[nycbug-talk] interesting read

[alex at pilosoft.com]

On Sat, 21 May 2005, Isaac Levy wrote:

> If I had a pacemaker, I'd see it like this: It's my body, so I see it as
> a human right that I have the source code to my own pacemaker, and that
> my life not be in the hands of a single patent holder or vendor.
Interesting point. :)

> Practically speaking, if I or my doctors were to have problems with a
> particular vendor for said pacemaker, I could take the source code and
> tech involved to whomever could continue to support it.  That would be
> the benefit of having the ability to recompile the source code for my
> pacemaker.
I don't think you really meant to say that. That course of action will 
likely to lead to disaster.

a) If there's a problem with a vendor, and there is a *chance of death* - 
you don't play games with vendors. You replace the device.

-alex