Category: introspection

Ad agencies are discovering products like Columbus discovered America

SPOILER ALERT: It might not end well for the natives. Having spent more than a decade with job titles alternately containing the words "product strategy" and "customer experience," I'm all for the sentiment behind John Willshire's slogan: "Make Things People Want > Make People Want Things". And when I hear this thought presented as some … Continue reading Ad agencies are discovering products like Columbus discovered America →

Data is neither oil nor currency. It’s much more serious than that

A post rescued from my draft folder... An invitation to speculate on "data as a currency" at the Leeds Digital Conference forced me to crystalise a long-held unease with metaphors that cast data as any kind of commodity or medium of exchange. It has become commonplace, even among people I trust and respect, to say things … Continue reading Data is neither oil nor currency. It’s much more serious than that →

Three machines made in Leeds

For my wife's family it is the crockery. Staffordshire-raised, they can't resist upturning plates and bowls to check their makers' marks - Doulton, Wedgwood and what-have-you. And my own father grew up near Sheffield, so in restaurants I also study the knives and forks - David Mellor was a Noughties Brit cuisine staple. But Leeds, well … Continue reading Three machines made in Leeds →

Excerpt from early C20th Children’s Encyclopedia – date uncertain

Excerpt from early C20th Children's Encyclopedia - date uncertain The day will come (he said) when we are all forgotten, when copper wires, gutta-percha covers, and iron bands will only be found in museums, and a person who wishes to speak to a friend but does not know where he is will call him with … Continue reading Excerpt from early C20th Children’s Encyclopedia – date uncertain →

For Ada Lovelace Day: Eleanor Coade, technology entrepreneur of the 18th Century

It's Ada Lovelace Day, an international day of blogging to celebrate the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. In previous years I've written about Elizabeth Montagu, Lizzie Le Prince and Laura Willson. This time I want to highlight the unique achievements of Eleanor Coade, creator and entrepreneur behind one of the most durable … Continue reading For Ada Lovelace Day: Eleanor Coade, technology entrepreneur of the 18th Century →

What to look forward to at the LЗЭDS DIGITДL CФИFЗЯЭЙCЗ

Friday's Leeds Digital Conference should be great. Look out for Dean Vipond, Victoria Betton, Tim Medcalf, Robin Cramp, Simon Zimmerman and lots of other speakers doing amazing work in the city. I predict I will be on a panel about "the future" with Tom Woolley from the National Media Museum and Steve Peel from IBM. … Continue reading What to look forward to at the LЗЭDS DIGITДL CФИFЗЯЭЙCЗ →

A {$arbitrary_disruptive_technology} In Every Home

The fantastic culmination of James Burke's talk at dConstruct last week set me thinking about a misleading trope that seems to recur with regularity in our discourse about technology. Through his 70s TV series James was a childhood hero of mine. I wrote about his talk in my summary of the event, and thanks to … Continue reading A {$arbitrary_disruptive_technology} In Every Home →

dConstruct threads: Arrogance, uncertainty and the interconnectedness of (nearly) all things

The web is 21, says Ben Hammersley, it can now legally drink in America. And yet, as it strides out into young adulthood, it has much to learn. At dConstruct we hear some of those lessons - ones about humility, unpredictability and the self-appointed tech community's responsibilities to the rest of humankind. I agree with … Continue reading dConstruct threads: Arrogance, uncertainty and the interconnectedness of (nearly) all things →

Apple’s real innovation: a gesture made with two fingers

Douglas Rushkoff nails my unease at the patenting of gestures, a critical front in the commercial war being waged through intellectual property. At stake is how far governments should grant monopoly rights over something that belongs to all of us: our shared language of words and gestures. US Patent #7,812,826, though limited and not at stake … Continue reading Apple’s real innovation: a gesture made with two fingers →

All brands must die (after a long and happy life)

A few days ago I ran a critical index finger down my Twitter “friends” list, unfollowing a few dozen accounts that did not belong to real people. I still wanted to hear from these unnatural persons, so I moved them into a list instead. I’m delighted with the results: my Twitter feed suddenly feels so … Continue reading All brands must die (after a long and happy life) →

“Please join me in a drive for better letters”

As a follow-up to the 1951 'No Idle Words' booklet, comes this gem of a letter about writing letters. Its author was Charles Hill, a doctor turned broadcaster and politician who briefly held the office of Postmaster General. Note also the lovely simplification of the royal coat of arms - just remove all the fussy heraldry … Continue reading “Please join me in a drive for better letters” →