I think one thing people have been missing out is also the environmental concerns in the productions of CRT's. I don't care what kind of monitor you're making, but if you want to to be able to display the type of colour and contrast, you need LEAD (Pb) in the glass. With the EPA getting harsher and harsher with materials controls and disposal, and also the fees that they're considering slapping on manufacturers of said monitors, i don't see why they wouldnt be finding ways of getting out.
Part of the coding process should be 'quality' coding to begin with- with proper planning details and what not.
However, in the web world - most projects are rushed, and pushed, and not allowed the proper time to do so (at least in my experience in the dot.com and post dot.com world) - hence, the continued cycle of carnage.
Under these conditions - if you can get some semi-decent QA people to help out - you can pinpoint problems that way a lot quicker. Why? They are not attached to the code. In fact, most QA people these days, can't even code. However, what they should excel in is being either a) A dumb ass user or b) following the logic train.
Lets start with the 'dumb ass user' view point. They will try to put in letters to numbers, numbers to letter, insane characters to whatever fields that you've never intended. They will try to break the code under different environments, doing things that you never quite expected. Basically - a fresh perspective. Ideally, let them mess with it (if that is possible), or see if you could integrate the item in question into one of their enviroments to see what else it could possibly toast while they are doing their job. While you're coding for a particular thing, and are aware of what it is supposed to affect - its usually when it's thrown into a total environment that things start to break, and break quickly.
Now, onto the follow the logic train argument - if you, as a developer, can explain to a QA person who cannot code, but who understands the logic, in simple english - AND - they understand what you're talking about - you're 80%+ of the way there already. Again, the key thing here is a fresh perspective on the item in question. Kinda of like stepping away and them coming back to it.
but has anyone actually written to Virgin Connect and asked them if they would be willing to part with them wholesale??? I wouldn't even know where to begin to ask, but it seems like an idea to try
Well, let's see. In light of recent legal battles - what if I were to attach the code for say, DiVx and DeCSS, onto my thesis and they link it somehow - much like to all my other thesis's that I've noticed.
Does that mean that we can get the RIAA to sue them for us????
Well, any of you ever see Mission Impossible - when they had the whole programme boot up that also used the HD as generator for a homing signal? *grins wickedly*
Actually, that idea wouldn't be too difficult to do. All one has to do is to integrate a low power transmitter on an odd frequency that's integrated into the hardware - perhaps the drive itself or the mobo - that cannot be dissected - and under conditions (like multiple fail attempts at passkeys) it would trigger it. The antenna can be integrated into the case itself, kinda like those window antennas in cars that's covered across the rear window of cars - except in this case, it would be laced all over the panel and the case itself.
As a backup plan - have little polymeric cells that contain cyanide based acids (This is the stuff we use to dissolve gold with) hidden throughout the entire unit looking like capacitors and other elements of the system. Again, with the multiple passcode failures - a secondary power system is triggered that is not normally functioning - kinda sorta like in T2 when the terminator finds an alternate power route - and activates these plastic units. Which in turn dissolve and eat everything in sight *AND* kills the person in the process via chemical reaction.
Unfortunately, it's true. In most high school cases, it is impractical or impossible to add Linux unless some fundamental changes are made - and those changes usually do not resonate well with long standing administrative staff or current technical support requirements.
I was a research Ceramic Engineer for the longest time before I decided to quit to take a break from the real world and hide in the unreal world by teaching - and try to make a real difference.
Not to mention also go broke in the process (went from a 6 digit salary to a low 5 digit one. rather sad actually - but that's another point i'll tack on later)
In most schools, you have in general 3 major types - those who are in the know (5% if that), those who have an idea (25-45% depending on area), and those who have NO idea (50-70% depending on area). This is including faculty, staff and students. The ones who definately know whats going on, are either swamped out of their minds, or have better things to do than simply just try to upgrade or help things - because of workload and/or school 'culture' (I.e. Politics). If any of you actually have not been in a school environment, I would suggest that you ask someone who's there at the moment - with whom you know has more than the marginal share of basic computer knowledge. They'll tell you that the bulk of their fellow classmates/teachers are computer illiterate, and ask insane amounts of 'no common sense' questions left and right about them because they cannot simply solve problems ON THEIR OWN! Common sense AND logic is severely lacking in many cases. Think back to your own high school career - how many teachers can you recall had that sense to really solve problems and questions on their own? How many have you forgotten that have not even done so?
now, having identified one major problem - people's inability to solve problems - lets move onto the 2nd major issue. Administrative perspective. Most of the administrative staff are overwhelmed as it is with their normal load of material. They also do not have a technical background - I mean, how many school admins do you remember and/or know that have a physical education background for crying out loud!! - to even remotely understand what linux can do for them. It is actually rather sad.
From a within perspective, you really have to hit the ones who actually know whats going on. And even then, you have to make sure you are not making them look bad or clueless - as most of them feel like masters of their domain - as they are treated as such by the non-techies. Make sure you have stuff you can show, material at hand they can look at. While a lot of schools these days have Internet access, most of the technical staff are swamped doing stupid stuff, ranging from trying to make sure systems are running (I.e. clueless people somehow managing to wipe out.dll's or programs on machines) - to jamming printers because people cannot read directions and so on. They simply do not have the time to just look and see it.
From an without perspective - 'hit' the school boards and so on. Bring in ideas, show them how they can save money (mentioned earlier) by recycling older machines, downloading what they need, and making it all work by simply getting 2 or 3 people REALLY in the know - and not people barely qualified - in what they are doing.
In my case, I am ready to give up. I have sought to make a difference, but am hampered continuously by clueless and non-supportive administrative staff. With all the change of focus on students, I'm sure most of you will run into roadblocks somewhere, somehow - whether by politics (mostly), loopholes, self-interest, lack of funding, or whatever. It is rather a sad state of affairs.
I'll go back to doing nothing and getting paid big bucks for it, than trying to make a difference for people - because there is very little attitude towards REAL and positive change. They may talk the talk, but very rarely do they 1) ponder the consequences of the talk, and 2) actually give enough support/backbone to walking the walk.
Slashdot Mirror
I think one thing people have been missing out is also the environmental concerns in the productions of CRT's. I don't care what kind of monitor you're making, but if you want to to be able to display the type of colour and contrast, you need LEAD (Pb) in the glass. With the EPA getting harsher and harsher with materials controls and disposal, and also the fees that they're considering slapping on manufacturers of said monitors, i don't see why they wouldnt be finding ways of getting out.
Part of the coding process should be 'quality' coding to begin with- with proper planning details and what not.
However, in the web world - most projects are rushed, and pushed, and not allowed the proper time to do so (at least in my experience in the dot.com and post dot.com world) - hence, the continued cycle of carnage.
Under these conditions - if you can get some semi-decent QA people to help out - you can pinpoint problems that way a lot quicker. Why? They are not attached to the code. In fact, most QA people these days, can't even code. However, what they should excel in is being either a) A dumb ass user or b) following the logic train.
Lets start with the 'dumb ass user' view point. They will try to put in letters to numbers, numbers to letter, insane characters to whatever fields that you've never intended. They will try to break the code under different environments, doing things that you never quite expected. Basically - a fresh perspective. Ideally, let them mess with it (if that is possible), or see if you could integrate the item in question into one of their enviroments to see what else it could possibly toast while they are doing their job. While you're coding for a particular thing, and are aware of what it is supposed to affect - its usually when it's thrown into a total environment that things start to break, and break quickly.
Now, onto the follow the logic train argument - if you, as a developer, can explain to a QA person who cannot code, but who understands the logic, in simple english - AND - they understand what you're talking about - you're 80%+ of the way there already. Again, the key thing here is a fresh perspective on the item in question. Kinda of like stepping away and them coming back to it.
but has anyone actually written to Virgin Connect and asked them if they would be willing to part with them wholesale??? I wouldn't even know where to begin to ask, but it seems like an idea to try
Well, let's see. In light of recent legal battles - what if I were to attach the code for say, DiVx and DeCSS, onto my thesis and they link it somehow - much like to all my other thesis's that I've noticed.
Does that mean that we can get the RIAA to sue them for us????
Well, any of you ever see Mission Impossible - when they had the whole programme boot up that also used the HD as generator for a homing signal? *grins wickedly*
Actually, that idea wouldn't be too difficult to do. All one has to do is to integrate a low power transmitter on an odd frequency that's integrated into the hardware - perhaps the drive itself or the mobo - that cannot be dissected - and under conditions (like multiple fail attempts at passkeys) it would trigger it. The antenna can be integrated into the case itself, kinda like those window antennas in cars that's covered across the rear window of cars - except in this case, it would be laced all over the panel and the case itself.
As a backup plan - have little polymeric cells that contain cyanide based acids (This is the stuff we use to dissolve gold with) hidden throughout the entire unit looking like capacitors and other elements of the system. Again, with the multiple passcode failures - a secondary power system is triggered that is not normally functioning - kinda sorta like in T2 when the terminator finds an alternate power route - and activates these plastic units. Which in turn dissolve and eat everything in sight *AND* kills the person in the process via chemical reaction.
-victem
Unfortunately, it's true. In most high school cases, it is impractical or impossible to add Linux unless some fundamental changes are made - and those changes usually do not resonate well with long standing administrative staff or current technical support requirements.
.dll's or programs on machines) - to jamming printers because people cannot read directions and so on. They simply do not have the time to just look and see it.
I was a research Ceramic Engineer for the longest time before I decided to quit to take a break from the real world and hide in the unreal world by teaching - and try to make a real difference.
Not to mention also go broke in the process (went from a 6 digit salary to a low 5 digit one. rather sad actually - but that's another point i'll tack on later)
In most schools, you have in general 3 major types - those who are in the know (5% if that), those who have an idea (25-45% depending on area), and those who have NO idea (50-70% depending on area). This is including faculty, staff and students. The ones who definately know whats going on, are either swamped out of their minds, or have better things to do than simply just try to upgrade or help things - because of workload and/or school 'culture' (I.e. Politics).
If any of you actually have not been in a school environment, I would suggest that you ask someone who's there at the moment - with whom you know has more than the marginal share of basic computer knowledge. They'll tell you that the bulk of their fellow classmates/teachers are computer illiterate, and ask insane amounts of 'no common sense' questions left and right about them because they cannot simply solve problems ON THEIR OWN! Common sense AND logic is severely lacking in many cases. Think back to your own high school career - how many teachers can you recall had that sense to really solve problems and questions on their own? How many have you forgotten that have not even done so?
now, having identified one major problem - people's inability to solve problems - lets move onto the 2nd major issue. Administrative perspective. Most of the administrative staff are overwhelmed as it is with their normal load of material. They also do not have a technical background - I mean, how many school admins do you remember and/or know that have a physical education background for crying out loud!! - to even remotely understand what linux can do for them. It is actually rather sad.
From a within perspective, you really have to hit the ones who actually know whats going on. And even then, you have to make sure you are not making them look bad or clueless - as most of them feel like masters of their domain - as they are treated as such by the non-techies. Make sure you have stuff you can show, material at hand they can look at. While a lot of schools these days have Internet access, most of the technical staff are swamped doing stupid stuff, ranging from trying to make sure systems are running (I.e. clueless people somehow managing to wipe out
From an without perspective - 'hit' the school boards and so on. Bring in ideas, show them how they can save money (mentioned earlier) by recycling older machines, downloading what they need, and making it all work by simply getting 2 or 3 people REALLY in the know - and not people barely qualified - in what they are doing.
In my case, I am ready to give up. I have sought to make a difference, but am hampered continuously by clueless and non-supportive administrative staff. With all the change of focus on students, I'm sure most of you will run into roadblocks somewhere, somehow - whether by politics (mostly), loopholes, self-interest, lack of funding, or whatever. It is rather a sad state of affairs.
I'll go back to doing nothing and getting paid big bucks for it, than trying to make a difference for people - because there is very little attitude towards REAL and positive change. They may talk the talk, but very rarely do they 1) ponder the consequences of the talk, and 2) actually give enough support/backbone to walking the walk.
-victor