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Re: Intel: timely article
To summarise the past few hours - there are references to work we know,
significant players (including Microsoft) are referencing it and are moving
in a direction we advocate - I'd say this was cause for optimism.
Ian is rather negative - easy to do in the UK academic climate but not
likely to achieve results.
Some time ago - a little before I left academic life - I decided to throw
off the UK approach (find reasons why it can't be done) and adopt a US view
(it's possible - I may not know how just yet, but I will). It is challenging
but rewarding. As part of 4Links I'm part of delivering the impossible (what
others claim is impossible) and it is a lot more satisfying than deciding it
really is impossible.
I know academia in the UK is not good - I'm somewhat surprised that I have
more time for research, attend more conferences and publish more papers than
I did in academia - and the pay is better, too. Maybe industry is worth a
try - although there are risks as well as rewards.
It IS possible to make transputer technology a success but it needs some
flexibility to offer the right things to get into the right places - and
accept that even if it isn't perfect it is what someone actually wants (i.e.
pay for). There are more opportunities to be taken in all sorts of areas.
The current interest in OS's and languages is returning to the levels of the
1970's - after the doldrums there is an opportunity to find receptive minds
again. It can take a long time for good ideas to be recognised.
I've often had the impression that nothing is successful until it is
re-invented by the US so maybe transatlantic alliances are more important
than we've acknowledged.
The bottom line - there appears to be real cause for optimism, I hope it is
infectious. CPA/WoTUG should be a time away from the negative atmosphere of
UK academia to encourage each other and we might well be able to find a way
forward - almost certainly by bending a little, by forging alliances with
others and finding a way forward. It is also very UK to give up just before
success (Transputer, Linear motors/Maglev etc.) - let's not do this but be
encouraged to keep going.
Barry.
Dr Barry M. Cook, BSc, PhD, CEng, MBCS, CITP, MIEEE
CTO,
4Links Limited,
The Mansion,
Bletchley Park,
MK3 6ZP,
UK.
----- Original Message -----
From: "P.H.Welch" <P.H.Welch@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Barry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <K.Chalmers@xxxxxxxxxxxx>; <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <java-threads@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: Intel: timely article
Barry,
Another article in the same issue - "Can We Make Operating Systems =
Reliable and Secure?"
We (me and Fred) have had *some* contact with the Singularity people
at Microsoft:
http://research.microsoft.com/os/singularity/
They have referenced our work (RMoX, occam-pi) - though not very
accurately! But they do seem friendly, :).
Peter.