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Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

devblogs.microsoft.com

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Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#11

Post by vlovich123 »

> And of course, no story about natural resonant frequencies can pass without a reference to the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.¹

Yes it can because it turns out it wasn't an issue with resonant frequencies & it's just promulgating an incorrect (but catchy) story.

> Just four months later, under the right wind conditions, the bridge was driven at its resonant frequency, causing it to oscillate and twist uncontrollably. After undulating for over an hour, the middle section collapsed, and the bridge was destroyed. It was a testimony to the power of resonance, and has been used as a classic example in physics and engineering classes across the country ever since. Unfortunately, the story is a complete myth.

> You can calculate what the resonant frequency of the bridge would be, and there was nothing driving at that frequency. All you had was a sustained, strong wind. In fact, the bridge itself wasn't undulating at its resonant frequency at all!

I recommend reading the article but the long & short is it's something called "flutter" and they even have a video of the problem.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/05/24/scie...

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#12

Post by jdiff »

vlovich123 wrote: post #11

> And of course, no story about natural resonant frequencies can pass without a reference to the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.¹ Yes it can because it turns out it wasn't an issue with resonant frequencies & it's just promulgating an incorrect (but catchy) story. > Just four months later, under the right wind conditions, the bridge was driven at its resonant frequency, causing it to oscillate and twis…

There's a footnote indicated by the superscript 1 in your quote:

> ¹ Follow-up 2: Yes, I know that the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse was not the result of resonance, but I felt I had to drop the reference to forestall the “You forgot to mention the Tacoma Narrows Bridge!” comments.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and damned if you do both, even.

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#13

Post by netsharc »

jasoneckert wrote: post #10

5400rpm laptop hard drives were notoriously sensitive to external force because of their thin metal construction and low power motor. I remember having a MacBook Pro with a Toshiba 5400rpm hard drive that failed shortly after I rested it on an HVAC unit in our server closet (the HVAC unit happened to be the perfect height off the floor for doing work while standing). Just to be sure that was the cause, I had the driv…

> "Don't put laptops on here."

With an explanation why not? I feel like having that, instead of a "Here Be Dragons" note would be more helpful, so someone won't ignore the sign thinking "It'll be fine".

Also it'd be funny if the sign is still there even though all* laptops have SSDs now...

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#14

Post by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF »

hyperhello wrote: post #4

“ I would not have wanted to be in the laboratory that they must have set up to investigate this problem. Not an artistic judgement.” Then what is it?

John Mulaney - The Salt and Pepper Diner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYIwPu50Fic

"For years, scientists have wondered: 'Can you make grown men and women weep tears of joy by playing Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual?' And the answer is yes, you can, as long as it's preceded by 7 What's New Pussycats."

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#15

Post by throwawayQQOWJF »

hyperhello wrote: post #4

“ I would not have wanted to be in the laboratory that they must have set up to investigate this problem. Not an artistic judgement.” Then what is it?

I just read it as “I am glad I did not have to debug/troubleshoot such a crazy-sounding crash” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#16

Post by klyrs »

hyperhello wrote: post #4

“ I would not have wanted to be in the laboratory that they must have set up to investigate this problem. Not an artistic judgement.” Then what is it?

I don't want to sit next to a cannon when it's going off. No artistic judgement on the 1812 overture; I just don't wanna be there.

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#17

Post by anyfoo »

segasaturn wrote: post #2

This is a fun article but seriously lacking in details... musical frequencies crashing hard drives, including hard drives of laptops within earshot? That's a pretty extraordinary bug so I hoped there would be more elaboration. I also wonder if that patch to block those frequencies is still in effect.

I wouldn't call it a "bug", more "unfortunate physics". Still possible to guard against that, specifically. (There will always be more "unfortunate physics", for example I bet that the hard disk also fails if I smash it against a wall at 100mph, but nobody's going do care designing a consumer HD that stops exhibiting that specific behavior.)

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#18

Post by anyfoo »

hyperhello wrote: post #4

“ I would not have wanted to be in the laboratory that they must have set up to investigate this problem. Not an artistic judgement.” Then what is it?

I would not have wanted to be in a laboratory that is set up to play my most favorite song very loudly over and over again, either.

I don't think it's an artistic judgement.

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#19

Post by ryandrake »

My first thought was that filtering a set of frequencies out from the laptop's sound output doesn't seem to be a good solution that addresses the root cause. This only corrects it for those laptops running that OS software, and does it at the cost of reducing the quality of the device's audio for all applications. What about other laptops playing the song, or just living room speakers playing it? What if I, as a user of the laptop, was doing audio processing and needed the sound card to faithfully output frequencies that I commanded it to play?

But there's a follow-up article that addresses all of that: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20220920-00/?p=10...

TLDR is it's cheaper to throw your audio quality under the bus than to recall the defective laptops/drives and replace them with a design that works. :(

Re: Janet Jackson had the power to crash laptop computers (2022)

#20

Post by ptero »

jdiff wrote: post #12
vlovich123 wrote: post #11

> And of course, no story about natural resonant frequencies can pass without a reference to the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.¹ Yes it can because it turns out it wasn't an issue with resonant frequencies & it's just promulgating an incorrect (but catchy) story. > Just four months later, under the right wind conditions, the bridge was driven at its resonant frequency, causing it to oscillate and twis…

There's a footnote indicated by the superscript 1 in your quote: > ¹ Follow-up 2: Yes, I know that the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse was not the result of resonance, but I felt I had to drop the reference to forestall the “You forgot to mention the Tacoma Narrows Bridge!” comments. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and damned if you do both, even.

It's closer to "damned if you knowingly make grossly incorrect statements even if you put a small footnote saying OK, I know it is not correct". And damned right that you are damned in this case :)

I would much prefer a reference to the event with the clarification, in the same paragraph, that it is due to a different phenomenon. My 2c.

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