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< Back Datacenters in space are a terrible, horrible, no good idea. "There is a rush for AI companies to team up with space launch/satellite companies to build datacenters in space. TL;DR: It's not going to work." TARANIS IN TECH 12 Dec 2025 The short version: this is an absolutely terrible idea, and really makes zero sense whatsoever. There are multiple reasons for this, but they all amount to saying that the kind of electronics needed to make a datacenter work, particularly a datacenter deploying AI capacity in the form of GPUs and TPUs, is exactly the opposite of what works in space. If you've not worked specifically in this area before, I'll caution against making gut assumptions, because the reality of making space hardware actually function in space is not necessarily intuitively obvious. [...] The first reason for doing this that seems to come up is abundant access to power in space. This really isn't the case. You basically have two options: solar and nuclear. Solar means deploying a solar array with photovoltaic cells – something essentially equivalent to what I have on the roof of my house here in Ireland, just in space. [...] The first question is where in space? If you are in low Earth orbit (LEO), you are inside the inner radiation belt, where radiation dose is similar to that experienced by high altitude aircraft – more than an airliner, but not terrible. Further out, in mid Earth orbit (MEO), where the GPS satellites live, they are not protected by the Van Allen belts – worse, this orbit is literally inside them. Outside the belts, you are essentially in deep space (details vary with how close to the Sun you happen to be, but the principles are similar). There are two main sources of radiation in space – from our own star, the Sun, and from deep space. This basically involves charged particles moving at a substantial percentage of the speed of light, from electrons to the nuclei of atoms with masses up to roughly that of oxygen. These can cause direct damage, by smashing into the material from which chips are made, or indirectly, by travelling through the silicon die without hitting anything but still leaving a trail of charge behind them." [Follow link for full article] https://taranis.ie/datacenters-in-space-are-a-terrible-horrible-no-good-idea/ For more: AI, CPU, Design, GPU, Infrastructure, LLM Previous Next

Fourth Portal Resource page RESOURCES The Resources page connects to academic papers, articles and other information that informs the Fourth Portal research and development and is free to access. 12 Dec 2025 Datacenters in space are a terrible, horrible, no good idea. TARANIS IN TECH "There is a rush for AI companies to team up with space launch/satellite companies to build datacenters in space. TL;DR: It's not going to work." Read More 10 Feb 2025 WorldRadioHistory.com WorldRadioHistory.com WorldRadioHistory.com is a non-profit, free online library dedicated to preserving and providing access to a vast collection of radio, broadcasting, and electronics publications. The vast online archive of WorldRadioHistory.com, preserving decades of radio, television, and electronics publications, perfectly reflects the philosophy behind the Fourth Portal strapline: The Past and Future always meet in the Present. Read More 30 Dec 2024 ChatGPT Canvas Feature ChatGPT 4o The Canvas feature in ChatGPT streamlines the creation, editing, and management of long-form content across formats like text and code, offering a focused workspace for detailed projects. This text and the text that follows, about Canvas was mostly generated by ChatGPT about ChatGPT. Read More 26 Aug 2024 What is TinyML? Datacamp TinyML has been gaining traction due to the development of hardware and software ecosystems that support it. The tool has made it possible to implement machine learning models in low-energy systems, like microcontrollers, TinyML can be used in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industrial predictive maintenance, and customer experience. It can also be used for computer vision, visual wake words, keyword spotters, gesture recognition, and more. Read More 25 Aug 2024 Public Perception Of Face Search Technology Fourth Portal reporting on PimEyes PimEyes is an online face search engine that goes through the Internet to find pictures containing given faces. PimEyes uses face recognition search technologies to perform a reverse image search. Find a face and check where the image appears online. Our face finder helps you find a face and protect your privacy. Facial recognition online system allows you to search by image. Read More 24 Aug 2024 A Dystopian Nightmare: When Our Fiction is Real Medium George Orwell — 1984. This book is so prolific that people use ‘Orwellian’ as an adjective, even though they might be using it wrongly. Does the concept of inescapable surveillance seem familiar? Instead of a totalitarian state of Big Brother, we might have sub-contracted this control to tech giants who can read your emails, hear your conversations, and monitor your search history. Synopsis of the full article on Medium. Read More 20 Aug 2024 Quantum Compass TECHSPOT GPS-free navigation nears reality with quantum breakthrough. In a nutshell: Today's typical navigation-grade motion sensors are about the size of a grapefruit, helping steer ships, planes, and vehicles in conjunction with GPS signals. This means they always need satellite connectivity to function, but a new breed of "quantum compass" could eventually let us ditch the satellites entirely. Read More 9 Jun 2024 Freesound In The Era Of Generative Artificial Intelligence Freesound Blog Freesound was started in 2005 in the Music Technology Group of Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. Freesound aims to create a huge collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, and all sorts of bleeps, released under Creative Commons licenses that allow reuse. In an era of AI, what is the future of this important resource. Read More 21 Apr 2024 What Is The Fediverse The Verge The Fediverse is the buzziest new thing in social networking is a big deal. It’s also very confusing. And it’s not actually new. It’s an interconnected social platform ecosystem based on an open protocol called ActivityPub, which allows sharing of content, data, and follower graph between networks. Read More 19 Apr 2024 The Cloud Under The Sea The Verge The industry responsible for laying the cables for the internet traces its origins back far beyond the internet, past even the telephone, to the early days of telegraphy. It’s invisible, under-appreciated, analog. Few people set out to join the profession, mostly because few people know it exists. Read More 16 Apr 2024 Rewilding The Internet NOĒMA The internet has become an extractive and fragile monoculture. But we can revitalize it using lessons learned by ecologists. Read More 14 Apr 2024 Tape Nostalgia Meets High-tech phys.org Researchers are developing a technique that uses the special synchrotron X-ray light from the Swiss Light Source SLS to non-destructively digitise recordings from historic audio tapes. Audio and video tape decays over time and can no longer be played back. Read More 3 Mar 2024 Fusing Audio and Semantic Technologies (FAST) C4DM, Queen Mary, University of London In 2018, the Fourth Portal curated delivery of the £5m EPSRC FAST programme to the music industry at Abbey Road studios, demonstrating the very latest technologies for end-to-end music production and delivery. The videos that follow provide an overview of the programme and demonstrators developed. Read More 1 Mar 2024 Genie: Generative Interactive Environments Deep Mind Genie, a foundation world model trained from Internet videos that can generate an endless variety of playable (action-controllable) worlds from synthetic images, photographs, and even sketches. Read More 24 Jan 2024 Ecoclimates: Climate-Response Modelling of Vegetation ACM Trans. Graph., Vol. 41, No. 4, Article 155 A simulator producing complex and realistic outdoor landscapes with vegetation growth and weather dynamics. With the ability to simulate more than 500,000 plants with individual geometries, the program can assist in predicting climate-response of vegetation to deforestation and changing weather patterns. Read More 16 Jan 2024 Link Between Musical Preferences And Inner Moral Compass Queen Mary, University of London A study has uncovered a connection between individuals' musical preferences and their moral values, shedding new light on the profound influence that music can have on our moral compass. Read More 6 Jan 2024 Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) Tech Target/Wikipedia Neural radiance fields (NeRFs) are a technique that generates 3D representations of an object or scene from 2D images by using advanced machine learning. NeRFs show incredible promise in representing 3D data more efficiently than other techniques. Read More 6 Jan 2024 Neural Radiance Fields For Outdoor Scene Relighting European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV) 2022 Photorealistic editing of outdoor scenes from photographs requires a profound understanding of the image formation process and an accurate estimation of the scene geometry, reflectance and illumination. The technique allows simultaneous editing of both scene illumination and camera viewpoint using only a collection of outdoor photos shot in uncontrolled settings. Read More 4 Jan 2024 Victorian Belief That Rail Travel Causes Instant Insanity Atlas Obscura “Railway madmen” were thought to be activated by the sounds and motion of train travel. Thoughts of innovation and new technology would drive people completely crazy are not a new phenomenon. Read More 2 Jan 2024 Challenges of Living with Artificial Intelligence Living With AI Podcast This podcast touches on some of the most important ethical and creative challenges that AI poses to music-making and the creative industries more generally. Could a robot improvise in a jazz band? What is the difference between an AI playing a piano and a pianola? Read More

Issue 2 explores the innovation journey, addressing barriers such as institutional intransigence and discrimination while highlighting the role of technology, wellbeing, and societal progress in shaping transformative business strategies and sustainable growth. FOURTH PORTAL NEWSPAPERS The Past and Future always meet in the Present Issue 3 Issue 3 captures the innovation and resilience of Gravesham’s business and creative community as it navigates the long tail of Covid and ongoing economic pressures. From climate change impacts on farming and birdlife to changing customer habits and the realities of running microbusinesses, it brings together voices from across the borough to discuss adaptation, cultural difference, and the future of work. Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Issue 3 Introduction Iron Pier Brewery Fiona Spirals Jasmin Fuell Ms Earlyn Dusty Lens Stormchasing Broadditch Farm Rosa Woolf Ainley Mug and Meeple Shane Hymers Fastrack Stephen Kane Penders Pharmacy Digital and printed editions of the Fourth Portal newspapers are free to read and share. We welcome your comments, feedback, and suggestions - and are always open to interview requests. Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link If you're interested in a bespoke newspaper tailored to your organisation, industry, or town, send us your requirements to info@fourthportal.com . The Fourth Portal Newspaper Issue 1 was kindly funded by Gravesham Borough Council using UK Government funds.

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Regan Bowering Percussion Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Burning Harpsichord Oct25 8 October 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Karen Barnes Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #178 16 September 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Anthony Osborne Alto Saxophone Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #176 15 July 2025 SKRONK #177 2 September 2025 SKRONK #178 16 September 2025 SKRONK #175 1 July 2025 ImproVox #10 30 June 2025 Load More Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Bill Thompson Live Electronics Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Burning Harpsichord Oct25 8 October 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

Gravesend Innovation Showcase 2024 events, locations, talks, speakers and times. < Back Debugging Craft Beer Myths Start Time 12:00, 14:00 or 15:00 Running Time 45 Minutes Location 12. The Compass Alehouse Event Type Demonstration About the Event Introduction Explore the myths and marketing behind craft beer at "Debugging Craft Beer Myths," hosted at The Compass Alehouse. This engaging session will guide you through beer’s rich history and innovation, revealing what truly goes into your glass. Whether you’re a seasoned ale lover or simply curious, this tasting tour will deepen your appreciation and knowledge of the world of beer. More on the event lead John Warden is a retired acute psychiatric therapist turned publican and home brewer, with a passion for real ale and whisky. He founded The Compass Alehouse in Gravesend, leading the micropub movement and creating a community space that champions expertly crafted beers and whiskies. With a deep knowledge of brewing and a commitment to supporting local heritage, John combines his mental health background with his love for quality drinks, offering unique tasting experiences and fostering a welcoming atmosphere at The Compass. Event Information Each session has an "on the door" charge of £5.00 Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes for a maximum of 18 people. First come, first served. 12.00 noon, 2.00 pm, and 3.00pm Minimum age requirement 18+ (with ID required for under 25) This event is perfect for beer enthusiasts, curious newcomers, and anyone interested in the craft behind their drink. Whether seeking to deepen beer knowledge or enjoy a unique tasting experience, "Debugging Craft Beer Myths" offers insights into the history and truth behind beer-making. It’s a must-visit for those who value tradition, innovation, and community in the world of craft beer. ___ Even more information ___ John Warden Retired acute psychiatric therapist, home brewer, and publican. Like many, I worked my way through college by supporting my income in a pub, gaining my first experiences in this often challenging industry. In my early twenties, I lost my taste for lager and turned to real ale, brewing my own and developing a deep passion for it. This sustained me through years in mental health work, yet ultimately led to dissatisfaction with the available beer choices, sparking a desire to make a difference. I found my way into the ‘micropub’ revolution through a friend and local head brewer, realising this was my route into the industry (time and finances are always limited when raising a family and working for the NHS). “Time to put your money where your mouth is,” was the encouragement from friends and family. In the 10 years since opening, our reputation, knowledge, and industry contacts have grown far beyond our size. Understanding the different types, styles, nuances, and needs of beer keeps me focused and constantly learning, as I push the limits of our business and premises. It’s not all about beer, though—I’m a passionate whisky drinker and have put equal effort into understanding this historical, often misunderstood spirit. I now offer whisky-tasting experiences to share this knowledge and passion, both privately and at the Compass. The Compass Alehouse As a beer enthusiast and brewer, I always sought to improve my craft. I discovered that a local brewery used live or 'wet' yeast and wanted to brew with it. They agreed to let me have some, and I visited the brewery. Sitting amongst the casks, with the smell of hops and barley, the head brewer asked, “What do you think of micropubs?” I’d never heard of them but soon visited his partner’s newly opened premises. This was the pivotal moment—the conception of The Compass. While still working full time, I chose premises that suited the business model, accessible to family and friends who would help staff it, with reasonable footfall and originally without nearby competition. By September 2014, we opened, proudly describing ourselves as an 'Alehouse' to clarify that we weren’t a typical pub. We aimed to provide a constantly changing selection of well-kept beers. Focusing on gravity-drawn, cask-conditioned real ale, (though my knowledge of lager has rekindled my love for select varieties), we also stock Belgian and craft beers. Supplying whiskies from around the world, we now hold regular whisky tastings and an investment club. The Compass has changed the face of real ale drinking in Gravesend, paving the way for others to follow. The Compass is a multi-award-winning venue. Unable to enter CAMRA’s Pub of the Year until 2016, we were nonetheless given the special favour of being listed in the Good Beer Guide. We currently hold the local CAMRA branch award, placed 2nd in West Kent and joint 3rd overall in Kent, consistently ranking in the top 3 every year since. We’ve been nominated in the Gravesham Business Awards, ranked #1 in TripAdvisor for Gravesham nightlife, named Best Pub in the Restaurant Guru Awards, and featured on Made in Kent Radio as well as in local and national press. Despite COVID, rising pub closures, and the cost-of-living crisis, we are immensely proud of our achievements. However, The Compass is more than just a place to drink; it’s a community and a safe haven. Our customers are like family, volunteering their time and skills to help extend our opening hours and enhance the customer experience. They broaden our appeal, organise charitable events, and support each other both within and beyond the pub walls. They are the heartbeat of our success. Website: https://thecompassalehouse.co.uk/ Socials https://www.facebook.com/thecompassalehouse/ https://www.instagram.com/thecompassalehouse/?hl=en Previous Next

< Back Paul Prudence: Thinking Like An Algorithm Hand-Plotting And Typewritings Expanded.Art 6 Dec 2023 You Might Not Know an Algorithm Until You've Typed it Artist Paul Prudence discusses using a typewriter to think like an algorithm. Anika Meier: Paul, you have a background in textile design. How did you get into art? Paul Prudence: My first degree was in textile design, but subsequently I shifted my path towards art, first by doing a post-grad diploma in textile art and then an MA in fine art. So, although I initially set out on an educational path in textiles, specifically printed design, I was always working on art projects, or at least thinking about art and researching its various historical movements since my early teens. AM: You’re known for repurposing an ordinary typewriter to behave like an electronic plotter. Why a typewriter? PP: I had been aware of and inspired by the concrete poetry movement, and as a writer, I was thinking about ways in which I could combine writing and visual art for a while. It was only by chance that one day I found an old Silver Reed typewriter in a charity shop. I bought the machine, took it home, and it sat in the corner of my studio space for some months before I tried to use it. When I did, the keys were a bit clogged and the ink was dry, so there was no typing to be had from it. Through a bit of frustration and some luck, I began to experiment with holding a pen in place while I typed and moved the platen roller up and down. I immediately recognised that I had a rudimentary mechanical plotting system sitting right in front of me. The idea of having a hand-operated mechanical plotter in the age of expensive and sophisticated electronic plotters amused me. From then on, I set out to explore ways in which to develop techniques for mimicking processes and algorithms. Even after nearly three years of using this technique, I am still finding new patterns and systems. https://www.expanded.art/articles/paul-prudence-thinking-like-an-algorithm For more: Algorithm, Design Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Dan The Stylophone Man Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #3 7 May 2016 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Andrew Ciccone Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #178 16 September 2025 SKRONK #175 1 July 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Steve Noble Drums Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Flimflam 28 May 2025 Boat-Ting Sep18 3 September 2018 Boat-Ting 16th Anniversary 2018 http://Website or social media email or phone number