You are looking at posts that were written in the month of March in the year 2007.
Posted on March 16th, 2007 by Chris.
Categories: Chris, General/Misc., Philosophy.
We can, in broad terms, speak of two formulations of knowledge: objective and subjective. Objective truth identifies the existence of reality without human perception; subjective truth claims, vaguely speaking, that no such thing exists outside of human and social construction (constructivism).
Posted on March 3rd, 2007 by Tim.
Categories: General/Misc..
Latest slashcrap post: An Economic Explanation For Why DRM Cannot Open Up New Business Model Opportunities
This article is just full of good economics, but a bad conclusion. Basically, the article can be summed up like this:
Assertion number 1 is pretty accurate. If you aren’t utilizing scare resources more efficiently, then there is no reason for the new business model to exist. The problem I have is with assertion number 2. This is best demonstrated with an analogy. Suppose I invent a new type of puzzle called Uberdoku that takes 100 hours to create, but is immensely enjoyable to consume. Since it doesn’t cost me any additional to sell each copy of an Uberdoku puzzle, I want to sell as many as possible to maximize my profit. However, if I publish them online in a way that is easily copyable, there is a large incentive to copy and distribute these puzzles for free. As a result, there is no incentive for me to do the work to create the puzzles. However, if I can restrict copying, with some sort of DRM, then I can now make money off my Uberdoku puzzles, and so I have an incentive to produce puzzles. Since I am gaining utility by producing puzzles, and people are gaining utility by purchasing puzzles, there is a net gain in value added to the economy.
This of course relies on the fact that DRM actually works. Additionally, this is not to say that this is the best business model, simply that it is viable. For the record, I don’t like DRM or the MAFIAA any more than the next guy.
Posted on March 1st, 2007 by Tim.
Categories: General/Misc..
Wow #1: Building an Interactive 3D Video Player