E-Filler Archives

India intercepts Air France plane
From the article:

The pilot had used the wrong Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) code, which allows ground radars to differentiate between friendly and enemy aircraft.

So let me get this straight: To avoid alerting ground radar of enemy aircraft all an enemy needs to do is set their IFF code to "Friendly"? I wonder what the conversation was like when the designed this...

Lazy Designer 1: "Just make it a switch, Friend or Foe"
Lazy Designer 2: "But it's that a little too easy to fool?"
Lazy Designer 1: "Nah...why would they lie?"

From Slashdot: Microsoft Hardware unveils pressure-sensitive keyboard

"The device will be put to use in the first annual Student Innovation Contest in Victoria, Canada, where contestants will be supplied with a keyboard prototype and challenged with developing new interactions for it. Contestants will demo their creations and attendees will vote for their favorite at the conference on October 5. $2,000 prizes will be given to the authors of programs deemed as the most useful, the best implementation, and the most innovative."

Albert, since you live in "Victoria, Canada" and have essentially limitless time, I propose you build the only use for this thing: Detecting impatience. When I smash that keyboard, make my computer run faster.