You obviously have no grasp of tcp packets. Each packet travels individually, not one-user-stream-at-a-time. Therefore, this user will send a packet, then you will send a packet, then another user will send a packet. You really can't have a "bandwidth hog". You can have network congestion, due to overselling, bad hardware, bad packets, etc. but not because ONE user uses it all!
I actually bought one of these programmers last year, and couldn't get it working easily, so I gave up. Now I know why it didn't work! I'll have to dig it out...
You are actually missing the point made in several cases: if an algorithm can be performed completely in the human mind, it is not patentable. In other words, you should not be able to infringe on someone's patents purely by thinking. Something tangeable and concrete must take place, and that tangeable and concrete thing must be part of the patent.
Think of general software programs run on general use hardware as automated thought. (I'm a developer, so I certainly do!) With everything that I do, I think through the problem, then I write the steps to solve the problem in code. And thus, the crux of the problem: everything I write, and everything almost every developer writes, must be UNDERSTOOD by the developer, which means he has a copy (memory) of the algorithm is IN HIS/HER MIND!
Once you view patents in this way, you see the need for a physical component to make a patent valid. And that component has to be more than a "general purpose" computer.
Mike, the "multitasking" that you and Mr. Cowen (and Nick Carr, as well) are referencing is not what the studies are terming, "multitasking." They are talking about writing 3 proposals and reading a resume all at the same time, not writing an article with an occasional break for an e-mail.
Anyone who has attempted to do the 3 or more related tasks at once is almost guarenteed to have a horror story of how they put the wrong client name/product name/ business name in one of the documents, which ultimatly cost them an account.
This is because any sufficiently complicated task requires context; that is, information in short-term memory which is related to the job at hand. When you switch tasks, you have to switch context. In my line of work (software development), context switching is substantial, well known, and accepted. That's why people are rarely asked to be on more than one project or task at the same time.
So when you think of multitasking, don't think, "talking on the phone to the wife and writing an e-mail to Mom," think "architecting a skyscraper while designing a shopping mall and a rocket engine."
This claim describes a download progress indicator with a cancel option. Wow, never seen one of those before.
Oh, that's right, this is an audio file, so that makes it entirely different, and deserving of a monopoly.
This is the first time I've heard of a case where a "Creative Commons" license would be valuable. A CC license would allow Psalters to go after Rumblefish for commerical infringement (can't think of the legal term). They probably can't now, because they put their stuff in the public domain.
The bottome line is, Psalters put their music out for free, so that they would get exposure. RumbleFish is limiting that exposure. That should be grounds for civil and criminal action.
What do you think, Mike? Make a new CC license, no attribution necessary, Derivative Works allowed, commercial allowed, distribute with any license you like, but no copyright claims?
Programming is often coupled with Mathematics, and although they are loosely related, they are certainly not married. Programming is logic, and is therefore equally related to physics, chemistry, philosophy, and even English. (Can you put together a logical paragraph? Then you can probably program!) The Mathematics requirement pushed 20 years ago made no sense then or now.
Also, many schools simpy do no offer computer courses anymore. I know my son's high school has no programming offerings.
The strangest thing that I have seen seems to be caused by the ease of use that modern GUI's offer. The children seem to become "spoiled" by point-and-click, and have no interest in learning arcane "keywords".
I agree, the "job of the future" has gone the way of the dodo. More work for me, though :)
You guys missed the important part. The FBI was investigating him because he "leaked" 1.5 million dollars worth of data!
"The two accounts were responsible for downloading more than eighteen million pages with an approximate value of $1.5 million."
1.5 million dollars of public domain information! And we had to pay for the investigation!
Now that they have investigated him, they should hand all of the PACER data over to him and shut the system down. I guarantee the PACER system is losing money, and Aaron did it all for free.
On the post: Patent Office Decides To Rush On Green Tech Patents, Rather Than Give Them Scrutiny They Deserve
Thought you'd like to know...
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That explains it...
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Re: Re:
On the post: How To Respond To Criticism
Wow...
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Cost-cutting manuever
On the post: Defense Of Software Patents Actually Raises Questions About All Computer Patents
Re:
On the post: Sens. Feinstein And Durbin Specifically Try To Carve Citizen Journalists Out Of Shield Law
Minor Correction
Good job representing, Dickie!
On the post: Defense Of Software Patents Actually Raises Questions About All Computer Patents
Re:
Think of general software programs run on general use hardware as automated thought. (I'm a developer, so I certainly do!) With everything that I do, I think through the problem, then I write the steps to solve the problem in code. And thus, the crux of the problem: everything I write, and everything almost every developer writes, must be UNDERSTOOD by the developer, which means he has a copy (memory) of the algorithm is IN HIS/HER MIND!
Once you view patents in this way, you see the need for a physical component to make a patent valid. And that component has to be more than a "general purpose" computer.
On the post: Multitasking Is Our Main Activity
Apples and Oranges
Anyone who has attempted to do the 3 or more related tasks at once is almost guarenteed to have a horror story of how they put the wrong client name/product name/ business name in one of the documents, which ultimatly cost them an account.
This is because any sufficiently complicated task requires context; that is, information in short-term memory which is related to the job at hand. When you switch tasks, you have to switch context. In my line of work (software development), context switching is substantial, well known, and accepted. That's why people are rarely asked to be on more than one project or task at the same time.
So when you think of multitasking, don't think, "talking on the phone to the wife and writing an e-mail to Mom," think "architecting a skyscraper while designing a shopping mall and a rocket engine."
On the post: EFF Looks To Bust Bogus Podcasting Patent; Needs Prior Art
You gotta be kidding
Oh, that's right, this is an audio file, so that makes it entirely different, and deserving of a monopoly.
On the post: EFF Looks To Bust Bogus Podcasting Patent; Needs Prior Art
You gotta be kidding
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Yay!
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Re: Re:
Sorry, just had to...
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Well...
On the post: YouTube Taking Down Public Domain Works?
Creative Commons
The bottome line is, Psalters put their music out for free, so that they would get exposure. RumbleFish is limiting that exposure. That should be grounds for civil and criminal action.
What do you think, Mike? Make a new CC license, no attribution necessary, Derivative Works allowed, commercial allowed, distribute with any license you like, but no copyright claims?
On the post: Are Kids Not Going Into Computer Science Because Their Parents Want Them To Be Sports Stars?
Let's not forget
Also, many schools simpy do no offer computer courses anymore. I know my son's high school has no programming offerings.
The strangest thing that I have seen seems to be caused by the ease of use that modern GUI's offer. The children seem to become "spoiled" by point-and-click, and have no interest in learning arcane "keywords".
I agree, the "job of the future" has gone the way of the dodo. More work for me, though :)
On the post: Nanda's Alarm Clock Not Only Runs Away From You, It Runs Away From eBay Too
FTC
On the post: FBI Investigation Into Programmer For Freeing The Public Domain
1.5 million imaginary dollars!
"The two accounts were responsible for downloading more than eighteen million pages with an approximate value of $1.5 million."
1.5 million dollars of public domain information! And we had to pay for the investigation!
Now that they have investigated him, they should hand all of the PACER data over to him and shut the system down. I guarantee the PACER system is losing money, and Aaron did it all for free.
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Yo
On the post: Dean Singleton: Please Explain How Charging For Something Magically Gives It Value
Everyone overlooking the obvious...
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