Bill Gates On the Past, Future, and Google

editingwhiz writes "eWEEK reports that Bill Gates told PBS talk show host Charlie Rose and a Stanford University audience at TechNet Wednesday that 'We're at the beginning of something important again' in the development of technology — just as in the 1980s with the advent of the PC. He also discussed the growing Microsoft-Google competition, world health issues, how to give lots of money away to the benefit of mankind, and whether he'll return to Harvard to finish his studies." From the article: "On whether there's another idea today that is as powerful as the idea of the personal computer in the 1970s: 'If I knew medicine like I do computers, I would like to be able to control the [human] immune system, to fight against the onset of disease on a world level ... but I think the idea of the PC still would have topped that.'"

"If I Knew Medicine..."

[TheWanderingHermit]

If he knew medicine and could control the immune system in the human body as well as he and his company can control computers, just imagine the biological viruses we'd have faced by now. Every day your heart would stop beating for no reason and they'd have to restart it with CPR, but nobody would think that was odd.

If he knew medicine like he knows computers...

[Opportunist]

...and manipulated our immune system to be as tough and secure as his systems, the human race would've died out by now.

Present

[spellraiser]

Bill Gates on the Past, Future, and Google

So he's saying Google is the Present?

Damn straight ...

Was anyone else reminded of

[antifoidulus]

the movie "Back to School" after reading, "and whether he'll return to Harvard to finish his studies". Replacing Dangerfield with Gates would make for a weird, weird movie.

Come again?

[Aqua_boy17]

'If I knew medicine like I do computers, I would like to be able to control the [human] immune system, to fight against the onset of disease on a world level ...

Except for the fact that you wouldn't be able to download your immunizations until Microsoft verified that your genetic code was authentic via Windows Genome Advantage.

Oh teh Noes!

[Aqua_boy17]

Hey, quick, someone check on Charlie. Looks like he has the 'Blue Face of Death' again.

Re:Was anyone else reminded of

[$RANDOMLUSER]

"Bring us a pitcher of beer every 5 minutes until somebody bluescreens, then bring one every 8 minutes".

Yeah, just not the same

gates as prophet

[entropy42]

When you are evaluating bill gates's prognostication ability, do not forget to consider this prediction [bbc.co.uk]: in January, Mr Gates predicted that technology would make spam "a thing of the past" within two years.

Yes, that was January 2004.

Zombies.

[khasim]

Don't forget whole cities converted to zombie'ism. Crawling around, slower every day.

"Brains! Brains!"

"Refinance your home. Low rates. Buy herbal viagra!"

"Brains!"

"Teenage sluts want to gamble with you! Brains! Brains!"

"Brains! Protect yourself from zombie attack! Drink Zombie-B-Gone soda today! Guaranteed not to turn you into a zombie! Brains! \/14gra!"

Oh no, not the defibulator!

[Dystopian Rebel]

When a guy's flat-lining, the most hilarious thing you can do to him is to use the defibulator and the detibulator to remove his leg from the knee down, then attach his feet directly to his femurs. When he revives, he starts walking around like a duck and looking confused. We crazy paramedics just about split a gut laughing every time!

Re:Hot Air

[Dystopian Rebel]

his job is to continue to leverage his single stroke of phenomenal luck - being at the right place at the right time a few decades ago - to sustain the ongoing illusion to the unwashed masses that he is some kind of unparalleled genius, and by extension, that microsoft is the beginning and end of computing.

... while wearing a sweater.
http://www.alibris.com/images/subjects/features/bo oks/roadahead.jpg [alibris.com]

Pirate Genes

[Aqua_boy17]

Anyone with Pirate genes will be left out in the cold, and will be comdemned to eventual privation and death. Won't someone please think of the Pirates? We'll never be able to defeat global warming without them.

Darth Gates?

[darthservo]

"If I knew medicine like I do computers, I would like to be able to control the [human] immune system, to fight against the onset of disease on a world level" - Bill Gates, Stanford University TechNet Event

"One day I will be. I'll be the most powerful Jedi ever! I'll even be able to stop people from dying!" - Anakin Skywalker, Attack of the Clones.

Am I the only one who thought that these two quotes are pretty scarily similar?

Re:"If I Knew Medicine..."

[heroofhyr]

Welcome to the Microsoft Emergency Room. No doctors are currently available, but please wait in the patient service lobby for an additional $1.75 per minute. If you need anything, feel free to ask the giant, talking paperclip at reception. Thank you for choosing Microsoft Emergency Room. Our motto is: Where Do You Want to Die Today?

Oblig. Clippy

[dangitman]

Hi, it looks like you're having a near-death experience. Would you like me to help you with that?