Ghost in the machine

The question came up as what is an abuse of technology and who decides. I have an opinion, but only my perception to substantiate my claims and ravings.

I would say that Technology and communications technology particularly should serve the common good. Meaning that if it can enrich human relationships and save lives than it should be brought to light. My point in meantioning mr. K. Federline is that no one should be told that you are breaking up in a text message. That is a a very unfeeling way to end a very personal relationship. I will say that this kind of thing is only going to get worse as more and more people are socialized in the Web.

Use technology productively and enrich your life and the lives of those around you. There are plenty of carnivals out there, have some dignity and respect. For people and for Technology. It is a very big world.

Pierre

Questions Answered

I am making one post out two questions in part because they are interwoven, parts of the same question as I see it.

What did it do for accountants and engineers and why didn't it print. ( How does it work and what does it do?) So here is my answer after some research.

The Difference Engine did not print anything because like our modern microcomputers it needed a printer. The printer was to be part of another redesign. His designs for the Anaylitical Engine opened up more possibilities for engineers and statisticians.

"This is interesting, but even more interesting is the fact that if you form a polynomial that approximates (or interpolates) a function (say the sine function), the Difference Engine will evaluate the (sine) function to arbitrary accuracy (such as 15 digits). This is useful in making those boring trig tables so necessary before hand held calculators. The British needed accurate trig and other tables for navigation of their sea going merchant and naval vessels. They were very interested in such developments and machines in the 1600s through the 1800s.

Babbage had investigated errors in navigational and astronomical tables, and realized that both correct computation and printing were needed. So the second part of his Difference Engine was a type-setting machine, which reduced the probability of human error to a minimum."

http://www.sff.net/people/gunn/dd/index.htp

http://www.ftldesign.com/Babbage/index.htm

http://ed-thelen.org/bab/bab-intro.html

Please let me know if you have any other info.

Pierre

Text Message Divorce: Untold History pt. 5

"On November 7, 2006, Spears filed for a divorce,[18] citing irreconcilable differences. Federline was in Toronto at the time promoting his new album for the Canadian music station MuchMusic, and it has been widely-speculated that he received the news via text message the night before. The moment that Kevin received the text message was caught on camera."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Federline#Personal_life

Within the last one hundred years we as a culture have grown disproptionately to our society, or maybe I should say that popular culture has completely innundated our American society. With the inexpensive propagation of cheap cel phones and High speed Broadband wireless internet access available nationwide we have seen our most private lives spread all over the Web and television. I do not advocate the lifestyles of those who abuse the wonderful technology we have been gifted with, I just understand how and why one would use it such a way. As humans we deserve to be interacted with in a socially acceptable manner and this is just what the Internet and wireless technology are taking away from us, touch, talk, body language are all lost in 11 word text message. (even with the smiley, sorry.)

The conglomeration of the methods and technology of the past has given us our today, do you think that they would be happy with the fruits of their labors? What are we going to do about the technological revolution we are experiencing? Maybe I will IM someone tonight and see if they want to do some online role playing games with me, or I could talk to my wife in person...

Sources


http://www.maxmon.com/1830ad.htm
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/babbage/page3.asp
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelegraph.htm
http://www.150.si.edu/150trav/remember/r819.htm
http://www.teslasociety.com/
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blibm.htm
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa051599.htm
www.borderlands.com/newstuff/research/teslahaa.htm
http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blibm.htm
http://www.time.com/

Mass Produced home computers invade Earth: pt.4

IBM opened its doors in 1911 catering to needs of big business. For many years the research and development team had worked with computer and associated technologies in search of a workable design for use by all. Universal acceptance of mass produced personal computers was just a dream then. Every bit as important as Ford for mass production, IBM forged the future when they embraced the PC in the early 1980’s, Home computers had arrived. MicroSoft gave us our operating system and applications while other 3rd parties supplied the masses with entertainment, computer games of all description.


Apple computers came out of the Silcon Valley revolution of the early 1980's with Steve Jobs leading the charge. Up until this time computers and all associated concepts were strictly for professionals, the IBM PC and the Apple MacIntosh changed this perception, we have never looked back. The technology industry has been accelerating its pace and the cross pollination of ideas is making innovations of our lifetimes come more quickly than ever before in recorded history.




http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/decade_1880.html

Science Vs. Business: Untold History pt.3

My next stop was tricky for me as Henry Ford and his automation in factories made the microchip possible, but I am looking toward innovation and that would mean Nikola Tesla, the man of tomorrow. While Tesla’s true genius was in the wireless transmission of energy, the application of his research in our wireless Wi-Fi world is obviously evident. He is noted for wild experiments and his legendary Death Ray, the government at the time could see the uses of his experimentation and seized his notes.


The wave harmonic theories are being tested today by the United States military to extrapolate possible future uses. Thomas Edison’s plan for the transmission of electricity was adopted by the east coast, leaving Tesla’s creative approach untested and the source of much speculation. Tesla remains enigmatic and vague but ultimately unsuccessful, without the influence of commerce or the government he eventually ran out of steam into the back alleys of scientific history.
“Written some years after his Wardencliff Project, Tesla explains the inefficiency and limitations of the Hertzian method of electromagnetic propagation (through the air) with great clarity — and that his system of wireless which was vastly more effective, utilised the ground itself for propagation. Tesla states, "Properly constructed, my system [of wireless] is safe against static and other interference, and the amount of energy which may be transmitted is billions of times greater than with the Hertzian which has none of these virtues..." He explains in particular, with several analogs in diagrammatic representation, his single-wire-without-return system — the heart of Tesla's radio and wireless power systems.”


http://www.teslasociety.com/

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blibm.htm

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa051599.htm

www.borderlands.com/newstuff/research/teslahaa.htm