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Weird Wide Web: Turing tests, app imitation and critical robots

All of your essential tech and social media news for the week in one byte-sized portion.

WELCOME TO THE Weird Wide Web – where we take a look at the week’s best offerings in tech and social media news.

Computer test of the week

So, this week, a computer programme passed the Turing Test for the first time in history. This means it fooled people into thinking it was a 13-year-old boy. It seems like a pretty big deal, but Gizmodo looked at why this test is actually bulls**t.

multitudeofgifs multitudeofgifs

Facebook vs Snapchat move of the week

It it’s latest attempt to take down Snapchat, Facebook prematurely launched a photo-sharing app called Slingshot before quickly taken it down again, according to TechCrunch. Similar to Snapchat, the app allows you to send timed picture or video messages to your friends, the catch is that you have to send a photo/video first before you can view something your friend sent.

In other news, Facebook Messenger also added instant video sharing this week, 15 second videos similar to Instagram, although nobody really cared about that.

Note swapping option of the week

Here’s a new way to leave passive-aggressive notes for your workmates or even let your crush in the office know they’re looking well today without making a fool of yourself.

The social networking app Secret has announced a new feature, confining the stream to within the walls of a company or workplace. A chance for a bit of fun with colleagues or potential to completely destroy a business from the inside?

Secret Secret

Guilt-inducing gadget of the week

This pocket-sized gadget can tell you exactly how many calories are in that slice of chocolate cake you just ordered. It analyses the chemical makeup of the food and sends the data to your smartphone.

Consumer Physics Inc Consumer Physics Inc

Mother and child development of the week

Any mother out there who wants to take a photo of them breastfeeding their bundle of joy and post it on Facebook, now you can. The site has done a U-turn and is now allowing users to post photos where breastfeeding is featured saying  “we agree that breastfeeding is natural and beautiful.” Well, that makes everything ok then.

Constructive Instagram criticism bot of the week

You may find your friend taking too many selifes to be annoying, but chances are you don’t want to tell them in case you hurt their feelings, or come across as obnoxious. Enter Pic Nix, a free service that lets you (anonymously) shame a fellow Instagram users for over-posting 16 offences.

Created by ad agency Allen & Gerritsen, it uses a robot named Silent B.O.B to put together the photo and message before tagging said user and posting it.


a&g / Vimeo

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OggieThe4th
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    Apr 18th 2015, 6:55 PM

    I’ve also heard that Cadbury’s have hacked off one-fifth of Freddo the Frog .

    34
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:00 PM

    And our giving redundancies to their staff as they are moving operations to a cheaper country

    21
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    Mute Mary Ward
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    Apr 19th 2015, 5:13 AM

    everybody is leaving. I am hoping to go myself and I am in the higher tax bracket. I stayed because i felt it served my country to pay tax and support others. I am now over it. It doesn’t serve me anymore. I am in debt and I would be better off elsewhere.

    19
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    Mute Mary Ward
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    Apr 19th 2015, 5:14 AM

    and when I say debt, its minimum and I can pay it back. Not compared to the fraudsters that gambled. They have put me and many others in debt

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    Mute Colin C
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    Apr 18th 2015, 10:05 PM

    Dear Mr. Journalist. It’s “how quickly”, not “how quick”. When describing a verb, you use an adverb, not an adjective. I know that the internet likes to bugger with adverbs, particularly if it pertains to doing anything “direct”, but you, as indebted as you are to the English language for your living should be able to show that language just a modicum of respect.

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 18th 2015, 6:49 PM

    I wish wikileaks would stop invading other people’s privacy. It worries me to think what would happen if they started targeting business and political figures over here, not that there’s anything to hide of course.

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    Mute Silent majority
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    Apr 18th 2015, 6:52 PM

    Fake account

    19
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Apr 18th 2015, 6:55 PM

    Fake account but some of the view expressed aren’t far off the YFG mentality

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 18th 2015, 6:55 PM

    I suppose Mr and Ms Majority really thought you looked like a silent when you were born?

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:00 PM

    Silent majority who are you?

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:09 PM

    Looks like Kevin and yfg are best buddies .. Interesting

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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:13 PM

    Suzie are you and davedunne the same person? You both seem a bit obsessed with me.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:22 PM

    Is that the best you could come up with ?

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Apr 18th 2015, 7:23 PM

    I differ in policy to yfg on most issue. It’s a careerists clubs for most. Boosts the cv for various employers. I dislike yfg and would never vote FG after what they’ve done.

    18
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