A Reddit user discovered a technique to easily spot differences in "spot-the-difference" puzzles by crossing their eyes to create a third, shimmering image.
This method allows differences to become more apparent, and the user felt it was like gaining a new skill or "superpower" after practicing.
The user shared this technique with others, encouraging them to try it by focusing on the middle image created when crossing their eyes.
A technique to spot differences between two images by crossing one's eyes, akin to viewing stereograms, was used to win a game machine high score and a free bar tab.
This method highlights differences as shimmering or unstable areas, sparking discussions on its applications and challenges, including eye strain and vision difficulties.
The conversation expanded to related topics such as stereoscopic vision and the use of similar techniques in different fields.
Anna's Archive, the largest open library, has visualized all ISBNs to track the progress of book backups, revealing that only 16% of books are backed up so far.
A $10,000 bounty is offered for improving the visualization's zoomability, interactivity, and usability, with prizes for the top three submissions, and all code must be open source.
This initiative is crucial for preserving rare books, as Anna's Archive holds the largest open collection of book metadata.
The discussion on Hacker News revolves around visualizing ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) from Anna's Archive, with suggestions like using a Hilbert Curve for improved data representation.
Users debate the effectiveness of ISBNs for hierarchical data visualization, proposing alternatives such as the Library of Congress system.
The conversation also addresses the legality and ethics of Anna's Archive, which hosts copyrighted material, and the use of Monero cryptocurrency for bounties due to privacy concerns.
The author provides an annual update on predictions made in 2018 about self-driving cars, robotics, AI, machine learning, and human space travel, with plans to make new predictions for 2026-2036.
Despite significant developments in AI and self-driving cars in 2024, full autonomy and the replacement of human jobs with AI remain distant, with remote human monitoring still necessary for self-driving cars.
Human spaceflight progress is slow, with SpaceX's Starship and NASA's Artemis facing delays, while Blue Origin's New Glenn is nearing launch, and suborbital tourism shows limited progress.
The article examines Rodney Brooks' predictions on AI and robotics, particularly focusing on self-driving cars and AI advancements. - Critics claim Brooks' predictions are vague and self-congratulatory, especially concerning Waymo's self-driving technology, which some argue is not fully autonomous due to human interventions. - Brooks aims to temper the hype around AI and robotics by highlighting realistic timelines and challenges, while the discussion also considers the economic viability of self-driving technology and its impact on jobs.