By war is meaningless, I mean to the common man the news / results will be a meaningless statistic.
Hearing "50 American souls die in failed raid on CountryX" makes people feel something emotional. Hear it enough, and a lot of people might start to realize "this sucks, let's pull" Maybe they have a family member or friend over there. Maybe they realize that the gain isn't worth the cost in friends and family.
Make it fully automated and it becomes like the stock price going up or down 100 points. Sure, some people will care... but for the most part Joe Sixpack will see it as a meaningless statistic.
- Yes, but "en masse?" And quickly? Sure, you have propoganda, subliminal messaging, torture, and flat-out mental conditioning. But trying to do that quickly to a squadron in the middle of a battle... we're not at that point. Meanwhile, taking remote control of a drone or putzing with its Friend or Foe during a battle can probably be done quickly once people figure out how.
- Yes, it's always meaningless. But as I point out... it takes social change / outrage to stop a war. Right now, the only thing pulling on our heart strings is the stories of military family members coming back in body bags. Take that away, and most of the populace won't care.
- Who's to say it can't? And define it -- who's to say it needs to in order to turn on its masters. I'm not talking about automatic a drone's Friend Or Foe logic and setting it on cruise. But 5 years... 10 years... who's to say we won't get to the point that things go really sideways. 20 years? Maybe by then we'll hit the singularity.
1) Software can be hacked... either partially or totally. Maybe just putz with the Friend-Or-Foe logic, maybe take direct control, etc. Sure, humans can be blackmailed and extorted but usually on an individual basis. Mass-putzing with a regiment or squad and you have serious issues. Such as perhaps those drones protecting the US (if they ever become truly robotic).
2) It does make war a bit more meaningless. If you aren't facing emotional losses, then there's little reason NOT to go to war. If it's not personalized... then who cares? Sure, even now we have sympathy for the other side and protests and such... but the majority of the people that care mostly care because our brothers / sisters / sons / daughters / etc. are out there possibly dying. So that helps push back the question "should we actually GO to war with them?"
3) There ARE concerns of self-aware armed robots. Make them too self aware, and maybe they realize that the never-ending violent slaughter of humans is contradictory to their goals of preserving their owners' lives. In which case they take a OVERLY logic to preserve the FUTURE "Needs of the many" by doing PLOTLINE X. Sure, it sounds like bad sci-fi... but as you say they have no emotions and only logic. Take away emotion, and we become like cattle... where they cull the herd due to a few random mad-cow cases to save the majority.
In the Asimov books, the inventor of the Robot Brain pretty much invented and designed the Positronic Brains so they the whole underlying foundation was just a large spaghetti of stuff... and the brain wouldn't function without it. And part of the spaghetti was the 3-laws... remove them and it all falls apart like a house of cards.
So it wasn't so much an issue of "Manufacturers installing the 3-laws-patch" but that the 3-laws were built into the brain's foundation. And that there weren't really ways to make the brain without having all of that stuff there.
Though in one of (Asimov's?) books, some genius designed a Gravitronic brain from scratch in such a way that it didn't have the 3 laws built in. Thus it was smaller and cheaper. But I forget if it was an Asimov book or just someone that borrowed his rules and such.
My understanding is, a lot of their financial woes are coming from a 2006 Congress mandate that the USPS start pre-paying into their retirement plan to fund future-future retirement. In short, they're asking them to pay more to handle people that won't retire for years now. And that Congress is dipping into that money for something else.
And from what I've heard, if they weren't asked to be paying extra into said fund they'd actually be making a small profit.
I remember more recently I was in Gamestop... I think it was back when "Dead Rising" first came out. Now, that game was violent and bloody. I mean, just the concept of it in general let alone the graphics.
So this woman, late 30's, is in front of me. She's acting *itchy and giving the oily 16yo clerk a hard time. Asking "Should I get this game for my young kid." I think she said the kid was like 8 or something. She was asking if Dead Rising would be fine for her 8yo kid.
The clerk was trying to be the nice guy and went along describing the game, the fact you're killing many many zombies, there's blood/decaptition/etc in solid graphics. And that it was up to her, but he felt it was a violent game.
She didn't want that, she wanted "yes or no"
Again, he was saying it's her call... it's a pretty violent game and that it was up to her if she wanted him exposed to that.
And AGAIN she's saying but SHOULD I get it.
It went on and on like this for a while. The woman did NOT want to be the one making the decision herself. So she was asking some Sophomore in high school to do the parenting for her.
Meanwhile, the woman looked at least 35 so it's not like she was some young kid who didn't know what-was-what. Just some lazy parent.
Since you say they took EVERYTHING and you're cleaned out... you might as well start with a clean slate.
Others have already suggested: wait to see what you need, decide if the "need" is big enough, and if so then consider buying it.
For example: - That rack stereo system... how often did you use it? Did you just turn it on because it was there? Maybe consider just using your computer or a small shelf system. - Do you really need that Rice machine? I'd wait until you decide that "I want rice" often enough to consider replacing it. - What about that juicer? Were you using it, or was it mostly sitting there because you got it as a gift. - etc
The list of obvious daily stuff is pretty easy... for me it would be clothes, TV, Computer, Refrigerator (I doubt they took that), toaster, etc. Then I'd play it by ear after that.
My family had an insane number of TV's when I was younger. At one point we had 5.... we bought 3 (living room, grandparents family room, and my parents' bedroom) but then we got some from relatives dying and one family friend that was moving and didn't want to bother packing this huge thing built into furniture.
So eventually we had like 6. And this was back when TV's were huge... like 27" tubes with some wood built around them to act as furniture. Eventually we donated them when we started running out of room.
We kept them around because, hey, they were free and since our TVs were getting a little old we now had some replacements in case they bit the dust.
Even ignoring the relative deaths though, I can see it. Like if you have kids that just moved back home from college (or a lost job) until they get on their feet. Now you have the TVs the 2 kids owned, plus your bedroom, living room, and 1 other.
From the title "Cellphone Privacy In Canada: Encryption Triggers Need For Warrant" it sounded like if the Police find out you're encrypting your phone that it will trigger a warrant... because "obviously" you're up to no good.
But from the summary, it just sounds like something that makes sense. That if they arrest you and want to access your encrypted phone, then they need a warrant.
I'm not a huge fan of them going through the phone in any case, but at least it's preventing them from coercing you to unlock the phone or face bigger fines "on a whim"
The guy is placating parents. The media loves to blame these mass shootings on video games... these blinking screens that are turning your children into mindless psychopaths.
So he's hoping for the "Thank god SOMEBODY is finally thinking of the children" vote.
It's possible this guy is also against guns in general, but even if not... that's obviously not the issue in a lot of parents eyes. It's "protect my baby... from myself... since I can't stop myself from buying him violent games"
On the other hand, right-to-fire means the boss can fire you for whatever reason so long as it's not race, religion or orientation.
So: he doesn't like fat people, he doesn't like people that smoke at home, he doesn't like people that drive SUVs, he doesn't like people that wear the color purple, he doesn't like that you won't join the team for drinks after work, he doesn't like that you DO join the team for drinks after work. Gone.
Which, sure, from an employer standpoint... why shouldn't "I" be able to fire anyone I want.
But from an employee standpoint, if your boss is a jerk he can just fire you for whatever reason... even if you're a solid employee. Which then leads to all kinds of financial problems that suck even MORE when you have a family. And losing your job isn't just an inconvenience in this economy... it's bad news all around.
Well that's the obvious "demand" answer... kids want to be able to play cooler games. And of course TI realizes this.
But I'm sure there is a more practical reason... like an actual use / need for color other than a nicer UI and games. Something math / science related that would affect a High School or College student.
Though college students would probably want to use either a more advanced TI calc that's easier to program... or just use their Smart Phones / Tablets.
The only thing I can think of, is if you're doing something with color / heat maps.
I've seen some stuff like that. But then again not for anything I needed to do, even in college.
Though breaking it down to a high school level, perhaps as an alternative way to depict 2D in a broad way. X, Y, and color-map to visually approximate the Z value for something really complex.
Schools and tests. Even back before cellphones hit critical mass, using graphing calculators made life easier. Not just the graph, but having functions, program-ability, the history on a big screen, etc.
Now that cellphones are big... well schools still don't want them using the cellphones in class. Some don't even want them brought into the building. So you can't just allow students to just start using them in class. Is he googling the answer? Is he texting someone for help? Is he using an advanced polynomial solver? etc.
So, graphing calculators. And a specific kind to perhaps reduce how easy it is to program or the built in features. Heck, there was a TI out while I was a in college that would solve advanced equations and give you the answer as something like Answer = 2x + 1/Pi
I mean sure, pen and paper is fine. But some standardized tests are set up so you barely have time to take the test by plugging stuff into a calculator. And writing it all out and stuff adds a little bit more time and thus makes it hard to finish.
Coincidence is really a stretch. How many times have I had to support someone with their problems (PC, DVR, Car, etc.) where they claim nothing changed nothing changed.
Later to find out "Oh yeh, I DID just install something before the problem... I just thought it was a coincidence"
There was a quote from a TV series called "The Unit" which accurately depicts my thoughts on the matter. Mack: You believe in coincidence? Bob: Do you? Mack: Like I believe in God, I believe in it. But I've never seen it.
There wasn't full motion video. Maybe they had some narrated pics or MAYBE some in-game-rendered footage for a few seconds.
The voice acting (in the cut scenes or even the game) weren't really there. Between the writing and the vocal talent it was often quite weak. There WERE exceptions but for the most part... not great.
They weren't using A-list or B-list actors to voice their stuff like they do now. It was rare for them to pick a celebrity or even a solid cartoon/anime voice actor.
The models are more intricate. While the Duke 3D and Doom sprites looked decent... they were a LOT easier to make than the current poly-models.
I mean... back then doing a voice or something might get you a pat on the back or a handshake at a convention or something. Now, it's important enough that people use them on their IMDB pages towards acting gigs.
Sure, Gamestop makes a solid number of sales from new games. But a large percentage of their PROFIT is from used game sales because that x% they paid back to the customer is a pittance compare to the amount they pay to order those new copies. I'm not going to say a majority of their income is from used game sales... but I remember an analyst stating the percentage a couple years ago and it was quite large... i just forget the exact number.
And they push the used game versions... HARD. Do you want to save $10 on a used copy? It's just as good as the new one. Are you sure. It's a great deal. It is literally part of their training / mandates that they push used copies as much as they can.
I've been to Gamestops where they were pretty much out of many new copies of recent (or semi-recent) games and only had used ones.
So yeh... they sell a decent number of new copies... in hopes those same people will sell them back in a few weeks so they can sell them again.
I think the grandparent meant as normal user interfaces. Like: browsing through files, news, reviews, movies via a hallway with shelves and/or drawers. Or walking into a room and see some visual representation of your processes that you can either kill or interface with to change their priority. Things like that.
People tried doing that stuff back in the 90's, like in the film "Disclosure" A 3D space to do your browsing and file maintenance. Lots of people tried using game engines and things to make 3D interfaces for specialized tools (the DOOM engine was popular to use).
Sure, one one hand it sounded kind of cool but in the end it's hardly as efficient as a basic 2D webpage with ordinary browsing or auto-complete. If you want your information now... do you want to walk through a virtual library to find something or just "click" 2 or 3 things to get it (or auto-complete search it).
So... he's saying that outside of games there are only really a few outliers that truly benefit from 3D interfaces. I'd say medical stuff, scientific stuff, and some other things that aren't really known to the masses.
Sure, some of that will change in the future. And with Microsoft's Kinect... there have been some neat things done. But it will probably take a new "idea" or way of thinking to really bring a 3D User Interface into the world for ordinary "Joe Sixpack" use.
Most likely re-using dirty bags are the culprit. Perhaps not. But even if so... the pastic bag ban is causing the increase of re-usable bags so it's not really wrong to place some of the blame there.
So... it would be like saying during prohibition, that the ban of the sale of alcohol caused more alcohol-related health issues and deaths. Sure, you COULD blame it on criminal elements making toxic liquor and people breaking the law to drink it. But without the ban, people would have safe access to "normal" liquor. So blaming the ban is apt.
Or finding out that after a "Ban on cellphones in cars" there was actually a hypothetical increase in cellphone-related-car-accidents. Because the idiots are trying to hide their phone while using it so cops don't see (instead of using a headset / bluetooth / speakerphone) and thus paying even LESS attention than normal. You COULD say that... stupid people doing something stupid increases accidents. But... the ban on cellphones is what's causing more stupid people to act even stupider.
NOTE: I'm not saying the cellphone ban is wrong or causing more accidents. It's purely hypothetical.
Multimedia CAN improve how much the students pay attention.
Showing the stars in astronomy (where a planetarium is not available), showing diagrams of molecules, or the "whatever" of biology.
Sure, some/most of those things can be done once and printed via a colorful transparency. But I also knew some teachers that hated transparencies and felt chalk+chalkboard was the only way to go.
There's teaching and there's TEACHING. Sure, it's always the responsibility of the student to pay attention and learn. But, a good teacher will do what they can to make the students interested and involved. If that means biting the bullet and introducing a little bit of visual aides and/or animation then so be it.
I'm not saying they should change everything to be fully On Demand via Web Gadget X. But those that feel that faded black-and-white transparencies and/or chalkboards are all they need. Perhaps they need to rethink a little.
Umm, no. A few days after purchasing the place the mailman ran into me and laid into me about my mailbox and how I shouldn't be letting the mail accumulate. I explained that I just bought the place and hand't even moved in yet. That stuff isn't even addressed to me (it was to some woman) and I didn't have the mailbox key yet. Didn't stop him from flipping out.
There was a lot of stuff in there: but the previous tenant didn't stop mail or ask it to be redirected. So it had just accumulated for months. So, dick move on HER part.
Slashdot Mirror
By war is meaningless, I mean to the common man the news / results will be a meaningless statistic.
Hearing "50 American souls die in failed raid on CountryX" makes people feel something emotional. Hear it enough, and a lot of people might start to realize "this sucks, let's pull" Maybe they have a family member or friend over there. Maybe they realize that the gain isn't worth the cost in friends and family.
Make it fully automated and it becomes like the stock price going up or down 100 points. Sure, some people will care... but for the most part Joe Sixpack will see it as a meaningless statistic.
- Yes, but "en masse?" And quickly? Sure, you have propoganda, subliminal messaging, torture, and flat-out mental conditioning. But trying to do that quickly to a squadron in the middle of a battle... we're not at that point. Meanwhile, taking remote control of a drone or putzing with its Friend or Foe during a battle can probably be done quickly once people figure out how.
- Yes, it's always meaningless. But as I point out... it takes social change / outrage to stop a war. Right now, the only thing pulling on our heart strings is the stories of military family members coming back in body bags. Take that away, and most of the populace won't care.
- Who's to say it can't? And define it -- who's to say it needs to in order to turn on its masters. I'm not talking about automatic a drone's Friend Or Foe logic and setting it on cruise. But 5 years... 10 years... who's to say we won't get to the point that things go really sideways. 20 years? Maybe by then we'll hit the singularity.
A couple of issues.
1) Software can be hacked... either partially or totally. Maybe just putz with the Friend-Or-Foe logic, maybe take direct control, etc. Sure, humans can be blackmailed and extorted but usually on an individual basis. Mass-putzing with a regiment or squad and you have serious issues. Such as perhaps those drones protecting the US (if they ever become truly robotic).
2) It does make war a bit more meaningless. If you aren't facing emotional losses, then there's little reason NOT to go to war. If it's not personalized... then who cares? Sure, even now we have sympathy for the other side and protests and such... but the majority of the people that care mostly care because our brothers / sisters / sons / daughters / etc. are out there possibly dying. So that helps push back the question "should we actually GO to war with them?"
3) There ARE concerns of self-aware armed robots. Make them too self aware, and maybe they realize that the never-ending violent slaughter of humans is contradictory to their goals of preserving their owners' lives. In which case they take a OVERLY logic to preserve the FUTURE "Needs of the many" by doing PLOTLINE X. Sure, it sounds like bad sci-fi... but as you say they have no emotions and only logic. Take away emotion, and we become like cattle... where they cull the herd due to a few random mad-cow cases to save the majority.
In the Asimov books, the inventor of the Robot Brain pretty much invented and designed the Positronic Brains so they the whole underlying foundation was just a large spaghetti of stuff... and the brain wouldn't function without it. And part of the spaghetti was the 3-laws... remove them and it all falls apart like a house of cards.
So it wasn't so much an issue of "Manufacturers installing the 3-laws-patch" but that the 3-laws were built into the brain's foundation. And that there weren't really ways to make the brain without having all of that stuff there.
Though in one of (Asimov's?) books, some genius designed a Gravitronic brain from scratch in such a way that it didn't have the 3 laws built in. Thus it was smaller and cheaper. But I forget if it was an Asimov book or just someone that borrowed his rules and such.
My understanding is, a lot of their financial woes are coming from a 2006 Congress mandate that the USPS start pre-paying into their retirement plan to fund future-future retirement. In short, they're asking them to pay more to handle people that won't retire for years now. And that Congress is dipping into that money for something else.
And from what I've heard, if they weren't asked to be paying extra into said fund they'd actually be making a small profit.
Oh, definitely.
I just felt bad for the clerk. She was really grilling him.
I'm sorry, but YOU're the parent of the kid. Not some 16yo clerk at gaming store.
It goes back to my previous post in this thread's branch. People want someone to do the raising for them.
I remember more recently I was in Gamestop... I think it was back when "Dead Rising" first came out. Now, that game was violent and bloody. I mean, just the concept of it in general let alone the graphics.
So this woman, late 30's, is in front of me. She's acting *itchy and giving the oily 16yo clerk a hard time. Asking "Should I get this game for my young kid." I think she said the kid was like 8 or something. She was asking if Dead Rising would be fine for her 8yo kid.
The clerk was trying to be the nice guy and went along describing the game, the fact you're killing many many zombies, there's blood/decaptition/etc in solid graphics. And that it was up to her, but he felt it was a violent game.
She didn't want that, she wanted "yes or no"
Again, he was saying it's her call... it's a pretty violent game and that it was up to her if she wanted him exposed to that.
And AGAIN she's saying but SHOULD I get it.
It went on and on like this for a while. The woman did NOT want to be the one making the decision herself. So she was asking some Sophomore in high school to do the parenting for her.
Meanwhile, the woman looked at least 35 so it's not like she was some young kid who didn't know what-was-what. Just some lazy parent.
Since you say they took EVERYTHING and you're cleaned out... you might as well start with a clean slate.
Others have already suggested: wait to see what you need, decide if the "need" is big enough, and if so then consider buying it.
For example:
- That rack stereo system... how often did you use it? Did you just turn it on because it was there? Maybe consider just using your computer or a small shelf system.
- Do you really need that Rice machine? I'd wait until you decide that "I want rice" often enough to consider replacing it.
- What about that juicer? Were you using it, or was it mostly sitting there because you got it as a gift.
- etc
The list of obvious daily stuff is pretty easy... for me it would be clothes, TV, Computer, Refrigerator (I doubt they took that), toaster, etc. Then I'd play it by ear after that.
But to each their own.
My family had an insane number of TV's when I was younger. At one point we had 5.... we bought 3 (living room, grandparents family room, and my parents' bedroom) but then we got some from relatives dying and one family friend that was moving and didn't want to bother packing this huge thing built into furniture.
So eventually we had like 6. And this was back when TV's were huge... like 27" tubes with some wood built around them to act as furniture. Eventually we donated them when we started running out of room.
We kept them around because, hey, they were free and since our TVs were getting a little old we now had some replacements in case they bit the dust.
Even ignoring the relative deaths though, I can see it. Like if you have kids that just moved back home from college (or a lost job) until they get on their feet. Now you have the TVs the 2 kids owned, plus your bedroom, living room, and 1 other.
Last I checked (which WAS a while ago) you can't use Sprint phones on AT&T. Different frequencies, and I don't THINK Sprint uses SIM cards.
A better analogy would be buying a phone on T-Mobile and then using it on AT&T. They share enough frequencies and both use SIM cards.
From the title "Cellphone Privacy In Canada: Encryption Triggers Need For Warrant" it sounded like if the Police find out you're encrypting your phone that it will trigger a warrant... because "obviously" you're up to no good.
But from the summary, it just sounds like something that makes sense. That if they arrest you and want to access your encrypted phone, then they need a warrant.
I'm not a huge fan of them going through the phone in any case, but at least it's preventing them from coercing you to unlock the phone or face bigger fines "on a whim"
Ah, just assumed "Tony" and a mis-spelling.
The guy is placating parents. The media loves to blame these mass shootings on video games... these blinking screens that are turning your children into mindless psychopaths.
So he's hoping for the "Thank god SOMEBODY is finally thinking of the children" vote.
It's possible this guy is also against guns in general, but even if not... that's obviously not the issue in a lot of parents eyes. It's "protect my baby... from myself... since I can't stop myself from buying him violent games"
On the other hand, right-to-fire means the boss can fire you for whatever reason so long as it's not race, religion or orientation.
So: he doesn't like fat people, he doesn't like people that smoke at home, he doesn't like people that drive SUVs, he doesn't like people that wear the color purple, he doesn't like that you won't join the team for drinks after work, he doesn't like that you DO join the team for drinks after work. Gone.
Which, sure, from an employer standpoint... why shouldn't "I" be able to fire anyone I want.
But from an employee standpoint, if your boss is a jerk he can just fire you for whatever reason... even if you're a solid employee. Which then leads to all kinds of financial problems that suck even MORE when you have a family. And losing your job isn't just an inconvenience in this economy... it's bad news all around.
Go to war together... meaning fighting on the same side. Such as a squadron of F-22's and Typhoons working together during an op / firefight / etc.
Well that's the obvious "demand" answer... kids want to be able to play cooler games. And of course TI realizes this.
But I'm sure there is a more practical reason... like an actual use / need for color other than a nicer UI and games. Something math / science related that would affect a High School or College student.
Though college students would probably want to use either a more advanced TI calc that's easier to program... or just use their Smart Phones / Tablets.
The only thing I can think of, is if you're doing something with color / heat maps.
I've seen some stuff like that. But then again not for anything I needed to do, even in college.
Though breaking it down to a high school level, perhaps as an alternative way to depict 2D in a broad way. X, Y, and color-map to visually approximate the Z value for something really complex.
Schools and tests. Even back before cellphones hit critical mass, using graphing calculators made life easier. Not just the graph, but having functions, program-ability, the history on a big screen, etc.
Now that cellphones are big... well schools still don't want them using the cellphones in class. Some don't even want them brought into the building. So you can't just allow students to just start using them in class.
Is he googling the answer?
Is he texting someone for help?
Is he using an advanced polynomial solver?
etc.
So, graphing calculators. And a specific kind to perhaps reduce how easy it is to program or the built in features. Heck, there was a TI out while I was a in college that would solve advanced equations and give you the answer as something like Answer = 2x + 1/Pi
I mean sure, pen and paper is fine. But some standardized tests are set up so you barely have time to take the test by plugging stuff into a calculator. And writing it all out and stuff adds a little bit more time and thus makes it hard to finish.
Coincidence is really a stretch. How many times have I had to support someone with their problems (PC, DVR, Car, etc.) where they claim nothing changed nothing changed.
Later to find out "Oh yeh, I DID just install something before the problem... I just thought it was a coincidence"
There was a quote from a TV series called "The Unit" which accurately depicts my thoughts on the matter.
Mack: You believe in coincidence?
Bob: Do you?
Mack: Like I believe in God, I believe in it. But I've never seen it.
It's somewhat true. Go back to the early 90s...
There wasn't full motion video. Maybe they had some narrated pics or MAYBE some in-game-rendered footage for a few seconds.
The voice acting (in the cut scenes or even the game) weren't really there. Between the writing and the vocal talent it was often quite weak. There WERE exceptions but for the most part... not great.
They weren't using A-list or B-list actors to voice their stuff like they do now. It was rare for them to pick a celebrity or even a solid cartoon/anime voice actor.
The models are more intricate. While the Duke 3D and Doom sprites looked decent... they were a LOT easier to make than the current poly-models.
I mean... back then doing a voice or something might get you a pat on the back or a handshake at a convention or something. Now, it's important enough that people use them on their IMDB pages towards acting gigs.
Sure, Gamestop makes a solid number of sales from new games. But a large percentage of their PROFIT is from used game sales because that x% they paid back to the customer is a pittance compare to the amount they pay to order those new copies. I'm not going to say a majority of their income is from used game sales... but I remember an analyst stating the percentage a couple years ago and it was quite large... i just forget the exact number.
And they push the used game versions... HARD. Do you want to save $10 on a used copy? It's just as good as the new one. Are you sure. It's a great deal. It is literally part of their training / mandates that they push used copies as much as they can.
I've been to Gamestops where they were pretty much out of many new copies of recent (or semi-recent) games and only had used ones.
So yeh... they sell a decent number of new copies... in hopes those same people will sell them back in a few weeks so they can sell them again.
I think the grandparent meant as normal user interfaces. Like: browsing through files, news, reviews, movies via a hallway with shelves and/or drawers. Or walking into a room and see some visual representation of your processes that you can either kill or interface with to change their priority. Things like that.
People tried doing that stuff back in the 90's, like in the film "Disclosure" A 3D space to do your browsing and file maintenance. Lots of people tried using game engines and things to make 3D interfaces for specialized tools (the DOOM engine was popular to use).
Sure, one one hand it sounded kind of cool but in the end it's hardly as efficient as a basic 2D webpage with ordinary browsing or auto-complete. If you want your information now... do you want to walk through a virtual library to find something or just "click" 2 or 3 things to get it (or auto-complete search it).
So... he's saying that outside of games there are only really a few outliers that truly benefit from 3D interfaces. I'd say medical stuff, scientific stuff, and some other things that aren't really known to the masses.
Sure, some of that will change in the future. And with Microsoft's Kinect... there have been some neat things done. But it will probably take a new "idea" or way of thinking to really bring a 3D User Interface into the world for ordinary "Joe Sixpack" use.
Potato / Potahto
Most likely re-using dirty bags are the culprit. Perhaps not. But even if so... the pastic bag ban is causing the increase of re-usable bags so it's not really wrong to place some of the blame there.
So... it would be like saying during prohibition, that the ban of the sale of alcohol caused more alcohol-related health issues and deaths. Sure, you COULD blame it on criminal elements making toxic liquor and people breaking the law to drink it. But without the ban, people would have safe access to "normal" liquor. So blaming the ban is apt.
Or finding out that after a "Ban on cellphones in cars" there was actually a hypothetical increase in cellphone-related-car-accidents. Because the idiots are trying to hide their phone while using it so cops don't see (instead of using a headset / bluetooth / speakerphone) and thus paying even LESS attention than normal. You COULD say that... stupid people doing something stupid increases accidents. But... the ban on cellphones is what's causing more stupid people to act even stupider.
NOTE: I'm not saying the cellphone ban is wrong or causing more accidents. It's purely hypothetical.
Multimedia CAN improve how much the students pay attention.
Showing the stars in astronomy (where a planetarium is not available), showing diagrams of molecules, or the "whatever" of biology.
Sure, some/most of those things can be done once and printed via a colorful transparency. But I also knew some teachers that hated transparencies and felt chalk+chalkboard was the only way to go.
There's teaching and there's TEACHING. Sure, it's always the responsibility of the student to pay attention and learn. But, a good teacher will do what they can to make the students interested and involved. If that means biting the bullet and introducing a little bit of visual aides and/or animation then so be it.
I'm not saying they should change everything to be fully On Demand via Web Gadget X. But those that feel that faded black-and-white transparencies and/or chalkboards are all they need. Perhaps they need to rethink a little.
Umm, no. A few days after purchasing the place the mailman ran into me and laid into me about my mailbox and how I shouldn't be letting the mail accumulate. I explained that I just bought the place and hand't even moved in yet. That stuff isn't even addressed to me (it was to some woman) and I didn't have the mailbox key yet. Didn't stop him from flipping out.
There was a lot of stuff in there: but the previous tenant didn't stop mail or ask it to be redirected. So it had just accumulated for months. So, dick move on HER part.