Desktop Glitz

There seems to be a lot of interest lately in 3D desktops (3D computer workspaces), and I have watched videos on several different versions being developed. While they all seem to offer different functionality, and maybe even improved functionality in certain areas, I really don’t see any advantages to the good old 2D desktop I have been using all these years. It seems to me that to really innovate the desktop, a paradigm shift has to take place.

The computer workspace should be interactive and intelligent, or at least act intelligently. If I need to work on my book, I should be able to tell the computer that I want to work on my book and the computer will load the document for me and put me at the last place I was in the document. Maybe I have an old document I was working on that related to evil leprechauns, but I don’t remember the name of it. I should be able to ask the computer to find the evil leprechaun document and it should be able to find it, or ask me questions about it, so that it can find it, or tell me it doesn’t exist.

The computer should know my work habits, and place shortcuts on my desktop on the recent programs I have used in case I want to use them again. If I don’t want program XYZ on the desktop I could simply tell the computer I don’t want XYZ right now and the shortcut should disappear. And not only should the computer keep track of the programs and documents I have been using, it should also have my regular Internet links handy as well, just in case. Of course if I need to find something on the Internet, I should just be able to query the computer and it will bring up the info without me having to try half a dozen search engines.

The desktop/workspace doesn’t need more glitz; it needs more functionality and intelligence. It needs to evolve from a passive tool to an interactive partner, something that will help you solve problems, not just cover them up under a spinning cube.

Warning Blast From the Past

“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” - Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Göring during the Nuremberg Trials.

I was surfing the web looking at some information relating to Orwell’s novel, 1984 when I happened across the above quote on the Wikipedia website. I have to say it was quite a shock because, if you read it carefully, isn’t the same thing happening here in this country?

Maybe we should take a lesson from history.

On the Bandwagon

Seems like everyone has a blog nowadays, so I thought I would make one as well. The price was right. The purpose of this blog is basically what the title says, random thoughts that may or may not be worth reading. You never know.