Hackers - Evolution of the Label

The word 'hacker' has a very different meaning today than it did 20-30 years ago. In Cliff Stoll's book "The Cuckoo's Egg" he points out that the word was generally used within the community of programmers to describe a very skilled coder. Being called a hacker was high praise coming from your peers. The advent of networking computers across the globe had begun to change the connotation of 'hacker' to mean something quite different. A hacker was now a derogatory term used to describe programmers who used their skills to break into other computers and cause some sort of detrimental effect. A hacker is still obviously a skilled programmer, but now calling someone a hacker implies ill will.

The evolution of this term reflects the gradual increase in technical knowledge among the general public. Stoll showed that hackers were able to gain access to others computers because even the system admins didn't know how to protect their computer systems. Since that time, technology has gotten more complex and likewise the systems used to protect them have as well. Operating systems on modern computers include safety precautions such as firewalls and anti-virus software to discourage hackers. That being said, hackers are also improving their methods. Vigilance and care are required to avoid the malicious effects of hackers and viruses.

Gamification of Genealogy

The world has become impatient. People want things now, not later. Games on mobile phones are played in chunks of 15 minutes or less. Doing genealogy is not fast. It takes a long time to get anything meaningful done. I rarely have 2 hours at a time to devote to any single activity. If doing family history can be made fun, quick, and enjoyable, more people will actually want to do it. If I could take 15 minutes out of my day and actually make some meaningful progress in family history, I would be much more inclined to do so. Make genealogy a game, and I'll play it.

Paying with your smartphone

A part of Google's new Wallet service has been temporarily suspended. This project is rather ambitious, giving smartphone users the ability to pay for things with their phone rather than having to carry around credit cards. As with all new advancements in web related technology, security is an important issue. Two new hacks have been discovered allowing malicious users to access their victim's funds. This brings up the question of how secure Google Wallet can be. Is paying with your phone any more secure than paying with a piece of plastic? Software is written by humans, and humans are fallible. Thus, software is prone to have vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit for their gain. Regardless of whether you use Google Wallet or not, you need to be careful with any sensitive financial information.

The Importance of Aesthetics

Apple's iPhone is taking over. During the fourth quarter of 2011, there were more iPhones sold every day than there were babies born. The top three selling smartphones during that quarter were the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 4, and the iPhone 3GS, which was originally released in 2009. A three year old device is outselling brand new phones from Apple competitors. Android is still the most popular smartphone OS, holding 48% of the market, but there are many different device manufacturers making phones for Android. The 43% of the market owned by Apple means all of that profit going straight into their pocket. Apple's business model is obviously working. Functionality is not always the most important thing to consumers. The overall feel of an Apple device is just different. Some people like it, some don't. Rather than releasing a middling device that some people might marginally enjoy but nobody will hate, Apple creates polarizing designs that don't appeal to everyone. Those who do buy into Apple's design fall in love and become Apple fans and customers for life.

things i do instead of homework

Sitting here on my couch, I should be reading Oedipus the King for my philosophy class. Instead, I'm writing this blog post while listening to Thriving Ivory. I've gotten pretty good at putting off homework over the years, yet somehow it all ends up getting done. I've stopped really worrying about how it works out, I kind of just go with the flow. I've found that when I worry too much about things, I just get stressed and don't make any progress anyway. Just don't worry. "Things will work out." - Gordon B. Hinckley