Tag: technology
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I quit my job and left IT
There’s a lot of joy in saying, “I’ve had enough,” and being able to do something about it. The two clauses in my title are related, though not dependent. I quit my job because it was a toxic cesspool of egos and incompetency. I left IT because the dysfunctional hiring process in the industry is…
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AFK sex, the popularity paradox, and male avatars
Going back into Second Life after three years has given me a lot to think about. I wander looking for interesting things and people, then spend equally as much time pondering what I’ve found. I’ve started several posts but, being a methodical person, I keep stopping and asking myself more questions. Could this be the…
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Startup culture: everything old is new again
I might have additional posts inspired by the New York Times Magazine article “Silicon Valley’s Youth Problem”, but here’s the first. The article is a lengthy piece and not very skimmable, but you might want to take the time to read it. Isn’t it a hoot when young people think they’re the first who ever had a thought…
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Personal technology and temporary disability
Silver lining: while my broken leg heals, I’m in a good position to reflect on how personal technology can play a role in surgical recovery (or temporary/permanent disability, or quality of life for the elderly). Now that I have the energy to sit at my computer for a while, I’ll reflect on how that technology…
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Balancing the natural and digital worlds
I’m still adjusting to technology after a month of being away from everything but my smartphone. It’s amazing how much my mouse hand and forearm hurt; I think it’s time to trade in my beloved but clearly harmful thumb-ball mice. I started using them long ago to ease carpal tunnel syndrome, but now they’re a shortcut to…
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Wednesday films: Chef, phlebotomist, and dubstep robots
Three short videos for your Wednesday enjoyment! The first is a cute musical film (wait for the drop). Dubstep Dispute from Fluxel Media on Vimeo. The next two are recently released robotic news videos. One is for a robot chef, or at least, an automated kitchen system that uses robotic arms. I don’t see it being practical, but…
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Should we all limit screen time?
My immediate response to that is, of course, no. I am inclined to see fear mongering and hand wringing about the Internet/smart phones/gaming as rants by modern Luddites who see all the world’s ills in a texting teenager. But maybe I’m missing something. The Daily Dot writes about a strange new law in Taiwan that holds…
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Tech trends for 2015
Interested in what’s next or simply trying to keep up with impressive-sounding jargon? I’ve compiled a few lists of tech trends that are expected to be hot this year. I agree with some of them, for better or worse, and others are giving me food for thought as I consider the human implications. Click the links for…
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Random roundup for Monday
I’m fighting a cold today. Blah! Dayquil isn’t helping with deep thoughts, so I’ll offer a trio of shallow ones: Earlier this month, WIRED had an essay about wearables that could have come straight from my brain: Wearables Are Totally Failing the People Who Need Them Most. The author points out that developers are going after the…