Organized Subject Areas in Science + Tech
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Questions and Answers

Who is Thomas Phinney?

A font detective and forensic font expert.

What are the two types of forensic cases Phinney categorizes?

  • Complex and Simple
  • Digital and Print
  • Nefarious and Stupidly Tiny (correct)
  • Classic and Modern

    • Amazon Go stores require customers to use cash to make purchases.

    False

    What technology is used in Amazon Go stores?

    <p>Computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The origin of barcodes can be traced back to Miami, Ohio.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which company introduced the first automated checkstands?

    <p>Kroger</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Google’s Magic Editor?

    <p>To allow complex photo edits using AI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The main focus of AI image enhancement is to improve the quality of __________.

    <p>images</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main types of AI image enhancement?

    <p>Super-resolution and Denoising</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)?

    <p>A type of artificial neural network used for image recognition and processing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of explanatory journalism?

    <p>Delving deeper into stories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major restructuring occurred at Apple in 1985?

    <p>Steve Jobs was laid off as part of a corporate reorganization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which company rebranded itself as 'Meta'?

    <p>Facebook</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'pivot to video' indicates a trend of increasing staff for written content.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the Three Laws of Robotics proposed by Isaac Asimov?

    <ol> <li>A robot may not injure a human being or allow a human to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey orders given by humans unless it conflicts with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence unless it conflicts with the First or Second Law.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

    In 2024, OpenAI transitioned from a _____ model to a fully for-profit structure.

    <p>capped-profit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'both-sidesism' describe in journalism?

    <p>Presenting an issue as more equal than it truly is</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following brands successfully dropped 'Donuts' from its name in rebranding?

    <p>Dunkin'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is known for the phrase '24-hour news cycle'?

    <p>This phrase refers to the constant updating of news and is commonly used in media discussions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the rebranding of Air India by Tata Group?

    <p>A new logo and branding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary use of the Lambert Projection?

    <p>Mapping polar regions and air navigation charts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which projection is commonly used for nautical navigation?

    <p>Mercator Projection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the Robinson Projection?

    <p>It minimizes excessive distortion of area, shape, distance, or direction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Winkel Tripel Projection minimize?

    <p>Distortion in area, direction, and distance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique approach does the Authagraph Projection use?

    <p>Projects the globe onto a tetrahedron and then unfolds it into a rectangle.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Are Miller Projections best for high-latitude regions?

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which projection would be ideal for air route maps?

    <p>Azimuthal (equidistant) Projection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant image did astronauts take in 1972?

    <p>The Blue Marble.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Carl Sagan refer to Earth as in his description of the Pale Blue Dot?

    <p>A mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was sentenced to over ___ years in prison for fraud.

    <p>11</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happened to the company Luckin Coffee?

    <p>It fabricated sales data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is reverse engineering?

    <p>The process of disassembling and analyzing components to understand design and functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Jailbreaking allows users to gain full access to the operating system of their devices.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the company with their respective issues:

    <p>Theranos = Fraudulent health technology claims Nikola = Misleading investors about technology Luckin Coffee = Fabricating sales data FTX = Liquidity crisis and mismanagement of funds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Hackintosh?

    <p>A non-Apple computer running macOS</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Aftermarket cartridges offer better quality than OEM products.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does DeCSS stand for?

    <p>Content Scramble System</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is AACS used for?

    <p>Digital rights management for Blu-ray</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main concern with using youtube-dl?

    <p>It raises legal and ethical questions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A non-Apple computer that can run macOS is known as a ______.

    <p>Hackintosh</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of Calibri as the new default font?

    <p>To enhance accessibility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The AI duplicate is always the more authentic version of a person.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one criticism of QR code menus?

    <p>They provide a less engaging experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the projected number of internet-connected devices by 2030?

    <p>Over 50 billion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    DeCSS was created to enable playback of DVD movies on ______.

    <p>Linux-based systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is object detection in computer vision?

    <p>A technique used to locate instances of objects in photos or videos.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is semantic segmentation?

    <p>A computer vision task that categorizes each pixel in an image into a class or object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Tencent's initiative in relation to old Chinese opera?

    <p>Revitalize recordings of the original opera</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant discovery was made about Richard III in 2012?

    <p>His remains were found under a parking lot.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Richard III had a condition known as ______.

    <p>scoliosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What historical region is described as a trade crossroads between India, Central Asia, and the Middle East?

    <p>Gandhara</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ancient artifacts were found at the Buddhist temple unearthed in Pakistan?

    <p>Coins, jewellery, statues, seals, and pottery fragments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The footprints found in New South Wales belong to a faster runner than Usain Bolt.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major discovery did the Girsu Project make?

    <p>They discovered an ancient palace and cuneiform tablets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Vesuvius Challenge focused on?

    <p>Decoding ancient scrolls from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What service allows people to chat with historical figures?

    <p>Character.AI</p> Signup and view all the answers

    William Shatner has allowed the creation of an AI model based on his likeness.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Super Brain offers a service to recreate deceased loved ones as AI chatbots.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ethical concerns are associated with AI technology recreating deceased individuals?

    <p>Potential exacerbation of grief and difficulty in moving on.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What themes are explored in Ray Bradbury's short story 'The Veldt'?

    <p>Redundancy, discipline, and the impact of technology on family dynamics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the implications of the Star Trek Transporter technology?

    <p>It replicates individuals at the destination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following devices can track your personal information?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Smart home assistants have complete transparency about the data they collect.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR)?

    <p>To request the organization that collects your data to provide information about it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the concerns regarding Internet of Things (IoT) devices when cloud services are discontinued?

    <p>They often become unusable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should manufacturers do to help consumers maintain their IoT devices?

    <p>Release device specifications and support alternative firmware.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What sparked controversy regarding Imran Khan's victory speech?

    <p>It was delivered via an AI-generated voice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The internet shutdowns during the recent election in Pakistan were aimed at ensuring a fair electoral process.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What competition did Boris Eldagsen's AI-generated photo win?

    <p>Sony World Photography arts competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Boris Eldagsen's photo was titled ______.

    <p>The Electrician</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term does Eldagsen propose for AI-generated images?

    <p>Promptography.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the public's reaction to the casting decision of Richard III at the Globe Theatre?

    <p>They protested against the casting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Organized Subject Areas

    • Excludes Special Area, uncertainty expressed by WSC officials.
    • Quick demand completion may lead to inaccuracies; all sections should be reviewed.

    Forensic Font Expert: Thomas Phinney

    • Initial case involved the suspected forgery of a document using pixel counting and a digital microscope.
    • The case "The Reprehensible Rabbi" highlighted issues with timing of font availability.
    • Phinney shifted to font forensics full-time in 2018, facing challenges but retaining passion for typography.
    • Cases categorized as "Nefarious" (ill-intentions) and "Stupidly Tiny" (quirky font requirement issues).
    • Emphasizes the importance of fonts in branding and marketing; font selection can shape consumer perception.
    • Provides career advice promoting the pursuit of personal passions despite uncertainties.

    Self-Checkout Machines Reassessment

    • Growing backlash against self-checkout technology; retailers reconsidering reliance on these systems.
    • Walmart, Costco, and Booths are among major retailers adjusting their self-checkout strategies.
    • Initial introduction aimed to minimize labor costs but has led to increased shoplifting incidents, termed "shrink."
    • Statistics indicate shoplifting costs at self-checkouts are double the industry standard.
    • Retailers like Costco are reverting to more staffed checkouts to combat inefficiencies in self-service.

    Barcode Development

    • Barcodes originated in Troy, Ohio, with Joe Woodland inspired by Morse code as part of his design.
    • First barcode scanned was a pack of Juicy Fruit gum in 1974.
    • The introduction of lasers in the 1960s facilitated barcode applications, previously unanticipated.
    • Universal Product Code (UPC) system developed in the early 1970s led to mass adoption by retailers.
    • Recognition for Woodland’s contributions includes the National Medal of Technology awarded by George H.W. Bush.

    Amazon Go Stores

    • Operate on a "just walk out" model, utilizing advanced technologies like computer vision and deep learning.
    • Seamless inventory tracking ensures customers' carts are automatically updated.
    • Customers require an Amazon Go account to enter stores, utilizing QR codes for access.
    • Digital receipts are provided based on items picked up, enhancing shopping efficiency.

    AI in Photo Enhancement

    • Google Pixel 8 introduces Magic Editor, allowing users to perform complex edits easily.
    • Ethical concerns about authenticity arise with AI-enhanced images, potentially leading to misinformation.
    • New tools like Galaxy Enhance-X utilize AI for photo improvements such as noise reduction and resolution enhancement.
    • AI enhances images faster and more accurately than traditional methods, relying on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs).

    AI Image Enhancement Techniques

    • Upscaling involves increasing image resolution while maintaining details; denoising reduces noise artifacts.
    • Convolutional Neural Networks are crucial for processing images and learning from diverse datasets.
    • Backpropagation method optimizes CNN performance by adjusting weights based on error minimization.

    Revitalization of Cultural Heritage with AI

    • Tencent's efforts enhance old Chinese opera video recordings using AI to restore visuals and audio quality.
    • The initiative aims to preserve cultural heritage and increase accessibility to traditional performances.
    • Collaborations with cultural ministries seek to create a digital library for sharing restored content.### Richard III's Burial
    • Richard III died in 1485, initially believed to be buried at Greyfriars Church.
    • Rediscovered in 2012 under a parking lot in Leicester by archaeologists using historical maps.
    • Confirmed through DNA analysis; physical examination revealed he had scoliosis.
    • Remains were reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015 to preserve history for future generations.

    Ancient Buddhist Temple in Pakistan

    • Discovery in 2022 in Gandhara, a key cultural intersection for ancient India, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
    • Site features artefacts such as coins, jewelry, and pottery, believed to have been abandoned due to an earthquake around the 3rd century CE.
    • Layout included various structures for Buddhist worship and monk activities.

    Fastest Human Footprint Discovery

    • Footprints found in Mungo National Park, Australia, created around 20,000 years ago, possibly belonging to one of the fastest humans.
    • A running speed of 37 km/h recorded from a barefoot Aboriginal hunter, comparable to Usain Bolt's speed.
    • Footprints preserved due to drying swamp conditions, showcasing family and community movement patterns.

    Girsu Project

    • Research and heritage management initiative focused on Girsu, one of the oldest cities, located in modern-day Iraq.
    • Identified subsurface remains using drone technology; significant findings included cuneiform tablets and ancient temple structures.
    • Recoveries contribute to understanding the Sumerian civilization, particularly the Eninnu Temple dedicated to the god Ningirsu.

    Vesuvius Challenge and AI Decoding

    • Groundbreaking achievement in 2024 led to the successful decoding of ancient papyrus scrolls using AI technology, backed by Elon Musk.
    • Project aimed at interpreting text from scrolls that were buried and destroyed during Mount Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD.

    AI Chatbots and Historical Figures

    • Character.AI allows users to engage with simulated historical figures and deceased individuals for entertainment, raising ethical considerations.
    • William Shatner approved the creation of an AI model of himself for posthumous use, emphasizing control and compensation for his family.
    • Super Brain, a Chinese company, offers AI-driven recreations of deceased loved ones, sparking debates on the implications of technology in grief.

    Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt"

    • Short story explores themes of technological overreliance, family dynamics, and dystopia in a fully automated home.
    • Highlights parental redundancy and the erosion of emotional connections due to technology's convenience.
    • Serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of technology in shaping human relationships.

    Star Trek Technologies

    • Transporter: Controversial technology raises existential debates about identity and consciousness during transportation.
    • Replicator: Feasible technology that creates objects from recycled matter; concerns over replication of hazardous materials.
    • Holodeck: Combines holography with matter technology to create immersive environments; incidents highlight ethical concerns regarding safety.

    Shifts in News Media

    • Investigative comedy, exemplified by John Oliver, uses humor to present news topics, influencing public opinions and interpretations.
    • 24-hour news cycle keeps information continuously updated, impacting consumption and presentation.
    • Pivot to video emphasizes video content over text, primarily driven by advertising strategies, leading to layoffs in written journalism.
    • Explanatory journalism aids readers in understanding complex issues beyond surface-level reporting.

    Corporate Restructuring Examples

    • Apple's 1985 Restructuring: Steve Jobs ousted and Apple's operations consolidated, leading to significant layoffs.
    • 2015 Alphabet Formation: Google restructured to form a holding company, separating core services from other ventures to enhance focus and management efficiency.### Corporate Restructuring and Rebranding
    • Diverse project management and improved investor transparency often drive corporate restructuring efforts.
    • Facebook rebranded as Meta Platforms Inc. in October 2021 to focus on building the metaverse, showcasing investments in AR/VR technologies.
    • Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022, initiating major operational changes and rebranding it to "X" in July 2023, aiming to evolve into a super app offering multiple services.
    • Netflix attempted to split its DVD rental service into a separate entity named Qwikster in 2011, but this was quickly reversed due to customer uproar, emphasizing the importance of streaming.
    • Uber went public in 2019 facing challenges related to regulations and profitability, leading to operational restructuring, including divesting from food delivery in certain markets.
    • OpenAI transitioned to a fully for-profit model in 2024 to attract significant investment and enhance AI research capabilities, aiming to compete with larger tech companies.

    Apple’s Non-Conventional Structure

    • Apple operates under a functional structure, forgoing the traditional multi-divisional organization seen in large companies.
    • This structure enables experts in specific domains to make decisions, enhancing agility and expertise-driven governance.
    • Competes in rapidly changing tech markets, relying on the knowledge and intuition of key personnel rather than a more standardized management structure.

    Isaac Asimov: Contributions and Legacy

    • Born on January 2, 1920, Asimov was a pivotal figure in 20th-century science fiction and non-fiction writing.
    • Early interest in science fiction developed in Brooklyn, where he later sold his first story at age 18 and pursued scientific academia at Columbia University.
    • Notable works include the "Foundation" series, exploring themes of societal evolution and governance, and the "Robot" series, introducing the famous Three Laws of Robotics.
    • Three Laws of Robotics encapsulate ethical considerations in AI and robotics:
      • First: No harm to humans.
      • Second: Obey human orders unless it causes harm.
      • Third: Protect its own existence as long as it doesn’t conflict with the first two laws.
    • Asimov’s non-fiction work made science accessible to the public, earning him multiple Hugo and Nebula awards.

    The Role of Rebranding

    • Rebranding serves to change public perception while the core offerings may remain the same.
    • Dunkin' removed "Donuts" from its name in 2018 to broaden its market appeal toward coffee and beverages.
    • T-Mobile's "Un-carrier" strategy focuses on unconventional marketing to attract dissatisfied customers, successfully enhancing brand loyalty.
    • Pringles modernized its logo in 2020, updating its image while keeping the product consistent and familiar.
    • The Gap faced backlash for changing its iconic logo in 2010, illustrating the necessity of aligning rebranding efforts with customer sentiment.

    Earth Projections and Perception

    • Various map projections exist, each with unique characteristics and applications:
      • Stereographic: Conformal projection used for polar regions.
      • Mercator: Preserves angles but distorts size, suitable for navigation.
      • Robinson: Balance between distortion types, often used for world maps.
      • Winkel Tripel: Decreases distortion for area, direction, and distance, favored for visuals.
      • Goode’s Homolosine: Minimizes area distortion for world maps but interrupts landmasses.
    • Historical shifts in understanding Earth's appearance were altered by iconic photographs, such as the "Blue Marble" taken during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

    Carl Sagan's Contributions

    • In 1990, Voyager 1 captured the "Pale Blue Dot," emphasizing Earth's fragility and our place in the vast universe.
    • Sagan's reflection on humanity's existence urges consideration of our significance within the context of the cosmos.

    Technological Crime Prevention

    • Technology can replace human enforcement in reducing specific crimes, such as fare evasion in public transport systems.
    • The discussion raises ethical questions regarding the balance of enforcement and user freedom, suggesting there may be benefits to allowing some minor infractions.

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    Description

    This quiz focuses on the various organized subject areas within the domains of science and technology. It highlights essential notes and emphasizes the need for a thorough review of the sections presented. Prepare to dive deep into the primary subjects that interest you the most.

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