mardi, décembre 16, 2008

lundi, décembre 15, 2008

Begot by butcher...

Begot by butcher, but by bishop bred
How high his highness held his haughty head

lundi, décembre 08, 2008

Agile in 1 sentence

Here is a question on LinkedIn where people define Agile in one sentence:

What's the Elevator Pitch for Agile?

Let's say you got into an elevator with a senior executive and you had 30 seconds to sell Agile to them, what would you say?

Carolyn Sanders writes:"Agile delivery is about two things: you usually don't know what you want until you see something, so deliver something real as early as you can; and if you're going to fail, fail fast.

Agile in general is about being fundamentally honest with each other, about money, about technical delivery and quality, about requirements andtime - that's why it's so scary for some people."

Mark Hawkins writes:"Methodology that empowers a project team to collaboratively take ownership of their deliverables to ensure successful completion of the project."

mercredi, novembre 26, 2008

Change awareness is the source of innovation

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" Harry M. Warner, Warner Bros Pictures, 1927

"The discipline of innovation", by Peter Drucker, lists several types of innovation divided in 2 groups: sources from inside companies or industry and external sources, such as incongruities, demographic changes or new knowledge. An example of a technological change triggering innovation was the arrival of mature sound film technology in years 1920s.

If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they'd have asked for a faster horse. Henry Ford

Innovation comes from or is influenced by culture, resources, infrastructure or process.

Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. William Pollard

Basically, change and awareness to change occurence in various areas (market, technical, culture) is the source of innovation. Changes in those areas that you are not aware of, are useless.

The things we fear most in organizations: fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances are the primary sources of creativity. Margaret J. Wheatley

The Chinese word weiji (危機 translated as "crisis") is often said to be composed of the characters for "danger" and "opportunity".

The goal is to take advantage before others of these opportunities and to build innovation above.

I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the way we all communicate. Dean Kamen

My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business. Frederick W. Smith

Some innovations trigger an endless chain of subsequent innovations. That is what is usually called "humanity's progress".

lundi, novembre 24, 2008

Dinosaurs demise on LinkedIn: fullfillment of the prophecy

With the new Linkedin search page you get the final step of what I prophetized 2 years ago following the exact steps:
  • 1st step: cutting visibility from 4 to 3 levels (summer 2005).
  • 2nd step: limit mega-networkers activity (winter 2006).
  • 3rd step : enforce the no email policy (summer 2008).
  • 4th step: take off the “sort by number” search option (december 2008).

Read it at:
http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/search/label/dinosaurs%20demise or
http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/2006/06/dinosaurs-demise-on-linkedin-dont-read.html

Marc Freedman is not going to earn any money any more :(

samedi, novembre 22, 2008

Complainte de Mandrin

Nous étions vingt ou trente
Brigands dans une bande,
Tous habillés de blanc
A la mode des, vous m'entendez?
Tous habillés de blanc
A la mode des marchands.

La première volerie
Que je fis dans ma vie,
C'est d'avoir goupillé
La bourse d'un, vous m'entendez?
C'est d'avoir goupillé
La bourse d'un curé.

J'entrai dedans sa chambre,
Mon Dieu, qu'elle était grande,
J'y trouvai mille écus,
Je mis la main, vous m'entendez?
J'y trouvai mille écus,
Je mis la main dessus.

J'entrai dedans une autre
Mon Dieu, qu'elle était haute,
De robes et de manteaux
J'en chargeai trois, vous m'entendez?
De robes et de manteaux
J'en chargeai trois chariots.

Je les portai pour vendre
A la foire en Hollande
J'les vendis bon marché
Ils n'm'avaient rien, vous m'entendez?
J'les vendis bon marché
Ils m'avaient rien coûté.

Ces messieurs de Grenoble
Avec leurs longues robes
Et leurs bonnets carrés
M'eurent bientôt, vous m'entendez?
Et leurs bonnets carrés
M'eurent bientôt jugé.

Ils m'ont jugé à pendre,
Que c'est dur à entendre
A pendre et étrangler
Sur la place du, vous m'entendez?
A pendre et étrangler
Sur la place du marché.

Monté sur la potence
Je regardai la France
Je vis mes compagnons
A l'ombre d'un, vous m'entendez?
Je vis mes compagnons
A l'ombre d'un buisson.

Compagnons de misère
Allez dire à ma mère
Qu'elle ne m'reverra plus
J' suis un enfant, vous m'entendez?
Qu'elle ne m'reverra plus
J'suis un enfant perdu.

lundi, novembre 17, 2008

What are generally the top priorities you would address during first months in a new job?

This is a question asked on LinkedIn: In a new job, what are generally the top 5 priorities you would really address during the first month and then the two following months ?

One of the answer was:


First month:

- Know who is who in what places. DON'T judge
- Know the systems you have to work with
- Know your job and who is your client, internal or external
- ORGANIZE yourself
- LISTEN to people, NO MATTER WHAT

2 next months:

- Get involved in projects that will help you know you job
- Know the daily routine of your direct report
- Get in better touch with the clients
- Know what the problems are and what you are really facing
- AND NEVER TURN YOUR BACK ON A PROBLEM. It won't go away

May you be successful.

jeudi, novembre 13, 2008

mercredi, novembre 12, 2008

Java Extracting only first Integer value from String

Here is the new java function that extracts the 1st Integer value from String:
String s = new String("Eric Mariacher 1965 AoxomoxoA 1967 Cowabunga 2009 ");
Matcher matcher = Pattern.compile("\\d+").matcher(s);
matcher.find();
int i = Integer.valueOf(matcher.group());

Here is the old java function that extracts the 1st Integer value from String:
   3:    public static int findNextValidInteger(String s) throws Exception {
4:
5: // detect 1st digit after start of string
6: int beginIndex=0;
7: int endIndex=1;
8: int length=s.length();
9: while(!s.substring(beginIndex,endIndex).matches("\\d")) {
10: beginIndex++;
11: endIndex++;
12: if(endIndex>length) {
13: throw new Exception("No digit found.");
14: }
15: }
16: int i_startNumber= beginIndex;
17:
18: // detect 1st non digit after start previously detected 1st digit
19: beginIndex=i_startNumber;
20: endIndex=i_startNumber+1;
21: while(s.substring(beginIndex,endIndex).matches("\\d")) {
22: beginIndex++;
23: endIndex++;
24: if(endIndex>length) {
25: break;
26: }
27: }
28: int i_endNumber= beginIndex;
29:
30: // return absolute value of integer
31: return Integer.valueOf(s.substring(i_startNumber, i_endNumber));
32: }
33:
Can also be done the following way, but may take lot of resources if String
is very long and you only need the 1st Integer.
35:
36: StringTokenizer str = new StringTokenizer("A 1965 Eric");
37:
38: while(str.hasMoreElements()) {
39: System.out.println(str.nextElement());
40: int i = Integer.parseInt(str.nextElement());
41: }
42:

lundi, octobre 20, 2008

Innovation Quotes: Brainstorming

"The problem is never to get innovative ideas in your mind , but how to get the old ones out."

"We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we're in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There's no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either." Steve Ballmer

"My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business." Frederick W. Smith

"The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic, and it seems a tool for creation which God forgot inside one of His creatures when He made him." Jose Ortega y Gasset

"But an innovation, to grow organically from within, has to be based on an intact tradition, so our idea is to bring together musicians who represent all these traditions, in workshops, festivals, and concerts, to see how we can connect with each other in music." Yo-Yo Ma

"The mind ought to sometimes be diverted that it may return the better to thinking." Phaedrus

"Don't try to come up with the proper answers ; target coming up with good questions." Stanford professor Bill Lazier

"Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction." – Pablo Picasso

Innovation Quotes: Setting an innovation friendly environment

"Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer." W. Edwards Deming

"We need a positive economic agenda that invests in the innovation and growth that will create jobs for middle class families and ensure that America remains the world leader." Rick Larsen

"This is the nature of genius, to be able to grasp the knowable even when noone else recognizes that it is present." Deepak Chopra

"The innovation point is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seek the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams." W. Arthur Porter

"The greatest obstacle to innovation in organizations is the unwillingness to let go of yesterday's successes, and to free up resources that no longer contribute to results." P.Duckler

"The achievement of excellence can only occur if the organization promotes a culture of creative dissatisfaction." Lawrence Miller

"Human societies vary in lots of independent factors affecting their openness to innovation." Jared Diamond

"Innovation is this amazing intersection between someone's imagination and the reality in which they live. The problem is, many companies don't have great imagination, but their view of reality tells them that it's impossible to do what they imagine." Ron Johnson

"Mindless habitual behavior is the enemy of innovation." Rosabeth Moss Kanter

"Ideas, like young wine, should be put in storage and taken up again only after they have been allowed to ferment and to ripen." Richard Strauss

"It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute." William Pollard

“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat”

"The only thing that makes people and organizations great is their willingness to be not great along the way. The desire to fail on the way to reaching a bigger goal is the untold secret of success" Seth Godin

“Orville Wright did not have a pilot’s license.” Gordon MacKenzie

Innovation Quotes: Where does innovation come from?

"The problem is never to get innovative ideas in your mind , but how to get the old ones out."

"The things we fear most in organizations: fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances are the primary sources of creativity." Margaret J. Wheatley

"This is the nature of genius, to be able to grasp the knowable even when noone else recognizes that it is present." Deepak Chopra

"The innovation point is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seek the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams." W. Arthur Porter

"We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we're in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There's no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either." Steve Ballmer

"I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the way we all communicate." Dean Kamen

"Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable." William Pollard

"My innovation involved taking an idea from the telecommunications and banking industries, and applying that idea to transportation business." Frederick W. Smith

"The Chinese word weiji translated as 'crisis' is often said to be composed of the characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'."

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Charles R. Swindoll

Innovation Quotes: Why should we innovate?

"Change before you have to." Jack Welch

"The winner is the chef who takes the same ingredients as everyone else and produces the best results." Edward de Bono

"You can only win the ‘war’ with ideas, not with spending cuts." Klaus Kleinfeld, President and CEO, Siemens AG

"Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity." Michael Porter

"Innovation comes from the producer - not from the customer." W. Edwards Deming

"We are a party of innovation. We do not reject our traditions, but we are willing to adapt to changing circumstances, when change we must. We are willing to suffer the discomfort of change in order to achieve a better future." Barbara Jordans

"We need a positive economic agenda that invests in the innovation and growth that will create jobs for middle class families and ensure that America remains the world leader." Rick Larsen

"Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow." William Pollard

"If all you're trying to do is essentially the same thing as your rivals, then it's unlikely that you'll be very successful." Michael Porter

"innovation is the technological pre-condition for growth." Eric Schmidt (Google CEO)

Innovation Quotes: What is Innovation?

"Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Thomas Edison

"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things." Theodore Levitt

"Innovation is the process of turning ideas into manufacturable and marketable form." Watts Humprey

"To turn really interesting ideas and fledgling technologies into a company that can continue to innovate for years, it requires a lot of disciplines." Steve Jobs

"Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure." Albert Einstein

"Business has only two functions - marketing and innovation." Milan Kundera

"Innovation is the whim of an elite before it becomes a need of the public." Ludwig von Mises

“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat”

“If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.” Woody Allen

"True innovation is based on the recognition that a business concept represents a dozen or so design variables, all of which need to be constantly revisited and constantly challenged" Gary Hamel

"Think of invention as the laying of an egg, innovation as the laying, incubating and hatching." Gordon Graham

"Innovation is the process or result of combining previously separate ideas or technologies in useful and valuable ways" Karl Long

mardi, septembre 23, 2008

other resume/CV formats

Do you want to experiment non-text resumes/CVs?

Video CV, Flyers CV...

Click here: in french but everyone can understand

Video CV By Jim Newton: http://www.customvideoresume.com

dimanche, septembre 07, 2008

Linkedin history 2006 - 2008

For a year, number of Linkedin users is going exponential vs time. When I look at number of connections vs network ratio (for myself), it can be seen that people are more and more connected with each other.

I am not inviting any more people as I reached the number of people I am allowed to invite. The growth seen in the green curve (numbers of 1st level connections) is purely passive.

I have received 12 invitations per day for the last year. I am not advertizing my email anymore in my profile as it is now "strictly" forbidden, I mainly receive invitaions from LIONS and toplinked users. By the way, I did not see any diminution in the number of received invitations when removing my email from my profile.

mardi, septembre 02, 2008

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard

I am proud that my team delivered firmware for the new Logitech illuminated keyboard.


I especially appreciate working with this keyboard because it is illuminated. This is useful when you surf on the web or watch a video in the evening and you do not want to be disturbed by anything else than the computer screen.
Something positive is also the fact that you choose the illumination level, as opposed to some automatic ambiant light system which choose the level for you.

This development was a challenge for our swiss team, as we are more specialized in developing wireless keyboards. We had to use a new chip that we had little experience with. The biggest obstacles we encountered was not because of the chip itself, but because of the compiler badly translating the C language to assembly code: "what you write, is not what you get". And this triggered some bugs that we had great difficulties to track and correct.

jeudi, août 14, 2008

LotusNotes vs Sharepoint

One of my job related questions is: "How long am I going to (suffer from?) using LotusNotes everyday?". Here are some various feedbacks that I got when asking:

"SharePoint is fast becoming the next IBM Lotus Notes — and not in a good way. For years people implemented Lotus Notes databases like crazy, seeing them as the best way to store and share information. Now you hear more about moving all the content and data into SharePoint. But what’s the point if you are just going from one messy datastore into another?"

Move Over Lotus Notes, SharePoint is Filling Yer Shoes
Has anyone migrated from Sharepoint to LotusNotes?
What is the future of Lotus Notes?

My (temporary) conclusion is if you're using LotusNotes and a reasonable part of your co-worker is not overly dissatisfied working with it: keep using it.

mercredi, août 06, 2008

Have you ever had key repeats when using a keyboard?

If you ever had key repeats when using a keyboard, and if every other PC device works correctly, it's not always the fault of the keyboard...

Actually each PC devices has it's own very specific constraints.

For instance a mouse has to be very reactive and its USB interface has to sustain several hundreds of reports per seconds. But if one is missed, it is often not noticed otherwise (except when it is a mouse click missed).

A keyboard has "opposite" USB constraints. A fast typist usually does not type faster than 20 characters per seconds which translates to 40 reports per second (each key means a report that says key is pressed and another one saying key is released). But we don't want to lose any key.

Some USB hubs sustain some constraints better than others. some USB software drivers for other devices (video cards, etc...) sometimes put huge constraints on USB hubs and have side effects on other devices.

Usually, the best thing to do is to swap the USB port on which the keyboard is plugged, or if the keyboard is plugged on a USB hub, plug directly the keyboard on the root hub of the PC.

lundi, juillet 28, 2008

An enhanced TreeMap Applet


TreeMap is a way to present information that is very efficient sometimes...
This TreeMap Applet has been enhanced with custom colors and comments using 2 additional xml fields to the standard xml description:
  • details for comments when clicking on squares.
  • hue / color for discriminating between main groups of squares.
The java applet code is based on http://www.objectlab.co.uk/open original JTReeMap code.

mercredi, juin 18, 2008

Les réseaux sociaux tissent des liens en amont du processus de recrutement

Les entreprises peuvent maintenant se mettre en contact avec des personnes au profil intéressant, avant même de viser un poste à pourvoir. Ce, sans que la recrue potentielle soit en recherche active d'emploi.

en lire plus...

samedi, juin 14, 2008

Excel visual basic macro generates table of contents

Excel visual basic macro generates table of contents that has one entry per worksheet.

download excel file


   1:rem Eric Mariacher
2:rem generate some charts and build a table of contents as 1st worksheet
3:Sub charts and TOC()
4: Dim ws As Worksheet
5: Dim cpt, cptpoint As Long
6: Dim color_index As Long
7: For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
8: ActiveWorkbook.Activate
9: ws.Select
10: ws.Activate
11: Worksheets.Add
12: With ActiveSheet
13: .Name = "G" + ws.Name
14: Rem ch = .Controls.AddChart("B2:F7", "tagada")
15: End With
16: Charts.Add
17: ActiveChart.ChartType = xlColumnStacked
18: ActiveChart.SetSourceData Source:=Range(ws.Name), PlotBy:=xlColumns
19: With ActiveChart
20: .HasTitle = True
21: .ChartTitle.Characters.Text = ws.Name
22:
23: cpt = 1
24: For cpt = 1 To .SeriesCollection.Count
25: Select Case cpt
26: Case 1
27: color_index = 1
28: Case 2
29: color_index = 9
30: End Select
31: .SeriesCollection(cpt).Interior.ColorIndex = color_index
32: Next cpt
33: End With
34: ActiveChart.Location Where:=xlLocationAsObject, Name:="G" + ws.Name
35: With Worksheets("G" + ws.Name)
36: .ChartObjects(1).Width = 900
37: .ChartObjects(1).Height = 600
38: .ChartObjects(1).Left = .Columns("A").Left
39: .ChartObjects(1).Top = .Rows("2").Top
40: End With
41: Next ws
42:
43: Dim wsTOC As Worksheet
44: Dim Chart As Chart
45: Dim r As Long
46: Application.ScreenUpdating = False
47: Set wsTOC = ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets.Add _
48: (Before:=ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(1))
49: wsTOC.Name = "Table_of_Contents"
50: wsTOC.Range("A1") = "Table of Contents"
51: wsTOC.Range("A1").Font.Size = 18
52: wsTOC.Columns("A:A").ColumnWidth = 40
53: r = 3
54: For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
55: If ws.Name <> wsTOC.Name And ws.Name Like "G*" Then
56: wsTOC.Hyperlinks.Add _
57: anchor:=wsTOC.Cells(r, 1), _
58: Address:="", _
59: SubAddress:=ws.Name & "!A1", _
60: TextToDisplay:=ws.Name
61: r = r + 1
62: ws.Hyperlinks.Add _
63: anchor:=ws.Cells(1, 1), _
64: Address:="", _
65: SubAddress:="Table_of_Contents!A1", _
66: TextToDisplay:="Table of Contents"
67: End If
68: Next
69: Application.ScreenUpdating = True
70:End Sub

lundi, juin 09, 2008

Logitech Cordless Desktop® EX 100: a product I am proud of

Here is (yet another) Logitech product I am proud of:

I am proud of this keyboard because first of all I like to use it for my daily work. Though I have the opportunity to use all keyboards we are developing at Logitech Switzerland, I like the simplicity, comfort and ease of use of it, especially for it's low-cost price point. I can only recommend it to you.

I am also proud of this keyboard because it has been developed by a junior engineer coming out of school. The embedded software developed for this keyboard is 90% legacy code, and seasoned engineers do not enjoy working on legacy code as much as when they are doing completely new development. This is why I assigned this job to a beginner. She successfully stayed focused on the development of this keyboard and all issues occuring, especially when communicating with development teams in China.

dimanche, mai 18, 2008

Reactos

I just tried to install reactos Alpha 0.3.4 ( a 99% windows like free OS) on an old dead PC and it works!

I tried after this 1st successful 1st step to install an old win95 game "Age of wonder" but it failed :-(

mercredi, mai 07, 2008

interview d'une ingénieure en software embarquée chez Logitech

TEMOIGNAGE

Qui a dit que femme et informatique ne faisaient pas bon ménage? Ana Milosevic, jeune ingénieure d’intégration software de 26 ans pour logitech, nous explique en quoi son métier est passionnant.

Parole d'informaticienne: "C’est un métier excitant et plein de défis"

samedi, mai 03, 2008

LES GALETS

Il ne suffisait plus de savoir compter les
galets; il fallait connaître leur place exacte
Où est la place exacte d'un galet?
Au creux de la main comme une bête.

Jean Orizet

samedi, avril 12, 2008

Aube

A l'aube je suis descendu au fond des machines

J'ai écouté pour une dernière fois la respiration profonde des pistons

Appuyé à la fragile main-courante de nickel j'ai senti pour la dernière fois cette sourde vibration des arbres de couche pénétrer en moi avec le relent des huiles surchauffées et la tiédeur de la vapeur

Nous avons encore bu un verre le chef mécanicien cet homme tranquille et triste qui a un si beau sourire d'enfant et qui ne cause jamais et moi

Comme je sortais de chez lui le soleil sortait tout naturellement de la mer et chauffait déjà dur

Le ciel mauve n'avait pas un nuage

Et comme nous pointions sur Santos notre sillage décrivait un grand arc-de-cercle miroitant sur la mer immobile

Blaise Cendrars - Feuilles de route

vendredi, mars 28, 2008

Universal lua tostring

Universal tostring (also available here)


function table_print (tt, indent, done)
done = done or {}
indent = indent or 0
if type(tt) == "table" then

local sb = {}
for key, value in pairs (tt) do
table.insert(sb, string.rep (" ", indent)) -- indent it

if type (value) == "table" and not done [value] then
done [value] = true

table.insert(sb, "{\n");
table.insert(sb, table_print (value, indent + 2, done))
table.insert(sb, string.rep (" ", indent)) -- indent it
table.insert(sb, "}\n");
elseif "number" == type(key) then

table.insert(sb, string.format("\"%s\"\n", tostring(value)))
else
table.insert(sb, string.format("%s = \"%s\"\n", tostring (key), tostring(value)))
end

end
return table.concat(sb)
else
return tt .. "\n"
end

end

function to_string( tbl )
if "nil" == type( tbl ) then
return tostring(nil)
elseif "string" == type( tbl ) then
return tbl
elseif "table" == type( tbl ) then
return table_print(tbl)
else
tostring(tbl)
end
end

Example


print(to_string({"Lua",user="Mariacher",{{co=coroutine.create(function() end),{number=12345.6789}},
func=function() end}, boolt=true}))


This prints

"Lua"
{
{
{
number = "12345.6789"
}
co = "thread: 0212B848"
}
func = "function: 01FC7C70"
}
boolt = "true"

user = "Mariacher"

mardi, mars 18, 2008

"Automatically" test your resume

Catherine Palmiere writes in one of her mail I received: "It is vital to know that automation plays a new role in the hiring process. Companies now use special scanner and software packages and feed through resumes they receive in order to search for keywords and phrases. Spend those extra few minutes to customize your resume and use as much specific verbiage as possible from the ad itself. If they mention international travel, then you mention international travel too, etc."

Here is the opportunity to test your resume: http://jobetic.lingway.info/

The result is in french but it did a pretty good job analyzing mine which is 100% english written.

It understood RTF format much better than pure word/doc format.

dimanche, mars 16, 2008

When LinkedIn search engine is not working, use Spock

When LinkedIn search engine is not working, just use spock . Spock has access to Linkedin profiles and also to other web sites related to this person.

Innovation video and presentations

Video:

Every successful innovation will be taken for granted.

The innovation Radar:


Innovation Strategy
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: business strategy)

lundi, février 18, 2008

SALTIMBANQUES

A Louis Dumur.

Dans la plaine les baladins
S'éloignent au long des jardins
Devant l'huis des auberges grises
Par les villages sans églises

Et les enfants s'en vont devant
Les autres suivent en rêvant
Chaque arbre fruitier se résigne
Quand de très loin ils lui font signe

Ils ont des poids ronds ou carrés
Des tambours des cerceaux dorés
L'ours et le singe animaux sages
Quêtent des sous sur leur passage.

APOLLINAIRE

vendredi, février 08, 2008

Plaxo is dead

Here is a Plaxo message I just discovered this morning when logging in:
"You've reached the maximum number of allowed connections (1000). If you want to add more you'll need to remove some of your exsting ones or wait until we increase this limit. Sorry!"

Plaxo is now useless for me as I have more than 20000 1st level contacts on LinkedIn, Viadeo and Xing.

Read also a post written by Dawn Mular : Plaxo Processing Alternatives

vendredi, janvier 25, 2008

Is Plaxo dead?

Plaxo just sends me back some blank page when I log in.

Does anyone have the same problem?

mardi, janvier 15, 2008

Technical innovations until 2030












Here are some technical innovations projected by some "Young Global Leaders".

A bad new for the keyboards I build: "full voice interaction with PC"

Some questions:
  • What the hell means "Virtual Holydays"? Does that nean "No Holidays"?
  • What is a "Dream Machine"? A machine connected to your brain that "downloads" dreams into your head? Or a machine so beautiful or efficient that you can't do anything but wondering how marvelous the world has become?
  • "Computers that write most of their software": Thi is not a progress. That already exists today, and it does not work that well.
Here is the one I am waiting for: "Fully auto-piloted cars"

mercredi, janvier 09, 2008

Logitech diNovo Mini: A product I am proud of...


The Logitech diNovo Mini's elegant design won't besmirch your living room; it gives the Home Theater PC owner full cursor control.


read CNET's review

I am the embedded software manager responsible for this marvelous product. Challenges we encountered:
  • new usage model meaning that we had to mange lot of interactions with marketing and usability engineer.
  • new key matrix concept because it's not the 101 keys keyboard.
  • illumination scheme
  • touchpad integration