Microsoft, Hackers and the Future of Computing

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I really enjoyed this Businessweek article about Microsoft's Kinect (3D sensor, gesture-based hardware for Xbox gaming without the need for a hand-held controller.)

The article contends that MS is so big and so set in its anti-hacker mode of thinking that it cannot see that it is on the threshold of dominating the next generation of human-computer interaction. Imagine using hand-gestures to replace the mouse and keyboard or to control your robotic vacuum cleaner. MS has the tech for this, they are just too narrow minded and suspicious of open source to see the future.

As an aside, this sentiment sort of goes together with this other Businessweek article about knowledge workers: Everyone in an organization has ideas for improving systems and products and should therefore be given the opportunity to contribute. For instance, if you ignore an idea because it came from a delivery guy, you may miss out on productivity improvements. Similarly, if MS ignores ideas just because those ideas originated in the hacker world, and not from within the walls of Microsoft, they may miss out on expanding the scope of their product and the next computer revolution that may follow.

I loved reading the third-last paragraph:

PrimeSense, the Israeli company that makes Kinect hardware, has rushed out a developer version of its product.

Go Israel!

Comments

  1. AbaJanuary 16, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    I've got a REALLY GREAT IDEA. It's a secret... if I tell, someone might use it...

    ReplyDelete

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