Everything has to Come to an End...

Quote Response for In the Beginning . . . Was the Command Line, pp. 115-139

New Idea:

“It actually generates complexity, which is Smolin's criterion for interestingness.” (pp. 135-136)

This idea helped me realize that . . .
There is probably a more high-tech operating system that no one has created yet, and will in fact wipe out Microsoft. Or, there is already a better operating system but someone is holding the OS until the right time. Stephenson explains about how Lee Smolin explains in his book about how he believes the universe came about. He pretty much believes in the Big Bang Theory, that if this theory wasn’t created this exact way, then life would totally be different. Smolin also believes that since there are galaxy’s super far away, and things that we have no idea about, then there has to be a more complex OS out there that has yet to be discovered. There is something that is so crazy, and will blow our mind that is stirring in the future. He makes the analogy about the whole, God is just hesitating to press that enter key so this OS would begin. It’s a crazy thought that one day there is going to be something bigger and better than Apple and Microsoft. Hackers I’m sure are just on the edge of their seats waiting for that day to come.

Interpretation:

“The people who brought us this operating system would have to provide templates and wizards, giving us a few default lives that we could use as starting places for designing our own.” (p. 138)

In writing this statement, the author seems to imply that . . .
People are either entirely influenced by others, influenced by their own life experiences (self) or both. The default life that he mentions in the reading, In the beginning was the Command Line, describes how people are just entirely influenced by others. Some people don’t have their own qualities about them; they feed off of other peoples’ qualities and make it theirs. This is not a good way to live your life because it’s being structured by others. People should have their own voice in anything and should have their own opinion instead of basing their opinion on others. This also explains when he mentions templates and wizards. For those who base their life off of people, the people would be their template and or wizard. So before having their own opinions on things, they go to others to get theirs. Now, Stephenson has mentioned the command line quit a few times, and in this metaphor the command line would be someone who starts out from scratch and has their beliefs, qualities and actions on their own. They don’t go searching for others opinions to create their own. The command line in general is smarter, whether dealing with operating systems or life. For those who feed off of others are probably not knowledgeable of their surroundings. But for those who are the “command line” and starting from scratch, are pretty in tact with the everyday life in the technology world. People normally are influenced by others instead of starting from nothing, like the command line.

Tie-In:

“And in the OS business, mindshare is more than just a PR issue; it has direct effects on the technology itself.” (p. 130)

Tell a detailed story from your personal experience to explain the TIE-IN:
When Stephenson discusses mindshare, he’s not just talking about operating systems he wants us to think about how people are allowing technology to take over. When speaking of the topic of “mindshare dominance,” I think of something that has taken over our minds entirely. What do we allow to take over our mind? Immediately I think of my Iphone which in fact has taken over my mind. This device hasn’t taken over my life but definitely my mind. I was on the way to my step mothers place in North Carolina and I don’t own a GPS but my Iphone is close enough. So I whipped out my Iphone and plugged in all the information and boom! The phone located my current location and then mapped out my trip and all. This was so convenient. While on the way there, I needed to know where the closest Wal-Mart was. So, I typed in Wal-Mart in my IPhones map feature and boom, he located the closest Wal-Mart and mapped out my directions immediately! I have definitely become intellectually attached to this piece of technology. On a regular basis I comment how I believe my Iphone is smarter than me; it’s sad, but definitely true. It has many smart features that just help me get through my every day life.