I know in Japan that Union management is more aligned with company management.. is it similar in Germany?

This maybe stereo typing but I think in general German engineering is really top quality in terms of building products to a set specification in a reliable and predictable manner. Given that they have been able to hold onto manufacturing jobs is also a plus..

Until the cost of living and the cost of labor in China is at parity with the US you can't compare $$ for $$; you also have to assume that the R&D talent (Engineers, Project Managers are equal); assuming that the talent is of a high quality.. if the talent costs less over there, than they don't have to spend the same $$$ to get the same results.

IF the talent is equal and the cost is 1/2 to 1/3 cheaper than they are probably already at parity. If the talent isn't equal than no amount of $$ can really get to parity (e.g., bad technology leadership can waste a lot of $$). If the talent is better and equal or cheaper in cost then this game is over; although there is always an other round to play for the next generation..

I'm not an engineer.. but some random thoughts?

1) Can you use out of band communications to trigger a special mode of the router (assuming you control it)? (e.g., A special listening mode that gives certain devices priority)

2) Rather than use typical QAM type of modulation, can you use a more limited constellation but BOOST the power so you can punch it through the noise? (which would also allow you to make very good use of forward error correction (FEC); again assumes that you are able to program both the sender and the router.

Assuming you can't alter the Network Stack on either device than you have to look at the communications itself

3) Other than that, it would seem you would need to use a programmable antenna/software antenna, Etc. turning your own Antenna into a high directional Antenna with as much gain as possible. Basically find the WIFI router you want (geo locate it, perhaps triangulation with the help of friendly nearby devices) and the push all your signal towards (a dynamic Yagi antenna that auto-magically maintains it's "aim" at the router even as the sender and/or the receiver move about.

4) If you did have some control over the router and you were sure that you could depreciate other traffic then the router would also get the same auto-magical antenna system and the two devices would "focus" on each other.

Other than digital controls the article doesn't say how this design is different.. is it just the controls?

Google Fiber will put much of them out of business... not that I think Google wants to but if they keep the prices so artificially high they are not going to survive..

Future crime and skynet merge...

Microsoft has never taken security seriously until the point that Mundie mentions and even after that one can hardly given them a glowing review. That Microsoft failed to build in security from the start was clearly a gamble of some sort. Clearly Microsoft knew of computer security issues; that MSFT choose to ignore serious security for the sake of profits, market share or whatever other factors only to have to stop and fix things, isn't the fail of hackers; that MSFT choose to ignore security is what made it easy for black hat hackers to thrive.

First consider the halting problem; you really can't tell what complex code can do.. although many eyes are better than none. Then you have to check every code release and compare all the hardware to software, etc. this is (the halting problem) a complex/hard problem.

Second, you have to see everything from the OS, the programs, programmable chips, firmware, etc.

Third, you have to hope there isn't anything type of "malware/spyware" that is loaded remotely post install, and that you see all the updates, etc. This would include the fear of back doors and automatic doors (default passwords, etc.).

In the 1800's every major telegraph wire ran through England and while they said they wouldn't spy, the spied on EVERY msg. The benefit of spying to great for China/PLA not to attempt something in the past, present or future.

He is saying the truth that they are dead. IMHO, it's a lie to say that groups like MPAA, such as RIAA and similar groups in other countries aren't trying to get similar laws passed as part of treaties and through the UN, etc.

Only Greg Aharonian has a working solution to the patent "wars" and it doesn't rely on using divination to determine what and what can't be patented.

Greg basically says a) anything invented can be patented (hardware, software, whatever) BUT (big BUT) it has to be done with proper science something he often feels that both the PTO and the US courts don't understand. Paraphrasing Mr. Aharonian, if after a solid review of patented and non patented prior art, something can be proven with logic and science to be a new invention it's worthy of a patent and if it isn't then no patent should be issued.

It's taken me years and years of reading Greg's musing on patent's to really understand his prospective (I hope I really do...); Why worry about false issues about what type of technology is used; tech is tech, what matters is if you have done something truly novel.

http://ns1.patenting-art.com/

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa071297.htm
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.06/patents_pr.html

The OS UI needs to move away from the Mouse/Keyboard (MoKey) input paradigm; we can disagree about how fast this should happen but both Apple and Ubuntu have started making the move away from MoKey; can you say, "Unity."

This sort of change has a huge impact that cuts across generations. We saw the early word processing users complain about the switch to menu driven interfaces vs VI, ED and WordStar style Control-key commands; PageMaker did well with it's paste board UI until Ventura Publisher and Quark used a modern interface that was far more efficient. Even Amiga and Commodore users yearn for the simplistic UI of the historical OS's used by those platforms (which is why Commodore OS Vision embraces everything retro).

The reality is it will take years if not decades for the switch to happen (but happen it must) if MSFT is to survive (can you say, "Surface"). So it is really a case for MSFT that the sooner they start the move the better off they are.

So why is it a brilliant move? First for understanding it is a journey of 1000 miles and they need to start sooner rather than later. It is also brilliant because Windows 7 still has a lot of life left in it, so there isn't actually any pressure to make the jump; let's face it many are still using Windows XP; some people may stick with Windows 7 for the rest of their lives.

The killing of MoKey is brilliant because of issues related to general relationships; kids like things their parents hate; and while Chris Pirillo's Dad (and my Dad) may never figure out Windows 8, you can be assured that those in the Justin Bieber set (and those younger) will have little problem doing so and will take delight that their older siblings and parents stumble where they excel.

The move away from MoKey might be the most brilliant move of all by MSFT because if kids like it and parents don't, that might just give MSFT back their MOJO; that's right MSFT just might once again become Groovy, Cool! or Hip or whatever kids say these days. /hawk

My 2010 Prius System 5 already stops the car if i'm about to crash (PCS) and it helps steer when I have the lane keep assist (LKA) on. LKA uses machine vision so doesn't always work if there lines in the road are missing, degraded,

While clearly the MIT system detailed as more points of constraint and while I think it's could to have PCS (Pre Crash System); that problem doesn't solve numerous problems like those who are getting older (but still need mobility), those who get fatigued, using automated car "training" to smooth out high way and perhaps local traffic so that there is more throughput, less congestion, Etc.

Clearly the MIT system could be integrated with the Google approach... and I think could and perhaps should be required for new drivers (governance of new drivers) but issues of keeping drivers and passengers safe isn't the same issue has having self driving cars.

I have ACC in my current 3rd Gen. Prius and I must say that it works really well.. Amazingly well.. It makes long journeys fairly easy. Add in the self driving part -- my car only help steer, it can't steer completely on it's own... Google is developing and I think we are in for a real treat.

yes.. copyright law IMHO and IANAL only protects against commercial sales of copy written materials. It maybe less than ethical (or not) to make copies, but it isn't illegal. DMCA of course makes it illegal to circumvent some copyright protection schemes; those schemes are illegal in my own mind..