Practical Definition and 308 Threads

So I saw that Microsoft is offering $100,000 for a killer app for the TabletPC. http://www.ircspy.com/default.asp#Microsoft%20PC%20Developer%20Contest What do you guys think of the TabletPC? I personally can't see much of a use for it in my own thing. I type tons faster than I could...

Gcse Physics practical coursework help needed. Hey guys, my topic is something like what factors affect how far a noodle pot travels when in a catapult. Frankly... I'm stumped. Any ideas whatsoever will help, I'm ok at physics but this has just gone and killed me. We have to use formulas and...

What are the practial appliactions of say, fractals? I suppose in some sense they describe objects that appear in nature, eg. trees. But what the use of say Mandelbrot. It just complicates things...

What exactly is artificial intelligence, what are some of its practical applications, and have we created it yet? Please no arguments that humans are not intelligent! If it comes to that then this thread is useless.

In this interview, we hear about a practical philosopher who taught for many years at leading institutions and influenced many disciples, some of whom are now in positions of great power. John Rawls eat your heart out! ;=) http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-2-95-1542.jsp

Hey, I'm having to write a 6-10 page essay. My teacher says I have to proove something, so she thinks it will be hard for me to do it on physics or calculus (although those are my strong points). So if you have any ideas of what I could do, please throw 'em at me. She recommends that I try to...

could the use of buckminsterfullerene or bucky balls be a more practical material to use in tokamak because of the less friction it would create on the plasma?

Other then teaching, what good is philosophy to each of us? Is it useful to our everyday reality? Is the speculation necessary? Or is it just human to ponder?