Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but perhaps something I've worked on for several years would be helpful. I work with electromagnetic integral equations (not PDEs) and the visualization of those data... "extracting meaning from gigabytes of data" is how I usually put it.
Take a look at my Computational Electromagnetic Modeling Framework. The SmartView visualizer and Component View data processor would probably be most relevant. You'll also find some papers, articles, and presentations to download, and they may have some ideas you can use.
Don't be put off by the purchase price. If it can help you out, email me from the site, and I'll send you a copy without charge.
Let me say "Amen!" to this. I have a PhD in electrical engineering and took the advice of my professors to grit my teeth and stick it out to get it done before marriage and kids and "real life" intrudes. Best thing I ever did.
Also, back on topic, I use people with abstract/theoretical math skills to help me solve problems that my computational/numerical skills cannot. Most of the time, the theoretical math approach yields a far better solution than what I could come up with on my own. And it's always true that the math approach gets me thinking "outside the box" and helps me recover from my personal "blind spots."
I think you can find a very rich and rewarding career in abstract/theoretical math, especially if you like working on problems no one else can solve!
Perhaps a better metric would be something like a "moment of inertia." Take each flaw and multiply by the time it takes to fix it. I suspect Linux/Unix/*ix would fair much better than things in MS-land.
As someone who wrote his first FORTRAN program in 1968, I'd say your decision only matters in the short term, because all the careers that are *interesting* haven't been invented yet!
In 1968, there was no C, definitely no C++ or C#. There was no worldwide web, not even a glimmer of an internet. Hardware consisted of an IBM or Burroughs mainframe hidden in the bowels of the administration building, and you used a card punch to 'write' your programs, which you then submitted to the 'high priestesses' aka data clerks to read... and hopefully not drop on the floor!
Prepare yourself to *think*, to be creative, to be adaptable, and you will be successful.
P.S. - I never took another programming course after that one FORTRAN course in 1968... and now I make $200+/hr designing/writing software in languages that didn't even exist then!
. . . knowing that one must extract "meaning" from data if it is ever to be of any use. We use our visualization tools all the time to do this, but finding "meaning" is usually more difficult than putting a "pretty face" on the data.
Fold in the fact that a "model" (whether of the stock market, a social situation, or a scientific simulation) does nothing more than capture that small part of reality we're interested in, and finding "meaning" becomes even more difficult.
And on top of that, add that one person's garbage is another person's data... and vice versa.
This company's solution isn't my cup of tea, but at least they are trying to address the problem.
"... but making a cockroach that has enough power, is controllable (either remotely or through AI), and is actually useful would be the hard part. "
Sandia Labs has a number of 1 cubic inch robot "critter" designs. They are used in a "swarm" to cooperatively pinpoint threat (e.g., chemical release) locations and map threat contours. I saw several videos on this technology last month, and it's impressive.
... here we have a tech school that appears like they are going to enter the 500 list at potentially number 2. Cool.
Cool indeed!
I was once a student, grad student and professor at Va. Tech. As a grad student in 1975 I made the bold prediction that these microprocessor "toys" just coming out would never amount to anything.
I guess they've come a long way since I've left! LOL
I have never regretted the $2K I spend for an HP Color Laserjet 4600... even at toner refill time! It is a very fast, very reliable machine. My old B&W laser seems soooooo slow now!
As a PhD Electromagnetics Engineer, I'd suggest the airlines follow the "honeypot" approach used for internet security. Install several relatively inexpensive RF detectors near critical equipment and circuitry. If there's no interference the detectors would never go off, so if you had even one detector fire, you'd know there was a potential problem and could investigate further (or ask everyone to temporarily discontinue use of 'portable electronics').
Whenever I release source code, it's for the reasons listed in both articles.
The NewsForge article concludes that we go open source because "there's something in it for me." And yes, that's true. My #1 marketing plan has always been, "Get it distributed; get it used; get it accepted." Open source is a great way to "get it distributed," especially for customers with thin wallets.
On the other hand, Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the Cybernaut article also applies. At this point in my career life-cycle (I'm 53), I've drawn a line and said (financially), "Enough is enough!" So, it doesn't bother me to "give it away" as much as it would have 10-20 years ago.
You can't compare Linux TCO with Windows TCO, because Windows doesn't have one. You don't own anything with windows. Windows TCO is a myth and should be called Windows TCL - Total Cost of licenseship.
"Why buy one when you can buy two at twice the price?"
Generations and Circumstances
on
Generation Wrecked
·
· Score: 2, Informative
An excellent discussion of generational patterns and their relationship to the cycles of history can be found in "The Fourth Turning" by Strauss & Howe. (The book's website) The authors designate Gen-X as being born between 1961 and 1981. They are likened to the "Lost" generation born between 1883-1900 who came of age just before the Great Depression.
Written in 1997, "The Fourth Turning" stated that the U.S. was (then) in an "Unraveling" and would be entering a "Crisis" period around 2005.
It is a fascinating book, and I highly recommend it.
Slashdot Mirror
Take a look at my Computational Electromagnetic Modeling Framework. The SmartView visualizer and Component View data processor would probably be most relevant. You'll also find some papers, articles, and presentations to download, and they may have some ideas you can use.
Don't be put off by the purchase price. If it can help you out, email me from the site, and I'll send you a copy without charge.
Let me say "Amen!" to this. I have a PhD in electrical engineering and took the advice of my professors to grit my teeth and stick it out to get it done before marriage and kids and "real life" intrudes. Best thing I ever did.
Also, back on topic, I use people with abstract/theoretical math skills to help me solve problems that my computational/numerical skills cannot. Most of the time, the theoretical math approach yields a far better solution than what I could come up with on my own. And it's always true that the math approach gets me thinking "outside the box" and helps me recover from my personal "blind spots."
I think you can find a very rich and rewarding career in abstract/theoretical math, especially if you like working on problems no one else can solve!
I guess I'm getting old. When I saw the title, I immediately thought, "Who is still using IBM 360s?"
Which will obsolete first, the technology or the music?
In 20 years, today's top music will sound so "Barry Manilow!"
Perhaps a better metric would be something like a "moment of inertia." Take each flaw and multiply by the time it takes to fix it. I suspect Linux/Unix/*ix would fair much better than things in MS-land.
This is a very good example of how some things just cannot be communicated well via the written (user manual) or spoken (phone support) word.
(This is also what keeps consultants -- like me -- in business!)
In 1968, there was no C, definitely no C++ or C#. There was no worldwide web, not even a glimmer of an internet. Hardware consisted of an IBM or Burroughs mainframe hidden in the bowels of the administration building, and you used a card punch to 'write' your programs, which you then submitted to the 'high priestesses' aka data clerks to read... and hopefully not drop on the floor!
Prepare yourself to *think*, to be creative, to be adaptable, and you will be successful.
P.S. - I never took another programming course after that one FORTRAN course in 1968... and now I make $200+/hr designing/writing software in languages that didn't even exist then!
Expect a patch? I'd rather sue them! LOL
Fold in the fact that a "model" (whether of the stock market, a social situation, or a scientific simulation) does nothing more than capture that small part of reality we're interested in, and finding "meaning" becomes even more difficult.
And on top of that, add that one person's garbage is another person's data ... and vice versa.
This company's solution isn't my cup of tea, but at least they are trying to address the problem.
... can it also STOP your car and LOCK your doors?
Sandia Labs has a number of 1 cubic inch robot "critter" designs. They are used in a "swarm" to cooperatively pinpoint threat (e.g., chemical release) locations and map threat contours. I saw several videos on this technology last month, and it's impressive.
Cool indeed!
I was once a student, grad student and professor at Va. Tech. As a grad student in 1975 I made the bold prediction that these microprocessor "toys" just coming out would never amount to anything.
I guess they've come a long way since I've left! LOL
I have never regretted the $2K I spend for an HP Color Laserjet 4600... even at toner refill time! It is a very fast, very reliable machine. My old B&W laser seems soooooo slow now!
As a PhD Electromagnetics Engineer, I'd suggest the airlines follow the "honeypot" approach used for internet security. Install several relatively inexpensive RF detectors near critical equipment and circuitry. If there's no interference the detectors would never go off, so if you had even one detector fire, you'd know there was a potential problem and could investigate further (or ask everyone to temporarily discontinue use of 'portable electronics').
The NewsForge article concludes that we go open source because "there's something in it for me." And yes, that's true. My #1 marketing plan has always been, "Get it distributed; get it used; get it accepted." Open source is a great way to "get it distributed," especially for customers with thin wallets.
On the other hand, Maslow's hierarchy of needs in the Cybernaut article also applies. At this point in my career life-cycle (I'm 53), I've drawn a line and said (financially), "Enough is enough!" So, it doesn't bother me to "give it away" as much as it would have 10-20 years ago.
Never tell the Emperor he has no clothes . . .
. . . instead, tell him he's got great legs!
Hmmm... Food and keyboards don't mix. I think I'll open a repair shop specializing in cleaning the dumped sodas et al. out of laptop keyboards.
You can't compare Linux TCO with Windows TCO, because Windows doesn't have one. You don't own anything with windows. Windows TCO is a myth and should be called Windows TCL - Total Cost of licenseship.
Or as was said in the movie "Contact" -
"Why buy one when you can buy two at twice the price?"
Written in 1997, "The Fourth Turning" stated that the U.S. was (then) in an "Unraveling" and would be entering a "Crisis" period around 2005.
It is a fascinating book, and I highly recommend it.
... were right after all.
If you're doing no better than omni, you may have an impedance mismatch to overcome. Pattern might be just fine.