I like that at the end of the article, they discredit the entire program, by saying that the robots "may just wander around aimlessly until their batteries wear out".
That's great, wouldn't it be cheaper to simulate all this activity first?
This seems like a tremendous waste of time to me. Do we really think that by using "neural nets" that something magic will happen?
I tried to upgrade our ISDN service to DSL. I contacted several ISP's and DSL providers, solicited bids, and picked the best one (last January). It was Rhythms. Since then, it's been a bad remake of a "Keystone Kops" movie.
After I signed the contract, I made the mistake of mentioning that I also took a bid from Intermedia, an internet service provider. They tried to pull out of the contract, saying that they *won't* compete with them, and that if they knew they were competing with them, they would never had bid in the first place. So much for free enterprise, etc. I finally had throw a fit and insist that they continue with the project.
Then, Rhythms calls AIC (another DSL provider?), and they call Southwestern Bell, and Southwestern Bell tries to run the line. After dealing with the testers, the technicians, the installers and eventually the Engineer, I discovered that noone actually manages this project. Furthermore, I can't actually talk to anyone involved, because I'm going through Rhythms, not Southwestern Bell.
Anyway, to make a long story short, after 5 months of trying, Rhythms requested that I cancel the order, because SWBT indicated that there are *no facilities available*.
So, here I am at the beginning again (I'm just going to get a T1).
Meanwhile, on the home front, I can't get DSL at the house because I'm too far away from the CO. Therefore, my only real option is Cable Modem.
I get a flier on my door one day from AT&T offering combined local phone and cable modem service through the cable. I call the toll-free number, wait for a full *hour*, and sign up for the service. They say, we will install in three weeks, and you can keep your existing number.
The service date comes, I take a half-a-day off of work (they want 4 hours to install), and I wait... Nothing, no install guy, no call, nothing. I call the 800 number after a couple of hours, wait another full hour, talk to the rep, and find out that *one of the companies responsible for processing your order, didn't, so we have to reschedule*. It was rescheduled for *3 weeks* later.
Then, the next day, my phone was cut off. When I called Southwestern Bell to report the outage, they report, *we are no longer your local phone service provider, please contact your vendor for repair*. I call AT&T (on my cell phone), only now, I don't even get to talk to an actual rep, just someone taking notes. They seemed real freaked out about me loosing phone service (you know, 911 service and all), and said they would have it turned back on ASAP.
Another week goes by and nothing, after a few more phone calls, they always say their going to turn it back on, but nothing happens.
Then, after another week, I think, well, the second install date is coming up, maybe I'll just wait until then...
Then, the install date is here, nothing, no call, no installer, nothing. I call, and they say, *Oh well, they overbooked in your area and you've been bumped*. We rescheduled for 3 weeks later, and still I have no phone.
Then I call Southwestern Bell and order a new phone line. One week later I get a working phone and a new number. My 3rd install date is a week away.
This sucks!
With these kinds of problems, once the kinks are worked out of wireless, it will take over.
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I like that at the end of the article, they discredit the entire program, by saying that the robots "may just wander around aimlessly until their batteries wear out".
That's great, wouldn't it be cheaper to simulate all this activity first?
This seems like a tremendous waste of time to me. Do we really think that by using "neural nets" that something magic will happen?
-DF
http://www.wemarket4u.net/
I tried to upgrade our ISDN service to DSL. I contacted several ISP's and DSL providers, solicited bids, and picked the best one (last January). It was Rhythms. Since then, it's been a bad remake of a "Keystone Kops" movie.
After I signed the contract, I made the mistake of mentioning that I also took a bid from Intermedia, an internet service provider. They tried to pull out of the contract, saying that they *won't* compete with them, and that if they knew they were competing with them, they would never had bid in the first place. So much for free enterprise, etc. I finally had throw a fit and insist that they continue with the project.
Then, Rhythms calls AIC (another DSL provider?), and they call Southwestern Bell, and Southwestern Bell tries to run the line. After dealing with the testers, the technicians, the installers and eventually the Engineer, I discovered that noone actually manages this project. Furthermore, I can't actually talk to anyone involved, because I'm going through Rhythms, not Southwestern Bell.
Anyway, to make a long story short, after 5 months of trying, Rhythms requested that I cancel the order, because SWBT indicated that there are *no facilities available*.
So, here I am at the beginning again (I'm just going to get a T1).
Meanwhile, on the home front, I can't get DSL at the house because I'm too far away from the CO. Therefore, my only real option is Cable Modem.
I get a flier on my door one day from AT&T offering combined local phone and cable modem service through the cable. I call the toll-free number, wait for a full *hour*, and sign up for the service. They say, we will install in three weeks, and you can keep your existing number.
The service date comes, I take a half-a-day off of work (they want 4 hours to install), and I wait... Nothing, no install guy, no call, nothing. I call the 800 number after a couple of hours, wait another full hour, talk to the rep, and find out that *one of the companies responsible for processing your order, didn't, so we have to reschedule*. It was rescheduled for *3 weeks* later.
Then, the next day, my phone was cut off. When I called Southwestern Bell to report the outage, they report, *we are no longer your local phone service provider, please contact your vendor for repair*. I call AT&T (on my cell phone), only now, I don't even get to talk to an actual rep, just someone taking notes. They seemed real freaked out about me loosing phone service (you know, 911 service and all), and said they would have it turned back on ASAP.
Another week goes by and nothing, after a few more phone calls, they always say their going to turn it back on, but nothing happens.
Then, after another week, I think, well, the second install date is coming up, maybe I'll just wait until then...
Then, the install date is here, nothing, no call, no installer, nothing. I call, and they say, *Oh well, they overbooked in your area and you've been bumped*. We rescheduled for 3 weeks later, and still I have no phone.
Then I call Southwestern Bell and order a new phone line. One week later I get a working phone and a new number. My 3rd install date is a week away.
This sucks!
With these kinds of problems, once the kinks are worked out of wireless, it will take over.
-DF