AlphaDog... Robotic, Smart Horse

This post is an excerpt from AlphaDog Is the New Generation of the Creepiest Robot Ever.

This is AlphaDog, the next generation of BigDog, the creepiest and most awesome quadruped robot of all time. The thing is now smarter and can stand up on its own when it's down. Like a real horse.

Which is exactly what it looks and sounds like. A robotic, creepy version of a horse that can be kicked and pushed without falling down.

Awesome mini robots on Youtube

This post is an excerpt from Robot Birds and Octoroaches On The Loose at UC Berkeley.

No matter how fancy and complicated we make robots, nature always has us beat. Is there anything more capable, more efficient, and more utterly indestructible than a cockroach? Of course not. Not yet, anyway.

UC Berkeley's Biomimetic Millisystems Lab is trying to harness all the cleverness of birds and insects to create an entirely new generation of little robots with insect-like capabilities, and one of their most recent creations is called "Octoroach." OCTOROACH!

Top Collaboration Tools for Everything

This post is an excerpt from My Favorite Collaboration Apps.

• Teamviewer
  tops this list because of its versatility in everything from desktop
  sharing (even through firewalls) to browser-based presentations. The app
  is free to all non-commercial users and well worth the cost (a one time
  fee for as low as $750) for many business users, considering it also
  provides simple click connections between team partners and secure
  instant messaging. A very comprehensive tool that's incredibly easy to
  use.
  
  
• Crocodoc
  allows you and your collaborators to add comments, drawings, doodles,
  highlights, and other markups to Word documents, PowerPoint
  presentations, images (photo or graphic), PDF forms and other documents.
  You can embed documents on a website or blog or simply share them
  privately. Documents are displayed in your browser and no Flash or
  plugins are required. Files can be password protected and encrypted, all
  free of charge.
  
  
• Creately makes
  online diagramming and design work easy. You and collaborators can use
  it for flowcharts, UI mockups, UML diagrams, network and rack diagrams,
  wireframes, mind maps, chemistry lab diagrams, fishbones, organization
  charts and SWOT tables, to name but a few. It has an extensive library
  of object sets and templates that make the highly intuitive effort even
  easier. The personal version is free for sharing up to five diagrams,
  and fees start for as low as $5 per month per user.
  
  
• Cozimo
  allows creative teams to collaborate on images, documents and videos.
  Its synchronized video feature keeps all the editors and collaborators
  perfectly synched in real-time. You can draw directly on the images,
  leave post-it like comments, and easily access the automated project
  tracking to stay up-to-date on changes and communications. It works in
  any flash-related browser. Its one of the few apps that allows you to
  work easily with multi-page PDFs and vector rendering for Adobe
  Illustrator and CAD files. The personal version is free, and paid
  versions start at $29 per month.
  
  
• Onehub is a
  great file sharing app that excels in sending, receiving and tracking
  large file transfers. Invitation and comment emails can be branded
  either to reflect the company or the project's name. The app sends email
  as directed by users to invite new collaborators, share comments on
  items, post a new message, or simply to disseminate daily notifications.
  Virtual workspaces can be easily customized. Users typically set up one
  work space pre project or department but workspaces can be used in any
  way that works for the user. The free version includes 2 GB of storage
  and paid plans start at $29 per month.
  
  
• Wizehive Project Management provides
  private workspaces, file sharing, and detail and activity tracking. It
  works very well with projects that have lots of participants and tons of
  details to worry about. Additional tools are offered to help with
  specific project verticals, i.e. contests, scholarships, and grants. The
  free version includes three workspaces, and paid plans start at $24 per
  month.

The state of Hacking & crime

Studio Schools: What a concept

Plagiarism Checker

http://www.plagiarismchecker.com/

PlagiarismChecker.com allows you to search for several phrases from a student's paper at the same time without having to type quotation marks or special operators, which most search engines require if you're trying to look for exact copies of a student's writing. This site automatically adds the quotation marks and special operators for you.
Other plagiarism detection services are available, but some only work if you buy subscriptions. Most of these services also require students to turn their papers in through a Web site, which is difficult for students who do not have access to the Internet. PlagiarismChecker.com is free and works on any papers, whether students e-mail them to you or turn in hard copies.