12 weird but true facts about technology
12 weird but true facts about technology
Text: Hitesh Raj Bhagat, ET bureau
You can't argue with the relentless march of technology but you can marvel at some of the absurdities from the past few decades.
ET rounds up a bunch of facts and anecdotes that sound so ridiculous, you'll question their authenticity.
You can't argue with the relentless march of technology but you can marvel at some of the absurdities from the past few decades.
ET rounds up a bunch of facts and anecdotes that sound so ridiculous, you'll question their authenticity.
BCCL
Changing fonts can save printer ink
That's right, fonts are not created equal. People create different kinds of fonts for all kinds of reasons: to convey a message, for decoration, embellishment or as iconography.
The theory is, if you use a 'lighter' font (with a lighter stroke), you'll use slightly less ink per page. Based on the assumption that you're only printing with inkjet printers that use the old style cartridges (not ink tanks, and not tonerbased laser printers), you'll likely save about 10 per cent ink by switching to one of the lighter fonts.
Of course, the flipside to this argument is that as a home consumer, you'll never print enough volumes to actually see a benefit.
The theory is, if you use a 'lighter' font (with a lighter stroke), you'll use slightly less ink per page. Based on the assumption that you're only printing with inkjet printers that use the old style cartridges (not ink tanks, and not tonerbased laser printers), you'll likely save about 10 per cent ink by switching to one of the lighter fonts.
Of course, the flipside to this argument is that as a home consumer, you'll never print enough volumes to actually see a benefit.
Agencies
Email existed before the world wide web
You probably don't even think before composing a one-line email message and sending it. But it wasn't always so easy. There's an interesting clip on YouTube: "How to send an Email – Database – 1984". This was from a tech TV show called Database and the presenters demonstrated what it took to actually send an email back in those days.
You had to use a computer and a rotary telephone to connect to a service called Micronet. This was pre-WWW, so there were no URLs, just numbered webpages. For emails, the webpage number was 7776.
You had to use a computer and a rotary telephone to connect to a service called Micronet. This was pre-WWW, so there were no URLs, just numbered webpages. For emails, the webpage number was 7776.
BCCL
QWERTY was designed to slow you down
There are actually two theories to this. The first one starts to make sense when you look at manual typewriters. If someone typed too fast, the keys would jam. QWERTY placed common alphabets at a distance from each other and slowed typists down.
Another theory is that telegraph operators designed the QWERTY layout because it was easier (and faster) to decipher Morse code.
Either way, there was no reason to keep using the layout, but it stuck and there was resistance to change. You can actually change your keyboard layout to the faster Dvorak layout in the language settings (or just buy a new Dvorak keyboard).
Another theory is that telegraph operators designed the QWERTY layout because it was easier (and faster) to decipher Morse code.
Either way, there was no reason to keep using the layout, but it stuck and there was resistance to change. You can actually change your keyboard layout to the faster Dvorak layout in the language settings (or just buy a new Dvorak keyboard).
92 per cent of the world's currency is digital
This means that most of the money you earn, transact with, use to buy goods/services and so on exists only on computers and hard drives. Only an estimated 8 per cent of currency globally is physical money.
All the black money piles come from within this 8 per cent. This is a fair estimate that economists seem to agree on though, not an exact figure. This low percentage seems absurd but when you stop to think, it makes sense considering that most large transactions are done electronically anyway.
Banks store electronically too and the 92 per cent includes all kinds of transactions done using credit/debit cards and wire transfers. Might be a good idea to revisit all those hacker movies where a nerdy computer hacker manages to siphon billions off in just a few minutes.
All the black money piles come from within this 8 per cent. This is a fair estimate that economists seem to agree on though, not an exact figure. This low percentage seems absurd but when you stop to think, it makes sense considering that most large transactions are done electronically anyway.
Banks store electronically too and the 92 per cent includes all kinds of transactions done using credit/debit cards and wire transfers. Might be a good idea to revisit all those hacker movies where a nerdy computer hacker manages to siphon billions off in just a few minutes.
BCCL
Domain name registrations were free till 1995
Nobody really knew what the internet was capable of back then and this was a huge opportunity for people to own all kinds of do domain names. It was in 1995 that a company called Network Solutions was granted the rights to charge people for domain names. And it was expensive too: prices typically started at $100 per two years of registration.
As much as 30 per cent of this was a fee that went to the National Science Foundation to create an 'Internet Intellectual Infrastructure Fund'. This fee was later reversed in 1997, bringing the charge down to $70 for two years.
As much as 30 per cent of this was a fee that went to the National Science Foundation to create an 'Internet Intellectual Infrastructure Fund'. This fee was later reversed in 1997, bringing the charge down to $70 for two years.
BCCL
In 1956, 5 megabytes (5MB) of data weighed a ton
It was 1956 when IBM launched RAMAC, the first computer with something like a hard drive that we use today.
By hard drive, we mean something that used magnetic disks - a moving head was used to access and write that data. At the time, it was considered a massive leap in massstorage technology because it signified a shift: from punch cards and magnetic tape (which stored data sequentially) to randomly accessible hard drives.
RAMAC itself stood for Random Access Method of Accounting & Control. The whole cabinet weighed over 1000kg and the 5MP data was spread over 50 huge aluminium disks, coated with magnetic iron oxide. The disks rotated at a speed of 1200rpm and the machines were leased for $3,200 per month back in the day.
By hard drive, we mean something that used magnetic disks - a moving head was used to access and write that data. At the time, it was considered a massive leap in massstorage technology because it signified a shift: from punch cards and magnetic tape (which stored data sequentially) to randomly accessible hard drives.
RAMAC itself stood for Random Access Method of Accounting & Control. The whole cabinet weighed over 1000kg and the 5MP data was spread over 50 huge aluminium disks, coated with magnetic iron oxide. The disks rotated at a speed of 1200rpm and the machines were leased for $3,200 per month back in the day.
BCCL
The X-Y position indicator for displays – a.k.a The Mouse
When the first pointing device was invented in the early 60's by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English (they were part of the Stanford Research Institute), it was called the X-Y Position Indicator for Display Systems (referring of course, to the X & Y axes).
It was first used with the Xerox Alto computer and demonstrated in 1968 by Engelbart in what is called the 'Mother of all demos' (check it out on YouTube). In 1968, Engelbart showed off word processing, graphics, windows, file linking and control using a 'mouse' – all these things made their way into modern computers.
Engelbart was also responsible for the name mouse, coined simply because the cable sticking out the end of the device reminded him of a rodent's tail.
It was first used with the Xerox Alto computer and demonstrated in 1968 by Engelbart in what is called the 'Mother of all demos' (check it out on YouTube). In 1968, Engelbart showed off word processing, graphics, windows, file linking and control using a 'mouse' – all these things made their way into modern computers.
Engelbart was also responsible for the name mouse, coined simply because the cable sticking out the end of the device reminded him of a rodent's tail.
BCCL
Russia built a computer that ran on water: in 1936
Before the miniaturisation of transistors, computers had a much more visible system of counting: things like gears, pivots, beads and levers were often used and they needed some sort of power source to function.
Vladimir Lukyanov built something like this in 1936 but he used water to create a computer that solved partial differential equations. In images of the Lukyanov computer, you'll see a complex system of interconnected tubes filled with water.
Adjusting taps and plugs altered the flow of water (and changed variables) while the end result was seen by measuring the level of water in certain tubes. It was also called a Water Integrator and was originally designed to solve the problem of cracking in concrete. It's now found in Moscow's Polytechnic Museum.
Vladimir Lukyanov built something like this in 1936 but he used water to create a computer that solved partial differential equations. In images of the Lukyanov computer, you'll see a complex system of interconnected tubes filled with water.
Adjusting taps and plugs altered the flow of water (and changed variables) while the end result was seen by measuring the level of water in certain tubes. It was also called a Water Integrator and was originally designed to solve the problem of cracking in concrete. It's now found in Moscow's Polytechnic Museum.
BCCL
QWERTY vs ABC layouts in advanced graphing calculators
Before smartphones, there was a time when digital diaries and advanced calculators were popular. They could be used to store simple forms of data and to perform calculations that students could use while solving differential equations apart from algebra and calculus capabilities.
While advanced calculators were 'allowed' to be taken into exam halls, many tests banned devices if they had QWERTY keyboards, simply because they fitted into the traditional definition of a 'computer'.
Texas Instruments solved the problem by introducing graphing calculators with keyboards that had an alphabetical layout.
While advanced calculators were 'allowed' to be taken into exam halls, many tests banned devices if they had QWERTY keyboards, simply because they fitted into the traditional definition of a 'computer'.
Texas Instruments solved the problem by introducing graphing calculators with keyboards that had an alphabetical layout.
BCCL
Wikipedia needs an army of anti-vandal bots
Wikipedia's mission is to make knowledge freely available to anyone with access to the Internet. However, anyone with internet can also sign up and edit pages – which results in what they call vandalism (someone purposefully altering facts with malice).
There is a very robust moderation system but there's only so much that a person can do, in terms of actively monitoring changes and correcting changes that vandals make.
That's where the bots — essentially computer programs — come in. The bots (like ClueBot-NG) keep a track of all changes made to any page and instantly revert back to the 'correct' version if a vandal decides to change things. About 1,941 bots are authorised for use on the 38,818,162 Wikipedia pages at last count.
There is a very robust moderation system but there's only so much that a person can do, in terms of actively monitoring changes and correcting changes that vandals make.
That's where the bots — essentially computer programs — come in. The bots (like ClueBot-NG) keep a track of all changes made to any page and instantly revert back to the 'correct' version if a vandal decides to change things. About 1,941 bots are authorised for use on the 38,818,162 Wikipedia pages at last count.
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Next Story
ET Review: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
ET Review: Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro
Text: Hitesh Bhagat, ET Bureau
Many would say that tablets have generally reached saturation point –—there’s not too much innovation happening and people tend to keep their tablets for a lot longer as compared to phones. That’s why we think that any extra features a tablet can offer are welcome.
This device looks familiar because it’s an update to the Yoga Tab 2 Pro, which we reviewed at about the same time last year.
Many would say that tablets have generally reached saturation point –—there’s not too much innovation happening and people tend to keep their tablets for a lot longer as compared to phones. That’s why we think that any extra features a tablet can offer are welcome.
This device looks familiar because it’s an update to the Yoga Tab 2 Pro, which we reviewed at about the same time last year.
Premium quality
It keeps the same premium quality construction, nifty design and improves the headlining feature: the built in LED projector. The last time around, you had to sit in a fairly dark room to enjoy the projector but the increased brightness (50 lumens vs 30 before) makes it a lot more usable.
You can easily have a 50-inch screen in a dark room.
You can easily have a 50-inch screen in a dark room.
Projector
The projector is housed in the rotatable spine (which also houses the battery). And like before, the projector uses Texas Instruments’ DLP technology with an LED light source and can be switched on instantly via the dedicated button.
You can choose to have both the tablet screen and projector on at the same time or just use the projector mode to save battery life. So what can you do with a projector built into a tablet?
One person we showed it to said he’d like to lie in bed and watch movies on the bedroom ceiling. No problem. Someone else wanted to use a white wall for an impromptu photo slideshow. Use it for business presentations — you won’t need to carry anything else.
Throw in a bit of big screen binge watching with Netflix and big screen gaming (you can pair it with any Bluetooth gamepad for this) and you’ve got a tablet that many in the family will enjoy.
You can choose to have both the tablet screen and projector on at the same time or just use the projector mode to save battery life. So what can you do with a projector built into a tablet?
One person we showed it to said he’d like to lie in bed and watch movies on the bedroom ceiling. No problem. Someone else wanted to use a white wall for an impromptu photo slideshow. Use it for business presentations — you won’t need to carry anything else.
Throw in a bit of big screen binge watching with Netflix and big screen gaming (you can pair it with any Bluetooth gamepad for this) and you’ve got a tablet that many in the family will enjoy.
Spine makes it easier to hold
The materials used are great and we especially like the leather-like back panel. The spine is a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of thing.
Some people hated that it doesn’t adhere to the conventional tablet design — others appreciate it for the thoughtful design, the way the spine makes it easier to hold and the sturdy flip out stand that props it up on a table. We tend to agree with the latter.
Some people hated that it doesn’t adhere to the conventional tablet design — others appreciate it for the thoughtful design, the way the spine makes it easier to hold and the sturdy flip out stand that props it up on a table. We tend to agree with the latter.
Android 5.1 with a few Lenovo tweaks
Thanks to the 4-speaker JBL soundbar (front facing speakers, located under the screen) and Dolby Atmos enhancements, it can get pretty loud.
The screen also has a little trick — it can be used with almost any conductive item: pens, metallic objects like keys or even cutlery. Screen quality is excellent too with nice colours, high brightness and contrast.
The software is Android 5.1 with a few Lenovo tweaks. There’s a multi-window option, a smart side bar and some nice animations.
The screen also has a little trick — it can be used with almost any conductive item: pens, metallic objects like keys or even cutlery. Screen quality is excellent too with nice colours, high brightness and contrast.
The software is Android 5.1 with a few Lenovo tweaks. There’s a multi-window option, a smart side bar and some nice animations.
Excellent battery
Battery life is excellent, thanks to the large battery. It can easily do 10 hours of use on a single charge (or you can watch two movies back to back on the projector only).
A couple of things we didn’t like — primary camera performance is generally slow and clunky, with not very good results. The front camera is fixed focus. Plus there are pre-loaded apps like McAfee, Evernote, Netflix and some other Lenovo apps.
These things keep it from getting a perfect score. We would have also liked to be able to fine tune the screen colour temperature, saturation etc — on a screen this good, this is sorely missed
A couple of things we didn’t like — primary camera performance is generally slow and clunky, with not very good results. The front camera is fixed focus. Plus there are pre-loaded apps like McAfee, Evernote, Netflix and some other Lenovo apps.
These things keep it from getting a perfect score. We would have also liked to be able to fine tune the screen colour temperature, saturation etc — on a screen this good, this is sorely missed
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