"Larry Keeley [?] jokes that the automatic-flush urinal in an airport bathroom is more aware of his presence than his desktop computer" [p 163 in The Inmates Are Running the Asylum, by Alan Cooper]
Rather good book, even if it does suffer a bit from the "my way is the greatest in the world and will surely make the world a wonderful place"-phenomenon. Or put more simply, he keeps referring to his company and Goal oriented design, and downplays the role of specifications in computer science. Not everyone in CompSci is a programmer - nor do they want to be. But still, there is ample evidence to support his "dancing bear" accusations. Things could and should be a lot better. And by things I mean everything from digital cameras to software to next-generation "media pc" or televisions.
One interesting thing is his ignorance that somewhere, a lot of things are better. He rants on about ATMs not telling him what he needs to know, but here in Norway you instantly get information both on the max withdrawal limit (usually for a week) and the current balance. Also, since the card is tied to a specific account you don't get the ridiculous checking/savings dilemma.
Toyota branching on
The Prius hybrid will be launched in China, in collaboration with the Chinese company "China Faw Group Corporation" (FAW). It will be rebranded for the Chinese market, and production is set to start during 2005. [msnbc also has it, with lots of neat additional interactive information]
...and the sun ...
