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eddie@EatYourPeas.net

Closing Comments Regarding SIMS

SIMS will also provide for player profiles, and other information that is hard to even predict at this time.  The vision I have stuck in my head is difficult to put in words.  I think the best way to understand it is to take a look at MySpace (my own myspace account is at http://myspace.com/eddieallenb.     Don't get the wrong impression by the "sloppiness" of MySpace.  That's the nature of the beast.  SIMS will have a much cleaner look.

The basic concept is that the content and appearance of the site is driven by the people that go to the site, and not by the webmaster.  This notion of a dynamic website is growing, and I would love to see the same concept creep into the not-so-high-tech world of shuffleboard.

On the other hand... change happens slowly.  It is very difficult to pursuade people to change their ways after doing something a certain way for so long.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it (they say).  Also, look at the attempts at online discussion boards in shuffleboard.  Whether it's shuffleboardcorner.com, eshuffleboard.com, or computerpeas.com, we see the same pattern.   A short surge of banter about whatever topic and a quick drop in participation until suddenly, the last entry was a year ago.  (The discussion board is a simple example of a site who's content is driven by the visitors and is immediately available to all).

So, if a system like SIMS existed today, would enough people use it to justify its existence?  Do enough people use Computer Peas to justify its existence?  The name, "Computer PEAS", was initially intended as exactly what you would think; a replacement for the Pea bottle, but as time moves on it appears that it's also a metaphor for planting peas... or planting seeds.  Change takes time.   And every once in a while, you get a little boost.  Thanks to people like Steve "CoCo" Brown and Lorraine Olson (and the TV manufacturers who keep lowering prices), Computer Peas was brought to the big screen and the need for hand updated charts disappeared, completely.  I never thought I'd see that happen in my lifetime (I can only pray the same thing happens for stem cell research).

My computer career started in writing accounting software, back in the day when companies were using ledger books and file cabinets.  Getting people to accept the idea of a computer running their payroll, accounts receiveables, payables, and "telling" them how to manage their inventory took a long time.  It wasn't the technology that held things back.  It was fear and lack of desire to leave their comfort zone.

OK, enough of that for now.  The internet is here to stay, and dynamic, data-driven, self maintaining websites continue to grow and gain acceptance.   For people like me, who develop this stuff, it is sometimes frustrating, but for the most part, it's fun.  As Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple computer said, "The Journey is the Reward".

As always, your comments are most welcome.  Email me at etheb@aol.com or eddie@eatyourpeas.net.