Conference 7.286::digital

2786.0. "The vision is VIRTUALITY" by ULYSSE::FINKA () Fri Nov 19 1993 11:40

�We need a vision...� from note 2727 makes a lot of sense.

From only a (good, simple) vision you can derive and define strategy,
objectives, goals, clarity, focus, motivation, enthusiasm, challenges,
productivity, success, benefits, good salaries. Furthermore you gain
difference, consideration, opportunities, new markets if the vision is new.

I cannot understand a strategy and objectives if a vision is not first of all
defined. The fact is that DEC has no vision or does not clearly express it. DEC
not being alone cannot be an excuse. There are many serious reasons to this :
fast progress of technology, non-understanding, inertia of a big size company, 
and therefore lack of imagination and therefore lack of creativity, therefore
low risk taking, therefore meetings with no added value output, not enough
trainings and communication, and so on.

Personally I couldn't nor wouldn't work without a vision, so I understand
people expectations. If this can help you and DEC, I apply VIRTUALITY or
VIRTUAL SYSTEMS (VS) as a vision. I've been applying and verifying this for a
few years now and haven't encountered yet any contradiction with the current
technology and in particular computer trends. On the contrary VIRTUALITY makes
me understand, justify, decisions and furthermore can help in predicting
things.

I think this vision is global, simple and right. You won't be able to prove it
is wrong. I think DEC should adopt it. And progressively explain it.

For instance let's verify (hopefully it's ok !) some Bob's DVN parts against
VIRTUALITY principles.
   
   �If you have a strategy statement like the one on the screen there, you
   know that you are going to invest your engineering investment in those
   things that will support this objective: leadership; open; client/server,
   which is a distributed computing technology, an evolution really of what
   Digital has been about for over 30 years, that delivers real solutions.�

Computer systems have to be �open�. Virtual systems aim at mirroring reality
without having the time and dimension constraints. No constraint means no
technology constraint and in particular no technology barrier in
communications. Since ideally there should be one virtual system understanding
all aspects of a unique reality, at least in the meantime, the multiple
heterogeneous systems should be able to communicate first, interoperate then
with need of standards and be part of a common integrated network and
framework in the future.

�Client/server computing technology� is good because, it gives a consistent
mechanism and single entry point to access (virtual) systems to quick provide
the solution to a given business problem (from reality). Reinventing the wheel
has also to disappear.

�distributed computing technology� is also a consequence of Virtuality. The
global mirror Virtual system has no location or geographical constraints in
order to provide any solution to any problem at any time. And immediately.
�distributed computing technology� also aims at achieving uniqueness of data
from information and algorithms required by VS. Redundancy, duplication
have to disappear.

�delivers real customer solutions�  this is the whole purpose of Virtual
Systems : being able to fast give quality solutions to customers problems. 
However computers unlike virtual systems cannot achieve this alone. Because all
customer solutions cannot be solved by computers only whereas customers still
are looking for solving their problems. VS integrate for example, machines,
robots, scanners, captors, all media, other types of interactions with users.
Is DEC going to integrate these or part of these ? For instance, VS foresees a
big market in the captors area because human-computer interface will compete
with reality-computer interface.

An aspect of real solution or quality solution is performance. VS solves
problems instantly. In the meantime computers take hours to run an MRP. The
customer will choose the service from a company that proposes the best
Performance/Price ratio to solve a problem. Alpha is therefore an excellent
direction but cannot be considered solely. Only the best and strong algorithms
will survive and be the norm since they will immediately be shared.

Let's take another example where this time prediction of VS could be applied to
make  decisions :

   �  And one of the things that we have, as you probably
   know, is an extensive notes file.  You can look in there and see
   what is on employees' minds.�
  
Notes is a real-time world-wide information repository. It in a sense 
implements one of the goal of VS : once an information is created it must
immediately be shared/communicated/made available/stored for immediate or
further reusability to everybody. Since such strong VS requirement addresses
our every day life, there will naturally be a predisposition to use such
powerful solution solver beyond the work in the meantime all houses are
equipped with such systems. Like telephone notes should not be used for private
purposes. DEC must immediately take a firm decision to stop all not
work-related notes otherwise they will proliferate and grow in an exponential
costly manner. Should DEC continue to pay until all houses are equipped ?

There are many other aspects that can be further described thanks to the
VIRTUALITY vision.

Regards,
Jean
    

Hi Jean,

i have not heard about VIRTUALITY or VS, however i have a different opinion 
than yours :

>> On the contrary VIRTUALITY makes me understand, justify, decisions and 
>> furthermore can help in predicting things.

For me i justify decision based on my own consciousness. Allowing a claimed 
system ( no matter how good it is ) to affect my decision making process
transforms me into an automatom, depriving my conscious and free will. This 
contradicts religion,science and philosophy.

>> For instance let's verify (hopefully it's ok !) some Bob's DVN parts against
>> VIRTUALITY principles.

What if Bob Palmer was wrong ?


>> Virtual systems aim at mirroring reality without having the time and 
>> dimension constraints. 
>> Since ideally there should be one virtual system understanding all aspects 
>> of a unique reality, 
>> VS integrate for example, machines, robots, scanners, captors....

An unconstrained reality is non existent. Actually in modern physics you 
get different observations to the same phenomena by applying different 
time and dimension constraints, this is not an observation limitation but 
rather a property of matter. 
Even reality in its most fundamental form, that of mathematical truth, has 
been proved non existent by the works of Godel and Hilbert. There is no 
system with whatever algorithm [ During machine ] capable of identifying 
reality. Reality must come through non algorithmic routes such as 
consciousness & instinct. 
In physics many recent arguments seem to support the anthropic principle, 
stating that the universe is strongly constrained that conscious beings
observe it for it to exist.

    
    i meant Turing not During machine

Bah we don't need a vision we need people and managers who do things. Not
visualize. we need leadership not vapor or crayon colored visions that are
too vague to translate into anything meaningful.

just my opinion

dave

    re:-1
    Granted.  Most visions have no meaning at all to anyone, much less to
    the people who created them.  
    
    However, I'm sure you don't mean just "doing things" for their own
    sake.  After all, they could decide to make bowling balls, or better
    yet, just go bowling.  You are assuming they are doing things that will
    lead somewhere.  The problem is we don't know what somewhere looks
    like.  
    
    Would you go on a trip and not know what the destination was?  Well,
    we're on a trip.  Does anyone know the destination?  There are a lot of
    customers who want to know.

        .4

    >Would you go on a trip and not know what the destination was?  Well,
    >we're on a trip.  Does anyone know the destination?  There are a lot of
    >customers who want to know.


    well, our destination is where the customer wants us to be.
    we are here to meet customer needs, if customer want X, we give them
    X, if they want Y we give them Y.

    when a customer asks you where we are heading, just tell them we are
    heading to serve you in any direction you are heading, dear customer.

    if the customers don't know where they are heading, why blame DEC?

    i know i should be a VP or something. one day, ONE DAY !!
    
    \nasser

    How can I agrue with a future VP?  

I don't want to argue in endless (generaly non added value) discussions.
VIRTUALITY is not theoretical, on the contrary examples of first-age VS are :
TV, computer, watch, book, key, credit card, money, image, mail, movie,
telephone, newspaper, Sega and Nintendo games, etc.

My point is that you won't be able to prove that VIRTUALITY is not the vision.
So we'd better take it for granted and a positive competitive advantage while
we still have such an opportunity.

For instance VIRTUALITY helps in delivering more accurate and credible messages
than 'Satisfy all customers needs'.

Regards,
Jean
    

OK, I'll ask.  What on earth do you mean by VIRTUALITY?  I haven't understood
anything you've said so far.

Nick

    The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary says of 'virtuality':
    
    1. The possession of force or power, something endowed with such power.
       (rare)
       (first use late 15th century, obsolete since early 17th century)
    2. Virtual or essential nature or being, as distinct from external form
       or embodiment.
       (first use mid 17th century)
    3. A virtual, as opposed to an actual, thing; a potentiality.
       (first use mid 19th century)

re .7
    
>> VIRTUALITY is not theoretical, on the contrary examples of first-age VS are :
>> TV, computer, watch, book, key, credit card, money, image, mail, movie,
>> My point is that you won't be able to prove that VIRTUALITY is not the vision.

Given :

A) The items you list ( TV.. ) were developed as a result of human thought.

B) VIRTUALITY is always the correct vision and predicts what humans achieve.

combine A & B -> C :

C) Human thought is the correct Vision.

    Could not agree more with Virtuality. But these stupid customers might
    have problem.

    First came REALITY, no products and 3b$ ( was it 3?) loss.
    Then came IMAGINATION, in the form of Burgundy and round dots on "i"s.
    Now we give them VIRTUALITY vision.

    Even the most patient one's will start asking themselves, is this what
    I pay premium price for ?

    The idea is ahead of his century, chapeau !