droning on and on

[david beazley]

This reminds me of some Mechanix Illustrated magazine articles
http://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-patent-mid-air-rechargeable-drones-2015-6
now it looks like they go up but never come down.

[George Hostler]

This reminds me of some Mechanix Illustrated magazine articles http://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-patent-mid-air-rechargeable-drones-2015-6 now it looks like they go up but never come down.

I don't know David, just looking on the surface, if it were to patent a particular hook up invention electrical connector or umbilical or specific tower design, I'd understand. Seems to be a lot of patent trolling these days, for example, Microsoft patenting a car audio sound system that uses an open source operating system (i.e., Linux), which really makes one wonder.

Yes, interesting, but seems too general, IMO.

[Steve Helmick]

It's probably just the air that's rechargeable.  Steve

[Greg McCoy]

Sam’s Club Bets Drones Will Fly Off the Shelves at Christmas
Retailer hopes consumer gadget will take off, giving a boost to sales



http://www.wsj.com/articles/sams-club-bets-drones-will-fly-off-the-shelves-at-christmas-1433795119

[Ara Dedekian]

      We'll be known as a bunch of cranky old guys stuck in the past if we don't quit complaining!

                           https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-rEI4bezWc


      Ara

[Bill Johnson]

      We'll be known as a bunch of cranky old guys stuck in the past if we don't quit complaining!

                           https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-rEI4bezWc


      Ara

I like it, Ara. Technological innovation can and must be leveraged to improve the human condition.

[JoeJust]

I like it, Ara. Technological innovation can and must be leveraged to improve the human condition.

No it doesn't! You hope it does, but it might not.  One could say that technological innovation can and must remove improvement in the human condition. Both statements can not be absolutely true, and perhaps neither can be true as well. Only a long period of time can the truth be known, and even then some nut like me will disagree anyway. Right now I can not find any use for the quads outside of agriculture.
Joe  

[Randy Cuberly]

      We'll be known as a bunch of cranky old guys stuck in the past if we don't quit complaining!

                           https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-rEI4bezWc


      Ara

So What???  I probably am a "cranky old guy trapped in the past".  However it's a somewhat pleasant past and the "future" doesn't look very bright right now.  Technology advances nearly always have two sides and it often seems that the bad side usually wins.

What has technology done to alleviate the problem in the ghettos.  It has made it considerably easier for the thugs and the drug dealers to operate.  It's made it easier for the crooks to steal billions of dollars from banks and private citizens.  

From my perspective the only real improvements in society brought about by technology are in the medical field.  Medicine has discovered ways to keep us all alive for much longer periods of time.  I guess that's good...unless you're miserable, broke, and can't find a job because you haven't any education to keep up with technology.  It always seems to create as many (or more) problems than it solves!

Those facts may have created an autocratic society deeply divided into separate classes of people.  Classes which become harder and harder for the the ones in the lower eschelons to breach!  I believe technology for good or bad has done that to us!

OK, I'm off the soapbox!  Apologies for the Doom and Gloom...just can't stop trying to be a philosoper sometimes!...

Randy Cuberly

[Bill Johnson]

No it doesn't! You hope it does, but it might not.  One could say that technological innovation can and must remove improvement in the human condition. Both statements can not be absolutely true, and perhaps neither can be true as well. Only a long period of time can the truth be known, and even then some nut like me will disagree anyway. Right now I can not find any use for the quads outside of agriculture.
Joe  

So, you watched the video and had no use for the idea of delivering life-saving medical care in 1/10th the time it takes now?. Hmm......

[Randy Cuberly]

So, you watched the video and had no use for the idea of delivering life-saving medical care in 1/10th the time it takes now?. Hmm......

Hi Bill,
I watched the video and admit that it's very impressive.  It certainly has a use, especially in high density areas.  I would mention however that a lot of large complexes and shopping do have de fibrillators and respirators in the security areas and are used fairly often and could be used even faster than the drone.  Certainly this doesn't negate the potential usefulness of the medical drones but being a realist I have to mention that in the wrong hands the drone could just as easily deliver an explosive device to take lives!  I feel that until the technology can be eaisly foiled and detected when used in this manner it may be a greater threat than boon.  Unfortunately we live in a very dangerous world with a lot of very crazy people that just want to destroy our society.  I fear we may be helping them with technology like this.
No I'm not in favor of banning technology, I am after all, PhD in Engineering and technology has abeen my life.  However there are a lot of serious questions to be answered and problems to be solved before systems like this can be comfortably used without real danger to our way of life.  I fear that not enough people are asking those questions and not enough answers can be had before those dangers become a reality.

Paranoid?  Maybe but I believe a little paranoia is a healthy thing!

Randy Cuberly

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Interesting discussion, reminds me of my Dad.  About the time I became a teenager, we began having great discussions, playing devil's advocate if you will.  He'd state the pros/benefits/advantages of a position; I'd take the opposite view.  Or vice versa.

The discussions were often about current events, but a recurring topic was the good/evil of "progress" - progress usually meaning advances in technology.

Is dynamite good?  Alfred Noble invented it - and then left most of his fortune to a trust providing for the Nobel Prizes, in part because he didn't want to be remembered as the man "who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before" (as a French newspaper put it).

How about cell phones?  I absolutely love the convenience, though mine doesn't get much use.  I was in a hospital waiting room a few weeks back when a young couple came in ... They sat down, turned on their cell phones, and appeared to begin texting others.  And didn't say anything to one another.  (We've all seen the cartoons depicting a group of people, all with eyes/ears only for their cell phones, and oblivious to those around them.)

A few things I hope to have learned from those discussions with Dad - (1) Respect for one with an opposing viewpoint is a very healthy thing; (2) Only by considering thoughtfully that viewpoint can we really form an intelligent opinion, and (3) There are often very compelling points to support either (any) opinion.

I choose to embrace "progress" for the most part, but also think - as Randy suggests - that some skepticism and paranoia is often a good thing. 


Dennis
 

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin

[Curare]

I wish some of these crazy old coots would stop droning on and on. 

[john e. holliday]

Interesting discussion, reminds me of my Dad.  About the time I became a teenager, we began having great discussions, playing devil's advocate if you will.  He'd state the pros/benefits/advantages of a position; I'd take the opposite view.  Or vice versa.

The discussions were often about current events, but a recurring topic was the good/evil of "progress" - progress usually meaning advances in technology.

Is dynamite good?  Alfred Noble invented it - and then left most of his fortune to a trust providing for the Nobel Prizes, in part because he didn't want to be remembered as the man "who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before" (as a French newspaper put it).

How about cell phones?  I absolutely love the convenience, though mine doesn't get much use.  I was in a hospital waiting room a few weeks back when a young couple came in ... They sat down, turned on their cell phones, and appeared to begin texting others.  And didn't say anything to one another.  (We've all seen the cartoons depicting a group of people, all with eyes/ears only for their cell phones, and oblivious to those around them.)

A few things I hope to have learned from those discussions with Dad - (1) Respect for one with an opposing viewpoint is a very healthy thing; (2) Only by considering thoughtfully that viewpoint can we really form an intelligent opinion, and (3) There are often very compelling points to support either (any) opinion.

I choose to embrace "progress" for the most part, but also think - as Randy suggests - that some skepticism and paranoia is often a good thing. 


Dennis
 

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” - Charles Darwin

I am one of those old coots now.  But as MN Boy 353 said, myself as a teenager in a different world Dad and I would have discussions about things.  Some about religion, as I never seen him go to Church and things that were happening at the time.   I wish I had listened more to him, but I wonder what he would say now with the world the way it is.   He lived through both world wars and got to see man go into space.  But, I'm waiting on the new fad of so called drones(should be called multi copters) to die out like so many other fads.   Remember CB radios while on the highway.   

[pipemakermike]

I make Drones.  To see some I made go here:-

[pipemakermike]

Nice, but I prefer real bag pipes with real drones and the eight hole chanter. I wish I never sold mine. Ebony wood and sterling silver trim, purchased in Reno, Nevada in 1958. 

HERATIC

[FLOYD CARTER]

Bagpipes and accordians.  A felony in most states.