On another point, I once worked as a computer operator for landscaping data. We had tablets with large areas for digitizing maps where the 22 button tablet (yes, as large as a mouse) was used for tracing outlines, a 5-key chorded keyboard used on the left for other functions, and key pedals used for switching context. It didn't take long to get used to, and for the purpose it was needed for saved a great deal of time on a keyboard+mouse only. Everything has its uses
In my opinion, doing things "the old way" is the desired method of working with computers. Anything that gets in the way of creativity is an obstacle and brain time must be spent monkeying around with hardware/software. This wastes time, although most good CAD/designer types are programmers at heart. Most do not want to spend time fussing with machines when the deadline approaches.
What you refer to here is the old tablet (pretty much useless if you can map specific commands to the keyboard with customized setups). The tablet and puck approach required users to take their eyes off the working surface and focus elsewhere, Not Good. Even now with dual 21" monitors used in the high-end, complicated applications that feature on-screen buttons everywhere it is too complicated.
Of course, I am comparing this to "old skool" reliable paper.
Feel free to contact me about this, I have some strong opinions on the matter.
Aren't Slashdot's usernames supposed to not necessarily reflect the owner's proclivity to understand stuff?
Surely you won't be churlish after inferring the intent implied contained within this message.
Me fail English? Unpossible!
Re:Can someone with some experience in these progr
on
Two-Fisted Computing
·
· Score: 1
Well said and not a silly observation. Actually CAD *is* now a lot like that, and becoming moreso. The difference between the best CAD and the best animation software is that the CAD stuff associates material properties along with the stuff on the screen via databases.
Not much different from how animation software incorporates physics (how does a ball bounce naturally?).
The best engineering software can simulate actual, individual grades of steel and how they react under loads.
Re:Where are mass market data gloves?
on
Two-Fisted Computing
·
· Score: 2, Funny
It shouldn't be that hard to digitize every possible movement of the human hand is capable of
...and video record a lot of booger-mining activity, I'll bet.
Whoops, sorry! I thought we were talking about crude clothing.
The devices control the position of on-screen objects in design programs
Makes sense to me; in fact I proposed such a device to Infogrip about 10 years ago.
This is not to claim that I'm some sort of genius, it just seems to be an obvious progression for someone that needs to access a lot of variable-level commands regularly.
For example, all the variations of copy, rotate, extend, offset, and the most important one: undo.
When working in 3D design, you need at least 2 views of everything since it's easy to lose perspective while you're thinking about the next move. Big, dual monitors are pretty much required becauseyou have to be able to see fine detail, and flipping screens tends to disorient the designer.
A two-handed control device is a good idea for this type of work.
Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I can draw it for you if you want.
A large company often doesn't find the 'time' involved in setting up and working with open source solutions is worth the savings. So, by the time that company is huge and they start to care about how much each upgrade costs, the amount of time and energy required to retrain the entire workforce is insurmountable.
That's pretty typical; throw money (if you have it) at the problem by purchasing product that everyone else uses (safety in numbers philosophy). If a critical file doesn't get through on time or the work is sloppy, management can always blame the OS, hardware, viruses, spyware, incompatible drivers, internet connection reliability, idiot users, etc..
The rush-rush pace which is required for businesses (and want-to-impress employees) to provide deliverables and to appear to be actually doing something for the client runs into the wall of actual work.
The smarter companies/individuals use whatever efficiencies can be gained by computerization and discard the "might work" stuff.
Of course it is. Go fast enough and eventually it would be possible to go back in time and re-write bad plotlines. Or be able to see Slashdot articles before they are posted.
Wait...
Arthur C. Clarke's Foresight
on
Testing Relativity
·
· Score: -1, Offtopic
Nevermind all those boring sciency-type experiments, I want to see "Space Boobies Unleashed!" (already TM'd by FOX, I hear) on HDTV-enabled widescreen DVD!
"The problem was considered in the 1973 science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama, in which he wrote: "Some women, Commander Norton had decided long ago, should not be allowed aboard ship; weightlessness did things to their breasts that were too damn distracting. It was bad enough when they were motionless; but when they started to move, and sympathetic vibrations set in, it was more than any warm-blooded male should be asked to take. He was quite sure that at least one serious space accident had been caused by acute crew distraction, after the transit of a well-upholstered lady officer through the control cabin."
If only there were some kind of wireless information distribution mechanism where a human could give traffic reports vocally. Reports from different places could be communicated across different "channels" from different wireless broadcasting "stations".
Ha! I used to call in traffic reports to a local, popular radio station from my 11 pound cellphone (when most Slashdotters were pooping at random) and one trick was to report a blockage in order to redirect cars to somewhere else other than where I was headed.
I'd still be drafting manually (as God intended) on a 36"x60" drawing table and throwing those eraser shaving-filled eraser bags at the junior draftsmen's heads when I get bored.
Now it's the other way around, I have to duck buzzwords flung at me by some punk-ass, 25 year-old CAD jockey. Effing Microsoft.
There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream Oppression!
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
Is anyone else reminded of the blipverts from the Max Headroom series?"
No, but I am reminded of the main actor from that series.W-w-w-w-w-what was his n-n-n-n-name again and did he ever do anything useful/rememberable after that besides 6six?
With a soft breast-shaped mouse, we could teach half the population to be skilled computer users!
Straight males, lesbians, etc.
Look - the entire mouse-using world is now pre-programmed to please females sexually. Why do you think the middle mouse button has become so popular? Stroke up, stroke down. Push down, wiggle side-to-side (for the newer, experimental designs). Not to mention the "mouse gestures" features that some programs offer as an "enhancement to computing experience. Wake up guys! You are being pre-programmed to pleasure females!
But I must admit that a nipple mouse that I could control with my tongue would be fun, especially if it felt like a breast on my face. Double-lick would execute a program, a bite would perform escape.
Why would anyone go into the humanities, get a PhD in history and figure they could get a job as a museum curator
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your latest submission to the Institute, labeled "211-D, layer seven, next to the clothesline post. Hominid skull." We have given this specimen a careful and detailed examination, and regret to inform you that we disagree with your theory that it represents "conclusive proof of the presence of Early Man in Charleston County two million years ago." Rather, it appears that what you have found is the head of a Barbie doll, of the variety one of our staff, who has small children, believes to be the "Malibu Barbie". It is evident that you have given a great deal of thought to the analysis of this specimen, and you may be quite certain that those of us who are familiar with your prior work in the field were loathe to come to contradiction with your findings. However, we do feel that there are a number of physical attributes of the specimen which might have tipped you off to it's modern origin:
Slashdot Mirror
On another point, I once worked as a computer operator for landscaping data. We had tablets with large areas for digitizing maps where the 22 button tablet (yes, as large as a mouse) was used for tracing outlines, a 5-key chorded keyboard used on the left for other functions, and key pedals used for switching context. It didn't take long to get used to, and for the purpose it was needed for saved a great deal of time on a keyboard+mouse only. Everything has its uses
In my opinion, doing things "the old way" is the desired method of working with computers. Anything that gets in the way of creativity is an obstacle and brain time must be spent monkeying around with hardware/software. This wastes time, although most good CAD/designer types are programmers at heart. Most do not want to spend time fussing with machines when the deadline approaches.
What you refer to here is the old tablet (pretty much useless if you can map specific commands to the keyboard with customized setups). The tablet and puck approach required users to take their eyes off the working surface and focus elsewhere, Not Good. Even now with dual 21" monitors used in the high-end, complicated applications that feature on-screen buttons everywhere it is too complicated.
Of course, I am comparing this to "old skool" reliable paper.
Feel free to contact me about this, I have some strong opinions on the matter.
Good to see a fellow CAD guy here, you're spot-on with the observations.
I'd like to be able to have two mice, two pointers, on the screen at the same time.
Wouldn't that mean four times as many shutdowns? I.E., "Windows has detected mouse movement, You will have to restart your computers twice."
Oh, you're using Linux, sorry about that comment. And to the other guy that was saying the same thing twice, see both of my comments above.
-Sir George Head
Aren't Slashdot's usernames supposed to not necessarily reflect the owner's proclivity to understand stuff?
Surely you won't be churlish after inferring the intent implied contained within this message.
Me fail English? Unpossible!
Well said and not a silly observation. Actually CAD *is* now a lot like that, and becoming moreso. The difference between the best CAD and the best animation software is that the CAD stuff associates material properties along with the stuff on the screen via databases.
Not much different from how animation software incorporates physics (how does a ball bounce naturally?).
The best engineering software can simulate actual, individual grades of steel and how they react under loads.
It shouldn't be that hard to digitize every possible movement of the human hand is capable of
...and video record a lot of booger-mining activity, I'll bet.
Whoops, sorry! I thought we were talking about crude clothing.
The devices control the position of on-screen objects in design programs
Makes sense to me; in fact I proposed such a device to Infogrip about 10 years ago.
This is not to claim that I'm some sort of genius, it just seems to be an obvious progression for someone that needs to access a lot of variable-level commands regularly.
For example, all the variations of copy, rotate, extend, offset, and the most important one: undo.
When working in 3D design, you need at least 2 views of everything since it's easy to lose perspective while you're thinking about the next move. Big, dual monitors are pretty much required becauseyou have to be able to see fine detail, and flipping screens tends to disorient the designer.
A two-handed control device is a good idea for this type of work.
Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I can draw it for you if you want.
Isn't she worried about exposure (not the Slashdot thing)?
Non-tech people are the key roadblock to FOSS adoption, the ever popular 'stupids'.
Careful with that ax, Eugene.
Often "non-tech" people are those whose businesses you support and earn money from.
I'd guess that slow teaching will make a difference.
A large company often doesn't find the 'time' involved in setting up and working with open source solutions is worth the savings. So, by the time that company is huge and they start to care about how much each upgrade costs, the amount of time and energy required to retrain the entire workforce is insurmountable.
That's pretty typical; throw money (if you have it) at the problem by purchasing product that everyone else uses (safety in numbers philosophy). If a critical file doesn't get through on time or the work is sloppy, management can always blame the OS, hardware, viruses, spyware, incompatible drivers, internet connection reliability, idiot users, etc..
The rush-rush pace which is required for businesses (and want-to-impress employees) to provide deliverables and to appear to be actually doing something for the client runs into the wall of actual work.
The smarter companies/individuals use whatever efficiencies can be gained by computerization and discard the "might work" stuff.
This still doesn't mean the ISS is anything other than a giant orbiting multibillion dollar turkey.
"I swear, as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"
- Arthur Carlson
Warp 10 is impossible
Of course it is. Go fast enough and eventually it would be possible to go back in time and re-write bad plotlines. Or be able to see Slashdot articles before they are posted.
Wait...
Nevermind all those boring sciency-type experiments, I want to see "Space Boobies Unleashed!" (already TM'd by FOX, I hear) on HDTV-enabled widescreen DVD!
" The problem was considered in the 1973 science fiction novel written by Arthur C. Clarke, Rendezvous with Rama, in which he wrote: "Some women, Commander Norton had decided long ago, should not be allowed aboard ship; weightlessness did things to their breasts that were too damn distracting. It was bad enough when they were motionless; but when they started to move, and sympathetic vibrations set in, it was more than any warm-blooded male should be asked to take. He was quite sure that at least one serious space accident had been caused by acute crew distraction, after the transit of a well-upholstered lady officer through the control cabin."
I'm pretty sure Autocad, Cadkey, etc. would still be around, maybe running on some sort of unix or CP/M-2000
Of course it would be, but MS Windows enabled virtually anyone to run a cracked copy of ACAD and call themselves a designer.
Traffic jam analysis. FAQ.
Move closer to work and walk.
If only there were some kind of wireless information distribution mechanism where a human could give traffic reports vocally. Reports from different places could be communicated across different "channels" from different wireless broadcasting "stations".
Ha! I used to call in traffic reports to a local, popular radio station from my 11 pound cellphone (when most Slashdotters were pooping at random) and one trick was to report a blockage in order to redirect cars to somewhere else other than where I was headed.
What would it be like without MS?
I'd still be drafting manually (as God intended) on a 36"x60" drawing table and throwing those eraser shaving-filled eraser bags at the junior draftsmen's heads when I get bored.
Now it's the other way around, I have to duck buzzwords flung at me by some punk-ass, 25 year-old CAD jockey. Effing Microsoft.
Is pertrified wood too brittle?
The Trees
There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream Oppression!
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light.
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
Photo.
More here.
Is anyone else reminded of the blipverts from the Max Headroom series?"
No, but I am reminded of the main actor from that series.W-w-w-w-w-what was his n-n-n-n-name again and did he ever do anything useful/rememberable after that besides 6six?
With a soft breast-shaped mouse, we could teach half the population to be skilled computer users! Straight males, lesbians, etc.
Look - the entire mouse-using world is now pre-programmed to please females sexually. Why do you think the middle mouse button has become so popular? Stroke up, stroke down. Push down, wiggle side-to-side (for the newer, experimental designs). Not to mention the "mouse gestures" features that some programs offer as an "enhancement to computing experience. Wake up guys! You are being pre-programmed to pleasure females!
But I must admit that a nipple mouse that I could control with my tongue would be fun, especially if it felt like a breast on my face. Double-lick would execute a program, a bite would perform escape.
Why would anyone go into the humanities, get a PhD in history and figure they could get a job as a museum curator
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your latest submission to the Institute, labeled "211-D, layer seven, next to the clothesline post. Hominid skull." We have given this specimen a careful and detailed examination, and regret to inform you that we disagree with your theory that it represents "conclusive proof of the presence of Early Man in Charleston County two million years ago." Rather, it appears that what you have found is the head of a Barbie doll, of the variety one of our staff, who has small children, believes to be the "Malibu Barbie". It is evident that you have given a great deal of thought to the analysis of this specimen, and you may be quite certain that those of us who are familiar with your prior work in the field were loathe to come to contradiction with your findings. However, we do feel that there are a number of physical attributes of the specimen which might have tipped you off to it's modern origin:
See Smithsonian Barbie for the rest of this.