From your description it reminds me of a book written by a guy named Dickens. Abuse of people on an industrial scale. However I take your word for it, when you say these people are happy they escaped before the real big skilled programmers explosion.
On the other hand, I'm so happy that what I do (bioinformatics) takes more skills than just coding. I wouldn't like to be without a job either.
Do you think we should hire some of these people, or let them come for a traineeship?
I work in an European scientific software company and we get lots of E-mail from India saying that they could train people to do our work and send them to Europe, or where ever you want.
Personally I never reply to these E-mails. I seems to me like a modern form of slavery. What do you guys think? How are these companies managed. Do you think you would appreciate it, being called cheap programming force by your boss?
Or is the situation in India really that bad, and would you be happy to go abroad and have a better live?
A rough draft is like taking a 5000 pieces puzzle and putting 95% of the pieces together. The puzzle is now in 50 chunks of (on average) 97 pieces each. The chunks are still not in the right position relative to each other, but you can already get a pretty good idea of the image on the puzzle.
A gold standard is where you put all the chunks in the right position and check each and every one of the pieces at least 5 times. The only problem is that there is still 4 pieces under the carpet, and you didn't notice they fell from the table.
About the funding, yeah you're right. However, the first one to shout the puzzle was finished will probably get a Nobel prize. All these finishers are trying to get is a salary. We really need the complete picture to do something with it.
Don't worry about the four missing pieces. The cleaning lady (person, to be correct) will probably find them and put them where they belong.
Yes, 22, 21 and 20 are the smallest.
However, it might not take much longer to finish the other ones. Finishing a chromosome is like putting the last pieces of a puzzle in. Only these last pieces are very difficult to place from a technical point of view. As we gain more experience with the finishing, new techniques are developed that will considerably speed up the proces (and new infrastructure as well).
I am happy with the finishing, because I think that the people that announced the human genome in 2000 think their nobel price is secure. Really finishing the sequence is a VERY VERY important job, without all the glamour of the early sequencing days.
Practical information to use? It is being done at this very moment. It already speeds up drug discovery, biological discoveries, etc. I think that within 5 years the first truly genomic drugs will come to the market. Don't expect miracles at once. However, do expect the start of a true revolution. One in which mankind will take control of its own biology (and that of other species). It will make the industrial revolution look like a non-event.
Third question: no. Again we will benefit from technological advances, but before you can know something is the same, you will have to sequence it first.
There's hardly any trained professionals in the field. These guys probably have something similar to your background. Just promise to be flexible and to learn whatever language/skills the job requires.
I got into the biz three years ago (as a biologist) and I'm still learning new languages.
Mostly C and XML transformation stuff, cause I honestly believe Perl & Lisp are not up to the massive amount of data challenge.
Why don't they force M$ to port their IIS webserver to Linux? Talking 'bout fair competition.
While their at it, I want I linux version for all these worms that are so popular lately!
Shame on the author of this article
on
Eco-Terrorism
·
· Score: 1
gambling with our quality of life?
Shame on the author of this article. It's way too easy to spread panic on advanced technological topics. Think before you post. Do you really think an organisation like GreenPeace saves whales with your money? No, they use it to scare the unaware crowds and supply them with their narrow-minded opinions.
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Hell, make sure it is well-thought and well-argumented. Especially, on these difficult matters!
History is full of ignorance, fear and deception of the masses. This is your chance to be different.
Zuccarini's sites featured advertisements for other sites and for credit card companies. Visitors were trapped or"mousetrapped" in the
sites, which, in the jargon of the computer world, means that they were unable to exit without clicking on a succession of advertisements.
He, People who can not type (fat finger syndrome),    deserve to click banners!
Several blimps on a single mission.
on
Space Blimps
·
· Score: 1
Since they weigh only 100 kgs, it could be a good idea to send several of these blimps on a mission together. Really cheap complete solar exploitation. They don't mention anything about if blimps work on Jupiter and other gas balls.
Sending a couple of them to the same body, would greatly increase the speed of data gathering.
Just because your not paranoid -
Doesn't mean your not being followed.
Yeah, but did you know that most of these crops are intentionally made sterile? To ensure sales the next season.
Otherwise, it would be like selling software that doesn't need feature fixes and updates. You would sell only once.
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry, I forgot to login. This was my post.
From your description it reminds me of a book written by a guy named Dickens. Abuse of people on an industrial scale. However I take your word for it, when you say these people are happy they escaped before the real big skilled programmers explosion.
On the other hand, I'm so happy that what I do (bioinformatics) takes more skills than just coding. I wouldn't like to be without a job either.
Do you think we should hire some of these people, or let them come for a traineeship?
I work in an European scientific software company and we get lots of E-mail from India saying that they could train people to do our work and send them to Europe, or where ever you want.
Personally I never reply to these E-mails. I seems to me like a modern form of slavery. What do you guys think? How are these companies managed. Do you think you would appreciate it, being called cheap programming force by your boss?
Or is the situation in India really that bad, and would you be happy to go abroad and have a better live?
[repost sorry, forgot to login]
A rough draft is like taking a 5000 pieces puzzle and putting 95% of the pieces together. The puzzle is now in 50 chunks of (on average) 97 pieces each. The chunks are still not in the right position relative to each other, but you can already get a pretty good idea of the image on the puzzle.
A gold standard is where you put all the chunks in the right position and check each and every one of the pieces at least 5 times. The only problem is that there is still 4 pieces under the carpet, and you didn't notice they fell from the table.
About the funding, yeah you're right. However, the first one to shout the puzzle was finished will probably get a Nobel prize. All these finishers are trying to get is a salary. We really need the complete picture to do something with it.
Don't worry about the four missing pieces. The cleaning lady (person, to be correct) will probably find them and put them where they belong.
Yes, 22, 21 and 20 are the smallest.
However, it might not take much longer to finish the other ones. Finishing a chromosome is like putting the last pieces of a puzzle in. Only these last pieces are very difficult to place from a technical point of view. As we gain more experience with the finishing, new techniques are developed that will considerably speed up the proces (and new infrastructure as well).
I am happy with the finishing, because I think that the people that announced the human genome in 2000 think their nobel price is secure. Really finishing the sequence is a VERY VERY important job, without all the glamour of the early sequencing days.
Practical information to use? It is being done at this very moment. It already speeds up drug discovery, biological discoveries, etc. I think that within 5 years the first truly genomic drugs will come to the market. Don't expect miracles at once. However, do expect the start of a true revolution. One in which mankind will take control of its own biology (and that of other species). It will make the industrial revolution look like a non-event.
Third question: no. Again we will benefit from technological advances, but before you can know something is the same, you will have to sequence it first.
There's hardly any trained professionals in the field. These guys probably have something similar to your background. Just promise to be flexible and to learn whatever language/skills the job requires.
I got into the biz three years ago (as a biologist) and I'm still learning new languages.
Mostly C and XML transformation stuff, cause I honestly believe Perl & Lisp are not up to the massive amount of data challenge.
Why don't they force M$ to port their IIS webserver to Linux? Talking 'bout fair competition.
While their at it, I want I linux version for all these worms that are so popular lately!
gambling with our quality of life?
Shame on the author of this article. It's way too easy to spread panic on advanced technological topics. Think before you post. Do you really think an organisation like GreenPeace saves whales with your money? No, they use it to scare the unaware crowds and supply them with their narrow-minded opinions.
Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Hell, make sure it is well-thought and well-argumented. Especially, on these difficult matters!
History is full of ignorance, fear and deception of the masses. This is your chance to be different.
Zuccarini's sites featured advertisements for other sites and for credit card companies. Visitors were trapped or"mousetrapped" in the sites, which, in the jargon of the computer world, means that they were unable to exit without clicking on a succession of advertisements.
He, People who can not type (fat finger syndrome),
   deserve to click banners!
Since they weigh only 100 kgs, it could be a good idea to send several of these blimps on a mission together. Really cheap complete solar exploitation. They don't mention anything about if blimps work on Jupiter and other gas balls. Sending a couple of them to the same body, would greatly increase the speed of data gathering. Just because your not paranoid - Doesn't mean your not being followed.
Yeah, but did you know that most of these crops are intentionally made sterile? To ensure sales the next season. Otherwise, it would be like selling software that doesn't need feature fixes and updates. You would sell only once.