I was looking forward to that party - and was afraid of it in the same moment, of course. Anyway, we discussed only the most important things during next half hour. Paul told me about my job - and checked my knowledge in the same time. He also told me about few people I should know - this was the part we were working with computer. I was impressed how much information is available about everything and everyone. Paul also made clear some terminology for me. So computer is computer. Cell phone is much more than that and they call it comdev in most cases. "Mobile" is not important difference for them - most things are mobile when they should be. In this moment it's clear that I'm really in some other world. It really IS Earth - Paul showed me the maps - and most of the big cities I know are exactly where they should be. The same names, buildings (as far as I'm able to judge it)... it looks like some parallel world. I guess that history lessons will follow some time later.
Paul also revealed to me that I have chip implanted into my hand - and most people have such thing too.
- "Isn't it problem for you?" I asked him.
- "Why it should be?"
- "I don't know. You know, that freedom stuff, move control..."
Paul was obviously confused. "Do you mean..."
- "I mean if your government can't control you?"
- "Ah, that!" Paul's face cheered up. "Well, no! They may know where I am. They may know with who I am. But nobody would simply dare to exploit it... I guess that your society wasn't so effective in ways how to control each other. We communicate pretty much with each other, share our thoughts, reasons, opinions - although everybody must make up his mind on his own in the end - of course. You hardly can exploit anything more than twice here. On the other hand I feel safe and it's very comfortable."
- "Why comfortable?"
- "Well... this -" he picked up my id card - "is formal thing and everybody has one. But the same information are actually in citizen registry somewhere out there." Paul waved his hand to the outside. "So there is no need to carry it with you all the time. You just need that chip because the chip contains your id number. Id number itself has no information value - it's just the key to those information in registry. And not only registry. You can use it for paying, entering objects where entry is controlled, anywhere! Specific organization can access information they need and you still have full control over such things so it's also pretty safe, don't worry. Common seller can't know who you are because there are mechanisms that provide always only those information needed for specific situation."
- "Oh, really?" it sounded like he's very confident about all those things said, but I wasn't really convinced. "And no problems with some unauthorized usage?"
- "It's hard to exploit it because chip really doesn't contain important information. You also have to confirm it in most situations - mostly with your finger print. That's first aspect of the problem. Another aspect is that many entries are simply public already. We have our privacy but I really don't care about many things that are publicly known about me. And finally - last reason why all this works - nobody wants to mess up with anybody's trust. It's very important."
- "Ah... like telling the truth to everyone. :-)"
- "Well, Gavin, you are not really forced to tell everything to everybody. Just - if you say something, let it be truth."
- "Aha, so I can conceal something..."
- "Conceal... well, you can have your secrets. Secrets are not bad," he giggles. "At least sometimes."
- "Ok, I nearly started to imagine that you all like each other and share all your experiences."
- "Oh no," Paul shakes his head. "It's not like that and it would be sick... maybe. I don't like many people but there is no reason to lie them. And there is also no reason to tell them everything. And - of course - there is no space to tell them everything because I don't talk to them because I can't say I like them. Who would like to chat with people with whom you have no special relation?"
- "Ah," I agreed, "right, of course."
Few minutes later we wrapped this lesson up and we were ready for the squad action. I should introduce Paul in this moment just for the sake of completeness. Paul Kashinski works as our squad leader. Using word "squad" for software development team makes me smile. "We use 'team' for project teams, not for stable groups of people working in particular area," explains Paul. "And our squad is designated as 'Information Systems' squad." I guess I will not talk too much about my job per se, however I should meet Paul many times later. Paul is 34 years old, married with 3 children. He lives in Rotherham but not in a flat (like me) but in the house in the outskirts. I wasn't sure what are the rest of the local people but I was really happy that Paul is my first contact.
The most important things were discussed already and so I dressed myself up and we left the flat. Yeah, locking was controlled by finger print. Well, I really can use to similar features and I was curious a lot about what will be next. Paul drove his car into the city center and we stopped near pub called "Baldoria".
- "How many is expected?" I asked.
- "18 with us - as far as I know."
So it's 16 new faces, new people with completely different mind-sets.
- "Ah, Paul, how is Gavin? You know I don't really know him!"
- "Oh yes, right. :-) Well, first - no stress on this party - Gavin wasn't a show maker or a focus of interest. Certainly not at such kinds of actions. So relax and watch and infiltrate somehow. You don't need to tell anyone right from the start. You can be confused and it's really too much for you. So relax. Now - how I know you... you're a little bit over-confident about software development and - I guess so - a very little bit less confident in your real life than you could be. That makes you look like modest guy although you told me more than once that modesty is only a side-effect in your case. ;-) And you're quite comfy. If you can skip some work, you like to. But nothing that hurts really."
We reached the Baldoria entrance in the meantime and I can here noise and hum from the inside. Paul stopped and now he's looking at me: "Don't worry - really. Relax and ... merge." :-)
Monday, October 30, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Utopia (3): To play amnesia or not?
17:36 the mobile is ringing with Paulie on display.
- "Hi, Paul!" I bet he can hear that I've anticipated this call. With hope.
- "Hi, on my way. Few minutes, ok?"
- "Right, I'm waiting."
- "Ok, see you."
- "See you."
Few minutes later he is standing on my doorsill. Fair guy, normal figure... well - I'm not description master.
- "Hi, Paul, nice to see you," I feel relief even I'm still not sure how to ask him for help.
- "Gav... well, how are you?" we moved to the kitchen bar.
- "Hard to say," I opened the fridge. "I'm going to the party, no problem there. Or at least I hope I'm going... Do you want something?"
- "Sure, but something softer to be able to drive."
Great, and what that should be like? I wasn't sure if there is permitted blood alcohol level here.
- "Well, name it!" I performed best smile I could in the situation.
Paul took a look into the fridge and says: "Ah, gin and soda... not so much of gin of course."
I performed the operation although I've never served this drink and chose beer for myself.
- "Eh, no gin today?" Paul was evidently surprised.
- "Not today." I don't like gin at all. "Well, and now my problem."
- "Fire it out."
- "Problem is that it isn't quite common problem and I'm afraid you'll not believe me."
- "Well..." Paul's face reflected glimpse of umbrage so I decided to go directly to my problem.
- "It sounds strange, but I woke up today and I remembered nothing."
- "Uff," Paul is naturally bewildered. Moment of silence follows so I decided to continue.
- "You know, unknown flat, unknown city, I never saw the computer system, I don't even know you..."
- "Well, ok, ok..." Paul's stopping me with his hands up. Again a moment of silence but I see that he wants to express something so I'm just waiting. "Well - you're right that it's hard to believe, because I've never met this phenomenon before. But at least I've heard of it. :-) ... However you were fine in the comdev so I really wouldn't say you don't know me."
- "Well... I was frightened a little, so sorry. I played it somehow but because you was the first person I communicated with and you sounded fine I wanted to talk to you - and so I'm doing now."
- "Is it like amnesia?"
- "Well - not really..."
- "...I hope you know amnesia."
- "Yeah, don't worry. I know much more. And that's the problem. I don't have missing memories by myself. I remember everything until yesterday's evening. I went to sleep and suddenly I woke up here."
- "You wanted to say you remember some different life?"
- "Completely different, yes... maybe except the profession because I was Java developer in my world before."
- "Java...?"
- "Ah, sorry - programming language - it's similar to Arto from what I saw so far."
Paul held up for a second in order to think it through.
- "So you don't know if you're Gavin?" he asked finally.
- "No, I don't know - and I'm much more convinced that I'm someone else. I remember my name and also strange thing is that I know my picture in the mirror. It's like to be suddenly in his body."
- "Well... I really don't know what this can mean to anyone of us. You simply can't be Gavin if you're not... Oh, how stupid sentences can come out from such situation!" he tittered although it was obvious that he takes it pretty seriously. "Now - I really don't know what to do. I guess that you have something on your mind and you wanted me to help you... or something."
- "Yes, Paul - I hope you don't mind when I call you like that. I simply want to supply Gavin while... I really don't know until when. However, I'm here and it would be much easier for everybody if I can do what he could as best as I can. You could treat me as a foreigner - yes, I am foreigner - but please. I told you because I need to take foot in this world and I really need someone's help."
Paul started to think about the things just said.
- "More soda?" I asked.
- "With gin even..." he smiled sadly. After few sips he continues: "When you take it like this - then yes - you're stranger. I don't know what to do. You look right, still I might call doctors or police maybe but I'm not sure if it is for any good. So... you told me and you need my help. So let's presume that I have a reason to trust you. We will see what to do with you. Now - how should I treat you?"
- "Let's play - or how to call it - that I'm Gavin with a little - well, more than little obviously - amnesia, ok? Is it suitable for a while?"
- "For a while. Yes, I think it could be good for the start. And now the help part. I would help Gavin with anything." Now he smiled rather cunningly than sadly and it was fine to see it.
- "Well, I need a crash course in this world. And also - I'd like to know who I should know, how and if I should tell him amnesia cover-story or truth."
Paul raised his eyebrow and asks: "Why would you want to tell something other than truth to anyone?" And of course he got me with such straight question.
- "Well... in my previous life it was better not to tell the truth sometimes. Or not whole truth."
- "Gavin, Gavin... you really need that crash course. :-) I bet that you - and I mean old Gavin now - will be missed by many of us, but you - new Gavin - shouldn't lie. Not just because he never lied. Simply because you want to achieve something and you want to be someone. Never ... now I don't know if you use strong swear words sometimes..."
- "...go for it. ;-)"
- "...so just never fuck up with anybody's trust. Because even f-word can't express how bad it will be with your credit afterwards."
It wasn't such a difficult decision for me. "Don't worry, Paul. It's really easier to tell the truth for me. At least I can't fall into my own web of lies. I just didn't know... you know."
- "Well I don't know - I simply can't imagine the reasons for that question... but ok, you asked, I answered the question. Now you know."
- "So, first important fact is here" - I pointed at my head - "already. Now just the rest of that crash course."
- "Oh," he giggles. "Just the rest of the course! ... OK, do you mind if we continue on the party or do you want some part here? You have to say."
- "Right. Ok, few more questions here if we're not in time pressure and than the rest."
Paul checked the clock on the wall (17:59): "No, we're pretty far from time pressure."
And so I entered my crash course in my new world.
- "Hi, Paul!" I bet he can hear that I've anticipated this call. With hope.
- "Hi, on my way. Few minutes, ok?"
- "Right, I'm waiting."
- "Ok, see you."
- "See you."
Few minutes later he is standing on my doorsill. Fair guy, normal figure... well - I'm not description master.
- "Hi, Paul, nice to see you," I feel relief even I'm still not sure how to ask him for help.
- "Gav... well, how are you?" we moved to the kitchen bar.
- "Hard to say," I opened the fridge. "I'm going to the party, no problem there. Or at least I hope I'm going... Do you want something?"
- "Sure, but something softer to be able to drive."
Great, and what that should be like? I wasn't sure if there is permitted blood alcohol level here.
- "Well, name it!" I performed best smile I could in the situation.
Paul took a look into the fridge and says: "Ah, gin and soda... not so much of gin of course."
I performed the operation although I've never served this drink and chose beer for myself.
- "Eh, no gin today?" Paul was evidently surprised.
- "Not today." I don't like gin at all. "Well, and now my problem."
- "Fire it out."
- "Problem is that it isn't quite common problem and I'm afraid you'll not believe me."
- "Well..." Paul's face reflected glimpse of umbrage so I decided to go directly to my problem.
- "It sounds strange, but I woke up today and I remembered nothing."
- "Uff," Paul is naturally bewildered. Moment of silence follows so I decided to continue.
- "You know, unknown flat, unknown city, I never saw the computer system, I don't even know you..."
- "Well, ok, ok..." Paul's stopping me with his hands up. Again a moment of silence but I see that he wants to express something so I'm just waiting. "Well - you're right that it's hard to believe, because I've never met this phenomenon before. But at least I've heard of it. :-) ... However you were fine in the comdev so I really wouldn't say you don't know me."
- "Well... I was frightened a little, so sorry. I played it somehow but because you was the first person I communicated with and you sounded fine I wanted to talk to you - and so I'm doing now."
- "Is it like amnesia?"
- "Well - not really..."
- "...I hope you know amnesia."
- "Yeah, don't worry. I know much more. And that's the problem. I don't have missing memories by myself. I remember everything until yesterday's evening. I went to sleep and suddenly I woke up here."
- "You wanted to say you remember some different life?"
- "Completely different, yes... maybe except the profession because I was Java developer in my world before."
- "Java...?"
- "Ah, sorry - programming language - it's similar to Arto from what I saw so far."
Paul held up for a second in order to think it through.
- "So you don't know if you're Gavin?" he asked finally.
- "No, I don't know - and I'm much more convinced that I'm someone else. I remember my name and also strange thing is that I know my picture in the mirror. It's like to be suddenly in his body."
- "Well... I really don't know what this can mean to anyone of us. You simply can't be Gavin if you're not... Oh, how stupid sentences can come out from such situation!" he tittered although it was obvious that he takes it pretty seriously. "Now - I really don't know what to do. I guess that you have something on your mind and you wanted me to help you... or something."
- "Yes, Paul - I hope you don't mind when I call you like that. I simply want to supply Gavin while... I really don't know until when. However, I'm here and it would be much easier for everybody if I can do what he could as best as I can. You could treat me as a foreigner - yes, I am foreigner - but please. I told you because I need to take foot in this world and I really need someone's help."
Paul started to think about the things just said.
- "More soda?" I asked.
- "With gin even..." he smiled sadly. After few sips he continues: "When you take it like this - then yes - you're stranger. I don't know what to do. You look right, still I might call doctors or police maybe but I'm not sure if it is for any good. So... you told me and you need my help. So let's presume that I have a reason to trust you. We will see what to do with you. Now - how should I treat you?"
- "Let's play - or how to call it - that I'm Gavin with a little - well, more than little obviously - amnesia, ok? Is it suitable for a while?"
- "For a while. Yes, I think it could be good for the start. And now the help part. I would help Gavin with anything." Now he smiled rather cunningly than sadly and it was fine to see it.
- "Well, I need a crash course in this world. And also - I'd like to know who I should know, how and if I should tell him amnesia cover-story or truth."
Paul raised his eyebrow and asks: "Why would you want to tell something other than truth to anyone?" And of course he got me with such straight question.
- "Well... in my previous life it was better not to tell the truth sometimes. Or not whole truth."
- "Gavin, Gavin... you really need that crash course. :-) I bet that you - and I mean old Gavin now - will be missed by many of us, but you - new Gavin - shouldn't lie. Not just because he never lied. Simply because you want to achieve something and you want to be someone. Never ... now I don't know if you use strong swear words sometimes..."
- "...go for it. ;-)"
- "...so just never fuck up with anybody's trust. Because even f-word can't express how bad it will be with your credit afterwards."
It wasn't such a difficult decision for me. "Don't worry, Paul. It's really easier to tell the truth for me. At least I can't fall into my own web of lies. I just didn't know... you know."
- "Well I don't know - I simply can't imagine the reasons for that question... but ok, you asked, I answered the question. Now you know."
- "So, first important fact is here" - I pointed at my head - "already. Now just the rest of that crash course."
- "Oh," he giggles. "Just the rest of the course! ... OK, do you mind if we continue on the party or do you want some part here? You have to say."
- "Right. Ok, few more questions here if we're not in time pressure and than the rest."
Paul checked the clock on the wall (17:59): "No, we're pretty far from time pressure."
And so I entered my crash course in my new world.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Utopia (2): Meet Gavin Poullan
The question is if Paul is the help I need. Should I tell him about my problems? Will he believe me? I wouldn't do it by myself - it's really more than impossible to happen anyway, isn't it? However - still I have some time to the evening. Although - gosh - we should at least settle on a specific time. Never mind, I guess that mobile phones will solve this problem when it comes.
So - who is Gavin, where does he work, ...? Many questions - answers needed. Id card itself doesn't contain any useful information. Personal id, name, birth date, photo with my face on it. Well, I need something else. I returned to that drawer with documents. It looks like I live in a town called Rotherham. Never heard of it. Now the date would be fine. I went to the desk again and checked the computer screen. Yeah, there it is... it's simply the date after yesterday. Everything looks fine. So how could I get here without even noticing?!
Many things gave me a hint that I'm not on the Earth I know. Unknown computer environment, many unknown things and really more modern equipment in the house here and there. There is great chance that I may not know every technical devices in a foreign flat, but this was beyond the level of suspicion.
Work - Gavin (or me or whoever) has job. This answer took more papers to go through but after all I found it. Software Developer. Nice... I stop to believe in coincidences. Why I even have the same job? Well - not really - I never heard of the language. There may be much more what can surprise me in the job I guess. However at least the style of thinking should be the same. Whatever, I'll ask Paul later.
Computer applications were similar to ours for a first sight. There was some type of network browser - although there seemed to be no difference between local and remote resources in the way how they were treated. And it was more... well - object oriented from my professional point of view. Even remote objects (not only pages, far from it!) were very responsive. I found some chat application after a while. Hm, Gavin has really BIG contact list. It's even hierarchized. Well, no wonder when he has... unbelievable - 2474 contacts?! And not only that. It took me some minute to find out what's the semantic of the chat but then I can see that there is more than one hundred of unread messages. Stupid spam!
After another few minutes I can see that every message is really addressed to me and it has meaning and that senders obviously know me very well. Him-me... let's face it - I'm Gavin, so I'm quitting that "he" pose from now on. And here it is! Caren McKinley, my co-worker, age 26, some task list, generic contact identifier (eh, whatever that is) and also some personal notes. Nothing applicable right now, but there is new message from her few minutes old.
Caren: Hi Gav. I heard that you have some problem with coming to work. I hope it's nothing serious. :-)
Now what? I have no idea how I possibly could break this if I pay attention and say less then nothing specific. Let's try it.
Gavin: No serious problem when it comes to health or so. I'm just kinda dazed after the night - don't know why.
Caren: Kinda dazed? :-)))
Gavin: Well a little bit. ;-)
Caren: Kinda? :-) What... you started to invent new words or what?
Oh, gosh... write properly! It isn't the right time to study histories of Gav's chats right now - however I know that it's great idea at least. I decided to skip this problem somehow at this moment.
Gavin: Just dazed - now you can see it. :-)
Caren: So full day off today?
Gavin: Yes... rather.
Caren: Well, I'll try to go through it alone. ;-)
I stopped for thinking for a while. Go through what? Was it personal or professional? And how to find out without raising suspicion.
Gavin: I hope you're not so alone. ;-)
Caren: Oh, c'mon, I don't have mood to join other pair now. I can do something on alone, don't worry. :-) And maybe I'll see you in the eve.
Gavin: Right, I think that eve is no problem.
Caren: BTW: That problem with business message library is fixed at last.
Gavin: Great!
Really great, I have no idea what is she talking about. Caren is silent for a while so I decided to check other possibilities of that object browsing thingy. It has even name - World Browser. Oh, how original... I created class called WorldCotroller once - that was much more powerful designation, wasn't it? Ok, let's browse now.
I was working for company called Allied System Applications (I knew it from chat notes for Caren) and with this information it's proper time to find out how to search for things in Browser. And it is much easier than I expected - I can hit upon search feature on every step. Yet still it's not intrusive. Nice.
Allied System Applications is company based in Newberden (never heard of it either) with some branches in Kees, Archsta and Rotherham. 933 employees all around, 114 in Rotherham. Well, my new company is obviously larger than the one before. Strange thing for me is that I can find too many things about the company in that Object World (really hard to narrow it down to our Internet even after a few minutes experience). Full employee list, for example. Ah, my name - and link.
Gavin Poullan, 28 years old, Arto (that's the programming language name) application developer, 6 years in ASA, some projects I was working on were named too. Everything with possibility to navigate there for closer detail. It looks like the ASA is really open company. However this was some public record about the company. ASA has also their official portal (page?) and there were much more objects containing something about ASA too. There is even list of competitors! Eh... I really don't know what I should think about that.
I took a quick tour around the Object World (or simply World - as it looks like they call it so simply) and found out that similar information is provided for every named company. And I was more and more sure that I need a little help and explanation what I should think about this. Well, Paulie, call or come - and do it quickly.
So - who is Gavin, where does he work, ...? Many questions - answers needed. Id card itself doesn't contain any useful information. Personal id, name, birth date, photo with my face on it. Well, I need something else. I returned to that drawer with documents. It looks like I live in a town called Rotherham. Never heard of it. Now the date would be fine. I went to the desk again and checked the computer screen. Yeah, there it is... it's simply the date after yesterday. Everything looks fine. So how could I get here without even noticing?!
Many things gave me a hint that I'm not on the Earth I know. Unknown computer environment, many unknown things and really more modern equipment in the house here and there. There is great chance that I may not know every technical devices in a foreign flat, but this was beyond the level of suspicion.
Work - Gavin (or me or whoever) has job. This answer took more papers to go through but after all I found it. Software Developer. Nice... I stop to believe in coincidences. Why I even have the same job? Well - not really - I never heard of the language. There may be much more what can surprise me in the job I guess. However at least the style of thinking should be the same. Whatever, I'll ask Paul later.
Computer applications were similar to ours for a first sight. There was some type of network browser - although there seemed to be no difference between local and remote resources in the way how they were treated. And it was more... well - object oriented from my professional point of view. Even remote objects (not only pages, far from it!) were very responsive. I found some chat application after a while. Hm, Gavin has really BIG contact list. It's even hierarchized. Well, no wonder when he has... unbelievable - 2474 contacts?! And not only that. It took me some minute to find out what's the semantic of the chat but then I can see that there is more than one hundred of unread messages. Stupid spam!
After another few minutes I can see that every message is really addressed to me and it has meaning and that senders obviously know me very well. Him-me... let's face it - I'm Gavin, so I'm quitting that "he" pose from now on. And here it is! Caren McKinley, my co-worker, age 26, some task list, generic contact identifier (eh, whatever that is) and also some personal notes. Nothing applicable right now, but there is new message from her few minutes old.
Caren: Hi Gav. I heard that you have some problem with coming to work. I hope it's nothing serious. :-)
Now what? I have no idea how I possibly could break this if I pay attention and say less then nothing specific. Let's try it.
Gavin: No serious problem when it comes to health or so. I'm just kinda dazed after the night - don't know why.
Caren: Kinda dazed? :-)))
Gavin: Well a little bit. ;-)
Caren: Kinda? :-) What... you started to invent new words or what?
Oh, gosh... write properly! It isn't the right time to study histories of Gav's chats right now - however I know that it's great idea at least. I decided to skip this problem somehow at this moment.
Gavin: Just dazed - now you can see it. :-)
Caren: So full day off today?
Gavin: Yes... rather.
Caren: Well, I'll try to go through it alone. ;-)
I stopped for thinking for a while. Go through what? Was it personal or professional? And how to find out without raising suspicion.
Gavin: I hope you're not so alone. ;-)
Caren: Oh, c'mon, I don't have mood to join other pair now. I can do something on alone, don't worry. :-) And maybe I'll see you in the eve.
Gavin: Right, I think that eve is no problem.
Caren: BTW: That problem with business message library is fixed at last.
Gavin: Great!
Really great, I have no idea what is she talking about. Caren is silent for a while so I decided to check other possibilities of that object browsing thingy. It has even name - World Browser. Oh, how original... I created class called WorldCotroller once - that was much more powerful designation, wasn't it? Ok, let's browse now.
I was working for company called Allied System Applications (I knew it from chat notes for Caren) and with this information it's proper time to find out how to search for things in Browser. And it is much easier than I expected - I can hit upon search feature on every step. Yet still it's not intrusive. Nice.
Allied System Applications is company based in Newberden (never heard of it either) with some branches in Kees, Archsta and Rotherham. 933 employees all around, 114 in Rotherham. Well, my new company is obviously larger than the one before. Strange thing for me is that I can find too many things about the company in that Object World (really hard to narrow it down to our Internet even after a few minutes experience). Full employee list, for example. Ah, my name - and link.
Gavin Poullan, 28 years old, Arto (that's the programming language name) application developer, 6 years in ASA, some projects I was working on were named too. Everything with possibility to navigate there for closer detail. It looks like the ASA is really open company. However this was some public record about the company. ASA has also their official portal (page?) and there were much more objects containing something about ASA too. There is even list of competitors! Eh... I really don't know what I should think about that.
I took a quick tour around the Object World (or simply World - as it looks like they call it so simply) and found out that similar information is provided for every named company. And I was more and more sure that I need a little help and explanation what I should think about this. Well, Paulie, call or come - and do it quickly.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Utopia (1): The morning in Utopia
Note: You shouldn't take reality too seriously in this series. Nor it is sci-fi, no - these will be common stories from not so ordinary world. World similar to us - let's say it's parallel world or whatever - yet world quite different. Don't focus on a construction "how he's got there?" - I really don't know. Just presume that it was one morning - different from all his mornings before.
Something is wrong. I know it even before I open my eyes. Yet it's good idea to open them eventually and so I'm doing so. First look surprised me quite a lot - it actually surprised me too much to be shocked or scared or what. I woke up in a room I've never seen...
Everything is quiet around here, I'm alone in the bed (in a pyjamas I never saw) and well - I'm more then quite confused. No drinking yesterday, drugs are out of options for sure... what the hell is going on here?! Ok, some action needed. Let's check the rooms now. Furniture and equipment are all to my liking and this is nice large four room flat with everything I'd need for life. Still I have no idea how I've got here. I recognized myself in a mirror (well - except that pyjamas) and I can open the house door - so at least I'm not obligated to stay here. But the problem is that I don't recognize the outdoor. There is nothing like the town I live in. City in my view is completely strange. Nothing wrong with it - it might be even nice - but I'm not familiar with it at all.
Ok, let's examine the flat closely - I have to find something about its inhabitants and maybe even some information about where I am. I opened the drawers on the commode in the bedroom and there I found some documents. Bank account statements, insurance, something with health care. Everything was in English which kinda confused me - because it's not my native language and I'm really far far away from English speaking countries. Or - I was yesterday - at least. There is no surprise then that I can't recognize bank house names or proper form of those documents. What was obvious on the other hand - they all belong to someone named Gavin Poullan.
I moved to the office desk with computer screen on it - computer is apparently running so I turned the screen on. It wasn't even locked - eh, I recognized myself in such a stupid behavior. I'm not familiar with the desktop environment and it definitely doesn't look like Windows/Linux/Mac. Uh, really strange. However - let's move on. And there it is! Id card on the desk with...
Well, up to this moment it looked just like a bad joke or amnesia or whatever. But I have a bad feeling seeing MY photo on the card with name Gavin Poullan. That was the moment when mobile phone started to ring. No problem that I've never seen that model - a little bigger problem that I've never heard about "Akarmob" trademark but... display is showing Paulie calling, let's check it out:
- "Yes?"
- "Hi Gavin," male voice on the other side. "Here's Paul... just wanted to know if you're all right."
- "Kinda... thanks... is there anything going on?"
- "Eh, at this work? :-) Not really - just you're not the one with custom to come late, you know."
- "Late - oh sorry."
- "Well, no problem, I'm here to wake you up anytime." Paulie was obviously in a good mood. That wasn't my case.
- "Well..." I staggered for a while. "Paulie?"
- "Yes?"
- "Actually, I'm not quite in shape right now, but you know... I don't know..." I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't sure if Paulie is my mate or boss. Or even both. Not to mention that I'm not really voluble in English.
- "No problem, Gavin. If you need few hours or even a day off - just tell it and I can handle. Nothing is in rush currently, you know it very well."
- "Well, I'd rather take the day off then if I may."
- "You may. No problem Gav. I'll handle it."
- "Ok, thank you a lot."
- "Ok, take care."
That was the moment I've got the idea - maybe insane but everything around was already kinda insane, so... I utilized that moment while Paulie waited for my good-bye or what and started.
- "Paulie...?"
- "Yes, Gav?"
- "Can I ask you ... well if you don't have anything today... can we meet somewhere?"
- "Eh, :-)" this made Paulie smile a bit evidently. "Of course if you want. Where?"
- "Ah... right question." I'm thinking about the best option but there is only one left anyway. "Well, can you actually pick me here? I can't really decide now."
- "Oh, Gav!... We have that squad action, I nearly forgot it because I couldn't imagine that YOU could forget!" Paulie was in a really funny mood - and it looked like I was part or the reason now.
- "Oh, gosh... as I said."
- "No problem, man. If you have something serious, I can make a stop at your home and I'll see if I go to the party or not."
- "Jesus... thank you. I think I can go there - no problem with that. But please, pick me up. I can tell you the reasons then, if it's not a problem."
- "No, it isn't. Nothing is problem... so far. ;-)"
- "Ok, thank you a lot."
- "You're welcome."
- "Ok, see you then."
- "See you, Gav."
Well, this was something. Now his voice has sounded very clear so I can expect that mine was clear too. So he must know my voice. So I have Gav's voice, Gav's shape and face and the only thing I'm missing now is Gav's memory. Or better my own flat (well, rented, but who cares now), my pyjamas and situation I can navigate in. However I don't know how and so I decided to let it flow. And I really should continue in investigation about myself at first.
And so I'm starting right now.
Something is wrong. I know it even before I open my eyes. Yet it's good idea to open them eventually and so I'm doing so. First look surprised me quite a lot - it actually surprised me too much to be shocked or scared or what. I woke up in a room I've never seen...
Everything is quiet around here, I'm alone in the bed (in a pyjamas I never saw) and well - I'm more then quite confused. No drinking yesterday, drugs are out of options for sure... what the hell is going on here?! Ok, some action needed. Let's check the rooms now. Furniture and equipment are all to my liking and this is nice large four room flat with everything I'd need for life. Still I have no idea how I've got here. I recognized myself in a mirror (well - except that pyjamas) and I can open the house door - so at least I'm not obligated to stay here. But the problem is that I don't recognize the outdoor. There is nothing like the town I live in. City in my view is completely strange. Nothing wrong with it - it might be even nice - but I'm not familiar with it at all.
Ok, let's examine the flat closely - I have to find something about its inhabitants and maybe even some information about where I am. I opened the drawers on the commode in the bedroom and there I found some documents. Bank account statements, insurance, something with health care. Everything was in English which kinda confused me - because it's not my native language and I'm really far far away from English speaking countries. Or - I was yesterday - at least. There is no surprise then that I can't recognize bank house names or proper form of those documents. What was obvious on the other hand - they all belong to someone named Gavin Poullan.
I moved to the office desk with computer screen on it - computer is apparently running so I turned the screen on. It wasn't even locked - eh, I recognized myself in such a stupid behavior. I'm not familiar with the desktop environment and it definitely doesn't look like Windows/Linux/Mac. Uh, really strange. However - let's move on. And there it is! Id card on the desk with...
Well, up to this moment it looked just like a bad joke or amnesia or whatever. But I have a bad feeling seeing MY photo on the card with name Gavin Poullan. That was the moment when mobile phone started to ring. No problem that I've never seen that model - a little bigger problem that I've never heard about "Akarmob" trademark but... display is showing Paulie calling, let's check it out:
- "Yes?"
- "Hi Gavin," male voice on the other side. "Here's Paul... just wanted to know if you're all right."
- "Kinda... thanks... is there anything going on?"
- "Eh, at this work? :-) Not really - just you're not the one with custom to come late, you know."
- "Late - oh sorry."
- "Well, no problem, I'm here to wake you up anytime." Paulie was obviously in a good mood. That wasn't my case.
- "Well..." I staggered for a while. "Paulie?"
- "Yes?"
- "Actually, I'm not quite in shape right now, but you know... I don't know..." I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't sure if Paulie is my mate or boss. Or even both. Not to mention that I'm not really voluble in English.
- "No problem, Gavin. If you need few hours or even a day off - just tell it and I can handle. Nothing is in rush currently, you know it very well."
- "Well, I'd rather take the day off then if I may."
- "You may. No problem Gav. I'll handle it."
- "Ok, thank you a lot."
- "Ok, take care."
That was the moment I've got the idea - maybe insane but everything around was already kinda insane, so... I utilized that moment while Paulie waited for my good-bye or what and started.
- "Paulie...?"
- "Yes, Gav?"
- "Can I ask you ... well if you don't have anything today... can we meet somewhere?"
- "Eh, :-)" this made Paulie smile a bit evidently. "Of course if you want. Where?"
- "Ah... right question." I'm thinking about the best option but there is only one left anyway. "Well, can you actually pick me here? I can't really decide now."
- "Oh, Gav!... We have that squad action, I nearly forgot it because I couldn't imagine that YOU could forget!" Paulie was in a really funny mood - and it looked like I was part or the reason now.
- "Oh, gosh... as I said."
- "No problem, man. If you have something serious, I can make a stop at your home and I'll see if I go to the party or not."
- "Jesus... thank you. I think I can go there - no problem with that. But please, pick me up. I can tell you the reasons then, if it's not a problem."
- "No, it isn't. Nothing is problem... so far. ;-)"
- "Ok, thank you a lot."
- "You're welcome."
- "Ok, see you then."
- "See you, Gav."
Well, this was something. Now his voice has sounded very clear so I can expect that mine was clear too. So he must know my voice. So I have Gav's voice, Gav's shape and face and the only thing I'm missing now is Gav's memory. Or better my own flat (well, rented, but who cares now), my pyjamas and situation I can navigate in. However I don't know how and so I decided to let it flow. And I really should continue in investigation about myself at first.
And so I'm starting right now.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Googleized or Googlized?
Doesn't matter really. Even Googelized can be found with Google - and every form has its foundation. I'll stick with Googleized - because it contains Google in its fullness.
Of course I used Google to find something on web before, but my full Googleization started when I decided to be invited to Gmail. I always had something against webmails - because they were not usable. I lost few mails because of session expiration and sometimes the service was not even accessible. Gmail got me. Auto-saved drafts, very strong usage of JavaScript that wasn't obtrusive - on the contrary - everything was aimed to make things easier, faster, better... googlish, you know.
From Gmail to other services
Reliable service (hm, I have to admit, that I found my Gmail inaccessible sometimes too - but only for a short while) is not the only thing that makes Gmail winner in my eyes. When I grasped the label system, found out that not single mail but conversation is what really matters and few other things that changed my perspective of emails - that was that moment when I realized that Google is more. And can be even more. When I grew together with my Gmail, I started to use it even for things it wasn't intended for. When I needed to write map review in English (that isn't my first language as you can see ;-)) I used drafts for it. Because of aforementioned auto-save feature and because of spell checking.
When Google Spreadsheets came out I thought to myself: "Now only some notes or whatever where I can create documents with auto-save and spell check." And guess what... few weeks later it's called Google Docs&Spreadsheets and I'm writing this post in this application. OK, now I've found "check spelling" icon in Blogger, but still I feel more comfortable with this wide window, familiar Gmail/Google look&feel - and after all - there is no problem with copy&paste into Blogger's post. At least I'm not aware of any. ;-) Maybe some problem will appear when I start to use more features and more text formatting.
Now I'm happy user of Calendar, I started to flirt with Photos/Picasa and - as you may notice - with Blogger too. ;-) And currently my fresh Google Desktop is indexing my computer. Well - how far this can go? And - is it only good? Well... I don't want to discuss philosophic questions here. I'm open human being and I kinda don't care what is known and what is not. I let you (anyone) to know things about me. And I know that when I really don't know something to be know, it's not to be discussed on Internet anywhere. I don't consider Google better or worse than other common services in terms of information security. Again - I'm not touching technical aspects of the topic - it's always up to your feelings to decide what can be said and what not. And where. I simply don't care in most things. And most of us is not so important anyway. :-P Ah... too much words for a topic I didn't want to bring here at all. ;-)
Can it be better?
Let's return to technical level - or at least to level of user's experience. Can this be better? Well - YES - obviously. It would be really bad if it can't be better, right? Now some concrete/specific things. Many services display cool "services list" (or how to call it) in the left top corner. When you are on yours docs index, you can see it. You can see it in Gmail, you can see it in Calendar - in these two applications you can even see it all the time (I hope) which is cool. I can switch to another Google domain anytime. Well - not really. Because right now - editing this text - I don't see this bar. And another magical thing is its content. When I was in Gmail I saw Groups, when I was in Docs&Spreadsheets I saw also Photos - but no Groups. I wasn't using any of this. Now I used Group for one post about my First Google Desktop experience and Groups are still shown only in Gmail. But when I used Photos today for the first time it started to appear in both applications. Strange.
I want this "service bar" visible all the time. With first link Google showing being not default Google, but personalized one. And I want it stable and customizable to some extent. E.g. let the Gmail link be pointing to HTTPS version instead of plain HTTP one (this is not my case, but I can pretty imagine such a wish). Maybe I should only wait few weeks like was the Docs' case. ;-)
Another thing is that you can enter any service with Gmail account, but it's not real single sign-on. I have "remember me on this computer" checked on - and so I have no problem with this. But my mate uses to log into the Google/Gmail (he simply doesn't have that habit to save passwords on computers) - and he has to log again into distinct services.
And let's go even further (and still not too much - we're not talking about sci-fi, only about things that my surprise us when Google made us so comfy before ;-)): Why I have to enter some profile on Groups when it wants to know exactly the same things like some services before?
Beware! It's beta!
Yes. It's true. Most things are claimed to be beta or even in Labs stadium. If I take this into consideration I have to be more patient - I know. It's really simple - Google sometimes surprise me with "oh, this is not working yet?" when so many things are working so nicely, intuitively, etc, etc... add your favorite superlatives. You can argue about policies (claimed vs. real one that you can't know anyway ;-)), you can discuss security or even crisis in global society - but you have to admit that Google is changing our world of information. Not so slowly and - that's for sure - with new perspectives upon these information. With technical innovations. And even if they are not really first, they are often first able to really deliver.
And that counts. And so I am Googleized and it's getting worse.
Of course I used Google to find something on web before, but my full Googleization started when I decided to be invited to Gmail. I always had something against webmails - because they were not usable. I lost few mails because of session expiration and sometimes the service was not even accessible. Gmail got me. Auto-saved drafts, very strong usage of JavaScript that wasn't obtrusive - on the contrary - everything was aimed to make things easier, faster, better... googlish, you know.
From Gmail to other services
Reliable service (hm, I have to admit, that I found my Gmail inaccessible sometimes too - but only for a short while) is not the only thing that makes Gmail winner in my eyes. When I grasped the label system, found out that not single mail but conversation is what really matters and few other things that changed my perspective of emails - that was that moment when I realized that Google is more. And can be even more. When I grew together with my Gmail, I started to use it even for things it wasn't intended for. When I needed to write map review in English (that isn't my first language as you can see ;-)) I used drafts for it. Because of aforementioned auto-save feature and because of spell checking.
When Google Spreadsheets came out I thought to myself: "Now only some notes or whatever where I can create documents with auto-save and spell check." And guess what... few weeks later it's called Google Docs&Spreadsheets and I'm writing this post in this application. OK, now I've found "check spelling" icon in Blogger, but still I feel more comfortable with this wide window, familiar Gmail/Google look&feel - and after all - there is no problem with copy&paste into Blogger's post. At least I'm not aware of any. ;-) Maybe some problem will appear when I start to use more features and more text formatting.
Now I'm happy user of Calendar, I started to flirt with Photos/Picasa and - as you may notice - with Blogger too. ;-) And currently my fresh Google Desktop is indexing my computer. Well - how far this can go? And - is it only good? Well... I don't want to discuss philosophic questions here. I'm open human being and I kinda don't care what is known and what is not. I let you (anyone) to know things about me. And I know that when I really don't know something to be know, it's not to be discussed on Internet anywhere. I don't consider Google better or worse than other common services in terms of information security. Again - I'm not touching technical aspects of the topic - it's always up to your feelings to decide what can be said and what not. And where. I simply don't care in most things. And most of us is not so important anyway. :-P Ah... too much words for a topic I didn't want to bring here at all. ;-)
Can it be better?
Let's return to technical level - or at least to level of user's experience. Can this be better? Well - YES - obviously. It would be really bad if it can't be better, right? Now some concrete/specific things. Many services display cool "services list" (or how to call it) in the left top corner. When you are on yours docs index, you can see it. You can see it in Gmail, you can see it in Calendar - in these two applications you can even see it all the time (I hope) which is cool. I can switch to another Google domain anytime. Well - not really. Because right now - editing this text - I don't see this bar. And another magical thing is its content. When I was in Gmail I saw Groups, when I was in Docs&Spreadsheets I saw also Photos - but no Groups. I wasn't using any of this. Now I used Group for one post about my First Google Desktop experience and Groups are still shown only in Gmail. But when I used Photos today for the first time it started to appear in both applications. Strange.
I want this "service bar" visible all the time. With first link Google showing being not default Google, but personalized one. And I want it stable and customizable to some extent. E.g. let the Gmail link be pointing to HTTPS version instead of plain HTTP one (this is not my case, but I can pretty imagine such a wish). Maybe I should only wait few weeks like was the Docs' case. ;-)
Another thing is that you can enter any service with Gmail account, but it's not real single sign-on. I have "remember me on this computer" checked on - and so I have no problem with this. But my mate uses to log into the Google/Gmail (he simply doesn't have that habit to save passwords on computers) - and he has to log again into distinct services.
And let's go even further (and still not too much - we're not talking about sci-fi, only about things that my surprise us when Google made us so comfy before ;-)): Why I have to enter some profile on Groups when it wants to know exactly the same things like some services before?
Beware! It's beta!
Yes. It's true. Most things are claimed to be beta or even in Labs stadium. If I take this into consideration I have to be more patient - I know. It's really simple - Google sometimes surprise me with "oh, this is not working yet?" when so many things are working so nicely, intuitively, etc, etc... add your favorite superlatives. You can argue about policies (claimed vs. real one that you can't know anyway ;-)), you can discuss security or even crisis in global society - but you have to admit that Google is changing our world of information. Not so slowly and - that's for sure - with new perspectives upon these information. With technical innovations. And even if they are not really first, they are often first able to really deliver.
And that counts. And so I am Googleized and it's getting worse.
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