This is a transcript of a Jabber session with Dinyar, a friend of mine from Austria. I've been fretting about my laziness to set BitchX to log all of my conversations; good thing this way dumped into the away transcript.

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Me: I wonder when I'll get around to designing my own language...
Me: Maybe for my thesis or something.
Me: I'm also thinking about a learning machine based on GNU.
Me: The way the Hurd utilizes userland daemons opens up a whole universe of possibilities.
Me: Imagine using a Web cam as a computer's eyes, as it were.
Dinyar: ::nods:: true.. never got round to really using the hurd.. installed it once and then it didn't recognize my NIC which made it rather hard to use it.. lol
Me: Yeah.
Me: That's what I'm waiting for.
Me: For it to mature a bit more.
Me: I don't know jack shit when it comes to writing a kernel. :P
Me: Hrm...
Dinyar: lol same here..
Me: You could also write a userland device driver/daemon for your disk drives which track your usage patterns, and correlates them with other data. You could have your computer knowing which mood you're in on any given day, and either launches Emacs in your current project's directory, or launches your IM client, looks for your sweetheart, notifies him/her that you're a bit blue, then starts an IM session with him/her.
Me: Or, better yet, your computer could intercept incoming IM conversations when it knows you're busy and speak with your friend, without your friend being any wiser!
Me: I doubt I'd be able to do all that for a thesis, though...
Me: But I *could* make it my life's mission...
Me: =))
Me: Imagine being able to say, into your mic, ``[Your computer's name], track this CVS tree, and let me know when it's updated. Download the latest release when it does get updated, too.''
Me: And never mind the stupid arbitrariness of CVS tags, your computer will know how to deal with it, and how to best contact you (if you're outside, it sends an SMS message to your phone; if you're in, it talks to you, through the speakers).
Me: That would be *really* cool.
Dinyar: lol yeah, if you write that i'll buy a copy of you even if it's free software :D
Me: ``Anne, is my car ready?'' ``Not yet, boss; but I'm starting it right now''---sound of car's engine starting---``want me to send your new mail to the car's computer, or should I read it to you while you're getting dressed?'' ``Is there a lot?'' ``Just two.'' ``If you can finish it while I'm getting dressed, then just read it to me.'' ``Roger wilco. But would you please turn off the camera before you take off your towel? You know I hate men with hairy backs.''
Me: =))
Me: Dude... If I can do all that, I'll *give* it to everyone.
Me: I'll see anyone who tries to buy it from me. =)) [*]
Dinyar: lol
Me: Don't even *mind* anthromorphism; if I were a self-aware computer, I'd hate to be anthromorphic! Imagine the stuff I can do, the stuff I can be, when I can take on any form I want!
Me: I'd love to see what the next 1 or 2 hundred years will bring...
Me: I hope someone could figure out a way to transform consciousness into something computers can make use of...
Me: Anyway, I'm done for tonight. Done wool-gathering, and done setting up downloads. :D
Me: I'll see you some other day.
Me: Later, Dinyar. Stay frosty.

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I'm not sure what I meant when I said this...