Great story and best of luck to you guys going forward. This is a very useful tool. I find myself using it more and more lately when I need a quick test spin in the explorers.
I adore Python and the general ethos of the community. I can be a bit of a sideliner and I usually don't have a lot of spare time - when I do I fritter it away playing with code and general programmer style procrastination. On a number of occasions I've thought it would be nice to contribute to Python in some way. I just didn't know how, if I could, or what the barrier for entry was.
This is one of the most encouraging things I've read in regards to getting my finger out and starting to give something back. You've sparked my interest and I will definitely be looking at this and seeing how I can contribute and get involved.
Why lock the platform into 5.3 without making use of 5.3 features (namespaces would clean the structure up a little). Why not use getops for the command line arg processing rather than your own __parseArgs function. The framework seems like a odd mix of procedural and oop paradigms. And considering it's a framework (and transactional), why did you not use PDO for the database access?
I'm asking out of curiosity only because recently I've had a lot of PHP work on.
Most software engineers do not need a deep understanding of Human Factors as a working tool, it is a broad term covering multiple disciplines and mediums - particularly focused on physical forms. HCI is focused on computer interaction; you are discussing user interface design.
I don't think some people are aware an entire discipline exists within Software Engineering called HCI [1]. Is the distinction made between graphic design and ui design? I'm not so sure. But this article stinks of ignorance as to what UI design really is.
Another similar hack I discovered. You can get a full blown MSc with no attachments such as (open) from The University of Liverpool [1]. You can gain entry if you have enough experience to skip the prerequisites. Costs are similar. You could pull it off in 2 years if you worked like a champion.
When the free market comes into play it's called spec work. When through-the-roof fees need to be justified it's called pitching. I love design but the hypocrisy in the game is amazing sometimes.
Indeed, a bunch of New York executive wages over an 18 month period start to add up. Khoi Vin (former art director) pondered this on his blog a few weeks ago [1], citing it as one of the reasons he resigned his post.
Hype. If they say it's big it must be so. $41mm funding announcement and the fanfare with it, they need a lot of early traction fast. And it seems this is how they are going about it.
Agreed. A major benefit that seems to be recurrent in the pilot schemes is the data the Khan system provides, and how that allows teachers to interact with students in a more personal and efficient maner. The net result being less kids fall behind. However that also shows the need for the human interaction.
I think the last thing that needs to happen is the dehumanization of the education system. What the Khan Academy seems to demonstrate so far is that the careful application of technology in the classroom has a positive effect on young students to understand and digest information. A middle ground should be sought, it should be complementary and help drive innovation in education - but definitely not replace humans.