True redundancy?

Nature's article covering self-reproducing robots (and also covered on the BBC Technology news) is exciting news.

Although the actual abilities of the robots are severly reduced, it doesn't matter, the idea is at least prototyped and working. The robots (can you use a plural where things are 'cloned') look rather like a worm, able to activate spare parts they find littering their environment. The parts are then integrated together to form copies.

It is clear where this could be heading - towards truly redundant technology that can fix itself

Well done to those involved, looking forward to your next robot (will it be like an ant?).

BBC opens up?

Hey, just noticed that the BBC has opened up the usage policy on RSS Feeds from their websites.

"But in reality, said Mr Clifton, policing all sites in any substantial way would be restricted."

'It is only right we build in some safeguards so that if they appear on sites we feel are completely beyond the pale, we can act; although we can't ever claim we are going to be watching every use of it,' he said."

<sarcasm>Kinda stating the obvious - policing the Internet? Is that the policy of the BBC? Does the licence fee pay for that? Wow - I'm glad Master Clifton understands that it isn't possible.<sarcasm />

Anyway, considering that it has taken this long, and the BBC news feed is distributed pre-installed in most RSS readers you can download... it's nice to see that the BBC is really bang up to date!

Top of the Security Pops?

The independent team at SANS, just issued their top 20 list of security risks on Windows and Unix. BBC Technology news also reported on this. Seems like they both missed the Number 1 Security risk - Users. (and I'm including myself in that)

If it weren't for Users, lots of exploits simply wouldn't happen. Since it is down to the Application providers to fix the security problems in their software, I think it is only just that someone attempts to fix Users. Education? (I spoke about this before in 'How to make a stupid headline, and not have any relevant pictures?')