Computational Semantics A computational algorithm to measure language? Semantic arguments. Is there any agreed way to define & measure the semantic distance between two words? [Curiouser and curiouser!] Maybe: look up word1 at dictionary.com. Does word2 show up IN the definition(s) of word1? Does word2 show up AS a definition of word1? Some points could be given for proximity here. In the definitions for word1, how many of the words contained within word1's definition(s) are also contained within word2's definition(s). Some minimal points could be given here, with point valuation decreasing in each subsequent definition. How did the makers of Visual Thesaurus do it? The TouchGraph Google browser had it a little easier: they could measure explicit links. 2:30:59 PM    comment []

Tivo for Radio I knew it had already been done... FirstLook Products: Radio YourWay. "Radio YourWay is the industries first portable, solid-state AM/FM radio recorder! Imagine being able to record any radio broadcast like talk radio, news, sports, or music and then being able to play those recordings back later at a more convenient time. That's Radio YourWay!" - As a TiVo owner I... [Peter] ActiveWords free for 60 Days! [Lockergnome's Bits and Bytes] My mother presented this idea to me precisely three weeks ago as something I could write in my free time, then sell for a little pocket money. It was a good idea and I was flattered that she thought I could pull it off, but I wasn't interested (for various reasons). Here is a question for entrepreneur/software developers: when you come up with an idea, how do you suppress that nagging voice which says "surely it's already been done". You know you could write it yourself, you want to write it yourself. But you fear that you will have nothing to show for the investment of time and personal sacrifice, because someone else with this same idea MUST have either started it earlier, or will develop it faster?  11:48:00 AM    comment []