the energies of money
http://www.moneyenergy.co.uk/
What do we mean by money is energy? What is energy? This website and the thoughts here are dedicated to the conscious and subconscious mind. Money.
Money is an agreement in a society to use something, anything as a medium of exchange. During history a lot of things has been used as money: shells, metals, stones, even wood sticks.
Money is the life energy without it we die because we are social animals, we need the energy of society to survive. When people needs money they can do anything to obtain it, join the army, sell organs of poor people, kill, torture, abuse, steal, cheat even kill their own kind.
http://www.cosmichours.org/2008/03/solution-cosmic-hours.html
Thursday, March 18, 2010
March 2010 Gatherings by Camelia
March 2010 Gatherings by Camelia
"Came" means Business Networking (referral business/business gathering)
"SG" means Social Gatherings (make new friends)
Came 198
4 March 2010 (Thurs)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: A & W,PJ State,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia.
Came 199
6 March 2010 (Sat)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: Old Town White Coffee,Taman Midah,Cheras,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (opposite Tmn Midah)
Came 200
10 March 2010 (Wed)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:Pizza Hut,KLCC Suria Mall,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Came 201
12 March 2010 (Fri)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:Island cafe,SS2,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia
Came 202
13 March 2010 (Sat)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:A&W,1Utama ShoppingMall,Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor,Malaysia.
Came 203
30 March 2010 (Tues)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: KFC,Pavilion Mall,Jln Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Came 204
31 March 2010 (Wed)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: Pappa Rich,Uptown Damansara,Damansara Utama,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia.
Pls Call /SMS to confirm the date/place/time.
Please give me time to reserve a seat for you.
Do not be LAST MINUTE.
I will not entertain you.
You may bring your friends or bosses or spouse.
PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL, Thank you!!
Mobile : 6-016-9795515
Love Camelia
Malaysian Chinese lady
*Venue and time subject to change
"Came" means Business Networking (referral business/business gathering)
"SG" means Social Gatherings (make new friends)
Came 198
4 March 2010 (Thurs)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: A & W,PJ State,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia.
Came 199
6 March 2010 (Sat)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: Old Town White Coffee,Taman Midah,Cheras,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (opposite Tmn Midah)
Came 200
10 March 2010 (Wed)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:Pizza Hut,KLCC Suria Mall,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Came 201
12 March 2010 (Fri)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:Island cafe,SS2,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia
Came 202
13 March 2010 (Sat)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue:A&W,1Utama ShoppingMall,Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor,Malaysia.
Came 203
30 March 2010 (Tues)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: KFC,Pavilion Mall,Jln Bukit Bintang,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
Came 204
31 March 2010 (Wed)
Time: 8pm to 10pm
Venue: Pappa Rich,Uptown Damansara,Damansara Utama,Petaling Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia.
Pls Call /SMS to confirm the date/place/time.
Please give me time to reserve a seat for you.
Do not be LAST MINUTE.
I will not entertain you.
You may bring your friends or bosses or spouse.
PLEASE BE PUNCTUAL, Thank you!!
Mobile : 6-016-9795515
Love Camelia
Malaysian Chinese lady
*Venue and time subject to change
Sunday, March 7, 2010
How to Network Your Way to Small Business Success
How to Network Your Way to Small Business Success
How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People
By Meridith Levinson
Tue, December 11, 2007 — CIO— Networking is the key to success in business, says Keith Ferrazzi, business coach and author of Never Eat Alone, a book about the power of relationship building and networking. It helps you find jobs, recruit talent, win new customers and discover investors who'll support your ideas.
But networking is a trial for shy people—geeks especially. They view it as insincere at best, manipulative at worst. They eschew networking for a variety of reasons including lack of confidence, fear of rejection and a sense of unworthiness.
If they could just relate to others more easily, if they just possessed more self-confidence and weren't such self-conscious wallflowers, the world would be their oyster, and schmoozing would be so much easier.
It is possible for shrinking violets and shy guys to master the skill of networking. They just have to realize, says Ferrazzi, that successful networking is all about building intimate, sincere relationships based on mutual generosity, not duplicity, and that they can't achieve their career goals on their own. They have to network their way to success.
If you're struggling to meet new people, here's some common-sense advice for increasing your networking mojo.
Start Small
If the idea of approaching people you don't know intimidates you, begin your networking efforts by seeking out familiar faces, such as relatives and friends.
"You can do a significant amount of valuable networking without ever having to make a cold call," says Lynne Sarikas, the director of Northeastern University's MBA Career Center. "Starting with a known [contact] instead of an unknown demystifies the [networking] process and helps get a shy person over the hurdle." A series of successful conversations will make you more confident in the process, Sarikas adds.
A logical next step after talking with friends and family is to pursue individuals who graduated from your college. Your alumni network can be a gold mine of connections, says Sarikas. It exists for the purpose of networking, so contacting an alum out of the blue shouldn't feel like a cold call. After all, they joined the network to make and take such calls.
Stop Apologizing
Introverts and inexperienced networkers often apologize when asking for an individual's help because they see networking as an imposition, not as an exercise in relationship building, says Sarikas.
"They feel like they're asking someone to do them a favor. They don't think they're worth someone else's time so they're apologizing for it," she says.
Apologizing merely demonstrates your lack of professionalism and confidence. It's also annoying and juvenile. You don't have to apologize for asking for help. You don't have to apologize for wanting to learn more about the individual with whom you're networking. One day you may be able to help her out.
Tap into Your Primal Instincts
"Humans are hard-wired as communal, tribal animals, so the shy person isn't shy by nature," says Ferrazzi. "They are shy by design. Something happened to them to make them want to recoil."
Sometimes, when an introvert hears that he's not inherently a loner, that humans are innately social creatures, the realization helps him emerge from his shell of shyness, he says.
Be Yourself
Many introverted professionals think they have to act like an extrovert in networking situations. While you do have to make an effort to be more gregarious than normal, you shouldn't be artificial.
"You don't have to be the schmoozer," says Never Eat Alone's Ferrazzi. The problem with the schmoozer's approach to networking is that he doesn't have the right intent: He's not interested in helping other people—only himself, says Ferrazzi.
"Be the authentic, aw-shucks, humble, shy person you are. It can be endearing. Don't try to be something you're not," adds Ferrazzi.
In other words, it's OK if you're a little awkward. Just don't keep apologizing for it
Tap into Your Passions
Sarikas recommends joining clubs and attending events that relate to an interest or activity you enjoy. If you're a budding oenophile, attend a wine tasting at your local liquor store. Eager reader? Join a book club. Can't get enough of the pigskin? Attend a football game or watch one at a bar.
"Just because you're a technology professional doesn't mean you should only go to technology conferences to network," says Sarikas. "That person sitting in front of you [at the ball game] might have a job you always dreamed about or work in a company that you want to get into. You could sit behind them the whole season and never know that unless you initiate a conversation."
The advantage of engaging in activities you enjoy with other people is that it makes conversation so much easier. So while you're analyzing the cabernet's nose, discussing the plot of A Thousand Splendid Suns or sharing game stats, ask the person with whom you're chatting for her name and about her work. There's no reason not to do so if you're having an amiable conversation.
Attending gatherings where you feel comfortable helps you put your best foot forward, says Debra Feldman, an executive talent agent and job search expert. "Avoid situations where you might be stressed, rushed or distracted from your networking mission," she adds.
If you do find yourself in a room full of strangers at a technology conference or party, Ferrazzi recommends going straight to the stuff that interests you. "When you talk about things you're passionate about, you will light up and appear more engaging," he says. "You don't have to find a shared interest [to connect with others]. You just have to share your interests." So be sure to ask the people around you what they do in their spare time.
Ask for Introductions
Peter Handal, Dale Carnegie & Associates' chairman, CEO and president, notes that shy people attending conferences tend to find one person with whom they spend all their time for the duration of the event.
Although settling in with one person may be more comfortable for the introvert than introducing himself to lots of new people, says Handal, it defeats the purpose of networking.
He recommends that the shy person ask his new buddy if the new buddy knows anyone else and if the new buddy could make some introductions on his behalf. "That's a nice soft way for people at the shy end of the spectrum to meet others," says Handal.
Be Generous
Sometimes shy people have trouble networking because they don't think they have anything significant, such as a job or a contact, to give back to someone who helped them.
Although networking works best when you do have something to offer, what you offer doesn't have to be a job, says Ferrazzi. Sincere interest in the other person—even flattery—is a form of generosity and goes a long way when you're networking, he says.
"Be authentic, share your passions and help other people feel good about themselves or be successful—that's all you have to do to network," he says.
Be Prepared
If you're afraid you'll freeze up or get tongue-tied in a social setting, prepare yourself in advance. Think of ice-breaker questions you can ask people you meet. If you're attending an event specifically to network your way to a new job, have your personal pitch ready, says Feldman. She also recommends anticipating questions you may be asked, such as why you're looking for a new job, and have clear, concise answers at the ready. "Your delivery has to be attention grabbing to overcome interruptions and compensate for a lack of privacy," she says.
Follow Up
Sharing information—whether a website, article, report or phone number—with new contacts builds your credibility, says Sarikas. So if you promised to e-mail a report to someone you met on the plane, make sure you do that.
"When you do what you've said you were going to do, it gives the other person the impression that you keep your word," she says. If you don't, you're just another schmoozer.
Get Over Your Fear of Rejection
In the course of networking, you'll encounter people who can't or don't want to help you . That's life, says Sarikas. Don't take it personally and don't dwell on it. It's all part of the process.
Take Risks
When you overcome your fear of rejection, it'll be easier to make cold calls and strike up conversations with strangers.
"The person sitting next to you at a banquet or on an airplane may be feeling as uncomfortable as you are and will appreciate you breaking the ice," says Sarikas. "They just might be a fabulous contact for you or know the right person for you to talk to." You just won't know until you try.
See a Shrink
If you can't open up to people, you'll never be able to network. And if you absolutely can not overcome your shyness on your own, Ferrazzi recommends seeing a therapist who can help you understand why you're so shy and give you the tools to change.
"Your ability to be intimate with others is the core of networking," says Ferrazzi. "Shy people know at their core that they're lonely and long for more intimacy. They just don't have the courage and the confidence to achieve it."
How to Network: 12 Tips for Shy People
By Meridith Levinson
Tue, December 11, 2007 — CIO— Networking is the key to success in business, says Keith Ferrazzi, business coach and author of Never Eat Alone, a book about the power of relationship building and networking. It helps you find jobs, recruit talent, win new customers and discover investors who'll support your ideas.
But networking is a trial for shy people—geeks especially. They view it as insincere at best, manipulative at worst. They eschew networking for a variety of reasons including lack of confidence, fear of rejection and a sense of unworthiness.
If they could just relate to others more easily, if they just possessed more self-confidence and weren't such self-conscious wallflowers, the world would be their oyster, and schmoozing would be so much easier.
It is possible for shrinking violets and shy guys to master the skill of networking. They just have to realize, says Ferrazzi, that successful networking is all about building intimate, sincere relationships based on mutual generosity, not duplicity, and that they can't achieve their career goals on their own. They have to network their way to success.
If you're struggling to meet new people, here's some common-sense advice for increasing your networking mojo.
Start Small
If the idea of approaching people you don't know intimidates you, begin your networking efforts by seeking out familiar faces, such as relatives and friends.
"You can do a significant amount of valuable networking without ever having to make a cold call," says Lynne Sarikas, the director of Northeastern University's MBA Career Center. "Starting with a known [contact] instead of an unknown demystifies the [networking] process and helps get a shy person over the hurdle." A series of successful conversations will make you more confident in the process, Sarikas adds.
A logical next step after talking with friends and family is to pursue individuals who graduated from your college. Your alumni network can be a gold mine of connections, says Sarikas. It exists for the purpose of networking, so contacting an alum out of the blue shouldn't feel like a cold call. After all, they joined the network to make and take such calls.
Stop Apologizing
Introverts and inexperienced networkers often apologize when asking for an individual's help because they see networking as an imposition, not as an exercise in relationship building, says Sarikas.
"They feel like they're asking someone to do them a favor. They don't think they're worth someone else's time so they're apologizing for it," she says.
Apologizing merely demonstrates your lack of professionalism and confidence. It's also annoying and juvenile. You don't have to apologize for asking for help. You don't have to apologize for wanting to learn more about the individual with whom you're networking. One day you may be able to help her out.
Tap into Your Primal Instincts
"Humans are hard-wired as communal, tribal animals, so the shy person isn't shy by nature," says Ferrazzi. "They are shy by design. Something happened to them to make them want to recoil."
Sometimes, when an introvert hears that he's not inherently a loner, that humans are innately social creatures, the realization helps him emerge from his shell of shyness, he says.
Be Yourself
Many introverted professionals think they have to act like an extrovert in networking situations. While you do have to make an effort to be more gregarious than normal, you shouldn't be artificial.
"You don't have to be the schmoozer," says Never Eat Alone's Ferrazzi. The problem with the schmoozer's approach to networking is that he doesn't have the right intent: He's not interested in helping other people—only himself, says Ferrazzi.
"Be the authentic, aw-shucks, humble, shy person you are. It can be endearing. Don't try to be something you're not," adds Ferrazzi.
In other words, it's OK if you're a little awkward. Just don't keep apologizing for it
Tap into Your Passions
Sarikas recommends joining clubs and attending events that relate to an interest or activity you enjoy. If you're a budding oenophile, attend a wine tasting at your local liquor store. Eager reader? Join a book club. Can't get enough of the pigskin? Attend a football game or watch one at a bar.
"Just because you're a technology professional doesn't mean you should only go to technology conferences to network," says Sarikas. "That person sitting in front of you [at the ball game] might have a job you always dreamed about or work in a company that you want to get into. You could sit behind them the whole season and never know that unless you initiate a conversation."
The advantage of engaging in activities you enjoy with other people is that it makes conversation so much easier. So while you're analyzing the cabernet's nose, discussing the plot of A Thousand Splendid Suns or sharing game stats, ask the person with whom you're chatting for her name and about her work. There's no reason not to do so if you're having an amiable conversation.
Attending gatherings where you feel comfortable helps you put your best foot forward, says Debra Feldman, an executive talent agent and job search expert. "Avoid situations where you might be stressed, rushed or distracted from your networking mission," she adds.
If you do find yourself in a room full of strangers at a technology conference or party, Ferrazzi recommends going straight to the stuff that interests you. "When you talk about things you're passionate about, you will light up and appear more engaging," he says. "You don't have to find a shared interest [to connect with others]. You just have to share your interests." So be sure to ask the people around you what they do in their spare time.
Ask for Introductions
Peter Handal, Dale Carnegie & Associates' chairman, CEO and president, notes that shy people attending conferences tend to find one person with whom they spend all their time for the duration of the event.
Although settling in with one person may be more comfortable for the introvert than introducing himself to lots of new people, says Handal, it defeats the purpose of networking.
He recommends that the shy person ask his new buddy if the new buddy knows anyone else and if the new buddy could make some introductions on his behalf. "That's a nice soft way for people at the shy end of the spectrum to meet others," says Handal.
Be Generous
Sometimes shy people have trouble networking because they don't think they have anything significant, such as a job or a contact, to give back to someone who helped them.
Although networking works best when you do have something to offer, what you offer doesn't have to be a job, says Ferrazzi. Sincere interest in the other person—even flattery—is a form of generosity and goes a long way when you're networking, he says.
"Be authentic, share your passions and help other people feel good about themselves or be successful—that's all you have to do to network," he says.
Be Prepared
If you're afraid you'll freeze up or get tongue-tied in a social setting, prepare yourself in advance. Think of ice-breaker questions you can ask people you meet. If you're attending an event specifically to network your way to a new job, have your personal pitch ready, says Feldman. She also recommends anticipating questions you may be asked, such as why you're looking for a new job, and have clear, concise answers at the ready. "Your delivery has to be attention grabbing to overcome interruptions and compensate for a lack of privacy," she says.
Follow Up
Sharing information—whether a website, article, report or phone number—with new contacts builds your credibility, says Sarikas. So if you promised to e-mail a report to someone you met on the plane, make sure you do that.
"When you do what you've said you were going to do, it gives the other person the impression that you keep your word," she says. If you don't, you're just another schmoozer.
Get Over Your Fear of Rejection
In the course of networking, you'll encounter people who can't or don't want to help you . That's life, says Sarikas. Don't take it personally and don't dwell on it. It's all part of the process.
Take Risks
When you overcome your fear of rejection, it'll be easier to make cold calls and strike up conversations with strangers.
"The person sitting next to you at a banquet or on an airplane may be feeling as uncomfortable as you are and will appreciate you breaking the ice," says Sarikas. "They just might be a fabulous contact for you or know the right person for you to talk to." You just won't know until you try.
See a Shrink
If you can't open up to people, you'll never be able to network. And if you absolutely can not overcome your shyness on your own, Ferrazzi recommends seeing a therapist who can help you understand why you're so shy and give you the tools to change.
"Your ability to be intimate with others is the core of networking," says Ferrazzi. "Shy people know at their core that they're lonely and long for more intimacy. They just don't have the courage and the confidence to achieve it."
Monday, March 1, 2010
E-Commerce
E-Commerce
Doing business on the Internet via your web site or other means can be a very efficient and profitable venture. However, there are certain dangers involved in operating online, including cyber-piracy, data protection and potential breaches, copyright infringers, trademark thieves, rogue affiliates/marketers and more. With so many possibilities for problems, knowing that you've done the legal groundwork for your business and web site is a smart investment. CyberLaw PC is experienced in the law of the Internet and can help you protect yourself from the many dangers of online commerce.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can be an effective way to get your name out, but affiliate programs are also high risk for advertisers if the affiliate markets by spamming, commits fraud or employs a range of other techniques that are not consistent with good marketing practices. Affiliate marketers themselves may need legal advice when advertisers do not pay the promised commissions or an innocent affiliate is accused of spamming or creating other electronic nuisances. No matter what the affiliate marketing concern, CyberLaw can assist online marketers or affiliates with their legal concerns.
Website Legal Audits
Did you know that you cannot collect information from children under 13 via your website? There are many laws that govern how a website can and cannot operate. In addition to law, there are "best practices" regarding your privacy policies, terms of service and other site documentation. This is all in addition to concerns about your copyright and trademark rights. CyberLaw can assist you in drafting your privacy policy and terms of service. The firm can also advise on the best practices for protecting the privacy of your visitors. Having well-written legal policies on your site can save you from a world of trouble in the future.
Online Auctions
Selling via online auctions on eBay or other sites has its share of worries. Illegitimate bidders may outbid your legitimate customers, articles may not be as described, and competitors may work to disparage your good name. Disputes often arise between the auction sites and sellers as to fees, rights, or responsibilities. CyberLaw's experience in such matters can help you come to a resolution as efficiently as possible. Contact the firm today for a free consultation about your e-commerce legal questions.
http://www.cyberlaw.pro/general/practices/e-commerce.html
Doing business on the Internet via your web site or other means can be a very efficient and profitable venture. However, there are certain dangers involved in operating online, including cyber-piracy, data protection and potential breaches, copyright infringers, trademark thieves, rogue affiliates/marketers and more. With so many possibilities for problems, knowing that you've done the legal groundwork for your business and web site is a smart investment. CyberLaw PC is experienced in the law of the Internet and can help you protect yourself from the many dangers of online commerce.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing can be an effective way to get your name out, but affiliate programs are also high risk for advertisers if the affiliate markets by spamming, commits fraud or employs a range of other techniques that are not consistent with good marketing practices. Affiliate marketers themselves may need legal advice when advertisers do not pay the promised commissions or an innocent affiliate is accused of spamming or creating other electronic nuisances. No matter what the affiliate marketing concern, CyberLaw can assist online marketers or affiliates with their legal concerns.
Website Legal Audits
Did you know that you cannot collect information from children under 13 via your website? There are many laws that govern how a website can and cannot operate. In addition to law, there are "best practices" regarding your privacy policies, terms of service and other site documentation. This is all in addition to concerns about your copyright and trademark rights. CyberLaw can assist you in drafting your privacy policy and terms of service. The firm can also advise on the best practices for protecting the privacy of your visitors. Having well-written legal policies on your site can save you from a world of trouble in the future.
Online Auctions
Selling via online auctions on eBay or other sites has its share of worries. Illegitimate bidders may outbid your legitimate customers, articles may not be as described, and competitors may work to disparage your good name. Disputes often arise between the auction sites and sellers as to fees, rights, or responsibilities. CyberLaw's experience in such matters can help you come to a resolution as efficiently as possible. Contact the firm today for a free consultation about your e-commerce legal questions.
http://www.cyberlaw.pro/general/practices/e-commerce.html
Take what you can get
'Take what you can get', investors warned
By Ed Attwood
Property investors should accept revised offers from developers rather than hang on for original real estate projects to make progress, a leading local lawyer has said.“
My advice to them would be that if a developer is offering them revised payment terms or an alternative property in another development that’s in a more advanced stage of completion – take it,” Richard Bell, an associate with Clyde & Co, told Arabian Business.
By Ed Attwood
Property investors should accept revised offers from developers rather than hang on for original real estate projects to make progress, a leading local lawyer has said.“
My advice to them would be that if a developer is offering them revised payment terms or an alternative property in another development that’s in a more advanced stage of completion – take it,” Richard Bell, an associate with Clyde & Co, told Arabian Business.
Because you’ll either get a property, or if you don’t, you are in no worse a position than you are now.”
If investors rush straight to court, there is no guarantee of success and investors will incur heavy legal fees, Bell added. He also expressed his belief that if work on the development is still proceeding, the odds of winning a court case are against the investor.
“The purchaser also needs to bear in mind that if they are given what on its face is a reasonable settlement proposal and they reject it, that could count against them in any proceeding that they bring in court,” the Clyde & Co lawyer stated.
“The other thing they can do is contact the Land Department…it can be tough and frustrating to deal with the Land Department, but if you keep at it, something may be able to be done.”
But Bell also pointed out that the current market situation was difficult for both developers and investors equally. “I make no bones about it; it’s tough for purchasers, and it’s tough for both sides of the development project,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, there’s no easy solution; you have to make the best of a difficult situation. If you can possibly negotiate with developers, do so.”
A bug's life
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/473521?ln=en
A bug's life
by Kate Concannon
This creepy quartet of bugs are out to give the approach to artificial intelligence embraced in rival robo darlings such as AIBO a run for its money. And with a retail price equivalent to only one thirty-seventh of those pricier electro-pets, it’s a run to be reckoned with.
While the traditional approach to AI relies on processors and complex programming to function as a brain and thus respond to the environment, B.I.O Bugs, on the other hand, rely on much simpler — and cheaper — computing technology.
Whilst they do contain several basic chips, they are modelled upon the breed of robots that use relatively uncomplicated elctronics circuitry to create “nervous networks”.
It is then left to these networks to develop and produce emergent, life-like behaviours. Rather like an ultra-simplified version of Steve Grand’s orang-utan baby, Lucy.
Mark Tilden, bug designer and roboticist/physicist at federal labs in New Mexico, explained his ‘brainless’ approach: “Ninety-nine percent of creatures on this planet do very well without any brain at all. I’ve tapped into how they do that.”
For robots that come cheap as chips, the bugs get up to some impressive mischief. “They’re wired to learn,” explained toy expert Chris Byrne. “You can put them in a box, and it can be stymied, then learn to climb out and it will remember the next time.”
Each of the four bug species, Predator, Acceleraider, Destroyer and Stomper, has its own special talent, and they have a penchant for fighting.
A hand controller is included so the master can impose his or her authority, but the bugs will just as happily crawl about on their own, exploring and learning. But be warned! If you ignore the bug it will give out a death scream, and if you play too rough, it plays back rougher.
A bug's life
by Kate Concannon
This creepy quartet of bugs are out to give the approach to artificial intelligence embraced in rival robo darlings such as AIBO a run for its money. And with a retail price equivalent to only one thirty-seventh of those pricier electro-pets, it’s a run to be reckoned with.
While the traditional approach to AI relies on processors and complex programming to function as a brain and thus respond to the environment, B.I.O Bugs, on the other hand, rely on much simpler — and cheaper — computing technology.
Whilst they do contain several basic chips, they are modelled upon the breed of robots that use relatively uncomplicated elctronics circuitry to create “nervous networks”.
It is then left to these networks to develop and produce emergent, life-like behaviours. Rather like an ultra-simplified version of Steve Grand’s orang-utan baby, Lucy.
Mark Tilden, bug designer and roboticist/physicist at federal labs in New Mexico, explained his ‘brainless’ approach: “Ninety-nine percent of creatures on this planet do very well without any brain at all. I’ve tapped into how they do that.”
For robots that come cheap as chips, the bugs get up to some impressive mischief. “They’re wired to learn,” explained toy expert Chris Byrne. “You can put them in a box, and it can be stymied, then learn to climb out and it will remember the next time.”
Each of the four bug species, Predator, Acceleraider, Destroyer and Stomper, has its own special talent, and they have a penchant for fighting.
A hand controller is included so the master can impose his or her authority, but the bugs will just as happily crawl about on their own, exploring and learning. But be warned! If you ignore the bug it will give out a death scream, and if you play too rough, it plays back rougher.
Friday, February 26, 2010
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