You are indeed a rebel, a rebel without a cause - from what I make of your language oand your f.. ing opinions which are not based on any undestanding of third world economics.
So much for your comments
Talking abut the "Africa computer", I would mention the Simputer - simple computer which is a cross between a pda and a computer and is a aproject developed inIndia - another third world country with the sole aim of taking information to the lowest common denominator - the common man on the streets.
Your observations about the original article are very good. Its just that somehow there is a misinterpretation in peoples mind the moment they read about third-world countries.
I think "pervasive computing" meant excatlt this - taking computing to everybody - literate or illeterate. And illiteracy doent stop a person from understanding. Illeteracy is only his inability to represnt in writen or spoken words what he UNDERSTANDS.
Your points are valid but to a certain point.
True you may not be able to use laser printers, but a dot-matrix still works (like it did for us at one point of time and we were enhanced in our experince by it too).
Dont pre-judge any country and its abilities. It may not be on the same footing as the rest of the world, but it has a footing neverthless, and if we could grow, then so can everybody. Thats the motto of human-kind I guess.
Its not really such petty technical things which matter, its firstly the philosohy and reason that matter. Thats why someone coined the saying
"Where theres a will theres a way"
Thats pretty optimistic I think.
Did you think for one instance that third worlders CANT READ ?
Are u still under the impression that they hark back to the stone ages or something ?
This is ridiculous.
How do you think America (or developed nations) have progressed so far with the help of information ? Or do you think that a computer (or any Information device) is just a plaything on everybodys desk ?
Let me give u a simple example.
Some farmer in a village can get to know the going price for potatoes that he grows thry the radio and so when he approaches his village middleman (who buys wholesale potatoes from farmers and sells to the district cooperarive), the farmer has a better idea of a reasonable and profitable price to seel at , so the middleman cant take advantage of the poor and illiterate (but not foolish) farmer. Thats is called imformation empowerment.
If this same guy can access the countrywide price of potatoes thru his local interet connection (yes there are phones even in most villages in India say), then he can bargain on a larger footing. This maintains a stable economy also and is the key to what developed nations call a "free Market policy" that has been the caue of economic development in countries like America.
This is a small exmaple. A computer is not just about Linux or Windows - its basically about information.
Which the CNN artcle or your views ?
Me thinks you are pretty uniformed as to what is going on in the world.
Trust every man to have a basic knowledge about being able to use simple information for his betterment. That is how we have progressed from the stone ages to now, and will continue doing so.
So its not that only some people (like yourself as you deem) will appreacite the benefits of computing. Its not so really. Theres a far bigger better world out there than you know, or even care to know.
I guess the CNN artcile highlights a good point - of using existing technology to improve mankind's lot (thats the aim of information and technology, which doesnt seem to be obvious to most posters heres - they wonder how can information help in generating food - pretty dumb)
But in consideration and in reference to a previous post on Slashdot it reminds me of the Simputer - (http://www.simputer.org) a project taking shape in India and based on a Linux boxen - in fact a PDA and Computer cross. It (the Simputer) is a cheaper product - around $200) and has a smart card facility which is very topical to third world / developing countries in that it allows users to share a single Simputer device and keep their own information / preferences in the smart card. So each user buys a smart card ($50) and shares the community Simputer. This is good for nations where a 1:1 ration between a computer (or Simputer) and an individual is not feasable. Sharing (an open source concept again) is the best solution and this also really spreads information to the lowest common denominator - the common man.
I think the simputer is a better device than a playing game station with internet capabilities in this regard.
But thanks to CNN and Slashdot for highlighting technologies which come to good use.
Its cause you dont understand IT that you dont understand how a computer is going to solve some Third world problems. For your knowledge, information is the key to development and information in everybodys hands is more that key.
It seems somehow knowledge and information passed you by, so you make comments like
"At least if you sent them pamphlets --- they could use them to wipe their arses...."
nilch
[ What are you doing to meet those "basic needs you are spouting about?
None of your damn business. ]
If you can quote Bill gates and say deal with it, then why dont you dal with the quation as to waht are YOU doing baout it ? Why say it non of his damn busoiness.- Dont double speak friend.
And talking about democratic govenments and all that crap. it took America a few frigging weeks to decide on their president. India with a much lard=ger population makes an election in 4 days flat and a a government in a week.
[ You could research genetically modified grains that would be more nutritious. You could research improved birth control methods. Or you could research a $1.50 computer. Take your pick. ]
India picked the Simputer. Take it or leave it. In fact it basically not for you.
For that mater India also picked on its own Satelite lauch , and will be a force in launches very soon.
Get out of your 1st world, 3rd world mentality, and thjose cliches of yours.
Computing is here for everyone, and not just you in your 1st world luxuraiting foolhardiness.
I think Maximus is one with some hindsight and a lot of foresight. The rest of the critics (so called) are only seeing technology for technologies sake. Ther are slashdotter comparing it with iPaq and saying why we need another, ther are people saying - go feed the masses first, there are others who say with incedulity - what computers of poor illeterate villagers ? and so on.
Dylan once said, the times they are a changing, and maybe its time we realsed that the computer is not a tool for the elite mass anymore. It belong to the - yes - "POOR ILLETERATE MASSES" as much as it does to the know-all techno geeks sitting with maybe three configuration of the latest and the best, or the corporate America that is so bent on selling computers to the rest of the world.
Statistically speaking, Indians (Asians) are now one of the most powerful cimputing nation, an that shows in the number of consultants working in USA itself - the holy land of computing, i anyone thought so. Yes, some will say thats cause they are cheap, but lets face it, they are here, cause they are good. And that wasnt because they just came to USA. Its cause they experienced computing back in their countries to hone their skills.
Another thing so talked about - terminology - is "Pervasive computing" I wonder after reading the remarks here, ow much anyone has understood the term. Pervasive computing is not firstly about your door know doing its own computing to let you and only you in, or your refrigerator ordering for your junk food, but about spreading simple computing tasks (keeping tract of the Soya bean stock of the farmer to communicating with your brethren fast) to as many people as possible. Thats PERVASIVE. Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate:
Now thats what is the main objecctive of Simputer - not Linux, not GPLding the software, not the device - PC or Palm, not any technological issue - they are secondary to the main issue of letting the poor illeterate farmer have access to a computer my friend.
. Because when they do get them, all they'll do is start posting crap to/. and fc.com and the next thing you know no one will want to read through all the trash to pick up the few scraps of wisdom.
Yeh, d00d, just like the crap you are beating out here, just cause you have acces to a computer....
Dont sneer at others when you can be sneered at.
Theres another point which comes up here. How much radical will genetic cure ultimately become than what it is already ??
I mean western medicine (which is the main part of todays medicine as practised), has tried many techniques to really cure the human body, and still we are as prone to dieseses as ever and will be so for the next n years that I can forsee. But have we really made the alleviated human suffering in any way medically ?
Its like saying science will not clear away the bullshit in our lives, it will only make you smell it.
This western sciences obssesion with understanding living beings by breaking down the who organism into little bits and parts (like a machine - we often hear the comparison between a human body and a machine - sooo western mode of thinking) is what sets out the understanding levels of east and west medicine sciences. Patentable science is all very good for the large corporates, but not so for the human whole. Eastern science (Homoeopathy, yoga, Tai Chi you name it) all look at the organism as a whole, and treat it as a whole, trying to remedy problems when seen as a subset of the whole LIVING being, and not as 'a gene, a cure therapy'. Its time we looked at the whole throbbing being as a person and treat it as a person, then treat a gene, or a organ like "giving vitamins for your tired legs", or "implants for your sagging breasts", or such divisionist treatment. That would rwally be radical treatment I believe, if adopted and honed by the western sciences capability of meticulous study.
Slashdot Mirror
What do you think they did on MIR, the longest lasting satelite by any nation ? Did they only play cards out there ?
Did America not learn anything from MIR ? Or did they send Astronauts on MIR to go play cards with the Cosmonauts ?
Dont be daft, and apply some sense to what you say.
You are indeed a rebel, a rebel without a cause - from what I make of your language oand your f.. ing opinions which are not based on any undestanding of third world economics. So much for your comments
Talking abut the "Africa computer", I would mention the Simputer - simple computer which is a cross between a pda and a computer and is a aproject developed inIndia - another third world country with the sole aim of taking information to the lowest common denominator - the common man on the streets.
Your observations about the original article are very good. Its just that somehow there is a misinterpretation in peoples mind the moment they read about third-world countries.
I think "pervasive computing" meant excatlt this - taking computing to everybody - literate or illeterate. And illiteracy doent stop a person from understanding. Illeteracy is only his inability to represnt in writen or spoken words what he UNDERSTANDS.
Your points are valid but to a certain point. True you may not be able to use laser printers, but a dot-matrix still works (like it did for us at one point of time and we were enhanced in our experince by it too). Dont pre-judge any country and its abilities. It may not be on the same footing as the rest of the world, but it has a footing neverthless, and if we could grow, then so can everybody. Thats the motto of human-kind I guess. Its not really such petty technical things which matter, its firstly the philosohy and reason that matter. Thats why someone coined the saying "Where theres a will theres a way" Thats pretty optimistic I think.
Did you think for one instance that third worlders CANT READ ? Are u still under the impression that they hark back to the stone ages or something ? This is ridiculous. How do you think America (or developed nations) have progressed so far with the help of information ? Or do you think that a computer (or any Information device) is just a plaything on everybodys desk ? Let me give u a simple example. Some farmer in a village can get to know the going price for potatoes that he grows thry the radio and so when he approaches his village middleman (who buys wholesale potatoes from farmers and sells to the district cooperarive), the farmer has a better idea of a reasonable and profitable price to seel at , so the middleman cant take advantage of the poor and illiterate (but not foolish) farmer. Thats is called imformation empowerment. If this same guy can access the countrywide price of potatoes thru his local interet connection (yes there are phones even in most villages in India say), then he can bargain on a larger footing. This maintains a stable economy also and is the key to what developed nations call a "free Market policy" that has been the caue of economic development in countries like America. This is a small exmaple. A computer is not just about Linux or Windows - its basically about information.
Which the CNN artcle or your views ?
Me thinks you are pretty uniformed as to what is going on in the world.
Trust every man to have a basic knowledge about being able to use simple information for his betterment. That is how we have progressed from the stone ages to now, and will continue doing so.
So its not that only some people (like yourself as you deem) will appreacite the benefits of computing. Its not so really. Theres a far bigger better world out there than you know, or even care to know.
I guess the CNN artcile highlights a good point - of using existing technology to improve mankind's lot (thats the aim of information and technology, which doesnt seem to be obvious to most posters heres - they wonder how can information help in generating food - pretty dumb) But in consideration and in reference to a previous post on Slashdot it reminds me of the Simputer - (http://www.simputer.org) a project taking shape in India and based on a Linux boxen - in fact a PDA and Computer cross. It (the Simputer) is a cheaper product - around $200) and has a smart card facility which is very topical to third world / developing countries in that it allows users to share a single Simputer device and keep their own information / preferences in the smart card. So each user buys a smart card ($50) and shares the community Simputer. This is good for nations where a 1:1 ration between a computer (or Simputer) and an individual is not feasable. Sharing (an open source concept again) is the best solution and this also really spreads information to the lowest common denominator - the common man. I think the simputer is a better device than a playing game station with internet capabilities in this regard. But thanks to CNN and Slashdot for highlighting technologies which come to good use.
Its cause you dont understand IT that you dont understand how a computer is going to solve some Third world problems. For your knowledge, information is the key to development and information in everybodys hands is more that key. It seems somehow knowledge and information passed you by, so you make comments like "At least if you sent them pamphlets --- they could use them to wipe their arses...." nilch
[ What are you doing to meet those "basic needs you are spouting about? None of your damn business. ] If you can quote Bill gates and say deal with it, then why dont you dal with the quation as to waht are YOU doing baout it ? Why say it non of his damn busoiness.- Dont double speak friend. And talking about democratic govenments and all that crap. it took America a few frigging weeks to decide on their president. India with a much lard=ger population makes an election in 4 days flat and a a government in a week. [ You could research genetically modified grains that would be more nutritious. You could research improved birth control methods. Or you could research a $1.50 computer. Take your pick. ] India picked the Simputer. Take it or leave it. In fact it basically not for you. For that mater India also picked on its own Satelite lauch , and will be a force in launches very soon. Get out of your 1st world, 3rd world mentality, and thjose cliches of yours. Computing is here for everyone, and not just you in your 1st world luxuraiting foolhardiness.
I think Maximus is one with some hindsight and a lot of foresight. The rest of the critics (so called) are only seeing technology for technologies sake. Ther are slashdotter comparing it with iPaq and saying why we need another, ther are people saying - go feed the masses first, there are others who say with incedulity - what computers of poor illeterate villagers ? and so on. Dylan once said, the times they are a changing, and maybe its time we realsed that the computer is not a tool for the elite mass anymore. It belong to the - yes - "POOR ILLETERATE MASSES" as much as it does to the know-all techno geeks sitting with maybe three configuration of the latest and the best, or the corporate America that is so bent on selling computers to the rest of the world. Statistically speaking, Indians (Asians) are now one of the most powerful cimputing nation, an that shows in the number of consultants working in USA itself - the holy land of computing, i anyone thought so. Yes, some will say thats cause they are cheap, but lets face it, they are here, cause they are good. And that wasnt because they just came to USA. Its cause they experienced computing back in their countries to hone their skills. Another thing so talked about - terminology - is "Pervasive computing" I wonder after reading the remarks here, ow much anyone has understood the term. Pervasive computing is not firstly about your door know doing its own computing to let you and only you in, or your refrigerator ordering for your junk food, but about spreading simple computing tasks (keeping tract of the Soya bean stock of the farmer to communicating with your brethren fast) to as many people as possible. Thats PERVASIVE. Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate: Now thats what is the main objecctive of Simputer - not Linux, not GPLding the software, not the device - PC or Palm, not any technological issue - they are secondary to the main issue of letting the poor illeterate farmer have access to a computer my friend.
. Because when they do get them, all they'll do is start posting crap to /. and fc.com and the next thing you know no one will want to read through all the trash to pick up the few scraps of wisdom.
Yeh, d00d, just like the crap you are beating out here, just cause you have acces to a computer....
Dont sneer at others when you can be sneered at.
Theres another point which comes up here. How much radical will genetic cure ultimately become than what it is already ?? I mean western medicine (which is the main part of todays medicine as practised), has tried many techniques to really cure the human body, and still we are as prone to dieseses as ever and will be so for the next n years that I can forsee. But have we really made the alleviated human suffering in any way medically ? Its like saying science will not clear away the bullshit in our lives, it will only make you smell it. This western sciences obssesion with understanding living beings by breaking down the who organism into little bits and parts (like a machine - we often hear the comparison between a human body and a machine - sooo western mode of thinking) is what sets out the understanding levels of east and west medicine sciences. Patentable science is all very good for the large corporates, but not so for the human whole. Eastern science (Homoeopathy, yoga, Tai Chi you name it) all look at the organism as a whole, and treat it as a whole, trying to remedy problems when seen as a subset of the whole LIVING being, and not as 'a gene, a cure therapy'. Its time we looked at the whole throbbing being as a person and treat it as a person, then treat a gene, or a organ like "giving vitamins for your tired legs", or "implants for your sagging breasts", or such divisionist treatment. That would rwally be radical treatment I believe, if adopted and honed by the western sciences capability of meticulous study.