Wednesday, December 23, 2009

This could be good or catastrophic

(Emphasis Mine)
Microsoft patents anatomically correct avatars: "Accurate avatars will facilitate online honesty"

"The new systems include provisions for sensing physical data (via pedometers, cameras, or health information repositories like Microsoft HealthVault) psychological characteristics (including levels of alertness or mood changes) and even demographic information like "education level, geographic location, age, sex, intelligence quotient, socioeconomic class, occupation, marital/relationship status, religious belief, political affiliation, etc."
"Physical data that reflect a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," reads the summary. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."

I think I am scared by the implications of this - only time will tell.
I can see evil lurking. Can You?

Monday, December 14, 2009

Finally we are catching up with plumbers and builders

Cash offer sees Citrix staff bring their own computers to work
The company initiated an employee-owned IT programme earlier this year. Citrix offers $US2,000 to employees to buy their own work/home PC under the scheme, dubbed ‘Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC)’. The stipulation: The computer must have a minimum three-year support and maintenance contract.

BTW yes I do think I can choose my own PC better than a head office IT person. As long as this is an annual 'tools allowance' I would be the first to sign up.

How the other half thinks (tune in next year)

Think Like a Developer & Designer Series
The “Think Like A...” series is a collection of topics presenting a developer's point of view and a designer's point of view on what goes into making a WEB 2.0 website. The purpose of this series is to help developers understand and appreciate a designer's viewpoint on creating a website, and on the flip side, to help designers understand and appreciate a developer’s viewpoint on creating a website.