[Coco] [OT] Fundraiser for CoCo Enthusiast

[Joel Rees]

Ty,

I think the concept of accessible tech is very much on topic here.

I read your announcements here and I am intrigued. I have no money to
offer, but I think I might be able contribute intellectually to such an
effort (especially if you really are hiring). But one thing drops a huge
barrier in front of me.

Patents.

And the fact that they prevent you from disclosing the very things that
would make it more than intriguing for me.

The abuse of the patent system is the real root problem that generates
throw-away tech. It's also the reason recycling basically means reducing
the components to raw materials to start again.

The US waited too long to fund a patent library searchable by ordinary
mortals, and without such a library, it's impossible to properly attribute
and refer to all the prior art.

Now we have a huge clot of meaningless patents ready for the well-funded to
use to prevent competition -- especially including real solutions because
real solutions don't (seem to) bring quick monetary profit.

(I haven't kept track of this, but there was a while when the patent office
would offer a cheaper patent registration for purely defensive patents. It
would be a great idea if and only if failing to declare prior art could
really be used to void the rights to a registered creative work.)

If I can't see what sort of circuitry you're building, I can't judge
whether you are really building something I can and would want to work
with.

In the context of this list, I can mention that the lowly 6809 is closer to
the kind of CPU that would drive such a series of devices than any existing
CPU that I am aware of except for certain CPUs that directly implement
Forth. (68K and ARM are sort of workable, but went the wrong directions.)

When the curtains come down, I may be interested.

2017/11/29 3:21 "Ty Sopko" <ty.sopko at gmail.com>:

> Hello Folks,
>
>
>
> It has been probably 10 years since I posted anything to this group.  I
> have read the posts throughout the years and always learned something new
> or was fascinated by some of the debates.  I am surprised to see that my
> rendering of the CoCo3 schematic is still at the top of Google (“color
> computer 3 schematic”).
>
>
>
> I cannot tell you my whole story of the last 10 years in one sitting, so I
> am jumping to the conclusion.  I am starting a social enterprise designed
> to curb e-waste at the source.  This will be done with a durable product
> designed for STEM education.  (To understand the connection between these
> two seemingly disjoint topics, please refer to either link at the bottom.)
>
>
>
> What I can tell you about my product is that it allows you to learn how to
> program naturally, much the same way that I did on my Color Computer 3
> about 27 years ago.  BASIC is one of the languages, and the dialect is
> fairly similar to the CoCo3 – it is not finalized by any means, and it may
> be possible to customize the command set to mirror many retro BASICs.
>
>
>
> You see, a main problem with STEM education is that we are teaching
> programming without creating programmers.  The latter encourages creative
> problem solving and is why the CoCo is so fun after all these years.
>
>
>
> Fundraising for a social enterprise is difficult.  I am pursuing both
> accredited investors and grassroots means.  The latter is why I am reaching
> out to you today.
>
>
>
> If you are able to contribute to my company, it will benefit humanity and
> the environment.  If you are not able to contribute, I please ask that you
> share my campaign in your networks.  Any amount, no matter how small, will
> benefit our cause.
>
>
>
> You have my deepest thanks for your attention and generosity.
>
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
>
>
> Ty
>
>
>
> Company website is at http://www.shiftsight.com/
>
> Direct link to the fundraiser is at http://www.gofundme.com/shiftsight/
>
> --
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>