Research: People aren’t smart enough for democracy to flourish

people aren't smart enough

Incompetent people are inherently unable to judge the competence of other people.

The democratic process relies on the assumption that citizens (the majority of them, at least) can recognize the best political candidate, or best policy idea, when they see it. But a growing body of research has revealed an unfortunate aspect of the human psyche that would seem to disprove this notion, and imply instead that democratic elections produce mediocre leadership and policies.

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Firefox add-on Collusion shows you who’s spying on you online in blow against Google’s new snooping policy

firefox

Firefox is the world’s second most popular web browser after Internet Explorer.

The maker of Firefox, Mozilla, has unveiled a new add-on for the popular web browser that gives web users an instant view of which companies are ‘watching’ them as they browse.

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Futuristic speech-jamming gun immediately silences you whether you like it or not

crazy-sound-gun

This delayed auditory feedback device makes it all but impossible for a human to speak.

Humans have been inventing new uses for guns ever since the first one was invented.  Some guns shoot bullets; other guns shoot lasers. But a new gun that is a little strange and unsettling is being developed by Japanese researchers.  The new gun shoots sound waves in an effort to disrupt and silence anyone who dares speak out of turn.

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Flying robot quadrotors perform James Bond Theme

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sUeGC-8dyk&hd=1[/youtube]

Flying robot quadrotors perform the James Bond Theme by playing various instruments including the keyboard, drums and maracas, a cymbal, and the debut of an adapted guitar built from a couch frame. The quadrotors play this “couch guitar” by flying over guitar strings stretched across a couch frame; plucking the strings with a stiff wire attached to the base of the quadrotor. A special microphone attached to the frame records the notes made by the “couch guitar”.

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Bring a patent office to Colorado petition

Denver-546

Colorado’s savvy entrepreneurs and highly skilled workforce make it a perfect location for a new satellite patent office.

Colorado is a hub for economic innovation. Colorado has some of the most savvy entrepreneurs, a highly skilled workforce and an array of top-tier research institutions that help make Colorado a place where innovation thrives.

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U.S. Department of Defense wants more control over the internet

defense dept. internet

The U.S. government says it must govern Internet technology more closely to protect against cyberattacks.

The research that led to the internet may have been funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, but freewheeling innovation created the patchwork of privately owned technology that makes up the Internet today. Now the U.S. government is trying to wrest back some control, as it adjusts to an era when cyberattacks on U.S. corporations and government agencies are common.

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What can Pinterest do that Facebook can’t?

pinterest-computer

Pinterest had nearly 12 million unique visitors in January, 2012.

When you walk into a teenage girl’s bedroom what would you see on the walls?  Probably pictures torn from magazines, drawings, maybe inspirational quotes.  If you transform that visual collage into a social media site, and you have Pinterest.  The site launched in 2011 and has really taken off with nearly 12 million unique visitors in January, 2012, and its membership has been accelerated by Facebook tie-ins that show your friends’ Pinterest activity.

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Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.