It's a Jib Jab Life!

I received an e-Christmas card from my daughter today. This is what our kids do with our pictures. This is cruel and very funny. Thanks, Angela and Merry Christmas.

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Remembering Grace Hopper

Back in college I remember learning about early computers, compilers and the story of the first reported bug.  When learning compiler concepts of the day, students and staff enjoyed discussing stories about Grace Hopper. Keep in mind, as I will remind you from time to time, I graduated before the release of the first PC.

In 1986, while attending the DECUS Spring Symposium in Dallas, Texas, I learned that Grace Hopper was giving an evening talk in the main auditorium of the Dallas Convention Center. I remembering grabbing a quick dinner and finding a seat in the nose bleed section.  Grace was absolutely brilliant talking about the days when she worked on the Mark I and how it was us, the young, that would change computing.

A short time later I learned that Grace was to appear on Late Night with David Letterman.  I immediately found a VHS tape (remember the time period).

Grace was born on this day in 1906.  I wonder if she'd like how software engineering has evolved.

SearchWiki - there are benefits

I read a blog entry this week that highlighted that people do not buy features; they buy benefits--when you make that final decision to buy you have done so to fulfil a benefit need.

This week Google launched SearchWiki, a feature available to only registered Google users, "a way for you to customize search by re-ranking, deleting, adding, and commenting on search results."

It appears some folks are not seeing the benefits.  Though there are a few things about SearchWiki I would enhance or change, I can see some benefits.

Today my daughter asked me to look into a web cam software component on her notebook that has been bothering her for the past few weeks.  When she attempted to launch the application it displayed a pop-up with "Acer OrbiCam application has stopped".  So using that as my search criteria I proceeded to look for a solution.  After reading about half a dozen postings I found the solution she needed.  I find myself repeating history and re-searching so I proceeded to "promote" the link that provided the solution and added an appropriate note.

However, others may benefit from my note.  When future searchers perform the same search and then click on "See all notes for this SearchWiki" they'll see my promotion and note and hopefully find a solution to the problem.  If others do the same on other searches to other problems it will help us all find solutions quicker.

Now for the strange bit of behaviour: On Friday I used a third party computer and tried this feature out with my Google account.  Earlier today I used it on my daughter's notebook with my account.  Now that I'm finally logged into my own computer--the feature is not appearing; and yes I am logged into my Google account.

Craig