What is my corner?

This is mainly a note to myself to write something about at some point. There are these technologies that I hear people predict will be used by everyone everywhere in the future (I have several times heard voice operated computers mentioned like this) that clearly are a bad idea. Why would you want to talk to your computer. Yes, talking is a quick and easy thing to do, but this would ruin the peace and quiet while working on the computer, also it would ruin my working in my office. How could I be there and think if there are two other people there (I share my office with two other people) that are talking to their computers. These two problems seem unsolvable to me.

In thinking about software usability there should be a coherent notion under which unexpected/irritating behavior falls. Example, in my current VIM6.2 config I often lose sytax coloring after saving. I don't have this for VIM6.1. Similar with LaTeX-Suite added, typing \A{} results in \A{} with the cursor in the {}, highly bothersome since often the {} is needed for spacing. The combination VIM LaTeX-suite is excellent though.

One short note on the software use descision ideas. It seems that speed is almost never an issue:

1) in using an editor, it clearly needs to show what I type without lag (I have used systems where the automatic spelling being activated made this not true), other than that when I edit the speed with which commands can be given is never really a limiting factor on the speed of editing.

As an example, it really doesn't matter whether during editing latex is done within 2 sec or within 20 sec.

2) giving complex subsitutions, the speed at which the subsitution happens doesn't matter; the easy at which to give the complex substitution does matter (this is where software lock in comes in, if one knows how to do this in one piece of software, it will be bothersome working in another where one doesn't).

1) easy of use.
2) ideoligy behind software.
3) fun exploring.
4) availability.
5) software lock in.

On (1), differs a lot. Example VIM, I learned to use this a long time ago (or better, I learned to use it up to a point where I know enough features that make it nicer than other editors), but this is not software that can be advised to friends b/c it has too much of a learning curve.

On (4) Emacs is more up to date on most systems I use.

On (5) again on editors, once one knows enough about an editor, moving to another is a big investment.

(Editors are just an example here as I am currently thinking about what to use)

Does the open source movement need extra protection?

The source being out there means other people can use it in whatever way they please. This could also be misuse. Do the licenses out there provide enough security?

Big busines being involved, IBM, SUN, seems there is enough muscle behind it. This could help if changes need to be made.

What would have happened with SCO if big busines was not involved: 1) no one to sue and get a lot of money, 2) not obviously enough entities with enough money to afford lawyers.

Just decided this journal might be a good place to muse a bit about software. There are some questions about software and related issues I should think about a bit more coherently, and keeping some notes might be a good idea. Why not here?