The company was over confident, overly comfortable in the business space, and simply ignored the customer base... both current and potential. While touch screens were popping up all over the place they were still pushing their tiny physical keyboard. While the competition was bumping up processor speeds to up performance RIM simply slapped on a crude semi-touchscreen which was too big and cumbersome for the core of the device. And, they offered virtually NOTHING to the developer market to foster application creation or distribution. And, finally, they simply ignored their own infrastructure multiple times. In short, they were so confident that their position in the business space was so guaranteed that they turned a blind to everything important.
Years ago I rented a property and the well dried up. Rather than reach out to the government for assistance, we did something amazing: WE MOVED!
Rather than continuing to throw more good money in after bad, spend the money on a few U Haul trucks. Since we're already shoving our beliefs down their throats, scoop these people up and transplant them somewhere where the land CAN thrive. Anyone who refuses to move as sealed their fate.
After 30 years of professional development, I feel that many developers SUCK! They wear some "architect" or "senior developer" badge but struggle through the most basic concepts. I believe the reason is that MANY coders are simply chasing paychecks or have been pushed into the field. They lack the PASSION that I remember when I first got into it. Everyone was learning to program because they loved these cook PC things and WANTED to do something with them AFTER they soldered everything together. Most "geeks" share that same type of passion. They gravitate to the next cool innovation and, in the process, become great at what they love. However, today, the industry is flooded with bodies that are simply working the cliche' 9-5 and drooling over a six-figure paycheck.
New message from "Robert Soloway"... subject "Resume.doc" New message from "Robert Soloway"... subject "Resume.doc" New message from "Robert Soloway"... subject "Resume.doc" [snip x 1,000] New message from "Robert Soloway"... subject "Resume.doc"
I wonder if he DOES apply for a job, if he'll even THINK of using an automated resume distribution system. Hell, I wouldn't even click the "send" button if I were him.
Since "personal information" is the "first name and last name" IN COMBINATION WITH any of the other items, could you just denormalize the tables to get around this? Stick the SSN or CC info in a second or third table. Since that data is not stored WITH (same table) the name of the card holder or account owner, then... well... you see where this is going.
I guess it call comes down to what the meaning of "is" is.;-)
I suggest that you watch the very first dev video on beginning development for iPhone and Mac OS X and continue on from there. At no point does ANY of Apple's materials ever mention that you can write once and compile for both platforms. All they claim is that the tools and syntax and the same (XCode, Interface Builder, Objective-C, etc.). I've been programming for a few decades now and specialize in.NET. And, although I hated the experience of going from comfy C# to Objective-C, that's really the only pain. If you really look at how UIKit differs from AppKit, you may actually realize that it's the right tool for the job. Although Microsoft has paid the bills for quite some time now, I can honestly say that writing for Windows Mobile SUCKS... not because of syntax or compatibility issues, but because of the bloat and limitations of the mobile environment (Compact Framework on Windows Mobile). At least Apple got it right by accepting that the iPhone platform really IS a different animal, compared to a MacBook or Mac Pro, and built a more appropriate framework.
It's kinda like wiping or eating with your other hand. For our office, it boils down to comfort. We spend our entire lives reading books, flipping through newspapers, preparing reports and homework, signing contracts, etc., etc., etc. We are conditioned to have something tangible in our hands. So, when it comes to reading a 50-page document on an LCD screen, it feels unnatural. We can do it if we had to, but our brain simply feels awkward accepting it.
What's interesting are the guys in back of the photo. It looks like they're using a portable urinal... maybe the UriLift... http://www.urilift.com/
Imagine that showing up at Disney! Maybe they'd make it look like you're peeing into a hole in a tree or something... or on one of the Dwarf's heads.;-)
Apple has shown a clear desire to not remain glued to Microsoft. This is evident with the release of iWork and the dead-end path of the Office products on the Apple platform.
Because of my position, I have almost every handheld and PDA device that hits the market. As a seasoned.NET developer, I am biased towards Microsoft. However, that being said, the Windows Mobile platform is horrible. Even on devices like Samsung's Omnia, it is sluggish and cumbersome at best. Memory management is a nightmare.
The only realistic path is for the Windows Mobile platform to die off or be revamped from scratch. At most they may build a mobile version of Office for iPhone and Android but even that is a stretch.
So, basically, we trust foreign agents more than our own? HOLY CRAP! Exit stage left, already!
As for foreign officials having similar rights, that's more for political courtesy and to keep the whole cultural difference thing out of our courts. That's somewhat understood. However, there is a CLEAR difference from some over-the-hill politician getting pulled over for speeding compared to an amped-up INTERPOL cop on the verge of a conviction. The mindset, purpose, emotions... hell, the whole scenario... is completely different.
Why not just go to the IRS and request a Taxpayer ID number? They will give you one that you can then give to your employer. Your employer can use THAT number to submit tax payments on your behlaf and never has to know your SSN. Reserve your SSN for companies you need credit from or when you're actually dealing with the Social Security Administration.
Sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear.
When I said that I cannot install a monitor at their desk, I meant a SECOND monitor just for the console. That would be just too "in your face." Also, by piping it through the laptop (using a capture card, etc.) my hope was to be able to prove that the consoles are not being abused.
Our management is great. And, our developers are hard workers. It's the rest of the departments out there that I worry about.;-)
There's no "going behind the company's back." Everything we do is in the open. The company just isn't at a point where they've ever really had a significant investment in tech... until now. Bottom line is that they see what we're doing, and what we've accomplished, and they want more.
As for the actual bottom line, what we HAVE developed so far as had a huge financial impact. Obviously, I cannot go into facts or figures, but let me just say that we've cut enough waste and redundancy out of the normal environment to easily pay for our most of what we've already spent building the department.
And you're right... it's a decent size company (six offices... couple hundred employees in the field) and a very small MIS group. In the end, spending my personal money to keep my guys worth it and motivated is worth it.
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. Whether they were positive or not, I do appreciate all of the input. I initially had hoped on receiving a few comments on how do do this TECHNICALLY (ie. using a capture card, maybe someone would mention a model number or two). The political items were secondary. However, I must say, I am very glad for the responses in that area. You may have just helped me dodge a bullet... fired from my own gun.;-)
Just a few words that might clarify my reasoning a bit...
As for money, my plan was to use my own personal money for the consoles, headphones, and memberships. I have already installed individual Sirius radios at each desk, and pay a monthly membership for each, all out of my personal income. I also keep a fridge fully stocked with Dew, Vault, Coke, and whatever else anyone on the team enjoys. There is no way our company would be okay with me spending corporate dollars for this.
As for a common area, I absolutely like the idea of installing a single unit, or maybe even two, in a common location. As someone pointed out, it really would lend to a more open environment. In fact, our team is kinda thought of as "elite" (as one employee recently told me) and having the common area may help break down some walls. Unfortunately, we do not have such an area available to use.
My goal behind this type of initiative is to create an environment were solid technical people will enjoy working. It's quite difficult to attract a developer in our industry. Most are dreaming of the ivory tower and have heard the tales of the high-energy fun-loving start-up environments. Because of what we do, all of our offices are primarily large warehouses, with built out office space, located in rural areas of the state. Still, our company has a desire to develop new technologies and remain WAY ahead of the competition. That dictates a certain type of person... young, energetic, creative, productive... someone who actually ENJOYS developing and isn't just chasing a paycheck.
One more item on that note... there are unique situations that develop in our line of work. Whether it's because of the "blue collar" environment or not is irrelevant. However, our guys overhear and are exposed to things that they normally would not be in a typical office environment. I guess another reason I do all of this is so that they realize that, even with the occasional nonsense, they've still got it pretty dang good.
Overall, management has given us a lot of leeway to do what we want. Our guys are required to put in a MINIMUM of 50 hours per week and generally put in around 60-70. That is solely because we have produced so much in the two years that the team has existed (30 year old company with very new desire for the technology we have given them). Two years ago they had three clones as their servers in one office. Today, we have a new hardened datacenter, brand new infrastructure and hardware within all of our offices, and are developing technologies that nobody else in our industry has.
All of this being said, I think the majority of you are correct. It's a bad idea.
Correction...
It's a good idea but not one that can be implemented in a good way. It really should be in a common area. Until one is available, it should wait. If we're gonna break down that elitist image, then this is not the way to do it. Whether our guys are productive or not is irrelevant. In short, if we don't have enough to share then we probably should wait until we do.
Maybe we'll start off with a monthly FPS round-up in the conference room... setup and put on by our department. We could always hang onto the equipment and do it regularly... three or four projectors and consoles in our training room.
Remember this rule: spend more calories than you take in... period. It does not matter the exercise AT ALL. I'm living proof.
I was in the same boat for years... got out of the Marine Corps at 155 lbs... starting writing code for commercial companies... within 10 years has gotten to 220 lbs. I'm now 172 lbs. thanks to one tech-friendly gadget:
www.bodybugg.com
This thing is great. You strap it on your upper-right arm (under a t-shirt, if you wish) and that's it. It ACCURATELY tracks how many calories you burn every minute of every day. Then, sync with their web site and viola! You now have a solid understanding of what tasks you do that burn calories. Once you have this info, you will always have it available in your brain and, as you move through your day, you will probably alter your patterns because of it.
The best "feature" of this device is that it allows you to NOT take on any activities that you do not enjoy OR that do not fit into your schedule. In fact, you will finally learn how inefficient certain exercises really are. For example, I stopped running since I picked this up. I replaced it with a few sets of rope jumping throughout the day and have better results.
The problem for me (and with most of us, I assume) is that we don't realize the impact of our actions. We also are not conscious about our body changes since they occur so gradually over time.
Is this a costly approach? Sure. The price is $400-$500 depending on what you buy. However, I assure you, it is one of those devices where, after a few weeks, it will feel like the best decision.
I hope this helps.
Thanx, Fred
P.S. You can pick up used Bodybugg units on eBay for $100-$200 savings. A replacement arm band is roughly $5 and is the only part that COULD possibly retain any sweat of the previous owner. The only down side is that you'd have to pay for the web site membership ($99) which is free for 3 months if you buy it new. If you're gonna use your bodybugg for longer than three months, then you'll have to pay for it anyway, so going the eBay route would save you money long-term.
I've been writing code for 25 years, have a degree in Recording Arts, have built and sold several companies, and do not have an illegitimate song anywhere in my 9,947 song iTunes library. In short, I have a rather qualified viewpoint on this. It is my opinion that all music should be DRM-free.
When it comes right down two it, people make music for only two reasons: "Musicians" make music becuas they want the financial reward (studio musicians, etc.). "Artists" generally make music because of the passion or enjoyment. With that said, if you want to make music for the enjoyment, then do so and stay quiet about the money. However, if you are chasing the dollar than you must conceed that music is a commodity. And, just like anything else affixed with a pricetag, you must create something that the buyer is willing to pay for.
At the end of the day, the fact is simple: NO business, vendor, or manufacturer can continue to pump out the same widget or service and expect for the public to keep paying the same price... or, for that matter, to keep paying at all. Eventually, they will find a cheaper version, one with better quality, or a replacement that they can generate themselves. If you want to keep their business you MUST continue to develop your product in such a way that the customer or client will AGREE that he or she must pay the requested price. Music is no different.
In the end all DRM efforts will always fail. People will always shoplift your music. If you want to keep them paying, then it is the MUSICIAN that must increase the value of the conventional CD or DVD to keep consumers wanting to pay.
(This wisdom came after spending $70k US on a degree in Recording Arts, only to find that the money was better writing software. The school never told me that because THEY are a business as well.)
Slashdot Mirror
... I loaded the entire post. Sorry 'bout that.
So, since us Prime customers are able to elect "free" shipping on certain items, should one assume that drones may deliver packages to us?
The company was over confident, overly comfortable in the business space, and simply ignored the customer base... both current and potential. While touch screens were popping up all over the place they were still pushing their tiny physical keyboard. While the competition was bumping up processor speeds to up performance RIM simply slapped on a crude semi-touchscreen which was too big and cumbersome for the core of the device. And, they offered virtually NOTHING to the developer market to foster application creation or distribution. And, finally, they simply ignored their own infrastructure multiple times. In short, they were so confident that their position in the business space was so guaranteed that they turned a blind to everything important.
Years ago I rented a property and the well dried up. Rather than reach out to the government for assistance, we did something amazing: WE MOVED!
Rather than continuing to throw more good money in after bad, spend the money on a few U Haul trucks. Since we're already shoving our beliefs down their throats, scoop these people up and transplant them somewhere where the land CAN thrive. Anyone who refuses to move as sealed their fate.
cook = cool
Damn, if only this text block had IntelliSense! ;-)
After 30 years of professional development, I feel that many developers SUCK! They wear some "architect" or "senior developer" badge but struggle through the most basic concepts. I believe the reason is that MANY coders are simply chasing paychecks or have been pushed into the field. They lack the PASSION that I remember when I first got into it. Everyone was learning to program because they loved these cook PC things and WANTED to do something with them AFTER they soldered everything together. Most "geeks" share that same type of passion. They gravitate to the next cool innovation and, in the process, become great at what they love. However, today, the industry is flooded with bodies that are simply working the cliche' 9-5 and drooling over a six-figure paycheck.
I can see it now...
New message from "Robert Soloway" ... subject "Resume.doc" ... subject "Resume.doc" ... subject "Resume.doc" ... subject "Resume.doc"
New message from "Robert Soloway"
New message from "Robert Soloway"
[snip x 1,000]
New message from "Robert Soloway"
I wonder if he DOES apply for a job, if he'll even THINK of using an automated resume distribution system. Hell, I wouldn't even click the "send" button if I were him.
Hmmm... just a thought... NOT a recommendation...
Since "personal information" is the "first name and last name" IN COMBINATION WITH any of the other items, could you just denormalize the tables to get around this? Stick the SSN or CC info in a second or third table. Since that data is not stored WITH (same table) the name of the card holder or account owner, then... well... you see where this is going.
I guess it call comes down to what the meaning of "is" is. ;-)
I suggest that you watch the very first dev video on beginning development for iPhone and Mac OS X and continue on from there. At no point does ANY of Apple's materials ever mention that you can write once and compile for both platforms. All they claim is that the tools and syntax and the same (XCode, Interface Builder, Objective-C, etc.). I've been programming for a few decades now and specialize in .NET. And, although I hated the experience of going from comfy C# to Objective-C, that's really the only pain. If you really look at how UIKit differs from AppKit, you may actually realize that it's the right tool for the job. Although Microsoft has paid the bills for quite some time now, I can honestly say that writing for Windows Mobile SUCKS... not because of syntax or compatibility issues, but because of the bloat and limitations of the mobile environment (Compact Framework on Windows Mobile). At least Apple got it right by accepting that the iPhone platform really IS a different animal, compared to a MacBook or Mac Pro, and built a more appropriate framework.
It's kinda like wiping or eating with your other hand. For our office, it boils down to comfort. We spend our entire lives reading books, flipping through newspapers, preparing reports and homework, signing contracts, etc., etc., etc. We are conditioned to have something tangible in our hands. So, when it comes to reading a 50-page document on an LCD screen, it feels unnatural. We can do it if we had to, but our brain simply feels awkward accepting it.
What's interesting are the guys in back of the photo. It looks like they're using a portable urinal... maybe the UriLift... http://www.urilift.com/
Imagine that showing up at Disney! Maybe they'd make it look like you're peeing into a hole in a tree or something... or on one of the Dwarf's heads. ;-)
Apple has shown a clear desire to not remain glued to Microsoft. This is evident with the release of iWork and the dead-end path of the Office products on the Apple platform.
Because of my position, I have almost every handheld and PDA device that hits the market. As a seasoned .NET developer, I am biased towards Microsoft. However, that being said, the Windows Mobile platform is horrible. Even on devices like Samsung's Omnia, it is sluggish and cumbersome at best. Memory management is a nightmare.
The only realistic path is for the Windows Mobile platform to die off or be revamped from scratch. At most they may build a mobile version of Office for iPhone and Android but even that is a stretch.
So, basically, we trust foreign agents more than our own? HOLY CRAP! Exit stage left, already!
As for foreign officials having similar rights, that's more for political courtesy and to keep the whole cultural difference thing out of our courts. That's somewhat understood. However, there is a CLEAR difference from some over-the-hill politician getting pulled over for speeding compared to an amped-up INTERPOL cop on the verge of a conviction. The mindset, purpose, emotions... hell, the whole scenario... is completely different.
Why not just go to the IRS and request a Taxpayer ID number? They will give you one that you can then give to your employer. Your employer can use THAT number to submit tax payments on your behlaf and never has to know your SSN. Reserve your SSN for companies you need credit from or when you're actually dealing with the Social Security Administration.
Sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear.
When I said that I cannot install a monitor at their desk, I meant a SECOND monitor just for the console. That would be just too "in your face." Also, by piping it through the laptop (using a capture card, etc.) my hope was to be able to prove that the consoles are not being abused.
Our management is great. And, our developers are hard workers. It's the rest of the departments out there that I worry about. ;-)
Huh?
There's no "going behind the company's back." Everything we do is in the open. The company just isn't at a point where they've ever really had a significant investment in tech... until now. Bottom line is that they see what we're doing, and what we've accomplished, and they want more.
As for the actual bottom line, what we HAVE developed so far as had a huge financial impact. Obviously, I cannot go into facts or figures, but let me just say that we've cut enough waste and redundancy out of the normal environment to easily pay for our most of what we've already spent building the department.
And you're right... it's a decent size company (six offices... couple hundred employees in the field) and a very small MIS group. In the end, spending my personal money to keep my guys worth it and motivated is worth it.
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone that took the time to reply. Whether they were positive or not, I do appreciate all of the input. I initially had hoped on receiving a few comments on how do do this TECHNICALLY (ie. using a capture card, maybe someone would mention a model number or two). The political items were secondary. However, I must say, I am very glad for the responses in that area. You may have just helped me dodge a bullet... fired from my own gun. ;-)
Just a few words that might clarify my reasoning a bit...
As for money, my plan was to use my own personal money for the consoles, headphones, and memberships. I have already installed individual Sirius radios at each desk, and pay a monthly membership for each, all out of my personal income. I also keep a fridge fully stocked with Dew, Vault, Coke, and whatever else anyone on the team enjoys. There is no way our company would be okay with me spending corporate dollars for this.
As for a common area, I absolutely like the idea of installing a single unit, or maybe even two, in a common location. As someone pointed out, it really would lend to a more open environment. In fact, our team is kinda thought of as "elite" (as one employee recently told me) and having the common area may help break down some walls. Unfortunately, we do not have such an area available to use.
My goal behind this type of initiative is to create an environment were solid technical people will enjoy working. It's quite difficult to attract a developer in our industry. Most are dreaming of the ivory tower and have heard the tales of the high-energy fun-loving start-up environments. Because of what we do, all of our offices are primarily large warehouses, with built out office space, located in rural areas of the state. Still, our company has a desire to develop new technologies and remain WAY ahead of the competition. That dictates a certain type of person... young, energetic, creative, productive... someone who actually ENJOYS developing and isn't just chasing a paycheck.
One more item on that note... there are unique situations that develop in our line of work. Whether it's because of the "blue collar" environment or not is irrelevant. However, our guys overhear and are exposed to things that they normally would not be in a typical office environment. I guess another reason I do all of this is so that they realize that, even with the occasional nonsense, they've still got it pretty dang good.
Overall, management has given us a lot of leeway to do what we want. Our guys are required to put in a MINIMUM of 50 hours per week and generally put in around 60-70. That is solely because we have produced so much in the two years that the team has existed (30 year old company with very new desire for the technology we have given them). Two years ago they had three clones as their servers in one office. Today, we have a new hardened datacenter, brand new infrastructure and hardware within all of our offices, and are developing technologies that nobody else in our industry has.
All of this being said, I think the majority of you are correct. It's a bad idea.
Correction...
It's a good idea but not one that can be implemented in a good way. It really should be in a common area. Until one is available, it should wait. If we're gonna break down that elitist image, then this is not the way to do it. Whether our guys are productive or not is irrelevant. In short, if we don't have enough to share then we probably should wait until we do.
Maybe we'll start off with a monthly FPS round-up in the conference room... setup and put on by our department. We could always hang onto the equipment and do it regularly... three or four projectors and consoles in our training room.
Thanks, again.
Remember this rule: spend more calories than you take in... period. It does not matter the exercise AT ALL. I'm living proof.
I was in the same boat for years... got out of the Marine Corps at 155 lbs... starting writing code for commercial companies... within 10 years has gotten to 220 lbs. I'm now 172 lbs. thanks to one tech-friendly gadget:
www.bodybugg.com
This thing is great. You strap it on your upper-right arm (under a t-shirt, if you wish) and that's it. It ACCURATELY tracks how many calories you burn every minute of every day. Then, sync with their web site and viola! You now have a solid understanding of what tasks you do that burn calories. Once you have this info, you will always have it available in your brain and, as you move through your day, you will probably alter your patterns because of it.
The best "feature" of this device is that it allows you to NOT take on any activities that you do not enjoy OR that do not fit into your schedule. In fact, you will finally learn how inefficient certain exercises really are. For example, I stopped running since I picked this up. I replaced it with a few sets of rope jumping throughout the day and have better results.
The problem for me (and with most of us, I assume) is that we don't realize the impact of our actions. We also are not conscious about our body changes since they occur so gradually over time.
Is this a costly approach? Sure. The price is $400-$500 depending on what you buy. However, I assure you, it is one of those devices where, after a few weeks, it will feel like the best decision.
I hope this helps.
Thanx,
Fred
P.S. You can pick up used Bodybugg units on eBay for $100-$200 savings. A replacement arm band is roughly $5 and is the only part that COULD possibly retain any sweat of the previous owner. The only down side is that you'd have to pay for the web site membership ($99) which is free for 3 months if you buy it new. If you're gonna use your bodybugg for longer than three months, then you'll have to pay for it anyway, so going the eBay route would save you money long-term.
I've been writing code for 25 years, have a degree in Recording Arts, have built and sold several companies, and do not have an illegitimate song anywhere in my 9,947 song iTunes library. In short, I have a rather qualified viewpoint on this. It is my opinion that all music should be DRM-free.
When it comes right down two it, people make music for only two reasons: "Musicians" make music becuas they want the financial reward (studio musicians, etc.). "Artists" generally make music because of the passion or enjoyment. With that said, if you want to make music for the enjoyment, then do so and stay quiet about the money. However, if you are chasing the dollar than you must conceed that music is a commodity. And, just like anything else affixed with a pricetag, you must create something that the buyer is willing to pay for.
At the end of the day, the fact is simple: NO business, vendor, or manufacturer can continue to pump out the same widget or service and expect for the public to keep paying the same price... or, for that matter, to keep paying at all. Eventually, they will find a cheaper version, one with better quality, or a replacement that they can generate themselves. If you want to keep their business you MUST continue to develop your product in such a way that the customer or client will AGREE that he or she must pay the requested price. Music is no different.
In the end all DRM efforts will always fail. People will always shoplift your music. If you want to keep them paying, then it is the MUSICIAN that must increase the value of the conventional CD or DVD to keep consumers wanting to pay.
(This wisdom came after spending $70k US on a degree in Recording Arts, only to find that the money was better writing software. The school never told me that because THEY are a business as well.)