XPost: rec.audio.pro, comp.dsp   
   From: gah@ugcs.caltech.edu   
      
   In comp.dsp Bill Graham  wrote:   
   (snip, regarding funding for audio products)   
      
   >> I have thought before about how much High-Performance computing,   
   >> that is, the fast machines we have available now for a few hundred   
   >> USD, is made possible by the mass purchasing of ordinary people and   
   >> companies.   
      
   (snip)   
      
   > Its kind of like saying that sick people are responsible for all the   
   > advancements in drugs we have seen in the last 100 years or so. If it   
   > weren't for the sick people, there would be no need for the drugs. But, I   
   > still get this ridiculous picture in my head of a bunch of sick people   
   > working away in the research labs far into the night....:^)   
      
   Well, that is one way to say it.  But companies do tend to work   
   harder on drugs that will be used by rich people, and less on   
   those needed by poor countries.   
      
   Then, after the patents expire, generics affordable by most   
   people are produced.   
      
   As for audio, I would say that high-quality microphones are one   
   place where there isn't much drive from the consumer side, and   
   you can see that in the prices.   
      
   On the other hand, the improvements in cassette tapes, especially   
   high bias and metal, I believe were consumer side driven.   
   Pros could afford to run the tape fast enough, consumers needed   
   high quality at low speed and narrow tracks.   
      
   -- glen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)