Slashdot Com

I have been a long time reader of slashdot.com as a source of geek information. I was a reader a long time before I even became an official registered member. And I often read it still, but the disscussions always degenerate, and even when I think I have something to contribute, I don’t bother, as I don’t think anyone would read it. Or it would get ‘mod’ed down some how.

Too bad, in the age where blogging has taken hold slashdot is fading. Is this happening to other types of ‘forums’ as well?

Upgrading to Mac OS X Tiger

I have just upgraded to OS X Tiger and I have to say I’m happy, No, Impressed! I’m am using WordPressDash widgit to post, and I have to say it’s very useful. I can now post without a browser login. widgets are great, and further more Spotlight is more than I expected. I have disk images from the three previous Macs I owned, and I can find things from all of them, from along time ago. Very cool.

Microsoft and the Lifeboat test

There is a lot of discussion about Microsoft and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) call it publishing of content on the web. When I started out life on the world wide web…. never mind stick to the point. Whenever MS embraces a new technology, always one that it did not invent, and usually arriving late to the party. They bring to mind a life boat test I remembered long ago. Even before the web (makes me sound older and wiser doesn’t it).

The test goes something like this;

You are stranded on an Island, not even a bad island. You are stuck there with one other person. The only problem is that in order for you to survive on this island, and maybe escape, you need this other person, and he/she needs you also. You are dependent on each other for your survival.

The good thing is, you get to choose who you want to be stranded with!

The choices you have are these two.

A) A bitter, but rational, enemy?
or
B) A good, but irrational and untrustworthy, friend?

It comes up like a rock and a hard spot question. My answer has always been questioned by people I know. And is usually a great conversation starter in these days of survivor TV.

Where would you place Microsoft (A or B) and which would you choose?

The law of Blogging

I just found this, link EFF: Legal Guide for Bloggers it was interesting but I wonder how this applies to a Blog operated outside the U.S. The world is a place of many laws. Witness the blocking of the word “Democracy” and other profanity by Microsoft on behalf of the Chinese government. Funny how Microsoft is a U.S. company, supporting censorship, they must like that idea. I’ll bet they don’t advertise that fact either

In Ireland I’m not sure if I’m covered, maybe I’d best look it up, and remain a bit anonymous till I do.

The Future of Technology

I recently watched the latest Star Wars movie and while the plot was well known to me, I was very happy that the threads in the movie did a fair job of connecting the movie to the original three episodes. I have observed that the technology displayed in the movies is also interesting in that it does two very interesting and different things. The first is something that should be in everyone’s requirements documents during any IT project, or for that matter any software or technology project.

First in the movies there is a common use of technology, very high tech, but not intrusive in that the technology is what used to be called ‘Appropriate Technology’. Often this has been used in third world countries to describe technology that fits the situation. As in use of solar electronic devices in an area where distributed power is not common, or skipping the ‘Industrial Age’ in favor of the Digital Age. In any case the technology is enough to help, but not enough to intrude. Making the technology a comfortable chair rather than a large lounger/vibrator/bar/desk object that takes up half a room. This could explain the iPod fad, it’s not intrusive, and does only what it was designed to do. The technology should just work for you, you shouldn’t have to work at the technology. This could apply to most things, Operating Systems, entertainment systems, IT information systems. Always available, doing just as needed, and not intrusive.

The other point gleaned from the movies is related but different and that is culture, the technology reflected the various cultural differences, but still provided similar benefits. The spaceships reflected the culture of the planet that operated them. In Ireland, and Europe in general, that is reflected today in automobiles. The cars here are smaller, shaped differently and in some cases are dead ugly functional. Even the heavy equipment here has identifiable differences to those in the U.S. Some of this is due to the environment in which they operate, smaller streets, more expensive fuel, ect. Even McDonalds has adapted their menus here. The one size fits all is not, and should not be a requirement of the technology. It should recognize that there are different cultural and environmental elements to accommodate in the development of technology. I cannot count the number of E-Commerce systems that attempt to sell in Ireland and require an area code or a street number. Here a house address could be a proper name, associated with a village or an estate name, no zip code and no street address. The mapping sites operating on the Internet are going to go crazy here, where the only real way to find some houses are GPS coordinates and the help of the local postman.

Anyway, the point is this, development of technology is as much an element of culture and lifestyle as any other object in use today, and should be incorporated into any requirements analysis for future development. The shape of a computer case, the color of a keyboard, the data entry screen, the controls on an MP3 player must all be taken into consideration. Apple more or less knew this with the creation of colored iMacs and iPods. And the PC industry has often copied this with no real understanding as to why one should do this. This is why! Discrete useful, culturally integrated technology is the goal.

Blogs, Bots and Words.

Being new to this Blog thing, at lease as a writer of Blog’s. I was surprised by the speed that the bot’s on the net found my, very valuable musing, and even linking to one of the brilliant comments in less than 24 hours. The bot in question was searching for the word ‘Outsourcing’

I’ll have to think up other interesting words.