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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:23:51 AM

Title: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:23:51 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090326/sc_livescience/youpaycomputerpraysforyou

QuoteInformation Age Prayer is a site that charges you a monthly fee to say prayers for you. A typical charge is $4.95 per month to say three prayers specified by you each day.

"We use state of the art text to speech synthesizers to voice each prayer at a volume and speed equivalent to typical person praying," the company states. "Each prayer is voiced individually, with the name of the subscriber displayed on screen."

Prices, however, are dictated by the length of the prayer. As noted in the Information Age Prayer FAQ, "A discounted prayer will cost less than other prayers of similar length."

Handmaid's Tale?
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Valmy on March 26, 2009, 09:26:22 AM
Since the whole point of prayer is to focus you in a sort of meditation this kinda defeats the whole purpose.

But I guess if you think praying has some sort of magical effect I guess you might do it, a fool and his money are soon parted.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Malthus on March 26, 2009, 09:27:21 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:23:51 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090326/sc_livescience/youpaycomputerpraysforyou

QuoteInformation Age Prayer is a site that charges you a monthly fee to say prayers for you. A typical charge is $4.95 per month to say three prayers specified by you each day.

"We use state of the art text to speech synthesizers to voice each prayer at a volume and speed equivalent to typical person praying," the company states. "Each prayer is voiced individually, with the name of the subscriber displayed on screen."

Prices, however, are dictated by the length of the prayer. As noted in the Information Age Prayer FAQ, "A discounted prayer will cost less than other prayers of similar length."

Handmaid's Tale?

Low-tech version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:43:46 AM
Quote from: Malthus on March 26, 2009, 09:27:21 AM
Low-tech version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel

OMG, really? :P
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Slargos on March 26, 2009, 10:00:13 AM
Quote from: Valmy on March 26, 2009, 09:26:22 AM
Since the whole point of prayer is to focus you in a sort of meditation this kinda defeats the whole purpose.

But I guess if you think praying has some sort of magical effect I guess you might do it, a fool and his money are soon parted.

If you really believe this is effective, it may have some of the same effects [as actually praying].

"a sort of meditation" is certainly far from the entire point of prayer.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: The Minsky Moment on March 26, 2009, 10:10:08 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:23:51 AM
Handmaid's Tale?

THX-1138?
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Valmy on March 26, 2009, 10:12:32 AM
Quote from: Slargos on March 26, 2009, 10:00:13 AM
If you really believe this is effective, it may have some of the same effects [as actually praying].

"a sort of meditation" is certainly far from the entire point of prayer.

Good point actually.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Martinus on March 26, 2009, 10:13:52 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:23:51 AM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090326/sc_livescience/youpaycomputerpraysforyou

QuoteInformation Age Prayer is a site that charges you a monthly fee to say prayers for you. A typical charge is $4.95 per month to say three prayers specified by you each day.

"We use state of the art text to speech synthesizers to voice each prayer at a volume and speed equivalent to typical person praying," the company states. "Each prayer is voiced individually, with the name of the subscriber displayed on screen."

Prices, however, are dictated by the length of the prayer. As noted in the Information Age Prayer FAQ, "A discounted prayer will cost less than other prayers of similar length."

Handmaid's Tale?
This will lead directly to concentration camps for gays. :(
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: PDH on March 26, 2009, 10:14:41 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 26, 2009, 10:13:52 AM
This will lead directly to concentration camps for gays. :(
About damn time.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Malthus on March 26, 2009, 10:16:19 AM
Quote from: garbon on March 26, 2009, 09:43:46 AM
Quote from: Malthus on March 26, 2009, 09:27:21 AM
Low-tech version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_wheel

OMG, really? :P

You learn something new every day.  :smarty:
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Brazen on March 26, 2009, 10:16:32 AM
But what will I do with my Electric Monk?
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 11:08:21 AM
Quote from: Malthus on March 26, 2009, 10:16:19 AM
You learn something new every day.  :smarty:

We're so good at teaching one another. :hug:
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 11:08:57 AM
Quote from: Brazen on March 26, 2009, 10:16:32 AM
But what will I do with my Electric Monk?

The rest of that article delved into that, but I found that part boring and snipped it out.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: derspiess on March 26, 2009, 11:57:50 AM
I pray for Martinus's soul every day.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Ed Anger on March 26, 2009, 12:16:04 PM
Quote from: derspiess on March 26, 2009, 11:57:50 AM
I pray for Martinus's soul every day.

I pray for a Russian invasion of Poland and an American double cross.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: The Brain on March 26, 2009, 12:41:58 PM
I pretend to pray.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Valmy on March 26, 2009, 12:47:38 PM
Quote from: The Brain on March 26, 2009, 12:41:58 PM
I pretend to pray.

you know the preacher likes the cold
he knows I'm gonna stay
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 26, 2009, 01:10:12 PM
Quote from: The Brain on March 26, 2009, 12:41:58 PM
I pretend to pray.

Just like a prayer, your voice can take me there.
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: jimmy olsen on March 26, 2009, 09:53:42 PM
Quote from: Valmy on March 26, 2009, 09:26:22 AM
Since the whole point of prayer is to focus you in a sort of meditation this kinda defeats the whole purpose.

But I guess if you think praying has some sort of magical effect I guess you might do it, a fool and his money are soon parted.

Computer's aren't even self aware, let alone have souls. How can their prayers mean anything? Call me after the singularity and then we can have a philosophical discussion on the matter, but at this time what's the point?
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: Martinus on March 27, 2009, 04:11:13 AM
Quote from: Brazen on March 26, 2009, 10:16:32 AM
But what will I do with my Electric Monk?
Can it be set to "vibrate"?
Title: Re: You Pay, Computer Prays For You
Post by: garbon on March 27, 2009, 10:22:38 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 26, 2009, 09:53:42 PM
Computer's aren't even self aware, let alone have souls. How can their prayers mean anything? Call me after the singularity and then we can have a philosophical discussion on the matter, but at this time what's the point?

True, there is no point in conversing with you. :(