anyone who ever questions whether computers have made our society more productive should drag their head out of the sand (if it hasn't popped out in china yet). i shouldn't have to support this point but i will. the us's economy and japan's economy are the largest in the world. why? computers. they run both economies, plain and simple. without them half the number of transactions (goods, money, services) could be conducted in the same amount of time, if that many. secondly, there is the e-commerce market. not only is it huge at the moment, it's still growing in its inflationary period (growth is increasing not steady or declining). if this isn't sufficient evidence that computers increase productivity more than they suck production away through games, fun, and diversion, then sufficient evidence doesn't exist.
the prospect of an entirely electronically commercial (or at least regarding the sale of merchandise) economy is an interesting one... it amplifies the ambiguity of a 'national economy' as the internet itself transcends these bounds and it also decreases the potential difference between present market environment (present demand and supply) and future market environment which decreases the necessity for companys to try and forcast what is going to happen when a product 'hits the shelves' (will it become an anachronism?). i don't, however, believe that concrete merchandise (everyone still wants to touch what they're buying and play with it) will lose its hold on the global economy until e-commerce becomes more effective in its online showrooms (it still amazes me how few harware products, compact discs, software products, and really anything which can be acquired online have both adequate descriptions [technical specs] and pictures of the merchandise) by increasing the effort to make good information availible online. it's always fascinating to see what people can make of ones and zeroes.
so does this mean the telephone systems are going to be down on may 12? just wanted to know so i can plan my day... this rocks! now i don't have to wait on the lines. anyone planning to write a little app that will turn itself on, log on to a movie web site and buy you tickets as soon as may 11th goes midnight? it'll be the next killer app.:-)
What the h--- is a Beowulf cluster? It's just that is the second time I've heard this and it sounds cool. Sorry about posting it about the Newton... Just thought ignorance should follow suit. And if a spade doesn't look like a club, feel free to hit me with one of them.
Slashdot Mirror
anyone who ever questions whether computers have made our society more productive should drag their head out of the sand (if it hasn't popped out in china yet). i shouldn't have to support this point but i will. the us's economy and japan's economy are the largest in the world. why? computers. they run both economies, plain and simple. without them half the number of transactions (goods, money, services) could be conducted in the same amount of time, if that many. secondly, there is the e-commerce market. not only is it huge at the moment, it's still growing in its inflationary period (growth is increasing not steady or declining). if this isn't sufficient evidence that computers increase productivity more than they suck production away through games, fun, and diversion, then sufficient evidence doesn't exist.
-soft error
the prospect of an entirely electronically commercial (or at least regarding the sale of merchandise) economy is an interesting one... it amplifies the ambiguity of a 'national economy' as the internet itself transcends these bounds and it also decreases the potential difference between present market environment (present demand and supply) and future market environment which decreases the necessity for companys to try and forcast what is going to happen when a product 'hits the shelves' (will it become an anachronism?). i don't, however, believe that concrete merchandise (everyone still wants to touch what they're buying and play with it) will lose its hold on the global economy until e-commerce becomes more effective in its online showrooms (it still amazes me how few harware products, compact discs, software products, and really anything which can be acquired online have both adequate descriptions [technical specs] and pictures of the merchandise) by increasing the effort to make good information availible online. it's always fascinating to see what people can make of ones and zeroes.
-soft error
probability? egads!
so does this mean the telephone systems are going to be down on may 12? just wanted to know so i can plan my day... this rocks! now i don't have to wait on the lines. anyone planning to write a little app that will turn itself on, log on to a movie web site and buy you tickets as soon as may 11th goes midnight? it'll be the next killer app. :-)
What the h--- is a Beowulf cluster? It's just that is the second time I've heard this and it sounds cool. Sorry about posting it about the Newton... Just thought ignorance should follow suit. And if a spade doesn't look like a club, feel free to hit me with one of them.