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Why I’m Suing the US Government

bunniestudios.com

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Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#151

Post by ggambetta »

DoubleGlazing wrote: post #94

Good. My wife is a speech therapist and uses a system that is designed to help people who have had strokes regain their voice. It comprises a piece of software that comes with a "specially calibrated USB microphone". The microphone is actually a Samson laptop USB mic that had the voice improvement systems logo stuck on it. The system came with lots of legal warnings about not copying, not telling unqualified people a…

Would be easier to do a hex search on the binaries, find the device id of the old mic, and patch in the device id of the new mic. I'd be surprised if they had bothered to obfuscate the id in any way.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#152

Post by gohrt »

coldtea wrote: post #61
gthtjtkt wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What happens when some maniac changes the software to make autopilot into full self driving, then plows into a minivan on its way to Little League practice? We can't let these hypothetical worst-case scenarios be an excuse to stifle innovation. What happens if we let people modify their microwaves and a terrorist uses his to give kids cancer!?!? What if we let people tinker with their toasters and somebody uses one…

> We can't let these hypothetical worst-case scenarios be an excuse to stifle innovation. Well, given that the Earth could be wiped out at any moment with the nuclear weapons and stuff we stockpiled, long term this idea might prove to be laughably wrong.

That's not how nuclear weapons work.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#153

Post by DoubleGlazing »

safeignorance wrote: post #132
toomuchtodo wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much do you think it'd cost to replicate the software as an open source tool? I've written grants before for funding open source projects, and this anecdote boils my blood.

Taking on Pearson and other companies that use similarly predatory tactics to extract value from society's most disadvantaged is exactly the sort of "disruption" that the world needs more of. That said, I doubt one could go at it alone with no support or with only a grant -- building up mind share, fighting off BS patent threats, and doing enough sales to break even on these non-development costs aren't the sort of t…

I agree.

I mentioned Owls above. You wont believe what it is... just clipart in a nice easel book form. I'm not joking, its just page after page of clipart, accompanied by a manual and 20 page copyright warning booklet.

The thing is Pearson has convinced governments, schools, charities, hospitals etc that this system is the best way to diagnose speech issues. My wife and a lot of her colleagues would beg to differ.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#154

Post by coldtea »

gohrt wrote: post #152
coldtea wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We can't let these hypothetical worst-case scenarios be an excuse to stifle innovation. Well, given that the Earth could be wiped out at any moment with the nuclear weapons and stuff we stockpiled, long term this idea might prove to be laughably wrong.

That's not how nuclear weapons work.

Care to elaborate? Because that's exactly how they work.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#155

Post by gohrt »

Dylan16807 wrote: post #113
mountaineer22 wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about cooking the marrow in bone?

If that's not a weird joke, I really want to hear why you think marrow is going to absorb more microwaves than any other part of your body. Because it won't, it's an overall heat like sitting in a sauna. At low power it's warm, past that it's unpleasant, past that you have heat stroke.

bone marrow is one of the parts of the body that has high water content and thus would heat faster than others under radiation.

Sauna heat does not preferentially target liquid for heating.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#156

Post by DoubleGlazing »

icefo wrote: post #135
DoubleGlazing wrote: post #94

Good. My wife is a speech therapist and uses a system that is designed to help people who have had strokes regain their voice. It comprises a piece of software that comes with a "specially calibrated USB microphone". The microphone is actually a Samson laptop USB mic that had the voice improvement systems logo stuck on it. The system came with lots of legal warnings about not copying, not telling unqualified people a…

I think you should copy the USB device ID. If the software only rely on that and the mic fail again I'm pretty sure there is a way to make the software believe it's talking to the old mic with that.

I did consider that but I didn't want to take the risk of messing things up even further. I figured the cartridge exchange was a safer option.

Incidentally when I called Samson support looking to buy a specific model revision I told them what the mic was used for. When I mentioned it was for people shouting mouth open wide at the top of their voice the support rep said "But that mic is for stuff like Skype and maybe recording a little bit of singing not for shouting at".

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#157

Post by DoubleGlazing »

ggambetta wrote: post #151
DoubleGlazing wrote: post #94

Good. My wife is a speech therapist and uses a system that is designed to help people who have had strokes regain their voice. It comprises a piece of software that comes with a "specially calibrated USB microphone". The microphone is actually a Samson laptop USB mic that had the voice improvement systems logo stuck on it. The system came with lots of legal warnings about not copying, not telling unqualified people a…

Would be easier to do a hex search on the binaries, find the device id of the old mic, and patch in the device id of the new mic. I'd be surprised if they had bothered to obfuscate the id in any way.

Now you mention it I feel like I overlooked the obvious solution.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#158

Post by dimal »

blastrat wrote: post #142

yes I agree, and also, what? why should PP's question be downvoted-to-hell?: He's entitled to defend the other side here. Not saying you did it, but I had to comment someplace.

> HN is a weird place to bemoan prices when many here are seeking unicorn valuations while disrupting industry.

I think the insulting tone towards those that disagree with him might have something to do with it. And the above statement is just plain absurd.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#159

Post by nitrogen »

hiram112 wrote: post #148
ProAm wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much does your wife charge as a therapist? Everyone needs to make money. HN is a weird place to bemoan prices when many here are seeking unicorn valuations while disrupting industry. Everyone hates laws until its in their best interest to have said laws.

Though I don't necessarily agree with you, I'll upvote you as I think you bring up a good counterpoint that's not being discussed. It's possible that this company's business plan assumed the replacement by obsolescence model - instead of a high upfront cost to recoup their R&D, they expected users to replace it every few years at full cost. This is no different than the vast majority of the bait & switch type schemes…

No customer is or should be obligated to make obeisance to a company's "sacred" business model.

Re: Why I’m Suing the US Government

#160

Post by Dylan16807 »

gohrt wrote: post #155
Dylan16807 wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that's not a weird joke, I really want to hear why you think marrow is going to absorb more microwaves than any other part of your body. Because it won't, it's an overall heat like sitting in a sauna. At low power it's warm, past that it's unpleasant, past that you have heat stroke.

bone marrow is one of the parts of the body that has high water content and thus would heat faster than others under radiation. Sauna heat does not preferentially target liquid for heating.

Almost all of your body is high water content, and the heat will easily conduct the last little bit.

By the time you have to worry about specific non-brain parts being overheated, your overall temperature is such that you're braindead.

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