InquiryLabs
Politics, Programming and Possibilities
Archive for July, 2009
Algorithmic Learning
Author: Duane Johnson24 Jul
I’m learning about learning right now. I’ve become fascinated with SuperMemo, an algorithmic learning assistant. Unfortunately, it’s only for windows and so I keep searching for alternatives. Here are a few that I’m looking at… each of these look like possibilities for both the iPhone and the Mac (the first because it is cross-platform and the other two because they are web-based). Has anyone found other apps that meet these qualifications (iPhone & Mac compatible)?
Dark flash photography
Author: Duane Johnson17 Jul
This project at NYU sounds so neat: enhancing photographs in the dark by taking information from flashes of light outside of the visible spectrum.
It reminds me of an “invention” idea that I had when I was younger that I still haven’t seen… a pair of glasses with a knob on the side that can “squish” as much or as little of the electromagnetic light spectrum into the visible light spectrum as you’d like. Perhaps there would also be a knob on the other side that “moves” the band of light that you can see, like the tuning knob of an old radio.
It would be so fun! Imagine being able to calibrate your glasses so you could see wireless internet access points, or maybe if you’d like to see through buildings you could switch to the 900 MHz band. You’d probably want to have some “presets” (like a radio has) so that particularly useful settings are easy to access. Of course, what you see at each band wouldn’t be “normal”, but I think our brains might be able to adapt to various wavelengths.
If you happen to see a product like this, please let me know… 
Ideas to Improve the Economy
Author: Duane Johnson3 Jul
The economy seems to be stabilizing, but almost everyone agrees the patient is still sick. I’ve been encouraged by several economic ideas that are popping up around the internet.
My favorite is the return to a single “unimproved property” tax that would promote the most efficient use of land. Rather than taxing people who don’t even own property and are still getting their feet under them, a single property tax would shift the burden to the wealthy while also giving prime land a churn rate so that new ideas and ventures get their day in the sun.
A second idea is a re-thinking and democratization of the banking system itself. Basically, we would lower the bar for individuals or corporations to start a bank and lend money. Then, instead of using an arbitrary “credit score” between entities that don’t really know each other, these new (smaller) banks would lend to those within their social network–in other words, if you know that your friend Simon is credit worthy, then you will lend to him, but not to your friend Bob who is more likely to live it up on your tab.
Because of the massive improvements to our communication backbone, and the fundamental shifts in the economy, new ideas are bound to make a difference right now. Does anyone else have some worthy ideas to share?
