I don't put any faith into the "military conspiracy" you imply, but you raise a good point: Realistic first person shooter games serve the same purpose as the standard military shooting range: they desensitize the shooter to the idea of firing at a human shape. Apparently something like 75% of all soldiers in World War I couldn't bring themselves to fire at other human beings - this is a result of our biological imperative to propogate and continue the species. However, with the introduction of the "human shaped pop-up" target range for basic training, that number dropped to a few percent by Vietnam. I'd venture to say that within the next few years, the military will actually be using first person shooters to desensitize the soldiers instead of wasting ammunition on the firing range.
The military, even the US military, has a limited R&D budget. Why go to the trouble of developing a chipset from scratch, when you can just use one that's already been developed? I can guarantee that the amount of money spent on commercial research and development in the area of graphics far exceeds that of any military research into the same area.
Really, this is no different than the US military using Intel or AMD CPUs in their computer systems - there's no doubt that these consumer-driven products give them more than enough bang for their buck. Why spend $100 million on a new CPU when you can buy one for $99 at CompuSmart? It's not "surprising". Its good business.
As much as I like and support the Samba team, I think they're going to end up fighting a losing battle here - Microsoft won't give up its stranglehold on any facet of its operating system. And while in the old days, the would have just purchased the entire Samba project, now they have little choice but to try these sneaky strongarm tactics. After all these months/years of bashing the GPL and OSS in general, Microsoft can't just absorb and accept Samba - especially not in front of the courts.
A thought: How many snippets of Samba code do you think has found its way into, say, Windows 2000?
I equate book piracy to early audio cassette piracy. The reason mp3's and such are a big issue now is because of the ease with which a person can rip and upload their collection. But it seems we've taken a step back with books - just like it took a fair bit of time to get a (lower quality) copy of your friend's record or tape, it takes time to transfer a book into digital format. Unlike audio, however, the copying of real books into a digital form should not ever become as easy or as quick as ripping cds.
The fact of the matter is that people like books. Sure, I can read the entire PHP manual online, but there's just something comforting about having a big volume open in front of me. The same applies to fiction - while some may read, say, The Lord of the Rings online, many will not. The eyestrain alone would turn any reasonable person off of it. And can you imagine reading through several inches of printed pages? The cost of the ink and paper alone would be roughly the same as a cheap paperback version of the book.
The way I see it, piracy is no different than buying the book for $0.50 at a used book store. The fact of the matter is that the type of person who would pirate a book would also pay half a dollar for it - it becomes a matter of cost. And of course, an author loses no money on used books.
Canada needs to re-invent their democracy, we have increasing voter apathy and a decreasingly responsive gov't.
Can you even call it a democracy anymore? I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but our entire system of representative government is a sham. I know you live in Ontario, and this isn't meant to be any sort of flame, but at least the strange near-dictatorship we have is focused primarily on Central Canadian issues. I live in British Columbia, which currently houses 13% of Canada's total population, yet is only allowed about 6% of the total Senate seats. Compare this to New Brunswick, with a mere 2.5% of the population, yet a full 11% of Senate seats!
Unfortunately, I don't see any major democratic reform despite these concerns, for two primary reasons: The Central Canadian government needs to protect Central Canadian interests, and we've certainly got a poor track record at constitutional amendments/reforms. This is getting off topic - email me if you wish to discuss further.
Voting on what? It's not an issue that will be brought to a national referendum or anything like that. It's strictly a bill proposed in the House of Commons that will eventually work its way to royal assent, where it then becomes law. The best we can do as private individuals is try to get our Members of Parliament to vote *against* the bill - unlikely, given that a vote against your own party is more often than not a great way to spend the rest of your career as a backbencher.
Lets see.... $21 per gigabyte, if this tariff passes. $21 * 20 = $420 + retail. Somehow I doubt Canadian consumers are going to be shelling out around $1000 for something like this. How long before companies like Creative step in to try to put a stop to our new proposed levies?
It's a neat idea, but realistically, I can't imagine personal "This is my Cat" webpages will be propagated far enough for it to be worthwhile (assuming I'm reading it correctly). Unfortunately, as with many "neat ideas", the only used that will become widespread are be warez/mp3/movie/iso/etc. sites, illegitimizing (to some) the whole idea.
On the other hand, it may make it just that much harder for the MPAA, RIAA and co. to stop the spread of their property.
http://www.alexchiu.com Not only does he declare everything we know about physics, biology, astronomy, geology and medicine completely wrong, but he's invented an eternal life machine, and Karl Marx was the Anti-Christ. He's either completely schizophrenic, or he's actually on to something. Take a guess.
The school I am currently attending, The Technical University of British Columbia (not to be confused with BCIT), http://www.tu.bc.ca, already has a system like this. Almost 80% of the courses can be done over the internet.
For example, a 3d VRML 'campus', where you can go to talk to professors or administrators or other students for assistance.
Within the next year or two, seminars will be conducted in videoconferencing sessions, making the need to actually be physically present at the school almost zero.
As it is right now, I spend 1 and a half days on campus a week, the rest at home.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't put any faith into the "military conspiracy" you imply, but you raise a good point:
Realistic first person shooter games serve the same purpose as the standard military shooting range: they desensitize the shooter to the idea of firing at a human shape. Apparently something like 75% of all soldiers in World War I couldn't bring themselves to fire at other human beings - this is a result of our biological imperative to propogate and continue the species. However, with the introduction of the "human shaped pop-up" target range for basic training, that number dropped to a few percent by Vietnam. I'd venture to say that within the next few years, the military will actually be using first person shooters to desensitize the soldiers instead of wasting ammunition on the firing range.
The military, even the US military, has a limited R&D budget. Why go to the trouble of developing a chipset from scratch, when you can just use one that's already been developed? I can guarantee that the amount of money spent on commercial research and development in the area of graphics far exceeds that of any military research into the same area.
Really, this is no different than the US military using Intel or AMD CPUs in their computer systems - there's no doubt that these consumer-driven products give them more than enough bang for their buck. Why spend $100 million on a new CPU when you can buy one for $99 at CompuSmart? It's not "surprising". Its good business.
As much as I like and support the Samba team, I think they're going to end up fighting a losing battle here - Microsoft won't give up its stranglehold on any facet of its operating system. And while in the old days, the would have just purchased the entire Samba project, now they have little choice but to try these sneaky strongarm tactics. After all these months/years of bashing the GPL and OSS in general, Microsoft can't just absorb and accept Samba - especially not in front of the courts.
A thought: How many snippets of Samba code do you think has found its way into, say, Windows 2000?
I equate book piracy to early audio cassette piracy. The reason mp3's and such are a big issue now is because of the ease with which a person can rip and upload their collection. But it seems we've taken a step back with books - just like it took a fair bit of time to get a (lower quality) copy of your friend's record or tape, it takes time to transfer a book into digital format. Unlike audio, however, the copying of real books into a digital form should not ever become as easy or as quick as ripping cds.
The fact of the matter is that people like books. Sure, I can read the entire PHP manual online, but there's just something comforting about having a big volume open in front of me. The same applies to fiction - while some may read, say, The Lord of the Rings online, many will not. The eyestrain alone would turn any reasonable person off of it. And can you imagine reading through several inches of printed pages? The cost of the ink and paper alone would be roughly the same as a cheap paperback version of the book.
The way I see it, piracy is no different than buying the book for $0.50 at a used book store. The fact of the matter is that the type of person who would pirate a book would also pay half a dollar for it - it becomes a matter of cost. And of course, an author loses no money on used books.
Canada needs to re-invent their democracy, we have increasing voter apathy and a decreasingly responsive gov't.
Can you even call it a democracy anymore? I know I'm preaching to the converted here, but our entire system of representative government is a sham. I know you live in Ontario, and this isn't meant to be any sort of flame, but at least the strange near-dictatorship we have is focused primarily on Central Canadian issues. I live in British Columbia, which currently houses 13% of Canada's total population, yet is only allowed about 6% of the total Senate seats. Compare this to New Brunswick, with a mere 2.5% of the population, yet a full 11% of Senate seats!
Unfortunately, I don't see any major democratic reform despite these concerns, for two primary reasons: The Central Canadian government needs to protect Central Canadian interests, and we've certainly got a poor track record at constitutional amendments/reforms. This is getting off topic - email me if you wish to discuss further.
Voting on what? It's not an issue that will be brought to a national referendum or anything like that. It's strictly a bill proposed in the House of Commons that will eventually work its way to royal assent, where it then becomes law. The best we can do as private individuals is try to get our Members of Parliament to vote *against* the bill - unlikely, given that a vote against your own party is more often than not a great way to spend the rest of your career as a backbencher.
Lets see.... $21 per gigabyte, if this tariff passes. $21 * 20 = $420 + retail. Somehow I doubt Canadian consumers are going to be shelling out around $1000 for something like this. How long before companies like Creative step in to try to put a stop to our new proposed levies?
It turns out its not a new ship at all. They consulted Microsoft on technology recycling. Funny that it looks a lot like a floating Mir...
It's a neat idea, but realistically, I can't imagine personal "This is my Cat" webpages will be propagated far enough for it to be worthwhile (assuming I'm reading it correctly). Unfortunately, as with many "neat ideas", the only used that will become widespread are be warez/mp3/movie/iso/etc. sites, illegitimizing (to some) the whole idea.
On the other hand, it may make it just that much harder for the MPAA, RIAA and co. to stop the spread of their property.
Can private individuals send invoices like this to spammers? I notice in this case that the invoice is for time and expenses to Arts and Farces, LLC.
http://www.alexchiu.com Not only does he declare everything we know about physics, biology, astronomy, geology and medicine completely wrong, but he's invented an eternal life machine, and Karl Marx was the Anti-Christ. He's either completely schizophrenic, or he's actually on to something. Take a guess.
For example, a 3d VRML 'campus', where you can go to talk to professors or administrators or other students for assistance.
Within the next year or two, seminars will be conducted in videoconferencing sessions, making the need to actually be physically present at the school almost zero.
As it is right now, I spend 1 and a half days on campus a week, the rest at home.