The Future Might Be BIOS and Browsers

An anonymous reader writes "Few in the open source community have welcomed online applications like Google Docs with open arms, but Keir Thomas claims he's found a way forward — and it's one that involves exclusively open source. He reckons BIOS-based operating systems are the future, because they will alter the way users think about their computers. FTA: 'The key breakthrough is ideological: BIOS-based operating systems demote the operating system to just another function of the hardware. It breaks the old mindset of the operating system being a distinct platform, or an end in itself. The operating system becomes part of the overall computing appliance. This allows the spotlight to focus on online applications.'"

Comments

Re:Online is the coms, not the content.

[Anonymous Coward]

It seems that a phobia of other people having data on you is common on slashdot. Basically, to tell if you have this phobia imagine that this post contained your (yes, you) name, DOB and address. If you felt scared by that idea, you have the phobia. If I did post your details, nobody would care. Nothing bad would happen. The fact is, /. loves perpetuating irrational fears (OMG GOOGLE/GOVERNMENT/COMPANY has my data! they're gona kill us all). The facct is, if a company has more information on you, they will be able to help you more. A lack of privacy never causes any problems. The problem always lies elsewhere. For example, if you published your bank details and password then you had money stolen, it would not be due to a lack of privacy, it would be due to people making the wrong decision (criminal decisions). However, publishing those details could mean that you never recieved adverts more relevent to you online (eg if you were loaded, more rolexes advertised). There's a reason Google is collecting all this data...