First job I clicked on had this description: "Due to our rapid growth, we now need an in-house web developer. Initially we are looking to work together on a contractual basis (a “trial by fire,” if you’d prefer) for"
I like the idea but you should really make sure all of the hobs are "remote".
[edit] it was the Evil Genius post - https://jobs.github.com/positions/d11107fe-7bb7-11e2-89f3-8b....
Also: I have heard from several people that all DevinArt post are BS. They always post the same thing and I have never found a single person they ever actually spoke to or interviewed.
DeviantART actually interviewed me, but I was unimpressed by their hiring process. It seemed very make-shift (i.e. "I'll contact you shortly," then next contact comes 3 weeks later). In the end I was waiting for another interview (apparently the interviewer was on vacation), but was then dropped because 'the position was filled,' or something similar.
That's a good point. They note that it's a "remote" job at the top of the post, but it's not totally clear from the post itself that that's the case. I'll remove that one.
It would take more information to properly determine what the best starting poing would be for him; but if he has not used a web browser I suggests starting w/
1. email setup
2. google
3. facebook
etc... basically as much basic computer usage as possible; IMO rails classes like that and pretty much everyone else is going to assume their audience is comfortable w/ computers and other modern day technologies.
So this is one of things I was specifically looking for: Exactly what does he need to learn immediately? What is the best set of tools he should experience and submerge himself with to really understand the internet, both as a consumer and as a potential creator?
I think I have had slightly better results than average because I am using ABMs that learn and have social media as precepts. There is a "training" period for each agent where it is trained based on LinkedIn data etc... but I 100% agree with you, I am also interested to see how it works; currently I have not tested more than 100 at a time.
I worry that you may be underestimating the competition. bondadapt.com are a prime example. Recruitment companies pay seven figures annually for their system and they've invested an insane amount of time and money into improving their NLP system and, speaking as someone who's used it extensively in the past, its results are relatively poor when you are dealing with a database of tens of thousands of resumes.
Please don't get me wrong, I'd love to see you crack it and if you manage it be sure to share the results!
This is why I think that this revolution will be led by hacker/patients and not business men / politicians. I am not trying to be dramatic but I will literally die for this cause because I spent my entire life sick, in bed, shitting blood and trying what everyone else wanted me to.
3 months of doing it my way and I never knew life could be this good, so while I agree that the regulatory climate makes this difficult; I dont care. I will never take such a risky attitude toward others and risk their health or wellbeing because I do not have this right but I also will not use this as an excuse to do nothing when I know I can help.
From experience, a business can make a difference in how the FDA polices a segment of the industry. You need scientists, who really know the domain (and, perhaps, have some contacts at the FDA), who can try to set the bar with FDA.
Of course, that's out of the realm of most start-ups, unless you are starting from a research facility where someone might already know the ropes. That said, my employer (which was once a tiny start-up that grew from a research lab) has directly worked with the FDA to define the regulations around our particular domain.
what does "doing it my way" in this context mean? What did you try and how did you research it?
Have looked into this kind of thing myself before and am interested in how you went about your project and if there's a community around that kind of thing.
My Way = Macrobiotics, Stress Control, Acupuncture etc...
Yes, there are many communities; I mostly used trial and error but the difference is how I measured what worked. I kept a food diary that allowed me use actual nutrient stats etc... to find patterns in my trigger foods.
I'm very glad this worked for you. I don't have Crohn's, but I also have an auto immune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. For many immune conditions there seems to be an environmental trigger, or something that makes it worse. There is quite abit of research that many of our conditions are caused by interactions with the bacteria in our gut and our immune response to certain food. I saw your other posts about working on tools to help people track these things, I commend you. There is a large body of people who could potentially benefit from this work. Not just people with Crohn's, but many autoimmune conditions. Keep on trucking and I wish you luck.
I have no education, no college etc... and I created software that generates meal plans according to my Crohn's symptoms (made it from my hospital bed at SF General) and now I am off all my meds.
Made an app for a friend that helped her identify that she had a Gluten allergy (later verified by doctor)
And right now I am working on a way to help match patients and doctors based on case histories.
My passion is helping people, so that is what I do. I am not smart, funded etc... I just really really really give a fuck and refuse to quit.
You dont need education, funding or any of those things. You just need drive, passion and google. I cant take these products to market myself and have been turned down by all Incubators, Angels etc... but that does not matter because like i said; I wont quit.
Your problem is not lack of intelligence or funding, your problem is lack of passion. You dont work on these things because you dont give a fuck.
[edit]
http://hackingcrohns.com - (took down meal plan because I cant afford the machines for the ABM Sim)
http://cvchk.com - going to have this ready for HN Whose hiring (job applipicaion only) but you can see how structured search for a job w/ resume is same as structured search for doc w/ case histroy.
Note: legally I cant "launch" these because I am just some guy but if you would like to see full working versions or my entire portfolio please email me. email is on profile.
[edit] "Why can't you launch them as some guy? I see people giving diet advice all the time"
I am dealing with medical records not just diet recommendations, I take this very seriously and refuse to take a cavalier attitude toward the health and medical information of other people.
2) Your successes are commendable, but they do not prove that any John Doe can solve the "Big Problems" your parent spoke of. Historically speaking, at least in physics the "Big Problems" have been solved by extremely smart people. Not just people who refuse to quit.
We may be talking about different "Big Problems" though. I'm thinking of DNA, e=mc^2, the cure for cancer, etc. I don't want to be rude, but I don't think the "Big Problems" of our day will be solved by apps.
When I mean big I am referring to problems that will help lots of people when solved. Things of a much more practical nature than Physics.
The Diet Crisis, Diabetes (which he mentioned directly) etc... are not Physics problems.
Not to be rude but your type of thinking is where part of the problem lies. A mother that wants her child to be healthy or a person that has diabetes does not give a damn about the God Particle or any other big physics issue. The statement that started this whole thread was directly related to diabetes, so with all due respect I believe that my "Apps and software" are a lot more applicable here than Physics research. If we were speaking about energy then you may have a point but we aren't.
BTW: w/ Hacking Crohn's a user can upload their 23 and Me data and generate a meal plan that helps them combat any genetic predispositions they may have to one or more illnesses (not cancer yet but give me time, i'll get there).
[edit] I see your point, but i think that you assume all "big problems" will be solved with a pill or a shot and i disagree. I think that we need a fundamentally different approach to solve some of these issues but I do understand and respect your position.
"Solving" diabetes implies acting on the biological root of the problem. This makes it a biology/chemistry problem, which is certainly not physics, but also not really the sort of thing apps are good at solving.
Now, an app might be able to help guide people to avoid or handle diabetes, but that is not "solve".
I'm not blowing off diabetes in the slightest, in fact I am saying it belongs with the other "Big Problems" which is why I discussed physics.
I was considering trying to make custom pro-biotics but the cost are extreme, with that said; this is still an area I am very interested in. I have reason to believe that probiotics custom tailored to the patient could be an order of magnitude more effective.
This is a little side project of mine. It basically just a phone call scheduler / directory. They say you should be embarrassed by your first version so I am releasing it early. It's doing about 250 calls a day right now via txt to call and the site and I am releasing the APP soon.
I like the idea but you should really make sure all of the hobs are "remote".
[edit] it was the Evil Genius post - https://jobs.github.com/positions/d11107fe-7bb7-11e2-89f3-8b.... Also: I have heard from several people that all DevinArt post are BS. They always post the same thing and I have never found a single person they ever actually spoke to or interviewed.