I came up with this 'lego challenge' idea in another/. thread some months back. You'll be able to get home rover bots in Radio shack before you know it.
I don't think anything will prevent the MS/Intel/Government/Hollywood/RIAA conglomerate momentum from marching toward forcing use of DRM based media distribution channels in the future.
Instead - all you smart/.'ers out there...
focus on maintaining and growing the vitality of non-DRM based computing by continuing to develop SW and supporting HW solutions.
So - don't waste energy hand wringing yourselves to death over paladium - get off the tracks before that train runs you over. Instead, get on the *other* tracks, and stay focused on the subject of this post.
Of course, we can't be a bunch ostrich's either. Support for EFF/FSF and any other advocacy group aligned w/non-DRM based computing philosophy is still essential so that there is a level playing field for laying those non-DRM computing tracks (to extend my metaphor above)
Below is part of an email I recently sent to a colleague, where I mused on the future of this DRM/palladium crap...
...What is real interesting is the new emphasis on Digital Rights Management (DRM), Palladium, etc. The slash dotties, EFF pundits, etc. are rightfully up in arms about it, and I certainly agree in principle with a lot of their concerns.
Here is what I think... What DRM and the architectural changes to the PC architecture in order to support it really portend is just another evolutionary change in home computer application. I think this is the point where the PC 'species' branches into two different sub-species. The traditional general purpose computing platform we are used to today, as characterized by a somewhat open, plug'and'play, 'hackable' architecture. And the new 'Digital Entertainment Computer' (call it a 'DEC' - nice homage to the original DEC computers, eh?). MS is still the king of the software world in traditional PC architecture space, although that position will continue to erode (no matter what MS does). More importantly, MS (along w/Intel) is in a position to define and own the proprietary and completely closed system architecture that will define the OS/HAL/UI for DECs using embedded DRM.
The DEC machines will probably be as mysterious as your cable decoder box, much smarter about detecting hacks, with a keyboard and standard PC peripherals attached, so that if you want to, you can stop watching 'Digivision' console (...my term!) and fire up MS Word if you really need to.
In the DRM/DEC world, beyond universal access to basic broadcasting services, I don't care at all how much MS dictates the standards - just like I don't care how television mfgrs and cable companies design their transmission/decoding and viewing devices. After all, you don't have to watch it, you don't have to subscribe, and you don't have to pay for it if you don't want to. The RIAA will finally stop thinking the world is coming to an end. This scenario is still pretty far out - what I'm thinking of here is the ubiquitous family/home entertainment system of the future, where everything gets its feed from a DRM/DEC device.
So - I'm betting on a rosy future for MS, and especially for anyone who gets in front of the wave of technology and enablement services that DRM and DRM media distribution channels will require. I think traditional PC hackers and open architecture advocates have less to fear from MS than they think in this future scenario. My guess is 10 years from now MS will be focused on preserving market share and raking in licensing fees in digital media distribution, subscription, and decoding (the future MS proprietary monopoly, if you will), and less focused on fighting back the open source/free software movement to preserve share in the traditional desk top OS/application market.
(there must be an official Lego challenge web site out there somewhere...)
This thread topic made me think of something I would like to build someday - call it 'LegoRover'.
I travel a lot. Here is what LegoRover would do for me while I'm gone:
> Periodically crawl around my house, either using remote issued directional command/control (more on that below), or using a pre-programmed or semi-random navigational algorithm. > Always finish a crawl by returning and reattaching to a battery charging station > During the crawl capture environmental info like: digital stills or mpegs (a small mounted digital camera?); live video feed; sound recordings; temperature; etc. > transmit environemtal info to base station PC in house > LegoRover is a home LAN network node - use a wi-fi? connection to transmit live command control feed to LegoRover and transmit live video/sound feed to internet connected base station PC? >(see where this is going?...) - from my hotel room somewhere, I can access my home net - load/view stored rover data from this morning's programmed crawl, then turn on the live video feed and starting driving LegoRover around the house for a looksee.
I've heard lots about NotesR5. What you are saying is very negative. It would be helpful in this forum if you could back up opinion with fact. Please share details on why you think R5 is so bad.
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I came up with this 'lego challenge' idea in another /. thread some months back. You'll be able to get home rover bots in Radio shack before you know it.
I don't think anything will prevent the MS/Intel/Government/Hollywood/RIAA conglomerate momentum from marching toward forcing use of DRM based media distribution channels in the future.
/.'ers out there...
...What is real interesting is the new emphasis on Digital Rights Management (DRM), Palladium, etc. The slash dotties, EFF pundits, etc. are rightfully up in arms about it, and I certainly agree in principle with a lot of their concerns.
Instead - all you smart
focus on maintaining and growing the vitality of non-DRM based computing by continuing to develop SW and supporting HW solutions.
So - don't waste energy hand wringing yourselves to death over paladium - get off the tracks before that train runs you over. Instead, get on the *other* tracks, and stay focused on the subject of this post.
Of course, we can't be a bunch ostrich's either. Support for EFF/FSF and any other advocacy group aligned w/non-DRM based computing philosophy is still essential so that there is a level playing field for laying those non-DRM computing tracks (to extend my metaphor above)
Below is part of an email I recently sent to a colleague, where I mused on the future of this DRM/palladium crap...
Here is what I think... What DRM and the architectural changes to the PC architecture in order to support it really portend is just another evolutionary change in home computer application. I think this is the point where the PC 'species' branches into two different sub-species. The traditional general purpose computing platform we are used to today, as characterized by a somewhat open, plug'and'play, 'hackable' architecture. And the new 'Digital Entertainment Computer' (call it a 'DEC' - nice homage to the original DEC computers, eh?). MS is still the king of the software world in traditional PC architecture space, although that position will continue to erode (no matter what MS does). More importantly, MS (along w/Intel) is in a position to define and own the proprietary and completely closed system architecture that will define the OS/HAL/UI for DECs using embedded DRM.
The DEC machines will probably be as mysterious as your cable decoder box, much smarter about detecting hacks, with a keyboard and standard PC peripherals attached, so that if you want to, you can stop watching 'Digivision' console (...my term!) and fire up MS Word if you really need to.
In the DRM/DEC world, beyond universal access to basic broadcasting services, I don't care at all how much MS dictates the standards - just like I don't care how television mfgrs and cable companies design their transmission/decoding and viewing devices. After all, you don't have to watch it, you don't have to subscribe, and you don't have to pay for it if you don't want to. The RIAA will finally stop thinking the world is coming to an end. This scenario is still pretty far out - what I'm thinking of here is the ubiquitous family/home entertainment system of the future, where everything gets its feed from a DRM/DEC device.
So - I'm betting on a rosy future for MS, and especially for anyone who gets in front of the wave of technology and enablement services that DRM and DRM media distribution channels will require. I think traditional PC hackers and open architecture advocates have less to fear from MS than they think in this future scenario. My guess is 10 years from now MS will be focused on preserving market share and raking in licensing fees in digital media distribution, subscription, and decoding (the future MS proprietary monopoly, if you will), and less focused on fighting back the open source/free software movement to preserve share in the traditional desk top OS/application market.
(there must be an official Lego challenge web site out there somewhere...)
This thread topic made me think of something I would like to build someday - call it 'LegoRover'.
I travel a lot. Here is what LegoRover would do for me while I'm gone:
> Periodically crawl around my house, either using remote issued directional command/control (more on that below), or using a pre-programmed or semi-random navigational algorithm.
> Always finish a crawl by returning and reattaching to a battery charging station
> During the crawl capture environmental info like: digital stills or mpegs (a small mounted digital camera?); live video feed; sound recordings; temperature; etc.
> transmit environemtal info to base station PC in house
> LegoRover is a home LAN network node - use a wi-fi? connection to transmit live command control feed to LegoRover and transmit live video/sound feed to internet connected base station PC?
>(see where this is going?...) - from my hotel room somewhere, I can access my home net - load/view stored rover data from this morning's programmed crawl, then turn on the live video feed and starting driving LegoRover around the house for a looksee.
Would the Honorable Congressman from Peru like to assist US parties in drafting an amendment to the US constitution?
I've heard lots about NotesR5. What you are saying is very negative. It would be helpful in this forum if you could back up opinion with fact. Please share details on why you think R5 is so bad.