Published inUX Collective“It Just Works” — The Three Stages of Technological Depoliticization“It Just Works” is propaganda: it hides the trail that products cut though our societies and the natural world to get to us.Jan 293Jan 293
Published inUX CollectiveWhy is hiring software so impersonal?Today’s hiring technology is experiencing an arms race — between hiring managers and candidates — with both groups attempting to process…Nov 23, 202411Nov 23, 202411
The Cybernetic Word ProcessorThe cybernetic word processor is for a program for writing, not merely for inserting characters into a file.Apr 18, 2024Apr 18, 2024
Published inUX CollectiveThe purpose of a system is how we shape itWe are not masters of our information, but we can be if we build information systems shaped like human consciousness.May 18, 20231May 18, 20231
Published inUX CollectiveArtificial Intelligence: the soul of soulless conditionsWhat we call AI today comes to us with a perfectly false prospectus: human-feeling, yet hiding the potential to maximize everything…Apr 13, 20231Apr 13, 20231
Published inUX CollectiveThe computer screen is the retina of the mind’s eyeComputers are already having an outsized impact on our world and, if not controlled, will dominate it.Jan 24, 2023Jan 24, 2023
Distributed Ledger, Markets and SocialismAn idea for how distributed ledgers could combine the benefits of both capitalism and socialism.May 18, 2022May 18, 2022
Star Trek and Information RetrievalStar Trek presents a future that is simultaneously much more technological but in which our relationship with technology is more human; the…Dec 26, 2021Dec 26, 2021
Why the Ethical Character of The Internet Matters (the Future of Coordinated Thinking Pt. 3)I argue that anyone who cares about human flourishing should concern themselves with Internet freedom, interoperability and ideisomorphism.Dec 15, 2021Dec 15, 2021
What Is the Internet? (the Future of Coordinated Thinking Pt. 2)Internet users speak with an Internet accent, but the only manner of speaking that doesn’t sound like an accent is one’s own.Dec 7, 2021Dec 7, 2021
To Jaron Lanier, Re Dodging the ClichésI am writing to thank you for the ideas that you share with us and the example that you set for people who care about our humanity as it…Dec 1, 2021Dec 1, 2021
Manifesto: Six Imperatives for Communications Freedom (the Future of Coordinated Thinking Pt. 1)This post is part of The Future of Coordinated Thinking: Series IndexNov 30, 2021Nov 30, 2021
Published inGeek CultureCut the Links Until You Get to Hierarchy“If the button is not shaped like the thought, the thought will end up shaped like the button.” — Ted NelsonJun 16, 2021Jun 16, 2021
Published inWonk BridgeThe Kindness Game: A Review of “Kind Words”Kind Words is not a meditation game, but a kindness game for which meditation is the optimal strategy.Dec 24, 2020Dec 24, 2020
Published inWonk BridgeA Short Introduction to the Mechanics of Bad FaithHaving Taught Computers Humanity, Can They Teach Us Good Faith?Nov 23, 2020Nov 23, 2020
Published inUX CollectiveThe accidental tyranny of user interfacesThe potential of technology to empower is being subverted by tyrannical user interface design, enabled by our data and attention.Jan 293Jan 293
Published inWonk BridgeThe Accidental Tyranny of User InterfacesThe potential of technology to empower is being subverted by tyrannical user interface design, enabled by our data and attention.Oct 25, 2020Oct 25, 2020
To Max, Re Uncorrelated ThinkingDear Max, it was wonderful to meet you last week. It bears repeating that I felt as though talking for the first time to a hidden…Oct 8, 2020Oct 8, 2020
To Donald Trump, Re Having ConversationsWe need to settle our differences, but we need to settle them within a system of decency and good faith.Oct 4, 2020Oct 4, 2020