Sure, you could probably jam the signal, but the problem with doing that is you broadcast your location, and if I was a security chief, I'd be all ready to triangulate on your location(s) and turn you into small bits if I began to detect this sort of interference.
Besides, these things (at least right now) are designed to protect bases, not go off on their own and do stuff. Autonomus robots are really hard to do, while we can take basic steps with remotes.
These sorts of things remind me of the Shadowrun sourcebook Corporate ShadowFiles. Lots of interesting ideas in there - rail mounted sentries, flying drones, etc. all linked into a central control center. They were all controlled by a human, but they and some very rudimentary AI were able to secure a large facility. (Yes, I know it's a silly RPG, but the ideas minus the technobabble and cybergear seemed sound.)
Re:Maybe this is the start of revamping processes?
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Yeah, that's the problem - practicality. If we got a bunch of really smart people together they could come up with a very good system. But, we'd probably have to pull the old system out by the roots.
It's like a major system migration - the benefits have to be really significant to make it happen (or you just need a really pushy CEO [or dictator in the conext of governmental change]).
Another aphorism - it it ain't broke, don't fix it. Our government isn't really broken, it's rusty, but we can replace the rusty bits. Maybe this sort of thing is coming, but it's not going to happen quickly. I agree that the idea of a rep having information at their fingertips is a good thing, but I think that oration is necessary. It gives people a chance to try to convince others of their position, plus (and this is rare) there's nothing like good oratory.
Travel to other star systems might actually be a possibility and the kids might actually remember why they're on a starship.
Re:Maybe this is the start of revamping processes?
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You can argue that tech and streamlining processes is a good thing, but consider these two aphorisms:
That government is best which governs least.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
I think that streamlining processes is a good thing, but I also think that inefficiency has its place. Inefficiency allows people to slow down and ponder, and the US government needs more pondering - not less.
The writers of the US constitution deliberately made things complicated and unwieldy because that helps force the government to consider things. It's not pretty, but it works (usually).
People laugh at this because it's funny. I'm a geek, but even I don't really think my fridge, washing machine, stove, etc. need to be networked.
The classic KISS principle applies. Do you want your stove/fridge/critical home appliance to stop functioning because of a toasted circuit board? I like my protocols simple and my appliances simpler. This is a case of adding functionality to a system that really doesn't need it.
Sure, it'd be cool, but ultimately, who cares? I'm sure as hell not going to rush out a buy me a whole new suite of networked appliances.
Also, think about this, appliances last forever relative to information technology. We had a fridge that we just replaced that was new in 1976. How much has tech changed since then? I think this sort of thing is like color on appliances - sure lime green looked neato in 1975, but in 2003 it looks like crap. I'll stick with white on my major (and expensive to replace or fix) appliances and I'll be avoiding stuff that makes them more complicated than they really need to be.
The original home of Cray supercomputers. I don't know if they offer tours, but it'd be cool to see.
Cray Inc.
900 Lowater Road
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Main Phone: 715-726-4000
Fax: 715-726-4099
I can definitely see how they'd have reliability problems. The drive rotation speed would be a real issue. It's like standing up on a merry-go-round. The bits are all standing there, but then you spin up the drive and they all start jostling each other and the ones on the edges fall off, while the ones in the middle just fall over on each other. The only bits you can really count on being close to correct are the ones in the middle of the drive.
Is this is why we keep getting smaller and smaller diameter drives, to prevent the bits at the edges from flying off?
Slashdot Mirror
Besides, these things (at least right now) are designed to protect bases, not go off on their own and do stuff. Autonomus robots are really hard to do, while we can take basic steps with remotes.
These sorts of things remind me of the Shadowrun sourcebook Corporate ShadowFiles. Lots of interesting ideas in there - rail mounted sentries, flying drones, etc. all linked into a central control center. They were all controlled by a human, but they and some very rudimentary AI were able to secure a large facility. (Yes, I know it's a silly RPG, but the ideas minus the technobabble and cybergear seemed sound.)
It's like a major system migration - the benefits have to be really significant to make it happen (or you just need a really pushy CEO [or dictator in the conext of governmental change]).
Another aphorism - it it ain't broke, don't fix it. Our government isn't really broken, it's rusty, but we can replace the rusty bits. Maybe this sort of thing is coming, but it's not going to happen quickly. I agree that the idea of a rep having information at their fingertips is a good thing, but I think that oration is necessary. It gives people a chance to try to convince others of their position, plus (and this is rare) there's nothing like good oratory.
- That government is best which governs least.
I think that streamlining processes is a good thing, but I also think that inefficiency has its place. Inefficiency allows people to slow down and ponder, and the US government needs more pondering - not less.Nature abhors a vacuum.
The writers of the US constitution deliberately made things complicated and unwieldy because that helps force the government to consider things. It's not pretty, but it works (usually).
Anyway, my two cents.
The classic KISS principle applies. Do you want your stove/fridge/critical home appliance to stop functioning because of a toasted circuit board? I like my protocols simple and my appliances simpler. This is a case of adding functionality to a system that really doesn't need it.
Sure, it'd be cool, but ultimately, who cares? I'm sure as hell not going to rush out a buy me a whole new suite of networked appliances.
Also, think about this, appliances last forever relative to information technology. We had a fridge that we just replaced that was new in 1976. How much has tech changed since then? I think this sort of thing is like color on appliances - sure lime green looked neato in 1975, but in 2003 it looks like crap. I'll stick with white on my major (and expensive to replace or fix) appliances and I'll be avoiding stuff that makes them more complicated than they really need to be.
Of course, your mileage may differ...
The original home of Cray supercomputers. I don't know if they offer tours, but it'd be cool to see. Cray Inc. 900 Lowater Road Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Main Phone: 715-726-4000 Fax: 715-726-4099
Best B-movie ever. Make a great game. I'd like to see a fighting game. Jack Burton goes one on one with Lo-Pan. It's all in the reflexes.
I can definitely see how they'd have reliability problems. The drive rotation speed would be a real issue. It's like standing up on a merry-go-round. The bits are all standing there, but then you spin up the drive and they all start jostling each other and the ones on the edges fall off, while the ones in the middle just fall over on each other. The only bits you can really count on being close to correct are the ones in the middle of the drive. Is this is why we keep getting smaller and smaller diameter drives, to prevent the bits at the edges from flying off?
This makes much more sense.