sonification of data is awesome
awesomer because of cross platform - http://sonify.psych.gatech.edu/research/sonification_sandbox/download.html

java works well for the app, featuring realtime, continuous (one loop delayed), general midi sonification of spreadsheets, Dirk Gently-style.

but Sun, *really*, dragging sliders is as sloppy in 2010 as it was in 1996/7? It wouldn't disturb me so much if every other platform had not achieved it *ably* and CS students didn't *continuously* demonstrate mastery of one of the most fundamental UI widgets after radio buttons. It seems like you might be afraid of going back to revisit the past, but it can only make you stronger