MMAcevedo (Mnemonic Map/Acevedo)
A short fiction written as if it were a Wikipedia-style entry about the first successful transhumanist upload. It is an excellent read, and I suspect that it provides a good introduction to the concepts of transhumanist fiction. Even though I'm familiar, seeing it written like this definitely brought new ideas and thoughts to mind for me.
I was pointed to this story by 'Crimes against Transhumanity' on Charles Stross' blog. His post is a bit of a thought exercise and examination on the inherent shortfalls of our legal (and general political) system in a transhumanist world.
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"Google exec suggests Instagram and TikTok are eating into Google's core products, Search and Maps"
The TikTok threat to Google’s business isn’t just limited to YouTube, as it turns out. Core Google services, including Search and Maps, are also being impacted by a growing preference for social media and videos as the first stop on younger users’ path to discovery, a Google exec acknowledged today, speaking at an industry event.
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Mathematical calculations show that quantum communication across interstellar space should be possible
The reddit thread for this article notes that this is not breaking the speed of light for communications, instead it is about the distance that could be communicated. Rather than the weakening radio signals, etc.
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Jorge Stolfi: ‘Technologically, bitcoin and blockchain technology is garbage’
A tweet by the Brazilian computer science professor inspired 1,500 experts to write a letter to US Congress warning about the risks of blindly trusting cryptocurrencies
P. Is it possible that as a society we invest millions in something we don't understand?
A. This is exactly what is happening in the crypto industry. Very few people seem to know that there is money coming in from investors and money going out to the creators of various schemes and miners. These pyramid schemes collapse when there are no more fools to fool.
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Technology Videos for Elders
Yesterday we bought a new iPad for my mother-in-law and she loves it, but she is also completely new to the iOS ecosystem. She's had a Macbook air as her laptop for a few years, so she understands some of the base things about Macs and the Internet, but the paradigm shift from her laptop to the iPad has thrown her for a bit of a loop.
So, over the past 18-ish hours I've been teaching her how to use it. Explaining when to use an app and when she will need to go online to find things out, etc. How to handle unexpected behaviors and notifications, etc.
This only reinforces for me that we need a good education service for the elders of the world to help them engage and understand new technologies, both in the very literal sense (how to use an iPad) but also in the more philosophical sense (Why would I use the iPad).
We did get what appears to be an excellent 'Dummies' book for the iPad directly aimed at seniors, but I worry how quickly it will become outdated as a resource for her.
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How Normal Am I?
A very educating look at the technologies being used for looking at people and how machines can judge various aspects of who we are, as well as pitfalls of this.
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Beowulf Clusters
They used to be a thing. Taking a bunch of smaller computers (usually bought at a very cheap rate) and then networking them together to do distributed computing. I was curious to see if they were still a thing (I know Raspberry Pi machines are a thing, but I meant more generally.) and it seems they barely exist.
There's a mailing list for them and the monthly traffic on the list is minimal.
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DARPA's Heilmeier Catechism
DARPA operates on the principle that generating big rewards requires taking big risks. But how does the Agency determine what risks are worth taking?
George H. Heilmeier, a former DARPA director (1975-1977), crafted a set of questions known as the "Heilmeier Catechism" to help Agency officials think through and evaluate proposed research programs.
- What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
- How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
- What is new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
- Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
- What are the risks?
- How much will it cost?
- How long will it take?
- What are the mid-term and final “exams” to check for success?
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How I Use the Surface Duo 2
Overall, a very good review of someone who has really used and put the Duo 2 through its paces. I will say, the issues he complains about regarding Bluetooth and his car is something I have not dealt with. My car (Honda Pilot) and the Duo 2 work fantastically.
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My weird idea from last night: A "shadow" phone OS inside a browser window on your phone
It's an interesting idea. I have no idea how it would be useful, but it popped into my head last night.
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Mailbox-style Readers
Dave Weiner hits on a really good point about RSS readers and the popularity of the mailbox style UI. I have been so used to this UI design that I never considered an alternative, but he's 100% right.
Here's the idea I tweeted at him:
...
I don't have time for another coding project.
Damnit Dave.
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permacomputing
A wiki dedicated to a 'permaculture inspired' approach to computing. In some ways anti-crypt, as well as anti-planned obsolescence. I'm all for it.
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How apps exploit a loophole in children's privacy
A little over the top in its visualization, but it's good for people who don't understand tech.
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I’ve locked myself out of my digital life
This is the stuff of nightmares. I'll have to think hard about how I can take steps to overcome the worst case scenario. Definitely going to put some steps in place in case something like this ever happens to me.
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You know that scene when Ron Swanson goes to the hardware store and an employee asks if he can help him? Ron answers with "I know more than you."
Sometimes, I want to do that to tech support people.
I don't do this. They are people and they are doing their job. But sometimes... sometimes one of them says something dumb enough that I just want to tell them off.
This post brought to you from dealing with my web hosting tech support.
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Backups: You're doing 'em wrong!
I regularly will make social posts urging friends and family to back up important data. I've been familiar with the 3-2-1 principle for a while, but I found this video to be an excellent explainer and discussion of how to determine the best process for you.
Which reminds me, I should really do a backup of my site soon. I pay the host for that functionality, but that doesn't mean they should be my only option.
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This "amateur" programmer fought cancer with 50 Nvidia Geforce 1080Ti
An interesting look at how an amateur built a free website which allowed uploads of mammograms and applied machine learning AI to detect early signs of breast cancer.
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Introducing the new and upgraded Framework Laptop
I'm excited to see they are updating the laptop and that this hopefully means continues sales and growth for the company. I don't need a new laptop, and probably won't for a few years (knock on wood,) but when I do - I will be seriously looking at Framework.
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Well, today is looking to be personally notable. After several years of trusty service, it looks like it might be time for me to replace my Note 9. I'm not sure exactly when I got it, I think it was 2018, but it's been my daily driver phone ever since and I have never seriously considered upgrading from it. Honestly, the only reason it's about to get replaced is because the screen began to show signs of impending failure yesterday.
As of now, I'm considering either the new S22 Ultra (which looks to just be a Note in disguise) or the much more divisive Surface Duo 2, which was panned at release, but seems to have finally gotten to a good place after further software updates. The form factor of the Duo 2 is really attractive to me.
We're planning to hit a local Best Buy which will hopefully have one on display that I can hold and mess with. We'll see.
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A byproduct of me watching the news around the Ukraine invasion, I found myself wondering about who handles the IT needs of the highest level of world politics. Like, who handles coordinating and managing the video calls for the G7 conference? How do they handle the tech needs at the UN?
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An old photo of a very large BBS
This is a big flashback for me. I was only on the tale end of BBSs as a kid. I only remember ever using one BBS, and that was one dad used for work. A local PC part wholesaler ran a BBS to allow customers to log in and place orders, etc. Otherwise mine was the world of MUDs and IRC.
The machines they show look very much like machines I grew up using and working on for my dad.
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