New Edisons? Was: [OT] Simple math considered physics

[Ben Scott]

[this is a reply to multiple messages from the same author]

On Nov 24, 2007 8:56 PM, Jim Kuzdrall <gnhlug at intrel.com> wrote:
> Try this on for an idea:  Linus' lasting contribution may be
> the concept of collaborative, open technical development using the Web
> or some other egalitarian communication medium.

  I think Linus' key differentiators were (A1) an acceptance of "worse
is better"[1], and (A2) his willingness to involve others.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worse_is_better

  A2: It was Richard Stallman who codified and popularized the concept
of "Free Software".  However, the core of the GNU Project, while Free
Software, was (and perhaps still is) a somewhat "cathedral-ish" effort
[2].  Linux development, by accident or design, embraced and
encouraged outside contributors.

[2] Usage as in http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/

  A1: GNU also appears to favor slow progress, more careful design,
and a desire to get everything right the first time around.  Linux
embraces the idea that it's more important to get something working,
and favors successive refinement.  "Worse is better".

On Nov 24, 2007 8:33 PM, Jim Kuzdrall <gnhlug at intrel.com> wrote:
>> Some of the best inventions are things that are fairly simple but no
>> one ever considered them before.
>
> They are definitely impressive when they occur.  But most advances
> require more sophistication now days.

  Let us also not forget that progress, even in Edison's day, does not
occur in a vacuum.  Edison was not the first to work on electrical
generation, or incandescent lighting, or transcription of sound.  He
refined prior research and ideas into working concepts that scaled to
commercial production.

  I do not mean to diminish his work by pointing this out.  I come up
with ideas all day long, but they never leave the realm of
imagination.  It takes real work, and a particular kind of genius, to
translate ideas into success.  Nobody remembers the people who got to
America before Chris Columbus.

  Edison's work in electrical generation and distribution, in
particular, is a fascinating study.  His original designs used DC, and
could not scale to wide-area distribution.  George Westinghouse, his
chief competitor, was the one promoting AC and tiered voltage
distribution.  As part of Edison's effort to counter the competition,
he funded the creation of the electric chair, and advocated the term
""Westinghoused" over "electrocuted".

  I wonder if Edison might well have more in common today with Bill
Gates than Linus Torvalds: Edison was not just a smart guy and hard
worker, he also had the business savvy to turn his work into big
commercial success.

-- Ben