I use my phone right now for sshing into my home machines and getting analytics, benchmarks, error logs, making spot changes to files, editing users and groups, etc. If you have a smartphone with a foldout keyboard, you're set. The possibility of me being able to do this with urxvt and emacs running on the phone is just awesome. Interacting with postgres on the cli with my phone is a dream as well. Obviously writing out huge statements is a pain, but you're generally just running one liners through to find some info.
"I wonder why this has not been developed by the military / government."
They actually outlined this in the article. The reason pretty much boils down to the fact that gear specifically for the military has to adhere to whatever crazy shit the higher ups demand. This makes developing a proof of concept/ fully functioning, marketable device rather difficult as the costs begin to skyrocket.
These guys took the opposite route: develop the tech, bring it to market, then let the military get in on it if they like it.
I would say that the list boils down to free-form vs. structured more than anything else.
All python code looks about the same due to it's structured nature. Because of this, the language appears more "elegant". I'm a devout PHP coder, and build on custom frameworks to do whatever it is that I need. I have some pretty big applications as well. My preference is entirely for free-form languages due to the fact that I can control elegance and readability. It may require more effort, but it is certainly doable. In fact, I'd like python a whole lot more if I wasn't forced into the structured paradigm.
In short, lazy coders make ugly code despite the language.
try Hackers keyboard in conjunction with connectbot.
Makes life much better if you don't have a physical keypad.
edit: I should elaborate. You dont really even need connectbot with hackerkeyboard as the multi keypress features aren't needed; HK supports that on itself.
My SSH combo is just Terminal Emulator + hackers keyboard
I have, and it certainly is an improvement in my eyes, however the biggest difficulty when doing UX is, to put it bluntly, getting yourself in the mindset of an absolutely clueless user.
My dad is over 60 and loves his nexus 7, but trying to explain to him how to clear an application's cache is about as effective as educating him on the underpinnings of posix threads.
Do I know a better way? Hell no. Were it up to me, everyone would be forced to learn a CLI before they even get to THINK about a file browser.
Haptic feedback has always had an option to disable. I'm pretty sure I've seen settings to even change the intensity of said feedback.
In fact, most of this guys issues are either
a) apps I want aren't available
or
b) I don't know where that setting is located.
I will agree though, the android settings browser is a bit of a train wreck. Not bad for me, but trying to explain any of this to my father, for example, is an effort in futility.
Nope. It's been what, only 2 years in to NASCAR actually having EFI engines? Even then, the teams were restricted from being able to use all of the data from the ECU, so everyone had to run at gimped tuning.
V8 Supercars, for example, debuts more tech in one race than NASCAR does in a season. Even WRC Rally cars are questionably more complicated.