Probably not too many people but you fail to grasp something. I have a college chum who's uncle is a beta-geek for Microsoft working on the Office package. In the 8-10 years that he has been there he has made enough money to be able to start his own company doing and programming whatever he wants and not have to worry about finacial security for a good while.
If the industry, however, moves entirely to cheap labour in a 3rd world country the people in the richer countries are going to have to make sacrifices and work on projects they may not want to work on just to keep food on the table.
I completely agree with you, but I think you will find that the reason many of the 3rd world people who are programmers became programmers in the hope of eventually moving to a 1st world country and making the money you make now.
Part of the problem with the industry is some of the current salaries represent a skill that at one time was harder to come by. As programming languages become simpler to code with and more people get into the market, the more salaries will need to come down.
On the plus side, with a good number of years experience you can always try and develop a specific skill across a wide number of platforms/languages and keep yourself gainfully employed.
Or do what the Auto companies did and form a union!
I think you're placing hope in a science fiction dream. Just because we will have the ability to develop true "real" environments in a computer or develop artifical intelligence doesn't mean that we should.
Of course, if humanity has demonstrated anything in it's time here on Earth it's been the lack of concern for if something should or shouldn't be done. *Someone*, *somewhere* will develop it, even if the rest of the world thinks it's unethical, etc.
Having said that I think programmers will be needed only until we get to the point that computers are capable of programming themselves. Then the need for programmers will diminish as the only programmers needed will be to enhance the capabilies and get past the limitations of self programming computers.
With regards to the topic on hand, however, I'll bet the writter is probably safe so long as s/he has critical thinking skills and the willingless to continue learning new and innovative ways of coding. I imagine that self coding machines are quite some distance into the future.
There is also the problem of the image at the back of the eye is flipped, so every image recovered would need to be flipped over.
It would probably be easier to monitor the activity in the visual portion of the brain and translate the activity into an image then trying to understand the mess of nerves in the optic nerve bundle.
then people bitching about paying for a Linux OS. Are people really so dense that they think Linux can successfully compete in the market place WITHOUT there being some costs?
FREE SOFTWARE DOESN'T MEAN NO FINACIAL COST. Free software means free intellectual access.
And the worst place for this kind of two facedness is these types of forums where in one series of posts you will see people screaming death to MicroCrap (TM) and in the next post they whine about Redhat charging. If you REALLY want to see Microsoft go down try putting your money where your fingers type.
(Disclaimer: To all those people out there who have paid for Linux software at least once in your life, or supported a distro finacially please ignore this rant. This is for all the annoying little pissants who think they have a God given right to free stuff.)
The Auto industry has taking the transmittion and automated it, removing the need for the user to clutch and change gears.
This has made things under normal conditions a little easier. However, under less then ideal conditions this removes an element of control from the user, such as using a lower gear to assist in dangerous road conditions, and has degraded the overall function of the car.
Microsoft, ever since the early days, seems to delight in taking more and more control away from the user in favor of automatic processes.
I don't totally disagree with you but who is to say what will or will not be considered a "Classic" language in the future? Maybe the language of those cannibalistic tribesmen is the foundation of 10 or 20 other languages. If it is lost now what frame of referance will people in the future have to understand the linguistic connection?
My wife has XP running on her machine and while I rarely see it crash (it sometime locks up but that's not a windows issue) I do see a lot of "would you like to..." boxes.
Which, of course, just goes to show you that experiences differ from person to person, not matter how good or bad the initial code is.
A linux user using 'doze for the first time experiences exactly the same thing, if anything even worse, if you compare the amount of cruft and general weirdness of linux vs 'doze.
I actually disagree with you, I think a Linux user going to a Windows environment has a much easier time. In part because many things in Windows are specifically dumbed down to make them single click applications.
A perfect example is MacroMedia Shockwave. In Windows when I wanted it I just clicked on MacroMedia's site and it installed itself. For Linux, however, I had to jump thru hops, navigate hidden directories and manually do it.
I do think you are correct in one aspect however, if a Linux user was on a Windows box and wanted to twik it or perform administrative tasks they would have a steeper learning curve, especially with XP. Over all though, for user stupidness/friendlyness I would say Windows has the upper hand.
For now. And it's not Linux's fault either, BTW. It's the third party companies that don't build in that "I just want to click once and have it work" functionality.
As a general rule, ignorance doesn't stand up in court. You are expected to be aware of the rules and regulations surrounding the things you use and/or do.
So, if you listen to a radio station that plays pirated music and there is a law against listening to radio stations that play pirated music you could, theoretically be charged. However it is unlikely you would be because 1: how do you locate the people listening unless they are part of a members list and 2: there is the question of whether or not you can be reasonably expected to know that the music was pirated.
I think it's the reasonable expectation that surprises me the most about the Microsoft thing. Unless it's stated somewhere in the EULA how could the people using the software be reasonably expected to know that it was causing a patent infringment? I don't know the particulars of the case, having only glanced briefly at the story once before but I would imagine that is someone contests it in court they could be released from having to pay.
Truth be told the real disadvantage to this being the real world vs. a game is I can't set the level of difficulty to my liking...nor can I stop and speed up time.
Or spy on other people from a God perspective. Damn you! Now I'll have to spend the rest of my day realizing how pathically small my scope is...
>>Perhaps that's her rationalization and/or what she tells you because, deep down, she might feel like a "burden" to unappreciative and impatient grandchildren.
Considering you don't anything about my relationship with my grandmother I suggest you fuck off.
E-mail was just the example of technology outpacing her ability to keep up with it. Obviously I'm not saying that she should roll over and die just because she can't use e-mail.
On the other hand she is 80+ years old and has given a DNR (do not recussitate) order to her doctor and local hospitals in the case of sudden illness like heart failure or stroke. She says herself that she has lived long enough. It's not that she doesn't enjoy life, not is it that she is so diminished that she can no long contribute. It's just she's come to that point in her life where she realizes the world is moving faster then her and there are natural limits (her words not mine.)
How myoptic of you to think I would want my grandmother dead.
I saw a good lecture on this once with multiple sides of the argument being presented. The best question a critic presented, IHMO, was how long is long enough? Twice the current life span? Three times? At what point would you be willing to say you've lived long enough?
If you look at the elderly how many seem overwelmed by the speed the world makes changes? I've got a grandmother who uses a little e-mail but no matter how many times I explain it to her and show it to her she never really understands it, she just memorizes the mechanics.
If human learning and the capacity to retain new concepts has a finite limit how could you reasonably expect to have any quality of life once the world has left you decades or centuries behind?
I agree with the others who say this guy needs to see a shrink. The idea that he condition has become so severe because of all the time it went "untreated" is laughable. It really is a sign of the culture we live in that *no one* seems to want to face reality or accept responsability for their own problems.
As for his other interests they all seem to be involved with getting off the Earth or land for the most part. Lots of Pie in the Sky type stuff that in reality we will never see in our lifetimes. Maybe he should get a hobby, like knitting, to take his mind off his self created delusion.
Ever wonder why the net is so slow? Worms, Viruses and people like this guy who waste perfectly good webspace with self indulgent tripe. He's more flaky then a Head and Shoulders convention.
Morsals from my neighbors trashcan? That's disgusting. My goodness, there are foodbanks all over the place, you don't need to eat...from...
(goes back and checks spelling)
Oh, MORALS. Silly Moral...I mean mortal.
On topic, however, considering what some people do with their neighbors looking in their trashcan wouldn't reveal any surprises. Truth is if you don't want people to know what you've done either a: don't do it or b: don't give it away. Just don't trust anyone else to treat you right.
Slashdot Mirror
Probably not too many people but you fail to grasp something. I have a college chum who's uncle is a beta-geek for Microsoft working on the Office package. In the 8-10 years that he has been there he has made enough money to be able to start his own company doing and programming whatever he wants and not have to worry about finacial security for a good while.
If the industry, however, moves entirely to cheap labour in a 3rd world country the people in the richer countries are going to have to make sacrifices and work on projects they may not want to work on just to keep food on the table.
The trick to survival in the gaming industry is appealing to the lowest common denominater within the age group you are targeting.
Part of the problem with the industry is some of the current salaries represent a skill that at one time was harder to come by. As programming languages become simpler to code with and more people get into the market, the more salaries will need to come down.
On the plus side, with a good number of years experience you can always try and develop a specific skill across a wide number of platforms/languages and keep yourself gainfully employed.
Or do what the Auto companies did and form a union!
Of course, if humanity has demonstrated anything in it's time here on Earth it's been the lack of concern for if something should or shouldn't be done. *Someone*, *somewhere* will develop it, even if the rest of the world thinks it's unethical, etc.
Having said that I think programmers will be needed only until we get to the point that computers are capable of programming themselves. Then the need for programmers will diminish as the only programmers needed will be to enhance the capabilies and get past the limitations of self programming computers.
With regards to the topic on hand, however, I'll bet the writter is probably safe so long as s/he has critical thinking skills and the willingless to continue learning new and innovative ways of coding. I imagine that self coding machines are quite some distance into the future.
If he really wanted people to have access without hesitation why not make it available with BitTorrent or even (shudder) KaZaA?
Why would Captain Kirk want to stun gentlemen? He always seemed like the "it looks more like a women than Spock" type.
It would probably be easier to monitor the activity in the visual portion of the brain and translate the activity into an image then trying to understand the mess of nerves in the optic nerve bundle.
That'll learn you for not clicking on links!
FREE SOFTWARE DOESN'T MEAN NO FINACIAL COST. Free software means free intellectual access.
And the worst place for this kind of two facedness is these types of forums where in one series of posts you will see people screaming death to MicroCrap (TM) and in the next post they whine about Redhat charging. If you REALLY want to see Microsoft go down try putting your money where your fingers type.
(Disclaimer: To all those people out there who have paid for Linux software at least once in your life, or supported a distro finacially please ignore this rant. This is for all the annoying little pissants who think they have a God given right to free stuff.)
The Auto industry has taking the transmittion and automated it, removing the need for the user to clutch and change gears.
This has made things under normal conditions a little easier. However, under less then ideal conditions this removes an element of control from the user, such as using a lower gear to assist in dangerous road conditions, and has degraded the overall function of the car.
Microsoft, ever since the early days, seems to delight in taking more and more control away from the user in favor of automatic processes.
This is a clear case of design over function!
I don't totally disagree with you but who is to say what will or will not be considered a "Classic" language in the future? Maybe the language of those cannibalistic tribesmen is the foundation of 10 or 20 other languages. If it is lost now what frame of referance will people in the future have to understand the linguistic connection?
Which, of course, just goes to show you that experiences differ from person to person, not matter how good or bad the initial code is.
How often have you gotten that annoying "Would you like to submit this to Microsoft" box?
Windows over priced? Lies my friend, lies!
I've never paid a cent for it!
I actually disagree with you, I think a Linux user going to a Windows environment has a much easier time. In part because many things in Windows are specifically dumbed down to make them single click applications.
A perfect example is MacroMedia Shockwave. In Windows when I wanted it I just clicked on MacroMedia's site and it installed itself. For Linux, however, I had to jump thru hops, navigate hidden directories and manually do it.
I do think you are correct in one aspect however, if a Linux user was on a Windows box and wanted to twik it or perform administrative tasks they would have a steeper learning curve, especially with XP. Over all though, for user stupidness/friendlyness I would say Windows has the upper hand.
For now. And it's not Linux's fault either, BTW. It's the third party companies that don't build in that "I just want to click once and have it work" functionality.
Open Source Vender 2: No I'm not, but if you think I am bring your code, I'll bring mine and we'll discuss it at the pub
(Many hard drinks later)
Open Source Vender 1: Fusking M$ and closed source is killing the world man.
Open Source Vender 2: Fusking eh, down with M$...Now what the hell were we arguing about?
So, if you listen to a radio station that plays pirated music and there is a law against listening to radio stations that play pirated music you could, theoretically be charged. However it is unlikely you would be because 1: how do you locate the people listening unless they are part of a members list and 2: there is the question of whether or not you can be reasonably expected to know that the music was pirated.
I think it's the reasonable expectation that surprises me the most about the Microsoft thing. Unless it's stated somewhere in the EULA how could the people using the software be reasonably expected to know that it was causing a patent infringment? I don't know the particulars of the case, having only glanced briefly at the story once before but I would imagine that is someone contests it in court they could be released from having to pay.
It would be like my saying to him "Well you're gay, what the hell do gay people know?"
Or spy on other people from a God perspective. Damn you! Now I'll have to spend the rest of my day realizing how pathically small my scope is...
Considering you don't anything about my relationship with my grandmother I suggest you fuck off.
Just my 2 cents.
On the other hand she is 80+ years old and has given a DNR (do not recussitate) order to her doctor and local hospitals in the case of sudden illness like heart failure or stroke. She says herself that she has lived long enough. It's not that she doesn't enjoy life, not is it that she is so diminished that she can no long contribute. It's just she's come to that point in her life where she realizes the world is moving faster then her and there are natural limits (her words not mine.)
How myoptic of you to think I would want my grandmother dead.
Don't be so quick to call people idiots just because you fail to grasp the fundimentals of the arguement.
I saw a good lecture on this once with multiple sides of the argument being presented. The best question a critic presented, IHMO, was how long is long enough? Twice the current life span? Three times? At what point would you be willing to say you've lived long enough? If you look at the elderly how many seem overwelmed by the speed the world makes changes? I've got a grandmother who uses a little e-mail but no matter how many times I explain it to her and show it to her she never really understands it, she just memorizes the mechanics. If human learning and the capacity to retain new concepts has a finite limit how could you reasonably expect to have any quality of life once the world has left you decades or centuries behind?
I agree with the others who say this guy needs to see a shrink. The idea that he condition has become so severe because of all the time it went "untreated" is laughable. It really is a sign of the culture we live in that *no one* seems to want to face reality or accept responsability for their own problems. As for his other interests they all seem to be involved with getting off the Earth or land for the most part. Lots of Pie in the Sky type stuff that in reality we will never see in our lifetimes. Maybe he should get a hobby, like knitting, to take his mind off his self created delusion. Ever wonder why the net is so slow? Worms, Viruses and people like this guy who waste perfectly good webspace with self indulgent tripe. He's more flaky then a Head and Shoulders convention.
(goes back and checks spelling)
Oh, MORALS. Silly Moral...I mean mortal.
On topic, however, considering what some people do with their neighbors looking in their trashcan wouldn't reveal any surprises. Truth is if you don't want people to know what you've done either a: don't do it or b: don't give it away. Just don't trust anyone else to treat you right.