Category Archives: Technology

I got interested in comparing the experience of human time to computer time. I didn’t double verify the exact numbers below. Take it with a grain of salt. I think it’s interesting, if only from a sci-fi perspective. Computer Information Computer Time Human Time Human Information 1 CPU cycle 0.3 ns 1 s Add twoContinue reading “Computer vs. Human Time”

I think my friends who were raised by television in to nineteen eighties may be more likely to listen to a video than they are to me actually talking to them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhD6JQ3whxc On Saturdays some childhood friends of mine meet to play games online. We aren’t in person. That’s partly due to the lockdown, andContinue reading “Complexity”

The list is a “simple machine” that people use in all sorts of ways. When you start thinking of three or more items, I encourage you to start writing down a list. This way you’re less likely to forget any of them. You’re giving yourself the chance to time shift, by separating the mental effortContinue reading “The List”

Back in middle school I remember being intrigued by the science lessons about “simple machines”. A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage (also called leverage) to multiply force. Usually the term refers to the six classical simple machines thatContinue reading “Simple Machines”

Ever since they were invented, computers have been weird and hard to use. The history of technology have been a constant battle towards making them more human. https://thenextweb.com/podium/2019/06/29/google-duplex-gui-ai-design/

What is an FPGA? I don’t think the architecture community has a consensus definition. Let’s entertain three possible answers… https://www.cs.cornell.edu/~asampson/blog/fpgaabstraction.html

Law firms have little incentive to build or buy software that will save their lawyers time because they often bill clients by the hour. Tasks like tracking down legal documents, extracting key information and drawing up hiring offers or funding term sheets add up to make lawyers expensive, even if they’re constantly repeating mindless busyContinue reading “The Boring Genius Of How Atrium Kills Legal Busy Work”

At less than the price of a cup of coffee, it might be one of the world’s most economical lifesaving devices. The “uterine balloon tamponade” does not look like much: a syringe, some blue tubing, a lubricated condom. All this is contained in a plastic bag, along with a checklist and a laminated set ofContinue reading ““Reverse Innovation” Could Save Lives. Why Aren’t We Embracing It?”

Today I want to talk about categorization, and I want to convince you that a lot of what we think we know about categorization is wrong. In particular, I want to convince you that many of the ways we’re attempting to apply categorization to the electronic world are actually a bad fit, because we’ve adoptedContinue reading “Ontology is Overrated: Categories, Links, and Tags”

I’ve been working to clean up my digital life. A subscription to copy stores all my files. All of them! After reading this I’m renewing my efforts to move out of google and into yahoo. This blog is a part of that effort. I’ve also bought into dashlane for managing all of my passwords. JenContinue reading “Digital Hoarding”