Arabia

The $100 Billion number represents one of the largest single-country AI investments globally. For a factor, this investment would surpass the GDP of several countries, showing the Kingdom’s commitment to establishing itself as a technological superpower. But why such a vast investment?

The huge funding aims to put a complete foundation for Artificial intelligence integration across all sectors in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom envisions using AI for innovations ranging from independent transportation and telemedicine to advanced data analytics in industries like oil and gas. Which are central to the Saudi economy. Additionally, the investment is likely to encourage AI-driven startups, creating a dynamic and energetic ecosystem of innovation and collaboration between all the sectors. Project Transcendence aims to expand by giving help to tech companies to generate capital and infrastructure, this will be a great deal for all the companies to grow in Saudi Arabia.

Rivalry with UAE: A New Chapter in the Middle East’s Tech Ambition: 

The UAE (United Arab Emirates) has long held the Top as the Middle East’s tech and innovation hub, with its capital Dubai placing itself as a smart city colonist and an AI-forward city. In recent years, the UAE has attracted major foreign investment, hosted global tech events, and launched various Artificial intelligence actions to make it a global AI leader.

The friendly competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia could benefit the whole region by driving growth in Artificial Intelligence and technology, creating new jobs, and encouraging countries to work together. This rivalry can also attract global tech companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs who want to be part of the Middle East’s tech boom.

Building the Infrastructure for AI Success:

Saudi Arabia is investing more in building the foundation needed for Artificial Intelligence growth.

Much of this investment will focus on creating advanced infrastructure like high-speed data centers, cloud computing facilities, and research centers. The big part of this plan is NEOM, a huge 500 billion dollar city designed with AI as its central feature. NEOM will be displayed as a smart city technology, serving as a model of how cities can use Artificial intelligence to improve daily life.

NEOM city will include self-driving transportation, healthcare systems powered by AI, and green energy. As a high-tech city, it will also test advanced robots, smart devices, and many more. The NEOM city aims to show how Artificial Intelligence can improve city life and sustainability, attracting tech companies, researchers, and investors looking to the future.

Ethicals Considerations: 

Saudi Arabia AI plan will also focus on ethical issues and set up rules to guide safe and responsible AI use. As Artificial intelligence grows, it can bring challenges like privacy risks, data security concerns, and job changes. To handle this, Saudi Arabia aims to create rules that support innovation while making sure AI is used responsibly.

Conclusion: A Step Towards High-tech Future

Saudi Arabia massive $100 billion AI investment shows its dedication to becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence. This will help grow its economy in new ways and make it better in technology, both in the Gulf region and worldwide. By building a strong AI network and modern infrastructure, Saudi Arabia plans to transform its economy, and society, and lead the Middle East into a new age of AI innovation. As Saudi Arabia and the UAE compete to lead in AI, the Middle East could become a major global tech hub, advancing what AI can do. Always keep updated your knowledge related to Artificial intelligence and technology, Read AI related blog and News at AiOnlineMoney.

#aionlinemoney.com

[govindhtech]

Agilex 3 FPGAs: Next-Gen Edge-To-Cloud Technology At Altera

Agilex 3 FPGA

Today, Altera, an Intel company, launched a line of FPGA hardware, software, and development tools to expand the market and use cases for its programmable solutions. Altera unveiled new development kits and software support for its Agilex 5 FPGAs at its annual developer’s conference, along with fresh information on its next-generation, cost-and power-optimized Agilex 3 FPGA.

Altera

Why It Matters

Altera is the sole independent provider of FPGAs, offering complete stack solutions designed for next-generation communications infrastructure, intelligent edge applications, and high-performance accelerated computing systems. Customers can get adaptable hardware from the company that quickly adjusts to shifting market demands brought about by the era of intelligent computing thanks to its extensive FPGA range. With Agilex FPGAs loaded with AI Tensor Blocks and the Altera FPGA AI Suite, which speeds up FPGA development for AI inference using well-liked frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and OpenVINO toolkit and tested FPGA development flows, Altera is leading the industry in the use of FPGAs in AI inference workload

Intel Agilex 3

What Agilex 3 FPGAs Offer

Designed to satisfy the power, performance, and size needs of embedded and intelligent edge applications, Altera today revealed additional product details for its Agilex 3 FPGA. Agilex 3 FPGAs, with densities ranging from 25K-135K logic elements, offer faster performance, improved security, and higher degrees of integration in a smaller box than its predecessors.

An on-chip twin Cortex A55 ARM hard processor subsystem with a programmable fabric enhanced with artificial intelligence capabilities is a feature of the FPGA family. Real-time computation for time-sensitive applications such as industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and driverless cars is made possible by the FPGA for intelligent edge applications. Agilex 3 FPGAs give sensors, drivers, actuators, and machine learning algorithms a smooth integration for smart factory automation technologies including robotics and machine vision.

Agilex 3 FPGAs provide numerous major security advancements over the previous generation, such as bitstream encryption, authentication, and physical anti-tamper detection, to fulfill the needs of both defense and commercial projects. Critical applications in industrial automation and other fields benefit from these capabilities, which guarantee dependable and secure performance.

Agilex 3 FPGAs offer a 1.9×1 boost in performance over the previous generation by utilizing Altera’s HyperFlex architecture. By extending the HyperFlex design to Agilex 3 FPGAs, high clock frequencies can be achieved in an FPGA that is optimized for both cost and power. Added support for LPDDR4X Memory and integrated high-speed transceivers capable of up to 12.5 Gbps allow for increased system performance.

Agilex 3 FPGA software support is scheduled to begin in Q1 2025, with development kits and production shipments following in the middle of the year.

How FPGA Software Tools Speed Market Entry

Quartus Prime Pro

The Latest Features of Altera’s Quartus Prime Pro software, which gives developers industry-leading compilation times, enhanced designer productivity, and expedited time-to-market, are another way that FPGA software tools accelerate time-to-market. With the impending Quartus Prime Pro 24.3 release, enhanced support for embedded applications and access to additional Agilex devices are made possible.

Agilex 5 FPGA D-series, which targets an even wider range of use cases than Agilex 5 FPGA E-series, which are optimized to enable efficient computing in edge applications, can be designed by customers using this forthcoming release. In order to help lower entry barriers for its mid-range FPGA family, Altera provides software support for its Agilex 5 FPGA E-series through a free license in the Quartus Prime Software.

Support for embedded applications that use Altera’s RISC-V solution, the Nios V soft-core processor that may be instantiated in the FPGA fabric, or an integrated hard-processor subsystem is also included in this software release. Agilex 5 FPGA design examples that highlight Nios V features like lockstep, complete ECC, and branch prediction are now available to customers. The most recent versions of Linux, VxWorks, and Zephyr provide new OS and RTOS support for the Agilex 5 SoC FPGA-based hard processor subsystem.

How to Begin for Developers

In addition to the extensive range of Agilex 5 and Agilex 7 FPGAs-based solutions available to assist developers in getting started, Altera and its ecosystem partners announced the release of 11 additional Agilex 5 FPGA-based development kits and system-on-modules (SoMs).

Developers may quickly transition to full-volume production, gain firsthand knowledge of the features and advantages Agilex FPGAs can offer, and easily and affordably access Altera hardware with FPGA development kits.

Kits are available for a wide range of application cases and all geographical locations. To find out how to buy, go to Altera’s Partner Showcase website.

Read more on govindhtech.com

[kaaylabs]

Optimizing Business Operations with Advanced Machine Learning Services

Machine learning has gained popularity in recent years thanks to the adoption of the technology. On the other hand, traditional machine learning necessitates managing data pipelines, robust server maintenance, and the creation of a model for machine learning from scratch, among other technical infrastructure management tasks. Many of these processes are automated by machine learning service which enables businesses to use a platform much more quickly.

What do you understand of Machine learning?

Deep learning and neural networks applied to data are examples of machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence focused on data-driven learning. It begins with a dataset and gains the ability to extract relevant data from it.

Machine learning technologies facilitate computer vision, speech recognition, face identification, predictive analytics, and more. They also make regression more accurate.

For what purpose is it used?

Many use cases, such as churn avoidance and support ticket categorization make use of MLaaS. The vital thing about MLaaS is it makes it possible to delegate machine learning's laborious tasks. This implies that you won't need to install software, configure servers, maintain infrastructure, and other related tasks. All you have to do is choose the column to be predicted, connect the pertinent training data, and let the software do its magic.  

Natural Language Interpretation

By examining social media postings and the tone of consumer reviews, natural language processing aids businesses in better understanding their clientele. the ml services enable them to make more informed choices about selling their goods and services, including providing automated help or highlighting superior substitutes. Machine learning can categorize incoming customer inquiries into distinct groups, enabling businesses to allocate their resources and time.

Predicting

Another use of machine learning is forecasting, which allows businesses to project future occurrences based on existing data. For example, businesses that need to estimate the costs of their goods, services, or clients might utilize MLaaS for cost modelling.

Data Investigation

Investigating variables, examining correlations between variables, and displaying associations are all part of data exploration. Businesses may generate informed suggestions and contextualize vital data using machine learning.

Data Inconsistency

Another crucial component of machine learning is anomaly detection, which finds anomalous occurrences like fraud. This technology is especially helpful for businesses that lack the means or know-how to create their own systems for identifying anomalies.

Examining And Comprehending Datasets

Machine learning provides an alternative to manual dataset searching and comprehension by converting text searches into SQL queries using algorithms trained on millions of samples. Regression analysis use to determine the correlations between variables, such as those affecting sales and customer satisfaction from various product attributes or advertising channels.

Recognition Of Images

One area of machine learning that is very useful for mobile apps, security, and healthcare is image recognition. Businesses utilize recommendation engines to promote music or goods to consumers. While some companies have used picture recognition to create lucrative mobile applications.

Your understanding of AI will drastically shift. They used to believe that AI was only beyond the financial reach of large corporations. However, thanks to services anyone may now use this technology.

[usafphantom2]

United Kingdom wants to accelerate the development of the future Tempest fighter

UK scientists, engineers and innovators collaborate to accelerate the future air power capacity of combat aircraft

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 01/12/2023 - 11:00am in Military

The UK's leading combat airlines and the Ministry of Defense conducted research with leading scientists in machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science and computing to support software development for a next-generation jet fighter.

Tempest will be part of the UK's future combat air system (FCAS) and was designed to be a supersonic poaching equipped with pioneering technologies, including integrated state-of-the-art detection and protection capabilities. These capabilities will be provided, in part, by millions of lines of code in aircraft, with many more lines of code also present in ground systems. This means that Tempest's software needs to be more robust and resilient than that of its potential opponents.

The collaboration provided valuable information about the software requirements, design, delivery, operation, speed of updates and maintenance for both the fighter and the training systems that pilots and maintainers will use to operate and support the aircraft.

Outsmart Insight, a deep technology intelligence company, and Oxford Creativity, a group that offers a systematic approach to innovation and creative problem solving, have conducted targeted research with scientists, engineers and academics. The research addressed the most challenging problems faced by software development over the several decades of expected life of the program: flexible ways to manage computational resources; the role of reliable artificial intelligence; software reuse; and increasing software reliability.

Air Commodore Martin Lowe, Director of the FCAS Program for the UK Ministry of Defense, said: “Software is critical to Tempest because the future operating environment requires adaptability, including frequent software updates. But the software also poses a great risk of delivery. Recent history shows the dangers that arise when software is poorly done and the advantages of doing it well. The advantages are so significant that, in terms of operational capacity, the people who provide the software are as important as the people who maintain the aircraft or the pilots who fly them.

"It's great to see the enthusiasm and optimism that Outsmart Insight and Oxford Creativity brought to this study. This gives us greater confidence that we can take advantage of the opportunities offered by software-based advances in the program. This project also showed the value of collaborating in research with important organizations and individuals, both in academia and in industry."

Based on the findings, Team Tempest partners commissioned follow-up research aimed at the UK academy, which aims to support more robust software development, which can be hosted in a more resilient way. This work supports the program's vision for a modern, efficient, safe and constantly improving software delivery ecosystem.

Tempest should be in service by 2035. The program will provide significant economic benefits to the UK, helping to sustain and develop critical skills and ensure that the technical and industrial knowledge of hundreds of organizations across the UK remains at the forefront of advanced air combat systems for future generations.

Tags: Military AviationFCAS - Future Combat Air System/Future Air Combat SystemGCAP - Global Combat Air Program

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[mariacallous]

Drones have changed war. Small, cheap, and deadly robots buzz in the skies high above the world’s battlefields, taking pictures and dropping explosives. They’re hard to counter. ZeroMark, a defense startup based in the United States, thinks it has a solution. It wants to turn the rifles of frontline soldiers into “handheld Iron Domes.”

The idea is simple: Make it easier to shoot a drone out of the sky with a bullet. The problem is that drones are fast and maneuverable, making them hard for even a skilled marksman to hit. ZeroMark’s system would add aim assistance to existing rifles, ostensibly helping soldiers put a bullet in just the right place.

“We’re mostly a software company,” ZeroMark CEO Joel Anderson tells WIRED. He says that the way it works is by placing a sensor on the rail mount at the front of a rifle, the same place you might put a scope. The sensor interacts with an actuator either in the stock or the foregrip of the rifle that makes adjustments to the soldier’s aim while they’re pointing the rifle at a target.

A soldier beset by a drone would point their rifle at the target, turn on the system, and let the actuators solidify their aim before pulling the trigger. “So there’s a machine perception, computer vision component. We use lidar and electro-optical sensors to detect drones, classify them, and determine what they’re doing,” Anderson says. “The part that is ballistics is actually quite trivial … It’s numerical regression, it’s ballistic physics.”

According to Anderson, ZeroMarks’ system is able to do things a human can’t. “For them to be able to calculate things like the bullet drop and trajectory and windage … It’s a very difficult thing to do for a person, but for a computer, it’s pretty easy,” he says. “And so we predetermined where the shot needs to land so that when they pull the trigger, it’s going to have a high likelihood of intersecting the path of the drone.”

ZeroMark makes a tantalizing pitch—one so attractive that venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz invested $7 million in the project. The reasons why are obvious for anyone paying attention to modern war. Cheap and deadly flying robots define the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Every month, both sides send thousands of small drones to drop explosives, take pictures, and generate propaganda.

With the world’s militaries looking for a way to fight back, counter-drone systems are a growth industry. There are hundreds of solutions, many of them not worth the PowerPoint slide they’re pitched from.

Can a machine-learning aim-assist system like what ZeroMark is pitching work? It remains to be seen. According to Anderson, ZeroMark isn’t on the battlefield anywhere, but the company has “partners in Ukraine that are doing evaluations. We’re hoping to change that by the end of the summer.”

There’s good reason to be skeptical. “I’d love a demonstration. If it works, show us. Till that happens, there are a lot of question marks around a technology like this,” Arthur Holland Michel, a counter-drone expert and senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, tells WIRED. “There’s the question of the inherent unpredictability and brittleness of machine-learning-based systems that are trained on data that is, at best, only a small slice of what the system is likely to encounter in the field.”

Anderson says that ZeroMark’s training data is built from “a variety of videos and drone behaviors that have been synthesized into different kinds of data sets and structures. But it’s mostly empirical information that’s coming out of places like Ukraine.”

Michel also contends that the physics, which Anderson says are simple, are actually quite hard. ZeroMark’s pitch is that it will help soldiers knock a fast-moving object out of the sky with a bullet. “And that is very difficult,” Michel says. “It’s a very difficult equation. People have been trying to shoot drones out of the sky [for] as long as there have been drones in the sky. And it’s difficult, even when you have a drone that is not trying to avoid small arms fire.”

That doesn’t mean ZeroMark doesn’t work—just that it’s good to remain skeptical in the face of bold claims from a new company promising to save lives. “The only truly trustworthy metric of whether a counter-drone system works is if it gets used widely in the field—if militaries don’t just buy three of them, they buy thousands of them,” Michel says. “Until the Pentagon buys 10,000, or 5,000, or even 1,000, it’s hard to say, and a little skepticism is very much merited.”

[bloggerkeke]

How is AI transforming every aspect of human life?

AI is transforming every aspect of human life by revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, learn, and live. Here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that can perform tasks requiring human-like cognitive abilities. It involves machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and other advanced techniques.

How does it impact every industry?

AI has the potential to revolutionize every industry by automating processes, analyzing vast amounts of data, and making intelligent predictions. It improves efficiency, enhances decision-making, and drives innovation across sectors such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and transportation.

How does it impact every individual?

AI impacts individuals by providing personalized experiences, virtual assistants, and smart devices. It enhances daily life through voice recognition, recommendation systems, and virtual customer support. AI-powered technologies make our lives easier, more convenient, and efficient.

AI is transforming every aspect of human life by revolutionizing the way we work, communicate, learn, and live. Here are some key areas where AI is making a significant impact:

1. Healthcare: 

AI is enhancing medical diagnosis, drug discovery, and personalized treatment plans. It helps analyze vast amounts of patient data, identify patterns, and provide accurate predictions for disease prevention and early intervention.

According to Accenture, AI in healthcare could potentially save up to $150 billion annually for the U.S. healthcare economy by 2026.

The global AI in healthcare market is projected to reach $45.2 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.9% from 2019 to 2026.

2. Education: 

AI is revolutionizing education by enabling personalized learning experiences, adaptive tutoring, and intelligent assessment systems. It helps tailor educational content to individual student needs, track progress, and provide timely feedback for better learning outcomes.

The global AI in education market is expected to reach $3.68 billion by 2025, with a CAGR of 38.17% from 2018 to 2025.

A study by the American Institutes for Research found that AI-powered tutoring systems have a positive impact on student learning outcomes, resulting in an average percentile gain of 28 points.

3. Transportation: 

AI is driving advancements in autonomous vehicles, optimizing traffic management systems, and improving transportation efficiency and safety. It enables self-driving cars, real-time navigation, and predictive maintenance, revolutionizing the way we commute and travel.

The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach $556.67 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 39.47% from 2019 to 2026.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AI-powered advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) have the potential to reduce traffic fatalities by up to 94%.

4. Communication: 

AI-powered language translation, natural language processing, and speech recognition technologies are transforming communication. Chatbots, virtual assistants, and language translation tools facilitate seamless cross-cultural communication and enhance accessibility.

The global AI in communication market is expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 34.7% from 2019 to 2026.

AI-powered language translation technologies have advanced significantly, with Google Translate handling more than 100 billion words daily in over 100 languages.

Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant leverage AI to understand and respond to user commands, making voice-based communication more convenient and efficient.

5. Entertainment: 

AI is reshaping the entertainment industry with personalized content recommendations, virtual reality experiences, and computer-generated imagery. It enhances user experiences, facilitates content curation, and enables immersive storytelling.

The global AI in the entertainment market is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 25.4% from 2019 to 2026.

AI algorithms are used in content recommendation systems of streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify, which account for a significant portion of their user engagement and revenue.

AI-powered computer-generated imagery (CGI) has transformed the visual effects industry, enabling the creation of realistic and immersive experiences in movies, video games, and virtual reality.

6. Finance: 

AI is revolutionizing the financial industry with automated trading, fraud detection, risk assessment, and personalized financial advice. It enables efficient data analysis, real-time market insights, and improved decision-making processes.

A report by PwC estimates that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with the financial sector being one of the largest beneficiaries.

AI-driven automated investment platforms, also known as robo-advisors, managed over $1 trillion in assets globally in 2020.

7. Smart Homes: 

AI-powered smart home devices and virtual assistants, such as voice-activated speakers and smart thermostats, make our daily lives more convenient and efficient. They automate tasks, provide personalized recommendations, and create a connected and intelligent living environment.

The global smart home market is expected to reach $246.97 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 11.6% from 2020 to 2027.

Voice-activated smart speakers, powered by AI assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, have seen widespread adoption. As of 2021, there were over 200 million smart speakers in use worldwide.

8. Manufacturing: 

AI-driven robotics and automation technologies optimize manufacturing processes, increase productivity, and improve product quality. AI-enabled machines and robots perform complex tasks, enhance precision, and enable predictive maintenance.

The global AI in manufacturing market is expected to reach $16.7 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 49.5% from 2019 to 2026.

According to Deloitte, companies that invest in AI and advanced automation technologies in manufacturing can experience productivity gains of up to 30%.

AI-powered predictive maintenance can reduce equipment downtime by up to 50% and maintenance costs by up to 10-40%.

9. Agriculture: 

AI is transforming agriculture by optimizing crop management, monitoring soil conditions, and predicting weather patterns. It enables precision farming techniques, reduces resource waste, and improves agricultural productivity.

The global AI in agriculture market is projected to reach $4 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 22.5% from 2021 to 2026.

AI-powered agricultural robots and drones are expected to reach a market value of $1.3 billion by 2026.

The use of AI in agriculture can increase crop yields by up to 70%, according to a study by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

10. Cybersecurity: 

AI is strengthening cybersecurity measures by detecting and preventing cyber threats, identifying anomalous behavior, and improving data protection. AI algorithms analyze large datasets to detect patterns and anomalies, enhancing security measures.

According to Gartner, by 2022, 90% of security budgets will be allocated to addressing AI-powered cyber threats.

The global AI in cybersecurity market is projected to reach $38.2 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 23.3% from 2021 to 2026.

In summary: 

AI is transforming every aspect of human life, from healthcare and education to transportation, communication, entertainment, finance, and beyond. Its applications are vast and diverse, revolutionizing industries, improving efficiency, and enhancing the overall human experience. As AI continues to advance, it holds immense potential to shape a future where intelligent technologies seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, making them more convenient, productive, and enriching.

[mindfulmusinghub]

Maximizing corporate social responsibility impact : partnering with Marpu Foundation for sustainable development goals:

Marpu Foundation an NGO, dedicated to harness individual potential for positive change through innovative, empathy-led projects promoting sustainability and social empowerment. Believing in the power of collective efforts and partnerships to be a beacon of transformation, to craft a future that's equitable, compassionate, and sustainable.

One of India’s youth activist, environmentalist and  leading social entrepreneur, Kadiri Raghu Vamshi – The Environment Man, known for his relentless quest of innovative solutions to social challenges. As the founder of Marpu Foundation, His enterprising leadership in environmental protection, sustainable development, and social advocacy is directed towards empowering citizens to embrace social responsibility. He was awarded India’s prestigious Chakra award in 2019 for his vision in empowering citizens to be socially responsible.

This blog delves into the symbiotic relationship integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to devise innovative solutions for critical societal challenges, Along with spotlighting the distictive approach of Marpu Foundation and its remarkable success stories.

In the realm of sustainable development, the synergy between CSR and SDGs emerges as a potent catalyst for positive transformation. Marpu Foundation spearheads initiatives in volunteering, sustainable development, and environmental conservation. Their unwavering support for women and advocacy for crucial causes amplify their impact nationwide. They works closely with many partners and reaches out widely to create big changes in communities all over India. This combination allows for a more coordinated and impactful approach to addressing social challenges at both local and global levels.

Through its unique approach and steadfast dedication, the Marpu Foundation exemplifies how businesses can magnify their social responsibility impact while advancing the global agenda for sustainable development. The NGO is truly making a significant impact in both Chennai and Pune, as well as in Jaipur and Surat through its multifaceted initiatives aimed at addressing various social and environmental challenges. As we forge ahead, let us draw inspiration from the triumphs of the Marpu Foundation :

The attempts of Marpu Foundation in Chennai have brought a significant change in addressing water quality, safety, and connectivity issues together with equipping more than 20 with solar power panels.

CSR projects in Chennai and Pune, showcases a commendable commitment to the society,   

Digital Literacy Program: by providing computer and internet training to 10,000 underprivileged children and youth, the foundation has not only equipped them with essential digital skills but also opened doors to online education and job opportunities.       

 Solar Power for Schools: Installing solar power panels in government schools didn’t just reduce electricity costs but also promotes environmental sustainability by decreasing carbon emissions and ensuring reliable electricity access.

Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Implemented rainwater harvesting systems in schools and community centres to combat water scarcity. This initiative not only ensures access to water for various purposes but also promotes water conservation which is crucial for sustainable development in cities like Chennai and Pune.

 Sustainable Livelihoods Program: Offered training and support for women and youth in entrepreneurship skills, helping them kickstart their own small businesses. This not only creates jobs but also boosts economic independence. By specifically targeting marginalized communities, the foundation is championing inclusive economic growth and uplifting livelihoods.

The Waste Management Initiatives: By annually diverting more than 500 tons of waste from landfills. Their emphasis on composting, recycling, and upcycling, to actively foster an economy and promote sustainable waste management practices. These efforts not merely lessen environmental harm but also stimulate innovation and resource efficiency, opening new lanes for progress.

In Jaipur, the focus is on improving educational opportunities for underprivileged communities. They introduce creative educational initiatives designed to meet various needs. They build partnerships with organizations and institutions to maximize their influence.

Businesses in Surat could consider engaging with Marpu Foundation for their CSR activities for several reasons like local impact and expertise experience in executing successful CSR initiatives offering businesses the opportunity to partner with an organization experienced in driving impactful projects. 

Overall, Marpu Foundation's holistic approach to social and environmental issues underscores their dedication to creating a better future for generations to come. Through their collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, they are leaving a lasting impact on communities across the nation inspiring others to take responsibility for the well-being of society and the environment.

By: Hiba Siyad

[probablyasocialecologist]

The links between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley have undeniably grown stronger. The US Defense Department has even recently created the new post of Chief Digital and AI officer – a position filled by Craig Martell, former head of machine learning at the ride-sharing platform Lyft. And, for all the ethical concerns from their employees, America’s tech companies continue making inroads into the military’s procurement budgets. Thus, while Alphabet may have shelved its plans to work on the Pentagon’s controversial Project Maven – a computer vision project that prompted protests among its engineers – it went ahead and formed Google Public Service, an innocent-sounding unit which does offer cloud services to the military. It’s hardly alone. Silicon Valley’s cloud and machine learning capabilities remain crucial to the Pentagon’s vision of building a system to integrate data coming from terrestrial and air sensors – these are no longer limited to radar – from across all branches of the armed forces. The idea is to crunch them with artificial intelligence, so as to mount an effective joint response. To that end, in late 2022 the Pentagon awarded four tech giants – Microsoft, Google, Oracle and Amazon – a $9bn contract to develop the infrastructure for this bold effort (defensescoop.com, 7 December 2022). But, unlike in the old cold-war days, it’s not at all clear how much of this money would trickle down, Keynesian-style, to ordinary Americans. When it comes to AI, the labour costs accrue either to the star engineers – and we are talking hundreds, not millions of them – or to the numerous low-paid contractors who toil to help train the AI models. Most of them are not even in America, with OpenAI relying on contractors in Kenya to prevent ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot, from showing obscene images and text. As for cloud computing, it’s also not clear how its expansion would help. Building data centres is expensive and their positive effects on the economy have yet to be seen. They do tend to drive up the cost of real estate. And the environmental costs of both AI and cloud computing are not trivial. So the multiplier effect of pouring all this money into military AI might be a mirage. So perhaps this Cold War 2.0 would not feature a return to ‘military Keynesianism’. Short of AI leading to the much-awaited Singularity, merely dumping more money in the tech industry won’t suddenly bring Keynes to life. Perhaps we are more likely to witness the weird new regime of ‘military neoliberalism’ in which ever-greater government spending on AI- and cloud-related matters would widen inequality and enrich the tech giants’ shareholders.

[techieyan]

6 Fun and Educational OpenCV Projects for Coding Enthusiasts

OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) is an open source computer vision and machine learning software library used to detect and recognize objects in images and videos. It is one of the most popular coding libraries for the development of computer vision applications. OpenCV supports many programming languages including C++, Python, Java, and more.

Coding enthusiasts who are looking for fun and educational OpenCV projects can find plenty of interesting ones across the web. From creating facial recognition applications to motion detection and tracking, there are numerous projects that can help hone coding skills and gain a better understanding of OpenCV. Here are 6 fun and educational OpenCV projects for coding enthusiasts:

1. Facial Recognition Application: This project involves creating an application that can detect faces in images and videos and recognize them. It can be used to create face authentication systems, such as unlocking a smartphone or computer with a face scan.

2. Motion Detection and Tracking: This project involves creating a program that can detect and track moving objects in videos. It can be used for applications such as surveillance cameras and self-driving cars.

3. 3D Augmented Reality: This project involves creating an augmented reality application that can track 3D objects in real time. It can be used for applications such as gaming and virtual reality.

4. Image Processing: This project involves creating a program that can manipulate and process images. It can be used for applications such as image recognition and filtering.

5. Object Detection: This project involves creating a program that can detect objects in images and videos. It can be used for applications such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and medical imaging.

6. Text Detection: This project involves creating a program that can detect text in images and videos. It can be used for applications such as optical character recognition and document scanning.

These are just some of the many fun and educational OpenCV projects that coding enthusiasts can explore. With a little bit of research and practice, anyone can create amazing applications with OpenCV.