Though I feel you are correct for being sceptical about the security of biometrics, I think that the convenience of using a thumbprint machine for entry into a gym is worth the sacrifice.
Better than having swipe-cards that fail after a single wash. (Thumbs are wash-proof!)
But using thumbs as positive I.D. for your bank account is a bad idea.
following my recently adopted "software-as-an-organism" viewpoint, it seems like Java (or Sun specifically) allows open-source (the only part of the organism that really seem "alive") to grow atop it, providing the open source world with what they need (portable and managed!) and encourage extension to their system.
quite a good way to stay alive methinks...
brings us to the point. java -needs- open source to adopt it:) and has already succeeded in great ways.
erm... just code the thing with security built in. i'm pretty sure they wouldn't find no reason to give your average pleps (traffic officers *g*) access to murder-cases...
Though I have coded in various environments before, back-ends is where I usually try to end up at, so I speak mostly from experience there. (Also, only with C, C++, Delphi, Java and Python).
Java and C++ are alot cleaner than C when it comes to managing a large amount of code. Namespaces help alot.:)
C++ I don't like because of all the rules I have to remember. Frankly, it's just too much.
Java and Delphi (python aswell?) both have powerful standardized APIs, less sort routines to write.:) 3rd party code is ALWAYS a pain. Open source code is much better. The *other* reason Java Is Good (tm).
Now, I think Python is a spunky language as well, and are finding excuses to use Jython in my stuff (I code java-things for a living), and writing Python scripts whenever I'm hungry. But I feel Java + Python have different problem-domains to tackle, IYKWIM.
"
writing about a flat earth should not be considered true science fiction"
Fortunately I don't see Terry Pratchett as SF either:)
But there are scifi (Bladerunner, some Iain Banks books, Neuromancer. Matrix) which directly contradicts true "facts" or known science, yet are still called scifi. My point is rather that one shouldn't try to make something fit inside some "genre". Write what fascinates and compells you.
I think you need to look at all the options, and compare them to the long run after-effects it will have on your code. Other harware companies have varying degrees of driver support for linux, so you could maybe try to analyse the market's responses, or maybe see how many companies had to lay off programmers when the going got tough.
OTOH, if you could somehow just pay one guy to lead the open-source driver effort, even if only part-time, the costs of supporting linux could be quite minimal.
Since you are writing fiction, it doesn't really matter whether it's real at all or not. All real physics are only just theory, so anything you can dream of should be possible in your fantasies!
After reading the original poster's (Mensa Babe) slashdot-blurp, I have come to the conclusion that she must be a very intelligent girl with a lot of anger towards all males with their brains in the wrong place.
As for the language bit, ALOT of really intelligent people are totally dislexic when it comes to grammar and spelling, since it makes no sense anyway IMHO:)
I am becoming more and more of the opinion that becoming a good programmer/developer, you must have a good sense of what problems other departments in your organisation has. Once you grasp the issues that exist which hamper productivity, a programmer can try to implement something simple and elegant (or, sometimes, not so simple or elegant:) which can really do the job.
This requires alot of intellect, understanding, and patience on the part of the coder, but in the end I believe it will pay off. You have to try to predict what it is that your organisation needs, and what bottlenecks and problems exist. Else you will just end up writing code for managers that had problems understanding the problem in the first place, and you implement something that takes 3 times longer because nobody can properly write a specification that explains the problem.
I work at a moderately-sized ISP, developing applications that try to reduce the load on the support staff. I'm thinking at the moment of actually doing some support work, just to get the feeling of what is needed, and what will reduce the support-staff's workload significantly.
Maybe I'm just being naive. I'll make slashdot my rant-outlet then.:)
I don't think that sanctioning dangerous research will prevent it from happening.
Sir Martin Rees speculates that there is a 50/50 chance that the human race will wipe itself out within the next 100 years. My feeling on the matter is, if the human race cannot mature enough (especially socially) within the next 100 years to be able to cope with the advances in technology we make, it might be better for the Universe if we destroyed ourselves.
I don't think any amount of control will prevent us destroying ourselves.
Call it 'Natural Selection on a Universal Scale':)
We could have a nasty accident and all could go rather pear-shaped, like in H.G. Well's Time Machine.:)
" KIRBY J: It makes statements concerning the former Chief Justice and said that he is off with the late Mr Skase in Majorca in Spain, which is simply not the case. "
The problems developers face these days regarding configuration files... I was also against using XML for something like config files (I come from a world of crontab and smb.conf), but eversince I started using Tomcat alot with their XML config files I started figuring out why they use it.
Basically, XML allows alot of verbosity in the XML file, and XML parsers are a dime a dozen (or less), and when I code some silly thing I want it to be highly configurable and I don't want to code Yet Another Config Parser.
XML allows alot of structure to be easily realized in a human-readable format that is easy to parse.
Re:XDocs might threaten pdf in workflow environmen
on
Microsoft takes on PDF
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I used Open Office to generate pdf files containing my applications that I sent to employers, and I didn't get a single complaint that they couldn't read it.
As for myself, I distribute my CV using PDF aswell, and if the prospective employer or employment agency comes back to me complaining that they only work with MSWORD.doc files and can't read my CV, I ignore them by principle.
Slashdot Mirror
Brazil's GDP (PPP) is in the top 10 countries in the world...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)
Though I feel you are correct for being sceptical about the security of biometrics, I think that the convenience of using a thumbprint machine for entry into a gym is worth the sacrifice.
Better than having swipe-cards that fail after a single wash. (Thumbs are wash-proof!)
But using thumbs as positive I.D. for your bank account is a bad idea.
See?
following my recently adopted "software-as-an-organism" viewpoint, it seems like Java (or Sun specifically) allows open-source (the only part of the organism that really seem "alive") to grow atop it, providing the open source world with what they need (portable and managed!) and encourage extension to their system.
:) and has already succeeded in great ways.
quite a good way to stay alive methinks...
brings us to the point. java -needs- open source to adopt it
rant generated by chewy
erm... just code the thing with security built in. i'm pretty sure they wouldn't find no reason to give your average pleps (traffic officers *g*) access to murder-cases...
:)
i'm pretty sure it's a specification requirement.
access is power.
be more worried about root.
that MAME is good for you. /me proceeds to install on workbox :)
Though I have coded in various environments before, back-ends is where I usually try to end up at, so I speak mostly from experience there. (Also, only with C, C++, Delphi, Java and Python).
:)
:) 3rd party code is ALWAYS a pain. Open source code is much better. The *other* reason Java Is Good (tm).
Java and C++ are alot cleaner than C when it comes to managing a large amount of code. Namespaces help alot.
C++ I don't like because of all the rules I have to remember. Frankly, it's just too much.
Java and Delphi (python aswell?) both have powerful standardized APIs, less sort routines to write.
Now, I think Python is a spunky language as well, and are finding excuses to use Jython in my stuff (I code java-things for a living), and writing Python scripts whenever I'm hungry. But I feel Java + Python have different problem-domains to tackle, IYKWIM.
So there you are.
Eat dirt.
stop fighting children...
*fidgets-long-grey-bears*
Fortunately I don't see Terry Pratchett as SF either
But there are scifi (Bladerunner, some Iain Banks books, Neuromancer. Matrix) which directly contradicts true "facts" or known science, yet are still called scifi. My point is rather that one shouldn't try to make something fit inside some "genre". Write what fascinates and compells you.
I think you need to look at all the options, and compare them to the long run after-effects it will have on your code. Other harware companies have varying degrees of driver support for linux, so you could maybe try to analyse the market's responses, or maybe see how many companies had to lay off programmers when the going got tough.
OTOH, if you could somehow just pay one guy to lead the open-source driver effort, even if only part-time, the costs of supporting linux could be quite minimal.
Since you are writing fiction, it doesn't really matter whether it's real at all or not. All real physics are only just theory, so anything you can dream of should be possible in your fantasies!
After reading the original poster's (Mensa Babe) slashdot-blurp, I have come to the conclusion that she must be a very intelligent girl with a lot of anger towards all males with their brains in the wrong place.
:)
As for the language bit, ALOT of really intelligent people are totally dislexic when it comes to grammar and spelling, since it makes no sense anyway IMHO
Haven't you learned anything yet? The Architect told Neo only what he (or He?) wanted Neo to hear. :)
Still lots of space for theories on the "real" intent.
I am becoming more and more of the opinion that becoming a good programmer/developer, you must have a good sense of what problems other departments in your organisation has. Once you grasp the issues that exist which hamper productivity, a programmer can try to implement something simple and elegant (or, sometimes, not so simple or elegant :) which can really do the job.
:)
This requires alot of intellect, understanding, and patience on the part of the coder, but in the end I believe it will pay off. You have to try to predict what it is that your organisation needs, and what bottlenecks and problems exist. Else you will just end up writing code for managers that had problems understanding the problem in the first place, and you implement something that takes 3 times longer because nobody can properly write a specification that explains the problem.
I work at a moderately-sized ISP, developing applications that try to reduce the load on the support staff. I'm thinking at the moment of actually doing some support work, just to get the feeling of what is needed, and what will reduce the support-staff's workload significantly.
Maybe I'm just being naive. I'll make slashdot my rant-outlet then.
ciao
I don't think that sanctioning dangerous research will prevent it from happening.
:)
:)
Sir Martin Rees speculates that there is a 50/50 chance that the human race will wipe itself out within the next 100 years. My feeling on the matter is, if the human race cannot mature enough (especially socially) within the next 100 years to be able to cope with the advances in technology we make, it might be better for the Universe if we destroyed ourselves.
I don't think any amount of control will prevent us destroying ourselves.
Call it 'Natural Selection on a Universal Scale'
We could have a nasty accident and all could go rather pear-shaped, like in H.G. Well's Time Machine.
I much prefer http://www.whitehouse.org
a counter-attack with lawyer-humor?
"But we're not even sure that Project 2501 is a bug."
It's simply too verbose for me.
The problems developers face these days regarding configuration files... I was also against using XML for something like config files (I come from a world of crontab and smb.conf), but eversince I started using Tomcat alot with their XML config files I started figuring out why they use it.
Basically, XML allows alot of verbosity in the XML file, and XML parsers are a dime a dozen (or less), and when I code some silly thing I want it to be highly configurable and I don't want to code Yet Another Config Parser.
XML allows alot of structure to be easily realized in a human-readable format that is easy to parse.
I'd wager the majority reading this site are accessing it from a Windows computer.
:)
And who said Slashdot Polls are useless....
I used Open Office to generate pdf files containing my applications that I sent to employers, and I didn't get a single complaint that they couldn't read it.
.doc files and can't read my CV, I ignore them by principle.
As for myself, I distribute my CV using PDF aswell, and if the prospective employer or employment agency comes back to me complaining that they only work with MSWORD
Post Bubble, Tech Sector Urged to Practice Politics 101
It's ironic how the Tech Sector is being portrayed as the group wishing for Capitol attention...
still think it was one ofNikola Tesla's experiments. :)
It would be rather impressive if you could run Gnome as your shell in MS Windows :)
Well.. why don't they just use *our* symbols, and teach ET that from the very beginning.
:>
Maybe it has something to do with export restrictions...
I'm being a bit patriotic... but look here
_ Nature/0,1113,2-13-46_935145,00.h tml
http://www.news24.co.za/News24/Technology/Science