KidHash - Slashdot User

Submission + - Developer responsibility in mobile avalanche apps

Submitted by bashaw on Friday October 25, 2013 @05:59PM

bashaw writes: What ethical responsibilities do software developers have in determining the role that mobile devices take in our lives? As performance increases, size decreases, and the only limitation is the software available, mobile devices have expanded into new areas of our lives for which they were not designed. This raises the ethical question of who decides what software is available, and therefore what role these devices should take.

I am a software developer at the Canadian Avalanche Centre. We recently issued a warning about mobile avalanche search applications that are marketed as avalanche rescue systems. Three smartphone applications are presenting themselves as economical alternatives to avalanche transceivers, the electronic device used by backcountry users to find buried companions in case of an avalanche. The applications are not an adequate replacement for an avalanche transceiver for many reasons , and we are concerned about the use of this software in lieu of a specifically-designed avalanche transceiver. When it is a question of public safety, does the onus fall on the developers, a government agency or the users themselves?

Comment Re:Expedia wants to set rates. (Score 1) 279

by KidHash on Monday January 03, 2011 @01:36PM (#34745150) Attached to: Battle Escalates Between Airlines and Online Agents

Naturally the travel companies would prefer that people book through their own websites, because they don't have to pay the commission, which is typically around 10% of the price.

It's actually more like 30%, and at my hotel that means you're much less likely to get upgrades and freebies because our revenue is so much lower. Book direct for a lower rate and more perks!

Comment Re:EPIC WIN (Score 4, Informative) 362

by KidHash on Monday December 21, 2009 @06:00AM (#30510320) Attached to: Facebook Campaign Decides UK Christmas Music Charts

It was radio 5, not radio 1

Non-Violent, Cooperative Games? 329

Posted by Soulskill on Monday November 10, 2008 @01:37AM from the play-that-myspace-game-to-befriend-monsters dept.

jandersen writes "While I generally don't play computer games, I do occasionally play games like Crossfire or The Mana World, because they have more of a story line and allow you to go at your own pace. What I don't care much about, though, is that they are still focused on killing monsters and amassing wealth, and it gets very tedious after a while. Are there really no games where the goal isn't so much about increasing your own power and defeating others, but where you instead grow by doing things that benefit others, where enemies shouldn't be killed out of hand, but befriended; where learning, teaching, research and social skills are more important than killing and conquering? Would people be interested in a game of that nature?"

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