Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!sgi!shinobu!odin!texas!robert
From: robert@texas.sgi.com (Robert Skinner)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: How well does Barnsley's system perform?
Message-ID: <6277@odin.corp.sgi.com>
Date: 12 Apr 90 01:41:34 GMT
References: <1935@speedy.mcnc.org> <3166@usceast.UUCP> <1571@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> <35410@brunix.UUCP> <13652@cgl.ucsf.EDU> <5538@amelia.nas.nasa.gov>
Sender: news@odin.corp.sgi.com
Reply-To: robert@sgi.com
Organization: Silicon Graphics Inc., Entry Systems Division
Lines: 49

In article <1935@speedy.mcnc.org>, spl@duck.ncsc.org (Steve Lamont) writes:
> In article <5538@amelia.nas.nasa.gov> uselton@nas.nasa.gov (Samuel P.
Uselton) writes:
> >    ...  [Barnsley's] 1988 presentation at SIGGRAPH in Atlanta was the most
> >obnoxious piece of commercialism masquerading as a "technical" talk I have
> >seen in 15 years of conferences.
> 
> Agreed!  I also was embarrassed by his presentation...
> 
> Where the *hell* were the reviewers on that paper???
> 

I agree totally with Sam and Steve.  

I was embarrassed by Barnsley's presentation and offended by his
commercialism.  I can put up with a lot of crap if a person has a
demonstrable product, but his machine seems cloaked in mystery.  
I hope that he DOES get rewarded financially if he indeed has
something there, I just wish he would turn down the hype until its
ready.

Most people that present a paper at Siggraph and have a product to sell, 
let the product speak for itself, with slides and videos.  Most never 
ask attendees to see the product, and when asked directly they say that 
the product can be seen on the exhibition floor or in (an unspecified) suite.  

On the other hand, Barnsley interrupted his presentation for "the most
important announcement of my life" to tell everyone that his system
was on display in room XXX of hotel YYY.  

He even hawked his book, for crissake.

I don't think the reviewers can predict from the paper whether a 
person's presentation will be offensive.  They can only judge
the contents of the paper itself.  

I'll let someone more qualified comment on the content of his paper.
It looks pretty thin to me, but I admit I know very little about the
area.  What do others think?  Is it possible to reproduce any of his 
results given what's in his paper?  (I know there's code in his book,
but that doesn't count.)

Robert Skinner
robert@sgi.com

He who knows not and knows that he knows not is ignorant.  	Teach him.
He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool.  	Shun him.
He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep.  		Wake him.
He who knows and knows that he knows is wise.   		Follow him.