Kinect Driver Controversy

The launch of Microsoft's new video game accessory, Kinect, brought on an interesting challenge for hackers all around the world. The Kinect is Microsoft's newest video game accessory for the XBox. It is a total controller-free gaming and entertainment experience. It allows users to control and interact with the XBox without using controllers. Basically, it's a camera that records video and depth so whatever the viewer's does is interpreted on the screen.

With its launch, a company called Adafruit Industries offered a bounty of $2,000 to anyone who would successfully hack the software and create an open source driver of their own. A Spanish student claimed the prize by unlocking the code and successfully creating an open source driver.

As we might guess, Microsoft wasn't too pleased about the whole idea of people messing with their code to come up with different drivers. They said that they don't condone reverse engineering. They've also made it clear that they will take legal actions to prevent unauthorized third parties from using the Kinect camera for different purposes than what it was intended for.

It seems like it's always the same thing. Instead of Microsoft being happy that their new product is causing all this attention, what they're worried about is keeping their technology for themselves. They don't seem to realize that by having people work on open source drivers that some other more productive purpose could come for the Kinect camera. Maybe it could be used for radars or robotic purposes. I just think that having people work hard to come up with ideas to better a product is always a good idea. But like always, The Man tries to keep everything for themselves.

Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is basically the first Amendment as it relates to the internet. It advocates that there should be no restrictions by Internet service providers, or any other big wigs, on content that is available to anyone on the internet.

Just like the First Amendment, Network Neutrality is very important because it gives us the right to have access to what ever we may want to see on the Internet. I don't think anyone should restrict how much or what type of data we should have access to.

The debate on whether Network Neutrality is good or bad for the people has reached Washington. The House of Representatives will soon vote on a bill that could change the Internet as we know it. The bill in question would give the big phone and cable companies the power to pick and choose what the consumer would have access to and be able to see on the Internet.

The Internet is an information highway where everyone has access to whatever they want. That is what is so great about it. You need to do research for a school assignment? Well just log on and you'll find what you're looking for. You're looking for those cool shoes that you saw on TV? Well just log and search until you find them. It would be unfortunate if this would change.

It doesn't surprise me that all of a sudden "The Man" wants to step in and change what has been working so great for everyone. But we must not let this bill or any other similar one pass. We are living in the Information Age and the Internet is a main part of that. I'm sure if this bill were to pass we would find a way to work around it but why must "The Man" always step in and try to make things difficult for the average man?

Linux as a Career

It seems like now a days everyone must know at least some sort of computer code. And from doing research I found out that Linux is one of the fastest growing as far as being in demand.

I see two main avenues for using Linux as a career. The first is as a system administrator. Along with knowing how the Internet works and scripting knowledge, you also need to pass the RHCE exam. Salaries range from 45-70K a year for an entry level position.

The other option is as a programmer. I found out that companies employ people to work on Linux so that it is better incorporated into that company. This position pays an average of 30-55K a year for entry level.