The space debris problem is a lot like a nuclear reaction - collisions happen and debris is released which causes more collisions and the reaction continues at an exponential rate. It could get to the point where space navigation will no longer be viable.
Interesting fact - a piece of space debris the size of a small marble, traveling at 22,000 miles per hour, has the kinetic energy of a 400 pound safe dropped from about 100 feet. Imagine the damage that would result if a marble-sized object were to collide with a space craft.
It would be great if we found a way to fix the space debris problem.
Although there is limited support, MySQL can be clustered on a load balanced system. Just search the MySQL site.
Google embraces open source development with MySQL being their database of choice. I haven't found any articles about Google using any proprietary database management system.
I think all major mathematics courses should be taught within a computer science curriculum. There is real-world purpose for all forms of mathematics. A software developer with a strong foundation in mathematics can develop programs to efficiently analyze or simulate real-world phenomena.
I think the most important are the following:
Discrete mathematics, otherwise finite mathematics should be taught because it is the best way to represent a finite machine. A computer is a finite machine with many countable sets.
Calculus is great for computer science. Students who take calculus develop strong problem solving skills. Multivariable calculus should be optionally taught to those who want to design 3D games.
Statistics and probability theory should be taught. Statistics is used to analyze, interpret and present data. Computers are used to perform calculations on data. The combination of statistics and computers facilitate decisions in all areas of science, business and government.
Computers have the ability to manipulate finite datasets. This could be applied to anything (music included).
If a hard drive is loaded with lots of music from many genres, a program could analyze the scale and chord progression for every song. After the program is finished analyzing and categorizing all of the musical trends, pseudo-random output within a specified statistical variance could be presented as new music.
However, music is the result of priceless human creativity from the following genras: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Expressionistic, Impressionistic, Modern, Jazz, Pop, Rock & Alt, etc. It is completely unlikely, at this point in time, that a computer could have the ability to create an entirely new genre and sound good at the same time.
At the same time there has been a decrease in the amount of students enrolled in computer science and computer engineering curriculums. This makes it even more difficult to for companies to find competent employees and interns. Therefore, there is more likelihood for one to start looking offshore.
Obviously, you cannot beat the price of offshore development in a lot of cases as well. You can find a foreign developer online to develop an application for $10/hr as apposed to it costing $40/hr (conservative) for a native.
Let's note some reasons to develop at home. Some problems related to offshore development include lack of innovation and development speed. These two problems arise from communication barriers. It can take 3 times as long to explain a general idea via email or instant messenger to an offshore developer trying to interpret a language. Concepts are much more easily shared when the developer is sitting right next to you viewing the same flow charts and conceptual diagrams. Also, an onshore developer is likely to more quickly learn new development technologies emerging from sources like Microsoft, Sun, Oracle, Linux, Novel, or Intel.
All serious software should be designed before it is built. This means all hardware, peripheral software, UML design, ER design, and algorithm development should be documented and proven by a team before any actual code is written. Of course, all of this takes time.
Many professionals just do not get this concept. They have trouble grasping the fact that time must elapse before seeing anything.
From what I have heard and read, Google seems to have this idea down pat.
Google also allows their developers to devote 20% of their time toward applications of their own creative choice. This is how Froogle and Google Base came to fruition.
The Googleplex seems like a great development environment.
We have to be seriously careful when we start talking about bio-fuels. There is something intrinsically wrong with using our valuable food resources to satisfy our addiction for energy.
Push wind, solar and fusion research. We have lots of room for exploration and improvement. Use these non-carbon alternatives to extract hydrogen from water.
Fuel cells for cars are a good idea. Cars will not be able to accelerate as fast or reach the same top speeds, but traveling will be a reality.
There is no doubt that more and more people are getting access to technology faster and cheaper as technology gets more advanced. It's been possible for a while to have Internet access everywhere via mobi (mobile phone). Now companies are making it even easier to buy mobile-phone components and data plans that facilitate laptop internet connections at half broad band speeds (I was sort impressed by Verizon when I went to the mall the other day). No plug intended.
Some fear that computers will run rampant and try to destroy us after 2020. It just may happen that computers (if they think and have feelings) may treat us like gods or parents. After all, we are the creators.
One thing is certain. People will not stop embracing and exploring technology. Humans by nature are explorers. There was a push to explore America. There was a push to go to outer space. The same push drives us to create our own Holodeck or Matrix.
I am not totally sure what is so significant about 2020. What will everyone be doing in April - (4:20 4/20/2020)? Will everyone have perfect vision?
Slashdot Mirror
The space debris problem is a lot like a nuclear reaction - collisions happen and debris is released which causes more collisions and the reaction continues at an exponential rate. It could get to the point where space navigation will no longer be viable.
Interesting fact - a piece of space debris the size of a small marble, traveling at 22,000 miles per hour, has the kinetic energy of a 400 pound safe dropped from about 100 feet. Imagine the damage that would result if a marble-sized object were to collide with a space craft.
It would be great if we found a way to fix the space debris problem.
Although there is limited support, MySQL can be clustered on a load balanced system. Just search the MySQL site.
Google embraces open source development with MySQL being their database of choice. I haven't found any articles about Google using any proprietary database management system.
I think all major mathematics courses should be taught within a computer science curriculum. There is real-world purpose for all forms of mathematics. A software developer with a strong foundation in mathematics can develop programs to efficiently analyze or simulate real-world phenomena.
I think the most important are the following:
Discrete mathematics, otherwise finite mathematics should be taught because it is the best way to represent a finite machine. A computer is a finite machine with many countable sets.
Calculus is great for computer science. Students who take calculus develop strong problem solving skills. Multivariable calculus should be optionally taught to those who want to design 3D games.
Statistics and probability theory should be taught. Statistics is used to analyze, interpret and present data. Computers are used to perform calculations on data. The combination of statistics and computers facilitate decisions in all areas of science, business and government.
OpenMoko does not yet return results on Google.
Yahoo shows 2 results for OpenMoko.
The $350 price tag is looking a lot better than the $600 tag attached to a similar Linux phone from D-Link.
Computers have the ability to manipulate finite datasets. This could be applied to anything (music included).
If a hard drive is loaded with lots of music from many genres, a program could analyze the scale and chord progression for every song. After the program is finished analyzing and categorizing all of the musical trends, pseudo-random output within a specified statistical variance could be presented as new music.
However, music is the result of priceless human creativity from the following genras: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Expressionistic, Impressionistic, Modern, Jazz, Pop, Rock & Alt, etc. It is completely unlikely, at this point in time, that a computer could have the ability to create an entirely new genre and sound good at the same time.
At the same time there has been a decrease in the amount of students enrolled in computer science and computer engineering curriculums. This makes it even more difficult to for companies to find competent employees and interns. Therefore, there is more likelihood for one to start looking offshore.
Obviously, you cannot beat the price of offshore development in a lot of cases as well. You can find a foreign developer online to develop an application for $10/hr as apposed to it costing $40/hr (conservative) for a native.
Let's note some reasons to develop at home. Some problems related to offshore development include lack of innovation and development speed. These two problems arise from communication barriers. It can take 3 times as long to explain a general idea via email or instant messenger to an offshore developer trying to interpret a language. Concepts are much more easily shared when the developer is sitting right next to you viewing the same flow charts and conceptual diagrams. Also, an onshore developer is likely to more quickly learn new development technologies emerging from sources like Microsoft, Sun, Oracle, Linux, Novel, or Intel.
All serious software should be designed before it is built. This means all hardware, peripheral software, UML design, ER design, and algorithm development should be documented and proven by a team before any actual code is written. Of course, all of this takes time.
Many professionals just do not get this concept. They have trouble grasping the fact that time must elapse before seeing anything.
From what I have heard and read, Google seems to have this idea down pat.
Google also allows their developers to devote 20% of their time toward applications of their own creative choice. This is how Froogle and Google Base came to fruition.
The Googleplex seems like a great development environment.
We have to be seriously careful when we start talking about bio-fuels. There is something intrinsically wrong with using our valuable food resources to satisfy our addiction for energy. Push wind, solar and fusion research. We have lots of room for exploration and improvement. Use these non-carbon alternatives to extract hydrogen from water. Fuel cells for cars are a good idea. Cars will not be able to accelerate as fast or reach the same top speeds, but traveling will be a reality.
There is no doubt that more and more people are getting access to technology faster and cheaper as technology gets more advanced. It's been possible for a while to have Internet access everywhere via mobi (mobile phone). Now companies are making it even easier to buy mobile-phone components and data plans that facilitate laptop internet connections at half broad band speeds (I was sort impressed by Verizon when I went to the mall the other day). No plug intended.
Some fear that computers will run rampant and try to destroy us after 2020. It just may happen that computers (if they think and have feelings) may treat us like gods or parents. After all, we are the creators.
One thing is certain. People will not stop embracing and exploring technology. Humans by nature are explorers. There was a push to explore America. There was a push to go to outer space. The same push drives us to create our own Holodeck or Matrix.
I am not totally sure what is so significant about 2020. What will everyone be doing in April - (4:20 4/20/2020)? Will everyone have perfect vision?