Sometimes the client doesn't know what she/he really wants.
This affects the way clients describe what are their needs to programmers. And after they see the prototype or alpha version, their imagination begins to plot changes to the original plan. "Please add a new report here, change this database field; Port it HP-UX, OS X, and Solaris. All you have to do is to change a little bit the code... Right? Can this be ready by tomorrow so I can show it at the meeting?"
I don't know if the idea is new or not (I guess not), but...
Imagine a small Linux or QNX machine, with a display less GPS attached to serial port and a wireless card or radio modem (less than 54 Kbps). This machine can read its own position from the GPS and send this data to a server via radio signal. It will work only if there is radio infrastructure in the area, but I bet it can be very ship.
Slashdot Mirror
This affects the way clients describe what are their needs to programmers. And after they see the prototype or alpha version, their imagination begins to plot changes to the original plan. "Please add a new report here, change this database field; Port it HP-UX, OS X, and Solaris. All you have to do is to change a little bit the code... Right? Can this be ready by tomorrow so I can show it at the meeting?"
Netudo
Imagine a small Linux or QNX machine, with a display less GPS attached to serial port and a wireless card or radio modem (less than 54 Kbps). This machine can read its own position from the GPS and send this data to a server via radio signal. It will work only if there is radio infrastructure in the area, but I bet it can be very ship.
Respectfully
Ernesto Valderrama