...and all the thngs you described were Hardware!...Iam talking about sofwtare
Pretty much anything we do now a days has software component. Anyway I was just expanding from "software geeks" to engineers in general. If you are that way inclined there are ethical issues with many things engineers build.
For example: Back in the 1980's I worked on software controlling machines that made cigarettes. Those machines are quite impressive turning out ten thousand cigarettes every minute! After a year or so the thought that I was contributing to the huge profits of cigarette companies while making an essentially useless product that made people sick really got to me. I just had to move on from there.
I don't condone many of the things Google do. And I agree that all this snooping and data hoarding is getting out of hand. I only suggest that ethically they are not any worse than any other company.
Pretty much anything we do now a days has software component. Anyway I was just expanding from "software geeks" to engineers in general. If you are that way inclined there are ethical issues with many things engineers build.
For example: Back in the 1980's I worked on software controlling machines that made cigarettes. Those machines are quite impressive turning out ten thousand cigarettes every minute! After a year or so the thought that I was contributing to the huge profits of cigarette companies while making an essentially useless product that made people sick really got to me. I just had to move on from there.
I don't condone many of the things Google do. And I agree that all this snooping and data hoarding is getting out of hand. I only suggest that ethically they are not any worse than any other company.
Correct...they are no better or worse.
They are just high profile so they get the scorn for the day.
And I agree...the data mining that ALL companies do needs to be curbed.
It seems -- to me, anyway -- that Google would offer some kind of enterprise-wide GIS/Support/Drone services to military agencies, security contractors, extraction teams (think kidnapped executives), armed hostage negotiators, bomb disposal squads, land-mine removal teams, etc.
Right now Google is working on 1 pixel = 1 inch mapping resolution (imagery and data). They are also already sending 'bots and drones to do GIS surveys on hiking trails, down streams/rivers, etc.
It would seem a natural leap to combine their data storage and front-end admin capabilities with GIS data to send physical support directly to the user in real-time. So Human Agent X needs water and ammunition and fresh batteries, send 3 Big Dogs right to the agent's location. Even if 2 of the Big Dogs don't make it, it could be better than sending 3 humans. Or maybe Agent X is injured and needs to be on a sledge out of the backcountry, again, send in a few 'bots. Given that resolution of the Google's GIS dataset, the 'bots would have a real-time view of landforms, human-made features, etc.
I suppose Google might spin off some of this into purely consumer activities, but I don't see them competing with Amazon on fulfillment? Would there even be a reason for them to do so?
It seems -- to me, anyway -- that Google would offer some kind of enterprise-wide GIS/Support/Drone services to military agencies, security contractors, extraction teams (think kidnapped executives), armed hostage negotiators, bomb disposal squads, land-mine removal teams, etc.
Right now Google is working on 1 pixel = 1 inch mapping resolution (imagery and data). They are also already sending 'bots and drones to do GIS surveys on hiking trails, down streams/rivers, etc.
It would seem a natural leap to combine their data storage and front-end admin capabilities with GIS data to send physical support directly to the user in real-time. So Human Agent X needs water and ammunition and fresh batteries, send 3 Big Dogs right to the agent's location. Even if 2 of the Big Dogs don't make it, it could be better than sending 3 humans. Or maybe Agent X is injured and needs to be on a sledge out of the backcountry, again, send in a few 'bots. Given that resolution of the Google's GIS dataset, the 'bots would have a real-time view of landforms, human-made features, etc.
I suppose Google might spin off some of this into purely consumer activities, but I don't see them competing with Amazon on fulfillment? Would there even be a reason for them to do so?
$$$ MONEY $$$
As for GIS data...another form of data mining.
The legal raminfications of its usage is still up in the air as individuals, companies and governments use it to spy on citizens.
Comments
For example: Back in the 1980's I worked on software controlling machines that made cigarettes. Those machines are quite impressive turning out ten thousand cigarettes every minute! After a year or so the thought that I was contributing to the huge profits of cigarette companies while making an essentially useless product that made people sick really got to me. I just had to move on from there.
I don't condone many of the things Google do. And I agree that all this snooping and data hoarding is getting out of hand. I only suggest that ethically they are not any worse than any other company.
Correct...they are no better or worse.
They are just high profile so they get the scorn for the day.
And I agree...the data mining that ALL companies do needs to be curbed.
Right now Google is working on 1 pixel = 1 inch mapping resolution (imagery and data). They are also already sending 'bots and drones to do GIS surveys on hiking trails, down streams/rivers, etc.
It would seem a natural leap to combine their data storage and front-end admin capabilities with GIS data to send physical support directly to the user in real-time. So Human Agent X needs water and ammunition and fresh batteries, send 3 Big Dogs right to the agent's location. Even if 2 of the Big Dogs don't make it, it could be better than sending 3 humans. Or maybe Agent X is injured and needs to be on a sledge out of the backcountry, again, send in a few 'bots. Given that resolution of the Google's GIS dataset, the 'bots would have a real-time view of landforms, human-made features, etc.
I suppose Google might spin off some of this into purely consumer activities, but I don't see them competing with Amazon on fulfillment? Would there even be a reason for them to do so?
$$$ MONEY $$$
As for GIS data...another form of data mining.
The legal raminfications of its usage is still up in the air as individuals, companies and governments use it to spy on citizens.
Do you have a right of privacy to your airspace?
The advent of drones will likely test this issue.