Such games exist already, but not for computer systems. Just check out Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64 for Nintendo. They are real time fully-rendered 3D games where one solves puzzles in a highly nonlinear fashion.
I admit, the puzzles in these games are nowhere near as complicated as those in Myst, but at least they're present. If a similiar game were made with more difficult puzzles I would be very happy.
I know nothing about how my car works. I am not at all comfortable with upgrading it or maintaining it. The most complicated act I am able to perform is to put gas in it.
But I still use it, and need to use it, every single day. Ignorance about the internals of my car does not preclude me from using it in a valid fashion. Granted, if I were more informed about its workings I would probably be able to use it more efficiently, and more productively. But this gain is not worth the hassel I feel it would be to learn these things.
Computers are no different. They are a tool - nothing more, nothing less. The average person doesn't care how data is actually stored in their computer, or how interrupts work, or anything. They want a machine which is perfectly intuitive and can let them write reports or generate presentations or email their friends, and they do not care how these feats are accomplished.
I admit, today this scenario does not exist in as ideal a fashion as I have laid out. But that doesn't imply it cannot exist. Computers are fundamentally no different than cars - just more complicated. Thus, while it should take more work on our part, a system is able to be designed which fullfills these criteria. It is a challenge to computer scientists to create this system.
Furthermore, the digital computer is so powerful a tool that it should not be withheld from the majority of society for any reason. It has the power to radically alter our entire society, and if that means the loss of comfort for the "computer elite" (which I do not believe it does) than so be it. Why should society be denied such benenfits simply because a few people prefer computers to be special hi-tech playthings? I am happy that the car was not denied society in a similiar fashion.
Price and performance are not the only negative aspects of ISP monopolies. American Online is famous for its "Family Oriented Content" id est Censorship. The one thing keeping the internet free of regulation currently is the myriad of means by which to gain access. Once that access is restricted to a small handful of enormous companies, the government (not to mention the companies themselves) can easily dictate what we can and cannot use the net for.
Additionally, once everyone is forced to go through the big ISPs for service, it will be very difficult for small service providers to break into the market. The price of wiring an area / number of people willing to go with smaller ISPs in that area ratio will be too small to justify any company from offering censorship free service.
Slashdot Mirror
Such games exist already, but not for computer systems. Just check out Mario 64, Banjo Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64 for Nintendo. They are real time fully-rendered 3D games where one solves puzzles in a highly nonlinear fashion.
I admit, the puzzles in these games are nowhere near as complicated as those in Myst, but at least they're present. If a similiar game were made with more difficult puzzles I would be very happy.
I know nothing about how my car works. I am not at all comfortable with upgrading it or maintaining it. The most complicated act I am able to perform is to put gas in it.
But I still use it, and need to use it, every single day. Ignorance about the internals of my car does not preclude me from using it in a valid fashion. Granted, if I were more informed about its workings I would probably be able to use it more efficiently, and more productively. But this gain is not worth the hassel I feel it would be to learn these things.
Computers are no different. They are a tool - nothing more, nothing less. The average person doesn't care how data is actually stored in their computer, or how interrupts work, or anything. They want a machine which is perfectly intuitive and can let them write reports or generate presentations or email their friends, and they do not care how these feats are accomplished.
I admit, today this scenario does not exist in as ideal a fashion as I have laid out. But that doesn't imply it cannot exist. Computers are fundamentally no different than cars - just more complicated. Thus, while it should take more work on our part, a system is able to be designed which fullfills these criteria. It is a challenge to computer scientists to create this system.
Furthermore, the digital computer is so powerful a tool that it should not be withheld from the majority of society for any reason. It has the power to radically alter our entire society, and if that means the loss of comfort for the "computer elite" (which I do not believe it does) than so be it. Why should society be denied such benenfits simply because a few people prefer computers to be special hi-tech playthings? I am happy that the car was not denied society in a similiar fashion.
Philip QuirkPent is a Greek suffix, sex is a Latin one. Thus the next name would be Hexium.
Price and performance are not the only negative aspects of ISP monopolies. American Online is famous for its "Family Oriented Content" id est Censorship. The one thing keeping the internet free of regulation currently is the myriad of means by which to gain access. Once that access is restricted to a small handful of enormous companies, the government (not to mention the companies themselves) can easily dictate what we can and cannot use the net for.
Additionally, once everyone is forced to go through the big ISPs for service, it will be very difficult for small service providers to break into the market. The price of wiring an area / number of people willing to go with smaller ISPs in that area ratio will be too small to justify any company from offering censorship free service.
It is imperative that we resist ISP monopolies!