Please create an account to participate in the Slashdot moderation system

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×

Comment Some random thoughts... (Score 1) 355

A tablet offers 'instant' gratification with a low learning curve and only requires minimal dexterity. Bored with that app? Here's another.

LEGO requires patience, spatial reasoning and planning, imagination and dexterity. Bored with those blocks, well, you're going to have to wait until your
next birthday. Can't fit the blocks together? You're going to have to keep trying until you get the hang of it. Can't find that yellow block you need to finish your duck? You'll have to keep digging around in the big pile until you find it.

You can see why kids spend more time on tablets right? It's laziness.It's easier. Effortless. Also, lazy parenting. Especially when kids are small they need a bit of help from mum and/or dad with LEGO and building blocks. Don't need much help with a tablet...

I'm lucky, both my kids love LEGO, but I still have to monitor how much time they spend on the tablet.
My youngest son is nearly 2yrs old and loves the CITY LEGO trucks, and watching his dexterity improve just from playing with those and pulling them to bits is nothing short of amazing.

Also, what they fail to mention here is that building blocks are not for all kids. Some kids just don't get it. Just not interested. And that's got nothing to do with modern technology because I saw that lack of interest in some kids more than 20 years ago.

Last but not least, there's been a big fuss in the media here (NZ) about kids going to school and lacking the dexterity to hold a pencil, being unable to recognize their own written name, etc. From memory technology got the blame as well. Not enough time spend interacting with mom and dad.

Comment Re:I prefer to browse real bookstores (Score 2) 83

Amazon does have tons of books I might not find otherwise, but I still love just wandering around in a bookstore for hours, just browsing. I've found a number of great books that way, that I likely never would have seen just searching a website.

While I find books that way, too, I tend to find a LOT more stuff I like because of the recommendations on Amazon. Those algorithms are scary good nowadays.

Comment Re:Politics as usuall (Score 1) 723

Some got it through the exchanges, some got it through their employer, and some got on Medicare. Apparently the CBO was surprised by how many people signed up through their employer; they calculated it would be about the same amount, but that shot up a lot; hard to say why at this point, but I'm sure we'll get all the details pretty soon; everyone is obsessed with trying to either prove or disprove it's working.

Comment Re:Politics as usuall (Score 1) 723

millions are MUCH better off by not being denied health care for pre-existing conditions, being able to stay on their parent's healthcare plans, etc.

You sound very well-informed. Would you mind sharing with the rest of us the data source you used to determine that "millions" are better off? Even a rough count for each one of the categories you mention would be great as well. Thanks.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyli...

From a study done by Rand, over 9 million people have health insurance than did before.

Comment Re:Politics as usuall (Score 2, Insightful) 723

Like most numbers that come out of government, it takes a bit of creative license. Both major parties have mastered this deception. The real question is... Are we better off now that this law is in place? To which I have to think, probably not.

"Probably not?" You're going to have to explain that one. Maybe some people are worse off, but millions are MUCH better off by not being denied health care for pre-existing conditions, being able to stay on their parent's healthcare plans, etc.

Granted, this IS a right-wing change to health insurance (from the previous generation of right-wingers, not the Tea Party wacko set we have now). This is a gimme to health care insurers, with no single payer, etc. It's a single step, but it's a good one until the Tea Party flames out and we can get back to having a somewhat functional Congress again. That's going to be a long time in coming, I suspect, so for now, it seems as good as we're going to get.

Comment Re:So If I Drop My Phone (Score 1) 62

I never said it would fail on its own as a device, I said it would fail on the points I listed, the third point being the most important if it's not intended for the mass market.

I suppose if you think that is a big reason people want a modular phone, then sure. It's not even on the list of reasons why I'd want a modular phone. They should probably do some polling to find out WHY people want a modular phone before they make one. :)

Comment Re:So If I Drop My Phone (Score 2) 62

If it's not intended for the masses, then it's going to fail on all important points:

- it will be bigger/thicker than current all-in-one phones because each module will be its own box with its own case and you need space for the magnets and inter-modular connections
- it means it will cost even more than current all-in-one phones
- it means it won't get manufactured in enough quantities to make a difference in the waste produced by all-in-one phones

Your reasons for it to fail (as listed here) are still reasons that would make a device _INTENDED FOR THE MASSES_ fail. There are products that are intended for niche markets that still succeed, and this project will succeed or fail based on those criteria, not your strawman criteria.

Comment all too common view on Snowden (Score 5, Insightful) 289

Politicians are quick to say the NSA has gone too far, but none of them have the balls to say Snowden should be pardoned. Grow some balls. He apparently tried several times to bring his concerns to his superiors, only to be shut down. If he didn't do what he did, we would not know what we know, or even be having this discussion. There's no need to make him a martyr. He did what was right.

Slashdot Top Deals

New York... when civilization falls apart, remember, we were way ahead of you. - David Letterman

Working...