The Impact of Technology

Ok, normally I would do a bunch of research and comb the internet trying to find some articles backing up my theories but this time I'm simply going to make a blanket statement.

Technology is destroying fundamental skills

Two everyday examples of this:

1. Google
2. Cell Phones

How many times have you mispeled a word only to have Google conveniently correct it for you?

In fact, even as I'm typing this blog Firefox is "helping" me correct my spelling with an inline spell checker.

*Sigh* Do we really need that much help?

Secondly, I wanted to share a story from my vacation.

A friend (we will call him Doris) and I recently took our families on vacation together.

Of course like almost all other Americans we brought our cell phones and we had this marvelous idea to contact each other the day we arrived since we were staying in the same cabin.

Well, for those who know Doris (aka Glenn) he's an even bigger geek than me and had just purchased a new iPhone. Also no surprise for those who know Doris, he didn't transfer his address book. Doh!

So now we have a problem.
I don't know his new number, he doesn't have my number, anarchy ensues.

To this day I can still remember my first girlfriend's phone number...I won't write it here but just trust me on it.
Ask me to recite my own mother's cell phone number and I have no clue.

Obviously these are only two small examples but hopefully you see my point.

Alas, I did find a couple articles worth mentioning.

This one from Wired

Your Outboard Brain Knows All

This wiki page

Spell Checker

and finally an oldie but a goodie post from Bex

Nope! I Don't Own a Cell Phone

Ode To Randy Pausch

So, if you didn't hear Randy Pausch passed away over the weekend.

Randy was one of the founders of the Alice programming language and a very good speaker.

If you haven't listened to his "Last Lecture" speech it is well worth the time.

One of his quotes during the speech is

"Experience is what you get when didn't get what you wanted"

Geez Make Up Your Mind

April 2001

Borders Turns to Amazon for Outsourcing

Renting online infrastructures is Plan B for struggling dot-coms

After three years in the red, the second largest U.S. bookseller is calling it quits online, choosing instead to outsource its operations to Amazon.com Inc.

In turn, Seattle-based Amazon is adopting a well-established model for drumming up additional revenue used by other dot-com companies with infrastructure to spare.

For an undisclosed fee, Amazon.com will take over the Web operations of Borders Online Inc. and relaunch it as a co-branded site. It will be powered by Amazon's e-commerce platform and technology infrastructure. The online retailer will also handle inventory, customer service and shipping services for book, music and video sales. Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Borders Group Inc. will receive a commission on sales, officials at both firms said.

"It's only gravy for Amazon," said Carrie Johnson, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. "They're already in the book business, they've eliminated a competitor and they will possibly get new customers and some incremental revenue."

Amazon officials said the online merchant would also seek out additional opportunities to outsource its application infrastructure to other Web-based retailers, though no additional deals are in the works.

March 2007

Borders shelving Amazon alliance

Book company to compete directly with Net retailer

When Borders needed a high-powered and efficient Web-based delivery service six years ago, the book giant courted Seattle's Amazon.com.

But now the marriage has ended, and it could put a crimp on Amazon's revenue and earnings, one analyst says.

The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Borders Group Inc. said Thursday that it was severing ties with Amazon and will compete directly early next year against the Internet retail company, which has gone from selling only books to a wide range of products, from DVDs to clothing to food.

"We expect to drive sales and profits with it," Borders spokeswoman Anne Roman said of the company's planned Web site.

"We can mesh the in-store sales with online, which is something we have been missing."

Roman said the Web site would allow Borders to connect with 17 million customers who are part of the company's rewards loyalty program. Roman declined to disclose if its contract with Amazon had ended.

Patty Smith, an Amazon spokeswoman, said the company had no comment.

Before 2001, Borders had its own Internet business, but it wasn't profitable, Roman said. That led to the arrangement with Amazon, which operated Borders' Web site, took orders and delivered books.

Amazon obtained all the sales and gave an undisclosed cut to Borders, Roman said. Amazon also runs the Web sites for Target and Bebe and fills the orders.

The loss of Borders could cost Amazon $80 million to $160 million in annual revenue, according to an estimate by Scott Devitt, an analyst with St. Louis-based Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Amazon and Borders wouldn't confirm or deny those figures.

Devitt said the loss isn't material to Amazon, which had revenue of $10.7 billion last year and $190 million in profits.

Devitt said the loss of Borders could result in a 2 percent decline in profits for Amazon.

Have We Lost Perspective?

Ok, what's wrong with this routine?

1. Roll out of my nice comfy pillow top bed
2. Climb into my nice hot shower
3. Wrap up in my nice soft towel
4. Put on my nice shiny shoes
5. Eat my nice crunchy cereal
6. Drive to work in my nice climate controlled car
7. Sit in my nice ergonomic chair
8. Close the shades on my nice bright window
9. Login to my nice fast internet (ok since I'm at work it's not fast but you get the point)

So, as I sit here and ponder what to write I stumbled across an interesting list about the

Top 25 Things Disappearing From America

Of course things like Yellow Pages, VHS players and Dial Up Internet were fairly obvious but a few things did surprise me.

Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs

Ash Trees &

Honey Bees

Well, I was so fascinated by the honey bee topic that led me to a wonderful educational video



After watching that video I couldn't help but think to myself....Are we losing perspective?

Don't get me wrong I'm not here to go off on some complete "Humans are Bad People" rant but yesterday I saw a woman yelling at a checkout clerk for not carrying her brand of cigarettes anymore.

Have we completely lost focus recently or am I just waking up?

Say Hello To DIABLO 3!!!

UPDATE: July 14, 2008

FLAGSHIP STUDIOS HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS

Full Article here

Sad, to see what seemed like such a promising game fall short like this.

Ohh well, I guess with Flagship's doors closing the doors can now open on the real

Diablo 3

That's right Blizzard has confirmed the development of the official Diablo 3






Ok, we knew it was inevitable. Some new game would come along to pull myself and others away from the World of Warcraft we all grew to know and love.

Hellgate: London (HGL)


Huh? I thought the title said Diablo 3? Sorry to get you excited but in all respects this game is basically DIABLO 3

Ok, let me start with a brief history for those playing along at home.

HGL is produced by Flagship Studios

Flagship Studios is a computer game company founded by Bill Roper along with Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, and David Brevik, the original developers of Diablo and former high level Blizzard North executives. The core of Flagship Studios has been collaborating as a team since 1993 when they founded Condor Studios (later bought out and renamed Blizzard North) and in addition to the Diablo franchise were key high level executives in the development of Warcraft, Starcraft, and World of Warcraft. Flagship Studios was formed following the en mass resignation of Blizzard North management following a dispute with Blizzard Entertainment parent company Vivendi. Flagship Studio's primary target platform for their games is the PC.

Make Sense?

Fast Forward to 2005 and you have the beginning of HGL

Hellgate: London

In March 2005, following months of teasing concept art for an unknown game, Flagship Studios' first title named Hellgate: London was announced via an exclusive article in the computer magazine PC Gamer. The developer has so far released only basic information about the game, although it is now known to be an action role-playing game (RPG) in the same vein as the Diablo games, but with the twist of being played in 3D, primarily from a first-person perspective.

Author Note: You can play from multiple perspectives so if FPS games aren't your thing don't panic you can zoom out. If you like FPS then keep the camera close and bingo FPS.

Now onto some game info.

GAMESPOT has a great newbie guide to the game posted HERE


The following is the first few paragraphs from the article.

There’s something to be said for games that foster a sense of addiction in their players. Whether you stay up all night trying to get another level in World of Warcraft, or play Lineage II so long that you die, these games offer up a decidedly unhealthy, yet enthralling gameplay experience.

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft game wasn’t their first exercise in free-time-stealing, however: its Diablo and Diablo II games were arguably the progenitors of the category. Given randomized loot and the opportunity to obtain it quickly and repeatedly, the games encouraged players to make just one more Mephisto run in the hopes of finding that Buriza-Do Kyanon crossbow, to the point where people stayed up all night obsessively clicking on enemies.

The zombification of America’s youth is apparently about to get another game proponent with the release of Hellgate: London, which was put together by a team led by veteran Blizzard developers. It’s a slower gameplay experience than Diablo II was, but it still retains the same addictive qualities. Here’s what to expect from GameSpot’s Game Guide to Hellgate: London.

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My review will follow in another post but the bottom line is go check it out and tell me what YOU think?

The Solution Is Simple

So with all the energy concern recently I thought I would take a really complicated problem and offer a very simple solution.

I will probably be nominated for an award or prize for this but I will graciously turn it down in favor of a cookie.