Category: Internet

Have a pointless conversation with the BlogWarBot

robot_image.jpgChris Clarke, who runs the Creek Running North environmental blog, has developed an Internet argument bot called BlogWarBot.

When I first read this I thought that it might trawl the Net looking for blogs to start an argument on, but in fact it’s fairly tame and will only hurl abuse at you if you visit its site and start a conversation with it.

As you can see from the following interaction I had with it, it’s not particularly advanced, but anything to waste a bit of time on a Friday afternoon, eh?

Andy Merrett Internet

Google News to allow those featured in stories to comment

google_news_logo.gifGoogle is set to expand its Google News offering by not only providing the headline and excerpt from a wide variety of online news sources, but also allowing those featured in those articles to comment, and have those comments published alongside the article link.

In theory, the system will work by allowing people or organisations mentioned in news stories to submit stories to the Google News team, who will then display those unedited comments.

Initially launching in the US, and rolling out elsewhere if successful, the scheme poses some interesting questions.

Andy Merrett Internet

Opinion: Stamp out striking posties with email

Jon_small_new.jpgJonathan Weinberg writes…

For those outside the UK, the reason for this rant won’t mean much but the wider implications affect us all wherever we live. We’re currently in the grip of a nationwide wildcat postal strike in Britain and it’s started to get me more steamed up than that kettle you use to open your partner’s letters.

And it got me thinking, what’s the point of post anyway now we have email. I’ve had a pile of stamps sitting on my desk for months.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for workers rights, fair pay for a fair day and all that, and I love my new postie, he’s very friendly and helpful. But the sooner everyone switches over to electronic delivery and snail mail dies off, the better life will be…

Jonathan Weinberg Columns & Opinion, Internet, Websites

Opinion: Panorama fight video expose proves the web needs policing

Jon_small_new.jpgJonathan Weinberg writes…

It takes a lot to shock me and I thought – having worked on and with the internet for the past seven years – that I knew the majority of its positives and negatives. But I’m truly appalled by BBC1’s Panorama investigation into real-life violent videos uploaded onto the web.

Shown on the channel last night, reporters looked at the people who film the sickening scenes, those who have fallen prey to the stupidly named “happy-slapping” attacks (do you see the victims smiling?) and it also focused on the firms allowing such videos to be shown to millions of cyberspace viewers…

Jonathan Weinberg Columns & Opinion, Internet, Top stories, Websites

Opinion: Free laptop deal looks good

Jon_smal.gifJonathan Weinberg writes…

Let’s face it, who among us is ever going to turn down a free gift – especially when it’s worth up to £500. Well, that’s the prospect facing techno shoppers at Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PC World this week.

You couldn’t have failed to see the ads in the newspapers over the weekend proclaiming the gratis machines in return for signing up to broadband with the likes of Orange and AOL. ‘So where’s the catch?’ I hear you ask. ‘There’s always a catch!’

Well, you’re right, to get the free laptop you are tied into a contract with the firms for two years and yes, the machines aren’t super-spec’d enough to suit most Tech Digest readers. But in terms of getting people interested in technology and onto the interweb superhighway, it has to be good news…

Jonathan Weinberg Broadband, Columns & Opinion, Computers, Internet, Laptops / Notebooks