Tuesday, May 11, 2004
library mapping
A software system that would keep track of individual users' borrowing patterns. The users would not be personally identifiable except to themselves, but you would be able to, for instance, track not only what books you have checked out, and when, but when those books were checked out by other users, and with what other books the other users checked out those books.
It would work like the suggestions feature on Amazon, in other words, but in a much more interesting way -- it would be more thorough, and you would be able to see what other books were liked by people who have checked out books you like. Everyone would in effect have a personalized bibliography.
It will never happen, though -- in the post-Homeland Security era, the last thing any library wants is to make it easier for the government to track what people read (and even if the bibliography software didn't personally identify users, I can't imagine how it would avoid having a key somewhere that matched up users with their non-identifying analogs).
A software system that would keep track of individual users' borrowing patterns. The users would not be personally identifiable except to themselves, but you would be able to, for instance, track not only what books you have checked out, and when, but when those books were checked out by other users, and with what other books the other users checked out those books.
It would work like the suggestions feature on Amazon, in other words, but in a much more interesting way -- it would be more thorough, and you would be able to see what other books were liked by people who have checked out books you like. Everyone would in effect have a personalized bibliography.
It will never happen, though -- in the post-Homeland Security era, the last thing any library wants is to make it easier for the government to track what people read (and even if the bibliography software didn't personally identify users, I can't imagine how it would avoid having a key somewhere that matched up users with their non-identifying analogs).
Friday, May 07, 2004
the end to wrestling your damp self into clothes?
For gyms, airports, motel rooms, and other areas where showering means subsequently getting dressed in a close, humid stall that inevitably means no drying off will fully dry you off, why not have air-vents in the walls on both sides that blast out cold or warm air (your preference)? It would make showering and dressing in such a small space a thousand times more comfortable. In fact, even simple fans would be a huge improvement, given they would help dry all the ambient moisture that lands on your skin.
For gyms, airports, motel rooms, and other areas where showering means subsequently getting dressed in a close, humid stall that inevitably means no drying off will fully dry you off, why not have air-vents in the walls on both sides that blast out cold or warm air (your preference)? It would make showering and dressing in such a small space a thousand times more comfortable. In fact, even simple fans would be a huge improvement, given they would help dry all the ambient moisture that lands on your skin.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
for book geeks
A freeware/open-source software system that catalogues your books. Preferably it would include a graphics option allowing you to input your bookcases' measurements and represent your collection visually. A fancy version would include a scanner -- you could scan in your books on purchase rather than typing in their info. It would solve the "where the hell is that book?" question.
In my dreams, books would come with a tiny tracking chip you could use to locate them in your house. In fact, almost everything would come with this. Including my cats.
A freeware/open-source software system that catalogues your books. Preferably it would include a graphics option allowing you to input your bookcases' measurements and represent your collection visually. A fancy version would include a scanner -- you could scan in your books on purchase rather than typing in their info. It would solve the "where the hell is that book?" question.
In my dreams, books would come with a tiny tracking chip you could use to locate them in your house. In fact, almost everything would come with this. Including my cats.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
method for satisfying RIAA, musicians, and downloaders
[a little background]
Downloaders argue that downloading songs spurs buying rather than hinders buying of CDs, and they further argue that downloading and making MP3 playlists is today's version of radio (an argument they bolster with complaints about corporate radio and Clear Channel's monopolistic, monotonous playlists).
The RIAA and anti-downloading musicians argue that downloading hinders buying CDs, and either way, somebody's gotta pay for the songs, and that the customized use of MP3s (playlists you make rather than ones radio stations make for everyone to listen to) bears a closer resemblance to CD-buying, so downloaders should pay for the privilege.
I fall in the middle. MP3s' low quality makes them "feel" more like radio to me -- part of the pleasure of buying the CD is the cover art, the tangible/collectible object you own, and the high-quality recording. I'm sympathetic to musicians' argument, though, that to an extent you are getting a "thing" when you download a song -- a piece of data you can play every time. On the other hand -- I do use MP3s like radio, because corporate radio sucks.
[therefore:]
A system by which one could download more or less all commercially available songs for free (like iTunes, but much more comprehensive in terms of stock), but in order to listen to them on your computer or on any MP3-playing device, you would also have to listen to commercials at regular intervals, just as you would if you listened to radio. If you burned the songs to CD, you wouldn't have to listen, but you would have to pay a small fee for the song -- smaller than iTunes' 99-cents-across-the-board fee, which strikes me as too high, especially for older songs, and which would also be too high in a system where any non-CD device is picking up ad dollars from your use.
The ad mechanism could either work like radio, via a transmitter installed to MP3 players (and in software form on broadband-using computers), or the commercials could be an inseparable part of the download, and would update themselves like cookies when you download new things.
There would also be a commercial-free option: pay an iTunes-like price for the songs, and you don't have to listen to commercials at all.
ear periscope
A device just like the doctor's device used to look in ears, noses, and throats, but with a periscope feature, so you could use it on yourself.
[a little background]
Downloaders argue that downloading songs spurs buying rather than hinders buying of CDs, and they further argue that downloading and making MP3 playlists is today's version of radio (an argument they bolster with complaints about corporate radio and Clear Channel's monopolistic, monotonous playlists).
The RIAA and anti-downloading musicians argue that downloading hinders buying CDs, and either way, somebody's gotta pay for the songs, and that the customized use of MP3s (playlists you make rather than ones radio stations make for everyone to listen to) bears a closer resemblance to CD-buying, so downloaders should pay for the privilege.
I fall in the middle. MP3s' low quality makes them "feel" more like radio to me -- part of the pleasure of buying the CD is the cover art, the tangible/collectible object you own, and the high-quality recording. I'm sympathetic to musicians' argument, though, that to an extent you are getting a "thing" when you download a song -- a piece of data you can play every time. On the other hand -- I do use MP3s like radio, because corporate radio sucks.
[therefore:]
A system by which one could download more or less all commercially available songs for free (like iTunes, but much more comprehensive in terms of stock), but in order to listen to them on your computer or on any MP3-playing device, you would also have to listen to commercials at regular intervals, just as you would if you listened to radio. If you burned the songs to CD, you wouldn't have to listen, but you would have to pay a small fee for the song -- smaller than iTunes' 99-cents-across-the-board fee, which strikes me as too high, especially for older songs, and which would also be too high in a system where any non-CD device is picking up ad dollars from your use.
The ad mechanism could either work like radio, via a transmitter installed to MP3 players (and in software form on broadband-using computers), or the commercials could be an inseparable part of the download, and would update themselves like cookies when you download new things.
There would also be a commercial-free option: pay an iTunes-like price for the songs, and you don't have to listen to commercials at all.
ear periscope
A device just like the doctor's device used to look in ears, noses, and throats, but with a periscope feature, so you could use it on yourself.
Greetings. This is a blog in the manner of either a steam vent reducing boiler pressure or a bingo-ball-tumbler spout, depending on your perspective. It owes something to the Idea-A-Day site, except this will be in all likelihood less interesting and more useless. Consider ideas on here copylefted with exceptions -- you're free to use them for personal use or non-profit uses, as long as you properly attribute their origin, but you're not free to profit from them. Not that I can imagine any instances in which someone could. I'm just saying.
