This twitter account https://twitter.com/#!/london20l2 may be of interest to people reading this thread. It appears to have been setup by people involved with Space Hijackers, though that is not totally clear...
I think the point is that this online tool isn't magic and doesn't seem to have any data integration. So it's just a drawing tool, with some cliche sprits that are used in lots of infographics.
is Computer Science the same as Software Engineering or Software Development? If it is then sure, this article makes a fair point, but I've always thought these were related but distinct things. And if they are in fact distinct, then Computer Science is the part that is Applied Mathematics by another name.
But really, all of this is just quibbling about semantics.
I agree completely. While Y! is clearly acting in desperation, this is an obvious and predictable act given the legal system in which they operate and patent portfolio they have. We can (and should!) demand that they not do the expected, but I the think anger is better focused on systemic reform then getting angry at any single company's actions. In a system of laws, what else should anyone expect but a legal entity to act in what it sees as its own best interest. Software patents need to end; working to that end is the best way to deal with this sort of event.
This was exactly what I was thinking. I suspect (I don't know of any data on this, but I'd love to see some) that there's a huge gap between users that sign up to a new service because they hear about it somewhere and think, "hey, that sounds neat, I want in first/I'd like to explore" and someone who's simply been paid to setup an account. cf. grassroots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots) v. astroturfing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing)