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Computers are built in layers, to put it simply. A simple computer has a Basic Input-Output System (BIOS), which controls various low level functions to initialize the hardware when a system is powered on. Initialization means something like “to set it up for operation in a typical way”. This would include talking to the processor to identify what processor it is, the amount of RAM, so on and so forth. From there, the CPU executes instructions that make up the software. The processor, short for central processing unit, executes instructions in an order that is determined by the previous instruction. In this example, we are… Read More »Computers and Sustainability: An ever increasingly layered system

Computing technology has traditionally led a path where the hardware advances to a point where it can SCALE before the SOFTWARE CATCHES UP. Right after the point at which a new “scale point” has been reached – the point at which a new generation of technology based on some sort of advance in making technology scalable in a new way – a new generation of software is released to take advantage of the new hardware. The hardware takes advantage of that scaling, and then optimizes for a new price versus performance inflection point in the market based on whatever new limits are reached in the… Read More »Stop Investing in GPUs: Invest in NPUs

So I decide to look for jobs for people with disabilities through DEJobs.org this morning for a bit of a tongue twister. They have a sister website called “Abletowork” or Able to Work. The thing is, their jobs are professional level jobs with even construction engineering mixed in. Really? These are not the kind of jobs people with disabilities would be doing. People who are disabled need temporary, easy to get and do, simple jobs. Now that may sound like its a bit extreme, but if you think a disabled person can easily get a job as a “Senior Principal Commercial Pricing and Business Strategist”… Read More »On stupidity and the job market

So called “AI” is taking over the world. AI, or artificial intelligence, to a layman, does not mean the ability to have a computer take over the world RE: The Matrix. AI in layman’s terms is the ability to process natural language and perform some sort of action, parse the results, and in some cases have the ability to parse a data set into something simpler and easier to understand. This is, in a nutshell, what ChatGPT is all about. It’s a glorified search engine for the internet, that happens to have access to certain information that something like Google would not. Natural language abilities… Read More »AI Walls: I’m looking at you Adobe

I saw a post on Facebook stating when and where new red light cameras in Pittsburgh are going, owing to safety concerns with accidents caused by people running red lights. In Florida, and I’m sure other states, red light cameras are already in use. When I moved to Austin, I quickly found out that most Austin residents were against them. In my case, I’m indifferent: here’s why. I don’t drive. Transportation is a privilege. Why are there so many cars on the road, sitting in parking lots for long periods of time (and why are parking lots so big anyway) and of course the police… Read More »Driving is a privilege, not a right

You don’t have right to repair. It’s not designed to be. The design is often patented and protected for its intellectual property. You want right to repair on an iPhone? Have fun. I see the EU somehow wants phones to have user replaceable batteries, but why? Security, software updates, are based on hardware still. Hardware fails for legitimate reasons too. Solid state drives (SSDs) have limited lifetimes just like hard disks wore out and floppy disks could be damaged. You wanted an iPhone, you got an iPhone. It has surface mount components. Years ago that technology didn’t exist. Semiconductor technology was developed to make circuits… Read More »The illusion of right to repair

Merriam-Webster defines the word loyalty as “the quality or state or an instance of being loyal” and for convenience, the word loyal as “unswerving in allegiance: such as: 1) faithful in allegiance to one’s lawful sovereign or government, 2) faithful to a private person to whom faithfulness is due, 3) faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product.” Americans are loyal, but not necessarily to their government (they’re dependent upon it). We are loyal to capitalism and to the corporations that made it. In this country, we are more divided than ever, as citizens who think our responsibility is to vote for government leaders.… Read More »The definition of the word “loyalty”

Get rid of post-paid, subscription TV services and make them prepaid. If you want prepaid with a contract, make the contract a price agreement that works in favor of the person prepaying for the service. Prepaid TV services would be beneficial not just for home users, but airlines, hotel and Airbnb visitors, and the like. You’re missing out on a market of people who need transient service, or who just want to watch the Superbowl without commercials, a concert or two, and not pay into a subscription model of services. If you want, make it a “for credit” based service, where you prepay a balance… Read More »Prepaid TV Services

Really. Checking accounts have fraud protection, but what if you want payment protection? What if you want to approve each and every transaction that hits your non-business checking account right there on the spot instead of worrying about why your transaction suddenly did not just go through or getting random texts that you have charges blocking your card? What if the latter happens at a restaurant or gas station and you have to make a call from an inconvenient, noisy place? I’ve been there. Whitelisting transactions should be the norm instead of having to blacklist them. “Free” checking accounts should not be funded by an… Read More »NSF Fees should be Illegal