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> So is this supposed to be shocking? This is actually one of the reasons I've always had significantly less respect for the 5-year masters programs. I don't t

by ramchip 16y ago

> So is this supposed to be shocking? This is actually one of the reasons I've always had significantly less respect for the 5-year masters programs. I don't think it's supposed to be shocking. Both the title and comments sound pretty positive. <Freud> Perhaps you wish it were shocking because it would confirm your negative impression of modern research? </Freud> My own experience is that there are "relax labs", where students (perhaps interested in research but not as a full academic career) grab a diploma before going on to employment, and "serious labs", where students go to become a professor or really develop an expertise. The first kind isn't necessarily unproductive in research, but they tend to work on more applied stuff - cool gadgets motivate these students more than deep theoretical work.

jimmyswimmy 16y ago
Should you read this - nah, I actually have a positive impression of modern (as well as older) research. I have to admit that I was surprised to see such a strong set of opinions presented by the article, and after some reflection, I was pleased as well. It's nice to see someone saying "You want to be good at this, you better work your ass off to show me that you want it." rather than the typical modern schoolchild approach which engenders the idea that everyone is good enough. I think you're right about the different kinds of labs, though I would characterize it as more of a continuum, but it seems to me that the "relax labs" ought to be more corporate or at least corporate-sponsored. But that's a whole different topic.
- ramchip 16y ago
  > it seems to me that the "relax labs" ought to be more corporate or at least corporate-sponsored Oh yes, I completely agree on that. I've worked at one of these places, and what they made was exactly the definition of "cool gadgets". To my eyes, it wasn't research, it was pure development. Stuff like this should be funded by a company to build a product, not by universities. I can't go too much in the details, but one of the things they built was a blogging robot. It has a PDA and blogs your location for some reason...

by ramchip 16y ago

jimmyswimmy 16y ago

Should you read this - nah, I actually have a positive impression of modern (as well as older) research. I have to admit that I was surprised to see such a strong set of opinions presented by the article, and after some reflection, I was pleased as well. It's nice to see someone saying "You want to be good at this, you better work your ass off to show me that you want it." rather than the typical modern schoolchild approach which engenders the idea that everyone is good enough. I think you're right about the different kinds of labs, though I would characterize it as more of a continuum, but it seems to me that the "relax labs" ought to be more corporate or at least corporate-sponsored. But that's a whole different topic.

ramchip 16y ago
> it seems to me that the "relax labs" ought to be more corporate or at least corporate-sponsored Oh yes, I completely agree on that. I've worked at one of these places, and what they made was exactly the definition of "cool gadgets". To my eyes, it wasn't research, it was pure development. Stuff like this should be funded by a company to build a product, not by universities. I can't go too much in the details, but one of the things they built was a blogging robot. It has a PDA and blogs your location for some reason...