Working Up

Working Up in Project Management, Systems Engineering, Technology, and Writing

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AWS EC2: Hello World – Forward to the Past

December 12th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips I enter the world of cloud computing and learn that, once again, we go forward to the past. I finally did it. I entered the world of actual virtual cloud computing. Not just Facebooking or DropBoxing, but actual computing. Well, not much computing, but making a few bits move. Earlier this year […]

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Tags: Computing · Internet · Learning · Linux · Technology

The Least-Expensive Computer in the Store

December 9th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips What is the least-expensive in the store these days? Is it really a computer or merely a terminal? I was browsing a few stores recently (you know those places that actually exist, have an exterior and interior?). I looked at the computers and, being as cheap as I am, sought the least-expensive […]

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Tags: Computing · Technology

Big Government Programs (not)

October 28th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Don’t try big government programs. The government doesn’t have the expertise. There have been lots of problems with the new government health care site. What surprises me is that some people are surprised. How can you not build a web site that registers users and takes orders? Amazon and just about everyone […]

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Tags: Culture · Government · Technology

Predictors of the Next Technology

July 25th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips My experiences teach me that younger technologists are much better at predicting the future than older technologists. Go back to 2007. I am working in a group that looks at technology trends so we can be ready for the future when it comes. We were considering operating systems for smartphones. The senior […]

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Tags: Adapting · Change · Culture · Technology

New (Mis)Use for Facial Recognition – Real-Time Political Polls

July 22nd, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Facial recognition software can (probably) detect emotional reactions. We enter the age of the real-time political poll and its (largely unintended) consequences. A recent study delves into the use of facial recognition software in education. I like the idea. Have the computer detect confusion, frustration, etc. in students using computer-based training or […]

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Tags: Change · Technology

Wearble Computing has been Here

June 17th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Google Glass is causing a panic in some circles as wearable computing is considered by some to be a threat. We all missed the boat as wearable computing has been here for years in the form of hearing aids. Google Glass is going to be the end of civilization as we know […]

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Tags: Privacy · Security · Technology

The Age of the Televisor

May 23rd, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips We are now in the age of the device that allows us to see the pictures and hear the audio of the greater television system. Years ago, I read a book in which the author referred to his television as a televisor. I don’t recall the book or the author – rats! […]

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Tags: Technology

The War Against the Sensors

April 22nd, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Recent backlash against Google Glass is the first round in the war against the sensors. Is the first round, however, too late? The war has already been lost. Google Glass has not reached the public, but it has already been banned from here and there. The Glass wearer has a a video […]

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Tags: Fear · Greed · Privacy · Technology

Apple, Texas Instruments, and the Digital Watch

February 25th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips The rumors are that Apple is building a wristwatch. Will they learn from the experience of Texas Instruments? Apple is supposed to be building a wristwatch. Some call it the “iWatch.” Here is just one of hundreds of posts about it. This has happened before: a really smart, really successful tech company […]

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Tags: Culture · Design · Success · Technology

Civil Rights Champions: Engineers

February 18th, 2013 · No Comments

by Dwayne Phillips Hurray for the engineers. We are the new champions of civil rights. What happened to the lawyers? What happened to the justice system? There is a new champion of civil rights: the engineers. We understand the flow of information on the Internet and everywhere on earth. We see denial of basic human […]

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Tags: Culture · Technology