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MIT Professor Michael Hawley

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the life-is-a-game dept.

cyranoVR writes "Today's CBS This Morning ran an interesting profile on MIT Professor Michael Hawley. Aside from recently publishing a super-jumbo-sized book about the Kingdom of Bhutan, he has invented (among other things) an interactive kitchen counter, designed a heart monitor embedded in jewelry, contributed to the MIT Toys of Tomorrow project and has written several classical compositions for piano. What really struck me was Hawley's observation that 'today's computers aren't musical enough.' For him, there is 'no difference between an ivory keyboard and a QWERTY keyboard.' I think it's a good thing that the mainstream media is starting to show how 'computer nerds' (as the correspondent identified Hawley) can be rich individuals with much more to their lives than hardware upgrades, programming languages and pocket protectors."

10 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. Lies!!! by Piethon · · Score: 5, Funny

    "with much more to their lives than hardware upgrades, programming languages and pocket protectors" Lies! There cannot be anything more to life!

  2. The book... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "For him, there is 'no difference between an ivory keyboard and a QWERTY keyboard.'"

    I don't know if I want to read his book.
    I imagine something like...

    akldsfjasjgl;aghjaklgfajgsafjklaa;fsadh

  3. There are many books you can't put down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This has to be one of the few that has the opposite problem.

  4. I can't be a nerd! by Digital+Dharma · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have a platinum-plated pocket protector of +5 charisma!

    --
    End of Line.
  5. Huh? Nerds are more than what?? by serutan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry, I was upgrading the embedded Forth interpreter in my pocket protector. What was it you wanted?

  6. Re:Media attention by snarkh · · Score: 4, Funny


    After all, why bother with research merit when you can have your interactive kitchen counter
    featured on Slashdot.

  7. OK, so he published a boot that's 7' tall. by Animats · · Score: 3, Funny
    The previous champion in Really Oversized Coffee-Table Books was Helmut Newton's SUMO, at 65 pounds. It costs $3000 and comes with its own metal stand. It's a collection of mildly erotic prints. Modernbook in Palo Alto had one on display for months.

    So this guy comes out with a book that is seven feet tall, weighs 133 pounds, and costs $10,000. This is an achievement of sorts, but as Molly Ivins once pointed out, once you've seen a one-ton cheese, a two-ton cheese isn't that impressive.

  8. Re:Outlook versus "Inside" by minusthink · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because if pretty girls like you, then pretty girls may touch you. And that's what it's all about.

    --
    "when life gets complicated, I like to take a nap in a tree and wait for dinner" - Hobbes.
  9. Re:Outlook versus "Inside" by DaneelGiskard · · Score: 4, Funny

    Again why should I care about a *ANY* girl (pretty or not) which get her idea from the media, and is completly close-minded to recognize that *I* am different than how the media portray me ? Why should I care about about any girl which judge on the outside apparence and media portraying and do not bother revisionning it when she meets me ?

    Boobs.

  10. Re:WRONG by rtv · · Score: 2, Funny
    Name 1 comunity of non-geek persons that are more than 10 and that get together every day to discuss their ideas. There are NONE.
    • The House of Commons
    • US Congress, Senate
    • etc.