Deadly Defects

Engineers should make sure that everything they design and build does not have deadly defects. For example, a fuel system control processor with a deadly defect was on Flight 143 in 1983. The plane ran out of fuel before reaching its destination. Thankfully, the plane landed without killing anyone. Humans need help to accurately measure how much fuel is in the tanks, and that help must be trusted to give an accurate measurement so enough fuel is in the tanks for the plane to reach its destination. There are stories of a deadly defect in dialysis machines. Instead of moving the blood of the user through the machine and cleaning it, the machine would start cleaning itself and kill the user as it pumps solvent through the user's body. It is imperative that engineers eliminate deadly defects.

Technology and the Church

Technology has been a great help to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it will continue to be a great help to the Church. Many people misunderstand and are frustrated with the speed that the Church is moving at in utilizing technology. But the cautious rate of change is wise to make sure everything is in order because moving too quickly could cause more problems than would be solved. There are problems with the software that the Church produces, but these problems are gradually being solved. It isn't unusual for software to have bugs. Perfectly bug-free software is nearly impossible to come by. Maybe there are more bugs in the Church's software than other programs, but would it be wise to spend the money to hire the quantity and quality of developers that it would take to improve the software? I don't think so. Software is a nice tool that can greatly help, but it would be unwise to invest money into something that merely supplements the mission of the Church as if it were critical to the Church's mission. The Gospel can be spread without technology. Temple work could be done without technology if needs be, and perfecting the Saints doesn't require technology either. But these missions can be aided by technology. It makes sense to me that the money should be focused more on the critical aspects of the Church's mission than the supplements that aid the accomplishment of the critical aspects.

Unlocked iPhones

Recently, an article was published on Wired about unlocked iPhones. You can read it here: http://www.wired.com/gadgets/mods/news/2007/09/unlocked_iphones

In the service agreement to buy an iPhone, there doesn't seem to be anything against reverse-engineering the phone, using the phone with other networks, or reselling the phone to other people. The hackers don't seem to be doing anything wrong (although I wouldn't consider my observations as authoritative: I have misinterpreted legal documents before). If the hackers cancel service between fourteen and thirty days after getting it, they do not have to pay the early termination fee and they have to keep the phone. Only the initial cost is more for an unlocked iPhone. The hackers will charge enough to recover the costs of the activation fees for AT&T and the cost of buying the phone plus any additional profit they make in auctioning the unlocked iPhone on eBay. If you want an unlocked iPhone, not only do you have to buy an unlocked phone (if you are unwilling to unlock it yourself), you have to pay the activation fees along with any other fees associated with connecting to a different network with an existing phone. Is the cost difference between a normal iPhone and an unlocked iPhone worth the marginal benefit of a "better" phone company?

The Effects of Technology on Society

I don't think technology has made people worse or better. I think technology helps expose the true character of all individuals. It has given a chance for those who would have remained in poverty to realize what they can become and become it. It shows the true character of individuals as information flows around the world about what people do with their time and about what decisions they make. Those who rise to the occasion rise, and those who don't rise to the occasion don't fail because they don't realize there is an occasion (as is the case in many instances without technology) but because they they don't want rise to it.

I'm not saying people cannot change, I'm saying that technology doesn't change people. Only one can change one's self.