Friday, October 08, 2004
Danger Will Robinson
Technology gone bad!
Maybe I grew up reading too many science fiction books and watched a few too many movies where machines that were created with the intention of helping people, wound up killing them. You know the ones I'm talking about, Terminator, The Matrix, I Robot, just to name a few of the more recent. Sometimes I feel like Will Smith's character from I, Robot where I'm resistant to accept and embrace new technology. Not that I am really, I just happen tp think that before a new technology is put into place, it's benefit and potential risk to humans should be carefully weighed. And, that no machine should have the authority or ability to override human intervention. Humans aren't perfect, but the thing we possess that no machine could (at this time) possibly emulate is the compassion and feeling for a situation as well as a basic intuitiion for what the right thing to do is.
Please don't miss this category, it just might save yours or somebody else's life.
Maybe I grew up reading too many science fiction books and watched a few too many movies where machines that were created with the intention of helping people, wound up killing them. You know the ones I'm talking about, Terminator, The Matrix, I Robot, just to name a few of the more recent. Sometimes I feel like Will Smith's character from I, Robot where I'm resistant to accept and embrace new technology. Not that I am really, I just happen tp think that before a new technology is put into place, it's benefit and potential risk to humans should be carefully weighed. And, that no machine should have the authority or ability to override human intervention. Humans aren't perfect, but the thing we possess that no machine could (at this time) possibly emulate is the compassion and feeling for a situation as well as a basic intuitiion for what the right thing to do is.
Please don't miss this category, it just might save yours or somebody else's life.
# posted by Ron @ 10/08/2004 06:39:00 AM 
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I happen to live in a neighborhood that is very close to the train tracks. There is one set of tracks and the trains come by maybe 6-10 times a day. I didn't know how many times or how noisy it would be when I bought the house, but I did know that it was an active rail line, which generally means that when a train comes by, he's probably going to blow his horn because there is a railroad crossing close by as well. All perfectly well, and was no big surprise.
So, today I am reading the newspaper, and I see where our Homeowner's Association (HOA) "official" (President/council, whatever) is trying to get some kind of "quiet area" permit whereby the trains will not be allowed to blow their horns. They are proposing that the railroad and/or the city/county install some electronic sensors (at a cost of about $250,000) that will "monitor for the trains' distance and speed, and lower the crossing guard at the appropriate time". Of course the railroad said, "No", and the government elected official said he would investigate (nice political response).
Here's where this just wreaks of danger to me! Trains have horns, LOUD HORNS, for the SPECIFIC PURPOSE of warning people to GET OUT OF THE WAY. "I'm big, I'm fast, I'm heavy, and I don't stop very quickly, so move it or lose it". If the train doesn't blow it's horn, doesn't this present a HUGE safety issue? One that just might get somebody killed? Might it also expose the railroad/county/city even the HOA to a potential lawsuit if somebody is injured or killed when they are hit by the train that didn't blow it's horn?
Call me paranoid or crazy if you like, but I'm just not going to trust my life nor my families' crossing the railroad track thru that gate that's controlled by this high-tech and expensive monitor that is supposed to know when to lower the gates. Machines make mistakes, have glitches and/or fail all because the real world is in a constant state of change. The manufacturer of the device can only test for and account for about 98% of what they anticipate will happen in the real world because at least 2% is simply unknown.
Simple solution to those who think the train is noisy, MOVE! The train tracks were there when you moved in, they're not going anywhere. If you don't like the noise or it bothers you, go where it can't be heard. Occasionally, I think the trains can be noisy as well, but it is something I have come to accept and expect.
So, today I am reading the newspaper, and I see where our Homeowner's Association (HOA) "official" (President/council, whatever) is trying to get some kind of "quiet area" permit whereby the trains will not be allowed to blow their horns. They are proposing that the railroad and/or the city/county install some electronic sensors (at a cost of about $250,000) that will "monitor for the trains' distance and speed, and lower the crossing guard at the appropriate time". Of course the railroad said, "No", and the government elected official said he would investigate (nice political response).
Here's where this just wreaks of danger to me! Trains have horns, LOUD HORNS, for the SPECIFIC PURPOSE of warning people to GET OUT OF THE WAY. "I'm big, I'm fast, I'm heavy, and I don't stop very quickly, so move it or lose it". If the train doesn't blow it's horn, doesn't this present a HUGE safety issue? One that just might get somebody killed? Might it also expose the railroad/county/city even the HOA to a potential lawsuit if somebody is injured or killed when they are hit by the train that didn't blow it's horn?
Call me paranoid or crazy if you like, but I'm just not going to trust my life nor my families' crossing the railroad track thru that gate that's controlled by this high-tech and expensive monitor that is supposed to know when to lower the gates. Machines make mistakes, have glitches and/or fail all because the real world is in a constant state of change. The manufacturer of the device can only test for and account for about 98% of what they anticipate will happen in the real world because at least 2% is simply unknown.
Simple solution to those who think the train is noisy, MOVE! The train tracks were there when you moved in, they're not going anywhere. If you don't like the noise or it bothers you, go where it can't be heard. Occasionally, I think the trains can be noisy as well, but it is something I have come to accept and expect.
"Resistance Is Futile! You Will Be Assimilated!" - The Borg (or Microsoft?)
Okay, so I admit, I have seen my share of a few Star Trek episodes. Does that make me a Trekkie? You decide. Regardless, The Borg episodes on STNG (Star Trek, Next Generation) were probably some of the most watched and most exciting in all of the Star Trek episodes, past and present. In these episodes, the crew meets up with a "race" whose sole intent is to acquire, or more specifically "assimilate" other races/technologies into their own "collective". The Borg are a community or as they call themselves, "a collective" of one, where they harness the minds and technologies of all to function as one single and extremely powerful entity. Very menacing. In some sense, I happen to see Microsoft in the same menacing way. Here is a company who seems bent and determined to take over technology and put their OS on seemingly everything that would use electricity and electrons to serve mankind. I'm not a total Microsoft bigot, I do think they have done a lot to improve the PC experience and computers in general, but I just have a major problem with their desire for what would seem like total domination in the market. I don't think it's in our best interest to have one software company with one OS running all of the computers, appliances, etc in the world.
To demonstrate, I give you the following article from Jay Greene at Business Week Online. Decide for yourself.
"This is the Borg Collective, Prepare to be assimilated. We will add your biological and technological distinctive to our own. You will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following article can be viewed in its original form at: http://businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2004/tc20041013_1486.htm
From Business Week Online:
By Jay Greene
Microsoft Takes Aim at Everything
New partners and products signal Redmond's intent to dominate online music and video. Apple, watch out!
Long ago, Microsoft (MSFT ) conquered the office -- its Windows operating system is on an estimated 500 million computers around the world. More recently, the software behemoth entered the front door into the American household, selling 15 million Xbox game consoles in the last three years. Now, Microsoft is setting its sights on going just about everywhere its customers go.
Bill Gates & Co. took to the stage at Los Angeles' famed Shrine Auditorium on Oct. 12 to lay out plans for Windows in your bedroom, your kitchen, your car, or in your pocket on the subway. Microsoft showed off dozens of music and video devices from partners such as Creative Labs, Dell (DELL ), Samsung and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ ). It displayed its new online music service, MSN Music, and announced new digital-media partners such as music retailer FYE and public radio broadcaster National Public Radio. "It's not something one company can do alone," Gates says.
"NOT A NICHE." The strategy relies heavily on the latest revision of its Windows XP Media Center. That's the operating system designed specifically to connect to a TV and stereo so users can simply and easily store and play digital audio and video content. When PCs first started shipping with the Media Center software two years ago, Gates predicted it would eventually become the most-used consumer operating system.
So far, Microsoft and its partners have sold about 1 million Media Center machines. Gates believes Microsoft will sell 4 million to 5 million Media Center PCs in the next year, which would approach 20% of worldwide consumer PC sales. Says Gates: "We're going to take Media Center into the mainstream."
One way he's getting there: dropping the requirement that hardware makers include a TV tuner in Media Center PCs. Users won't be able to watch and record programs with the scaled back versions. But companies such as Dell will offer low-priced versions, for as little as $600, to lure cost-conscious shoppers put off by Media Centers that start at $1,000. "This is not a niche, high-end offering," says Jim Totton, Dell's vice-president of software. "It's something we want to bring to all our customers."
TARGET: iPOD. Microsoft's vision for the Media Center moves beyond the office and living room. Two partners -- HP and Linksys -- launched devices called Media Center Extenders that let users pull audio and video content wirelessly off Media Center computers for playing on any TV or stereo around the house. That way Dad can watch a recorded version of The Late Show with David Letterman over breakfast on the TV in the kitchen, while Junior catches a recorded TV version of Spongebob Squarepants in his bedroom, all at the same time.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for Microsoft is digital music, where Apple Computer (AAPL ) reigns supreme with its wildly successful iPod music device and iTunes music service. Microsoft's partners have struggled to come up with devices to rival the sleek iPod, and with services that match the elegance of iTunes. But Redmond's new batch of devices are starting to come close, and there's no question Gates & Co. have the iPod market in their sights.
There is Creative's Zen Micro, a jazzy iPod minirival that uses a touch interface. It comes in a rainbow of colors and stores 25% more music than an iPod. Gates also demonstrated a new mobile phone from Audiovox (VOXX ) that includes Microsoft's Windows Media 10 software, giving users the ability to listen to high-fidelity tunes through headphones on the sort of device most folks already carry with them. And Microsoft now has several partners, including Napster, Wal-Mart (WMT ) and MusicMatch, that let users buy tunes online and access their digital-music libraries in one click, just like iTunes.
NERD FACTOR. Microsoft still has to overcome one big challenge -- a heavy dose of geekiness. While the Media Center devices resemble somewhat stylish stereo components that could fit easily into a home entertainment system, they still require home networking that is on the sophisticated side.
What's more, some of the new products, such as HP's slick-looking Digital Entertainment Center, have a clunky interface where users will store some music with Microsoft's Windows Media software and other songs in the HP Tunes program that uses Apple's digital-media technology. Then there's Audiovox phone, which requires users to remove the battery in order to swap the media storage card with a different selection of tunes.
Microsoft wants its software in every corner of your home. Many of the new initiatives show promise. But conquering this new frontier is going to take some time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greene is Seattle bureau chief of BusinessWeek
Copyright 2000-2004, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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Okay, so I admit, I have seen my share of a few Star Trek episodes. Does that make me a Trekkie? You decide. Regardless, The Borg episodes on STNG (Star Trek, Next Generation) were probably some of the most watched and most exciting in all of the Star Trek episodes, past and present. In these episodes, the crew meets up with a "race" whose sole intent is to acquire, or more specifically "assimilate" other races/technologies into their own "collective". The Borg are a community or as they call themselves, "a collective" of one, where they harness the minds and technologies of all to function as one single and extremely powerful entity. Very menacing. In some sense, I happen to see Microsoft in the same menacing way. Here is a company who seems bent and determined to take over technology and put their OS on seemingly everything that would use electricity and electrons to serve mankind. I'm not a total Microsoft bigot, I do think they have done a lot to improve the PC experience and computers in general, but I just have a major problem with their desire for what would seem like total domination in the market. I don't think it's in our best interest to have one software company with one OS running all of the computers, appliances, etc in the world.
To demonstrate, I give you the following article from Jay Greene at Business Week Online. Decide for yourself.
"This is the Borg Collective, Prepare to be assimilated. We will add your biological and technological distinctive to our own. You will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following article can be viewed in its original form at: http://businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2004/tc20041013_1486.htm
From Business Week Online:
By Jay Greene
Microsoft Takes Aim at Everything
New partners and products signal Redmond's intent to dominate online music and video. Apple, watch out!
Long ago, Microsoft (MSFT ) conquered the office -- its Windows operating system is on an estimated 500 million computers around the world. More recently, the software behemoth entered the front door into the American household, selling 15 million Xbox game consoles in the last three years. Now, Microsoft is setting its sights on going just about everywhere its customers go.
Bill Gates & Co. took to the stage at Los Angeles' famed Shrine Auditorium on Oct. 12 to lay out plans for Windows in your bedroom, your kitchen, your car, or in your pocket on the subway. Microsoft showed off dozens of music and video devices from partners such as Creative Labs, Dell (DELL ), Samsung and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ ). It displayed its new online music service, MSN Music, and announced new digital-media partners such as music retailer FYE and public radio broadcaster National Public Radio. "It's not something one company can do alone," Gates says.
"NOT A NICHE." The strategy relies heavily on the latest revision of its Windows XP Media Center. That's the operating system designed specifically to connect to a TV and stereo so users can simply and easily store and play digital audio and video content. When PCs first started shipping with the Media Center software two years ago, Gates predicted it would eventually become the most-used consumer operating system.
So far, Microsoft and its partners have sold about 1 million Media Center machines. Gates believes Microsoft will sell 4 million to 5 million Media Center PCs in the next year, which would approach 20% of worldwide consumer PC sales. Says Gates: "We're going to take Media Center into the mainstream."
One way he's getting there: dropping the requirement that hardware makers include a TV tuner in Media Center PCs. Users won't be able to watch and record programs with the scaled back versions. But companies such as Dell will offer low-priced versions, for as little as $600, to lure cost-conscious shoppers put off by Media Centers that start at $1,000. "This is not a niche, high-end offering," says Jim Totton, Dell's vice-president of software. "It's something we want to bring to all our customers."
TARGET: iPOD. Microsoft's vision for the Media Center moves beyond the office and living room. Two partners -- HP and Linksys -- launched devices called Media Center Extenders that let users pull audio and video content wirelessly off Media Center computers for playing on any TV or stereo around the house. That way Dad can watch a recorded version of The Late Show with David Letterman over breakfast on the TV in the kitchen, while Junior catches a recorded TV version of Spongebob Squarepants in his bedroom, all at the same time.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for Microsoft is digital music, where Apple Computer (AAPL ) reigns supreme with its wildly successful iPod music device and iTunes music service. Microsoft's partners have struggled to come up with devices to rival the sleek iPod, and with services that match the elegance of iTunes. But Redmond's new batch of devices are starting to come close, and there's no question Gates & Co. have the iPod market in their sights.
There is Creative's Zen Micro, a jazzy iPod minirival that uses a touch interface. It comes in a rainbow of colors and stores 25% more music than an iPod. Gates also demonstrated a new mobile phone from Audiovox (VOXX ) that includes Microsoft's Windows Media 10 software, giving users the ability to listen to high-fidelity tunes through headphones on the sort of device most folks already carry with them. And Microsoft now has several partners, including Napster, Wal-Mart (WMT ) and MusicMatch, that let users buy tunes online and access their digital-music libraries in one click, just like iTunes.
NERD FACTOR. Microsoft still has to overcome one big challenge -- a heavy dose of geekiness. While the Media Center devices resemble somewhat stylish stereo components that could fit easily into a home entertainment system, they still require home networking that is on the sophisticated side.
What's more, some of the new products, such as HP's slick-looking Digital Entertainment Center, have a clunky interface where users will store some music with Microsoft's Windows Media software and other songs in the HP Tunes program that uses Apple's digital-media technology. Then there's Audiovox phone, which requires users to remove the battery in order to swap the media storage card with a different selection of tunes.
Microsoft wants its software in every corner of your home. Many of the new initiatives show promise. But conquering this new frontier is going to take some time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greene is Seattle bureau chief of BusinessWeek
Copyright 2000-2004, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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