Doing some GUI consultant work and writing a few users manuals for some pretty complex software has taught me one thing: Most user error is the fault of crappy software. A good setup (hardware or software) should be easy to use given the users.
No, most user error comes from the fact that they are forced to learn a new package almost every year. If you think about an automobile's interface, it is pretty damn unintuitive. But because it has been more or less in the same form for decades, we hairless apes have adapted to it, and make rude remarks about those who can't figure it out.
Take the key and insert it into the ignition switch. On manual ignition cars, hold down the clutch (furthest left) pedal. Turn the ignition switch 180 degrees until you can hear the starter motor turn the engine over. Immediately let go of the key when combustion begins. After the engine has had some time to warm up, tap the accellerator to release the choke...
People can learn some really complex things, given enough time and experience. We just don't allow people either when rolling out computer systems.
(Spoken as the guy who was programming VCRs at 4, and who has managed to work his way through every computer interface he's every sat in front of.)
Actually I always make a point to NEVER use a wildcard when RMing. Much better to cd to the parent directory, and use auto completion. If I HAVE to use a wildcard, I ALWAYS cd to the parent directory to limit the damage that I can inflict.
I also make a point of instinctually typeing WHERE immediately after a DELETE statement in SQL, then using the arrow keys to add the information between the two. Nothing like someone distracting you, and hitting return when your SQL statement says "delete from reallyImportantTable"
(For those in the audience not in the know, that will tell SQL to automatically delete all records from the table)
It's not totally artificial like that. John G. Bloke has to play off a latent fear that is already present in the masses. No matter how much Bloke distorts the truth, [deviant]phobia, xenophobic us and them, the rules don't apply to us because we're on a mission, and 'THINK OF THE CHILDREN' are the 4 horses of the groupthink.
They are general enough that you can tailor the specifics to any sizable population group.
From what I can tell, Mills work is more easily explained as a form of Fusion than a fundimental re-structuring of Hydrogen atoms. Helium atoms are much smaller than hydrogen atoms, and many exotic forms of He have extremely short half-lives. As far as I can tell, he has not instrumented his rigs to detect either the presence of He or neutron release. The amounts of energy he is detecting are too large for orbital exchange, and again, are more in line with what one would expect for fusion.
This is assuming, of course, that the energy he is detecting is really being produced and does not turn out to be an instrumentation error.
Well Mexican Authorities kinda needa crime with which to arrest someone. His offenses were committed in the United States, and there may not have been a clause in our treaty to extradite him.
I was going to say something along the lines of Mexico being a drag on our Economy. But since we so neatly backed the enconomy up and shipped it oversea, what's the harm?
I think Edward Bellamy nailed the problem in "Looking Backward." In essence we live in a completely insane world where working for a living is considered the lowest form of life. So we have to pay people to do the most unpleasent jobs. And if that were not enough, we compound the unpleasentness of the job by heaping on contempt.
So you have 3 classes of people. The bosses. The chumps who have to do what the bosses do because they aren't as clever or powerful as the bosses. And finally the whores who are paid lots of money by bosses to do what the Chumps won't do. All of it is needlessly degrading. And it all comes down to the fact that our entire culture is wrapped around obtaining the most money for the least effort.
Pick up a book and read about the computers of WWII.
American Submarines utilized a complex device called the TDC (Torpedo Data Computer). It was an electromechanical device that would take measurements from he periscope with range, direction, and speed estimates from the crew, and formulate a firing resolution for the Torpedoes.
Similar devices were used by other navies on Battleships to work out the firing resolutions on the larger cannons.
Back on point, just because it is clockwork doesn't mean it can't be a computer. Babbages own early attempts were themselves clockwork.
"Flapping" is too close to "Fapping", which one only does when the porn sites are still available.
Well, I guess some folks have different work environments...
In any case, deep down in the router programming references the process is referred to as Flapping. Or more accurately, anti-flapping (what routers do to detect when a chunk of the net is flapping, and to ignore it.)
I am not saying the Science Fiction is played out at all. What I am saying is that there we have identified certain patterns in stories, and the ones that work best have also worked before in folklore and hero myths.
Carl Jung and James Campbell have done far more work in this field than I could hope to encompass in a slashdot posting.
What of OSC's concepts have been explored in depth?
A young man coming of age during military service against an alien intelligence: Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein.
Which feature films/Startrek cover the exploits of an invading alien race trying to use earth for it's drugs supplies trying to subvert their own government?
Ach, I can't find it, but I my travels through the Sci-Fi/Horror section of the video store had several plot synapses along that line dating from the 80's. One in particular had aliens coming to Earth and transforming human bodies into narcotics factories (and doing the person in, in the process). I know for a fact said title pre-dates L.Ron Hubbard's Misson Earth series by several years.
Ringworld
Is a derivation of Dyson's work on spheres, combined with a little bit of Jules Verne and touched with the three legged aliens from H.G. Well's War of the Worlds.
Slashdot Mirror
"I love standards, there are so many to chose from!"
-- Linus Torvalds
Is that sticker the little hologram you find on Microsoft products?
(Married with kid[s] myself.)
Actually not true. I know the guy, and I fired him myself.
(We are a Linux/OS X shop today.)
No, most user error comes from the fact that they are forced to learn a new package almost every year. If you think about an automobile's interface, it is pretty damn unintuitive. But because it has been more or less in the same form for decades, we hairless apes have adapted to it, and make rude remarks about those who can't figure it out.
Take the key and insert it into the ignition switch. On manual ignition cars, hold down the clutch (furthest left) pedal. Turn the ignition switch 180 degrees until you can hear the starter motor turn the engine over. Immediately let go of the key when combustion begins. After the engine has had some time to warm up, tap the accellerator to release the choke...
People can learn some really complex things, given enough time and experience. We just don't allow people either when rolling out computer systems.
(Spoken as the guy who was programming VCRs at 4, and who has managed to work his way through every computer interface he's every sat in front of.)
I also make a point of instinctually typeing WHERE immediately after a DELETE statement in SQL, then using the arrow keys to add the information between the two. Nothing like someone distracting you, and hitting return when your SQL statement says "delete from reallyImportantTable"
(For those in the audience not in the know, that will tell SQL to automatically delete all records from the table)
They are general enough that you can tailor the specifics to any sizable population group.
There is a great disturbance in the force, as if a million browsers cried out in frustration and recieved dead air.
This is assuming, of course, that the energy he is detecting is really being produced and does not turn out to be an instrumentation error.
Must have blown it all on the Mansion, I say. Or his dog took a crap on the wrong person's lawn one too many times.
Pure guessing.
I was going to say something along the lines of Mexico being a drag on our Economy. But since we so neatly backed the enconomy up and shipped it oversea, what's the harm?
So you have 3 classes of people. The bosses. The chumps who have to do what the bosses do because they aren't as clever or powerful as the bosses. And finally the whores who are paid lots of money by bosses to do what the Chumps won't do. All of it is needlessly degrading. And it all comes down to the fact that our entire culture is wrapped around obtaining the most money for the least effort.
What the solution is, I don't know.
It's worked for me, going on 6 years now...
I'm just waiting for the real estate market to cool off, and my wife to stop laughing at me.
Of course now you should expect a reply by some cluebian saying "Um...rats can't do that!"
Well technically it is Rattlesnakes doing it, but rattlesnakes can't work a computer. So they hire rats to take dictation.
Turns out there are some things that even a rat won't do. Especially not for cheese.
American Submarines utilized a complex device called the TDC (Torpedo Data Computer). It was an electromechanical device that would take measurements from he periscope with range, direction, and speed estimates from the crew, and formulate a firing resolution for the Torpedoes.
Similar devices were used by other navies on Battleships to work out the firing resolutions on the larger cannons.
Back on point, just because it is clockwork doesn't mean it can't be a computer. Babbages own early attempts were themselves clockwork.
I was reading through a few of the core dumps, but it's all Greek to me.
(Oh yes, there was a time when Geeks inhabited other subterannian habits. Now that I think about it, we always did play D&D in somebody's basement...)
Well, I guess some folks have different work environments...
In any case, deep down in the router programming references the process is referred to as Flapping. Or more accurately, anti-flapping (what routers do to detect when a chunk of the net is flapping, and to ignore it.)
Carl Jung and James Campbell have done far more work in this field than I could hope to encompass in a slashdot posting.
A young man coming of age during military service against an alien intelligence: Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein.
Which feature films/Startrek cover the exploits of an invading alien race trying to use earth for it's drugs supplies trying to subvert their own government?
Ach, I can't find it, but I my travels through the Sci-Fi/Horror section of the video store had several plot synapses along that line dating from the 80's. One in particular had aliens coming to Earth and transforming human bodies into narcotics factories (and doing the person in, in the process). I know for a fact said title pre-dates L.Ron Hubbard's Misson Earth series by several years.
Ringworld
Is a derivation of Dyson's work on spheres, combined with a little bit of Jules Verne and touched with the three legged aliens from H.G. Well's War of the Worlds.