Cheesy But True

For some software engineers the impact of their creations is a main drive in creating them. They take pride in their product and hope it will change the world for the better. Others, concerned only about money or other incentives, care little about that impact and leave the responsibility upon users to determine whether that creation will have a positive or negative affect. May all of us, not even just those in the computer industry, strive to be like the former. For me at least, the knowledge that the time you've spent is actually helping other people is much more valuable than a few extra dollars in your wallet.

Position Vlog

The Difference of a Smile

Everyone wants to make a difference, to be remembered, perhaps even leave a legacy. In the world of technology we think that in order to do that we need to think of some fancy new invention rrevolutionary use of one. An inventor is definitely to be respected, but one doesn't have to prove P equals NP to be remembered. Your legacy is measured by the life you live, the way you treat others, and how you use your abilities to serve those around you. Perhaps my abilities will lead to some invention that can serve mankind, but if not I will be more than content being remembered as the person who smiled at someone when they had a bad day.

Open source is not for me

Open Source is an extremely powerful development model with many key advantages over its counterparts. It is also a development model in which I cannot ever see myself participating. I love the quote, "Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I took that to heart; I love programming but I still view it as what it is... a job. I'm thankful for those people who also view it as a hobby and contribute to such innovative models as open source, but frankly, I have things I would much rather do with my free time.

My Right to Liberty is My Right to Invent

Words similar to, "you must adjust or you are going to be left behind," are often uttered, especially in my computer science world. This makes it seem as though invention and innovation are essential to our existence, but being left behind might not be so bad. Nothing we have today that we didn't have a hundred years ago is a life saving necessity. Some shy away from new innovation pushed by fear or doubt. Others ask that it simply slow down. But for the inventors and innovators this is impossible; for them it truly is a necessity. Once you've adjusted to using a computer or a phone it's hard to imagine going without them, and inventors have already seen the technology of the future. That can't be taken from them simply on basis of fear and doubt.
While I empathize with naysayers I need the change brought by new technology. No technology or invention is inherently evil; their existence is brought about through inspiration. There use can be inappropriate, but it takes experience and perspective to learn appropriate use. Perspective is the key to balance. Sometimes new innovation is only possible through those with a different view. Similarly, the greatest use of new technology is inspired to those with a new fresh perspective.

Balancing Selfishness

The music artist who makes one hit song certainly hasn't paid there debt to society, but they may certainly have made enough money that they never have to work again. Is this right? Of course, the efforts on the part of the maker needs to be respected, but at some point it moves from protecting to coddling. Copyright is meant to allow individuals to be rewarded for their efforts and push for further creativity and progress. But when the creator uses copyright selfishly, to squeeze every last penny out of their creation, it prevents the progress copyright is supposed to allow. This selfishness needs to be hindered just as much as the selfishness of the person who would steal their creation in the first place.

Google Spies

http://www.sltrib.com/technology/ci_14472239

It can leave you a little uneasy to think that someone, strike that, anyone can look up your address on Google and several seconds later be staring at a picture of your house. Anyone can look at your house from the street, and the view of your house isn't something that you own. Perhaps Google feels that they are just using technology to give people already-available-information in a faster way, but that extra effort of having to drive to your house in order to see it is what gave a sense of privacy, a sense of privacy that Google has stripped away. The EU, in an attempt to protect this privacy, has asked Google to notify residents before sending cameras into their neighborhoods. This takes the responsibility of knowing where Google is taking pictures off of the people and puts it where it belongs, on Google itself.