Posts

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

July 1, 2024 July 1, 2024

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.

July 1, 2024 July 1, 2024

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…

June 28, 2024 June 28, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

Notes towards internet storytelling (2000)

Counting down to the point Counting down to the point

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

“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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

The stillborn creature (2012)

I lament the tragedy that is ebook design. I lament the tragedy that is ebook design.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

Intellectual terrain (2013)

Books today are for sharing, not reading Books today are for sharing, not reading

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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,…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

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.

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024

Work: The genres of web media (2019)

One of the more interesting aspects of my current project at work is how much of a change it has been from what I’ve worked on so far in my career. Basically, I’ve… One of the more interesting aspects of my current project at work is how much of a change it has been from what I’ve worked on so far in my career. Basically, I’ve…

June 26, 2024 June 26, 2024