Just ONE project
For the first time in many years I have just one project that I must work on.
My only assignement, excepting the bird detection software from work (just ignore it :D ), is the bachelor thesis. I have two more weeks to finish the project and the documentation.
Until now I always had two, three or even four projects to finish (ex: Imagine Cup + 2-3 school project, blog article(s) + ASP.NET project + project management assignment, etc.). Now there is just *ONE* (ONE!!) and I really enjoy writing about expert systems (Rete Algorithm) and applications running on Windows Azure. Oh, by the way my thesis is called “Expert Systems – Rete Algorithm” and is about the Rete forward chaining algorithm and it’s implementation as a scalable service on Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.
I think will publish the final documentation (written in Romanian) here in order to help others understand Rete Algorithm and Software as a Service. By the way, do you know what an expert system is? :)
Let’s assume that we have three rules:
- IF is cloudy THEN it will rain
- IF is sunny THEN it will not rain
- IF it will rain THEN I need an umbrella
These three rules are called the Knowledge Base (KB) and are stored in the system. If I say “I cloudy today” the system will use the rules and infere that I need an umbrella. So an expert system is capable of taking decision based on some rules and some facts. However, based on the implementation, it can be a naive form of artificial intelligence because it cannot distinct between correct and incorrect rules, is highly dependent on the correctness of the knowledge base and is acting on the principle of “garbage in, garbage out”.
So an expert system has a knowledge base and given a set of facts can infere other facts (can take decisions). Will write more about this in the documentation.
Do you think expert system will be used in the future or the future belong to something else?
PS: Oh f***, I have to write part three from “Software + Services: A Modern Approach” article.
Windows Mobile 6.5 SDK is Available
The Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Tool Kit adds documentation, sample code, header and library files, emulator images and tools to Visual Studio that let you build applications for Windows Mobile 6.5.
A new set of APIs is being introduced that will enable application developers to take advantage of the new Windows Mobile 6.5 touch gesture framework. The gesture APIs allow an application to handle touch gesture input and provide a visually consistent experience with the rest of the device UI. Note that the gesture APIs are only available on the Windows Mobile Classic and Professional SKUs.
Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Tool Kit comes with the following Emulator Images:
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional Square Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional QVGA Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional WQVGA Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional VGA Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional WVGA Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard Square Emulator
- Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard QVGA Emulator
In order to install the SDK and integrate it with Visual Studio you must also install the Windows Mobile 6.0 SDK. Make sure you install this first. I had problems with the 6.5 SDK because I forgot to install 6.0 SDK. If you somehow install 6.5 without 6.0 you must uninstall the first one in order to reinstall it…
The Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Kit can be downloaded from this link.
Windows Mobile 6.5 on Toshiba G900
Before writing anything else I must warn all readers that changing the operating systems on your mobile will void the warranty. If the upgrade process fails the phone might be damaged and no service will fix that for free. Do it on your own risk and make sure the following list is satisfied:
- Ask people about the ROM you want to install. Make sure it did not brake any phone.
- The phone’s battery must be at least 50% charged (better 100%)
- Make sure you have and UPS. Or a laptop with good battery because if you cancel the process after it started the results might be unexpected.
- Make sure the USB cable is firmly connect and is not broken!
I cannot be made responsible for any damages caused directly or indirectly by this article.
Microsoft unveils new controller
Microsoft has unveiled its new control system for the Xbox 360 console, at E3 in Los Angeles.
Project Natal is a fully hands-free control system that will use face recognition and motion sensors to allow users to play games. Film director Steven Spielberg, attending the launch, said it was “a window into what the future holds”.
Basically it allows you to interact with the virtual world without using any controller at all. There is probably one or more webcams that capture movement and other sensors for voice and other forms of interaction. This is just a prototype and I don’t know if it will be possible to interact freely with the system or just under some constrains (light, body position, movement speed, correct language, etc); remains to be seen but it is fascinating.
It is so hard to describe it in words. You must see what it can do to convince yourself that this might be a revolution:
The previous video might not have convinced you but the following will raise the hair on your head: