Programmers are a little different, and Ruby Programmers extend that idea.  This video has bits about the simple power of meta-programming in Ruby, alongside some practical business principles.  Release early, and release often, for example.  Its a 500 page presentation in about 40 minutes.  Grab a coffee, and have a listen. 

The most important video of 2008

Still, nobody really quite expected what happened when Giles Bowkett took the stage to show off his labour of love, Archaeopteryx. Watch “Archaeopteryx: A Ruby MIDI Generator” at InfoQ, now.

Lots of threads here, but five things to listen for:

1. computers are everywhere – this is not about computers
2. its not about computer languages – it is about getting it done with what works for you
3. “a business does not have to take over the world – just be profitable”
4. Open Source enriches the  ecosystem – build the market then provide the services (Benchmark Capital)
5. Small code changes making enormous differences in results (throughout)

These are non-standard business metaphors, and the general impression I took away from this presentation is that Bankers need to stretch their minds and see other ways of viewing online banking, online services, their face to consumers.  Giles speaks of his application learning from consumer input and changing the results based on that input.  Essentially, the result is dynamic based on what people desire.  Why can’t that approach be applied to online banking?