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Date: Mon, 8 Jul 96 02:39:41 EST
From: "RainbowNet Cultural Technologies" <info@cinox.demon.co.uk>
In reply to:
>
>Hi Tim,
>
>
>I have had a look at Xanadu and PADS. They both seem interesting.
I thought you would find them interesting. They are both highly
ramified, complex conventional attempts to do what you are doing with
Webneurons in a much more simple way. The reason I wanted you to have a
look at them is that there may be some ideas there and some things to
avoid.
>
>However, I feel that Xanadu is weighed down by security worries and
>"per page" royalties. There also seems to be no simple blueprint
>for the system.
Indeed and they keep their cards close to their chest. It also has a
very complicated network operating system. The topography of such a
network would still tie us all to big corporate services/servers. It
will not facilitate a more democratic open communications structure,
merely refine the mechanisms of maintaing the staus quo.
>PADS seems more promising, but concentrates on media. I think a
>complex topic like media should be attacked after the building blocks
are >correct. In webneurons you can store any data type you like. If you
read >the PADS page it seems way too complex, obscured in typical
scientist's >jargon and smokescreen (probably unintentionally).
Yes I had noticed this. I think it is a cultural thing. Tanaka has
obviously developed a style which mirrors back to the western scientists
who evaluate his work a very elaborate theoretical mode of discourse.
The basic merit of pads is their simplicity.
>I believe the basic building blocks should be very simple structures
like >webneurons but super-rich in links. As I keep saying, it is the
links that >are important more than anything. That is why the WWW is
what it is >today, and why structured programming is a (relative)
failure (it hasn't >got proper links).
>
>Also in pads I don't really see a real programming language. Maybe I
>missed this?
I don't know. Is it held together with scripts or is it smalltalk?
>Meanwhile, if you still want to help, there is lots to do. I have a
blueprint
>in assembler for a webneuron system. See the website "Pictures"
>section "Doing it in 32 bit assembler". This could be copied into any
>other (complete) computer language. HTML is not complete.
Yes seen it.
>
>Myself and Frank are heading towards developing it in C++ on Linux.
>That is, as soon as we can agree on the blueprint. At present Frank has
>ideas for using biological principles in the blueprint. I don't
understand all >this yet so we're working through it. You can join in
the thread if you >want.
Linux!
>
>If you do want to help further both myself and Frank agree that your
>idea to involve a team is correct. I would rather get on with the
>programming and leave team management to you.
I would be happy to cause some braincell networking. Of course you would
need to specify the issues clearly. We need a pilot, target project that
wets peoples appitites, is avhievalble quickly and puts webnuerons on
the agenda.
>
>We also think this is too big to be held up by any commercial pressures
>so intend to do it all in the "free Internet" spirit.
Nice one!
Regards
Tim
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