Why should a company like NTP that just dreams up ideas and does nothing to actually develop them being given patents?
For the record, the company was formed to defend the patents. Several posts seems to suggest that NTP is a company that patents vague ideas and waits for a successful company to pounce on.
From http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116441,0 0.asp/ Tom Campana developed a wireless communications system for his pager company that he later patented, and the BlackBerry infringes upon that patent, said James Wallace, an attorney with Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP in Washington, D.C., representing NTP. NTP was incorporated to hold Campana's patents, and does not make any products or provide any services, he said.
What if 9/11 didn't happen?
What if Bin Laden isn't the terrorist he is today?
What if the Patriot Act wasn't enacted?
Would there still be such a huge uproar about privacy and the fear of Big Brother? Suppose history took a different path, wouldn't such technology have a positive effect on society? Think about the times you have forgotten your library card at home after finding that book you reserved.
If those events never occured, this would be heralded as a great use of technology and we would be harking its merits rather than debating its flaws. If those events never occured, I could have seen us one day leave behind the wads of credit cards, keys, and cash we have to carry around with us. If those events never occured, there would be fewer posts here that fall in the paranoid camp.
Terrorism has changed us more than we care to admit.
Professor Lene Hau is Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics & Professor of Physics at Harvard University.
Oh mighty supercomputer, please compute for me whether:
a) Lene Hau is Gordon McKay's professor
b) Gordon McKay is a Professor of Applied Physics & Professor of Physics
c) Lene Hau is a Professor of Physics & Gordon McKay is a Professor of Applied Physics
d) Lene Hau & Gordon McKay are Professors at Harvard University
e) Professor Lene Hau and Gordon McKay are both Professors of Applied Physics & Physics
f) Lene Hau is Gordon McKay
Furthermore, why the assumption that the probe will be destroyed on landing? Why not switch off Huygens when Cassini dissapears below the horizon, and switch it on for the next day? (titan's day is 16 days long..) The batteries lasted many hours after the landing, and the craft did cruise in standby mode for 16 days, so this might have been possible.
...and of that $95 million goes to DART - a demonstration vehicle that will fly circles around another satellite, snap a couple of pictures, and self destruct 24 hours later.
Slashdot Mirror
For the record, the company was formed to defend the patents. Several posts seems to suggest that NTP is a company that patents vague ideas and waits for a successful company to pounce on.
From http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116441,0 0.asp/
Tom Campana developed a wireless communications system for his pager company that he later patented, and the BlackBerry infringes upon that patent, said James Wallace, an attorney with Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP in Washington, D.C., representing NTP. NTP was incorporated to hold Campana's patents, and does not make any products or provide any services, he said.
Oh, and BTW, in case you're thinking Tom is one greedy SOB, he's dead. http://news.com.com/Key+figure+in+BlackBerry+case+ dies/2100-1041_3-5238198.html/
Don't think I'm defending NTP. I just want everyone to get the facts straight.
I prefer the less expensive RoboMaid
What if Bin Laden isn't the terrorist he is today?
What if the Patriot Act wasn't enacted?
Would there still be such a huge uproar about privacy and the fear of Big Brother? Suppose history took a different path, wouldn't such technology have a positive effect on society? Think about the times you have forgotten your library card at home after finding that book you reserved.
If those events never occured, this would be heralded as a great use of technology and we would be harking its merits rather than debating its flaws. If those events never occured, I could have seen us one day leave behind the wads of credit cards, keys, and cash we have to carry around with us. If those events never occured, there would be fewer posts here that fall in the paranoid camp.
Terrorism has changed us more than we care to admit.
You wouldn't think of taking that beauty *gasp* off-road, would you?
Ah great, I can remove the firewall software tonight.
How about the Non-Operative Obsolete Battalion?
Oh mighty supercomputer, please compute for me whether:
a) Lene Hau is Gordon McKay's professor
b) Gordon McKay is a Professor of Applied Physics & Professor of Physics
c) Lene Hau is a Professor of Physics & Gordon McKay is a Professor of Applied Physics
d) Lene Hau & Gordon McKay are Professors at Harvard University
e) Professor Lene Hau and Gordon McKay are both Professors of Applied Physics & Physics
f) Lene Hau is Gordon McKay
On Jan 14, 11:05UTC the landing time of Huygens:2 &vbody=1001&month=1&day=14&year=2005&hour=11&minut e=05&fovmul=1&rfov=30&bfov=90&porbs=1&showsc=1/
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=-8
On Jan 14, 13:05UTC the expected life of Huygens:2 &vbody=1001&month=1&day=14&year=2005&hour=13&minut e=05&fovmul=1&rfov=30&bfov=90&porbs=1&showsc=1/
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=-8
16 days later, 11:05UTC2 &vbody=1001&month=1&day=30&year=2005&hour=11&minut e=05&fovmul=1&rfov=30&bfov=90&porbs=1&showsc=1/
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=-8
You don't like our cows. You don't like our trees. You won't like our tunes.
But that would probably require a few more rounds of financing.
Maybe because she's afraid of pushing the wrong buttons!
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/dart_prelaunc h_041025.html/
http://www.8trackheaven.com/work.html/