Visuology

25/03/2023

How Quantum Computers Break The Internet… Starting Now

This video of Veritasium, one of my favorite YouTubers, explains why the next jump in computing speeds will be done by qubits instead of bits. To understand how a quantum computer works, you need to understand how a qubit works differently from a regular computer bit.

A bit is the basic unit of information used in classical computing. It is a binary digit that can take on one of two values: 0 or 1. In computing, bits are used to represent and manipulate data and instructions.

In contrast, a qubit is a quantum mechanical system that can represent a superposition of both 0 and 1 at the same time, as well as other states in between. This is due to a quantum property known as superposition, which allows qubits to exist in multiple states simultaneously. Additionally, qubits can also exhibit entanglement, a quantum mechanical phenomenon where the state of one qubit can be dependent on the state of another qubit, even if they are physically separated.

The behavior of qubits is fundamentally different from that of classical bits, which can only take on one of two possible states at a time. This difference allows quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers, because they can process multiple possibilities at once.

Interesting
25/03/2023

Intel co-founder and semiconductor titan dies at 94

Intel and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announced today that company co-founder Gordon Moore has passed away at the age of 94.

The “law” that bears his name was not self-proclaimed, but popularized by a Cal Tech professor in the mid-1970s. And this Moore’s law, that a computer chip holds twice the amount of transistors every upcoming new year, still holds true. Just a few years ago we thought this exponential growth would not be possible anymore, but here we are, with 3nm chips made and an iPhone that’s more powerful than my 5-year-old laptop. His legacy by co-founding Intel – one of the most important companies in the history of computers – will live on for a long time to come.

Interesting
11/01/2023

Modern, Sexy, and Ancient Rome In One

Go check out René Garza on Instagram and Redbubble and enjoy the beautiful combinations of old and new. Paintings and sculptures from Ancient Rome and Romanticism are used as a backdrop for modern—and sometimes very sexy—pictures. The collection is gem on the internet!

Source: @renegarza

Art
10/01/2023

The Last of Us: A Masterclass in Storytelling

Source: HBO

If I could only bring one game to an apocalyptic world, it would be The Last of Us by Naughty Dog. I, believe it or not, cried at the end of the first game. The game is an amazing artistic feed of storytelling that just grabs you by the throat and will only let you go as soon as the end credits roll. The second game even bumps up the focus on people’s relationships and how they evolve while playing the game. And now, in 6 days, on January 16, HBO will release the television adaptation of my favorite video game of all time, with Neil Druckmann, the writer and creative director of the game as one of the writers and director for the series. I just can’t f*cking wait!

TV & Movies
09/01/2023

Top 10 Health Apps For iOS And Watch OS
There are a plethora of health apps available for iOS and WatchOS, each claiming to be the best at helping you reach your health goals. Whether you’re looking to track your workouts, monitor your sleep, or keep an eye on your nutrition, there’s an app for that. In this list, I’ve rounded up the top 10 health apps for iOS and WatchOS, all of which I have been using for the past year! From beginners to fitness fanatics, these apps have something for everyone looking to take charge of their health and wellness.
1. Gentler Streak: A more human fitness tracker that helps everyone to build a healthy approach to fitness and recovery + Apple Watch App of 2022;
2. Lifesum: A beautiful app that helps everyone to build a healthier diet and/or lose weight;
3. STRECHIT: Talking about recovery, this is a must-have for after-workout stretching;
4. AutoSleep: Track your sleep fully automatically and see a well-designed overview of all your data collected during the night
5. Waterful: One of the best-designed apps out there helping you to track water and stay hydrated;
6. WorkOutDoors: The only WatchApp showing full vector-based maps while hiking, running, canoeing, or biking. This app is so customizable, it’s insane;
7. HeartAnalyzer: While working out, sleeping, or resting, your heart rate is one of the most important data points and HeartAnalyzer gives a beautifully designed overview of up to 4 years of heart rate measurements;
8. StepsApp: Best complications for WatchOS to make sure you finish every day with +10.000 steps;
9. HeartWatch: Connects with AutoSleep to provide even more data about your health and how sleep affects your performance during the day;
10. Fitness: Apple’s fitness app had to make the list, as those rings are the best way to get a quick overview of your activity level during the day.
Tech
08/01/2023

I Would Definitely Pee On This Gadget

Image: Withings

Yes, you read that right. Withings, the company most well-known for its connected health devices like the Steel HR Smartwatch and the Body Scan Scale, presented a noninvasive urinalysis test at CES 2023. The U Scan is placed inside your toilet and while you change nothing about how you pee, the device collects a tiny sample using microfluidic circuitry. This sample is then sent to a replaceable cartridge inside the reader that contains 100 tests. The scanner is able to test ovulation windows, bodily pH, hydration, vitamin C, and ketone levels. These results are then wirelessly (thank god) sent to your phone for your reference. Especially for people with chronic metabolic health issues, like diabetes, it’s another evolution in connected health devices that will help with monitoring and safeguarding. U-Scan will be launched in the second half of 2023, subscribe on Withings website to receive updates and be the first to know.

Edit: On Twitter, Withings posted a very slick video gaining a lot of replies. And a question popping up more than once is how the device knows who is peeing.

To prevent the collection of urine from someone else, we developed a technology able to differentiate users called stream ID. Using a Radar sensor, it can differentiate an individual by the signature of the urine stream, characterized by its speed, distance and dispersion.

Stream ID! Love it.

Tech
07/01/2023

Why Blogging is Better than Social Media
If you’re considering starting a personal blog, you might be wondering how it compares to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. While social media can be a great way to connect with friends and stay up-to-date with the latest news and trends, there are a few key reasons why blogging is better than social media for personal expression and online communication.
1. Blogging gives you more control over your content. When you post on a social media platform, you are subject to the terms of service and algorithms of that platform. This means that your content may not be seen by as many people as you’d like, and it can even be taken down if it violates the platform’s policies. With a blog, you have complete control over what you post and how you present it. You can even monetize your blog if you choose, without having to worry about the limitations of social media.
2. Blogging allows for more in-depth and meaningful communication. Social media is often geared towards short, bite-sized pieces of content that are easy to consume and share. While this can be great for sharing quick updates or funny memes, it can be less effective for more nuanced or personal conversations. A blog gives you the space to write longer, more thought-out pieces that allow you to fully express your thoughts and ideas. This can lead to more meaningful engagement with your readers and a deeper sense of connection.
3. Blogging can be a creative outlet. Whether you’re into writing, photography, or something else entirely, a blog can be a great way to showcase your talents and share your interests with the world. You can customize the look and feel of your blog to match your personal style and use it as a platform to share your work and connect with like-minded people.
4. Blogging allows you to build an online presence. Social media is great for connecting with friends and family, but it can be less effective for building a professional online presence. A blog can serve as a hub for your online portfolio, showcasing your work and accomplishments in one place. This can be especially useful if you’re looking to break into a new career field or establish yourself as an expert in your field.
Overall, while social media has its place, a personal blog can be a more effective tool for personal expression, communication, creativity, and building an online presence. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, don’t let the fear of not having as large of an audience as social media hold you back – the benefits of blogging go far beyond just having a large following.

Source: ChatGPT 😉
Interesting
06/01/2023

The fastest Mac ever, now cuter, faster, more bisexual

source: NanoRaptor

I am an avid Apple device user. And have to confess that I will read and watch everything that has to do with Apple or Steve Jobs. Today I stumbled upon this Mastadon (the new Twitter?) user called NanoRaptor. She, a mac-user herself, creates these imagined devices that never existed. Go have a look for yourself. This old-style MacWorld cover from “Octember 1990” is especially good.

Found through Daring Fireball

Apple
05/01/2023

Typography in Ten Minutes
This is a bold claim, but I stand behind it: if you learn and follow these five typography rules, you will be a better typographer than nearly every writer—and even most graphic designers.

All it takes is ten minutes: five minutes to read these rules once. Then five minutes to read them again.
1. The typographic quality of your document is determined largely by how the body text looks. […]
2. Point size is how big the font is. In print, the most comfortable range for body text is 10–12 point. […]
3. Line spacing is the vertical distance between lines. It should be 120–145% of the point size. […]
4. Line length is the horizontal width of the text block. Line length should be an average of 45–90 characters per line […]
5. And finally, font choice. […]
You’re welcome!

Source: practicaltypography.com
Quick share
04/01/2023

The Spirited Man

It is characteristic of the spirited man that he takes an expansive view of the boundary of his own stuff—he tends to act as though any material things he uses are in some sense properly his, while he is using them [..].
Excerpt From: Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford

I read this book Shop Class as Soulcraft because a YouTuber named Van Neistat (yes, the brother of Casey Neistat) recommended it in one of his videos (all his videos, by the way, are worth a watch as well). His whole YouTube account is named after one key argument that the writer Crawford makes in his book: the spirited man. From his video linked on the top: “A spirited man is a man who takes matters into his own hands or who knows how to fix a dishwasher.”

The book by Crawford, and the videos by Neistat are both referring to the fact that Generation X (the ones before Millenials) are the last generation who are analog natives. Analog natives? According to Van Neistat, people born in a non-digital world who need to think about the fact that Googling is an option if you are searching for answers or information. And, according to both authors, analog natives are also the last generation who know how to fix a bicycle or a dishwasher.

I’m a millennial, I breathe digital, and Google is my number-one-first-stop-go-to whenever I seek for answers or more in-depth information. I can certainly fix a bike, but a dishwasher is going to be tricky. Both authors provide a refreshing look on our materialistic society and the disappearance of tools and manual competence within this society.

Books, YouTube