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Tuesday, 20 August 2002
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I've been reading the History of the telephone, as written in 1910 by Herberst Casson. It has been very refreshing to read how hard it was for Bell to get anyone to notice, look ar listen to his new device. In fact, it wasn't until he sent a 'news story' at a distance of 16 miles, that he received the attention he needed: the press. Seems they only react when their own business affected.
So much of this story is analogous to weblogs. Their invention, mis(understanding) and application all pretty much went through the same stages. Here's one you'll recognize:
"There were hundreds of shrewd capitalists in American cities in 1876, looking with sharp eyes in all directions for business chances; but not one of them came to Bell with an offer to buy his patent. Not one came running for a State contract. And neither did any legislature, or city council, come forward to the task of giving the people a cheap and efficient telephone service."
It gets better: " ......it was a most unpropitious time for the setting afloat of a new enterprise. It was a period of turmoil and suspicion. What with the Jay Cooke failure, the Hayes-Tilden deadlock, and the bursting of a hundred railroad bubbles, there was very little in the news of the day to encourage investors." [Adam Curry: Adam Curry's Weblog]
11:34:07 PM 
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Understanding risk
One of my pet hates is the extreme irrationality of people when faced with certain risks. Yes, I know the fears are understandable, it's just that it bugs me that in a world where we have so much information available to us, we can't seem to make decisions based on anything more than gut instincts...
Part of breaking down irrationality would seem to require some basic information concerning why people worry about particular things. Today's New York Times (free registration required) has a nice piece that outlines some of the main reasons for worry and gives examples of how people react.
After you've read the piece, think about how many government policy decisions seem to be based on irrational fears. But we can't just blame a government - we are all far too ready to look for a scapegoat for any problem or risk. Instead, we must consider how our opinions about risk are driving government policy decisions. As a simple example, there is incontrovertible evidence that many lives would be saved if everybody wore seatbelts in cars yet governments in some jurisdictions won't enforce it by law because of public pressure against it. [David Harris: Science news]
11:33:04 PM
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12,000 frames per second film camera
The new tool film-makers will go crazy over can shoot the equivalent of 12,000 frames per second. Unfortunately, the camera can only shoot 120 frames at a time as it works by rotating a loop of film around a drum that rapidly revolves.
Just as The Matrix popularised the use of sequenced still cameras to give the impression of a fast-moving camera circling around a subject, don't be surprised if you suddenly see lots of films breaking into ultra-slow motion for a few seconds as they insert the results of this new toy.
The camera is bound to be useful for other things besides entertainment. Just as it is based on high-speed scientific photography, this technology or something similar will probably make it back into the lab where high-resolution is required as well as high-speed.
Read more and see a sample at CNN (Sample requires CNN realplayer media pass) [David Harris: Science news]
11:30:04 PM
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Euripides. "The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man."
Pearl Buck. "Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up." [Rick@Leaders.net: Quotes]
11:28:18 PM
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Today is.... 1930: Phil Farnsworth awarded a patent for television
1960: Russian dogs Belka and Strelka return from space
1977: Launch of Voyager 2 [David Harris: Science news]
11:13:52 PM
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Contour spacecraft update
The BBC and CNN report that the Contour comet-hunting spacecraftf may have broken in two after a rocket malfunction.
[David Harris: Science news]
10:25:11 PM
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© Copyright 2005 Peter Nixon.
Last update: 27/9/05; 8:40:53 PM.
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