Slashdot Mirror
When a Tech 'Breakthrough' Isn't Really
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "'More than 8,600 press releases have been issued over the years with "breakthrough" in the headline, a majority of them by computer and electronics companies,' Lee Gomes writes in the Wall Street Journal. He examines whether hyperbole and hype has robbed the term of much of its meaning, focusing on a recently announced 'breakthrough' by Intel involving optical computing. From the article: 'Having been inside Intel's laser labs, I need no persuading that the company is doing important work here, and an Intel spokesman says the development is indeed a "breakthrough" because it shows how real-world optical products can be made with silicon. I wonder, though, how many more breakthroughs we will be reading about before optical computing becomes ubiquitous.'"
I was so excited when I RTFA that I immediately had to post a comment saying that this is simply the BEST article that I have ever read on Slashdot and it will probably be seen as THE breakthrough in human-to-human communications that we have all been waiting for.
I am not exaggerating
To an MBA, a "breakthrough" is anything that will make them more money (or in the case of marketing, anything that they *hope* will make them more money).
Insisting on "correct" English is like saying that there is only one, definitive recipe for chili.
The FA is stating that we overuse the "breakthrough" word to advertize a tech that is still years away from market, and of course editors are happy to show us another great story.
Hilarious - Whenever I see or hear something described as hilarious warning bells go of.
Celebrity - At least in the UK, anybody who has ever appeared on TV, or is related to or has slept with someone who has been on TV. (At least this is true in the UK)
I think it was about a week ago.
http://savingiceland.org
> As the saying goes: "If the Shoe Fits..."
You must acquit?
"this is a quantum leap in XXX!"
Hot buttered damn!!!
Holographic pr0n at last!!!