Universal Hub - MIT

Science marches on: MIT builds a three-armed robot bartender

adamg — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:21:03 +0000

GigaOm introduces us to the Makr Shakr, a joint venture between MIT, Coca Cola and Bacardi to ~~put bartenders out of work~~ let you customize drinks via your smartphone (with as few vowels as possible).

MIT boasts that Makr Shakr can not only mix drinks, but can also monitor alcohol consumption and blood alcohol levels. So while it may not wipe down glasses while listening to your troubles, the Makr Shakr has a lot going for it should anyone decide to turn it into a production robot.

Via Boston Eater.

Paying tribute to a fallen officer

adamg — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:39:35 +0000

NECN covers the Sean Collier memorial service at MIT today.

Comments by MIT Police Chief John DiFava.

Memorial service for MIT officer will mean road closures in Cambridge tomorrow

adamg — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:09:14 +0000

Complete listing; roads, including Memorial Drive between the BU Bridge and Mass. Ave., and the Mass. Ave. bridge into Cambridge, will be closed during the morning rush hour.

Tribute to Sean Collier

adamg — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:21:15 +0000

Dana noticed the Alchemist at the MIT student center is sporting a new shoulder patch today.

MIT police officer shot to death at Stata Center

adamg — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:53:49 +0000

UPDATE: At 12:07 a.m, Cambridge Police tweeted the officer died.

Around 10:50 p.m. at 32 Vassar St. The suspect, who fired six shots, is described as a Hispanic male in a cowboy hat, might have the officer's blood on him. The officer was rushed to Mass. General.

MIT Police warned students and staff to stay well away from the Stata Center. MBTA police are swarming the Red Line in case he tried to escape by train.

Photo from inside the Stata Center (somewhat graphic).

Oopsies: Guy who sent hoax message to MIT students about canceled classes says he just wanted to show how insecure e-mail is

adamg — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:11:49 +0000

And in that, Delian Asparouhov succeeded - which prompted him to apologize to the entire MIT campus early this morning:

I made a lot of people mad, and made many people very scared, and for that I feel terrible. MIT has already gone through a lot in the last few months, and my actions were completely inappropriate. I should have never written the email, and especially not sent it out to the entire school.

Asparouhov then explains what he did and why - too late to realize it was not the brightest of ideas:

At the time, I wasn't thinking about the gun scare. I wasn’t even thinking about the Aaron Swartz case I had copied into the email. All I was thinking in composing that email was to make it seem like an email President Reif would actually compose.

I walked away from my computer to go eat some food, and I was still worry-free until I saw the email on a friend's computer. Reading through it, with the official letterhead, I realized how this appeared in context with the Aaron case and the recent gun scare.

Activist Aaron Swartz's family seeks release of names related to his prosecution; MIT to fight request

adamg — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:52:59 +0000

The family of Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide in January weeks before he was due to face trial on data-theft charges, is asking a federal judge to order both the government and MIT to release documentation relating to his prosecution, including the names of law-enforcement and MIT officials actively involved in the case.

Through its lawyers, the Swartz family argues the public outcry and Congressional investigations into Swartz's prosecution require the release of the names to help determine what really happened and who was responsible.

MIT hoaxster claimed gunman was after school president in retaliation for Aaron Swartz death

adamg — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:44:43 +0000

An MIT official today provided more details on the gun hoax that shut some MIT buildings and Massachusetts Avenue on Saturday.

In a letter to the Tech, Executive VP and Treasurer Israel Ruiz writes:

One minute into the communication, the caller reported someone with a "really big gun," and "armor" who was "getting out of control." The CPD dispatcher immediately sent CPD units and State Police to the site, and notified MIT Police.

Ruiz also writes that while police responded very well to the perceived threat, they should have alerted the MIT community earlier than 90 minutes into the incident that something might be happening.