Let's pause for a moment, I need time to think Below is a note I just posted to my website. I’m also sending this to those who have supported me as members on Steady because I also don’t know if this membership site… Below is a note I just posted to my website. I’m also sending this to those who have supported me as members on Steady because I also don’t know if this membership site…
Update, 22 July 2024 Out of the Software Crisis member update Out of the Software Crisis member update
Out of the Software Crisis Member Update (1 July 2024) New essay, new preview, new links, and some cat pictures New essay, new preview, new links, and some cat pictures
AI and Asbestos (Preview) This is a preview of a post that itself is an extended version of a social media thread. I’ll link to the published version here once it’s out. This is a preview of a post that itself is an extended version of a social media thread. I’ll link to the published version here once it’s out.
New Web Development. Or, why LLMs are particularly bad for web dev This is a preview draft of an upcoming newsletter/blog post for members. I’ll update it with a link to the published version once that’s out. Web development is on the… This is a preview draft of an upcoming newsletter/blog post for members. I’ll update it with a link to the published version once that’s out. Web development is on the…
Introduction (2024) At low points in my life – when sad and scary thoughts were pushing themselves into my mind – I sometimes asked myself a terrifying question: What if the blog is the… At low points in my life – when sad and scary thoughts were pushing themselves into my mind – I sometimes asked myself a terrifying question: What if the blog is the…
Impossible to Ignore (2001) The only certainty I’ve come across is the fact that I tend to be wrong. The only certainty I’ve come across is the fact that I tend to be wrong.
Spilling. (2002) I’ve just returned from a discussion session with the M.A. students in Communications Media (Interactive Media). Judith Aston, the course leader gave us a quick overview… I’ve just returned from a discussion session with the M.A. students in Communications Media (Interactive Media). Judith Aston, the course leader gave us a quick overview…
Rapport. (2003) I’m sitting here munching on Icelandic candies sent by my grandmother. The package arrived on the day War broke out. She has got a sixth sense about these things, sent… I’m sitting here munching on Icelandic candies sent by my grandmother. The package arrived on the day War broke out. She has got a sixth sense about these things, sent…
Five Books that Mean a Lot to Me (2005) I was a voracious reader as a child. Regular visitor to the children’s section of the local library and all that. I remember going through that section, fairly large for… I was a voracious reader as a child. Regular visitor to the children’s section of the local library and all that. I remember going through that section, fairly large for…
Cat Stories (2006) My Sister’s Roommate She followed my sister’s best friend all the way to our father’s house. This was a few years ago, and it was pouring down as it’s wont to do on an… My Sister’s Roommate She followed my sister’s best friend all the way to our father’s house. This was a few years ago, and it was pouring down as it’s wont to do on an…
Talking About Google… (2006) Google’s just opened Google Analytics up for public use. No longer do you need a clique-y invite to join. Now everybody can measure just exactly how unpopular they are. Google’s just opened Google Analytics up for public use. No longer do you need a clique-y invite to join. Now everybody can measure just exactly how unpopular they are.
Lullaby (2009) We all have our private lullabies, the things we think and say to ourselves to calm us and set ourselves on the path to sleep. I tell stories to myself of made-up people… We all have our private lullabies, the things we think and say to ourselves to calm us and set ourselves on the path to sleep. I tell stories to myself of made-up people…
“The ad market sucks” (2009) Apologies for the lack of poesy in the title but it’s an issue that was annoying as hell when the Web 2.0 thing was in full blast and continues to annoy now that the new… Apologies for the lack of poesy in the title but it’s an issue that was annoying as hell when the Web 2.0 thing was in full blast and continues to annoy now that the new…
Convert or engage (2011) The ebook debate is locked into dichotomies of past versus present, dynamic versus fixed; split into factions, when all that matters is engagement, both with the readers… The ebook debate is locked into dichotomies of past versus present, dynamic versus fixed; split into factions, when all that matters is engagement, both with the readers…
Design pseudo-science (2011) Many designers attribute fads and trends with the authenticity of science Designers use rounded corners so much today that they’re more of an industry standard than a… Many designers attribute fads and trends with the authenticity of science Designers use rounded corners so much today that they’re more of an industry standard than a…
Code doesn’t change minds (2012) The problems critics point out can’t be solved by asking them to contribute code And asking people to contribute code isn’t an effective way to deflect criticism. The problems critics point out can’t be solved by asking them to contribute code And asking people to contribute code isn’t an effective way to deflect criticism.
Lessons in interactivity (original) (2012) Ebooks aren’t interactive media, they compete with interactive media and are failing. PhD. Being wrong. Interactive media’s long history. Lessons learned. Ebooks aren’t interactive media, they compete with interactive media and are failing. PhD. Being wrong. Interactive media’s long history. Lessons learned.
Bad writing (2012) I’m posting this here because there’s no way I could get this across on twitter. You are all going to disagree with this, without exception. I don’t care. I’m posting this here because there’s no way I could get this across on twitter. You are all going to disagree with this, without exception. I don’t care.
The stillborn creature (2012) I lament the tragedy that is ebook design. I lament the tragedy that is ebook design.
Why?X7 (2013) Exploring some of the root causes behind the problems in digital publishing Exploring some of the root causes behind the problems in digital publishing
The Ebook Innovation (2013) Arresting iterative improvement. A key property of disruptive innovations is that they improve very fast. Ebooks have stalled. Arresting iterative improvement. A key property of disruptive innovations is that they improve very fast. Ebooks have stalled.
Intellectual terrain (2013) Books today are for sharing, not reading Books today are for sharing, not reading
Bridging the Gap (2014) What follows is a talk I held at the Publishers’ Forum 2014 on the 6th of May. It has been lightly edited for clarity and context, with a few parenthetical interjections… What follows is a talk I held at the Publishers’ Forum 2014 on the 6th of May. It has been lightly edited for clarity and context, with a few parenthetical interjections…
Losing faith in yourself (2014) It always starts well because I always start alone. Working by myself, I have the peace of mind to just focus on the work, work on the components, polish the details,… It always starts well because I always start alone. Working by myself, I have the peace of mind to just focus on the work, work on the components, polish the details,…
Many stories, many truths (2014) Once upon a time there was a man from Iceland who attended a conference in Canada. The weather was, by any sane measure, awful. The temperature was borderline arctic.… Once upon a time there was a man from Iceland who attended a conference in Canada. The weather was, by any sane measure, awful. The temperature was borderline arctic.…
Purpose, Joy, Capability (2016) The bubble isn’t what kills you There is no point in debating whether we are in a financial bubble or not. The bubble isn’t the crisis. A flood on its own doesn’t make a… The bubble isn’t what kills you There is no point in debating whether we are in a financial bubble or not. The bubble isn’t the crisis. A flood on its own doesn’t make a…
Judge the work (2016) —Watercolours are done – history. Oils have won. Anybody serious about making art has to paint with oils now. —You ignorant fools. Gouache! Gouache is the future.… —Watercolours are done – history. Oils have won. Anybody serious about making art has to paint with oils now. —You ignorant fools. Gouache! Gouache is the future.…
Focusing on market share blinds you to growth (2018) According to data from comScore, for example, the overall time spent online with desktop devices in the U.S. has remained relatively stable for the past two years. Time… According to data from comScore, for example, the overall time spent online with desktop devices in the U.S. has remained relatively stable for the past two years. Time…
The Web Falls Apart (2019) The web’s circle has expanded to contain the entire world. But the centre is not holding. The web’s circle has expanded to contain the entire world. But the centre is not holding.