Just Because…. A Short Witter About AI….. There’s Always Some Archaeology….or…nearly always….
by Bernie Bell - 08:42 on 25 November 2022
Just Because….
I’ve never seen a Woodcock doing this, and it’s bloody brilliant! Thanks to Malcolm Gamble for sending it to Orkney Wildlife Facebook page….
https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/133013273445588/?mibextid=HsNCOg
Woodcock, Southbank, Stronsay, 23 Nov 22 (photo credit Ross Goodwin).
********************************************************************
A Short Witter about AI…..
Having posted this article as the ‘one I made earlier’ to my last blog... https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/06/20/artificial-intelligence/, set me off thinking about AI again…
We recently went for a cuppa with someone we know who has a Siri… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siri in his kitchen. A little, innocuous looking round thing in the corner - lurking – waiting for us to speak the magic words …’Hey Siri’.
I’d never come across one in real-life – the telly adverts always make me wonder why anyone would let a thing like that into their house. Siri’s owner – if that’s the right word - showed us what it can do – playing music on demand – Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ straight away – right there – filling the room. Can’t complain about that!
Then ….‘What is the weather doing in Stromness today?’ A human might have answered – stick your head out the door and find out.
The music idea was appealing but I like to look along the rows of C.D.’s (yes, we still play C.D.’s) and choose what I feel like listening to - a whole album, the older ones carefully put together in a play-list by the artist. https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/07/10/c-d-s/
We got talking about different aspects of Siri – I asked how it is with accents. I have a Yorkshire accent, and the number of times I have to ‘talk posh’ to get a word recognized on automated telephone do-da’s. Talking Yorkshire I say ‘Wun’ - the goddam machine makes me turn into someone I’m not and say ‘Wan’.
I was reminded of the ‘Big Bang Theory’ episode where Raj has a crush on Siri …….how close is it to reality for some folk? Comedy works best when it’s recognizable – nearly real….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GvItvuujh8
And, the idea that ‘s/he’ will comply with anything you want…v. questionable….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-SVvtxHJGU
Trouble is – Raj can’t talk to women – so he can’t talk to Siri when she ‘comes out of the ‘phone’ - Eh??????????
I didn’t like it – it gave me the creps, Luddite that I am. Later, I wished that I’d thought to ask …”Siri – how do you feel today?”. What happens if someone does that? Does it blow a gasket? Or does it say ….”I’m fine thank you, how are you?” …..which would be even more creepy.
I couldn’t help feeling that it was….listening.
That might be because ...it is.
*******************************************************************
There’s Always Some Archaeology….or…nearly always….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09CLsyzSilQ
Which reminded me of when Mike and I visited North Ronaldsay and, near the lighthouse at the ‘top’ of the island https://theorkneynews.scot/2017/09/11/bernie-bell-a-visit-to-north-ronaldsay/ , saw planticrus which remain from the days of the kelp processing industry there….you can see them in Rebecca Marr’s film ‘Tangled: a short social history of seaweed in North Ronaldsay.’….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDyJWZHC7kE
I just like the shapes of it…
********************************************************************
Here’s one I made earlier….. https://theorkneynews.scot/2019/06/24/the-birds-of-marwick-head/
Add your comment
