march 2010 newsletter
Well, we are right into this year now and it seems to be flying.
You may recall me saying there are new things coming. The last couple of months or so I have been busy researching and learning from the experts about new opportunities and technology. As yet I am not able to say very much since plans are still being finalised. I can say though that there are a number of new services and products coming and my website will be significantly overhauled to make room for them.
I will also be adding a blog to my website for those who prefer to receive their knowledge boost this way. This newsletter will continue, but I would like to hear from you if you have a preference.
Paul Perry
Technology and the Last 100 Years pt2
Last month I mentioned changes in past technology used to record the worlds heritage.
Recently though I was reminded that anyone now younger than about 20 ish had grown up in an era of very rapid technological change. A period when as soon as one product or new discovery was released to the public a new one was already being developed. More and more it is becoming a case of a product being out of date as soon as it hits the market.
It has been said as well that many young people now have grown up used to a world of ambiguity. It is therefore of no surprise to me that looking back into your own heritage within family movies, videos and photos can be therapy and comfort for body and soul for anyone.
Some Useless Facts on the Internet
Here is a link to another of many videos on the Internet showing useless information on the extent of technology.
Still, you may learn something to make you seem knowledgeable to your family and friends.
Do the Movies you Watch all seem the Same
When you are watching a movie or TV drama does it often seem like you have seen this story before?
It is known to writers that there is a limited number of basic story lines one can draw from. It was suggested to me this is 13, such as love, revenge, home coming, ugly duckling etc.. The first few minutes or so always sets the theme and gets you plugging for the main character/s which after many ups and downs over 90% of the movie will culminate in an impossible situation magically solved in the last 3 minutes, much to everyone's satisfaction. Next time you watch a musical look for the "hook" in the 2nd or 3rd song, the catch theme of the story designed to draw you in.
Of course, this isn't always the case. Sometimes the writer gets cunning and combines two or more story types or they might even manage to break a rule or two and succeed at it. But probably 90 to 95% of all movies have and will continue to follow some typical formula.
How Fast is Fast Internet
In a news item recently it was mentioned that the data speed of the new Australian national fast broadband internet network would be about 100mb/sec. Which at a very wild estimation probably equates to about 10 times the speed most are getting now. Unless of course you are still on dial up which will be like going from a scooter to a sports car.
The suggestion is this will likely go even faster as delivery technology improves. But the one point that caught my attention is the assertion that even remote rural areas will get this sort of top service. Generally, as with new mobile phone technology, when it is said that such a service will reach 90% of the population it probably only means 10% or less of the Australian land mass. Here's hoping.
Humour
You can imagine that in my type of work I have my fair share of computer problems. Often failures occur at the most inopportune time, but this time I think I may have found an answer. You have to call the computers bluff!
Recently one of my computers started to display symptoms of what I guessed was a failing power supply. So, off to my local parts supplier for a spare. Who by the way, I told recently I thought he had a good ongoing business because of the regularity of computer failures and particularly that it seemed rare for a computer these days to last more than about 4 or 5 years at best.
The spare power supply was duly placed on the shelf in readiness, but, you guessed it, the computer has performed faultlessly ever since. It will fail though and most likely when I least expect it and probably on a very busy day, sigh.
A quote: "The one thing that saves us from the bureaucracy is its inefficiency". Former US Democratic Senator from Minnesota Eugene McCarthy
Please feel free to contact me with any questions and comments on this newsletter and suggestions of what you would like me to cover in future issues.