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Posts with tag robot

Filed under: Internet, Web services, Google, Search, web 2.0

Google Product View to recognize text in images

Google image text searchGoogle recently filed for a patent to protect a sophisticated search system designed to find text in images. The most obvious use of the the technology is to find text in pictures through Google Images, but that's just the beginning.
Currently, Google uses the technology in Google Maps Street View, but, as usual, the company would like to expand into other areas of money-making. It is currently putting together what may be called Google Product View, a service that could revolutionize the way we shop and revitalize walk-in stores.

Product View requires automatic machines to index the inventory of regular, walk-in stores. Consumers can search local stores or a specific location for rare items, preventing them from having to call individual stores and dealing with disgruntled 19 year olds. Google plans on integrating Product View with its other services including the company's advertising efforts and Google Maps.

[via Information Week]

Filed under: Google, Time-Wasters

Cottage industry pops up around unusual Google Street View sightings

Google Street View robotSo it turns out Google Maps Street View is good for finding a lot more than aliens, cats in windows, and guys exiting porn shops.

In fact, in the short time since Google launched its new service, finding oddball photos has become an addictive new way to kill time for some. But if you don't have the time to search the country street by street for photos of robots, you might want to check out Streetviewr (despite the hokey web 2.0 insistence on leaving the final "E" out of the site's title).

Streetviewr is a rather simple page where users can upload interesting or funny images found using Google Street View. A rather large number seem to be photos of people with missing heads and cars that don't look quite right because the 360 degree photos didn't line up very well. But some of the user-submitted coordinates and captions are good for a laugh.

[via Frantic Industries]

Filed under: Fun, Internet, Windows, Microsoft

Windows Live Messenger "Invasion of the Robots" Contest

Invasion of the RobotsMicrosoft is sponsoring a contest that challenges developers to create chatbots for the MSN/Windows Live Messenger network. The contest, called Invasion of the Robots, promises over $40,000 in prizes, including the grand prize, a sweet Alienware system or US$10,000 in cash. The deadline is September 15, and Judging will presumably be done by a Microsoft panel (the contest rules just say "qualified judges supervised by an independent judging organization"), with winners being announced on October 15. There is also a "Users' Choice" category, the winner of which can choose among thre different prizes valued $500, or just the cash. If you want to enter, head over to the Invasion of the Robots site and download the SDK.

[Via Digg]

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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