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Silicon Valley billionaires literally want the impossible
a year ago
- Science fiction explores immortality via consciousness upload and space colonization, embraced by tech billionaires.
- Adam Becker's new book critiques Silicon Valley's futuristic visions, questioning their feasibility and utopian claims.
- Becker highlights the 'ideology of technological salvation' as a threat, not a promise, dismissing scientific plausibility concerns.
- Topics covered include AI, transhumanism, Mars colonization, and the singularity, with critiques of figures like Elon Musk.
What Happened to WWW.?
a year ago
- The 'www' prefix in URLs was never a technical necessity but became a convention due to early internet practices.
- Tim Berners-Lee's first website at CERN in 1990 did not use 'www' in its URL.
- The 'www' prefix became standard as network administrators followed existing subdomain conventions for different services.
- By the late 1990s, 'www' was ingrained in public consciousness, often highlighted in marketing materials.
- The shift away from 'www' began as web traffic dominated, making the prefix redundant.
- HTTP/1.1 and DNS tweaks made it easy to direct both 'www' and non-'www' URLs to the same site.
- Today, 'www' is largely obsolete, with browsers often hiding it in the address bar.
- Using 'www' can still have technical benefits, such as better cookie management across subdomains.
- The evolution of 'www' reflects the internet's dynamic nature, where conventions fade when no longer needed.
Crowd Sourcing Broken QR Codes
a year ago
- QR code repair service offered for free
- Submit non-scanning QR codes via a form or email
- Dataset being built to improve QR code restoration
- Background story: Successfully repaired a worn-out QR code for a stray cat's electronic tag
- Conversation with Greg led to discussions on QR code failure modes
- Goal to develop a reliable software tool for QR code repair
- Request for genuine broken QR code submissions to aid in research
The British Airways position on various border disputes
a year ago
- Vacation in Japan with a mix of sightseeing and remote work.
- Flight entertainment included exploring an interactive flight map on British Airways.
- Investigation into the map's software revealed no open-source license disclosures.
- Map features include satellite and street views, with real-time flight tracking.
- Borders and disputed territories reflect British Airways' official stance.
- Examples include South Ossetia, Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Guyana, and Taiwan.
- Map labels and borders are faint, making some disputes hard to interpret.
- Other noted details include the Hala’ib Triangle, Gulf of Mexico, and Antarctica.
Anti-Personnel Computing
a year ago
- Neologisms introduced to describe mainstream computing in the early 21st century.
- Anti-personnel computing: Use of computing devices that harm user interests while benefiting third parties.
- Anti-personnel computer: A device primarily used to the detriment of its user, benefiting other entities.
- Etymology combines terms from anti-personnel mines, personal computing, and personal computers.
Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year
a year ago
- Apple announces new accessibility features including Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access, and Accessibility Reader.
- Updates to Live Listen, visionOS, Personal Voice, and Vehicle Motion Cues enhance accessibility across Apple devices.
- Accessibility Nutrition Labels provide detailed information on app accessibility features before download.
- Magnifier for Mac allows users with low vision to zoom in on surroundings and read documents.
- Braille Access turns Apple devices into braille note takers with integrated features like Live Captions.
- Accessibility Reader offers customizable text options for users with dyslexia or low vision.
- Live Captions now available on Apple Watch for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- visionOS updates include enhanced Zoom and VoiceOver features for Apple Vision Pro users.
- Personal Voice now faster and supports Spanish (Mexico), creating natural-sounding voices in under a minute.
- New features for Eye Tracking, Head Tracking, and Switch Control improve device interaction for users with mobility disabilities.
- Apple celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day with retail features, Apple Music playlists, and Apple TV+ content.
E-COM: The time the USPS spent $40M subsidizing junk (e)mail
a year ago
- The USPS introduced E-COM in 1982 to print and deliver emails for people without computers.
- E-COM allowed sending messages via terminals to post offices, which printed and mailed them.
- The service faced legal and bureaucratic hurdles, including FCC restrictions and high costs.
- Despite early adoption by some companies, E-COM was primarily used by junk mailers.
- The USPS shut down E-COM in 1985 after losing over $40 million.
- Mail volume peaked in 2001 but has since declined due to digital communication.
- The term 'e-mail' was popularized during the E-COM era, later losing its hyphen.
What Is HDR, Anyway?
a year ago
- HDR in photography can mean two different things: 'HDR mode' introduced in iPhone cameras in 2010 and HDR screens that display more vibrant images.
- Dynamic range refers to the difference between the darkest and brightest parts of a scene, which cameras and screens struggle to capture or display accurately.
- Solution 1: 'HDR Mode' involves taking multiple photos at different exposures and combining them into one image, with tone mapping to fit SDR screens.
- Early HDR algorithms required manual adjustments, leading to over-processed images, but modern phone cameras automate this process.
- Some users prefer turning off AI-driven HDR features like Smart HDR and Deep Fusion due to artifacts and loss of detail in moving subjects.
- Solution 2: Genuine HDR displays offer higher dynamic range, but adoption is slow due to cost, taste preferences, and compatibility issues.
- HDR content can be too bright or garish, leading some to disable it, and browser support for HDR photos is still limited.
- Solution 3: Some photographers prefer SDR for its aesthetic, as hyper-realistic HDR can sometimes be less engaging or flattering.
- Halide's approach includes opt-in, single-shot tone mapping, giving photographers control over dynamic range adjustments.
- The future of photography may involve a balance between SDR and HDR, with choices left to the artist rather than algorithms.
Apple's Diet of Worms
a year ago
- Emperor Charles V confronted Martin Luther in 1521, a pivotal moment where personal conviction challenged institutional authority.
- Apple, likened to a modern empire, faces scrutiny as its once-unquestioned dominance shows cracks, with unfulfilled promises and internal contradictions.
- The company's shift from innovation to defensiveness mirrors historical empires that prioritized orthodoxy over adaptability.
- Apple's reliance on closed systems and rigid procedures risks alienating users and stifling reinvention, despite its vast resources.
- The article draws parallels between historical and modern empires, emphasizing the dangers of mistaking power's appearance for its legitimacy.
- The author invites readers to support independent thinking through a subscription model, offering exclusive content and discussions.
Old and Small Technology
a year ago
- Old technology refers to outdated tech, while small technology has a minimal footprint and lacks bloat or spyware.
- Old tech is often small due to historical limitations, but some modern tech like embedded systems also qualifies as small.
- Small tech benefits include being easy to use, private, peer-to-peer, zero-knowledge, non-colonial, personal, share-alike, interoperable, non-commercial, and inclusive.
- Old and small technologies like UUCP, Gopher, and Usenet offer advantages such as lower resource consumption, affordability, and environmental friendliness.
- Small tech promotes sustainability by reducing planned obsolescence and enabling older hardware to remain functional.
- Older tech, especially Free Software, enhances user control and privacy by avoiding modern privacy-violating features.
- Modern adaptations of old tech (e.g., NNCP, Gemini) incorporate improvements like encryption while retaining small-tech benefits.
- New developments in small tech include Meshtastic and Yggdrasil, focusing on secure, decentralized communication.
- Examples of old and small tech include UUCP, Kermit, Usenet, Gopher, Raspberry Pi, and Linux (depending on usage).
- Projects like the Small Web aim to apply small-tech principles to the modern web, while alternatives like Gemini offer lightweight browsing.
- Operating systems like Linux Lite and Debian (with lightweight desktops) work well on older or low-power hardware.
- Organizations promoting small tech include the Small Technology Foundation, Low-Tech Magazine, and the Plain Text Project.
Dia – An Early Review
a year ago
- The Browser Company of New York (BCNY) launched Dia, an AI-native browser, as part of their alpha program.
- Dia features a sidebar triggered by cmd + shift + e and a default new tab view with a search engine box that doubles as a chat interface using GPT 4.1.
- Key features include a neat URL bar that displays query strings or page titles, intelligent query routing to chat for questions, and a toggle between search and chat modes.
- Issues with Dia include incorrect routing of some searches to chat, problems with pasting links, and a large sidebar that affects website usability.
- Dia's built-in adblocker performs better than uBlock Origin Lite in some tests.
- BCNY aims for Dia to be a Chrome alternative, but it lacks standout features compared to Arc, such as profile switching.
- Potential outcomes for Dia include BCNY abandoning it for Arc, or succeeding if Google faces challenges with AI integration.
- Dia represents a bold move by BCNY, with potential for success if they refine the product and differentiate it effectively.
The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto (1988)
a year ago
- Crypto anarchy is emerging as a transformative force in modern society, enabling anonymous interactions and transactions.
- Advancements in computer technology, such as public-key encryption and zero-knowledge proofs, are making anonymous communication feasible.
- The state may attempt to curb crypto anarchy due to concerns over national security, crime, and societal impact, but its spread is inevitable.
- Crypto anarchy will fundamentally alter government regulation, taxation, and the nature of trust and reputation in economic dealings.
- The technology will create a liquid market for all forms of information, challenging traditional concepts of intellectual property.
Remarks on AI from NZ
a year ago
- Panel discussion on AI in New Zealand focused on big-picture thinking rather than current events.
- AI is often equated with large language models, making advanced content creation accessible to non-technical users.
- Historical parallel drawn between AI's sudden prominence and the unexpected advent of nuclear weapons.
- Discussion on coexisting with non-human intelligences, using animals as examples of diverse intelligences.
- Three axes proposed to categorize intelligences: relevance to humans, understanding of human minds, and potential danger.
- Comparison of AI interactions to domesticated animals, suggesting future AI could range from helpful to indifferent or dangerous.
- Concerns about AI's impact on education, with students relying too heavily on tools like ChatGPT, potentially stunting learning.
- Proposal for simple interventions to counteract AI's negative effects on education, like supervised exams.
- Mention of eyelash mites as a metaphor for unnoticed, beneficial coexistence with AI.
- Debate on AI's future trajectory, between rapid advancement towards AGI and stagnation at a local maximum.
- Observation that AI enhances productivity, especially for experienced professionals, potentially widening the gap between skill levels.
- Warning about the concentration of AI power in few hands and the societal implications of such disparities.
I let lasers power my smart home – and I don't want to go back
a year ago
- The author's smart home devices frequently run out of battery, highlighting a common frustration with battery-powered gadgets.
- A solution tested: Wi-Charge's infrared laser wireless charging system, which keeps a smart lock perpetually charged without manual intervention.
- The setup involves a Wi-Charge transmitter in the ceiling and a modified Alfred DB2S smart lock with a photovoltaic panel, costing around $1,250.
- Benefits include no cords, no need for frequent battery replacements, and the convenience of battery-powered devices without their downsides.
- Wi-Charge's technology uses infrared lasers to transmit power up to 10 meters, with safety certifications (FDA Class 1, FCC, UL).
- Despite the high initial cost and installation effort, the author finds the system impressive and desires similar wireless power for all smart home devices.
- Challenges include the need for line-of-sight, device redesigns to incorporate receivers, and the current lack of infrastructure for widespread adoption.
- Potential applications extend beyond smart homes to commercial uses like digital signage, where wireless power could offer significant advantages.
- Wireless power is less efficient than wired connections, but for low-power devices, the increased electricity cost is minimal.
- The dream of whole-home wireless power faces hurdles, including manufacturer adoption and consumer demand for compatible devices.
Why Are There So Many 'Alternative Devices' All of a Sudden?
a year ago
- The article discusses the growing trend of 'alternative devices'—phones with limited functionality—aimed at reducing the negative impacts of smartphones and social media on children.
- Parents are increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on their kids' mental health, leading to events like the 'Alternative Device Fair' in Westport, Connecticut.
- Various companies showcased devices with restricted app stores and advanced parental controls, such as AI-powered content filtering and monitoring for inappropriate content.
- Examples of alternative devices include the Light Phone III, which lacks social media and web browsing, and Pinwheel, which blocks social media and monitors texts for trigger words.
- Some parents find the level of monitoring invasive, while others appreciate the technology's ability to reduce their vigilance and protect their children from harmful content.
- The competition among alternative-device companies highlights the demand for phones that offer connectivity without the downsides of traditional smartphones.
Bike-mounted sensor could boost the mapping of safe cycling routes
a year ago
- Many people avoid biking due to fear of car collisions.
- Current cycling route safety assessments rely on reported accidents and subjective cyclist feedback.
- The ProxiCycle sensor objectively measures close passes by vehicles to assess street safety.
- Developed at the University of Washington, the sensor replaces a bike's handlebar plug and uses infrared sensors.
- Data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, which identifies close passes by vehicles.
- Initial tests in Seattle showed the sensor's accuracy in detecting dangerous streets.
- Larger-scale studies are planned to validate the technology in other cities.
- The goal is to improve cycling safety and encourage more people to bike.
The dial-up modem lives on, in office meeting rooms
a year ago
- Dial-up modems used sound to transmit data over telephone networks.
- Zoom Rooms use ultrasonic sound for proximity detection in meetings.
- Ultrasonic signals enable instant connection without pairing codes or Bluetooth.
- The ultrasonic frequencies used by Zoom are slightly audible to some people.
- Hearing damage over time may reduce the ability to hear these frequencies.
Why Every Generation Thinks It Was the Last to Touch Real Life
a year ago
- Memory plays tricks, making us feel like something real has been lost.
- Every generation feels the world was more 'real' in their youth.
- Our sense of reality is tied to emotional imprints from formative years.
- The 'reminiscence bump' makes adolescent memories feel more vivid.
- Technology isn't killing connection; it's changing how we connect.
- Digital communication can trigger the same bonding hormones as face-to-face interaction.
- The loss of old formats (like cassette tapes) feels like a loss of identity.
- Every generation mourns the disappearance of their familiar technologies.
- Reality is a feeling tied to our first experiences and emotions.
- Mourning the past is often mourning our younger selves.
Brain on GPS
a year ago
- Alex Hutchinson discusses the impact of GPS on human navigation and brain function in his book 'The Explorer’s Gene'.
- The author reflects on his personal resistance to using GPS, preferring to navigate manually to keep his brain engaged and to experience the world more actively.
- GPS technology, originally a U.S. military project, became widely available for civilian use in 2000, revolutionizing how people navigate.
- Neuroscientific research shows that relying on GPS for navigation can lead to a smaller hippocampus, which is linked to higher risks of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
- Studies by neuroscientist Véronique Bohbot reveal that cognitive mapping (active navigation) strengthens the hippocampus, while stimulus-response navigation (like using GPS) can shrink it.
- The author shares a personal anecdote about a backpacking trip where he realized how GPS use made him less engaged with his surroundings.
- Research indicates that as people age, they tend to rely more on stimulus-response navigation, reducing their use of cognitive mapping.
- The broader societal trend toward passive consumption of information (e.g., algorithms, package tours, review sites) mirrors the decline in active navigation and exploration.
- The author advocates for occasionally turning off GPS and other automated tools to re-engage with the world and stimulate the hippocampus.
- Dr. Bohbot emphasizes that making errors while exploring helps people pay attention to their environment and stimulates brain activity.
The people stuck using ancient Windows computers
a year ago
- Ancient Windows computers, like Windows XP, are still in use in various sectors, including hospitals, ATMs, and public transport systems.
- Microsoft's legacy includes deeply embedded systems that many organizations rely on, despite the availability of newer technologies.
- Upgrading from old Windows systems is often hindered by high costs, hardware compatibility issues, and the need for regulatory compliance.
- Specialized hardware and software, such as CNC machines and high-end printers, often depend on outdated Windows versions due to their unique requirements.
- Government and healthcare systems, like the US Department of Veterans Affairs, use decades-old software, leading to inefficiencies and user frustration.
- Old technology preservation is a labor of love for some, like Dene Grigar, who maintains vintage computers to showcase early digital art and literature.
- Microsoft's long support windows and licensing strategies have contributed to the prolonged use of its older operating systems in businesses and organizations.

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#technology

Silicon Valley billionaires literally want the impossible

What Happened to WWW.?

Crowd Sourcing Broken QR Codes

The British Airways position on various border disputes

Anti-Personnel Computing

Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

E-COM: The time the USPS spent $40M subsidizing junk (e)mail

What Is HDR, Anyway?

Apple's Diet of Worms

Old and Small Technology

Dia – An Early Review

The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto (1988)

Remarks on AI from NZ

I let lasers power my smart home – and I don't want to go back

Why Are There So Many 'Alternative Devices' All of a Sudden?

Bike-mounted sensor could boost the mapping of safe cycling routes

The dial-up modem lives on, in office meeting rooms

Why Every Generation Thinks It Was the Last to Touch Real Life

Brain on GPS

The people stuck using ancient Windows computers