Common Paradox Tech Blog

blackbearnh writes “As previously reported on Slashdot, PayPal recently released a series of new APIs that allow developers to embed PayPal into their web sites and applications without requiring the user to go to the PayPal web site to complete the transaction. To encourage developers to use these new APIs, PayPal is offering two prizes totaling $150,000 for interesting new applications. The entry deadline to register ideas is December 16th, and O’Reilly has an interview with the director of the PayPal Developer Network that covers the details of the contest. In it, Naveed Anwar talks about why PayPal is throwing money at developers. ‘When Facebook opened up their platform, it allowed people to work in that particular environment, in the Facebook environment. When the iPhone opened up their platform, they allowed people to work in their environment which was build the applications on the iPhone. When PayPal was looking at opening up its platform, we are not limited by one particular area. We go into the enterprises. We go into social networking. We go into all the places where payment as a solution is needed. And if we can actually reduce that barrier of entry — because at the end of the day, when anyone is building out a business and anyone is building out an application, they’re looking at ways of monetizing it.’”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

pickens writes “The NY Times reports that the Jason panel, an independent group of scientists advising the federal government on issues of science and technology, has concluded that the program to refurbish aging nuclear arms is sufficient to guarantee their destructiveness for decades to come, obviating a need for a costly new generation of more reliable warheads, as proposed by former President Bush. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona and other Republicans have argued that concerns are growing over the reliability of the US’s aging nuclear stockpile, and that the possible need for new designs means the nation should retain the right to conduct underground tests of new nuclear weapons. The existing warheads were originally designed for relatively short lifetimes and frequent replacement with better models, but such modernization ended after the US quit testing nuclear arms in 1992. All weapons that remain in the arsenal must now undergo a refurbishment process, known as life extension. The Jason panel found no evidence that the accumulated changes from aging and refurbishment posed any threat to weapon destructiveness, and that the ‘lifetimes of today’s nuclear warheads could be extended for decades, with no anticipated loss of confidence.’ But the panel added that federal indifference could undermine the nuclear refurbishment program (as this report from last May illustrates). Quoting the report (PDF): ‘The study team is concerned that this expertise is threatened by lack of program stability, perceived lack of mission importance and degradation of the work environment.’”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Think about your workspace and imagine if your furniture or your desk or cubicle could automatically reconfigure for different applications with a simple wave of the hand. Now check out the reality of Clemson’s Animated Work Environment (AWE).

Essentially, AWE is a programmable wall with varied displays that can switch between six configurations just by activating a proximity sensor. For example, when the wall is hanging overhead like a ceiling, the act of standing up triggers the sensor and instructs the wall to move out of the way. The project is in it’s infancy, but it is easy to see how future applications could lead to a whole range of dynamic, multi-functional furniture that automatically reacts to its environment. [AWE Project via IEEE Spectrum via BotJunkie]

get quad writes “I continually have to remind our end-users to be vigilant about the usual web security safeguards, such as not clicking links in the occasional spam email which passes through filters, avoiding suspicious websites, why some websites aren’t entirely safe or appropriate for the work environment (Facebook apps, MySpace, remote access apps, proxies, etc), and the myriad other things an end-user can do to get into trouble. What I’m hoping to find are video or flash examples (mind you, in layman’s terms) of what web-based exploits/zero-day threats are capable of, how they can happen and the harm they can ultimately cause, rather than posting links to technical docs the users will never bother to read. Getting the point across in a purely visual and less technical manner seems much more effective. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of training?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

get quad writes “I continually have to remind our end-users to be vigilant about the usual web security hazards, such as not clicking links in the occasional spam email that passes through our filters, avoiding suspicious websites, why some websites aren’t entirely safe or appropriate for the work environment (Facebook apps, MySpace, remote access apps, proxies, etc), and the myriad other things an end-user can do to get into trouble. What I’m hoping to find are video or flash examples (mind you, in layman’s terms) of what Web-based exploits/zero-day threats are capable of, how they can happen, and the harm they can ultimately cause — rather than posting links to technical docs the users will never bother to read. Getting the point across in a purely visual and less technical manner seems much more effective. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this type of training?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Beta 2 of Microsoft’s Visual Studio 2010, along with .NET Framework 4, is being readied for its second round of beta testing. Visual Studio is a development system which Microsoft touts as “a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help software developers create innovative, next-generation applications.” Visual Studio supports development for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Azure, SQL Server, Office 2010 and, in Beta 2, SharePoint 2010 making it, says Microsoft, “the perfect work environment for application developers.”

.NET Framework 4, which is being released at the same time, is said to be 81 percent smaller than earlier versions, allowing it to be downloaded more quickly, and be more easily installed. It adds support the the Microsoft Dynamic Language Runtime (DLR), giving programmers more language choices. And it is better suited for parallel-programming, workflow-centric and service-oriented application development.

Microsoft plans to put Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 into the hands of MSDN members on October 19. An open public beta is will be launched on October 21. The final version of Visual Studio 2010 is expected to be released in March, 2010.

Image Credit: Microsoft

Made from transparent LED tubes, the hanging banner-like screens display Max/MSP-generated visuals that never look the same. A combination of thermal sensors, camera-tracking, weather conditions—even local traffic—all affect how images are mixed in real-time.

The screens hang in each of the four building atriums at Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, and were built by design company Mode Studios. It actually seems like a pretty cool work environment, and staff can also stand in a “hot spot” to control the images by waving around or making sound.

A pretty impressive visual work, but for some reason, I keep imagining Steve Ballmer’s head popping up there—kind of like a cross between Apple’s 1984 ads and Max Headroom. Just saying. [Mode Studios]

The video is a little bit of a pitch fest, but worth flicking through to see how the screen works.

Microsoft Interactive Installation from MODE Studios on Vimeo.