Think outside the box. Or is it inside your letterbox?
On Thursday I went to a Web Standards Group meeting held by Jonathan Oxer entitled ‘Making Things Move: Finding Inappropriate Uses For Scripting Languages’.
It was a strange experience, one that I am sure I will never forget.
Jonathan Oxer is the head of Linux Australia and when he pulled out his solder iron to hook up his computer parallel port to control the fan in the back of the room, I know I would be in for an interesting night.
He went on to demonstrate how scripting languages such as PHP can be used to control and collect data from any household item such as a letterbox, light or sprinkler system. Who wants to check the mail like a sucker, when you can get your computer to inform you that ‘You got mail’?
He has also surgically implanted with an RFID chip into his arm, what? He uses this to experiment with technical issues such as authentication as well as philosophical issues such as privacy and identity.
Wow, what an interesting presentation!
Made me think. Maybe I should get my computer to make me a cup of tea and some toast in the morning. Or should I just get a butler or some helper monkeys?
