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A Computer Program That is Pure Evil
gizmodo.com ^ | 10/27/08

Posted on 10/27/2008 2:46:48 PM PDT by paudio

A group of scientists is building the world’s most evil computer program. This isn't a B-movie setup: A team at Rensselaer Institute’s AI & Reasoning Lab is bringing personified evil to virtual life in the hope that they'll unlock the secrets of human morality. The researchers have given their creation a face and a name, and quiz it daily, using its answers to further blacken its hideous character.

(Excerpt) Read more at io9.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Society
KEYWORDS: endtimes; evil; technology; thebeast
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To: paudio
A group of scientists is building the world’s most evil computer program. This isn't a B-movie setup: A team at Rensselaer Institute’s AI & Reasoning Lab is bringing personified evil to virtual life in the hope that they'll unlock the secrets of human morality

A lot of effort being spent to understand evil. Wouldn't it be easier to interview a democrat? (Say Joe Biden?)

61 posted on 10/27/2008 4:27:17 PM PDT by mlocher (USA is a sovereign nation)
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To: flintsilver7
Simplicity is not necessarily the best design criterion in software development. Modularity, rather, is what’s best. You want to start small and allow the user a great degree of customizability, minimizing the degree of bloat.

Simplicity is the surest sign of genius. Complexity, such as providing highly customizable features, is a sign the designer had no clue so threw in everything to let the user sort out.

62 posted on 10/27/2008 4:58:33 PM PDT by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: paudio

They named it the Beast I take it?


63 posted on 10/27/2008 5:02:13 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: MeanWestTexan
"Take Ted Bundy, for example. Pure evil. Also a pretty boy, slick, and charming"

But when he thinks no one's looking


64 posted on 10/27/2008 7:14:31 PM PDT by Goonch (Bagarius "goonch” Yarrelli - my friends call me Goonch)
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To: Reeses

That’s not true at all. With the vast majority of software packages, customizability (providing the user with options) is a good avenue for development. It’s more work for the developer and the benefit is to the user. Of course, this is especially true of an operating system. These days what’s “included” with an operating system is a gigantic gray area, so letting the user pick and choose is ideal from the user’s perspective.

I’m guessing you’re not a software developer, because one thing you absolutely cannot do is dictate to the user what your software will do. That is just not how it works.


65 posted on 10/27/2008 7:18:03 PM PDT by flintsilver7
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To: paudio
A group of scientists is building the world’s most evil computer program.

The project was abandoned after they got a nastygram from Microsoft IP lawyers.

66 posted on 10/27/2008 9:28:07 PM PDT by steve-b (Intelligent design is to evolutionary biology what socialism is to free-market economics.)
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To: flintsilver7
I’m guessing you’re not a software developer, because one thing you absolutely cannot do is dictate to the user what your software will do. That is just not how it works.

I'm a business software developer. The end-user is not a professional software designer. If you let them do the design work because you don't really understand their job you end up with an amateur system. Users prefer a well thought out professionally crafted simple design, one where the developer took the time to understand the user's job rather than played with bells and whistles all day. I have seen many projects spiral out of control, such as $20 million sunk into a project that took 7 years, failed to meet any deadlines, failed to deliver anything the user wanted, and had terrible performance. It's all because they took their eye off the ball of keeping it simple. It's because the software developers were clueless and everyone would be better off if they found a new profession.

67 posted on 10/28/2008 4:21:44 AM PDT by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: flintsilver7
Compare Yahoo vs. Google over the years. Can you see Yahoo going off the rails?


68 posted on 10/28/2008 4:31:25 AM PDT by Reeses (Leftism is powered by the evil force of envy.)
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To: ArrogantBustard

"Hmmmmm...I don't think he looks so creepy."

69 posted on 10/28/2008 7:25:37 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Jesus didn't tap out. +)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
ROFL!!!!

I have a general "rule" of refusing to watch any show that has a laugh-track.

Night Court was one of the very few exceptions to that rule.

70 posted on 10/28/2008 7:31:46 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: ArrogantBustard

Plus that killer bass line and blues guitar rift in the opening theme song was a real hook.


71 posted on 10/28/2008 7:34:15 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Jesus didn't tap out. +)
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To: Reeses

I didn’t say you let users design the software. Software developers design the software. Users dictate the requirements, which is an entirely separate phase. You’re free to go back and forth with the customer on the requirements, but if the customer says they want features X, Y, and Z, you can either deliver it to them in the simplest and most effective way you see fit (that’s the design portion) or renegotiate the terms of the deal.

Users, for example, might want something so complex from a software perspective that it is impractical. You can go back and forth and say “well, if you want me to do this, then my development cycle is going to be extended, and it will cost $X dollars more than the original agreement.” I’m not saying the user designs the software, but if the user says I want the software to do X, Y, and Z and you as a software developer say I went ahead and didn’t include features X, Y, and Z so it would be simpler you wouldn’t be long employed.

Your Google and Yahoo! examples are noted, but you might also realize they don’t serve the same crowds. Google is almost exclusively a search engine whereas Yahoo! does much more than that.


72 posted on 10/28/2008 4:37:14 PM PDT by flintsilver7
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To: paudio
It's called Operational Beezulbub Animated Mimicing Application.
73 posted on 10/28/2008 4:46:02 PM PDT by CougarGA7 (Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.)
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To: Jeff F

Shawn Robert Adolf.
Quite a name for a skinhead!!

The white version of Rev Wright!!


74 posted on 10/28/2008 4:49:16 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Flush Obama/Biden in 2008!!!!)
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To: JRios1968

“Did you catch a DELICIOUS bass?”

Napoleon, don’t be jealous that I’ve been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I’m training to be a cage fighter.


75 posted on 10/28/2008 4:52:04 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Flush Obama/Biden in 2008!!!!)
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To: Jeff F
From a long line of cousin F’ers?
76 posted on 10/28/2008 4:54:33 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit.)
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