On Sat, 19 May 2001 Bowerbird@... wrote:

> why did it take _an_individual_ like phil yates to program yspeak?
> and only then in y2k?  (30 years past the steves in the garage.)

Just because.

> why didn't the computer industry use the gold bullion it plundered
> for many decades to give speech to the voiceless a decade ago?

Macintalk.  1985.  Its not like Stephen Hawking can't get things said or
written down.

> ears to the deaf?

Telephone Devices for Deaf since the 80's and probly sooner.
Text messaging services.  Hearing aids. Maybe someday a whole articial ear
that connects to or even replaces the nerves and cilia in the inner ear.
You make it sound so simple.


>  eyes to the blind?

Uh..

> compassion to the sick?

Video games.

> medical information to the world's poor?

www.md.com and countless like it.

>  comfort to the lonely?

ICQ.

> the body of all of our knowledge to our young, to educate them?

The internet.

> a love of life, to those with the curiousity and capability to enjoy it?

ICQ.  My god, you want science and technology to GIVE you a love life?  I
don't even know what to say to that.  I can't think of anything that
wouldn't get me kicked off this list.

Its what you yourself and "the kids" and everyone else actually does with
the tools they have that is the real problem with all these things.  The
biggest stumbling blocks to progress are the people themselves.

-D