I hope they get this sorted out before cars can fly. I'd like to know that 3 long blinks and 2 short ones means my parachute failed... long before I'm cursing the manual while free-falling from 20,000 feet.

I would propose that if you don't know what that means then you aren't a potential user ;)

I would agree with that... primarily because it's still in its infancy. This is essentially web enabled mat-lab however as it's gathering and interrelating its data real time off the web the potential is huge. As it becomes more refined (which admittedly is going to be a long process) the combined pool of 'query-able' data could become quite impressive, as could the number of things you can do with it.

I think it was released to the public at the right time. I am sure the system is actively compiling a cross-section of what is being asked to expand the development and range of information. I would hope to see its abilities snowball from here... key word "hope" :)

The design of the system is that it intelligently scrapes quantifiable information that can be put into a defined knowledge base structure and inter-related. Length, weight, oribital period, age, population, molecular weight, wavelength, numeric series, calories... values that are measured in units or physical properties of the world around us. By fitting this information into a defined structure the system has the ability to now extrapolate from it to answer questions... hence the words 'computational engine'.

Why build another text search "library index"? It's been done out the ying-yang. This system is orders of magnitude more ambitious and complex and while still in it's infancy, it's a pretty spectacular achievement already IMO. Just allow yourself to think outside of the 'search engine' box. While it contains some facts about the world, it's not a search engine.

That's because that's not its purpose since it's not a search engine. That's like asking your calculator for the definition of the word 'derivative'.

I can't agree more on the Clouds of Titan scene. Yes it was generally fluff plot wise but man did it feel good. It gives you that satisfying 'ok, now it's time to kick some ass' feeling.

I would say there is a good possibility of that. I figure it would run some future 'off the shelf' flavour of Linux that functions primarily as a server and virtualization environment for all the other technologies you wish to run. Let Linux do what it does best.. act as a stable server... and let it 'wrap' other technologies that also do what they do best. (gaming environments, Windows, etc.)

Wouldn't that be a slick box? Something with the capabilities of say a PS3 (x10?), running Linux as a virtualization server that then parcels out VMs for the entire home.

I can understand what you're saying but I think the reason is this:

In the 'early console days' games were far simpler and required less 'power' to run. You could pick up a relatively simple box and plug it into the largest screen in your house (your TV) and play away.

Games then started to become more complex and the focus shifted away from the largest screen in the house to the most powerful platform. PC Development was in its hey-day and developers moved onto the platform where they could write the most complex games to stay ahead of the market. The console's importance died out for awhile and PCs with their new fangled 3D hardware, bigger screens, etc. began to take over.

This brings about the third 'age' of gaming where now the console makers have ramped up hardware development. Suddenly the average PC is no longer the big dog in the house power wise. Specialized hardware has allowed the console to catch up and frequently eclipse the PC in game complexity. This has also conveniently coincided with the rise of the large format flat screen TV so now you can play the most 'complex' games on the biggest screen in the house again.

If I had to guess I would say the future involves more of a fusion of console and PC rather than a back and forth. I think we're headed to a world where your home functions on one (or several?) core boxes, whether you use those to kill aliens, do your taxes, surf the future web, or control the oven. But now I'm way off the original topic :)

Very much agreed. That is what is completely amazing to me... when you consciously put the view into perspective the scale becomes awe inspiring.

I never cease to be humbled whenever I catch a glimpse of how insignificant we really are. In turn I am also equally inspired by the idea that one of the smaller things in the universe, namely 'us', is also capable of beginning to comprehend it.

All boobs are perky in 0g.