Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2017 June 10

= June 10 =

The AIM-9 Sidewinder guidance system
The Apollo Guidance Computer of 1966 was roughly as powerful as an Apple II of 1977.

The earliest AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared guided air-to air missile was first introduced in 1957. How good was its earliest computer and the 5-cell CdS IR sensor array?

I thought such a primitive weapon could only be launched withing visual distances from the enemy's tail. The controller probably could not take aerodynamics into its calculations. Maybe it was just an analog PID controller for proportional navigation built with very rough gravitational compensation (going up is tougher than going down). The missile certainly knows which way is up because it has fins and four rollerons. I don't think its IR seeker could measure the distance to the target. Looks like it could only provide a very rough target direction.

The solid rocket engine inside the missile could only provide seconds of thrust. When it dies, its thermal battery dies shortly after. Having very limited kinetic energy, it probably did not have many tries to adjust the fins to get to the enemy's tail. All its was able to do, I guess, was to get close to the enemy's tail (with just a few very imprecise tries) as possible and then let the proximity fuse determine when to detonate and hope for the best.

This crude design must have been statistically significantly better than an unguided rocket fired at the same conditions for the Pentagon to buy it. I wonder what was the lowest technological advancements to build a usable guided missile before we have today's computers and sensors that was good enough to replace machine guns and dumb rockets having nothing at all. -- Toytoy (talk) 03:19, 10 June 2017 (UTC)

.apk¬1
Something better than “My Jarvis” is sought, for an android smart phone please, what can you refer? 103.67.158.187 (talk) 17:33, 10 June 2017 (UTC)
 * It's not that bad. Also take a look at these URLs on naming: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.190778-What-did-you-name-your-computer?page=8 http://wiki.c2.com/?TipsForNamingComputers https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/267154 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/not-just-any-name-tips-for-picking-good-names-for-your-devices/ Graeme Bartlett (talk) 08:59, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

.apk¬2
Which dictionary is used by many that does not require an internet connection while using on a Smart Phone? 103.67.158.187 (talk) 17:33, 10 June 2017 (UTC)
 * I use WordWeb but couldn't you search for things? CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 00:31, 11 June 2017 (UTC)

OTG Cable
I use to possess a "USB v2.0 4-in-1 Hub" connected to my PC and power-cut became a case - mouse (*1), keyboard (*1), numeric pad (*1) was connected. I changed it to a "USB v3.0 4-in-1 Hub" and now its okay - mouse (*1), keyboard (*2), speakers (a pair) are connected.

What do I do with a OTG cable? what are your experiences? Plus:

1) I wish to buy one but I don't want the same problem I faced with my PC, and I only wish to disconnect the "USB v3.0 4-in-1 Hub" from the PC and connect it to my Smart Phone, which OTG Cable could you refer me to that will work without a power-cut issue?

2) I also don't mind possessing a fresh new "4-in-1 OTG cable" for travelling purpose - I will buy both (1) and (2) after saving the required sum...

116.58.205.208 (talk) 18:18, 10 June 2017 (UTC)


 * See USB On-The-Go. The 5th pin in the B connector set to ground turns the USB device into a host when the device supports the host (OTG) mode. Note, the battery from the device is being utilized to supply a 5 volts boost converter to feed the external USB devices. See also the downgrade compatibility of USB. Once plugged the USB-OTG adapter, a USB hub can be plugged when supported. Battery charging the host is usually not supported in the OTG mode, but external devices can be supported by an active USB hub. -- Hans Haase (有问题吗) 11:21, 12 June 2017 (UTC)

RfC Announce: Wikimedia referrer policy
In February of 2016 the Wikimedia foundation started sending information to all of the websites we link to that allow the owner of the website (or someone who hacks the website, or law enforcement with a search warrant / subpoena) to figure out what Wikipedia page the user was reading when they clicked on the external link.

The WMF is not bound by Wikipedia RfCs, but we can use an advisory-only RfC to decide what information, if any, we want to send to websites we link to and then put in a request to the WMF. I have posted such an advisory-only RfC, which may be found here:

Village pump (policy)

Please comment so that we can determine the consensus of the Wikipedia community on this matter. --Guy Macon (talk) 21:37, 10 June 2017 (UTC)