This raises an ethical concern for me. I think we should be asking ourselves "Is it really ok to subvert lifeforms like this for our own use?"
I think of it more as a mutualism (or the very least, commensalism). The sole purpose of a virus is to replicate. Many viruses do that at the detriment to its host. But what better way to replicate than to become beneficial to the host (in this case, by storing data) such that the host actively "breeds" more of the virus? It's akin to saying you're "subverting" the bacterial flora in your gut for your own digestive purposes.
Most students dont know how to use linux, in fact they are lucky to scrape by in Windows.
That argument never sat well with me. Doesn't lacking knowledge in Windows allow these students to more easily adapt to Linux? There are a few people where I work that wouldn't know how to check email if their desktop icons weren't labelled "EMAIL." They don't use fancy Word macros or watch movie trailers online. I've always considered swapping a Linux machine in its place and save the department some money on MS licenses.
Yes, it was a fine movie indeed. Probably one of the best and most creative animated films ever. Heck, I wanted to show it to my little cousin, but then decided not to since she might ask me to explain what the movie was about.
(BTW, I'm serious. Can someone please explain to me what the movie meant?)
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I hope my CS professor doesn't find this until the semester is over.
This raises an ethical concern for me. I think we should be asking ourselves "Is it really ok to subvert lifeforms like this for our own use?"
I think of it more as a mutualism (or the very least, commensalism). The sole purpose of a virus is to replicate. Many viruses do that at the detriment to its host. But what better way to replicate than to become beneficial to the host (in this case, by storing data) such that the host actively "breeds" more of the virus? It's akin to saying you're "subverting" the bacterial flora in your gut for your own digestive purposes.
Most students dont know how to use linux, in fact they are lucky to scrape by in Windows. That argument never sat well with me. Doesn't lacking knowledge in Windows allow these students to more easily adapt to Linux? There are a few people where I work that wouldn't know how to check email if their desktop icons weren't labelled "EMAIL." They don't use fancy Word macros or watch movie trailers online. I've always considered swapping a Linux machine in its place and save the department some money on MS licenses.
Yes, it was a fine movie indeed. Probably one of the best and most creative animated films ever. Heck, I wanted to show it to my little cousin, but then decided not to since she might ask me to explain what the movie was about. (BTW, I'm serious. Can someone please explain to me what the movie meant?)