MEMEX

The “memex” is a theoretical hypertext computer system proposed by Vannevar Bush. It is a system that stores information such as books and records in a mechanized real-time form. Records are indexed with a code that when dialed in retrieves the record for view or edit. While it was first conceived for microfilm viewing the concept has been applied to computer systems.

An important feature of the memex is one of the methods that documents can be linked, “similar” or “also viewed” documents are linked from the document being viewed. This saves the user time when researching information. This was a very visionary approach to indexing information. A user could in a sense “surf” the memex much like someone would surf the web. Also, personal “favorites” or view logs “trails” would be available and could be shared with others or even by adding the users viewing records to the memex itself.

The original memex concept included text to speech. Information was to be transmitted via telephone to other user’s memex machines in the memex II concept. A “master memex” would be much like a computer mainframe or server where smaller less sophisticated memex machines could mine information.

In its’ original concept the memex was not a computer, it was a microfilm viewer. The concepts that Bush envisioned did go further than a simple microfilm reader. The concept that was truly groundbreaking was the idea that information can be indexed and retrieved in efficient and novel ways. A good portion of this is implemented in the world wide web. Things like hyperlinks in text files that link other relevant information are exactly what was described as “linked documents” in the original memex. Other ideas such as web blogs, favorite link files or history files can be interpreted as the “trails” that were originally described by Bush.

While the internet is much like the memex there are things that even the web lacks from the original memex vision. The web is not as tightly organized as the memex concept is. Only recently with web tools like social networking or google documents is the web becoming “self centered” where the interface becomes personal and the web “personalities” of other users can be profiled and viewed with the intent of sharing useful information to others who are looking. This concept has not fully be implemented since the world wide web is not an information specific system. The internet is not regulated in a way where all information is indexed and tracked in a specific protocol. It’s more like an information wreck than a cohesive all encompassing information explosion that the memex was supposed to be.

What would need to be done to actually create the memex would be to create a computer system that is specialized for information indexed as described without all of the useless and distracting add-ons like advertizing that distract the user from gathering information. This is not to say that you could not view advertisements, listen to music or watch films on the memex. It would mean that these things would have to be indexed like everything else instead of arbitrarily “popping up” at random like often happens on the internet. Generally everything on every “page” and every “address” would have to follow the same format and the same indexing scheme. This eliminates the need for things such as search engines since only the index and “trails” would need to be consulted.

Progress update

Quite a lot of work has been done this week. The humidity sensor was ordered and arrived. It was interfaced and scaled. It works great. The anemometer was also ordered. I spent a great deal of time building up the two interface boards and preparing the wiring. The two pulse inputs for the rain gage and anemometer were also changed to use interrupts. Debounce circuits were also constructed for the pulse inputs since they use reed switches. The dew point was also calculated and added to the display since we now have temperature and humidity data. The only things left to do are interface and scale the anemometer.
My other group members and I did not meet this week. We are all doing a good job of working independently. We met with our mentor last week and did not meet with him this week.  All of the sensor code has been written in a "beta" version. The windsensor's specs were published on the web and the scaling was generated from that.

            

Action Items:

Test new anemometer when it arrives.

Finalize sensor interface code.

Work with Safa on placing the boards in the case

Work with Ross on the audio if needed.

Intellectual Property

One of the most important and also one of the most perplexing issues an engineer will face in their career is who owns the intellectual rights to their creations, designs and ideas. One may be quick to think that the sole ownership belongs to the creator but this is not as common as one may think. For example: when Steve Wozniak designed the first personal computer he worked for H.P.. They had an ownership stake in the invention because it was conceived and developed during his employ. It is not hard to imagine that Apple computer and the future of computing in general may have been quite different if H.P. had decided to pursue Wozniak's idea.

Draconian intellectual property right laws can be quite a barrier to creativity and ingenuity. It is a fundamental responsibility for all parties involved in the creation, funding and promotion of new ideas to strike a fair balance in a way that is both fair and also encourages progress. In general it has been my experience that this is generally the case when the engineer's coworkers, and superiors behave in an ethical and responsible manner. The golden rule is integrity by all parties involved.

As university students the intellectual rights to property is a large gray area. There are rules but they can be vague and ill-defined. Rules can also be different from one university to another and from one department to another. The rules are only slightly less gray if you are employed by the university. Generally if you are in anyway employed even if unpaid then your intellectual rights may not be rights at all. It is in the institutions best interests to facilitate progress however. Generally a synergistic relationship is formed and can be mutually beneficial when it comes to funding, promoting and profit sharing.

Intellectual property regulations at the University of Tennessee are in effect but can be hard to define or even find. Also, just because the university states a regulation that does not always mean that it will stand up in a court of law. Here is the general UT policy statement:

“GENERAL POLICY ON PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL

PROPERTY

The goal of The University of Tennessee Policy on Patents, Copyrights, & other

Intellectual Property is to promote the progress of science and the arts and the

development of the University and faculty through the provisions of an established

policy. Patents, copyrights, and licensing of intellectual property provide a means for

developing and using inventions and creations. This Statement of Policy has been

established to ensure that those creative developments in which the University has an

equity interest will be used in a manner most likely to benefit the public and at the same

time provide compensation to those faculty and staff who invent and create. ”

This is pretty vague and does not in anyway disclose any specific guidelines. It can be very hard to determine what a students rights are from such a broad statement. It goes on to state three action items:

“1. Assist faculty and staff in the commercialization of their products.

2. Make inventions and creations resulting from the efforts of University personnel

available to industry and the public on an effective and nondiscriminatory basis; and

3. Obtain revenue for faculty and staff who invent and create and for the University for

use in furthering its educational and research goals. ”

The general tone of this is positive and should be since if it was negative it would directly contradict the overall mission statement. The burden still falls on the student to determine if their ideas are their own intellectual property or not. This can cause many conflicts since disputes can arise after the fact.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are strict laws regarding intellectual property that can have national security implications. Some intellectual property may not be outsourced overseas for development. In general: “Export Licenses are required in certain situations involving national security, foreign policy and terrorist concerns. In addition, certain places as well as denied persons and organizations are subject to additional restrictions.”Penalties for non compliance of export control laws include prison terms and multi-million dollar fines.

In general as non university employed or funded students most intellectual property belongs to the creator. There could be advantages to partnering with the university to develop an idea. At first glance one may think that the creator should have exclusive rights but it is important to place things in the proper perspective. For example: If a company hires a new engineering graduate, pays for their training and gives the engineer resources to do a job and that engineer develops a way to do that job better on the companies dime it would not be ethical for that engineer to go off and form a new company on their own using that new idea as it would likely damage or ruin the company that originally hired the engineer. The same goes for a university that employs a student to work on a research project and pay the students tuition. The student discovers a remarkable outcome in their research and develops the technology on their own. The University is lawfully entitled to a portion if not all of the credit, profit of the discovery.

When it comes to disclosure of ideas and creations caution is advised since the legality can be called into question in certain situations involving national security. The bottom line in everything is act with integrity when dealing with intellectual property. Be cautious and responsible with the ideas and creations and also give credit where credit is due. It is equally important to mention that the creator of something is ALWAYS entitled to some portion of either the credit or profit from an idea. Unfortunately the burden of proof can be hard to defend at times. If an idea is worth fighting for then both sides have a responsibility to claim their fair portion. In many cases the side with the bigger stick will come out ahead if they do not act ethically. If both employers and inventors approach things with a cooperative stance then we all stand to profit from the advance of ideas.

Quote: "640k ought to be enough for anybody" .... Bill Gates in 1981

Progress update 2_17_11

Interfaced and scaled rain gage, ordered humidity sensor and programmed the display graphics. Anemometer still has not arrived. Spent quite a bit of time constructing a sensor interface board for the arduino controller.

Progress Update

Completed: Temperature, Barometric Pressure, Data Display, Audio Response
Action Items: Interface rain gauge, Procure anemometer and humidity sensor.

Quote

Engineering is a great profession. There is the satisfaction of watching a figment of the imagination emerge through the aid of science to a plan on paper. Then it moves to realisation in stone or metal or energy. Then it brings homes to men or women. Then it elevates the standard of living and adds to the comforts of life. This is the engineer's high privilege.
Herbert Hoover