In the not too distant future, all things will be smart. All inanimate objects will have sensors that collect information, and artificial intelligence to analyze and react to the information. A first generation example is motion sensors that have the sense to turn on lights when people, or your rottweiler, enter the room. Getting a little more sophisticated, there are… Read More »How Smart do you want your Smart Things to be?
The perfect house: energy efficient, climate-controlled, with sweet filtered air inside. Want one? I don’t. To me, healthy living means opening a window to change the temperature in the house and rejoice in what the environment presents1. I’m an environmental pig, living in a house designed over a century ago, lacking in the latest energy efficient technology. Instead, I have… Read More »Evolving with Technology, or is Fresh Air good for you?
Being right about something that’s wrong isn’t very satisfying. This CBC article reports that the mobile app from my favourite provider of coffee and donuts was collecting personal location data inappropriately. The story, highlighting a report from Canada’s privacy commissioner, supports my ongoing contention that apps, in general, may be evil. The level of detail in the CBC post is wonderful, showing… Read More »Privacy and $2 Will Buy you a Cup of Coffee
The basic premise of artificial intelligence, to use enormous amounts of data to find out new things, is easy to grasp. If any one of us had the time and stamina to study a million photos or stories about a thing, I’m sure we’d come up with insights about it too. Business products emerging from current applications of artificial intelligence… Read More »The GUIey Middle of Artificial Intelligence
One day, while shuffling between screens in Safari, the last tab popped into its own shell in the corner of my screen. Because this had never happened before, I hastily shut the new window, fearing a viral infestation that would steal my life savings, edit my LinkedIn profile, or browse photos of my cats. When it happened again, I realized… Read More »Give a Hand, or the Finger, to Techology.
What if everything in the future works like the automated public bathrooms of today? The average state-of-the-art bathroom has: All these conveniences should allow for a visit to the restroom that requires not touching anything that another human has placed their germy bits on.2 Problem is, the technology doesn’t work reliably. I’m sure you’ve been there. Toilets that flush while… Read More »Modern Potty Humour
You know the list. The technologies, labelled creative destruction, that changed life as we humans knew it: Fire. Pasteurization. The assembly line. Washing machines. Email. Mobile Phones. Each of these had a dramatic impact on society, generally decreasing the effort required to do a vital human activity and allowing us to do other, more interesting things1. Should plastic be added… Read More »Destructive Creative Destruction
As it’s International Women’s Day, I’d like to mention a few women I admire for their entrepreneurial spirit and accomplishments. My list is based on books I’ve recently read, either by, or about, each woman. I bought the books because I admired each woman and wanted to know her story. A brief summary, in no particular order, of what I… Read More »Inspiring Women
I have to keep looking up the definition of NFTs. The concept is straightforward – ownership of the intellectual property associated with a digital thing1. The confusing part is what the value of an NFT is based on. It could be the digital thing, the tangible thing behind the digital thing (if it exists), ownership of the thing, or the… Read More »NFOs. The Evil Sister of NFTs.
To recent developments in tech business1 I say: MEH. There’s lots happening. But not finding the sizzle of cool new things or the intrigue of dramatic social change isn’t just my version of the February blahs. For an ardent follower of the business of technology, this lack of interest interests me, especially because it’s me who is disinterested. It’s like a hockey… Read More »The Very Exciting Tech Business Blahs.