3 ms·

The unlawful imprisonment of my mind

7 points by jeswin 13y ago

nkurz 13y ago
A different sort of patent than what she is referring to, but I was somewhat aghast to wander across this patent today: http://www.google.com/patents/US8140608 http://www.google.com/patents/US8140608 Title: "Pipelined integer division using floating-point reciprocal" Now, I know, you aren't supposed to judge a patent by it's title. Maybe they've really come up with something novel and non-obvious to a 'person skilled in the art'. Let's check. ABSTRACT: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing fast integer division using commonly available arithmetic operations. The technique may be implemented in a two-stage process using a single- precision floating point reciprocal in conjunction with integer addition and multiplication. Furthermore, the technique may be fully pipelined on many conventional processors for performance that is comparable to the best available high-performance alternatives. Hmm, that sounds pretty obvious. It also sounds a lot like fairly basic arithmetic. But it's the claims that matter, not the abstract. Here's claim 1 in its entirety: 1. A method for performing integer division, the method comprising: receiving an integer dividend and an integer divisor; computing, via one or more processors, a first partial quotient using a set of significant bits from the dividend; computing a first partial remainder; adjusting the first partial quotient to generate an adjusted first partial quotient; computing a second partial quotient based on the first partial remainder; computing a second partial remainder; adjusting the second partial quotient to generate an adjusted second partial quotient; and computing a quotient by adding the adjusted first partial quotient to the adjusted second partial quotient. Hmm, that sounds a lot like they've just patented some fairly basic math. Who are these patent trolls? Owner name: NVIDIA CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Oh. Well, I hope at least they make good use of their temporary monopoly for the progress of science and the arts.
userulluipeste 13y ago
"Occupy and others, you were right. And I was wrong. It was the protesters who were more sophisticated, knowledgeable and aware than I was." No, they weren't! After dismissing them first, the author comes around and ends up giving the protesters too much credit in my view. I read the protesters' arguments exposed back then and I couldn't make much sense out of those. Yes, things may be wrong as they are and some change is perceived as necessary to avoid the collapse of social order, and for that I also agree that a critical mass of people is needed, which means that the change proponents are in need for as much adherents as they can get, but to crown fools is dangerous.
- jeswin 13y ago
  Up-voting you. But I'm not sure if we give them enough credit. It is hard to work against the system; insanely hard to do something on this scale. I feel their simple arguments suffice to show how unfair the current system is. And at that/this point, it wasn't even necessary to propose solutions. Step one is to tell the world that there is something wrong. In recent memory, they have been one of the most prominently heard voices and that's a success.
  - userulluipeste 13y ago
    Thanks for up-vote, although I expected down-votes for going against what I presumed to be the feeling of the dominant audience. I don't argue that the system is unfair, I just have my fears that in order to get results some very bad mistakes could be committed. In the communist doctrine, in order to get mass support, some populist policies were adopted, like giving free credit to simple people, and (as a consequence) putting them forward, no matter if they were competent or not. So my fear comes from a reality that me along with two older generations had to experience. It's a experience that Americans lack and that obviously makes them prone to repeat bad history. When complimenting someone in political matters, think that your praise may have consequences as it can serve as basis for power claim. When it's about power, the receiving subjects should be (in my book) very, very deserving. Sorry for stretching the limited discussed context to something more.

7 points by jeswin 13y ago

nkurz 13y ago

A different sort of patent than what she is referring to, but I was somewhat aghast to wander across this patent today: http://www.google.com/patents/US8140608 http://www.google.com/patents/US8140608 Title: "Pipelined integer division using floating-point reciprocal" Now, I know, you aren't supposed to judge a patent by it's title. Maybe they've really come up with something novel and non-obvious to a 'person skilled in the art'. Let's check. ABSTRACT: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing fast integer division using commonly available arithmetic operations. The technique may be implemented in a two-stage process using a single- precision floating point reciprocal in conjunction with integer addition and multiplication. Furthermore, the technique may be fully pipelined on many conventional processors for performance that is comparable to the best available high-performance alternatives. Hmm, that sounds pretty obvious. It also sounds a lot like fairly basic arithmetic. But it's the claims that matter, not the abstract. Here's claim 1 in its entirety: 1. A method for performing integer division, the method comprising: receiving an integer dividend and an integer divisor; computing, via one or more processors, a first partial quotient using a set of significant bits from the dividend; computing a first partial remainder; adjusting the first partial quotient to generate an adjusted first partial quotient; computing a second partial quotient based on the first partial remainder; computing a second partial remainder; adjusting the second partial quotient to generate an adjusted second partial quotient; and computing a quotient by adding the adjusted first partial quotient to the adjusted second partial quotient. Hmm, that sounds a lot like they've just patented some fairly basic math. Who are these patent trolls? Owner name: NVIDIA CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Oh. Well, I hope at least they make good use of their temporary monopoly for the progress of science and the arts.

userulluipeste 13y ago

"Occupy and others, you were right. And I was wrong. It was the protesters who were more sophisticated, knowledgeable and aware than I was." No, they weren't! After dismissing them first, the author comes around and ends up giving the protesters too much credit in my view. I read the protesters' arguments exposed back then and I couldn't make much sense out of those. Yes, things may be wrong as they are and some change is perceived as necessary to avoid the collapse of social order, and for that I also agree that a critical mass of people is needed, which means that the change proponents are in need for as much adherents as they can get, but to crown fools is dangerous.

jeswin 13y ago
Up-voting you. But I'm not sure if we give them enough credit. It is hard to work against the system; insanely hard to do something on this scale. I feel their simple arguments suffice to show how unfair the current system is. And at that/this point, it wasn't even necessary to propose solutions. Step one is to tell the world that there is something wrong. In recent memory, they have been one of the most prominently heard voices and that's a success.
- userulluipeste 13y ago
  Thanks for up-vote, although I expected down-votes for going against what I presumed to be the feeling of the dominant audience. I don't argue that the system is unfair, I just have my fears that in order to get results some very bad mistakes could be committed. In the communist doctrine, in order to get mass support, some populist policies were adopted, like giving free credit to simple people, and (as a consequence) putting them forward, no matter if they were competent or not. So my fear comes from a reality that me along with two older generations had to experience. It's a experience that Americans lack and that obviously makes them prone to repeat bad history. When complimenting someone in political matters, think that your praise may have consequences as it can serve as basis for power claim. When it's about power, the receiving subjects should be (in my book) very, very deserving. Sorry for stretching the limited discussed context to something more.